Radleys of Cork

CORK, PROVINCE OF MUNSTER 1590s.

Under the Fiants (warrants) of Queen Elizabeth I, the English tried to force the Irish tribes west of Shannon, and dispersed
their lands to Scots and English "Undertakers"

My ancestors, the RADLEYS, were such. They came from TAUNTON, SOMERSET, and the Anglo Saxon name means "RED
EARTH or MEADOW" and is on list of English Protestant settlers 1590s to Bandon.

"They married into the native population and in that much quoted phrase "hiberniores hebernis ipsos" became more
Irish than the Irish

The first known marriages of the RADLEYS were with the LEADERS who were Cromwellian Adventurers; they wed first
and second cousins to keep the wealth and power within the families, and became Anglo-Irish Landed Gentry. Most, if
not all, the prominent people of Cork were related to them e.g. WARRENS, (also on list of English Prot. Settlers and Crom.
Adventurers) CROOKES (English peers) RONAYNES, CLEBURNES (GENERAL PATRICK RONAYNE CLEBURNE,
CONFEDERATE GENERAL, AMER.CIVIL WAR, cousin, nephew etc to Radleys' and Leaders) LINDSEYS, BALDWINS etc.

This was a gracious lifestyle, of balls, hunting and bloodstock horses. The Radleys were expert horsemen, and much
sought after by the British as Cavalry officers. My Great great grandfather was, among other things, a Captain in Cork
Militia (THOMAS RADLEY, of ROCKVILLE) The cholera epidemic and potato famine of 1849, caused many gentry to
become bankrupt. The "Encumbered Estates Act" was enforced and many lost their estates.

In 1853 my great grandfather, RICHARD HENRY RADLEY, of "ROCKVILLE" AGHABULLOGUE, CORK wed ELIZABETH JANE
ARMSTRONG and emigrated to Ballan, Victoria Australia, close to the goldfields. Luck was against him and he died,
along with 3 of his children, in a diphtheria epidemic. He had an exceptional background, but never told anyone about it.
Nothing was known of his ancestors, until 5 years ago. His legacy to his descendents was our Australian birth, for which
we thank him.

My knowledge of the RADLEYS is due to an American relative, who sent me some papers, which were put together by
MICHAEL LEADER, who turned out to be the great great nephew of Richard Henry and an accredited genealogist.
THANKS ED! I have relentlessly pursued every clue since then, and have become dedicated to bringing RICHARD HENRY
to "life" on this website.

I have many CORK records and would be happy to look up on request. I hope you will find these Anglo-Irish families as
fascinating as I did.