Sweeny (or Swyny) (No.5) family genealogy
Of Kinsale, and West Bandon, County Cork
Arms: The ancient Armorial Bearings of this family were: An orle of eight az. and or. Motto: Baillailah aboo. More lately the Arms were: Ar. on a fess vert betw. three boars pass. sa. a lizard gu. Motto: Buailtir cabair a buaigh.
THIS branch of the "MacSweeney" of Ulster family settled in the county Cork circa 1630; and many of its members distinguished themselves in the service of England and France.
1. John Sweeny, gent., m. Jane Lyon (niece of Rear Admiral Lyon, Royal Navy), and had issue:
I. James, of whom presently.
II. Sampson, d. unm.
III. Roger, who was twice mar.: first, to a noble Sicilian by whom he had a son Roger Swiny, who went to Sicily; secondly, to Amelia, daughter of Major Bent of the British army, by whom he had one son James (who died young) and a dau. Amelia, married to Mr. Gerrard of London (a lawyer), by whom she had several children.
IV. Ellen, born 29th Sept., 1779, d. 10th Jan., 1864; married to Joseph Reily, Esq., and had issue (see "Reily").
V. Mary, m. to George Willison, gent., and had, with several other children, Eliza-Ann, who m. Colonel Singleton of the Army, by whom she had one son, Sydenham, who d. young, and a daughter, Lucy, unm.
VI. Bridget, married to Abraham Ellis, and had: 1. Ellen (a spinster), 2. Bessy, who m. Captain Edward Ellis, and had one son James (who went to Africa), and three daus., the eldest of whom Isabel, married a son of the Rev. Joseph Kingsmith, of Brighton, and has issue.
2. James Sweeny, a Major in Her Majesty's 62nd Regiment; aide-de-camp to General Riall, at Grenada, West Indies (see British Army List): was appointed Deputy Governor-General of Canada to Lord Dalhousie, 1817; m. Elizabeth, dau. of O'Brien Bellingham, Esq., of Castle Bellingham,[1] co. Louth (brother of Sir William Bellingham, Private Secretary to Pitt), and died without issue.
Notes
[1] Castle Bellingham: "The neighbourhood is embellished with several handsome country seats, of which those of Lady Bellingham, Miss Bellingham, Major Sweeney, and Mrs. Filgate are the chief." (See Lewis's Topographical Dictionary of Ireland.) The extensive Brewery and Malt-houses at this place were greatly enlarged by Major Sweeney, and Major Wolsley, father of the present Sir Garnet Lord Wolsley, the hero of Magdala.