King of Spain

Table of Contents

Evidence can be found the eighteenth century of a connection between Kilronan McManuses and the kings of Spain.

The Herald of Ireland during that period, William Hawkins, also testified to the authenticity of the O’Conor-McManus connection when he set out a genealogical table for Rose McSweeney, a Lady in Waiting to King Phillip the Fifth of Spain.

William Hawkins

William Hawkins, (1730-1787), became Herald of Ireland in 1765, and his work on the genealogy of Rose McSweeney, whose mother was of the Kilronan McManus line, is set out in the genealogical table dated 22nd. February, 1774, and signed by William Hawkins (Genealogical Office, Dublin, MSS H 065). The table is headed in a note signed, ‘S. James – Knight’, and tells us some more of the subject and her husband, who had both been employed by the King and Queen of Spain during their reign between 1700 and 1746:

Rose McSweeney

The genealogy of Rose McSweeney, otherwise De Helizes, Principal Lady in Waiting to Her Catholic Majesty, Queen Elizabeth Farnese, wife of Phillip V, King of The Spaniards; the widow of Sebastian De Helizes, Secretary to the Lofy Ludovic, Infant King of the Spaniards.

In his preamble to the genealogical table, Hawkins writes:

Let it be known that since I have been appointed ‘Coats of Arms Master’ by the power and authority of Her Majesty The Queen, under the Great Seal of Ireland, I inform you that: Rose McSweeney, otherwise De Helizes, is sprung from the direct maternal line, legitimately, of Turlough McSweeney of Reynedocharrigy (sic) in County Donegal; that she is sprung truly from the maternal line of Daniel McManus, son of the Great O’Connor, Armour Bearer, just as it is shown clearly in the genealogical table attached to this insignia; also the facts depicted above pertain properly to the same Rose McSweeney, otherwise De Helizes, as testimony of this great fact, I have written my name and title here, and attached my seal of office at Dublin, 22nd. February, 1774.

At the head of the document Hawkins notes that, ‘According to the authentic annals, the family McSweeney, otherwise McSwiney, is itself sprung from the most ancient root of the O’Neill’s, formerly Princes of Tyrone in Ulster………’ and that:

According to the same annals it is clearly agreed that the family MacMagnus (Great) (Now commonly known as McManus) so called because the first of that surname was the son of the Great O’Conor. Furthermore, the direct line comes down from Turlogh O’Conor King Of Connacht. Moreover, the family McManus was held in high esteem before the Revolution of 1641. It held extensive lands in Roscommon and County of Connacht.

Hawkins’ document then sets out the ascent of Rose McSweeney’s maternal grandfather, Charles MacManus, who had served as ‘…a Captain in the service of the Most Christian King of the French’. From Charles, thirteen generations of his ancestors are shown in the line of the O’Conors.