To my loving wife Mary Eva Sotheran, a daughter of the ancient Sept of MacManus of Seanadh-Mic-Maghnusa, Co. Fermanagh, and a descendant of a long line of  illustrious kings, I dedicate this my first printed compilation, which, had it not been for her active and earnest assistance, would probably never have been in existence.'

August, 1871. Charles Sotheran.

 

These words of dedication are taken from the introductory pages of Charles Sotheran's book on the genealogy of the families Southeran, or Sotheron, and MacManus. (Sotheran, 1871). Charles Sotheran produced the book after his marriage in 1869 to Mary Eva MacManus of Fermanagh and it contains a detailed record of  MacManus history, particularly in association with the Sotheran Family of  Durham and North Yorkshire and the MacManus' of Fermanagh. Charles Sotheran, the eldest son of Charles Sotheron of Newington, Surrey, was born in 1847 and married Mary Eva in Manchester in 1869.

 

Sir J. Bernard Burke, writing in an article headed  'Rowan' in one of his early editions of  'Landed Gentry' concerning the MacManus Sept, stated that the Sept was of ancient Irish descent and formerly to have possessed extensive property in Counties Antrim, Fermanagh and Londonderry and the County town of Carrickfergus. Fermanagh abounds in lakes, hence it is called in Irish, Feormagh-eanagh, 'The County of the Lakes'. It was made shire ground in the 11th. year of Elizabeth 1st., being then in a very unsettled state, and divided between two powerful septs - the MacManus' and the Maguires (Hall and Hall, p.78). At Gola, near Lough Erne, was a monastery founded by MacManus, Lord of the place, and granted at the suppression of the monastic houses to Sir. John Davis, Knight.

 

The ancestral home of this line of the McManus' is Bellisle Castle in Co. Fermanagh. Wakeman, (1834:64-65), provides the following description of Bellisle at that time:

 

......it was one of those graceful, incipient ruins in which  decay's effacing fingers have swept the lines where beauty lingers. It is now restored to more than its pristine elegance. The mansion, though plain, is substantial and commodious, commanding, we believe, the finest view which can be obtained (except from a considerable and uninhabitable elevation) of the upper Lake (i.e. Lough Erne) and its numerous isles. The plantation is old, and comprises several yew groves, which are venerable enough to have furnished bow-staves to the warriors and hunters of  the MacManuses, who, in the days of  the red deer and wolf,  lorded it over this island as their home and citadel. Tradition places a monastery, with which the old yews probably have some connection, upon this island............Whether a monastery existed here or not, Belle Isle, or rather, Bally MacManus, the old name of the place, is interesting as having been the residence of  Cathal Maguire, a learned writer, who here, in the 14th. century, compiled one of the best collections of the Annals of Ireland which we still possess, and which are known as "The Annals of Ulster".

 

Mary Eva's great great grandfather was James MacManus of Bellisle Castle, Co. Fermanagh - by descent Chief of the Sept MacManus of Seanadh-Mic-Maghnusa, Co Fermanagh.  James was incorrectly stated to have died in 1761 and to have been member in the National Irish Parliament for Athy. ('Miscellanea Genealogica et Heraldica', Quarterly Series, Vol. 2, p.260). In fact it was his Kinsman, James MacManus, of Maynooth who died in that year and was the member for Athy.(Sotheran, 1871:11).

 

Mary Eva's great grandfather was Connor MacManus who was also by descent Chief of the Clan. Connor had two sons Charles and Hugh and a daughter, Leonora. Both Hugh and Leonora died unmarried and Mary Eva's grandfather, Charles, became Chief by descent. Charles, of Drumbarghy Parish, Cleenish, Co. Fermanagh, married Mary Kelly, daughter of Thomas Kelly of Cleenish, and they had four children, John, James, Mary and Margaret. Charles is buried at Mullinaman.

 

Mary Eva's father, John, was from Drumbroughas Parish, Cleenish. He was born in 1812 and died in 1870. He married Elizabeth MacDermot of Curlough, Co. Cavan and in addition to Mary Eva they had three sons, James, John and Philip and two daughters, Helen and Bridget. (Sotheran, 1871:14-15).

 

References

Hall, S. C. Ireland: Its Scenery and Character.

Southeran, C.  (1871) Genealogical Memoranda Relating to the Family of Sotheron of Counties Durham,  Northumberland, York etc. and the Sept of MacManus. 

London: Taylor and Company.

Wakeman.  (1834) Lough Erne.

 

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