The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1898-11-05
The billions were never Hibernis ipsis

Hiberniores. From their first coming to
Ireland they maintained steady loyalty
to the English sovereign, but still, If not
Irish of the Irish," they We're good
well-meaning sort of people. The favors
of gentle King Jamie" tended to make
them devoted adherents to the Stuart
line, and this devotion of theirs made
them popular among the Irish Catholics,
especially during the latter part of the
seventeenth century and the first half of
the eighteenth. In 1888, when Charles
sent over Wentworth as lord lieutenant,
and that latter commenced by legal Quips
and bubbles to rob the Irish people Of
their lands, the ultra-loyalty of the Dill
Ions did not show In a favorable light.
Sir Lucas Dillon was the foreman of the
Roscommon jury, assembled, as they
were told by Wentworth, to find "a clear
and undoubted title in the crown to the
province of Connaught"-tha is, to find
that Connaught belonged to the king,
who could give land to whomsoever he
pleased. The unfortunate Roscommon
jury found as they had been directed,
and Sir Lucas Dillon, upon the dividing
of the lands received large estate out
of the plunder. Heaven strikes with
the gallant that strikes for the crown!"
So says the ballad, and the outbreak of
the civil war found the billions ready
supporters of King Charles, of whom the
earl of Roscommon was one of the most
devoted adherents. But they were nearly
all devout Catholics and learned to put
Fear God" before "Honor the King"
Sir James Dillon came from England an
officer of the kings troops. but he soon
took the popular ,side, and commanded
an Irish army, which besieged Athlone
from Christmas until near sidsummer
q462), the English garrison suffering
famine until Ormond came ito it's reliei
with 5000 men, and raised the seige,
leaving behind him in Athlone 1000 men
under Lord Ranleagh. Robert Dillon,
son of Sir Lucas already mentioned,
married Rose, eldest daughter of John
Dillon, of Streamstown, and left Il son
Theobold, who became seventh viscount
Dillon. Theobald proved the devotion Of
his family TO the Stuart line Of kings. He
embraced the cause Of the unfortunate
James. raised regiment for him, which
was called the regiment of Dillon did
all he could in his service. was outlawed
for him in 1890 and at length fell with
him like the fgurative ivy round the
fallen oak. By his wife. Mary Talbot,
daughter of Sir Henry Talbot, he had,
with other issue. two sons, Henry and
Arthur On his fathers death the out
lawry was reversed in favor of the eldest
son, Henry, who succeeded to the title
and estates; while the younger, Arthur,
chose to WELD the sword Of a soldier of
fortune, and sailed from Limerick with
Sarsfield. Arthur was a fine, daring,
chivalrous young fellow of 20 when he
landed on the coast of France at the head
of his fathers regiment of Connaught-
years hard fightingJmade him brigadier
dcs Armes du Roi in 1902, and in three
years more he was made marcschalde-
camp. The commander of the regiment
du Dillon married Christina, daughter Of
Ralph Sheldon, and had, besides daugl-
ters, five sons-namely. Charles, Henry,
James, Edward and Arthur, of which
progeny we shall hear presently. He
was made lieutenant general for bravery
in the field, was 70" time governor of
Toulon, and few years after transfer
ring the command of the regiment of Dill
Ion to his eldest son, died at st. Germain
cn Laye, near Paris, on Feb, 5, 1888.