LAWLESS GENEALOGY - Life in the Past Lane

Be safe and I hope to meet everyone at a reunion somewhere..*S*.. If you have a family reunion related to our lineage please contact me and I will put it on the online calendar and my calendar and make it this summer. I want to meet /talk/ share with all the family cousins that I KNOW are out there somewhere.

~~ Thanks * Vickie

LAWLESS GENEALOGY

"DAVID"¹ DUKE-OF-NORMANDY
HUGH DE "SIR"² Laghleis
RICHARD³ Laghles
HUGH⁴ De Laighleis
THOMAS⁵ Laghles
RICHARD⁶ Laghles
ROBERT⁷ Laghles
WALTER⁸ Laghles
JAMES⁹ Laghles
ADAM¹⁰ Lawles
RICHARD¹¹ Lawles 1440- aft 1480
WALTER¹² Lawles 1480-1550
ADAM¹³ Lawles abt 1540-1600
WALTER¹⁴ Lawless 1570-1627
RICHARD¹⁵ ?-1670
WALTER "CAPT."¹⁶ Lawless 1642-1700
RICHARD¹⁷ Lawless abt 1655-1691
JAMES¹⁸ Lawless 1675(Ireland)-1725(Va)
WILLIAM¹⁹ Lawless 1710 -abt1777
JESSIE²⁰ Lawless 1763-1859
THOMAS²¹ Lawless 1797-1887
GEORGE WASHINGTON²² Lawless 1833->1905
VIRGINIA L²³ Lawless 1868-1892
IDA MAE²⁴ Chapman 1888-1963
MARY JANE²⁵ Gardner 1926-living
VICTORIA LYNN²⁶ Taylor (ME) 1952-living

This is newly found family tree line, and info isnt all validated but that is an ongoing thing for us addicted genealogists..LOL.. This is my mothers family tree , and at the start of it the only information was known was that Virginia L Lawless died when my grandmother "Ida Mae" was 4 years old. If you are part of this lineage, please contact us , so that we may get to know you , as well as help to aid this family info with more detailing and validation. All links below on names will take you to that family group, which has more information and continues expanding from that area. If you have any information regarding any of the family groupings, or have photos of individuals , we would love to include them . Please email photos, stories, summaries, information, corrections for inclusion.

It is believed that this ancestry may have its roots in Ireland. Some researchers are of the opinion that the roots may be from England. Large numbers of English came to Ireland between the twelfth and eighteenth centuries, thus the large number of English surnames at presentin Ireland. LAWLESS is also one of the Welsh surnames to be found in Ireland, particularly in Wicklow and Wexford.

Spelling variations of LAWLESS include: LAGELES, LAGHELES, LAGLES, LAIGHLEIS, De LAIGHLEIS, LALLIS, LAUGHLAIS, LAWELES, LAWLES, LAWLESS, LAWLIS, LEALOS, LOLLACE, LOLIS, LOLLIS, LOVELACE, LOVELASS, LOVELESS.

First found in Glamorgan where they were seated from very ancient times, some say well before the Norman Conquest and the arrival of Duke William at Hastings in 1066 A.D. Some of the first settlers of this name or some of its variants were: James Lawless who settled in Virginia in 1739; Daniel, James, John, Joseph, Michael, Miles, Patrick and Walter Lawless, all arrived in Philadelphia Pa. between 1840 and 1860. *

Though the surname Lawless is formed from the Old English word laghles meaning an outlaw, it may, as far as Ireland is concerned, be regarded as falling in the Anglo- Norman category. Outlawe was itself a not uncommon surname in Ireland in the middle ages, e.g. Roger Outlawe, prior of the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem in 1337, and Henry Outlawe, sovereign of Kilkenny in 1312. Following the invasion in 1172, the name Laghles, Laules, Lawles appears frequently in medieval records up to the end of the 16th.century throughout Leinster and Munster, particularly in Co. Kilkenny, and in due course they became one of the "Ten Tribes of Kilkenny" In the 13th century several of the names were prominent at New Ross and other places in Co. Wexford. The family was linked with Ballycorus as early as the 13th century.*

The best known family of Lawless is that of Cloncurry, Co. Kildare, originally of Herts., England. Nicholas Lawless, who conformed in 1770, was created Lord Cloncurry in 1789. Hon. Emily Lawless (1845-1913), Irish novelist and poet, was his great-great-grand-daughter. Some families of the name were established near Dublin soon after the Anglo-Norman invasion, branches of which migrated to Counties Galway and Mayo. From soon after the invasion the name (written Laweles, Laghles, Lachles, Laules, etc). appears frequently in mediaeval records up to the end of the sixteenth century throughout Leinster and Munster, particularly in Co. Kilkenny. One branch settled in the city of Kilkenny in the fourteenth century: Walter Lawless was mayor of Dublin, his family being landowners at Cabra and elsewhere near the city. Petty's "census" of 1659 indicates that in the seventeenth century they were fairly numerous in Co. Kilkenny and the Dublin area. They were nearly all staunch Jacobites and among the exiles after 1691 was Patrick Lawless who became Spanish Ambassador to London in 17136 and afterwards to Louis XIV of France. Dublin is one of the places where the name is chiefly found today. The other is Co. Mayo. As early as 1285 Thomas Laghles was Constable of Connacht, and about the that time Sir William Lawless obtained from the Barrets a considerable tract of country in and near the parish of Killala (Co. Mayo). William Lawless (1772-1824), a professor of Anatomy, was outlawed as a member of the United Irishmen organization and later became a distinguished general in Napoleon's army. Mention should also be made of Valentine Lawless, 2nd Baron Cloncurry (1773-1852) who was a member of the United Irishmen in 1798 and a protagonist of Catholic Emancipation. Mount Lawless in Australia is named after the Irish family which was one of the great pastoral pioneers of Queensland in the 1840's The name Lillis, of Counties Cork and Limerick is the same in origin as Lawless, of which it is a local variant. **

Irish Surnames
Tracing the family tree has a long history in Ireland where in Celtic times, each family employed its own seannachie or genealogist, to record the lines of descent.

Ireland was one of the first countries to evolve a system of hereditary surnames. They came into general use in the eleventh century, although, a few were formed before the year 1000. The traditional belief that the system was introduced deliberately be the High King Brian Boru is without foundation; it developed spontaneously in Ireland, as elsewhere, as the population increased and the former practice, first of single names and then of transitory patronymics or nicknames proved insufficient.

At first the surname was formed by prefixing Mac to the father's Christian name or O to that of a grandfather or earlier ancestor, Fitz was from the French fils meaning son. A girl added Ni before her father's name, while her mother prefixed Ban.

After a time other types of surnames were adopted, still with the prefix Mac and sometimes O: for example those which introduced the words 'giolla' and 'maol' both usually meaning follower or servant, often in the sense of a devotee of some saint.....Mac Giolla Mhártain (modern Gilmartin or Martin) or Ó Maoilbhreanainn (modern Mulrennan) from St. Martin and St. Brendan. Names beginning with 'Gil' or 'Kil' are anglicized forms of 'Mac Giolla' and usually are translated as 'Son of the devotee of'. When 'Mac Giolla' is followed by an epithet, 'giolla' may be translated as lad or fellow: for example the name Mac Giolla Riabhaigh (the modern Mac/Mc Areavy) means the son of a gray or brindled lad or fellow.

The numerous of the later names were those formed from the occupation of the father, an example Mac an Bháird, son of the bard (modern MacWard and Ward) or Ó hÍceadga--icidhe, doctor or healer--(modern Hickey).

Less often, the Mac or O were prefixed to some word denoting character or peculiarity of the father or grandfather, Mac Dubhghaill, black stranger (modern Mac Dowell). From this it was a short step to the incorporation of nicknames in permanent surnames, for instance Mac an Mhadaidh--mada, dog (now MacAvaddy and the related name Ó Madáin, Madden).

This practice eventually led in some cases to the loss of the surname proper and the substitution of the nickname or characteristic for it. Because of this Irish surnames arose without the distinctive Mac or O; thus bán (white) became Bane, ruadh (red) Roe, láidir (strong) Lawder, and so on.

A note about Mac vs. Mc. The Gaels of Scotland are the descendants of the Gaelic settlers from Ireland. It seems not to be generally know that Scotland got its name from them, the word Scotus being Latin for Irishman. There seems to be a fallacy that Mc is Irish and Mac is Scottish. The practice of differentiating between Mac and Mc (and the now almost obsolete M') is fortunately dying out. There is no difference: Mc is simply an abbreviation of Mac.

For convenience, many people use the words sept and clan interchangeably, although strictly speaking it was the sept, rather than the clan, that was the dynastic system in Ireland. The sept comprised a group whose immediate ancestors had a common name, lived in the same locality, and who shared a common chieftain.

The above information was gathered from several sources including: The Surnames of Ireland by Edward MacLysaght. : A Little Book of Irish Family Names by Ida Grehan.

UPDATES : CREDITS and SUCH !!! Last updated:
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Verifying and getting the correct information in order SURE is fun. *S* If you have viewed this page before, be sure to hit your refresh /reload button to obtain a fresh updated copy. If anyone has anything to add or direct me with- PLEASE dont hestistate to email me. Thanks

"Life in the Past Lane" unfolds!!
Over the years many researchers have shared info and now the results of many years of work will now start to take form here.
Thanks to many years of work also goes to Dr. Bascom Barry Hayes, Huntsville, Texas. Now a retired university professor, an excellent researcher of which much info has been contributed to our Lawless lines. Much info included here comes from Lawless research he did and shared with others. The "Lawless Synopsis" .

4-27-2005 Denis Francis Lawless

of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada [ died April 18th, 2007]has graciously offered to allow me to share his wealth of LAWLESS genealogy information , with you , through the website here. His years of research and compling will be available as time allows me to get it processed for online view. We have Denis Lawless to thank for a wealth of info he now shares. His books and info will be included in the information below , along with other resources to update and validate for the family groups.
5-7-2005 Elizabeth Stuerke has supplied much info that is going online. Thanks to my new found cuzin, I am happily moving along with levels of family and getting to know more about my heritage and lines *S*
--- Sources : Credits to contributors through emails, phone calls, or letters reference among the info through a link to their email, or a noted www or hardcopy email.

This quest is now advancing to levels that a clone or two will be needed, I am sure. (and Santa didnt have one under my tree last year again..*sigh* It will take some time to process the info for online. Please check back often to see the progress and to see if you are a long lost cuzin. Email if you find a name or branch that is a link in the tree and will help expand your line or correct any data or information. . We would love to hear from you and include your information. ~ Sooooooooo grab a cup of coffee and get comfee. This is going to take a while to read. If you find a linking line please email me at kentuckywebmaster@yahoo.com . We will look forward to meeting all the new cousins out there. Welcome to "Life in the Past Lane"

FINDING INFO HERE
use this little box and type in the name , It will open a page that references the name but not give you location on the page and again you will need to use the Control / F button to find name among data on the page.

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If you want to view family groups. Place your mouse curser at the name or spot on the page. Use your keyboard " Page up" "Page down" button. It will keep the lines lined up, allowing you to view children and groups of groups. I know this can be confusing, so email if you have any problems and I will be glad to help you.

This is a set of genealogical records with both ancestry and decadency sets of data based on my family. Nothing is set in stone and all things in genealogy have to be vailidated to be true. So at this point , this genealogist is data collecting and processing validation as it become founded or shared. All validation will show in the family group it belongs as well as photos and documents. If you have anything for any group, please let me know , so I can include a copy of it with the ancestor it belongs with.
~Thanks ~
Vickie - your family addicted genealogist who thinks 24 hrs in a day just isnt enough time for our ancestors and me. Life is to short and I am running out of time myself. LOL

PLEASE!!! If you find I have a mistake or a typo , dont hesitate to let me know. I hate to post wrong info but it happens, so bear with me and others , as we get this fine tumed , as it is an ongoing project.

Victoria Lynn²⁶ Taylor, Mary Jane²⁵ Gardner, Ida Mae²⁴ Chapman ,Virginia L²³ L Lawless, George Washington²² Lawless, Thomas²¹ Lawless , JESSE²⁰, WILLIAM.¹⁹, JAMES¹⁸, RICHARD¹⁷, WALTER "CAPT."¹⁶, RICHARD¹⁵, WALTER¹⁴, WALTER¹⁴, ADAM¹³ LAWLES, WALTER¹², RICHARD¹¹, ADAM¹⁰ LAGHLES, JAS⁹., WALTER⁸, ROBERT⁷, RICHARD⁶, THOS.⁵, HUGH⁴ DE LAIGHLEIS, RICHARD³, HUGH DE "SIR"² LAIGHLEIS, DAVID"¹ DUKE-OF-NORMANDY

(NOTE**)

DESCENDANTS OF SIR HUGH de LAIGHLEIS Though the surname Lawless is formed from the old English word Laghles meaning an outlaw, it may , as far as Ireland is concerned, be regarded as falling in the Anglo-Norman category. Following the invasion in 1172, the name Laghles, Laules, Lawles appears frequently in medieval records up to the end of the 16th.century throughout Leinster and Munster, particularly in Co. Kilkenny, and in due course they became one of the "Ten Tribes of Kilkenny" In the 13th. century several of the names were prominent at New Ross and other places in Co. Wexford. The family was linked with Ballycorus as early as the 13th century.**

Medieval County Kilkenny.
Timeline of Irish History
Timeline of Events - County Kilkenny Ireland History
Irish History
Lawless Family Genealogy Forum
Lawless Family Genealogy LINKS

"Sir" David¹ DUKE-OF-NORMANDY b. bef. 1150 in Normandy, France

1.**HUGH DE "SIR"² LAIGHLEIS

"Sir" Hugh² De Laighleis was born abt. 1150, Hodeston, Herts, England died Shanganaugh, Dublin, Ireland
The name Lawless began in Ireland with the arrival of the Norman, Sir Hugh de Laighleis, in 1172. [* 1172, To IRL with Army of King Henry II]
Sir Hugh de Lawless appears to have been the first of this clan in Ireland. He was a descendant of David, Duke of Normandy, and was one of the many knights who attended King Henry II during his Irish expedition in 1171. Sir Hugh settled his family in the Vale of Shanganagh near Bray which is just outside Dublin. He bequeathed his lands to his son Richard. ^a
Though the surname Lawless is formed from the old English word Laghles meaning an outlaw, it may , as far as Ireland is concerned, be regarded as falling in the Anglo-Norman category. After the invasion in 1172, the name Laghles, Laules, Lawles appears frequently in medieval records up to the end of the 16th century throughout Leinster and Munster, particularly in Co. KIK, and in due course they became one of the "Ten Tribes of KIK" In the 13th. century several of the names were prominent at New Ross and other places in Co. Wexford. The family was linked with Ballycorus as early as the 13th century.
In the 12th cent. Dermot Mac Murrough, King of Leinster, was about to be crushed by Roderick O'Connor the mightiest of Ireland's Kings. Panic stricken Dermot went to the feet of King Henry 2'nd. swearing temporary allegiance. He invited the Anglo-Norman invasion in 1169. Henry, yearning to possess himself of Ireland, assured him of assistance to recover the Kingly position he had lost. An armament, for the express purpose of invading IRL, and rendering her subjects to English domination, was prepared at Milford Haven and awaited the signal to sail for Waterford. Mac Murrough saw not through the cajolery of King Henry.
On the 18th October, 1172 some hundred ships weighed anchor from Milford Haven (a seaport town on the west coast of Wales), and after a short voyage, glided into the harbor at Waterford. The army of King Henry, on this occasion, consisted of four hundred Knights and several thousand men-at-arms. Amongst the Knights was Sir Hugh de Laighleis of Hoddesdon, County Herford. The ancestor of Sir Hugh was David, Duke of Normandy. An English footing was now established in Ireland, by cajolery rather than by force of arms.
Henry worked on the Irish Synod, then sitting in conclave at Cashel. His intimacy with Pope Adrian, who was a brother Saxon, stood him in good stead. As a result of certain Bulls from Pope Adrian, an almost bloodless conquest of Ireland resulted. Through the influence of the Synod, the entire nation was induced to submit to Henry. No sooner had the Norman Knights set their feet upon the Island, than they at once desired to possess a share of the golden valleys and fertile pasture lands. Henry was desirous of rewarding his faithful Knights, and as he had no land to spare in England, he gladly distributed amongst them the Irish manors which he only knew by name.
One there was situated in the vicinity of Dublin, that made the Norman mouth of Sir Hugh de Laighleis water. It went by the name of the Manor of Shanganagh and was a most ethereal spot. Slumbering beneath the mountain parish of Killiney, and sheltered by the umbrageous foliage of Old Connaught, the vale of Shanganagh, with utstretched arms, while embracing a creek of the dark blue ocean, grasped into a focus all the naturally picturesque beauty of that eminently rich district.
Sir Hugh de Laighleis heard of the exquisite scenery of Shanganagh and made a personal pilgrimage to the spot. He asked King Henry to make it his for evermore. His Majesty heard the request, complied with it, and from that moment Shanganagh became the property, or as the attorney said, who drew up the deed of settlement-the "fee simple" of Sir Hugh. The old age of Sir Hugh de Laighleis did find a home in the vale of Shanganagh. He married, erected a castle near the water's edge, and lived, and died, after "a long life of labor," within it. The dichotomized ruins of this old castle were still visible and could be observed from a great distance in the later part of the 19th century.
By a very old family escutcheon, which remained in the possession of the Lawless family of Shankhill, we find that Sir Hugh had a son named Richard. Beneath this heraldic devise was an unfurled scroll, bearing the following inscription:-"Sir Hugh Lawles, Knight, sent a deede sealed with his arms, dated ye first yeare of King Edward ye 3rd, unto his son Richard Lawles, of all his lands of ye manor of Shanganagh." As King Edward III was in his first year as king in 1327 we must conclude that the above was not the original Hugh who came to Ireland in 1172. It would be impossible, with any degree of accuracy, to trace the genealogical descent from Sir Hugh de Laighles, however some names, dates and family connections are available in historical reference books. In a short time the family had built manors, not only near Bray in the vale of Shanganagh, but also in Kilruddery, Corkagh and Old Connacht, all in the Bray area. The castles and fortifications which they built were to defend their lands from the Irish tribesmen in the mountains.

1.**RICHARD³

Richard ³ Laghles was born 1180 in Shanganaugh, Dublin, Ireland
NOTE: Mayors and Lord Mayors of Dublin from 1229 ** Richard Lawles 1311-14 Richard Lawles 1315-16
NOTE: In 1318 Hugh Laghles, Knight, and father of Richard, was commissioned to parley with the Irishry of the south-eastern parts of "The Pale". He was constable at Bray and resigned his Post in 1319 due to the devastating Irish raids.
In 1346, Robert Laghles, son of Provost Richard Laghles, was appointed Public Guardian of the Peace, in county Dublin, with the power to access and array therein.

NOTE: SHANGANAGH CASTLE: (Co. Dublin - about 1/4 mile from Shankill) The first was built by Sir Hugh de Laighleis some time after his arrival in 1171. There were several fortifications and castles built in the valley of Shanganagh by the descendants of Sir Hugh, to defend the lands from mountain tribesmen. One of these castles stood close to the Loughlinstown river. Two centuries later the Cathedral of St. Patrick proved its title to the lands "from time immemorial". Consequently, in 1408, Thomas Lawless built another castle nearby at Shankill.
Shanganagh Castle, which stood close to Loughlinstown river, in the valley near Ballybrack, was the largest of three (Shanganagh, Shankill & Puck's Castle), and possibly portions of it dated from 1408, when Thomas Lawless undertook to build a castle on the lands. Later, under the Walshes, it was doubtless enlarged, and it became a residence of importance. Charles Walsh, who died in 1521, was succeeded successively by his son, Walter Walsh, who died in 1551, and by his Gadson, John Walsh who died in 1600.
The castle had attached to it a hall, which, although only roofed with thatch, was of considerable dimensions, and round it lay an orchard, garden and ornamental plantations, doubtless extending down to the Loughlinstown river. In 1763 the Castle of Shanganagh was destroyed by a disastrous fire. The site is now used for a prison (1998).
Note: in 1786 Sir Nicholas Lawless - Dublin - Deeds regarding use of Lilmainham called Gallows Hill for building a jail. This may be the same property. D. F. L

1.**Hugh De Laighleis *

Hugh ⁴ De Laghles

1.**Thomas Laghles was born in Ireland SEE BELOW
2. William Laghles was born in Ireland
NOTE: 1285, Land in Killala, May, Ireland
3. John Laghles was born in Portragherty, Ireland,
NOTE: Bef. 1340, Keeper of the Customs
- 1. John Laghles was born in Ireland
  NOTE: 1342-1346 The Sheriff of Connaught was commended that taking from him efficient security and the usual offer that he would faithfully serve the king, he should deliver to him the letters patent and John Lawless, son of John of Portraghery, late keeper of the customs, was ordered to deliver him the sea of office. This depre {?} of trade was of short duration.
  NOTE: s/o John Laghles

Thomas⁵ Laghles was born in Ireland
Thomas Laghles and Thomas le Botillor, where constables of Connaught, in 1285 --- Rot. Pip. 15 Berm. Tur. **
As early as the year 1285, Thomas Laghles appears on Irish record as constable at Connaught. That same year Sir William Laghles obtained from the Barrets a considerable tract of country in and near the parish of Killala (Co. Mayo). In 1312 Richard Laghles was Provost of Dublin. He is alleged to have averted a famine in the city by his stern and cruel treatment of the bakers. They were found using false weights in dealing with the public. Upon hearing of this injustice, Richard sentenced them to be drawn through the streets, tied to horse's tails. **

1.**Richard Laghles

Richard⁶ Laghles
NOTE: Bet. 1310 - 1313, Provost (Mayor) of Dublin
1313: At the time of the Bruce invasion, in 1313, Bray, as well as Arklow and Newcastle M'Kynnekan, was burned by the O'Tooles and O'Byrnes, who, as we are told, then warred openly against the King, and the lands around the town lay waste for many years. Sir Hugh de Lawless, a member of the family which, as stated under Rathmichael; became all powerful in the district, was appointed by the Crown in 1314 Constable of Bray manor, but resigned his commission five years later, stating that the lands, which, on the arrival of the Scotch enemies of the King, had been invaded, burned and totally devastated by the Irish of the mountains, were still unprofitable and uncultivated. His only personal advantage from the custody of the manor had been a gift of two salmon, but on his remitting such rents as he had received for the Crown they were returned to him as some compensation for his efforts to uphold English rule.

1.Sir Hugh Laghles was born 1295 Ireland.
NOTE: Commissioned to parley with Irishry
NOTE: 1316: A great army being gathered went to Ballylahan and spoiled and burned the place; where were killed divers, as: Milo de Cogan, head of his family in Ireland; Stephen de Exeter, principal of his family, and Petrus his brother; sir William Prendergast, William Lawless, 36 burgesses of Ballylahan, and many others. In 1318 Hugh Laghles, Knight, and father of Richard, was commissioned to parley with the Irishry of the south-eastern parts of "The Pale". He was constable at Bray and resigned his Post in 1319 due to the devastating Irish raids. In 1346, Robert Laghles, son of Provost Richard Laghles, was appointed Public Guardian of the Peace, in county Dublin, with the power to access and array therein. Kilcommon Castle* , its four towered keep in Co. Wicklow, was built c1320 by Sir Hugh Lawless, an old Wicklow warrior in his vain attempt to stem the O'Byrne expansion. [*note: ** The remains of a large moated site 40 metres square survive with a moat 3 metres in width. The moat is missing on the south-east side but a large external bank 3.2 metres in height is evident on the north-west side. The site has been much disturbed by the building of roads and a farm-house. There are also remains of a castle on the south-east side of the site butonly one small tower survives. It was originally one of four which were still traceable on the ground in 1839. Kilcommon was abandoned soon after Lawless's death in 1350. The remaining castle may date to 1581 when a garrison was placed there during the wars with Feagh McHugh O' Byrne" (Hannigan and Nolan 1994, 54).]
Apart from Dalkey, the Anglo-Norman system in many parts of south Dublin gradually disintegrated during the 14th century. For example, in 1316 Sir Hugh de Lawless was granted the lands and town of Bray. By 1320 he gave the land back to the Crown, complaining that his profit during those five years had only amounted to two salmon. The Archbishop's manor and village at Shankill was abandoned shortly later. The wild Irish of the Wicklow Mountains, namely the O'Byrnes and the O'Tooles, were blamed for wasting the lands of south Dublin and making them unprofitable. On 11 July 1402 the citizens of Dublin, led by their Lord Mayor, successfully repulsed an attempted attack on the city by the O'Byrnes. Nearly 500 of the Irish were slain, and the scene of the battle in Bray is still known as the Bloody Bank.
- 1. Richard Laghles was born in Ireland; d. 1409, IRL.
  NOTE: Owned Old Connaught & Shanganagh lands
  - 1. Aveline Laghles was born in Ireland.
    NOTE: 1390, Minor d/o & heir to Richard Laghles
- 2. Hugh Laghles d. Aft. 1395.
  NOTE: On December 12 1395 the king confirmed a grant of the confiscated lands of Lawless and Archbold, along with Hugh Lawless's lands at Carrickmines, to Janico Dartas.
2. Elias/Ellis Laghles was born in Ireland
NOTE: Fact 1: 1328, Appointed to Committee by Parliament
NOTE: 1328: Parliament appointed a committee of six composed of Wm. de Rodyeard, the Dean of St. Patrick's, the Abbot of St. Thomas's, the Abbot of St. Mary's, the Prior of Christ Church, Mr. Ellis Lawless and Mr. Peter Willoby to enquire into a matter.
- 1. Simon Laghles b. IRL. He was a Dublin Merchant
  - 1. Stephen Laghles b. IRL.Fact 1: Scribe: St. Mary's Abbey, Dublin
3. Reverend Gerald Laghles was born in Ireland died after 1353 Ireland
NOTE: "Franciscan Ireland" by Patrick Conlon states that Gerald Laghles was a Franciscan Minister Provincial up to 1353, at a time when Norman influence began to predominate in ecclesiastical affairs. Stephen Laghles, Chancellor of the Cathedral of Limerick, succeeded Bishop Rochford on the 13th day of May 1354. He died on Innocent's Day 1359. In 1431 another Stephen Laghles was a mitred Abbot of the religious House of the Blessed Virgin at Dublin.
4. Robert Laghles b. Bef. 1300, Ireland d. Aft. 1350. SEE BELOW
5. Roger Laghles, b. Ireland, living in 1340.
6. Simon Laghles b. Ireland
Note: Bef. 1350, Conveyance by Hugo de Eilam to Simon Laghles
- 1. Hugh Laghles b. Abt. 1325, Ireland
  NOTE: 01 Sep 1350, Lease by Hugh Laghles s/o Simon to John Senaunt
7. "Bishop" Stephen Laghles b. Ireland d. 13 May 1359, Limerick, Ireland . He was the Bishop of Limerick
NOTE: Stephen Laghles, Chancellor of the Cathedral of Limerick, succeeded Bishop Rochford on the 13th day of May 1354. He died on Innocent's Day 1359. In 1431another Stephen Laghles was a mitred Abbot of the religious House of the Blessed Virgin at Dublin.
8. William Laghles, b. Bef. 1300.
Note: 1316: A great army being gathered he went to Ballylahan and spoiled and burned the place; where were killed divers, as: Milo de Cogan, head of his family in Ireland; Stephen de Exeter, principal of his family, and Petrus his brother; sir William Prendergast, William Lawless, Nicholas Stanton, Wm. Barrett and his brother Philip, Maurice de Rochford and his 2 sons, 36 burgesses of Ballylahan, and many others.

Robert⁷ Laghles b. Bef. 1300, IRL; d. Aft. 1350.
NOTE: In 1314 the government pardoned the offences of Robert Lawless, and others, due to their service in Offaly and the Leinster mountains.
NOTE: On April 23, 1350, Peter Howel, Richard fitz Michael Howel, Elias fitz Robert Walsh and Hugh fitz Robert Lawless were part of the assembly to elect Walter Harold as head of his sept. In 1350 we again find mention of the Dublin Walshs. They, with the Harolds, Archbolds, Lawlesses and Hackets were posted along the rampart of the Pale, their charge to keep the Byrnes and O'Tooles away from Dublin. Fact 2: Dublin Guardian of the Peace

1. ** Walter Laghles b. IRL. SEE BELOW
2. Thomas Laghles b. IRL; d. Aft. 1408, IRL.
NOTE: In his 1456 parliament Thomas fitz Maurice Fitzgerald (now Earl of Kildare) outlawed Henry Walsh of Carrickmines and his son William. Among others to suffer the same fate were Thomas Carrach (Walsh?) of Shanganagh, Maurice Walsh, Patrick Archbold, Geoffrey Harold, Esmond Harold and a number of Lawlesses. They were pardoned in 1458 and being coerced to attack the Irish, who by now theyhad made friends with.
A branch of the family of Walsh of Carrickmines had settled in the parish of Rathmichael, and by degrees the Walshes supplanted the Lawless family. Shanganagh Castle stood close to Loughlinstown river, in the valley near Ballybrack, with some portion of it possibly dated from 1408, when Thomas Lawless undertook to build a castle on the lands. Under the Walshes it was doubtless enlarged, and it became a residence of importance.
3. William Laghles

Walter⁸ Laghles was born in Ireland
NOTE: Burgess of Talbot's Inch in 1396 (born c1350) The first of the name to settle in Kilkenny was Walter Lawless, who was admitted as a burgess of the town of Talbot's Inch. in 1396 (now part of KIK City). From him descended Walter Lawless, Portreeve, Kilkenny in 1526, who married Leticia Courcy . This later Walter died Dec. 2,1550. His son, Richard Lawless, a Lord of Talbot's Inche died Oct.6,1553. Richard's brother, Adam Lawless, who died Oct. 20,1600 had a son Walter Lawless. This Walter Lawless married Margaret Rothe, daughter of Robert Rothe (d. 1619) of Kilkenny. Walter was Portreeve of Irishtown in 1605 and died Aug. 6,1627. They had children; Richard, Leticia, Adam, Ellen, Nicholas & James. Walter was agent to Thomas Butler, 10th Earl of Ormonde and was also Portreeve of Irishtown (in Kilkenny City) in 1605. On the 9th of May, 1608, he obtained from his gracious Majesty, King James the First, the princely grant of seven manors, situated in the counties of Tipperary, Waterford and Kilkenny. According to an old deed of transfer, these manors "possessed the Right of Patronage, and were to be held forever "in capitae" by Knights service."
September 1, 1350: In the Segrave papers now on deposit in the National Library, Kildare Street, there are 224 deeds dated prior to 1709 relating to lands in Ashtown, Cabragh, Castleknock and Finglaswood. The earliest deed bears the date1st September, 1350 and is a lease by Hugh, son of Simon laughles (Lawless) to John Sonant. Another lease, undated but evidently anterior to the 1350 one is a conveyance by Hugo de Elam to Simon Laeles of lands in Calbragh called Acketh Nelithan, the names of adjoining lands being specified in detail. 1361: In 1361 ,soon after the accession of Edw. IV the counties of Ulster applied to the king on behalf of the Crown and obtained a murage charter for the purpose of effectually enclosing the town with walls.
1368: The Archbolds, who were classed as protectors of the Pale with the Walshes of Carrickmines and the Harolds of Whitechurch, were at Bray as tenants of the town on the southern side of the river then called Much Bray. Maurice Howel had accounted to the Crown for the Bray rents, but in the later half of the 14th century the Archbolds and the Lawlesses seem to have been the chief inhabitants. Maurice Lawless, William Archbold, and James Lawless are successively mentioned as farmers under the Crown of Bray manor, while in 1368 Hugh Lawless was tried for unjustly ejecting William, son of Thomas Lawless, from the lands of Old Connaught. (Memoranda Roll, 5 & 6 Edw. III., m 11; 57 & 48 Edw. III., m 76; Judiciary Roll, 42 Edw. III., No. 216; Patent Rolls, p.124.)
In 1386 King Richard, at the instance of William Lawles, Nicholas Lawles and Simon Lawles merchant, all of Dublin Co., committed to James Lawles, the custody of the lands in le Bree (Bray), which William Archbold had then lately held of the Crown.1394: The state of war still continued. William Lawless was slain about 1394 while protecting the frontiers of the Pale; but the necessities of the time required that guard should not be relaxed, and at her own expense his widow, Katherine FitzEustace, maintained the men who were serving under her husband at their post.
1402: Tallaght History: At the beginning of the fifteenth century, in 1402, the tithes of the parish (Tallaght) were seized for the Crown by the corn keeper of the Lord Lieutenant. Later on in that century we find Thomas Sueterby, and his wife Johanna St. Leger, bequeathing land to the Tallaght Church; and a Tallaght farmer, Patrick Lawless, directing that he should be buried in the cemetery of St. Maelruain's Church. In 1408 Thos. Lawles undertook to build a castle at Shanganagh. He held the Seigniory of Shanganagh (in the Parish of Rathmichael) from the Vicar Choral of St. Patrick's Cathedral. In 1409 King Henry granted to John Eytelay the lands in Old Connaght, Kilrothery, Corkragh and Shanganagh, which had been the estate of Richard Lawles, to hold same during the minority of Aveline, his daughter and heiress. These lands were later owned by Hugh Lawles.
1408: Dublin Co. History from 1408 At first the tenants were members of the family of Lawless - a family mentioned so early as the 13th century in connection with Ballycorus. In 1408 Thomas Lawless held the Seigniory of Shanganagh from the Vicars-Choral of St. Patrick's Cathedral; in 1409 Aveline, daughter of Richard Lawless, was owner of another portion of the Shanganagh lands, as well as of lands in the adjoining parish of Old Connaught; in 1432 Richard Lawless is described as of Shanganagh, and in 1482 John Lawless was tenant of Shankill. Meantime, however, a branch of the family of Walsh of Carrickmines had settled in the parish, and by degrees the Walshes supplanted the Lawless family. They appear first in 1447 at Shanganagh in the person of Edmund Walsh, to whom the Seigniory of that place. was leased in that year. by the Vicars Choral of St. Patrick's Cathedral.
Some 25 years later, in 1473, legal proceedings were instituted against Edmund Walsh for refusing to pay rent and continuing to hold the lands after the expiration of his lease, but the dispute was settled, and we find amongst the subsequent owners of Shanganagh, in 1482 Charles Walsh, in 1509 Richard Walsh, and in 1521 Charles, son of Richard Walsh. The castles at Shankill and Shanganagh, of which remains are to be seen, as well as a fortified dwelling called Puck's Castle, near Rathmichael, were probably erected in the 15th or 16th century. Shanganagh Castle, which stands close to Loughlinstown river, in the valley near Ballybrack, was the largest of the three, and possibly some portion of it dated from 1408, when Thos. Lawless undertook to build a castle on the lands. Under the Walshes it was doubtless enlarged, and it became a residence of importance. Chas. Walsh, who died in 1521, was succeeded successively by his son, Walter Walsh, who died in 1551, and by his grandson, John Walsh. The latter, who is included amongst the men of name in the Co. Dublin, and acted as a commissioner for the muster of the militia, owned at the time of his death in 1600, lands in the co. of the O'Tooles & O'Byrnes, as well as the lands of Shanganagh and lands in the adjoining parish of Old Connaught.
The castle known as Puck's Castle on the lands of Rathmichael, which is in unusually perfect condition, seems to have been built as a place of defence rather than as a dwelling. It stands on bleak mountain pasture, which would hardly have been selected as the site of a residence by persons whose only object was agriculture, and is placed in such a position as to command the approaches over the mountains from the County Wicklow. Possibly it was erected by that valiant defender of the Pale, Peter Talbot, already mentioned in connection with Bullock and Cruagh. He is sometimes described as of Shankill, and was closely interested in the neighbourhood as owner of the lands of Ballycorus and of the manor of Rathdown, within which the lands of Shanganagh lay.
In 1537 it was suggested that the Crown should assist Peter Talbot and the Walsh clan in building castles towards the territory of the O'Tooles, who were then causing so much annoyance to the inhabitants of the Pale, and it seems not improbable that Puck's Castle may have been the outcome of this recommendation. The Castle of Shankill, which was occupied as a dwelling until recently, and in which the original vaulted ground floor and large fire-places are still to be seen, was held under the Archbishop of Dublin in the middle of the sixteenth century by a branch of the Barnewall family. Its occupant in the latter part of that century was Robert Barnewall, who, in 1571, when still a minor, had succeeded his father, Patrick Barnewall. He married a sister of his neighbour, Theobald Walsh of Carrickmines, and was, like his brother-in-law, and his kinsman, John Walsh of Shanganagh, a man of good position holding a considerable extent of lands, and owning, besides his castle at Shankill, a house in the town of Dalkey. Until the close of the sixteenth century the Irish tribes continued to give trouble, but during the first forty years of the 17th century the Shankill neighbourhood enjoyed tranquillity and the inhabitants prospered in a corresponding degree.
The two principal houses, the castles of Shanganagh and Shankill, were good residences of that time. Shanganagh Castle had attached to it a hall, which, although only roofed with thatch, was of considerable dimensions, and round it lay an orchard, garden and ornamental plantations, doubtless extending down to the Loughlinstown river, on which the Walshes had a mill; while Shankill Castle was large enough to accommodate a household of some twenty persons. But into this district, as into other places, the rebellion of 1641 brought great discord. In depositions subsequently made, William Hickson, of Ballycorus, which had passed from the Talbots to the Wolverstons of Stillorgan, and Thomas and Hugh Campion, of Crinkin, who are described as British Protestants, detail heavy losses of cattle and goods - which they attributed, in part, to the Barnewalls and their servants. Then came the Commonwealth, and soon after its establishment the Barnewalls and the Walshes were compelled to find new homes. What such a change meant for the district is exemplified in the former case. The member of that family last mentioned, Robert Barnewall, who had died in 1594, had been succeeded by his son, Patrick Barnewall, and the latter, on his death in 1627, had been succeeded in his turn by his eldest son, Robert Barnewall.
They were earnest and devout Roman Catholics; and in Robert Barnewall's time a friar and a nun, in the person of his own sister, were supported at Shankill. Besides being extremely charitable to their poorer brethren they gave large employment as the owners of a great stud of horses which grazed on the Castle lands. Robert Barnewall died before the establishment of the Commonwealth, and when the order to transplant into Connaught came Shankill Castle was occupied by his widow, a sister of Robert, the 7th Baron of Trimlestown, and their five children. In her immediate household she had thirteen retainers, including a bailiff and a gardener, and in the village which then lay near the castle there were twenty-two residents, including two shoemakers, a weaver, two carpenters, a smith, a ploughman, a rabbit hunter, and a fisherman, who doubtless lived largely on the employment given by the lady of the castle. Upon the Restoration both the Barnewalls and the Walshes were restored to their possessions. The population of the lands, now within Rathmichael parish, is then returned as being on the lands of Shanganagh, 11 English and 63 Irish inhabiting 27 houses; on the lands of Shankill, 7 English and 33 Irish inhabiting 22 houses; on the lands of Rathmichael, 2 English and 1 Irish; and on the lands of Ballycorus, which were then farmed by Edw. Buller, of Laughanstown, six English and two Irish, occupying 3 houses. The lands of Shanganagh, which had been occupied under the Commonwealth by John and Henry Baxter, were restored by the Commissioners of Settlement to John Walsh. He was a direct descendant of the last-mentioned owner (the John Walsh who died in 1600), who had been succeeded in turn by his son James Walsh, by his grandson John Walsh, who married a daughter of Sir Robert Kennedy, Bart., of Newtownmountkennedy, and by his great-grandson Edmond Walsh, the father of the claimant at the Restoration.
The claimant was only a youth, but his cause had influential supporters in his grandfather, Sir Robert Kennedy, and his uncle, Sir Richard Kennedy, who was one of the Barons of the Exchequer. He died in 1671, and was succeeded successively by his son, Edward Walsh, and another, John Walsh, who in 1705 was licensed as a loyal Roman Catholic to keep a sword, a case of pistols, and a gun. The Walshes' occupation of Shanganagh did not cease until the middle of the eighteenth century. The lands of Shanganagh, together with the Walshes' property in Old Connaught parish, passed then into the possession of the family of Roberts, now represented by Captain Lewis Riall, and in 1763 the castle of Shanganagh was destroyed by a disastrous fire. The lands of Shankill, which had been held under the Commonwealth by Owen Vaughan, were restored by the Commissioners of Settlement to Christopher Barnewall, a son of Robert Barnewall. He died in 1673, and was succeeded by his son Robert Barnewall. Subsequently the lands passed into the possession of the family of Lawless, who appear once more in the district as its occupants. In the castle died in 1743 Mrs. Lawless, "one of the greatest farmers in the kingdom," who was universally esteemed for her hospitality, charity, and other virtues; and in 1751 Mrs. Clare Lawless, "a young gentlewoman of many valuable qualities"; while in 1795 we find Mr. Barry Lawless, of Shankill, serving on the Co. Dublin Grand Jury. Austin Cooper says that in 1782 the castle was in a very ruinous state, and describes it as a low square castle built of the mountain stone, with a dwelling house adjoining, which was also in need of repair.
1429: Under the Anglo-Norman settlement, Clonliffe was confirmed to the abbey, and, as it was on the borders of the city, its extent became a question of importance that gave rise on more than one occasion to litigation. In the ecclesiastical taxation of 1804 the grange of Clonliffe appears; some years later oxen and horses are mentioned as taken from it, and it is said to have been the birthplace of an abbot of St. Mary's, Stephen Lawless, who ruled the abbey from 1429 to 1487.
1432: Richard Lawless is described as of Shanganagh
1450: JOHN LAWLESS (b. c1450)There is an early reference to a John Lawless from KIK. The date of the first reference to an organ in Armagh Cathedral is given as 1482 by T. G. F. Paterson. This reference occurs in the Kilkenny archives where an entry states that "John Lawless made a payre of organa sett up in the Cathedra Ardmagh on Tuesday afr Easter, AD 1482." Lawless had, by then, been resident in Kilkenny for some six years, having been induced to settle there c.1476. An indenture made in that year "on the Monday after the Nativity of our Lord Jeshu" is still extant. By it he was confirmed in a most productive lease from the Kilkenny Corporation on condition that he lived in that city for at least twelve years and "there exercised his craft of organ builder." Permission was given by the same document "to work for his own profit elsewhere" provided that he did not take up residence in such places but returned immediately to KIK when his work was completed. To ensure that he conformed to those terms a further clause was inserted whereby his heirs were penalized with the loss of the lease should he die away from Kilkenny. There are no particulars regarding his visit to Armagh with the "payre of organa" and we may assume that they were assembled in Kilkenny and "sett up" in Armagh by himself or his sons. Unfortunately, though the archiepiscopal registers exist for that year, they embody no entry relating to the commissioning of the organ or its arrival in Armagh. No further mention is made of an organ but it is probable that the Lawless instrument would have lasted at least until 1566 when the City of Armagh was burned along with the cathedral by Shane O'Neill (the O'Neills were constantly at war with the Anglo-Irish during the 15th and 16th centuries). Undoubtedly any instrument would have perished then if one existed.

1. Peter Laghles was born in Ireland.
NOTE: 28 Jan 1408/09, Deed
2. ** James Laghles was born in Ireland SEE BELOW
3. William Laghles was born in Killury, Diocese of Ardfert, IRL 1391.
- 1. John Laghles was born bef. 1380.
  NOTE: In 1407 the crown granted land at Balally to Henry fitz Adam's son, William fitz Henry Walsh. Upon the death of Wm. fitz Henry sometime in 1407, a panel of jurors including John Archbold and John Lawless took part in an inquisition to determine the extent of Walsh holdings at Symondeston.
4. John Laghles was born Shankill, Dublin, Ireland. NOTE: 1482, Tennant of Shankill
- 1. Elizabeth Laghles b. Shankill, Dublin, Ireland married (1) William Barnewall of Ballyfermot, ancestor of the Barnewalls of Shankill (2) Patrick Barnewall of Kilbrew, 1536, b. Kilbrew, Ireland. Patrick died before his brother (John), leaving several children.[* IRISH GENEALOGIST Vol 6 #1 p. 11]
5. Hugh Laghles
NOTE: On December 12 1395 the king confirmed a grant of the confiscated lands of Lawless and Archbold, along with Hugh Lawless's lands at Carrickmines, to Janico Dartas. King Richard's grant indicates that the crown had exercised its right to Carrickmines, depriving Holy Trinity of its ownership. In turn Dartas may have confirmed Carrickmines and other lands to John and David Walsh, who held these lands from the crown by knight service. In turn these men seem to have allowed Henry fitz Adam Walsh to occupy Carrickmines Castle and work its attached lands. Henry fitz Adam was definitely in possession of Carrickmines by 11 March 1400, for Henry IV then granted 100s. from the revenues of the royal manor of Thorncastle to 'Henry Adamesone of Cairykmayn' for his good service. [source: article on Carrickmines by Emmett O'Byrne]

James⁹ Laghles was born in IRL.

1.**Adam Laghles was born in Ireland. SEE BELOW
2. Richard Laghles was born in Shanganagh, Dublin, Ireland 1432.

Adam¹⁰ Laghles was born in Ireland

1.**Richard Lawles b. 1440 , Ireland d. Ireland SEE BELOW
2. Patrick Lawles b. Abt. 1440, IRL; d. IRL. buried: St. Maelruain's occupation: Tallaght farmer

Manurscript Sources for the History of Irish Civilization
This Ancestrail Chart indiates 10 generations of the Lawless Sept from
Richard Lawless & wife Isabella Cottrell (1400s) down to Sir Nicholas Lawless 1733-1799 and his wife Margaret Browne 1748-1795.
It was photo copied from the original manuscript MS.811 (11) at the National Library of Ireland. --Denis Lawless Ottawa, Ontarion, Canada 1998

CLICK TO ENLARGE / View in new window - - - TEXT VERSION

Richard¹¹ Lawles was born 1440 in Ireland married Isabella Cottrell in St. Canice's Cathedral,Kilkenny,KIK, Ireland was born 1450 in Ireland and died in Ireland d/o James Cottrell
NOTE: 1454: Glasnevin Lands: 2 wives of Geoffrey Fox, who d. in 1473 and in the yr. 1476, show that they owned jointly with their husband at Glasnevin much farm-stock as well as other possessions, which included in the case of the first wife, Janet Cristore, household stuff and utensils, and in the case of the second wife, Agnes Lawless, a maser, six silver spoons, and linen cloth, as well as a great store of bacon. Geoffrey Fox's 2nd. wife desires to be buried in the nave, and leaves two shillings towards the works and a towel for the use of the clergy.**
1460: Several expeditions were organized at the beginning of th 15th C. against the Irish, and advanced from Bray into the wilds of the country now comprised in the Co. Wicklow The lands of Old Connaught and Cork, as well as those of Shanganagh, were at the start of the 15th cent., owned by Aveline Lawless and later on by Hugh Lawless, and seem to have been occupied by the Harolds, as in 1460 custody of the property of one Walter Harold, at Old Connaught, was granted to John, son of Reginald Talbot. In the16th C. all the lands in the parish of Old Connaught were in the possession of the Walshes
In 1473 the Vicars of St. Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin, petitioned Parliament, stating that they and their predecessors were seised of the Seigniory of Shanganagh from time immemorial, had leased it to Thos. Lawless, and had also leased 80 acres within said Seigniory to Edmund Wash, who disavowed their authority, and would pay norent. From the Lawless family these Townlands passed over to the Walshes, who as "Irish rebels and Papists" are frequently alluded to in the old chronicles of Dublin. Shanganagh, about this time passed out of the hands of the family but the Lawlesses were too much attached to the old property not to re-establish themselves as soon as possible in its immediate vicinity. They did this by erecting a castle at Shankhill and a dwelling house at Cherrywood-Townlands situated within a stone's throw of Shanganagh. In the 15th century the Lawlesses were in possession of considerable landed property in `Kilkenny.
1482: John Lawless was tenant of Shankill -Will 1482

1. **Walter Lawles b. 1480 in Kilkenny,Ireland d. 2 Dec 1550, KIK,Ireland SEE BELOW
2. John Lawles Vicar of Balscadden; b___ d. 1596.
NOTE: 1504 Nicholas & John Lawless were Sheriffs of the City of Limerick.
1507 Jas. Laules D. 1927: Indenture between Jas. Laules and Walter Butillar concerning a messuage in Clonmel, 1507.
1511 Wm. Lawless D.1980: Deed of attorney by Philip Fitz Redmond appointing William Lawless to place Thomas Fitz Redmond in seisin of lands in the lordship of Rathronan, March 6, 1511.
1521 Jas. Lawles D. 2074: Two deeds containing grants by Jas. Lawles to the Earl of Ormonde of a messuage in Clonmel (June?), 1521 and of messuage and lands in Elias Lawles Balymakrauthyn alias Lawleston in Co. Tipperary, June 24, 1521
1527 D.2149: Inspeximus, Nov. 22, 1527 of an agreement between James, first Earl of Ormonde, and Elias Lawles concerning the manor of Cloncurry, Co. Kildare, Feb.,1330.
1532 Jas. Lawless D.2212: Grant by Jas. Lawless to Piers, Earl of Ossory, of a messuage and garden in Clonmel, July 24, 1532.
1541 Jan 27 , Jas. Lawles D. 2341: Grant by Nimias O' Meaghir to Nicholas Toben and James Lawles of his castle and lands in Cloghmonockode alias Nockodestown, Co. TIP
3. Wm. Lawles b: Abt.1480 in KIK,IRL : Aft. 1511 f: 1511 Deed of Attorney f: Ref: MS.811
4. Jas. Lawles b: Abt. 1480 in KIK,IRL d: Aft. 1532 f: in Land in Clonmel, TIP f: Ref: MS.811
- 1. Richard Lawles b: in KIK,IRL f: Sep 30, 1571 Will
- 2. Wm. Lawles b: in KIK,IRL d: Aft. 1589 in IRL
5. Richard Lawles
NOTE: 1571 Richard Lawless D. 2796: Grant by Mary Fitz Gerald, administratix of Oliver Grace and Richard Strong and others, executors of the will of Richard Laules, to the Earl of Ormonde of all their estates and interest in the manors of Durrow (Leix), Gorteclare (Leix) and Leoaghe (Co. TIP), Sept. 30, 157

Walter¹² Lawles was born 1480 in Kilkenny,Ireland Death: 2 Dec 1550 in Kilkenny,Ireland m. Leticia Courcy. She was born in Ireland.They are buried at St. Canice Cathedral, Kilkenny, KIK, Ireland.
NOTE: Ref: MS.811 (11) Burgess of Town of Kilkenny
Port Reeve in Kilkenny
1500: CATHEDRAL OF ST. CANICE: The ancient city of Kilkenny is situated on the banks of the River Nore with its civil and ecclesiastical roots deep in the past. (Talbot's Inch is a part of Kilkenny City) St. Canice, after whom the cathedral is named, built a 6th century church on the site now occupied by St. Canice's. After the Anglo-Norman invasion c1170 the town was granted to Strongbow, Earl of Pembroke. In 1642 the city became the seat of the Confederate Parliament, representing the Irish and Anglo-Norman Catholics, which functioned for 6 yrs. The cathedral had the most magnificent stained glass windows in all Europe. Oliver Cromwell, c1650, came along, smashed the windows and stabled his horses in the cathedral. It was originally the property of the Catholic Church but became C. of E. in the 16th or 17th century. In the Cathedral of St. Canice there is an altar tomb slab with Latin inscriptions thereon, of which the following are translations:-
"Here lieth Adam Cottrell, James Cottrell, Richard Lawles and Walter Lawles with his wife Letitia Courcy, former Burgesses of the town of Kilkenny and Lords of Talbot's Inch, which Walter died on the second day of the month of Dec., A.D. 1550, on whose souls may God have mercy. Amen."
"Here lieth Richard Lawles, son and heir of the aforesaid Walter, who died on the 6th day of the month of Oct., A.D. 1553."
"Here lieth Jas.Lawles, brother and heir of Richard Lawles, son and heir of Walter Lawles, who died the last day of July A.D. 1562, on whose soul may God have mercy. Amen. And Adam Lawles, who died the 20th day of Oct., 1600, and Letitia Shee, his wife, who d. the 5th day of Oct. I believe that my Redeemer liveth, and in the last day I will rise out of the earth, and in my flesh I shall see God my Saviour, whom I myself shall see and not another, and my eyes shall behold." Job.XIX.,25-7.
Fr. Carrigan's books. "The History and Antiquities of the Diocese of Ossory" by Rev. W. Carrigan, Publ. 1905. Father Carrigan was a Catholic priest. This large altar tomb slab dates from the 13th century, as its ornamentation in the Early Eng. style clearly shows. It appears to have been originally the covering stone of an altar tomb; was appropriated and inscribed by the Lawlesses in the 16th century; served as a floor-slab down to about 1860; and at present rests on a pile of masonry, the whole resembling the usual altar-tomb. The inscription is in raised Old English, and though the sculptor's name is nowhere mentioned, is the work of Wm. O'Tunny.
The above altar tomb slab is still available for viewing in the Cathedral and a Lawless family tomb stone still exists in the cemetery near the front entrance to the Cathedral. (June 1997 D. F. L)

1.**Adam Lawles b. About 1540 in Kilkenny,Ireland d. 20 Oct 1600, KIK, Ireland SEE BELOW
2. Richard Lawles b. Abt. 1540, IRL. Oct 06, 1553 in IRL f: Lord of Talbots Inche f: Ref: MS.811
3. James Lawles, b. Abt. 1540, IRL; d. Jul 31,1572 in KIK,IRL Buried Cath. of St. Canice, Kilkenny, KIK,IRL
Fact 1: Brother & heir to Richard Lawles
4. William Lawles b. Abt. 1540.
NOTE: 1589. Calender of Inquisitions -CS484 675 1991 Grant by Gerald Wesley of Dengen to Sir Luke Dillon of Moymett, Edward Cussacke of Lesmolin. esq., & William Walsh of Garris, yeoman. of all his lands etc. in the manor of Vills of Dengen, Conemeath Ballmaghlass & elsewhere in co. MEA. & in Painston. Alasdey, Ladycastell. Davidstown, Clongawnagh & elsewhere in co. KID. Maurice Walsh & Gerald Beaghan of Dengen, yeoman, attorneys to deliver seisen. W to delivery of deed-Robert Barnewall. William Lawles. James Wesley, P. Walsh, W to liv Robert Barnwall, William Lawles. P. Walshe, James Wesley, Patrick Walshe, Robert Walshe. Christopher Flatisbury, Philip Flatisbury.
5. Nicholas Lawles b _ in IRL f: Ref: MS.811
- 1. Nicholas Lawless b: in IRL d: Abt. 1633 f: of Kilmallock, LIM f: Ref: MS.811
- 2. Richard Lawless b: in IRL f: Ref: MS.811
6. "Sir" Thomas Lawles b. Abt. 1540.
NOTE: 1543 Sir Thos. Lawless D. 2406-7: Two deeds by the Earl of Ormonde granting lands in Ballerade, Co. KIK to Sir Thos. Lawles to the use of Walter Cowley, May 16, 1543.
1563 About the middle of the 16th century the lands, which were occupied by a son of the owner of Loughlinstown, Jas. Goodman, and on which a castle then stood, were held by the Talbots of Belgard under another branch of the family, described as of Rathdown and possibly were the castle and lordship of Yenah called Dalkey", which in 1563 was assigned by Robert Talbot of Belgard to Matthew Birsell and Thos. Lawless.

Adam¹³ Lawles was born abt. 1540 in Kilkenny,Ireland died 20 Oct 1600 in Kilkenny,Ireland m. Leticia Shee. She was born Abt. 1545 in IRL, and died 05 Oct 1576. They are buried at St. Canice Cathedral, Kilkenny, KIK, Ireland
Note: 1564 in Portreeve Irishtown
Jan. 28,1580 Adam Lawless of Kilkenny - executor - Will of Waterford Alderman, Nicholas Ley

1. Leticia Lawless b. Abt. 1560, Talbots Inche, Kilkenny, KIK, Ireland d. IRL; m. Peter Rothe-FitzJohn abt. 1590, KIK, Ireland ; b. Abt. 1550.s/o John Rothe-FitzPiers
NOTE: Peter Rothe-FitzJohn : History and Antiquities Of inquisition XXXIII "The sessions House,17th Sept.,1622" "John Rothfitzpiers I , of the City of Kilkenny, Ald., was seized of the fee of the estate (mortgaged for L 180) of, and in the town and lands of Aghenowrlin, in the Co. KIK; and by his writing, dated the 20th Sept.,1615, he gave the said town and lands to one William Shee, James Cleere and others, to use of the said John Fitspiers during his life, and after his decease to the use of his will---. On the last of Mar.,1619, the aforesaid John made his last will, and devised the profits of the town and lands aforesaid to the use of his daughters, who at the time of his death were unmarried-viz., Anastacie Katherine and Elicie Roth. The aforesaid town and lands contain one-half carucate, and are held from the King in capite by knight's service. The aforesaid John was also seized of the fee of the estate, mortgaged for L 40, of the town and lands of Sheepstown, in the Co. KIK, containing one-fifth carucate of land, which are held from the Earl of Desmonde, as of his manor of Knocktopher, by fealty only.
The aforesaid John died on the last day of Jan.,1620. Peter Rothe Fitzjohn is his son and heir, and was then 30 years of age, and married to Leticia Lawless, d/o Walter Lawless, of the City of Kilkenny. The aforesaid John seized of the fee of 1 messuage, 1 garden, and 1 stang of land., within the town of Gowren, which are held from the Earl of Ormonde, as his manor of Gowren by fealty, and of 2 messuages and 2 gardens, within the town of Thomastown, of which 1 is held from Patrick Denn, as of his manor of Grenan by fealty, and the other is held from the heirs of Richard Archdeacon at Maccody, as of his manor of Dangan, for a head rent."
2.**Walter Lawless b. 1570 in Kilkenny,Ireland d. 06 Aug 1627, Kilkenny,Ireland
3. Adam Lawless b: in KIK,IRL f: Ref: MS.811 f: 1564 in Portreeve Irishtown
4. Richard Lawless b: in KIK,IRL f: 1609 in Will f: Ref: MS.811
5. ___ Lawless b: in KIK,IRL. md Michael Cawley
6. Mary Lawless b: in KIK,IRL md Walter Cottrell
7. John Lawless b: in KIK,IRL f: 1596 will / Vicar of Balscadden
8. Michael Lawless b: in KIK,IRL f: in Ref: MS.811

Walter¹⁴ Lawless was born 1570 in Kilkenny,Ireland died 6 Aug 1627 in Kilkenny,Ireland married Margaret Rothe d/o Robert Rothe. She was born Abt. 1575 in KIK, Ireland and died in KIK, Ireland
NOTE: King James' Letters Patent were drawn up in the 6th yr. of his reign, dated at Dublin, 19th May, 1608. From them we find that his Majesty granted the several manors following, to wit, the manor of Clonmell, Killsheallane, Lisronagho, Killfiakill, Corketenny, Danagh & Ballicallan, with divers lands, tenements, rents, customs, services and right of patronage, to the said manors respectively belonging, and therin particularlyited and mentioned, situate, lying and being in the counties of TIP, WAT and KIK. To hold to the said Walter Lawless, his heirs and assigns for ever, in capite, by knight's service." This tenure was abolished in ENG by Charles II. Note: See Bethams Will Extracts, Vol 217 p.159. Lingard speaking of James's manuficence in 1608 (vol.vi. chap.2), says, that his entertainments were of the most costly description, and his presents to those who claimed reward for their services, or had the good fortune to attract his favor, were valuable and profuse, beyond precedent. Walter Lawless was one of those men who are born to be lucky. He attracted the royal favor and received seven boons.
1608 : APR. 4th -INQUISITION VI. - Callan - Walter Lawless is seized in fee of the manors, castles, towns, lands, & tenements following, viz.-the manour of Callan 2, in the Co. of KIK, consisting of an old ruinous house, 28 messuages, 1 water mill, 20 1/2 acres Co. measure of arable and pasture, a parcel of wood, commonly called the parke, containing 1 acre, Graiggowlye, containing of arable, wood & pasture, 4 acres L 3 8 s. 4d. cheefe rent, issuing out of the burgagerie of Callan, payable at Michaellmas and Easter, a certaine yearlie customs of plowes. viz.-1 plowe for 1 day, every season within the towne of Callan, the customs of ryping hookes every harvest yearlie upon the burgesses and inhabitants of the said towne (excepting the cheefe brethern of counsell of Callan) and a custome of a gallon of ale to be paid by the inhabitants aforesaid (excepting the said cheefe bretheren or counsell) out of everie ale brued to be solde in the towne aforesaid.
The saied Walter is likewise seised as of fee of the towne and landes of Dammagh in the Co. of Kilkenye, containing of arable lands, wood and pasture, 23 acres; Ballycallan, containing of arrable, wood & pasture, 8 acres; Kyllmanagh, 16 acres; Butlersgrove at Garranvoltyara, containing of arrable land, wood & pasture, 10 acres; Kyllyn 1 acre; Meallaghmore, Tullehaght, Lommog & Ballenasagart, in Slieave Dylye in the Co. aforesaid, containing of barraine mountain ground, 30 acres; Kellmacolyver, 7 acres arrable land, wood and pasture, barraine soyle and mountain; 1 castle, 6 messuages and 9 acres of arrable land and pasture of like co. measure in the towne and lands of Pollroan; the towne and lands of Ardcloyne, 2 acres; the Earle's Grange, 18 acres arrable, wood and pasture, and Palmerstowne, 6 acres arrable, meadowe and pasture of like measure, all of which are held from the king in cheefe.
The said Walter is also seised as of fee of the castle, towne and lands of Tullaghmayne, in the county aforesaid containing of arrable, wood, meadowe and pasture 15 acres; Corballye neere Tullaghmayne, arrable wood, meadows and pasture 2 1/2 acres (both which parcels are holden of Thomas, Earle of Ormonde, by fealtie and suite of courte) and the castle, towne and lands of Ballydonnell 10 acres, holden from Oliver Shortall as of his manour of Castledowagh, by fealtie and suite of courte. The said Walter Lawless doth hold the premises by course of common lawe and not by gravellkyne or Tanystrye 3. Richard Viscount Mountgarrett made clayme to moytie of Ballydonnell. Richard Butler of Kearehill made claime to Dellmacoliver and Tullehagher, at Carrickmacklagy. Sir Richard Shea maketh clayme to a way or easement for horsemen and carrage, and for other his affayrs to the markett of Kilkenny in right of himself and others whose estate he hath in Bonnets towne, in the county from the said towne until Kilkenny, and the Parishe Church of St. Keynes, which way or easement the said Sir Richard saieth that he still enjoys.

1. Adam Lawless was born Abt. 1600 in Irishtown, KIK,IRL ied aft. 1636 md (1) ___ Shee d/o Robert Shee f: Ref: MS.811 (2) Margaret Layton b: in KIK,IRL f: Ref: MS.811
- 1. Adam Lawless b. Ireland
2. ** Richard Lawless b. abt. 1600 in Kilkenny,Ireland SEE BELOW
3. Simon Lawless b. Abt. 1600, Butterfield, Dublin, Ireland.
4. Leticia Lawless b: in KIK, IRL f: in Ref: MS.811 md Peter Rothefitzjohn b: 1590 in KIK, IRL m: 1619 in KIK,IRL f: of KIK.
5. Ellen Lawless b: in KIK,IRL f: Ref: MS.811
6. Nicholas Lawless b: in KIK, IRL f: 1633 in Deed f: Ref: MS.811
7. Jas. Lawless b: 1570 in KIK, IRL d: Abt.1644 in IRL f: Ref: MS.811

Richard¹⁵ Lawless b. abt. 1600 Kilkenny,Ireland d. 1670 married (1) Ellen Shee abt. 1635 in Ireland, d/o Lucas Shee and Ellen Butler (2) Margaret Denn in 1641 in Ireland, d/o Patrick Denn d/o Patrick Denn, b in Grenan, Dublin, Irelandd. Dec. 20th, 1639 **
NOTE: Will: 1663, Alderman Talbot's Inche.
NOTE: Richard Lawless, s/o Walter Lawless & Marg't. Rothe, was in 1648 during the civil war under King Chas. I. Procurator of the Supreme Council of the Confederate Catholics of Ireland. In this capacity he greatly distinguished himself by opposing the massacre of KIK Protestants, when proposed to the Council by Torlogh Ogr O'Neil. Torlogh petitioned the Council that all ENG Protestants there should be put to death., whereupon Alderman Richard Lawless answered that they were all robbed before and he saw no cause that they should lose their lives.
Richard Lawless first m. Ellen/Maud Shee, d/o of Lucas/Luke Shee of KIK & Ellen Butler. Lucas Shee was the s/o Sir Richard Shee c1550-1608 & Marg't. Sherlocke (first wife of Sir Richard Shee) Marg't. Sherlocke was the d/o John Sherlocke of Mothel, Co. Waterford. Ellen Butler was the d/o Edmond Butler, Viscount Mountgarrett. Richard Lawless later m. Margaret Denn, d/o of Patrick Denn Esq., of Grenan, Co. KIK. He had sons Walter & Thomas as well as 3 daughters. He died in 1663 in Co. KIK. Richard's will was dated Sept. 8,1662 and proved July 22,1663. Marg't. was named in his will. In the old cathedral of St. Mary's - not the new Catholic cathedral built about 1850) there is a monument to Sir Richard Shee.
According to Fr. Carrigan in "The History of Antiquities of the Diocese of Ossory" (1905) The Shee family belonged originally in Co. Kerry and were the same as the O'Shea family. In old documents from the 1500 and 1600s they appear under the name Sheth, Sheathe or Shethe. There is a genealogy of the family in Carrigan's books, Vol III p.79 on. Included is Elias Shee of Clonmoran, Co. Kilkenny, who was educated at Oxford and is described by Stanihurst as "Elias Sheth", born in KIK. He died in 1613 and is buried in St. Mary's. By his wife, Margaret Archer, he had a son, George whose son, Elias, forfeited under Cromwell and was transplanted to Connaught.
The brother of Elias Shee was Richard Shee, who was one of the most famous of the old citizens of Kilkenny. He was Seneschal of Irishtown (in Kilkenny City) in 1568. He was Treasurer of the regalities of Tipperary in 1571 and Deputy to the Lord Treasurer of Ireland, and received the honour of Knighthood in 1582. He was a lawyer to Thomas Butler, the 10th Earl of Ormonde. He acquired an immense amount of property in the city and county of Kilkenny through his work with Thomas Butler. He is buried underneath his own monument in St. Mary's. His descendants forfeited their land during the Cromwellian era.
Archer, Rothe, Shee, Lawless, Langton, Ragget, Archdekin, Knaresborough & Butler families etc. were the prominent old families of Kilkenny who were mainly of Norman descent. There was much inter marriage between all these families. The old medieval part of Kilkenny was built by these families. They were quite wealthy, some very well educated and cultured. They lost much of their property and possessions in the 1600s, particularly during the Cromwellian era when their lands were confiscated.
If they ended up with property, it was only a fraction of their original holdings. Whatever they managed to retain after Cromwell, they lost after the Battle of the Boyne and the Treaty of Limerick about 1691. If they remained Catholic after this time, their descendants ended up in poverty; if they became Protestant (Church of Ireland) then they retained some property and were fairly prosperous.
1641: The "Ten Tribes of Kilkenny" Like Gallway, KIK had its own merchant Tribes including the Shee, Rothe, Archer, Archdekin, Crowley, Knaresborough, Langton, Lawless, Ley & Ragget. Of the Ten Tribes, only the O'Shee family was of Gaelic descent. Many of them took part in the Rebellion of 1641 and subsequently lost much of their land and power. In the rebellion of 1641 the village of Rathcoole was a stronghold of the Irish. Amongst the other houses we find one of five hearths inhabited by Thomas Robinson, one of four inhabited by John. Robinson, one of three inhabited by Moses Reyly, and seven houses of two inhabited respectively by the Rev. Edward Lovelace, Charles Eaton, Henry Murphy, James Reyly, David Lawler, Wm. Lawless, and John Walsh, besides forty-one cottages of one hearth each.
Margaret Denn (Wife) b. in Grenan,Dublin,Ireland Marriage: 1641 in Ireland Children: Walter Lawless b. 1642 in Kilkenny,IRL, Thomas Lawless b. 1645, Mary Lawless b. 1645, Adam Lawless b. 1645, James Lawless Ellen Shee (Wife)
** NOTE :Margaret Denn : Patrick Den d. Dec. 20th, 1639 (source: Inquis. 83 Car. I., incorrectly dated Aug. 13th, 1637). By his wife, Mary, d/o Nicholas Shortall, of Upper Claragh, and niece of Walter Butler, Earl of Ormond, he had issue, 12 sons and 4 daughters, viz., (1) Thomas, his eldest son and heir, of whom presently; (2) Pierce; (3) Augustine; (4) John; (5) Robert; (6) Foulke; (7) Luke; (8) Gilbert); (9) Arthur; (10) Rowland; (11) and (12) not named. The daughters were (1) Margaret, second wife of Richard Lawless, s/o Walter Lawless Esq., of Talbot's Inch, from whom descends the present Lord Cloncurry; (2) Ellen; (3) Mary; (4) not named.
Thomas Den, son of Patrick, succeeded. He forfeited his castle and estate of Grenan and all the family possessions under Cromwell, and was banished to Connaught, in Dec., 1653. He was still living in 1661. He was married to Elinor Sweetman, but whether he left issue by her or not is unknown. In virtue of a reservation, made under the Acts of Settlement and Explanation, Theobald Den, (probably his nephew), son and heir of Arthur Den, who had obtained a "decree of innocency," dated July 24th, 1663, was declared entitled to any right of law or equity he might be able to sustain, to the entire property of the Grenan family. Little success, it must be presumed, followed any steps he may have taken towards the recovery of his rights. He is probably the "Tobias Den, of Grenan, Esq." outlawed and attainted by the Williamites on the 20th April, 1691.

1. William Lawless b abt 1630 in KIK, Irleand married ROSE. She was born Abt. 1632 in Ireland
- 1. Mary Lawless b. 16 Jan 1652/53, Saint Micham, Dublin, Ireland
- 2. Domenick Lawless b. 11 Aug 1659[ Christened], Saint Michan, Dublin,,Ireland
- 3. Thomas Lawless b. 06 Jan 1664/65, Saint Micham, Dublin, Ireland : Fact 1: c. Ref: I.G.I.
2.**Capt. Walter Lawless b. 1642 SEE BELOW

3 Thomas Lawless b. 1645 in KIK,Ireland d. 1704 in Dublin, Ireland married Elizabeth Butler d/o James Butler**
NOTE: Thos. Lawless was the younger brother of Capt. Walter Lawless. He m. Eliz. d/o Jas. Butler of KIK and settled at Puck's Castle. Puck's Castle was built on lands known as Rathmichael, about 2 miles from Shankill. It was a place of defence, rather than a dwelling and stood on a bleak mountain pasture to command the approaches over the mountains from WIC. The peculiar state of Irish society in the 14th, 15th, and 16th centuries rendered such strong frontier residences as Puck's Castle necessary. It was customary, at these periods, for hordes of men, under the O'Tooles, to leave their territories and march on the palesmen of Loughlinstown, Shanganagh, Shankhill, and Bray, very much it may be supposed, to their annoyance and discomfiture.
These harassing incursions appear to have been kept up until James the First ascended the throne. A flight of stone steps leading to the roof of Puck's Castle was still in excellent preservation in the late 1800's. A 1996 description Puck's Castle: An intact square tower with a fine stone staircase. After defeat at the Boyne in 1690, King Jas. II retreated with the remnants of his army to Loughlinstown, in Co. DUB. Disguised, the monarch made his way to Puck's Castle, then the seat of his faithful adherent, Thos. Lawless. In gratitude for the kindness and protection shown him he graciously volunteered to stand God father for Mrs. Lawless's then expected child. The child was accordingly christened, Jas. in compliment to the sovereign. Thos. Lawless lived until 1704.

1. Richard Lawless b. Abt. 1675, Ireland
2. Thomas Lawless b. Abt. 1675, Ireland NOTE: 1713, Petition
- 1. James Lawless
  - 1. John Lawless
  - 2. Peter Lawless
    - 1. Robert Lawless
3. Timothy Lawless b. Abt. 1675, Ireland d. Aft. 1713, Ireland married Mary Lee. She was born Abt. 1680 in Milltown, Dublin, Ireland d/o Thos. Lee - Farmer of Milltown
NOTE: Timothy Lawless: born c1675) It has not been established exactly who the Parents of Timothy Lawless were. Timothy Lawless of Lucan, Co. , DUB was born circa 1675 and m. c1705 to Mary Lee, d/o Thos. Lee, farmer of Milltown, Co. DUB. He was a land owner in Ireland. Many of Timothy's descendants retained the name Lawless but none are believd to be in IRL today. Another branch took the name Lawless-Pyne. Both branches migrated to AUS& CAN where there are still many descendants. There is no doubt his descendants, who migrated to both Australia & Canada, were not without funds. In Australia they purchased large parcels of land and frequently returned to Ireland on business as well as to visit family. The CAN branch were Ministers of the Church of ENG. They were, no doubt, related to Irish Gentry. Registry of Deeds, March 17th,1709 Book 3.0.340. No. 1048 LEASE-Robert, Earl of Kildare to Timothy Lawless of Dublin City part of the lands of Kilkea, Co. Kildare, 195 acres 5 rods 13 perches, at rent of f50-0-0 per annum, for the lives of the said Timothy Lawless, Mary his wife & Elizabeth d/o Paul, Viscount Mountcashel Note: In the above "LEASE" means renting. The annual payments continue until Timothy, Mary & Eliz. are all deceased. When the terms of the lease expire, the leased land reverts back to the owner, in this case the Earl of Kildare (or his estate) That is not to say the owner cannot/would not grant another lease to someone else in the family at the time of the expiration of the first lease, but the way this lease is written there is no contractual obligation for him (or his Estate) to do so. This appears to be what was known as a lease for 3 lives. They were quite common. The amount stipulated was paid until the last of the 3 died.. However it was also common for provisions to be made to "add lives' to bring the total back to 3 again, and providing a longer lease. This sometimes went on for many generations. The 3 lives specified were often father and sons, or father/son/grandson.
August 5th.,1713. Book 9. p.446. No. 480. LEASE-Timothy Lawless of Lucan to Nathaniel Weld, parcels of land in Lucan, Part for the lives of the said Timothy Lawless, Madam Ellen Fleming, d/o Lord Baron of Slane & James Lawless and Part for the lives of the said Timothy Lawless, Mary his wife and Henry, his younger son.
Timothy Lawless & Mary Lee had at least 4 children 1) John Lawless b.Feb. 28,1704 2) Paul Lawless b.1706 m. in 1740 to Eliz. Anderson (b.1720 in Dunbell. Killkenny) 3) Henry Lawless b.1708 4) Elizabeth Lawless m. Edward Cawfield of Levittstown, Co. Kildare.
- 1. Elizabeth Lawless b. Abt. 1702, Dublin, Ireland md. Edward Cawfield b. Abt. 1700, Levittstown, KID,IRL.
- 2. John Lawless b. 28 Feb 1703/04, Dublin, Ireland .Fact 1: 1745, Will ?
- 3. Paul Lawless b. 1706, Dublin, Ireland d. Aft. 1764. He married Elizabeth Anderson of Dunbell Co. Kilkenny in 1740 in DUB. She was born 1720 in Dunbell, KIK,IRL. d/o Roger Anderson & Martha Paris [ Martha was born in 1686 of Dunbell, Kilkenny ]
  NOTE: Paul Lawless resided for some time at Killinneny Parish of Tallaght, Co. Dublin. He also lived for a short time at Rosetown, Co. Kilare. Paul inherited the major part of the lands owned by his father.
  - 1. Anderson Lawless 1741-1741 infant. Cloyne, COR,IRL
  - 2. Rev. John B. Lawless c1745 Cloyne, COR,IRL; d. 1795, Cloyne, COR,IRL.married JUDITH HANNING 1777 in Cloyne M.L.B.. She was born Sep 1747 in Cloyne, COR,IRL, and died 1800 in Cloyne, COR,IRL.
    NOTE: Curate at Shandon
    NOTE: Ref: Brady's Cork Register Vol. 1, 2 & 3. Donoughmore (Cloyne) Records: 27 th July 1787, John Lawless, priest Donoughmore. " Percess Mort Bullen" was ordained a Priest 19th Dec. 1762 by the Bishop of Waterford. In 1764 he was licenced to the Curacy of Agahada. In 1776 to 1779 he was Priested at Kilnemartag and curate at Youghal. In 1779-90 Priest Subulton Resident Vicar Kilmahon. From 1789 to his death in 1795 he was Priest at Donoughmore. On 5th July 1780 licenced a second time to Curacy of Agahada.
    Children: (a) James Lawless 1778-1800 died at Hot Springs, Clifton (b) John Lawless 1779-1851 m. in 1805, Mary Pyne (7 children) (c) Capt. Paul Lawless 1782-1813 (Capt. R.N.-died at sea) (d) Anne Lawless, born 1784, married 1820 Rev. Richard Lee (Curate at Shandon) Four sons; Paul, John, Richard & James Lee. In Inniskenny Records of 1831: Richard Lee A.M. Priested at Inniskenny, Ordained Deacon 10th Feb.1811 and Priest in Sept.1811. From 1831 to his death 26th Nov.1853 was Priest at Inniskenny. He married Ann Lawless of Cloyne d/o John Lawless & Judith Hanning and had issue 4 sons. They were Paul Giles, John, Richard Thos. & James. (e) Francis Lawless b.1785 (twin) Died at Rosehill, buried at Ballinacurra church yard. (f) Thomas Lawless 1786-1832 (twin) of Ballymaloe Castle. Buried at Ballinacurra church yard. Rosehill, Ballinacurra is 4 miles from Cloyne and 1 mile from Midleton in Co Cork. (g) Richard Lawless 1786-1787. (infant) Buried at sisters side. (h) Eliz. Lawless 1789-1854 (age 65 unmarried).
    Note: A Francis Lawless was a steerage passenger on the ship "Norval" which sailed from Liverpool Nov. 10,1829 and arrived at Hobart Town, Tasmania May 6,1830. It sailed for Sydney, Australia June 24,1830. The ship was a Brig of 295 Tons, built in America and registered in Glasgow. Master- J. Harrison, Crew-17, Convicts-Nil, Cargo-general, Guns-4. An asterisk was placed against the name of Francis Lawless on the names list which indicated "Mr. Lawless, a brother of the celebrated Irish Lawless" .
    The Tasmanian and Asiatic Review, 14th. May 1830 reported the following. "Mr. Lawless the brother of this well known gentleman, whose exertions in the Catholic question were so great, has arrived here by the Norval"
    - 1. James Lawless 1778-1800 died at Hot Springs, Clifton
    - 2. Atty. John Lawless b. 1779 Cloyne, COR,IRL; d. 05 Mar 1851, Cloyne, COR,IRL. m. in 1805, Mary Pyne (7 children)
      - 1.
      - 2.
      - 3.
      - 4.
      - 5.
      - 6.
      - 7.
    - 3. Capt. Paul Lawless b. 1782 Cloyne, COR,IRL; d. 1813, AT SEA. British Royal Navy Officer.-Capt. R.N.-died at sea
    - 3. Thomas Lawless b. 1784, Cloyne, COR,IRL; d. 27 Apr 1832, IRL. Fact 1: Twin of Anne of Ballymaloe Castle
    - 4. Anne Lawless, born 1784, married Rev. Richard Lee (Curate at Shandon)1820 Cork & Ross M.L.B.; b. Abt. 1780. Fact 1: Twin of Thomas of Ballymaloe Castle
      - 1. Paul Lee
      - 2. John Lee
      - 3. Richard Lee
      - 4. James Lee
    - 5. Frances Lawless b. 1785, Cloyne, COR,IRL; d. Aft. 1830, Rosehill, IRL.
    - 6. Richard Lawless b. 1786, d. 1787, Cloyne, , COR,IRL.Infant death
    - 7. Elizabeth Lawless b. 1789, Cloyne, COR,IRL; d. 1854, IRL.Never married
  - 3. "Atty" Newenham Lawless b. Abt. 1750, Cloyne, COR,IRL; d. Aft. 1779, IRL. * Atty. Exchequer, Hillary Term 1779
  - 4. Roger Lawless b. Abt. 1750, Cloyne, COR,IRL.
  - 5. Olivia/Rebecca Lawless b. Abt. 1750, Cloyne, COR,IRL.
  - 6. Elizabeth Lawless b. Abt. 1750, Cloyne, COR,IRL.
- 4. Henry Lawless b. 1708, Dublin, Ireland

4. James Lawless b. 1690, Shankill, Dublin. Ireland d. 1737, Shankill, Dublin, Ireland. married
(1) Margaret Cave 1719 in IRL. She was born Abt. 1700 in Donneybrook, IRL, and died 1730 in Shankill, Dublin, Ireland d/o Thos. Cave
(2) Mary Beauman Dec 1732. She died 1743 in Shankill, Dublin, Ireland
NOTE: Jas. Lawless & Marg't. Cave Family of Shankill - Jas:1690-1737 An old hand drawn 7 generation family ancestral chart, supplied by Hibernian Research in Dublin about 1985, indicates the descendancy of a branch of the Lawless family from Richard Lawless of Talbot's Inch, Co. KIK, whose will was proved July 22,1663, to Wm. Lawless (1772-1825), Sir Valentine Browne Lawless (1773-1853), and others. The chart includes Jas. Lawless of Shankill, son of Peter Lawless & Mary. It indicates Jas. first m. Margaret, d/o Thos. Cave of Brockfield, Donnybrook, Co. Dublin in 1719 and that she died in 1730. Children of Jas. Lawless and his first wife, Margaret Cave. Jane Lawless m. Mark Byron of Co. Wicklow May 13,1740. (Dublin M.L.B.) Mary Lawless m. Thos. Mulorck of Kilragaruan, King's Co. May 17,1744 John Lawless, 1725-Jan.10,1790, married Clare.
Jas. m. again in Dec. of 1732, Mary Beam, the widow of Thos. Phelan/Whalen. A note indicates "Jas. devises under father's will of lands of Shankill, Rathmichael etc." His will was dated Dec. 13,1735 and p. Apr.25,1738. When Mary died later, her will was undated, and it was established by a decree of the prerogative court. It was apparently granted to her daughters of her first marriage. A John Archer and his wife Ann are also mentioned in these notes but the significance of their mention is unclear. It was once recorded that "In 1743 Mrs. Jas. Lawless died at Shankill and that she was one of the greatest farmers in the district who was universally esteemed for her hospitality, charity and other virtues."

1. John Lawless b. 1725, Shankill, Dublin. Ireland d. 10 Jan 1790, Shankill, Dublin, Ireland, buried 13 Jan 1790, Crumlin, Dublin, Ireland, He married Clare of Shankill. She was born Abt. 1730 in Ireland and died Aft. 1790 in Dublin, Ireland.
--- The book "Cloncurry And His Times" by W. J. Fitzpatrick, page 11 states as follows re two tombstones found at Crumlin. "One, completely overgrown with moss, bears the following inscription;-IHS This stone and burial place belongeth to Mr. Edward Lawless, of Crumlin, and his posterity. Here lyeth the bodies of 2 of his brothers and 3 of his sisters-1760. The second tombstone, of more modern aspect, and several yards distant from that just spoken of, informs. Old Mortality that it is The family burial place of John Lawless, of Shankhill, whose remains are here interred. He departed this life the 10th day of Jan., 1790, aged sixty-five years. The old sexton informed us that some members of the Cloncurry branch remained interred here likewise, but were in 1799 , by a special order from the Consistorial Court, removed to Lyons." The above book also states. "On the death of old John Lawless, in 1790, Mrs. Lawless and her family left Shankill and removed to Dublin.
--- Mrs. Lawless and her family left Shankill and removed to Dublin. Since then it has not been inhabited by any member of the Lawless family. Up to the year 1851 Shankill Castle appears to have been a board and lodging house. Shankill is also known as Rathmichael, and extends over 2,808 acres. Crumlin is in Co. Dublin and probably within the Dublin City limits today. There is not a cemetery at Crumlin but there is a very large and very old one called Mount Jerome in a place called Harold's Cross in the south west portion of the City of Dublin.

NOTE:Shankill Castle: Marking the site of the archbishop's manor of Shankill is a tower-house, probably constructed during the first half of the fifteenth century by the Lawless family. In 1571 the castle was owned by Robert Barnewall, who later married a sister of his neighbour, Theobald Walsh of Carrickmines. The building is presently in a ruinous condition, and many later alterations have obliterated or masked earlier features. A fine vault extends above the ground floor, and at the north end is a large fireplace, on the right of which is a later brick oven. At the north-east angle is a tower containing a stone spiral staircase retaining many of the original narrow slit arrow-loops; the exterior of this tower has a pronounced batter. From this staircase the top floor can still be accessed.

SHANKILL CASTLE: Co. Dublin was held first by members of the Lawless family and later, for a time, under the Archbishop of Dublin in the middle of the 16th century by a branch of the Barnewall family. It was documented in 1782, that the castle was in a very ruinous state and described as a low square castle built of mountain stone, with a dwelling house adjoining which was also in need of repair. It was occupied again by the Lawless family descendants until after 1790 when John Lawless died. It was large enough to accommodate a household of some twenty persons.
The castle was owned in the 1860's by Henry Grenville and sometime after that by Mr. Murry who died after falling from the top of the castle. Much later it was said to be in the possession of Laurence Lawless who aquired it from the Murray family c1924. Mr. Murry and his sister sold it on the condition that they could live there until their deaths when ownership would pass to the Lawless family. The sister died soon afterwards and Mr. Murray came to a tragic end when he fell off the top of the castle.
Laurence Lawless was a member of a family of Lawlesses resident about the village of Shankill for several generations. 1996 Description - Shankill Castle: a massive vaulted tower-house with projecting stair tower, attached to a Georgian house. Jan. 2002 - present owner of Shankill Castle - Mr. A. Bonar-Law a member of the Rathmicael Historical Society. {A. Bonar-Law's grandfather was Prime Minister of England after the 1914-1918 war.}

1. Phillip Lawless,(oldest son) b. 1750, Shankhill, Dublin, Ireland d. 1843, Dublin, Ireland; md
(1)___ She was born Abt. 1750.
(2) Bridget Savage. She was born Abt. 1750 in IRL.
NOTE: Deeds 1768-1776 Phlip Lawless - to Savage V.261 p.446 N172140
NOTE: 1843, Will proved, Oldest son - 21 Children
NOTE: Brewer at Warren Mount
NOTE: Philip Lawless, Brewer of Warren Mount c1750-1843. W. J. FitzPatrick's book "Cloncurry And His Times", published in 1855, states as follows. --- "The rather extensive family of the Lawlesses in Ireland included Philip Lawless, of Warrenmount, who alone had 21 children, of whom only two survive, viz.: Barry Edward Lawless, Esq., solicitor, and Jane, his sister." Some history authors of the times refer to 19 children only. Philip was the oldest s/o John Lawless (1725-1790) of Shankill and his wife Clare. Before Philip's time, both a Patrick and a Michael Lawless were recorded as Dublin brewers. Sir Nicholas Lawless 1733-1799, was a cousin of John Lawless.
NOTE: Philip Lawless was said to be an opulent brewer and perhaps the richest mercantile man in Dublin.There is no doubt he was one of the financially better off citizens of Dublin. Many of his sons attended Dublin College and later became both professional and mercantile business associates in the City of Dublin. Numerous property deeds were issued and business ransactions executed in Dublin City, Co. Dublin and other parts of Ireland during the period of 1785-1850 which included the names of Philip Lawless, his wife, brothers, sisters, sons and daughters. I have no doubt that many of the Lawlesses of Dublin City today are descendants of Philip Lawless and his wives. Many Lawless family history & genealogy researchers, when they can not trace their Lawless roots to pre 1850 times in Co. Dublin, conclude that they must have descended from Philip Lawless, because of his rather large family. No doubt some of them are correct in this assumption but they lack the necessary connections.

1. John "Honest Jack" Lawless b. 28 Jun 1773, Dublin, DUB, IRL; d. 08 Aug 1837, Dublin, DUB, IRL. married HELEN CAULFIELD. She was born Abt. 1785 in IRL.
NOTE: Oldest Son - Attorney

NOTE: JOHN LAWLESS: This Irish agitator, commonly know as "Honest Jack", was the eldest s/o Philip Lawless Warenmount Brewer, Dublin and a distant cousin of Valentine Browne Lawless. He was educated for the Bar, but being refused admission by Lord Clare owing to his intimacy with the United Irish Movement, he was for some time associated with his father in the brewery. He later took up a share in the ""Ulster Record", published at Newry, before proceeding to Belfast where he became Editor of the "Ulster Register", a political and literary magazine. ** He was later Editor of the "Belfast Magazine". John was soon known as an ardent politician. **

Leinster Directory arrested. In March 1797 Thomas Reynolds, a relative of Lord Edward Fitzgerald and Colonel of the United Irishmen for Co. KID tipped off the authorities that the Leinster Directory would be meeting at Oliver Bond's house in Dublin. Ten provincial delegates and 2 members of the Supreme Executive were arrested: Of the senior figures only Lord Edward Fitzgerald escaped arrest. The government declared martial law, searches, hangings, and floggings were common. The United Irish leaders who had escaped arrest set up a new Directory which included John & Henry Sheares and Samuel Neilson. In South Kildare the army carried out a campaign of wholesale house burning and plundered the Quaker village of Ballitore. The army introduced the 'triangle' a wooden frame to which victims were tried before being flogged and tortured. The United Irish leaders felt that they would have to plan a rising immediately. The Sheares Brothers, Lord Edward Fitzgerald & John Lawless decided to act. However, they were betrayed by Edward Mangan, a member of the Executive and Captain Armstronge, a government spy. Fitzgerald was arrested after a fierce struggle in which he was wounded. The Sheares brothers and Neilson were captured. Despite the arrests the word spread that a rebellion would take place on 23rd of May. Kildare was the first county to rise.
In 1825 John Lawless successfully opposed O'Connell on the subject of The Wings, as the proposal to accompany R.C. Emancipation with a state endowment of the Catholic clergy. His attack on O'Connell's character was unjustifiable. In 1828 he conducted an active agitation in County Clare., and being deputed to raise the North, he addressed meetings at Kells and Dundalk. An attempt to hold demonstrations at Ballybay was defeated by the opposition of the Orangeman and Lawless, perceiving that an attempt to hold a meeting would cause bloodshed, wisely and at some risk to himself, withdrew with his followers. His conduct was adverted to by Duke of Wellington in justification of conceding Catholic emancipation the following year. Lawless became particularly obnoxious to O'Connell, who spoke of him as "Mad Lawless". and even opposed his candidature for Meath. During the time of the "Algerine Act" he was for a short time under arrest. He made his last political speech at the "Crown & Anchor Tavern just 8 days before his death. He was in support of the unsuccessful candidature of Joseph Hume for the Middlesex County.
According to W. Fagen, who knew Lawless intimately, he seemed to be an honest, enthusiastic, warm hearted man and the kind who would tell his thoughts without reserve. He fearlessly maintained his opinions. As a speaker he was eloquent, forcible and sincere. Some of his Publications were: 1) The Public Press 2) A Compendium of The History of Ireland, from early times to the reign of George I, Dublin 1814. Third edition 1824. 3) Belfast Politics Enlarged, Compendium of Irish History for the last 40 yrs. Belfast 1818.
Cuffe Street: This street, now sadly deteriorated in character, was formerly much affected by barristers, proctors, and others of good social position. At No. 35 lived, in 1813, John Lawless, a prominent member of the Liberal party during the agitation for Catholic emancipation; and known as "Honest John Lawless" for his unflinching integrity

1. Phillip Lawless b. 10 Jul 1810, Dublin, Ireland
NOTE: King's Inn Admin Papers

2. Mary Lawless b. 1779, Dublin, IRL; m. JOHN ROURKE, 1799, Dublin, DUB; b. Abt. 1775, IRL.
3. Barry Edward Lawless, Esq.,[ III ] solicitor b. 18 Apr 1784, Dublin, DUB, IRL; d. Aft. 1865, London, ENG.
note: W. J. FitzPatrick's book "Cloncurry And His Times", published in 1855, states: Barry as surviving his fathers death (1855)
4. Dennis Lawless b. Aft. 1785, Dublin, IRL; d. Bef. 1854, Dublin, DUB,IRL.
5. Edmond Lawless b. Aft. 1785, Dublin, IRL; m. ELIZ. GAHAN, 26 Jun 1837, Dublin, DUB,IRL; b. Abt. 1790, IRL.Fact 1: of Harold's Cross, Dublin
6. Edmund Lawless b. Aft. 1785, Dublin, IRL; d. 04 Feb 1863, Dublin, DUB, IRL.
7. Edward Lawless b. Aft. 1785, Dublin, IRL.Fact 1: Nursery in Dublin
8. George W. Lawless b. Aft. 1785, Dublin, IRL; d. Aft. 1861, Dublin, DUB, IRL. Fact 1: 1834, Dublin Manufacturer
9. Patrick Henry Lawless b. Aft. 1785, Dublin, IRL.
10. Peter Armstrong Lawless b. Aft. 1785, Dublin, IRL; m. HARRIET HIGGINS, 1819, IRL; b. Abt. 1790, Kinnegad, WEM,IRL.Fact 1: 1835, of Cherryfield, DUB,IRL
11. Phillip Lawless b. Aft. 1785, Dublin, IRL; d. 05 Jul 1872, [1872, Will proved ] Dublin, DUB, IRL.
Philip Lawless, B.L., was a popular man in clubland and elsewhere; but probably the chief interest awakened at his funeral on July 5th, 1872, centered in the fact that he was the nephew & representative of "Honest Jack Lawless," the hero of Ballybay; an intrepid colleague of O'Connell in the struggle for Emancipation.
12.. Timothy Lawless b. Aft. 1785, Dublin, IRL; d. 1856, Dublin, DUB, IRL. Fact 1: 1834, Dublin Organ Builder
13. Thomas Lawless b. Abt. 1790, Dublin, IRL. Fact 1: 1834, Dublin Attorney
14. Jane Lawless b. Abt. 1792, Dublin, IRL; d. Aft. 1855, Dublin, DUB, IRL.
note: W. J. FitzPatrick's book "Cloncurry And His Times", published in 1855, states: Barry as surviving her fathers death (1855)
15. Anne Lawless b. Aft. 1792, Dublin, IRL; d. Aft. 1863.
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2. Dennis Lawless b. Abt. 1750, Shankill, Dublin, Ireland
3. Jane Lawless b.. Abt. 1750, Shankill, Dublin, Ireland d. Bef. 1857.
4. Barry Edward Lawless II b. Abt. 1765, Shankhill, Dublin, Ireland; d. Aft. 1855, Dublin, Ireland; m. Margaret Beauman; b. WEX, Ireland d/o John Beauman
NOTE: In 1795, of Cherrywood, Dublin, Ireland
NOTE: Dublin Grand Juror / owned numerous properties in Ireland
NOTE: 1815, Deed: Barry Lawless to Beauman v.694 p.466 N476733
5. "Mareschal-de-Champ " William Lawless [ Field Marchal Baron Lawless of France ] , Surgeon and French Army officer. (one of the "Wild Geese" of the Napoleonic wars.), General Honourable Society of the Irish Brigade ** ) b. April 20, (some sources say 1764. Tombstone says 1771) in , Shankhill, Dublin, Ireland; d. 25 Dec 1824, Paris, FRA. buried Père Lachaise; married Mary Evans. d/o Hampden Evans. She was born Abt. 1780 in Portrane, Dublin, Ireland, and died 23 August 1834 in rue de la Ferme des Mathurins, Paris.[street no longer exists] *Restoration of Wm. Lawless Tomb in Paris: In 1995 the Irish Government's 1798 Commemoration Committee made funding available towards the restoration of the Wm. Lawless Tomb in Paris.
Contributing info for William Lawless and family line is Duncan van Reyswoud
NOTE: * Feuille de Route (passport) 2 vendemiaire l'an viii (24 Sept 1799) describes him as aged 30 years,* 1788mm tall, "ront étroit, yeux: bleu; nez; aquiline; bouche: moyenne: visage: oval: menton: xxx cheveux et sourcils: châtaignier.' *
~translated~ Forehead, narrow; eyes, blue; nose; aquiline; mouth; medium; face, oval ;chin, xxx; hair and eyebrows: chestnut
NOTE: * (Dossier 8Yd 1840) Letter to MdG dated 11/12/1809 asks for permission to marry Marie Evans (1789-1834) 'fille ainée de Monsieu Hampden Evans, de Mount Evans en la Comte de Dublin, Ireland. (signed by Lawless) (Marie was the younger sister of Hampden Evans, also an officer of the IL) Marriage cert 32610 dated 17/1/1810. Gives Marie's dob as 26/8/1786 (at Mount Evans***). Pension of 750ff granted to Marie in 1831. Report MDG ?1/10/1807 says he was ' très lié avec le Lord Edouard Fitzgerald.' Commission as Capt in IL is (back)dated to 22 frimaire xi (13 Dec 1802), but dated xii. Lettre Armée de la Batavie Etat Major 4 frimaire viii (25 Nov 1799) refers to 'Jacques Leslie' (in dossier) Lived at Paris, Blvd St Antoine 96?
NOTE: * He was still signing 'major' in 1810. He was promoted CdB in 1809. Major is not a line rank, and he was on Col O'Meara's staff as major before becoming colonel himself. His award of Member of the Legion of Honour in 1811 followed the award of chevalier of that order on his return to Paris with the eagle in in 1809, the same time he was promoted to CdB.
NOTE: * Lawless, William, General, an ardent United Irishmen, the confidant of Lord Edward FitzGerald, was Professor of Anatomy and Physiology in the Royal College of Surgeons, Dublin. Closely connected with John Sheares in the direction of affairs in the spring of 1798, a warrant for his arrest was issued on 20th May. Timely notice was, however, given him of the fact by Mr. Stewart, the Surgeon-General, and he escaped to France, where his abilities and spirit recommended him to the special favour of Napoleon. Entering the army, he rose to the rank of general, and distinguished himself on several occasions. He lost a leg at the battle of Dresden. General Lawless died in Paris, 25th December 1824. He was a distant relative and occasional correspondent of Lord Cloncurry. Thomas Moore speaks of him as "a person of that mild and quiet exterior which is usually found to accompany the most determined spirit."
*NOTE:Colonels: 8 February 1812-William Lawless The Irish Legion
Of the regimental colonels, William Lawless led a most interesting career. He entered French service as a chef de bataillon in 1799, no doubt one of the many Irish seeking an opportunity to fight the English. He served as part of the Legion des Francs du Nord, a light infantry formation. In 1800, however, he was subjected to a mandatory retirement. In 1803 he was returned to service and appointed as a captain in the Irish Legion. On 10 July 1806, he became a Chef de Bataillon, probably commanding the regiment's 2nd Battalion. He particularly distinguished himself during the l809 British invasion of the Scheldt at Flushing, where he was grievously wounded. On 10 February 1810, he was promoted to Major in the Legion. He became regimental commander on 8 February 1812. During the battle of Lowenberg, in 1813, he was wounded again and his arm was amputated as a result. He was retired for a second time on 26 October 1814.
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NOTE:Legend has it that Wm. Lawless was not only a good professor and doctor, he was also was a very good chess player. Apparently on one occasion he defeated Napoleon in a chess match, which caused the Emperor to go into a rage. Napoleon was always known to be a bad tempered. Thos. Moore, the poet, spoke of William as "a person of mild and quiet exterior, which is usually found to accompany the most determined spirit. "'He was the most agreeable, kind, companionable man possible; highly educated, well versed in almost every branch of science, speaking fluently and well, both French and English; in short, had his country obtained her freedom, he would have shone in her senate as a first-rate orator. Miles Byrne, United Irishmen & officer in the Irish Legion, of his friend Wm. Lawless
Wm. Lawless born April 20,1772 in Dublin was the son of John Lawless & Clare of Shankill, Co. Dublin. This distinguished character was at first a physician and Professor of Anatomy, at the Royal College of Surgeons in 1794, and later expelled in 1799. Several of his poems appeared in Irish magazines in 1794. William became a friend of Lord Edward Fitzgerald. He married Mary Evans, d/o Hampden/George Evans of Portrane, Co., Dublin.
They had children who resided in Ireland. There is evidence of at least one son who was personally aquainted with Lord Cloncurry. This son was living in 1854 but it is not known where or what his name was. He would most likely have been born in Ireland in the 1790s. In the 1800's it was stated. 18?? Lawless, William, Capt. R.A. m. a daughter of Field Marchal Baron Lawless of France. The meaning of this is not understood yet but it looks like William Lawless may have also had a daughter.
Wm. joined the United Irishmen, was outlawed in the Fugitive Bill, and in the spring of 1798 a warrant for his arrest was issued. Timely notice was given him of the fact by Stewart, the surgeon-general. Having taken refuge in France, he joined the army of that country about 1799. He developed a treatment for gun shot wounds and Napoleon assigned him to the task of taking care of his troops.
Having some reason to doubt the accuracy of the account given on hearsay by the late Lord Cloncurry, and quoted by Dr. Madden, which represented Lawless effecting his escape in the guise of a butcher, carrying a side of beef on his shoulder, we instituted inquiries as to the real facts, and the parties exclusively competent to state them; and with this object we had an interview, in 1854, with the late Mrs Ryan of Upper Gardiner Street, then in her eighty-second year. After the break-up of the Executive Directory by the arrests at Oliver Bond's, a new one, composed of John and Henry Shears, William Lawless, and others, started into existence, determined to carry out the plans of the original founders. Proclamations appeared, and several arrests were made; but Lawless, owing to his own tact, and the presence of mind of his friends, escaped. Lawless was proceeding to his mother's house in French Street at a rapid pace, through Digges Street, when his sister, perceiving his approach, appeared at the drawing-room window, and motioned him to retire.
The house was at that moment undergoing a search by Major Sir and his myrmidons, and had Lawless come up, his life would, doubtless, have paid the forfeit. It is a significant fact that, on the following day, Henry Sheares was arrested in the act of knocking at Lawless's door. The family of Mr Byrne, of Byrne's Hill, in the Liberty, was then staying at their country residence, near Kimmage, where Mr Byrne and his daughters, of whom our informant, Mrs Ryan, was one, provided Lawless with an asylum. He was concealed in a garret-bedroom, communicating with a small clothes closet, into which he retired at every approach, even of the servants, who were quite unconscious of his presence.
Days rolled over, and the search, but without avail, continued. Military and yeomanry scoured the country round. Major Sir was so active, that some swore he possessed the alleged ornithological property of being in two places at once. The Lawyers' corps having been on duty near Kimmage, it was suggested that Mr Byrne's house should be searched; but a gallant nephew of Lord Avonmore, who commanded, refused to sanction this proceeding, in consequence of Mr Byrne's absence, and the presence of several ladies in the house. Lawless thanked his, stars; but the fears of the family were greatly excited by the proximity of his pursuers, and they resolved at all hazards to remove him to Dublin previous to making one desperate effort to reach France. Word was sent to Philip Lawless, an eminent brewer, residing at Warrenmount, the elder brother of William, to send his carriage to Mr Byrne's to convey him to town. Mrs Ryan, then, Miss Byrne, dressed Lawless in a loose white wrapper of her own, and a close beaver bonnet.
As Lawless possessed a pale, sallow countenance, Miss Byrne applied some effective touches, not of ordinary rouge, hilt of lake paint, to his cheeks. The outlaw, accompanied by Mrs Ryan and her two sisters, entered the carriage and proceeded openly at noon-day to Dublin. The rebellion bad not yet burst forth. No opposition was offered to the ordinary transit of vehicles. When halfway to Dublin, a party of yeomanry scowled into the carriage, but not detecting anything suspicious, suffered it to proceed.
Having arrived at the residence of Mrs Lawless, the outlaw sent for a suit of sailor's clothes and donned them but his long pale face was far from disguised. To effect this desideratum, Lawless placed upon his head an immense coil of cable, which he so arranged that a large portion descended upon his forehead, and went far to baffle recognition. As he proceeded with this burthen in the direction of Rogerson's Quay, the redoubtable Major Sirr passed him closely, but the disguise was so perfect, that no suspicion seems to have been excited. Lawless gained greater confidence from this moment, reached the wharf, embarked on board a merchant vessel, and a favourable wind soon wafted him to the shores of France. He entered the military service of that country, gained distinction, lost a leg, and died a general in 1824.
One of the Irish refugees, Col. Byrne, addressing the present writer in a letter dated "Paris, Rue Montaigne, Feb. 18, 1854," says: "Lord Cloncurry committed a mistake in his 'Personal Recollections' respecting General Lawless having lost his leg at Flushing, in August 1809 He lost it at the battle of Lowenberg, in August 1813. It appeared ridiculous that a colonel with but one leg should be put at the head of a regiment of infantry in a campaign by Napoleon." [Col. Byrne adds: "l have made notes of the principal events and transactions that came within my knowledge during the insurrection of 1798, as well as that of 1803. If I thought their publication could in any way tend to benefit my native country, I would cheerfully get them printed; but I am well aware that the present time is not a propitious moment.
I trust a time may come when the publication of such documents will be encouraged. They will show the efforts and sacrifices that were made to procure the independence of Ireland." Colonel Byrne has since paid the debt of nature, and the work in question has been published under the auspices of his widow, a sister to the late Francis Homer.
In Ireland Lawless had been a physician of great promise, and filled the chair of Physiology and Anatomy at the College of Surgeons. Another eminent medical man, Dr Dease, Prof. of the Practice of Surgery, was also deeply implicated ; but he lacked the moral energy of Lawless, and, on timely information reaching him that a warrant was in progress for his apprehension, he retired to his study, and died, like Cato, by his own hand. A fine white marble bust of this physician, inscribed "Wm. Dease, obit 1798," is preserved in the Hall of the College of Surgeons. The old man's brow, furrowed by years of earnest honest labour, and the intelligent expression of his eye, prematurely quenched, awaken painful emotions. [A story is told to the effect that Dr Dease, having made a fatal mistake in professional treatment of a patient, committed suicide; but the true circumstances of his death we believe to be as above given, and this account we find corroborated by Dr. Madden.] Wm. Lawless possessed a cultivated literary taste; and in the Irish Masonic Magazine for 1794, many poems from his pen may be found. He had been a member of the Royal Irish Academy; but Faulkner's Dublin Journal for 1802 announces his expulsion on political grounds.
Established on 31 Aug. 1803, the Legion Irlandaise was originally created in anticipation of an invasion of IRL. The purpose was to establish a core of trained officers and ncos who could raise the population of Ireland in a war of liberation against the English rulers of Ireland. William Lawless was appointed Capt. of the Irish Legion in 1803. By using Irish soldiers, Napoleon hoped to achieve his own goals. The dream of an Irish invasion died with the British victory over the combined French and Spanish Fleets off Cape Trafalgar in 1805.
As the need for manpower for the Empire increased, the decision was made to expand the Irish Legion from a battalion sized unit into a regiment. Men were recruited first from Irish and Scottish Jacobite expat