The MacDonnell Baronetcy

THE MacDONNELL BARONETCY, OF MOYE (or MOYANNE), COUNTY ANTRIM, WAS CREATED IN 1627 FOR ALEXANDER MacDONNELL. 

THE 3RD BARONET WAS ATTAINTED IN 1691 AND THE BARONETCY FORFEITED.

SIR JAMES MAC-SORLEY BOY MacDONNELL (3rd son of Sorley Boy MacDonnell), next brother of Randal, Earl of Antrim, married Mary, daughter of Hugh MacPhelim O'Neill, of the Claneboye family, and had a numerous family, which the 9th son,

SIR ALEXANDER MacDONNELL, of Moye (Armoy?), County Antrim, was created a baronet in 1627.

He married Evelyn, daughter of Sir Arthur Magennis, 1st Viscount Iveagh, and died in 1634, leaving a son and successor,

SIR JAMES MacDONNELL, 2nd Baronet, of Moye, who wedded Mary, daughter of Sir Donough O'Brien Bt, of Dough, County Clare, and had with other issue,

ALEXANDER, who commanded, in 1644, the forces sent by the Marquess of Antrim, to assist Montrose in Scotland, and upon his return, was appointed lieutenant-general of the province of Munster. 

This gallant soldier lost his life in 1647 at the battle of Knocknanuss, against Lord Inchiquin. 

He married Lady Elizabeth Howard, daughter of Henry, Earl of Arundel, and had a son, Randal, who died young.

RANDAL, 3rd Baronet, successor to his father Sir James, who, when captain of a warship, in the service of CHARLES II, achieved the memorable action of Marmora, against the Moors.

Subsequently, however, joining King James's army, he accompanied his ill-fated master to France, and was attainted, his estate being granted, in 1696, to Charles Campbell Esq in trust for his wife and children.

Sir Randal married, in 1686, Hannah, sister of David Roche Esq, and had issue,

JAMES, who but for the attainder, would have been 4th Baronet.

Mr MacDonnell died unmarried in 1728 and was buried in St James's church-yard, Dublin.

RANDAL, of Cross, County Antrim, a colonel in the French service, who succeeded his brother, but died unmarried in 1740.

JOHN RICHARD, heir to his brother Randal.

Mary, married to Christopher O'Brien Esq, of County Clare.

Henrietta died, unmarried.

First published in May, 2011.