| The Irish Palatines |
The displaced and downtrodden Palatines were scattered. Some were
sent to Ireland. Castle Matrix, left, is in Rathkeale, the second largest
town in County Limerick, Ireland. This was the home of Sir Thomas
Southwell, a key figure in bringing Palatines from Germany to
Ireland. He settled 100 families on his estate. Castle Matrix fell into
ruins, but was later restored by an American.The town was already
well established when the refugees from the Palatinate arrived in
1709. There are nearby Palatine cemeteries and Killeheen Lane,
where 27 Palatine families lived and farmed while their cattle grazed
on common land in the early 18th century.
sent to Ireland. Castle Matrix, left, is in Rathkeale, the second largest
town in County Limerick, Ireland. This was the home of Sir Thomas
Southwell, a key figure in bringing Palatines from Germany to
Ireland. He settled 100 families on his estate. Castle Matrix fell into
ruins, but was later restored by an American.The town was already
well established when the refugees from the Palatinate arrived in
1709. There are nearby Palatine cemeteries and Killeheen Lane,
where 27 Palatine families lived and farmed while their cattle grazed
on common land in the early 18th century.
They retained their language and customs as late as 1830, and by 1840 it was said that they could
still be distinguished from the Irish population by their names. However, at the end of the nineteenth
century, there was no trace of a German dialect left in the Palatine settlements, and their German
names were mostly changed in form. By the 1930's, most Palatine descendants, having intermarried
with the Irish and English, either had no knowledge of their origin or denied it and, in any case, only
700 of them were still living in Limerick County. Today, there is an Irish Palatine Association there.
Although most settlers eventually emigrated to America, many losing all traces of their true heritage,
at least one descendant still farms there, continuing an unbroken family tradition for almost 300 years.
still be distinguished from the Irish population by their names. However, at the end of the nineteenth
century, there was no trace of a German dialect left in the Palatine settlements, and their German
names were mostly changed in form. By the 1930's, most Palatine descendants, having intermarried
with the Irish and English, either had no knowledge of their origin or denied it and, in any case, only
700 of them were still living in Limerick County. Today, there is an Irish Palatine Association there.
Although most settlers eventually emigrated to America, many losing all traces of their true heritage,
at least one descendant still farms there, continuing an unbroken family tradition for almost 300 years.
On July 7, 1709, the Council of Ireland proposed to the Queen that a number of Palatines be sent to
Ireland to strengthen the Protestant cause and 794 families were sent there. By January of 1710,
3,073 Palatines had new homes in Ireland. A committee of ten Irish gentlemen-landlords, supporters
of the Protestant cause, were organized into Commissioners for them and upon the Palatines' arrival,
they were temporarily lodged in Dublin and received an initial small subsistence. Then they were
distributed by lottery in lots varying in size from one to fifty six families to 43 gentlemen-landlords
who settled the Palatines on their lands with the agreement they would receive favorable treatment.
Ireland to strengthen the Protestant cause and 794 families were sent there. By January of 1710,
3,073 Palatines had new homes in Ireland. A committee of ten Irish gentlemen-landlords, supporters
of the Protestant cause, were organized into Commissioners for them and upon the Palatines' arrival,
they were temporarily lodged in Dublin and received an initial small subsistence. Then they were
distributed by lottery in lots varying in size from one to fifty six families to 43 gentlemen-landlords
who settled the Palatines on their lands with the agreement they would receive favorable treatment.
The Commissioners mandated that should any Palatines refuse the contracts offered, they would be
deprived of receiving "Her Majesty's bounty." 533 families were settled. The lands set apart for the
Palatines were assigned to them at easy rates, often at a third less rent than other tenants were
paying, which caused hard feelings among the local community. Some of the Protestant
German-speaking settlers claimed to be victimized by hostile neighboring Catholics, and most
Palatines left and returned to England despite of attempts to stop them. Some were hoping to
eventually go to America, and many even hoped for an eventual return to Germany after peace
came. By February of 1711, only 188 of the 533 families remained on the lands allotted them and
300 had gone to Dublin to seek other work.
deprived of receiving "Her Majesty's bounty." 533 families were settled. The lands set apart for the
Palatines were assigned to them at easy rates, often at a third less rent than other tenants were
paying, which caused hard feelings among the local community. Some of the Protestant
German-speaking settlers claimed to be victimized by hostile neighboring Catholics, and most
Palatines left and returned to England despite of attempts to stop them. Some were hoping to
eventually go to America, and many even hoped for an eventual return to Germany after peace
came. By February of 1711, only 188 of the 533 families remained on the lands allotted them and
300 had gone to Dublin to seek other work.
It was estimated that only 254 Palatine families still remained in Ireland by 1712 when Sir Thomas
Southwell sent 130 Palatine families to his estate in the County of Limerick to join ten other families.
Southwell generously provided for them and was compensated by the British government. The
Palatines conformed to the Anglican Church. When German King George I took the British throne in
1714, the British government even more generously provided for the German Protestants making the
Irish Catholic population even more angry.
Southwell sent 130 Palatine families to his estate in the County of Limerick to join ten other families.
Southwell generously provided for them and was compensated by the British government. The
Palatines conformed to the Anglican Church. When German King George I took the British throne in
1714, the British government even more generously provided for the German Protestants making the
Irish Catholic population even more angry.
To protect the British throne against Catholic uprisings in Limerick, where the Palatines were
established, an act was passed by the Parliament of Ireland, expelling all Roman Catholic residents
of Galway and Limerick who would not give absolute allegiance to the "Queen and her successors".
Those Protestants able to bear arms were supplied with muskets, and enrolled in the Free Yeomanry
where they were known as "The German Fusillers" or "True Blues."
established, an act was passed by the Parliament of Ireland, expelling all Roman Catholic residents
of Galway and Limerick who would not give absolute allegiance to the "Queen and her successors".
Those Protestants able to bear arms were supplied with muskets, and enrolled in the Free Yeomanry
where they were known as "The German Fusillers" or "True Blues."
In 1758, Methodism's founder, John Wesley, visited the forty Palatine families at Castle Matrix and,
finding them without pastors, quickly converted them to Methodism. Seventy years later, there were
three villages with about 70 remaining Palatine families. The Palatine farmers still clung to the
concept of a common cattle grazing ground for the settlements, and had a burgomeister for several
decades. They also appear to be the first to build silos in Ireland, and they had prosperous farms.
finding them without pastors, quickly converted them to Methodism. Seventy years later, there were
three villages with about 70 remaining Palatine families. The Palatine farmers still clung to the
concept of a common cattle grazing ground for the settlements, and had a burgomeister for several
decades. They also appear to be the first to build silos in Ireland, and they had prosperous farms.