Jordan (De Exeter) Genealogy

Commencing with Jordan de Courcy, who, as above shown, was brother of Sir John De Courcy, the first Earl of Ulster, the following is the genealogy of the De Exeter Jordan family:

1. Jordan De Courcy, who in 1197 was killed by an Irish retainer in Ulster, leaving three sons, two of whom were slain in Downpatrick churchyard, in 1203, while defending their uncle, Sir John De Courcy, against the attack of De Lacy’s followers (as mentioned, ante, in the “De Courcy” genealogy); the third son being a mere boy at the time.

2. Jordan De Courcy[22] or Jordan De Exeter: third son of Jordan. This boy was removed by his friends to Exeter in England, to escape for the time in Ireland the persecution[23] of the De Courcy family by their great rivals the De Lacys, instigated by King John. When that persecution had ceased with the death of that arbitrary Monarch, Jordan De Exeter returned to Ireland and made a settlement in ancient Meath; where he built the fortress called Jordan’s Castle, and yet known as Castlejordan;[24] but, to assert his uncle’s title to the lordship of Connaught which with the earldom of Ulster was in 1181 granted by King Henry II. to him and his heirs male, besides any other land in Ireland he (Sir John De Courcy) could gain by the sword, this Jordan De Exeter invaded that Province with a powerful following of friends and retainers; made a settlement in ancient Galenga and in Tyrawley, as above mentioned; and built his principal Castle at Athleathan, in the barony of Gallen, and co. of Mayo.

Under A.D. 1247, this Jordan De Exeter is mentioned by the Four Masters as “Siurtan De Exeter,” who was then in command of the English forces in Connaught, and who caused the Irish King Torlogh O’Connor to retreat from Carra in that year “as he had not equal forces to meet them.” In 1249, this Jordan (or Siurtan) De Exeter, lord of Athleathan, was sheriff[25] of Connaught; and commanded the Anglo-Norman forces at Athenry, when, say the Four Masters, “he gained a great victory over the Irish, by the miraculous interposition of the Blessed Virgin Mary.”[26]

3. Myler De Exeter Jordan, lord of Athleathan: son of Jordan De Exeter: m. Basilia, daughter of De Bermingham, lord of Athenry. This lady, according to De Burgo, induced her husband to build and endow the abbey of Straid, near the family residence of Athleathan Castle.

4. Stephen, lord of Athleathan: son of Myler; was also Sheriff of Connaught, and with one of his knights named Pierce Agabard was killed in a sea-fight against MacSorley (MacDonnell) off the coast of Connemara.

5. Richard (called by some “De Exonia”): son of Stephen; was, according to Ware, De Burgo, Harris, and O’Heyne, Viceroy or Lord Deputy of Ireland, in 1269. He m. in 1260 Eva (d. in 1262), dau. of O’Connor, King of Connaught. As the first Abbey of Straid had been burned down, this Richard De Exonia, at the solicitation of his wife, built and endowed another Abbey there, for the Dominicans. Having large possessions in Tyrawley (his lands there having been increased by his marriage with the King’s daughter), he also built and endowed the Abbey of Rathbran or Rafran, near Killala, also for the Dominicans. Richard had a brother Simon De Exeter, who in 1284 was killed in a battle between his forces and those of the O’Flynns, MacDermotts, and O’Flanagans.

6. Myler: son of Richard; was killed in a battle fought between the English in Connaught and King Calvagh O’Connor, in 1289.

7. Slemme De Exeter, lord of Athleathan: son of Myler; was in 1316, while in command of the English forces, killed in the battle of Athleathan, in which Myles De Cogan, “the noblest baron in Ireland,” in his time, was with other Anglo-Normans also slain. This Slemme was succeeded by his brother Myler, who, in a fight that in 1317 took place on the banks of the river Methanagh in Drumcliff, co. Sligo, was with fourteen of his companions killed by the army commanded by Donal O’Connor. Myler was succeeded by his son:

8. Myler, as lord of Athleathan, who died 1336. (Under A.D. 1340, the Four Masters relate that Jordan MacCostello was slain by Cathal MacDermott Gall.)

9. Slevin:[27] son of Myler; succeeded his father as lord of Athleathan; and built some of the Castles[28] in the De Exeter territory. Under A.D. 1316 the Four Masters say:

10. Meyler, lord of Athleathan: son of Slevin; died in 1336. Was succeeded by his brother Stephen; who was slain in 1355, as mentioned by the Four Masters. This Stephen was succeeded by his son:

11. Slevin, who with his brother John was in 1380 killed in a battle[30] at Athleathan fought there between the two De Burgo rival factions:

Slevin was succeeded by his son:

12. Richard, who in 1395 was taken prisoner by some of his kinsmen, and delivered into the hands of MacWilliam Bourke. “But,” say the Four Masters, “Donal MacMortogh O’Connor and the Irish of North Connaught marched their forces into the territory of MacWilliam, in consequence of the taking of MacJordan, whom they set at liberty; and peace was made between the English and Irish of the province on that occasion.” This Richard was succeeded by his brother Myler, who, in 1416, with his kinsmen, made an attack on the sons of John O’Hara; but was slain on his return home from their territory, having taken from them much booty. Myler had a son, John, and another named Richard, who was known as Richard MacJordan of the Wood.[31] John was in 1394 treacherously killed by his own kinsmen; and Richard of the Wood succeeded his father, as lord of Athleathan.

13. Richard MacJordan,[32] of the Wood: son of Meyler; was in 1426 taken prisoner by Owen O’Flaherty, who delivered him into the hands of MacJordan Dubh, by whom he was plundered. This Richard, lord of Athleathan, lived to a very old age; he made in 1428 a hostile incursion into Tyrawley, against Thomas Barrett, whom he plundered; he had many sons (one of whom is, under A.D. 1472 in the Annals of the Four Masters, mentioned for his valour), and a dau. Celia or Silé (died in 1485), who married Richard Bourke, as above mentioned, and who, say the Four Masters, was “the most exalted woman in Connaught.” From her are descended the present families of the Marquis of Clanricard and the Earl of Mayo.

14. Meyler, lord of Athleathan: succeeded his father, Richard, in 1475; died in 1510; and was succeeded by his son, Slevin.

15. Slevin De Exeter, d. in 1533, and was succeeded by his brother, James, who in 1548, was succeeded by his nephew:

16. Slemme, who, in 1560, was succeeded by his son:

17. Myler, who, in 1578, was succeeded by his son:

18. Stephen: who was succeeded by his brother, Evagher MacJordan, who was succeeded by his son:

19. Edmond[33] (d. 1620), who was succeeded by his son:

20. James, lord of Athleathan, who, in 1663, was succeeded by his nephew:

21. Edward De Exeter MacJordan, who was succeeded by:

22. Edward, who, in 1681, was succeeded by his son:

23. James, who, in 1698, was succeeded by his brother, Henry, who, in 1720, was succeeded by his son:

24. Charles, who, in 1750, was succeeded by his son:

25. Constantine, who, in 1760, was succeeded by his brother, Edward, who m. a Miss MacDonnell;[34] and, in 1763, was succeeded by his nephew:

26. Edmund De Exeter Jordan, who, in July, 1770, m. (according to Lodge) Catherine (died 1776), widow of Bourke, lord Viscount Mayo, who d. in Pall Mall, London, on the 12th January, 1769. He was a Colonel of Volunteers in Mayo, and was one of the county Mayo Delegates who attended the meeting of Volunteers in Dungannon Fort or Castle.

27. Henry De Exeter Jordan, or “Henry of the Ruffles”[35] as he was called: son of Edmund and said Catherine, his wife. Henry m. a Miss Burke of Ower, co. Galway (whose sister m. Sir Walter Blake, Bart., of Menlough Castle, county Galway), and had two sons and three daughters:

1. James, the elder son, was a Barrister-at-Law; conformed to the Church of England to save the remnant of the family Estates from confiscation; and m. a Miss O’Donnell, sister or aunt of Sir Neal O’Donnell of Newport-Mayo, who was created a Baronet in 1780. James Jordan and his wife did not live happy together; by mutual consent they separated after three or four years’ cohabitation without issue. This James was, in 1785, killed in a duel[36] fought between him and his relative (first or second cousin), the celebrated Colonel Richard Martin, of Ballinahinch Castle) West Galway. James, who d.s.p., had a quarrel with his mother, on account, it is alleged, of her neglect of his sisters’ education, during his absence from home on travel. When dying, he willed the family Estate to a Miss Vipout, of Dublin: thus excluding, he thought, his mother from receiving her dower; and his brother, too, from inheriting the property. But Miss Vipout would take only £500, under the Will: She gave Myles De Exeter Jordan, the brother of her “lover,” a clear receipt for all claims on the Estate which James’s Will assigned her.
2. Myles De Exeter Jordan, of whom presently.

Henry’s three daughters were:

1. Mary, who m. Charles Jordan, of Knocknaskeagh, otherwise “Thornhill.”
2. Honoria, who m. Thomas Lynch, Esq., of Ballycurren Castle, co. Galway.
3. Bedilia, who married and had issue.

28. Myles De Exeter Jordan, of Roslevin Castle: second son of Henry “of the Ruffles;” m. Miss Bourke,[37] of Green Hills (with whom he became acquainted while his brother James was lying wounded in her father’s house, after the duel of said James with Colonel Martin), and left six sons and three daughters:

1. Henry De Exeter Jordan, of whom presently.
2. Constantine,[38] who, in 1832, m. Anne Mary Ouseley Finglass,[39] and left issue one son: Myles Joseph De Exeter Jordan, M.D. (living in 1888), of Windsor House, Castlebar, co. Mayo, who in 1862, m. Mary Louisa, second dau. of William Graham,[40] Esq., of Westport, co. Mayo, and had issue, five sons and six daus.: 1. William Stephen De Exeter Jordan, M.D., born 1863; 2. Myles Constantine, b. 1868; 3. Edmond Slevin, b. 1871; 4. Charles Joseph, b. 1877; 5. Henry James Graham, b. 1880; 1. Margaret Basilia, born 1864; 2. Mary Paulina, b. 1866, d. 1883; 3. Louisa Kate, born 1870; 4. Celia Ellen, born 1873; 5. Agnes Maud, b. 1875; 6. Florence Minnie, b. 1882; 7. Mary-Penelope, b. 1884.
3. Dominick, an M.D., who d. unm. in 1847.
4. Charles Bourke Jordan (who d. in 1855), m. Minnie, dau. of Walter Eakins, of Wexford, widow of John Browne, Esq., of Brownestown, co. Mayo; and mother of George Eakins Browne, Esq., J.P., D.L., late MP. for Mayo.
5. Myles, late Crown Solicitor for Mayo, who in 1858, married Margaret J. Graham, eldest dau. of William Graham, Esq. (above mentioned), of Westport, co. Mayo.
6. Edmund, Barrister-at-Law, and Crown Prosecutor for co. Galway, who died unmarried in 1882, at his residence in Mountjoy-square, Dublin.

The three daughters of Myles were:

1. Jane, who married William Garvey, Esq., of Tully House, county Mayo, and who died in 1880, leaving issue two sons.
2. Honoria, who married Joseph Browne, Esq., of Claran, co. Galway; and who died in 1854, leaving issue.
3. Esmena, who married James Jordan, Esq., of Bushfield, county Mayo, for many years Sheriff for Mayo, and who left one son since deceased.

29. Henry De Exeter Jordan, of Roslevin Castle, eldest son of Myles; succeeded to his father’s estates; married Maria, daughter of M. Egan, Esq., M.D., of Tuam, county Galway, and had issue two sons and three daughters:

1. Myles Henry, of whom presently.
2. (—).

The daughters were:

1. Bedilia, who died young and unmarried.
2. Jane, unm. in 1884.
3. Kate, who m. J. M. Burke, A.B., M.D.

30. Myles Henry De Exeter Jordan, of Roslevin Castle, Kiltimagh, J.P., son of Henry; Chairman of Swinford Board of Guardians, and unmarried in 1888.

Notes

[22] Jordan De Courcy: This boy’s mother was one of the descendants of Hugh De Brionis, Sheriff of Devonshire, whom William the Conqueror endowed with one hundred and fifty-nine lordships in that shire; and who, when appointed by the Conqueror as Governor of the Castle of Exeter, was commonly named De Exeter. Hence, young Jordan De Courcy, on his return to Ireland, assumed a portion of his mother’s name, and was known as Siurthan De Exeter, which means “Jordan De Exeter.”—See Khelim’s Domesday Book; and also Burke’s Dormant and Extinct Peerage.

[23] Persecution: See Note “Miles,” in p. 167, ante.

[24] Castlejordan: According to Vol. I., p. 354, of the History of Ireland, by Thomas Wright, that Castle was surprised by O’Connor Faley, and taken from the English, A.D. 1540.

[25] Sheriff: This term is of English origin in Ireland. The Sheriff in ancient times was entrusted with both the administration of justice and the management of the King’s revenue.

[26] Virgin Mary: According to Hardiman’s West Connaught, p. 265, under A.D. 1249, “The Irish nobility of Connaught went to Athenrie, to prey and spoile that towne on the day of our Lady the Blessed Virgin Mary, in the middest of harvest … The Sheriff of Connaught with many Englishmen were in the said towne before them. There was a great army with Terlagh MacHugh (O’Connor). The Sheriff and Englishmen desired them in honour of the Blessed Virgin Mary, whose day then was, to forbear with them that day, which the Irish nobility refused … They assaulted the towne against the will of the said Terlagh, which Jordan De Exeter the Sheriffe and Englishmen seeing, they rushed forthe to meet the said Irishmen, when the Virgin Mary wrought miraculously against the said nobility.”

[27] Slevin: From this Slevin, Rahslevin (now Roslevin)Castle, near Kiltimagh, in the co. Mayo, derives its name. The modern Castle of Roslevin is now the seat of the present representatives of the De Exeter Jordan family—See No. 30, infra, on this pedigree.

[28] Castles: This Slevin and his son Stephen built as outpost fortifications placed at certain distances around their territory, for its better defence, the following Castles, the ruins of which are yet to be seen in the localities mentioned: 1. Currane (or Caislean) Stephen, near Ballyvary, barony of Gallen, and co. of Mayo, which was a very strong fortress, and is still in a very good state of preservation. 2. Bohola, only one tower of which remains. 3. Ballinamore, the ruins of which are situate on the lawn in front of Mr. Ormsby’s residence. 4. Old Castle, near Swinford, and convenient to the modern residence of Mr. O’Rorke. 5. New Castle, near the present residence of Mr. Owen O’Mally, J.P. 6. Athouse. 7. Rathslevin, near Roslevin Castle, now the residence of Mr. Myles H. Jordan, J.P. 8. Tumore, near Foxford. 9. Cloongee Castle, near Foxford. 10. Raight or Wraight, in the barony of Costello. 11. Island Castle, in same barony, and near Ballyhaunis.

[29] De Cogan: Miles De Cogan’s daughter was, we have seen, married to Patrick De Courcy, the second baron of Kinsale; he was, therefore, related by marriage to the lord of Athleathan, with whom De Cogan was on a visit on that occasion.

[30] Battle: Myler, the son and heir of Slevin, being too young on his father’s death to engage in active warfare, we find that in 1381 (one year afterwards) the MacDonoghs of Ballymote, made a predatory incursion into Gallen, demolished the Castle of Athleathan, and carried away the gates thereof to Ballymote. Some fifteen years ago a curious circumstance occurred in relation to that fact: A member of the MacJordan family happened to observe in a place he had visited two beautifully carved stones on which were represented his family crest. Upon inquiring how the then owner of those stones came to be in possession of them, the reply was that they were carried from Ballymote Castle to Glen Island, in the co. of Mayo, by a retired constable of police, who looked upon them as a curiosity. The two carved stones, it is needless to say, were at once purchased, and are (in 1888) again we find in possession of a De Exeter, namely, Doctor Myles Joseph Jordan, M.D., Castlebar.

[31] Wood: Meaning the woody plain or plain of the woods where is situated the town of Kiltimagh (“coillte;” Irish, woods; “magh,” a plain) in the barony of Gallen and county of Mayo. In those days there were extensive woods in that locality, from which circumstance Kiltimagh derives its name.

[32] MacJordan: According to the Linea Antiqua, another “MacJordan” family was descended from Meyler, a younger brother of Costelo Oge, who (see page 136, ante), is No. 2 on the “Costello” genealogy.

[33] Edmond: This Edmond Evagher MacJordan De Exeter, lord of Athleathan, was one of the barons who attended on Sir William Petty during his Survey of Connaught; signed the paper acknowledging the number of quarters of land he was possessed of; and produced “matters of record and credit” (as above mentioned) to show that he (Jordan) and his ancestors were barons by tenure of lands, and were summoned as such to Parliament; and Petty in his report to his Government states, that the De Exeter Jordans possessed lands sufficient for such dignity. Thus, in right of his name as “MacJordan,” this Edmond “Vaghery,” as he is called in the Indenture above given, was confirmed in his possessions; yet Petty afterwards reserved a portion of MacJordan’s territory for John Browne of the Neale, who was an ancestor of the present lords Kilmaine and Sligo.—See also Hogan’s Description of Ireland, p. 275.

[34] MacDonnell: This lady was one of three sisters who were co-heiresses of their brother (or stepbrother), Count O’Donnell, who lost his life in the Austrian Service, and who owned the property now called “Moore Hall,” in the county of Mayo, which was then known by another name. Another of the sisters m. Mr. Martin, of Ross, co. Galway; and the eldest sister m. Mr. Moore, an ancestor of the present Moores of Moore Hall, and is credited with having by some tact secured Moore Hall for her husband, and deprived her two sisters ++f their supposed rights.

[35] Ruffles: This Henry was so called, because, as was then the fashion, he wore ruffles in profusion.

[36] Duel: The quarrel which led to that duel originated, it is said, at an Assizes held in Galway, circa 1785, between Jordan and his relative Martin, under the following circumstances: Jordan, who went on the Connaught Circuit, was at the Assizes counsel in a case against a member of the Burke family of Ower, co. Galway, a near relative of his own, for Jordan’s mother, as above shown, was also a member of that family. In the course of conversation, Martin, who was the friend of both parties, observed that he was sorry to find Jordan had not treated his mother with due filial respect; but Jordan, who was proud and imperious, construed the observation into an insult, and a challenge ensued. Martin, who was a noted duellist in those days, made every effort to apologise, and thus prevent a hostile meeting between them; but Jordan would not be satisfied unless the same people were again gathered together, in whose presence Martin had made use of the alleged insulting expression complained of. This would be almost impossible: so the adversaries met in a field (pointed out by the country people of that neighbourhood to this day) near the public road at Green Hills, half way between Castlebar and Westport, when Jordan received in the groin his opponent’s fire, and was thence removed into the neighbouring house of Mr. Bourke, of Green Hills, where he (Jordan) lingered in great pain for three or four days and died. To the honour of Martin it should be mentioned that he arrived at the ground fixed upon by the seconds without his pistols, and in consequence it was discussed for some time that the duel could not take place, as Martin had not his weapons with him. Jordan, however, refused, to leave the ground; used various threats against Martin unless the duel proceeded; and insisted upon one of his (Jordan’s) pistols being handed to his opponent, who had reluctantly to accept it; and as a fact Jordan was shot with one of his own pistols!

So keenly did Colonel Martin feel respecting that unfortunate duel, that one day in the dining-room of the mansion of Castlemacgarrett, county Mayo (the seat of the present Lord Oranmore and Browne), where the Colonel had been a frequent guest, he was observed with a carving knife in his hand, and “presented” as a pistol, unconsciously soliloquising, “I could not have missed him,” meaning the said James Jordan.

The extraordinary part of the story is, that Martin and Jordan had been so intimate, they travelled together over nearly the whole of Europe, visited America, and spent a few years together in Jamaica. When Jordan returned to Mayo, after five or six years’ absence, he found his sisters more or less neglected by his mother in their education: that neglect led to a feud between him and his mother; it was to that feud that Martin’s kindly-meant observation referred, which led to the duel.

[37] Bourke: This branch of the Bourke (or De Burgo) family were the former owners of Castle Bourke, the ruins of which are situated close to Lough Carra, in Mayo; and they claimed to be the direct descendants of the Earl of Mayo, who d. in Pall Mall, as above mentioned, on the 12th January, 1769. After some troublesome and expensive litigation, however, the Naas branch of the Bourke family succeeded in establishing their claims to the then dormant Earldom; and in their line it still continues.

[38] Constantine: In a duel fought in 1838 by this gentleman at Turlogh, co. Mayo, he is said to have displayed great coolness and courage: and to this day the people of that district relate the circumstances attending that duel, as follows: Mr. Jordan could not close his left eye-lid without the aid of his hand. While in the act of doing so with his left hand on the occasion of the duel, he received his adversary’s fire through the palm of that hand near ball of thumb. Thus he was disappointed in his aim, for the bullet from his pistol, entered the ground close to his adversary’s foot. Mr. Jordan feeling himself wounded, placed the injured hand in his trousers’ pocket, and demanded another shot. The seconds, on both sides, complied by again reloading the pistols; but the adversary’s second, watchful for the interests of his friend, saw that Mr. Jordan must have been wounded, as blood was making its appearance through his trousers, which was of a light colour. That second, therefore, called attention to Mr. Jordan’s wound, and, on consultation with the other second, the duel had to cease.

[39] Finglass: Descended from Baron Finglass, who wrote what is known as “Finglass’s Breviate,” which is published in Harris’s Hibernica; and which contains valuable historical information respecting Ireland. Baron Finglass was of the Westpalstone Finglass family. (Westpalstone is situated in the barony of Balrothery, co. Dublin, some 12 miles N. of the city of Dublin). After this family the village of “Finglass” in the county Dublin is so called. Lodge, in Vol. V., p. 47, says of the ‘‘Finglass” family, under “Barnwall, Viscount Kingsland;” “Elizabeth m. to John Finglass, Esq., of Westpalstone, 28th June, 1607;” and again in Vol. VI., p. 195, Lodge says: “Plunkett, Lord Dunsany, first lord of Killeen (in 1446 made Chief Justice of the King’s Bench), m. Genet, dau. of — Finglass, Esq.” We find that Sir John Plunkett, who was appointed in 1559 Chief Justice of the Queen’s Bench, and who d. in 1582, held with other lands the “Manor of Finglass,” co. Dublin.

[40] Graham: Owner of extensive landed property in the barony of Gallen; and descended from the Border clan of Graham, who were forcibly deported from their lands in the Debateable Land between England and Scotland to Ireland.—See the “Graham” (No. 1) pedigree, ante.