Rebellion

By Seán O’Beirne

It was a single generation that was to change the world. From 1775 to 1800 changes would occur like none before. Feudal systems with hereditary monarchies would be swept aside, a new form of government of the people by the people—democracy—would come into being. The army of the greatest power on Earth would surrender at Yorktown, Virginia and the British band would play “The World Turned Upside Down” as their commander Cornwallis surrendered to General George Washington. Within a few short years the French would dispose of their monarchy and its trappings. In 1798 the Irish, inspired by the success of the Americans and the French, and the writings of the immortal Tom Paine as their commander Cornwallis surrendered to General George Washington. Within a few short years the French would dispose of their monarchy and its trappings. In 1798 the Irish, inspired by the success of the Americans and the French, and the writings of the immortal Tom Paine, would attempt to cast off the British yoke. Bonding together as never before, Irishmen of all faiths would join together, and fight for their cause of independence. But the British had learned from the losses in America and the narrow Irish Sea did not afford the protection of the broad Atlantic. Spies, treachery and forces led by the same Cornwallis, now Viceroy, would end those dreams in bloody defeat.

O’Beirne’s were there in those years, living up to their motto, Fuimus—We were there—but not always on the right side. Known members of our clan fell at Ballinamuck, the final defeat of 1798. A young seminarian called Francis O’Beirne was rounded up during the Terror in Paris. But these are stories for another day. In this issue we’ll present some of the writings of the loyal, but sometimes wrong-headed, Thomas Lewis O’Beirne, his wife Jane, and an account of the contemptible trial of Michael O’Beirne in 1794.

Thomas Lewis O’Beirne, (1748 - 1823), former Catholic seminarian, turned Protestant minister and future Lord Bishop has left us with much of his writings and here we’ll reproduce two. The first is his sermon preached in St. Paul’s Chapel in New York City immediately after one quarter of the city of approximately 20,000 was burned; allegedly by the American rebels but something for which they never claimed credit or accepted blame. (Wooden houses, as they mostly were, were so notoriously subject to fire that many kept their kitchens in a separate building.) The second piece by O’Beirne shows his loyalty to the recalled Lord Howe. “A Candid and Impartial Narrative,” (1779), shows his perception of the lost cause of the British. Many of O’Beirne’s publications were under the name “Melancthon,” named after the German Protestant reformer Phillip Melancthon (1497 - 1560), friend of Martin Luther, and advocate of harmony between the Protestant and Catholic churches. Melancthon died praying “that the churches might be of one mind in Christ.” O’Beirne, especially in the second half of his career, espoused similar beliefs and maintained his lifelong friendship with his mentor Dr. Patrick Plunkett, Catholic Bishop of Meath.

Jane O’Beirne’s letters are a treasure trove preserved by the La Touche family all these years and never before published. Jane, the granddaughter of an Earl, helped educate and befriended Anne Caroline Tottenham, the future Mrs. John David La Touche. This Irish family with Huguenot roots were important bankers and leaders; major investors in establishing the Bank of Ireland, still the biggest bank in Ireland and now headquartered in the building that housed the Irish Parliament which was dissolved in 1800 after the disastrous rebellion of two years before. Jane’s letters are full of names that will become famous in history in Ireland and the United States. We are grateful to David A. La Touche, Ph.D., to his ancestors and especially to his great-great grandmother, Anne Caroline La Touche, for preserving these letters.

The trial of Michael O’Beirne in Dublin in 1794 is simply unbelievable. Charged with robbing a man he knew, and who knew him, for over 14 years and after a drunken night by the plaintiff, O’Beirne was a least guilty of having hired incompetent counsel. This member of a well educated medical family was convicted of the theft of a watch, a small amount of money and sentenced to death. William Andrew Hart, Ph.D., of the University of Ulster, Coleraine, to whom we’re indebted for this story from his archives, is of the opinion that O’Beirne’s sentence was subsequently commuted to “transportation” and that Michael was sent to North America or Australia. Perhaps a descendant will show up and tell us more.