The Irish standard., 1897-11-13
HIS FAMILY ORIGINALLY SETTLED
IN THE EMERALD ISLE.
BECAUSE OF FEAL1Y TO CROMWELL
EMIGRATED FROM cheshire IN
THE REIGN OF CHARLES ii.
SOON ACQUIRED NATIONAL FEELINGS
THE MATERNAL ANCESTRY OF THE
PARLIAMENTARY LEADER.

Charles Stewart Parnell had more
Saxon than Celtic blood in his veins.
His ancestors were Cheshire men, who
came over to Ireland soon after the
Restoration, no doubt anxious to live
In more peaceful atmosphere than
England presented to those who had
actively sympathized with the Parlia-
mentarian cause. The Parnels were
men of substance, for when Thomas
was born. about 1870, they had town
house in Dublin as we'll as an estate in
the Queens county. Thomas won no
1nconsiderable fame as n poet, securing
even the hearty appreciation of Dr.
johnson. He was a friend of Swift and
OF Pope, whom he Is believed to have
helped In his translation of Homer Dr.
Parnell was ordained In 1900, and five
years later was appointed to the arch
deaconry Of Clogher, County Tyrone.
Much as opinions may differ rs to the
merits of his verse, there is no doubt
that DR.. Parnell amasscd considerable
fortune, which he left to his younger
and only brother, John, 4 barrster-at-
law, and member of the Irish House of
Commons, and subsequently u Judge of
the Kings bench. Ills only son, John,
who followed his fathers profession,
married Anne Ward daughter OF the
Hon. Michael Ward, Of Castle Ward,
County Down. a Judge of the Kings
bench. Subsequently Sir John was ap-
pointed one Of the commissioners for
Leinster under the Tillagc Act, and en-
tered the Irish Parliament in 1856 MS
member from marlborough. His son
John was elected in 1878 member for
1nnistiogue, County Kilkenny, and was
made commissioner Of the revenue
In 1888 Sir John Parnell succeeded
Sir John Foster, who became speaker
of the Irish House of Commons, as
chancellor of the Irish exchequer. lie
now represented the Queens county,
but was not a very pronounced poll
the project of legislative union with
Great Britain assumed n definite shane.
lie was, it appears. dismissed from office
on refusing to join in "the cffacemont
and annihilation of tho ancient Irish
Parliament" But, nevertheless, he and
his son Henry stood by Grattan to the
last In his struggle against the Union
and formed two of the 1l5 who stood
out against Lord Castlereagh's measure
In January, 1900. Henry Parncll, who
succeeded to his fathers title and seat
in the United Parliament, distinguished
himself as popular champion. He
was, for instance. in favor of the ;lbo-
lition of the Corn Laws, short Parlia-
mcnts, extension of the franchise, vote
by ballot, and even the abolition of
logging in the army and navy. In the
early years of the century, It is needless
to add, these views were regarded as
belonging to extreme Radicalism. But
Sir Henry was too able a politician to
be passed over because of his advanced
views. 1t was at least in some measure
due to his speech on the motion for a
vote of censurc that Wellington and
Peel retired. He had, at any rate, won
claim to recognition. He entered
Earl Gray's administration rs secrc-
tary of war in 1882, though without n
seat in the cabinet. He was paymasLcr
OF the forces in the administration of
Lord Melbourne, and in 1S4l WAS raised
to the peerage as Baron Conglcton, Il
title which still exists. John Vcscy
Parnell, the second baron, succeeded
his father in 1842, and on his death
without issue in 1883, was succeeded by
his brother, Henry William Parnell, the
present baron, who was born in 1909
and has served in the royal navy.
Avondale was formerly the property
Of Samuel Hayes. an Irish barristcr
who, dying without issue in 1896, left it
to his dear friend, Sir John Parncll."
This property Sir John bcqucathcd to
his younger son, William Parncl, j. P
d. L., who spent his life among his ten
antry. But although he took no part
in political life, a book which he wrote,
"An Historical Apology for the Irish
Catholics" shows the bent of his mind
Rebellions in Ireland, he affirmed, had
originated not from religious hatred,
but from resentment on account of mis-
rule and tyranny. Sir Henry Parncll
was about the same time engaged in Il
History Of the Penal Laws" curious
coincidence, which illustrates in a
striking manner the political procliyi-
ties of the family. William Parncll
died in 1921. His son, John Henry.
married Miss Della Stewart, the daugh-
ter of Admiral Stewart of the Amcri-
can navy. >,
The mother of Mr.. Parnell comes of
an Ulster stock. The Stewards migrated