
William Randolph McCreight’s extraordinary family history traces the O’Sullivan sept a full 31 generations from the author’s Carolina origins to the family’s Irish roots in 170 AD. Based on examinations of archaeological, linguistic, and DNA evidence, Mr. McCreight shows that the O’Sullivans may be the oldest documented Irish royal family on record. At their height in Ireland, the O’Sullivans controlled hundreds of thousands of acres and occupied 32 castles, principally in counties Kerry and Cork. Little wonder that esteemed genealogist Brian Mitchell calls O’Sullivan “a phenomenal piece of research and wide-ranging discussion into the origins of a very significant Irish family and in the process a well-illustrated history of Ireland.”
O’Sullivan. The Earliest Irish Royal Family: History and Genealogy traces six O’Sullivan lines, from the first person called Sullivan, to France, Spain, and America. The O’Sullivans figured in many memorable episodes of Irish History, including the 8th-century Danish and 12th-century English invasions of Ireland; the colonization of Ireland, the Battle of Kinsale in 1601; the ill-fated Irish Rebellion of 1641; and eventually emigration to France, Spain and the Americas. Mr. McCreight sets the stage for his genealogies with a lavishly illustrated historical essay that places the O’Sullivan fortunes and misfortunes in historical context. Following are summaries of three of the most significant bloodlines covered in this exciting, massively illustrated volume. More . . .
The Mahon Sullivan bloodline
John Mahon O’Sullivan was a descendant of Sir Owen O’Sullivan Beare, 14th Lord of Beare and Bantry (1549-1594). He was naturalized in France in 1749. He married Charlotte le Belin Dame d’Eguilly. In 1750, King Louis XV created him Marquis d’Guilly. His son, the 2nd Marquis, served in the American Revolutionary War. His grandson, Patrice de MacMahon served as a general in the Crimean War and the Austro-Sardinian War. The day after his victory at the Battle of Magenta, Napoleon III created him Duc de Magenta. He was the second president of the Third Republic of France. These two titles, Marquis and Duke, still exist. The MacMahon O’Sullivan Beare castle is Château de Sully near Beaune, Bourgogne, France, not to be confused with Sully, Saône-et-Loire.
The master John Sullivan of Berwick, Maine bloodline
Owen Sullivan emigrated from Ireland to Berwick, Maine. He was known in Berwick as Master John Sullivan of Berwick. He was a school master, but he also wrote deeds and wills.
His son Major General John Sullivan practiced law and was the first governor of New Hampshire. He attended the 1774 Continental Congress in Philadelphia and was a Major General in the American Revolutionary War. He wrote a letter to Thomas Jefferson threatening to resign his commission from the Continental Army after General Horatio Gates was appointed as his superior officer. His opinion of Gates was proven valid when General Gates fled the field with his army in a panic at the first shots in the Battle of Camden. Major General Johann de Kalb (aka DeKalb) did not know Gates had left the field and charged the British as planned. General de Kalb suffered seven sabre and bullet wounds. He was taken by the British to Camden where he was treated by Dr. Isaac Alexander, but died of his wounds. General Gates died in disgrace.
On orders from George Washington, General John Sullivan led an expedition from the 18th of June to the 3rd of October 1779 with an army of 3,200 continental soldiers. He defeated British loyalists supported by circa 1,000 Iroquois Indians. He destroyed forty Iroquois villages and ended the Indian support of the British. This was regarded as one of the most important strategic efforts of the Revolutionary War. A monument was erected at Lodi, New York, to commemorate the expedition.
His son James Sullivan studied law at Harvard University and received his LLD (Doctor of Jurisprudence) degree. He was:
- Member of the Provincial Council 1775,
- Judge of the Superior Court 1776-1783,
- Attorney General 1790-1807,
- Governor of the state of Massachusetts 1807-1880.
James’s son Brigadier General William Sullivan studied law at Harvard University and was awarded an LLD (Doctor of Jurisprudence) degree. He was a member of the Massachusetts State Legislature and council for many years. He was a Brigadier General in the Militia in the War of 1812.
Sullivan MacCragh sept, the oldest Irish royal bloodline
The O’Sullivan MacCragh sept is the oldest blood line of the Irish Royal family. It was still recognized as a royal bloodline and its eligibility to be elected was accepted and honored.
In 1609, under the Articles of Plantation, the land of many Irish lords was confiscated and given to Englishmen called undertakers because they undertook to import and settle English and Scottish tenant farmers on the land. Many Irish lords were reduced to peasants. Many of the Irish nobles went to France, Spain and America. This period in Irish history is called the flight of the earls.
The Sullivan MacCragh sept refused to convert to the English Protestant religion and the English treated the oldest Irish royal bloodline as common peasants. They lived the life of tenant farmers on small plots of land.
In 1768 The MacCarthy Mór died (the MacCarthy clan chief) without male issue and the Munster royal blood line reverted back to the King Finghan bloodline, which became the O’Sullivan clan. The O’Sullivan MacCragh sept is the senior O’Sullivan bloodline.
Daniel Joseph O’Sullivans MacCragh was born parish Kilcasken, County Cork, Ireland. There was little opportunity for Daniel in Ireland. In 1908, he left Cobb Port, Queenstown, onboard the H.M.S. Oceanic and landed at Ellis Island, New York on the 29th of April 1908. He was naturalized a United States Citizen on the 26th of September 1916. He joined the naval reserves on the 24th of April 1918 and served as seaman second class for four years. In 1919 he became an officer in the New York Police force. His brother William still lived on the small family farm in Derryconnery, Ireland.
His son Daniel Joseph O’Sullivan MacCragh was born on the 24th of April 1920. On the eve of World War II Daniel joined the American army and passed the examinations for flight training. He was wounded in the invasion of Okinawa and was shipped to Valley Forge Army Hospital. His injuries later resulted in total blindness.
His son Dr. Gary Brian O’Sullivan MacCragh was born on the 11th of October 1955 in Montebello, California. Dr. O’Sullivan is the present elected chief of the O’Sullivan MacCragh sept. He is a direct male descendent of Cragh and therefore of King Finghin of Munster, Ireland and King Milesius in Spain. Dr. O’Sullivan is a Fellow of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons. Dr. O’Sullivans bought the ruins of Knockgraffon Castle in Ireland in 1998 from Donal Keating, a direct descendant of the English invader who confiscated the Castle in 1192. This is probably the only case of a family that can officially document its association with a specific building for almost 2,000 years.
Dr. Sullivan’s primary residence is Château du Gravier, La Guerche sur L’Aubois, in Cher, France, also known as Dunberry Castle.