Heraldry A-B-C, The Arms
By Philip McManus
In this installment I shall cover five different arms associated with the McManus surname. The source information regarding these arms was difficult to find and a special thanks goes to Morgan Broman for bringing this information to light.
Coat of Arms One
The first mention of any arms of the McManuses was depicted in a ‘Book of Arms’ compiled around 1690 by Sir James Terry, Athlone Herald and presented to James III in 1712 (Mss. Harley 4039, British Library). There is no reference to whom these arms were granted nor which McManus family to which it refers. It contain only a picture on page 122 (folio 65 verso) which can be described heraldically as follows:
Arms: Gules, on a chevron argent three boars heads azure, armed blanc, langued gules, between three cross crosslets, or
Crest: A demi-lion gules holding a scepter, or
Motto: Par Viribu Virtus
This coat of arms is almost exactly like those of
the MacDermot family except that the colors of red
and blue are reversed. This may be a
clue showing the arms as associated with the family of MacManus of Tir Tuathail (Kilronan parish,
Coat of Arms Two
The second appearance of McManus arms was dated 22 Feb 1774. It is in a claim for nobility by Rose MacSweeny. Her mother was the daughter of Charles MacManus. The claim was made so that her children or relatives could show the necessary requisites to join the chivalric orders, military schools, and other institutions that required some sort of proof of nobility.
The arms used by Rose MacSweeny were those long associated with the McManus family of Fermanagh. But there is yet to be found any information supporting the arms as those of McManus Maguire.
This information was found in the ‘draft grants’
records of
This is so totally opposite of the truth and so obvious, that we believe it would have been rejected out of hand. It is most likely that the herald (shown as William Hawkins) sent a private letter to the applicant and she withdrew her application. There is no record of this ever ending in an actual grant of arms.
In The Jacobite Peerage by MHM Marquis de Ruvigny (1974) we have a reference to the same family in Rose MacSweeny’s claim:
Declaration of
Noblesse
1752. Dec 7
Declaration of the noblesse of Marianne Macmanus
Maguire, daughter of Charles Macmanus of Lough Earne, and of Mary Maguire of Crohan,
widow of James Egan of Kilbaran, son of Eustace, and
grandson of O'Caroll, who was captain of an Irish
infantry regiment in the service of the King of the Two Sicilies.
It may indeed be that Rose MacSweeney
was able to substantiate her claim to nobility for her family. One can assume that at least the pedigree,
where it shows Rose’s family and their life and achievements in
Following is an extract and translation of the information from the draft grant (the MacSweeny portion of the pedigree is left out due to space constraints).
The
genealogy of Rose MACSWEENY, alias de Helizes,
honored foot attendant of her Catholic Majesty Queen Elizabeth Farnese, wife of Philippe V. Her husband Sebastian de Helizes,
Secretary of State under King Ludovici the Infant of
Spain, Knight of the Order of Santo Jacobi. Emmanuella 2nd daughter of Colonel John MacSweeny,
wife of Francisco Rubalcava, Knight of the Order of
Santo Jacobi.
Genealogy of MacManus
1. Daniel MacMagnus
alias MacManus, son of Manus O’Connor.
His wife Elizabeth, daughter of Hugh Duff MacMahon
of Monaghan, Armiger
2. Donnchadh
MacManus of Toneroe,
3. Maelsechlainn
MacManus, armiger. His
wife Bridget, daughter of Manus MacDonnell of County Donegal, armiger.
4. Hugh MacManus, armiger. His wife Sara, daughter of
John Hamilton of
5. Manus MacManus, armiger.
His wife Honor, daughter of Brian O’Hea of
6. Dermot MacManus, armiger. His wife, Margaret,
daughter of John Fleming of
7. Rory MacManus, armiger. His wife Mary, daughter of
Fergus O’Ferrall of
8. Eoghan
McManus of Eirew,
9. Rory MacManus, armiger. His wife Honor, daughter of
John Dillon of CastleDillson,
10. Bernard MacManus, of Ennis,
11. Alexander McManus, armiger. His wife Margaret, daughter of Hugh Maguire
of Croagher,
12. John MacManus, armiger. His wife Anna, daughter of
Philip O’Reilly of
13. Philip MacManus, armiger. His wife, Joan, wife of
Hugh MacManus of
14. Charles MacManus, captain under King Christian Gallarium. His wife Mary, daughter of John Maguire, armiger, Lord Baron of Enniskillen.
15. Rosa, daughter of Charles McManus, Captain under King
Christian Gallarium
16. Rosa, daughter of Colonel John MacSweeny,
honored foot attendant Catholic Majesty Queen Elizabeth Farnese,
wife of Philippe V. Her
husband Sebastian de Helizes, Secretary of State
under King Ludovici the Infant of Spain, Knight of
the Order of Santo Jacobi. Emmanuella 2nd daughter of Colonel John MacSweeny,
wife of Francisco Rubalcava, Knight of the Order of
Santo Jacobi.
From the same Annals we find, the family of MacMagnus (according to Sycopen
is pronounced MacManus) which derives the name firstly from the same name of
the son of Manus O’Connor whose line descends from Tulrogh
O’Connor king of Connacht, always called the MacManus
family after the Revolution of 1641 and live extensively in County Roscommon, Connacht.
All and Singular to whom these presents come therefore
William Hawkins, armiger,
Therefore my own act King of Arms Potestate
and authority of the Queen’s Majesty under the great seal of Ireland mitri concessa
certify vouchsafe to Rosa MacSweeny, alias de Helizes de Rynedochargy, in
County Donegal, armiger, her maternal lineage of Daniel MacManus son of Manus
O’Connor, armiger shown in the genealogical table.
Coat of Arms Three
There is a third occasion in the official heraldic records where we see not a grant or confirmation, but rather a recognition of arms. This was where a family held it for a long time but had yet to have it officially granted.
This was the family of McManus of Mount Davys (Count Antrim) that is documented in more details in an earlier issue of this newsletter. Suffice it to say that this particular branch had made it through troubled times rather well-off only at last to obtain arms and then either die out or sink into obscurity.
GOD [D.3]
Mss 106, pg 97, folio 3 Draft Grants and GOD Mss 422 Arms Register I (A) have
the following:
McManus
To all and singular
to whom these presents shall come William Betham Esqr, Deputy Ulster King of Arms and principal Herald all
Ireland sendeth greeting.
Whereas it has been
made to appear that the family of MacManus of Mount Davis in
the
Know Ye that I the
aforesaid Deputy Ulster taking into consideration such his application and
having examined the circumstances am pleased to comply with same and by this
authority to me give do by these presents Ratify and Confirm unto the said
Alexander MacManus and his family the Arms following Vizt.
"Or a fess Gules and in chief a boar passant Sable "
For Crest a dexter hand appaumee
couped at the wrist " proper " For Motto
COR ET. MANUS
The whole as above
more clearly depicted to be born and used by the said Alexander and his family
for ever according to the laws of arms.
And Witness whereof
I hereunto subscribe my name and title and affix my Official seal this twenty
third day of October one thouse eight hundred and
ten.
Betham Deputy
Ed Theobd
Rd O'Flaherty, Reg.
This family was also mentioned briefly in Sir William Betham’s Collectionae Genealogica, Volume 17, “MA” as following:
Bryan MACMANUS of Aghaghill in Antrim will date [unreadable] proved in 16 Jan
1705
John MCMANUS will
dated 5 Dec 1735 proved 2 Mar 1736
Hercules MCMANUS
of Carradonaghy, in Aghaghill
in Co Antrim gentry will dated ? proved
in ? 1722 – wife,
Mary DOBBIN sister of major John DOBBIN will dated 20 Aug 1722 proved 7 Jul
1722. Sister also of William DOBBIN
Bryan MCMANUS of
Aghoghill will proved 1727
‚
Bryan MCMANUS of
Mount Davis in Antrim esquire will dated 27 May 1775 proved 14 Feb 1777 – wife,
Alice STOLLARD will dated 20 Nov 1778 proved 14 Feb 1778
ƒ
Alexander
MCMANUS of
„
Alexander
MCMANUS – wife, Helen JONES
ƒ
Honora MCMANUS – wife,
Oliver O'HARA of
ƒ
Helena MCMANUS –
wife, David BABBINGTON of
‚
Daniel MCMANUS
1727
‚
Elizabeth
MCMANUS
It seems this pedigree may have been used for a later grant of arms to Arthur Edmond deWarrenne Waller on 1 Mar 1927 when his arms contained McManus as a quartering.
Coat of Arms Four
In amongst a book collection at the library in Enniskillen there is a book called A Short History of Magheraculmoney Parish by Rev. F. A. Baillie in 1984. There was a list of gravestones in the old cemetery there (Magheraculmoney, Co Fermanagh). In that list there was this: "Here leith the body of Margaret McManus who departed this life February ye 28th 1862 aged 67 years. (coat of arms two animals with sword between)." There is no mention of what the animals were or if Margaret McManus was married or not nor which family the arms belonged to. If indeed the arms belong to the McManuses, we have a fourth coat of arms associated with the surname of McManus.
Coat of Arms Five
A more recent adoption of arms (by
authority of the Pope rather than a secular heraldic authority) in 2004 by the
then new bishop of
Blazon:
Arms impaled.
Dexter: Azure, a cross fleuretty Or; on a chief
Argent four torteaux per fess. Sinister: Azure, upon
the Keys of Saint Peter, Proper, a
Significance:
The episcopal heraldic achievement, or bishop’s coat of arms,
is composed of a shield, with its charges (symbols), a motto scroll and the
external ornaments. The shield, which is the central and most important feature
of any heraldic device, is described (blazoned) in 12th century terms, that are
archaic to our modern language and this description is presented as if being
given by the bearer with the shield being worn on the arm. Thus, it must be
remembered, where it applies, that the terms dexter
and sinister are reversed as the device is viewed from the front.
By heraldic
tradition, the arms of the bishop of a diocese are joined (impaled) with the
arms of his jurisdiction, which are seen in the dexter
impalement (left side) of the shield. In this case, these are the arms of the
Diocese of Worcester, in
These arms are
composed of two sections that reflect the heritage of the diocese. The major
portion is a blue field on which is seen a golden cross fleuretty
(arms end in fleur-de-lis). This cross taken from the arms of the Diocese of
Boston is employed to honor the Bishop Benedict J. Fenwick, S.J., who in 1850
directed that his religious society, the Society of Jesus (The Jesuits)
establish a men’s Catholic college, in central
For his personal
arms, His Excellency, Bishop McManus has retained the device that reflects his life
as a priest and as a bishop and which was adopted at the time of his selection
to receive the fullness of Christ’s Most Holy Priesthood as he became an
Auxiliary Bishop of
The design is
composed of four elements. The field is blue to honor the Bishop’s deep and
profound devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary, to whom he has dedicated his life
and service as a bishop. On this field is placed a silver (white)
The fourth element
of Bishop McManus’ design is the processional cross that, as for any bishop, is
placed in back of the shield and which extended above and below the shield. The
cross used here is a Celtic cross, with traditional knotwork,
that is employed to reflect the Irish heritage that has come to The Bishop from
his parents, Helen (King) McManus and the late Edward McManus.
For his motto,
Bishop McManus uses phrase, "CHRISTUS VERITATIS SPLENDOR." This
"Christ-centered" phrase expresses His Excellency’s deep belief that
it is "Christ, the Splendor of Truth" who is our teacher, our guide
and our mentor in all that we are and in all that we do, if we are to follow
Him and we are to gain the Eternal Paradise that He has planned for those who
love Him.
The device is
completed with the external ornaments which are the processional cross,
described above, and a pontifical hat, called a "gallero,"
with its six tassels, in three rows, on either side of the shield, all in
green. These are the heraldic insignia of a prelate of the rank of bishop by
instruction of The Holy See of March 31, 1969.
By: Deacon Paul J.
Sullivan
N.B. - The author
and designer respectfully requests appropriate acknowledgment for the public
use of these efforts.
Rev.
Mr. Sullivan is’ a Permanent Deacon of the Diocese of Providence, Rhode Island,
U.S.A.