Martyn

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Martyn, or Martin is the surname of one of The Tribes of Galway, Ireland.

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[edit] Family History

The Martyns were one of a select group of 14 families of mixed Irish, English, Welsh, French and Norman descent who became the premier merchant and political families in the town of Galway during the late medieval and early modern eras. From approximately 1365 to about 1924 certain branches of the family and individuals remained highly influential both in Galway and Ireland as a whole. Yet many Martyns were dispossessed by the Irish Confederate Wars and the subsequent Cromwellian conquest, and long reduced to peasantry by the time of the Great Irish Famine.

The family are part of a larger kin-group descended from a Norman named Martin (fl.1085?) via his descendant, the crusader Sir Nicholas FitzMartin of Cemais and Blagdon (c.1210-1282). Sir Nicholas had at least eight children from two marriages, the youngest being William Martin of St. David's, Wales(c.1268-after 1326), whose son or grandson, Thomas Martyn, founded the family in Galway.

The family have been based in Co. Galway, Ireland, since the mid-fourteenth century but have many cadet branches in the U.K., Canada, USA, France, Hungary, and several other countries. Most of these branches were settled during and after the Wild Geese or Great Famine eras.

As Martin is the most common spelling for bearers of the name regardless of descent, the form Martyn has lately been adopted to distinguishe them from other families bearing the same name. It is also because the first known bearers of the name in Galway are recorded as having their name spelled in this manner.

Martin, Martyn and its variants can be considered some of the most common names in the Western World - such as Smith, Jones, Baker, Wilson. It is not always the case that any two bearers of the name are related, even distantly.

Other descendants of the FitzMartin family are still to be found in the south-west of England (Somerset, Devon, Dorset) and Wales (Pembrokeshire).

[edit] Family Chronology

1365: Thomas Martyn buys the mills of Galway on 2 June. Dies about 1387 survived by his wife Margaret Balach de Lynch, and at least one son, William Martyn fitz Thomas. Upon their deaths both Thomas and Margaret Balach are buried in the Dominican Abbey, Athenry.

1407: William Martyn fitz Thomas recorded as a merchant in Athenry and Galway, wealthy enough to be able to be a creditor in mortgages.

1485: Anastascia Martin and her husband Dominick Dubh Lynch (later Mayor of Galway) finance the construction of Lynch's Asile in St. Nicholas's Church, Galway. Their arms still adorn one of its windows. Hers are a minor variation of the arms of FitzMartin, one of only four examples left in Galway.

1498: Peter Martyn elected one of the town's two bailiffs.

c. 1500?: Battle of Good Friday, where many Martyns snatch victory from the jaws of defeat and miraclously survive a vicious ambush by the Clann Ó Flaithbheartaigh/O'Flaherty. Abaondon the arms of FitzMartin and adopt the arms of the cross, sun, moon and star in their thanks to Christ.

1519: Wylliam Martin (fitz Thomas?) becomes first Martyn Mayor of Galway. Builds Ceann an bhalla (head of the wall) at the quays, later known as the Spanish Arch, a well-known tourist attraction in Galway, as well as the now demolished Martyn's Tower.

1562: Thomas Oge Martin fitz Wylliam and his wife Catherine Lynch finance the building of Galway's enormous West Bridge and its mills. In 1563 Thomas Oge is elected Mayor for the second time. Dies in 1577.

1579: Sheriff William Oge Martyn attacks and gives battle to Mayo pirate, Gráinne Ní Mháille/Grace O'Malley but is forced to flee.

1580: William Oge hangs the sons of the earls of Clanricarde and Thomond on the Market Cross in Galway, despite knowing they have being pardoned. About the same years his cousin Thomas Martin opens a brothel in Morlaix.

1622: Mayor Robert Martin fitz Richard fitz William Oge dies in office on 19 April. He is replaced by his father, Richard, who holds the office for the fifth time. Robert is survived by a wife and large family. See 1644, 1658 and 1664 for his youngest son. Robert Martin of Ross born to Jasper Martin fitz Nicholas fitz John, and a Miss Lynch.

1632: Oliver Martin elected Mayor of Galway, but refused office as he would not take the Oath of Supremacy as did his brother Robert and father Richard. Office of Mayor taken by his cousin, George Martyn fitz Walter.

1635: A Galway jury, including Stephen Martin fitz Francis, rebukes severe intimidation by Thomas Wentworth and finds against the King's Title. Furious, Wentworth jails and tortures them. A delegation from Galway heads to London to treat with the king.

1636: In London, King Charles I is angered by the Galwaymen's attitude - "I lyke this nott" - and sends arrest warrants for Patrick Darcy, Richard Martin fitz Oliver and Sir Roger O'Shaughnessey, leaders of the Galway delegation. Darcy accepts an 'escort' to Liverpool, Sir Roger is arrested while Richard hides in the Middle Temple, and escapes.

1642: Walter Oge Martyn one of the leaders on the attack and capture of the British naval vessel in Galway Bay, and thus declaring Galway for the Irish Confederates at the start of the Irish Confederate Wars. In August, Richard Martin fitz Oliver becomes the last of the 19 Martyn Mayors of Galway. In October attends the momentous Confederate Assembly at Kilkenny, and writes the only surviving account of it by one of its main players.

1643: Dun Guaire attacked by rebels, defended by Oliver Martin.

1644: Gregory Martin fitz Robert fights with the Royalists at the Battle of Marston Moor; survives but is captured. Escapes, makes his way to London and from there to France to fight again.

1648: Richard fitz Oliver dies in unknown circumstances, survived by widow Meghan, and children Oliver Oge, Mary, Magdalene, Peter, Patrick, John, and their grandfather, Oliver.

1652: After enduring the Plague, dwindling supplies and a nine-month siege by Sir Charles Coote, Galway surrenders, though more than 95% of the freemen and all of the Martyn's refuse to sign the Articles of Surrender. This ends the 11-year Confederate Wars.

1654: The Galway Corporation is overthrown, and property owned by the family is confiscated en masse.

1658: Gregory Martin fitz Robert sees action at the Battle of the Dunes (1658)

1662: Robert Martin of Ross, aged 40, narrowly escapes a charge of treason and an attempt to murder the former Governor of Galway, Edward Eyre, in an attempt to regain some of his confiscated property. A long feud between the two families commences. Martyns of Dun Guaire and other Martyns have property restored, or at least compensated.

1664: Gregory Martyn fitz Robert asks to be allowed to work as a Catholic merchant "in my native town" to support his wife and family.

1685: Fr. Francis Martin, aged 33 and now at Louvain, asserts in his doctoral dissertation that the assassination of William of Orange would be approved of by God. He is awarded the doctorate.

1691: Patrick and Robert Martin are killed at Aughrim, two of at least 16 known to have fought in the War of the Two Kings(Williamite war in Ireland). Captain Richard Nimble Dick Martin escapes being charged for treason by virtue of "a hatful of soverigns." Major Oliver Martyn of Dun Guaire Castle only granted clemency for saving the lives of local Protestants.

1705: Nimble Dick's eldest son, Robin the Brave is murdured during a sword-duel on horseback by members of the O'Flahertys. Enraged his mother Katherine curses the killers, both verbally and with an inscription on a memorial at the site. Martyns of Dun Guaire move to Tullira.

1712: Sister Cristine of the Poor Clares, formerly Cristine Martin of Dangan, creates a beautifully embroidered priest's Chasuble with the date, her initials and her coat of arms. It is still held by the order.

1733: Robert the Jacobite murders an unarmed officer at a coffee-house on Galway's Mainguard. Is found not guilty two years later in Dublin.

1735: Andrew (André) Martyn, formerly governor of Martinique, dies.

1749: In the cumulation of a long-running feud, Robert the Jacobite fights a sword-duel in London against the governor of Galway, Stratford Eyre, and wins.

1742: Bonnie Prince Charlie travels incognito in west of Ireland; probably aided and housed by Connacht's leading Jacobite, Robert Martin of Dangan.

1754: Birth of Richard Martin ("Humanity Dick").

1764: Death of John, last of the Martyns of Coole. Property devolves upon his cousion, Oliver Martin of Tullira Castle.

1768: Oliver Martin sells Coole to William Gregory, who renames it Coole Park.

c.1795: Colonel Richard Martin settles a family dispute among his cousins, Fr. Seamus Ó Máirtín and his nephew Antaine Ó Máirtín. Gives Antaine land at Kinvara, Cashla, Connemara, rent-free for life. As of 2006 land at Kinvara still held by the current Antaine Ó Máirtín, aka Anthony Pat Mike Martyn.

1798: The Martyns of Doebeg participate in the Irish Rebellion of 1798 and afterwards are forced to flee to Austria, where they and subsequent generations become Imperial officers (see 1986).

1834: Rev. Richard Martin, second son of Humanity Martin, emigrates to Ontario, Canada with his pregnant wife and their six (soon seven) children.

c.1830's: Memorial at site of Robin Martin's murder destroyed by Captain O'Flaherty. Locals retrieve piece of inscription.

1838: The Battle of Rushevalla. Sheriff James Martin of Ross rides to Rushevalla to try to prevent a full-scale faction-battle between the Martyns and the O'Flahertys, arriving in time to see Thomas B. Martin of Ballinahinch fling the leader of the O'Flahertys over a stone wall. Martyn's won. Thomas jailed for being a public menace, is waited on by delighted inmates and declares it "the best holiday I ever had!"

1847: Black '47. James Martin of Ross ensures that not a single tenant on his estate dies, and gives aid to many more, but at the cost of bankruptcy. His cousin, Thomas B. Martin, dies of cholera as a result of visiting his tenants at the workhouse. Thomas's daughter, the novelist Mary Laetatia, is obliged to flee abroad or be jailed for debt. Marries Arthur Belle but makes him take the name Martin.

1850: Mary Laetatia dies in childbirth and poverty hours after arriving in New York City.

1858: Birth of Edward Martyn

1862: Birth of Violet Florence Martin

1879: Sister Mary A. Martyn founds a monastery at Swinford.

1888: Archer, twenty-three year old grandson of Rev. Richard, arrives at Ross and introduces himself to his cousin Violet. Clears ancestral chimneys of crow's nests, and re-erects a memorial cross at the site of Robin Martin's death. An old woman presents him with the inscription fragment she rescued as a young girl.

1897: Edward Martyn introduces a friend and neighbour, Augusta, Lady Gregory, to the poet W.B. Yeats. The three plan to write plays and open a theatre.

1899: Birth of Ferenc Martyn

1916: Lt. Geoffrey Martyn of Dublin killed in action on the Somme. Several other Martins and Martyns engaged, some killed.

c.1918: Edward Martyn sells Dun Guaire Castle to Oliver St. John Gogarty for a bottle of champagne.

1919-1921: Irish War of Independence involving several members of the family both indirectly and directly.

1924: Barbara Zavara Martin sells Ross House. Tullira Castle also passes out of the family with the death of Edward the previous year. They are the last of the great house of the family in Co. Galway.

1932: Andrew Martin the 11th, of Eagle Hill, Portumna, dies. Born 1852 to a unionist family, he became a Fenian, was out in 1867 and fled arrest to USA. Served in the U.S. 7th Cavalry Regiment and saw action in the Black Hills War. Returned to Co. Galway in 1880s, married late in life and was survived by wife and three daughters. Was the last of eleven men all successively baptised Andrew for eleven generations, since Andrew Martin the First fled from Galway at the conclusion of the Confederate Wars in 1652.

1942: Dieppe Raid (Operation Jubilee); John Kirwan Martin killed in action.

1944: Richard Martin, C.R.A.F., killed in action over Arras.

1945: Douglas Martin of Toronto (E.D.K.) visits Ireland and re-erects the neglected cross on the spot where Robin Martin died in 1705.

1975: Biography of Richard Martin published by Shevawn Lynam, launched in Galway

1986: Death of Ferenc Martyn in Pecs, Hungary.

1989: Correspondence of Sommerville and Ross published.

1997: Cross of Robin Oge Martin destroyed by O'Flahertys.

2001: Launch of Adrian Martyn's "The Tribes of Galway."

2003: New biography of Richard Martin published; launched in Galway

2005: A family gathering in Galway City and Ballinahinch, attended by the Martins of Toronto and Clan Ó Máirtíns (aka Martyn) of Connemara, both being branches of the Martins of Ross, Connemara.

2006: Annual Edward Martyn festival held again in Loughrea.

[edit] Notable Martyns

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  • Iar Connacht, Ruaidhrí Ó Flaithbheartaigh/Roderick O'Flaherty, 1684 (publ. 1843)
  • History of Galway, James Hardiman, 1820
  • Old Galway, Professor M.D. O'Sullivan, 1942
  • Galway: Town and Gown, edited Moran et al, 1984
  • The Baronial Martins, Lionel Nex, 1987
  • Galway: History and Society, edited , 1996
  • The Lords of Cemais, Dilwyn Miles, Haverfordwest, 1987
  • The Tribes of Galway, Adrian J. Martyn, 2001
  • The Man for Galway: Richard 'Humanity' Martin, Peter Phillips, 2003
  • Roll of Honor: The Mayors of Galway 1485-2002, William Henry, 2003
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