Clan O'Byrne registered with the Clans of Ireland 2018
  • CLAN O'BYRNE HOME PAGE
  • New Page
  • NEW!! UNCOVER YOUR PAST ! !
  • CLAN O'BYRNE EVENTS ARCHIVE
  • Who do YOU think you are ? The Clan O'Byrne DNA Project
    • DNA PROJECT 2013 UPDATE
    • Y-DNA - A genealogical Aid by Richard Byrne
    • DNA Progress Report Mar 2012
  • FORUMs
  • BYRNE HERALDRY
  • Clan O'Byrne Gathering Rally Poll
  • The Gathering Rally Quick Guide
  • News , Updates and Archives
  • Clan O'Byrne Background
  • The Clans of Ireland
    • 1998 Clans of Ireland AGM
    • The 2003 Gathering of the Clans of Ireland , Portumna
    • 2010 Clans of Ireland AGM
    • Clans of Ireland 2012 Annual Conference and AGM
  • Histories of the O'Byrnes
    • Clan System in Gaelic Ireland
    • The Byrnes 1050- 2000 by Hughie O'Byrne
    • Famous Battles of the O'Byrnes
    • 1580 The Battle of Glenmalure
    • 1650 Byrnes and the Confederatiom
    • 1798 Rebellion and the Byrnes
    • Rebel Byrnes in 1798
    • The O'Byrnes and O'Tooles
    • Clan O'Byrne History Postbox
  • Sept families of the Leinster Byrnes
    • Crioch Branach, The O'Byrnes Country >
      • Castles of the O'Byrnes.
    • Family of the Downes of Crioch Branach >
      • Downes Hill Climb 1992
    • Family of Kiltimon of Crioc Branach
    • Family of Newrath, Crioch Branach >
      • The O'Byrnes of Newrath by Dr. Emmett O'Byrne
    • Family of Croneroe, Crioch Branach
    • Family of Gabhall Raghnall of Glenmalure >
      • Glenmalure >
        • Balllinacor, Glenmalure
        • Ballinacor Picture Gallery
    • Family of Ui Lorcan of Clonmore
    • O'Byrne Placenames and Castles
  • Leinster Clans Alliance
  • Clan Rallies of the O'Byrnes
    • 1953 Clan O'Byrne, An Tostal Rally, Aughrim.
    • Clan O'Byrne Rally, Aughrim 1991 >
      • 1991 Rally images P1 of 2
      • 1991 Rally images P2 of 2
      • The Chieftains Banquet
    • 1992 Clan O'Byrne Rally, Aughrim >
      • 1992 Wicklow People News item
      • 1992 Clan Rally Gathering
      • Pat Byrne of Florida >
        • The Downes climb 1992
      • The Mercenaries
      • Ardmore Studios
      • Chateaux de St. Geri
    • 1998 Clan Rally, Woodenbridge. >
      • The Lure of Glenmalure
      • Later at the 1998 Clan O'Byrne Rally
      • Clan Rally Miscellany
  • St. Geri 2008
    • Count Henri O'Byrne of Chateaux St. Geri, France.
  • Well known and not so well known Byrnes
    • Feaghe mac Hugh O' Byrne, Lord of Glenmalure
    • Miles Byrne of Monaseed
    • Billy Byrne of Ballymanus
    • Charles Byrne of Derry, the Irish Giant
    • Edward Byrne of Saggart
    • Alfie Byrne, Lord Mayor of Dublin
    • For Whom the Bell tolls
  • Ancestors sought and hoped for.
    • Clan O'Byrne Forum
  • Blogs for Byrnes
  • Clan O'Byrne Video Vault
  • Publications, Links and Sources
    • Publications
    • LINKS
  • Irish Order of Knighthood
  • Google Wicklow
  • Drives thro County Wicklow
  • Membership registration form
  • Clan Ó Byrne Members only
    • Membership Information

Picture
5.02 Gerald Byrne of Arkansas( 1804-1858). was born in 1804 in Sleaty

After his father's untimely death in France at the age of 40 years, Gerald continued the expansion of the Sleaty estates. On the 6th June 1829 he took
a lease from Alexander Humphreys and Richard Dunne of 42 acres of land
at Sleaty to be held by three lives renewable forever. Together with this was the addition of another 19 acres 2 roods and 20 perches adjoining these lands, with all houses and buildings.
Because of his now consderable property interests Gerald was able to quaify
for a further step up the ladder and he applied for a 'Certificate of a Rent-charger, Freeholder or Leaseholder' on 12th October 1832. As a freeholder of the yearly value of £50 he had the right to vote and this certificate registered him as a voter for Queen's County. He had to attend and present his case at the Special Sessions held at Portarlington in order to obtain this. Being a freeholder, the novous homo was one of the few who was qualified to act as a justice of the peace, to vote for a member of Parliment, and to fill the office of Sheriff.
As such Gerald became part of the upper establishment and possibly a small despot in his own part of the country. A large landowner would have had it all his own way and no notice would have been taken by the Castle of any complaints if such ever succeeded in arriving there.
So by the end of the 1830's the Byrne's of Sleaty had arrived !
In 1842 Gerald married Eliza, daughter of Paul Bolger,Esq, a merchant of Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford
This was a time of relative prosperity and land speculation was rife in Ireland but in 1845 the potato crops failed and started what is now known as the Great Famine of 1845/50. Income upon which the landed gentry depended on to support their usually lavis life styles, slowly but surely diminished and ultimately stopped. This was disastrous for Gerald who was fuelling his speculation probably with hefty mortgages to expand his empire.
In 1850 his younger brother Charles, having no further future in Sleaty emigrated to the United States. (of whom, more later)

Gerald in turn left for America, on his own, in 1852, two years. following his younger brother Charles. It is recorded that both Charles and Gerald were baptised back into the Roman Catholic faith in Carlow Cathedral before they left.

Gerald probably met his brother in New Orleans and may have been advised to seek his fortune further up on the river Missippi in Arkansas. He appears to have settled and may have obtained land in Lisbon, near El Dorado( named after the lost city of gold! ), Union County, State of Arkansas.His purpose was to either economically support his family or more probably to eventually resettle his family there. Unfortunately he died there on the 4th April 1858, at the age of 54, in the home of his honorable friend Squire Garret Gatlen, ironically his death was the final ruin of the Sleaty estate. There is no record of his will, if any was made.

To HOME     Next P2 of 2

 

 


Design and Graphics by Val Byrne.        Copyright © 2013 Val Byrne.    All rights reserved.