Beaufort Barnwell Blog

Translation: I would rather die than be dishonored

My mother's family are the Barnwells. They had quite an impact on Low Country Carolina and Georgia. It is my pleasure to share some of the family history of that family and others in my bloodline with anybody interested.

Colonel John Barnwell

The first, and founder of our line, was John "Tuscarora Jack" Barnwell who landed in Charles Town in the Colony of Carolina from Dublin, Ireland in 1701. 

Known as the Barnewalls in Ireland the family had a rich heritage. They came originally from Normandy where they were known as De Berneval. 

The first in our Barnwell line to arrive in England was Alanus De Berneval the First who fought alongside William the Conqueror at the battle of Hastings in 1066. 

A later Alanus De Berneval sailed with Richard De Clare (Strongbow) in his conquest of Ireland in 1172, landing at Bannow Bay in Wexford. 

By 1215 we see Hugh de Berneval granted the lands of Terenure and Drimnagh, and also a sizable dowry, by King John.  

Hugh built a castle at Drimnagh and this is where the De Berneval family were in residence for more then 400 years.

  

The Barnewall's (name was anglicized from De Berneval) were not just owners of the lands at Drimnagh, as they had lands and fortified castles all over Ireland.  

They were involved in many events in Irish history and held positions in Irish Parliament  and in the military campaigns against the Irish. 

John's grandfather Richard was a merchant, but he had been an Alderman of Dublin, and briefly the Lord Mayor. He also held Archerstown, an estate in County Meath which was granted to him by the king for his loyalty during the Irish Rebellion of 1641. 

John's parents were Matthew Barnewall and Margaret Carberry, daughter of Alderman John Carberry. 

Matthew, also an alderman of Dublin, was killed in the Siege of Derry, where he was a captain in King James Irish Army, on August 12, 1690. The siege ended the attempt to restore the last Stuart king after the revolution of 1688. 

The family seat, Archerstown in County Meath, was forfeited as a result of this support of James II against William and Mary. History reports that after losing the 17th Century fight for Irish Independence, a steady stream of Irishmen who came to be known as the "Wild Geese" took flight for the Continent. 

John, instead came to the Colonies.