The first Drysdales in Ireland

[Ronald Drysdale]

Most genealogy databases (including the Douglas Archives) record that the first Irish 'Drysdale' was one Rev. John Drysdale. Birth 1581 County Down, Ireland, Death 1656 Portaferry, County Down - although possibly still living in 1670?

After some detailed research, I was unable to find any evidence of Drysdales born or residing in Ireland in the 1500s (it is a Scottish name after all).

There were many references to the 'Rev John Drysdale' in Portaferry in County Down, but these references indicated that this person was not born in 1581, but about 25 years later (in the early 1600s) and was an immigrant (or the son of an immigrant) to Ireland - one of the first Ulster Scots.

The following images show that John Drysdale graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1637, was briefly a minister in Paisley in 1650, was alive and still very active in Church life in April 1672 and possibly died in 1679

Ref: Fasti Ecclesiiae Scoticanae - Succession of ministers in the church of Scotland from the reformation Scott 1920

Ref: History of the Presbyterian church in Ireland by Rev. Samuel d. Alexander 1860 - footnote on page 398

The National Library of Scotland has a record for John Drysdale which indicates he was active in the period 1637-1679

The attached pdf gives a precis and a number of sources for the first recorded Drysdales in Ireland, including The Rev. John Drysdale.

Best regards

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[Ronald Drysdale]

Arms entry of the Rev. Hugh Drisdale, Archdeacon and Vicar General of the

Diocese of Ossory, June 17, 1684

[William Douglas]

That is a great find!
The stars are a nod to Douglas origins, maybe?

His son, Hugh Drysdale, became Lt Gov of Virginia and died in Williamsburg in 1726
Another son, Griffith Drysdale, a lawyer, built Dunmore House in Ireland.

More here:  https://laoishouses.wordpress.com/2021/09/01/watercastle/ ;

[Ronald Drysdale]

Hi William,

I hadn't spotted the possible symbolism of the three stars on a blue background, and it would seem that the thistle confirms the link to Scotland.

Best regards

[William Douglas]

Douglas, Earl of Ormond
The name Ormond originates from Ormond Castle at Avoch in the Black Isle, held by the Douglas family.
See: https://www.douglashistory.co.uk/history/Places/ormond_castle.htm 

Butler, Earl of Ormond
In Ireland, the peerage title Earl of Ormond and the related titles Duke of Ormonde and Marquess of Ormonde have a long and complex history. An earldom of Ormond has been created three times in the Peerage of Ireland.

The earldom of Ormond was originally created in 1328 for James Butler. For many subsequent years, the earls took significant roles in the government of Ireland, and kept a tradition of loyalty to the English crown and to English custom.

Piers Butler, a cousin of the 7th Earl of Ormond, was created Earl of Ossory five days after resigning his rights to the other titles.

A Butler bookplate

[Ronald Drysdale]

Hi William,

Thank you for correcting me on this. Please assign a black mark to me for not thoroughly checking this out. I'll remove the previous post which is misleading.

Best regards

[William Douglas]

More reading here:
https://pure.aber.ac.uk/ws/portalfiles/portal/51605745/Harvey_A.pdf 

[Russell Lynn Drysdale]

Johns / Drysdale  https://douglashistory.ning.com/group/drysdale-archives/page/lt-jas...  .