CARROLL, Martin James - Is the story true?

From the earliest time I can remember, the story of Martin James CARROLL, the enigma, has been bandied around the family, embellished by uncles and aunties, cousins and kin - all without any factual back-up, that I have seen.

My great, great, grandfather, Martin, was born in Loughrea, County Galway, in Ireland - some say, in 1829, some say, in 1833. According to the East Galway Family History Society Company Ltd, who looked up baptismal records of Martin James Carroll, son of James CARROLL, and Bridget BURKE, and found them in the R.C. records, was born in 1829. He was one of eleven children registered to that family. Carroll was not a common name in Loughrea. A quote from a letter, dated June 6th, 1996, written by Angela Canning, from the Society, stated:

"Even though his age was recorded as 33, in 1866, placing his year of birth at 1833, I am confident that the 1829 entry is the one you seek. Early 19th century church records usually do not record a second Christian name, whereas in this family, three children were given two Christian names."

The children of James and Bridget, were listed as: Patt Joseph CARROLL - 05.04.1821, Maria Ann CARROLL - 20.04.1823, William CARROLL - 09.01.1825, Ellanora CARROLL - 16.10.1826, Elizabeth CARROLL - 06.08.1828, Martin James CARROLL - 19.10.1829, Michael CARROLL - 26.08.1831, Joseph CARROLL - 26.08.1831, James CARROLL - 21.12.1832, Matilda CARROLL - 29.10.1835, and a second child named Joseph CARROLL - 1836 (date not recorded).

James CARROLL, the father, whose death was recorded as 1867, aged 84 yrs, suggesting a birth date of 1782-83. His occupation was listed as 'Sieve Maker'. No record of Bridget Burke was noted.

Now, the question which has been plaguing researchers in the family, for years. Martin James Carroll owned, according to the older family members who met him, a gold signet ring, which was emblazoned with the Family Crest of the BURKE family, which were part of the Clanricarde family. Several of the older family members saw this ring and it's disappearance has also been an annoying enigma. The question is, was Martin James Carroll a descendant of the Clanricarde family (2nd Marquess), through his mother? Once again, a quoted passage from Angela Canning:

"As to your theory concerning the father of Martin James CARROLL, I have no way of confirming if he was the 2nd Marquess. However, in the light of the fact that Martin James is the sixth of eleven children I feel that it is unlikely. If Bridget Burke had been a close relative of the Clanricarde family, she would most probably have been Church of Ireland. It is possible that Martin James had the Burke crest on his ring, which may have come from his mother. It is true that the 2nd Marquess had a number of illegitimate children, but it is unlikely that any maintenance was paid towards the upkeep of these children - or if it was, maintenance wasn't excessive. If a child were illegitimate, it's baptismal record would usually state same."

In another letter, dated August 11, 1996, Ms. Canning wrote:

"A number of Burke families, who were Catholic landholders lived in the Loughrea area. For example, the 'Burkes of Ballydoogan', in the Parish of Kilmeen, adjacent to Loughrea, were extensive landholders. Again, I have no way of confirming if the above family is linked to yours, although it is one possible explanation for Martin James Carroll's education and wealth. Families such as the 'Burkes of Ballydoogan' were landlords and gentry, many of whom sent their children to the European mainland to be educated, particularly France and Spain.

Unfortunately, records do not commence early enough to include the birth of Bridget Burke or to allow us (to) link Bridget to one of the many Burke families in East Galway."

This would be borne out in the fact that Martin was educated to the highest degree. It was established that he was trained as a Catholic Priest at Dublin University, but was not ordained, and that he studied music, possibly abroad. He could speak several languages fluently.

He migrated to Australia, where he became very good friends with a family named Dalton, who were pastoralists from the Orange, NSW. The Daltons were also great friends of Martin's future father-in-law, John Hannell, and it was during a visit to Orange, that Martin met John Hannell and was invited to Newcastle. He came, met John's daughter Jane Elizabeth, and married her.

My aunty Dolly (Dorothy Margaret HEPBURN, née CARROLL), was fortunate enough to be strolling through an old city square of London, in 1949, when she came across Mr. Musset's Heraldic Studio. She saw a young artist putting the finishing touches to a Crest Motto, which turned out to be for the eldest Lascelles heir. It was the same Crest and Motto as on the signet ring of her grandfather, Martin! She was invited to Mr. Musset's office where she told the story in details that she remembered. He spent an interesting amount of time with her and finally said he would check it out, and that she should return in 2 weeks.


Two weeks later, she returned to Mr. Musset, and was delighted to know that her story had verifiable details and that she was 'entitled to the Crest' but that a special part of it was reserved only for the heir. He said that one has to establish accurate claim, before the request is granted. Aunty Dolly also stated that, to her best recollection, Martin was raised in Clanricarde castle and that Bridget was indeed the Lady (Bridget) Ann Burke, the daughter of the Earl. Mr Musset read details of the Earl of Clanricarde. The clan name was, of course, Norman French, and the family was De Burgh. He changed to Burke when he settled in Ireland.

As far as I can establish, this connection to the Earl and family, seems to be all fanciful, but the right to the Crest appears valid.

This is the Burke Crest concerned, together with the Carroll family crest... the Motto being Norman French - 'Ung Roy - Ung Foy - Ung Loy' which translates as 'One King - One Faith - One Law'. The Carroll Motto "in fide et in bello fortes" translates as "loyal and valiant in war'.

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