O'Neills of Puerto Rico

The O'Neills of Puerto Rico are the descendants of various O'Neill families, mainly soldiers of Irish and Spanish ancestry who emigrated and settled on northern coast of the island of Puerto Rico during the 1700s and early 1800s.

The O'Neills in the Caribbean

There were many O'Neills in the Caribbean especially the Counts of Tyron of the Aodh Mór mac Feardorcha Ó Néill line. Don Patrick O'Neill was born in the Spanish Netherlands (modern day Belgium) in 1622 and given the courtesy title of Count of Tyrone in deference to his father's title which was taken upon the death of Hugh O'Neill in Rome 1616. Patrick O'Neill and his cousin Eoghan Rua Ó Néill, anglicized as Owen Roe O'Neill (c. 1590–1649) "Red Owen", was a seventeenth century soldier and one of the most famous of the O'Neill family of Ulster O'Neill was the son of Art O'Neill, a younger brother of Hugh O'Neill, 2nd Earl of Tyrone. As a young man, left Ireland in the Flight of the Earls to escape the English conquest of his native Ulster. He grew up in the Spanish Netherlands and spent 40 years serving in the Irish regiment of the Spanish army. He saw most of his combat in the Eighty Years' War against the Dutch Republic in Flanders, notably at the siege of Arras, where he commanded the Spanish garrison. O'Neill was, like many Gaelic Irish officers in the Spanish service, very hostile to the English Protestant presence in Ireland. Both cousins returned to Ireland during the Irish Rebellion of 1641 to fight in the Irish Confederate Wars. Owen Roe O'Neill was poisoned by the Cromwell supporters and died in 1649. Patrick O'Neill left Ireland and took loyalty and arms for the King of France and moved his family to the Island of Martinique there they lived for 200 years. In the 1641 Irish Rebellion Sir Henry O'Neill remained loyal to the English crown while his sons and brothers played a prominent part in the 1641 Irish Rebellion, resulting in the confiscation his lands were divided up among a number of Cromwellian settlers ; the chief beneficiary was Thomas Ball whose various grants totalled more than 6,000 acres. Sir Henry O'Neill was banished to Connaught , Ireland . Where he was awarded a estate in Co. Mayo, Ireland. His son Henry O'Neill (Enrique O'Neill) in 1755 the 99 years lease on his lands in Meelick, Carrowrory and Carrowconnell expired. Henry (Enrique) O'Neill and his wife Hanna O'Kelly , the daughter of counselor John O'Kelly of Keenagh, Co. Roscommon moved his family to Spain about 1758. In the result of a James Knox of Moyne of Killala, Co. Mayo took steps against O’Neill’s to confiscate his lands. During the Cromwell and the English Protestant labored to give war with the policy of extermination of the Irish. The inhuman methods of selling Irish have slaves to plantation owners in the Leeward Islands especially Monseratte and other British governed Islands. The Leeward Islands lie east of Puerto Rico this gave the perfect opportunity for the veterans of the Irish wars and Spanish Regiments who had fought in the Spanish Netherlands to exact revenge. Sometimes allied with French troops the attacked the British colonies most of the time resulting in the extermination of English plantation owners and the native inhabitants in these Islands.

The O'Neills in Puerto Rico

The English controlled the island of St. Croix until 1650. In that year the Spanish sent a fleet of 5 ships and 1,200 men to St. Croix from Puerto Rico and slaughtered every man, woman and child. After only 15 years of domination, the English were ousted. History shows that the O’Neill’s had previous knowledge of the Islands with the names of Rocco , Eammon, Constatino or Conn the name possibly referring to Conn O'Neill, 1st Earl of Tyrone, Eoghan, Edmundo & Gill these were men who first in the Ultonia and Hibernia regiments for the Crown of Spain sometimes allied with the French to eliminate the English from these Islands.

Most O'Neill's of Puerto Rico families have for many generations resided in the districs of Hato Nuevo, Mamey and Sonadora of the city of Guaynabo located on the Northern coast of the Island of Puerto Rico. Other O'Neill families also have settled in the city of Rio Piedras and the city of Caguas. Many other O'Neill families that immigrated from Barbados settled on the Island of Viques. The O'Neill's have produce a few mayors in their respected cities.

1849 Arturo O'Neill, Mayor of Bayamon.
1851- 1852 Felix O'Neill, Mayor of Bayamon.
1852 Arturo O'Neill, Mayor of Toa Alta.
1853 Arturo O'Neill, Mayor of Toa Baja.
1854 Felix O'Neill, Mayor of Caguas.
1854-1856 Felix O'Neill , Mayor of Ponce.
1867 Enrique O'Neill, Mayor of Ponce.

The decendants of Don Enrique O'Neill of the Fews

In 1755 the 99 years lease on his lands in Meelick, Carrowrory and Carrowconnell expired. Henry (Enrique) O'Neill and his wife Hanna O'Kelly , the daughter of counsellor John O'Kelly of Keenagh, Co. Roscommon moved his family to Spain about 1758. They became the parents of Don Arturo O'Neill de Tyrone born in 1736 Dublin, Ireland. Latter known by the title of the 1st Marques Del Norte and Governor of the Yucatan in 10.03.1792. The successor of Don Jose Sabido de Vargas. Named Governor of West Florida and named into the Supreme Council of War of Spain (replacing Governor Miguel de Uztaraiz). His brother Lieutenant. Colonel. Niall 'Nicolas' O'Neill O'Kelly was b. 1734 died at Saragossa,Spain. Don Tulio O'Neill O'Kelly married Catherine O'Keffe y Whalen and became the parents of Arturo O'Neill O'Keffe and Tulio O'Neill O'Keffe born in St. Croix in 1784 became a General and won many distinctions during the Peninsular War. He married Manuela de Castilla the daughter of a Spanish Nobel. They became parents of Don Juan Antonio Luis O'Neill born in 1812 who married Dona Luisa de Salamanca. He latter inherited his mothers titles in 1847. Marques de la Granja, Marques de Caltojar, Count of Benajiar and Marques de Valdeosera (d.1877). From then on they are known as the O'Neill's of the Fews of Seville. Don Arturo O'Neill O'Keffe was born 1783 in St. Croix. Became Lieut. Colonel in 17.08.1828 in Bayamon , Puerto Rico. A Knight of the Royal Order of King Carlos the 3rd of Spain and 2nd Marques del Norte. He died in Sept 7, 1832 and is buried in the Roman Catholic Church of Frederiksted , Saint Croix (Santa Cruz). He was married to Joanna Chabert Heyliger on April 19, 1802 in St. Croix. Recent findings are showing that other O'Neill's did settled in Puerto Rico in the 1770s or early 1700s in orders of the Spanish Royal Courts. The earliest record show that of a man named Patricio O'Neill arrived in Puerto Rico in the 1770s.

*Tulio Luis O'Neill y Chabert b. 17.06.1808 in St.Croix.
* Arturo O'Neill y Chabert b. 25.08.1820 in Loyza, Puerto Rico baptized in Loyza, Puerto Rico 07.09.1821.
* Micaela Ulpiana O'Neill y Chabert b. 03.04.1825 in Puerto Rico baptized has the daughter of the Marques del Norte in San Juan ,Puerto Rico.
* Gonzalo O'Neill y Chabert b. 20.08.1829 Rio Piedras , Puerto Rico baptized in 31.03.1830 in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
* Arturo Eustasio O'Neill Andino born in San Juan, Puerto Rico 29.03.1857.
*Arturo O'Neill Abajo born in Madrid circa 1890 died 3.012.1936 .
*Arturo O'Neill Pecino died at the age of 17 in 1.03.1937
*Diego Arturo Ricardo Próculo O'Neill Pecino. born in 14.04.1922.
* Arturo César O'Neill de Tyrone Daneyko born in Oviedo, Asturias, 9.10.1950
* Carlos O'Neill Pecino
* Margarita O'Neill Pecino
* Africa O'Neill Pecino
*Miguel O'Neill Pecino
* Luis O'Neill Pecino
* María del Rosario Magdalena O'Neill Abajo born in San Juan,Puerto Rico 22.07.1895.

From this O'Neill family line descends the true O'Neill Mór and Chief of the O'Neill's.

"El 6 de diciembre de 1816, el sobrino del I Marqués del Norte, también llamado D Arturo O'Neill solicitó al rey se le expidiese la correspondiente carta de sucesión tras haber tomado posesión del vinculo ante D Joaquin Almazán del Consejo de S. M. y teniente corregidor en Madrid el día anterior según testimonio del escribano de Madrid, Antonio Lopez de Salazar. Previa la expedición de la real carta de sucesión pagó 20,361 reales y 3 maravedis por los derechos sucesorios."

The O'Neills military service and honors 1600s - 1800s

* Capt. Tirlough O’Neill, Grandson of Feilimidhe O'Neill, served in the Spanish army after the English government offered a price for his head.

* Lieutenant. Colonel Tirlough O'Neill b. 1690. Served in the Regiments of Berwick,Waterford and Hibernia regiments. Killed by Muslims raiders in 1748.

* Lieutenant. General Brian O’Neill, Served many years in the Spanish Netherlands under General. Owen Roe O'Neill's Regiments in Flanders. Was one of the key planners of the 1641 Irish Rebellion.

* Colonel. Art Og O'Neill b. 1622 d. 1663. Fought in the 1641 Irish Rebellion. served in the Spanish Irish Regiments of Tyrone. Knight of the Order of Calatrava 1662.

* Colonel. Jose O'Neill, served under Nicolas (Niall) O'Neill de Tyrone O'Kelly in the Regiments of Irlanda.

* Colonel. Terencio (Terence) O'Neill b. 9.3.1759. Knight of the Order of Santiago in 1786. Served in the Regiment of Hibernia.
* Lieutenant General. Felix O'Neill b. 1720 d. 1795. Served in the Spanish Army.

* Brigadier. Felix O'Neill d. 1812 . Served in the Regiment of Hibernia.

* Captain General. Juan O'Neill b. 1765 d. 1808.
* Captain General. Felix O'Neill d. 1862 . Knight of the Order of King Carlos III.

* Captain. Henry O'Neill.

* Lieutenant Colonel. Nicolas (Niall) O'Neill de Tyrone O'Kelly b. 1734.
* Lieutenant Colonel. Arturo O'Neill de Tyrone O'Kelly. b 1736 d. 1814

* General . Tulio O'Neill O’Keeffe b. 1784 d. 1855. Colonel of the regiments of the Princess. Knight of the Grand Order of San Fernando.

* Lieutenant General . Arturo O'Neill O’Keeffe b. 1783. Knight of the Royal Order of King Carlos III. Captain of the 1st battallion of militias of infantry of Puerto Rico.

* Lieutenant. Arturo Eustasio O'Neill Andino b. 29.03.1857, served in the Infantry of Puerto Rico for the Spanish crown, Grandson of Lieutenant General. Arturo O'Neill O’Keeffe.

* Captain. Arturo O'Neill Abajo b.1890 (Madrid). d. 3.12.1936. Great-grandson of Lieut. General Arturo O'Neill O’Keeffe.

* Sir. William Johnson . born 1715, Smithtown, County Meath, Ireland. d. 6.11.1774, near Johnstown, N.Y. A British colonial official. In 1737 he emigrated from Ireland and settled in New York's Mohawk Valley. In 1746 he was appointed colonel of the Iroquois Confederacy.

* John Johnson, 2nd Baronet Sir John Johnson, 2nd Baronet born . 11.05.1741. A loyalist leader during the American Revolution. He was the son of the Superintendent of Indian Affairs Sir William Johnson, 1st Baronet, who had promoted the British settlement of the Mohawk Valley and founded the community of Johnstown in Tryone County in the Province of New York.

*Brian O'Neill , Son of Tiege O'Neill , a mercenary in France and Portugal.

* John O'Neill ,Son of Teige and brother of Brian O'Neill, a mercenary in France and Portugal .

* General. John "Count of Tyrone” O'Neill, Served in the Spanish army in the Spanish Netherlands.

* General. Owen Roe O'Neill, d. 1649. Served the in the Spanish army in the Spanish Netherlands. Commander of the Irish Confederate Forces in 1640's Irish Rebellion.
* Colonel. Eoghan (Owen) O'Neill, served in the armies of France.
* Officer Luaghadh (Lewis) O'Neil , served in the armies of France.
* Colonel. Gordon O'Neill, Leader of the Ulster Jacobites.

Genetics and Y-DNA

Only a few O'Neills of Puerto Rico have Y-DNA tested to discover their genetic origins and to see they all share one common ancestry. The two results have been acquired one member being of the Haplogroup J2 (Y-DNA) and another of the Haplogroup R1b (Y-DNA) sub clades.
*http://www.ysearch.org/lastname_view.asp?uid=&letter=&lastname=o'neill&viewuid=6QKV7&p=0
*Y-DNA Haplotype shows a possible ancestry among a ancient North Germanic tribe, no genetic genealogist so far has been able to find or can explain the origins of the haplotype.
*http://www.ysearch.org/lastname_view.asp?uid=&letter=&lastname=o'neill&viewuid=H6Q4J&p=0
*http://www.wfnforum.net/index.php?topic=7647.0

See also

*Owen Roe O'Neill
*Chiefs of the Name#List of Ireland's Chiefs as at Abandonment, 2003
*Battle of St. George's Caye
*List of Colonial Governors of Florida

External links

*http://www.geneall.net/H/tit_page.php?id=7819
*http://www.geneall.net/H/per_page.php?id=621288
*http://www.irlandeses.org/
*http://www.newryjournal.co.uk/content/view/1307/31/
*http://indigo.ie/~wildgees/
*http://www.usna.edu/EnglishDept/ilv/reb1641.htm
*http://www.british-civil-wars.co.uk/biog/oneill.htm
*http://www.flightoftheearls.ie/characters.html
*http://www.friesian.com/perifran.htm#england

Sources

The Spanish Monarchy and Irish Mercenaries, R.A.Stradling

The O' Neills in Spain, Spanish Knights of Irish Origin, Destruction by Peace, Micheline Kerney Walsh. The Irish Sword, Vol 4-11
Erin's Blood Royal: The Gaelic Nobel Dynasties of Ireland, Peter Beresford Ellis

The Wild Geese, Mark G. McLaughlin. Wild Geese in Spanish Flanders,1582-1700, B. Jennings.

General History of Martinique, 1650-1699

Archivo General de Simancas

Archivo General de Indias

Archivo de la Chancilleria de Valladolid

Archivo Histórico Nacional, Spain

Registro demografico de Puerto Rico

Obispado de San Juan, Puerto Rico

The History of Irish Brigades in the service of France, Shannon (1969)