The Irish Merediths - Clonenagh Merediths

The Clonenagh Merediths

The counties of Laois (formerly known as Queen's County) and Sligo had the largest numbers of Meredith families in Ireland in the late 18th and throughout the 19th centuries. The Merediths in Queen's Co. were concentrated in two areas, the parishes of Clonenagh and Rearymore.

The earliest recorded date for a Clonenagh Meredith is 1761, when the name of John Meredith of Cappagh appeared in a list of Freeholders of Queen's Co. There is no documentary evidence to show exactly how the Clonenagh and Rearymore branches are connected; nevertheless, DNA analyis of Meredith descendants from both branches has confirmed a close relationship. A possible connection is summarised in this Schematic Diagram, which also shows how both these branches might connect to the Wicklow branch, for which there is also a close relationship confirmed through DNA analysis.

The implication is that the earliest known ancestor of the Clonenagh Meredith branch is Rice Meredith of Oghill who was listed in the Arklow Hearth Money Rolls of 1669. It is not known whether this Rice Meredith of Oghill was the first of this branch to immigrate to Ireland from Wales, but no earlier records that connect to this particular branch have been found.

Several Clonenagh Merediths born in the second half of the 1700s have been identified as possible children of John of Cappagh, although documentary evidence has yet to be found:

William Meredith (c1755-1825) about whom little is known
Samuel Meredith (c1756-1832) and Sarah Ince, who are believed to be the ancestors of a large branch in the USA. Several descendants played prominent roles in the Methodist Church in the 19th century
John Meredith (ca1760) and Esther Hill, who were married before 1803, with descendants in Ireland and Australia
Thomas Meredith (c1762-1844) who lived at The Oak, a house that has remained in the family until the present day. There are many descendants of this branch in Ireland, UK, USA, Canada, Australia and South Africa
Mary Meredith (aft.1762- ) who married Edward Seale of Oldtown, Clonkeen and Clonenagh, the son of John Knight Seale and Eliza King
Rice Meredith (<1780-1823) and Anne Neill, who were married before 1800, with descendants in Ireland, USA and UK.

Wilkinsons of Queen's Co.:

There are close marital connections between several generations of the Meredith families of Clonenagh and the Wilkinson families of Queen's Co. The Wilkinson names documented on this website can be found in the Surname Index, as well as through the Search function. The descent of several co-lateral lines of Queen's Co. Wilkinsons is shown on an Indented Chart and a Box Chart, linked to biographical entries, and on a Fan Chart.

Clarkes of Queen & King's Cos.:

There are also close connections between the Merediths and Wilkinsons of Clonenagh with the Clarke families of Queen and King's Cos. Some of the related Clarke individuals are documented on this website. Wider research into the early ancestry and descendants of these Clarkes was carried out by Sharon Haggerty. Her research (no longer updated) can be accessed through the following indented charts in an archival version of her database:

Clarke of Portarlington and
Clarke of Queen's & King's Counties.

Site Navigation:

The names of specific persons in this Family Line can be found in the Surname Index.

The family history can also be explored through different types of chart:

an Indented Chart and a Box Chart that show the relationships and family groups visually. Each name on the charts is linked to a separate biographical page for that person.
a Dropline Chart and a Fan Chart that show the descendancy on a single page, but with the names not linked to biographical entries.

A Schematic Diagram shows the connections between the various Meredith Family Lines documented on this website, and their possible connections back to Wales.

Charts