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Fleming-Slane Co. Meath

Slane (Meath)

Volunteers:

Please see new message from Elena Arenillas.

Dear friends in Slane,

I am writing from Spain. I am a direct descendant of the Fleming family, the original Lords of Slane who had to leave for Spain as 'Wild Geese' due to their Catholic faith.

I am planning a visit to Slane to walk where my ancestors lived for 500 years. I would love to connect with local historians or people interested in the Fleming legacy. I don't speak much English, but I carry my family history with great pride.

Thank you for keeping our history alive.

Kind regards,

Elena Arenillas Fleming 

C/ Galileo 17 A 

La Línea De La Concepción 

11300

      CÁDIZ ESPAÑA

Castlemore RoscommonIrelandXO Volunteer

5 replies

kellyeileen20@…

Origins

The Flemings of Slane descend from Erchenbald, otherwise referred to as "Archembald le Fleming",[citation needed] of Bratton Fleming, Devon, who was alive in 1087. Archembald derived his surname due to his birth in Flanders, and came to England during the reign of William I.[citation needed] He was succeeded by his son, Stephen (fl. 1145), whose son, Archembald, arrived in Ireland with Henry II in 1171 and participated in Hugh de Lacy's plantation of the Kingdom of Mide. On the west side of the hill of Slane, there are the remains of a 12th-century motte and bailey which was the settlement, destroyed by the Irish in 1176.

Succeeding Flemings were Stephen, (died c. 1213–1214) and Baldwin (died 1260). Baldwin's son, Richard, is the first of whom some substantial information exists. He married Mary/Maria Martin, daughter of Sir Nicholas FitzMartin the Younger (died 1260). Richard died in 1301, but it is unknown when his wife died. Their son, Baldwin (died 1335), married Matilda/Maude de Genville, daughter of Sir Simon de Genville of Trim. They were the parents of Simon Fleming, 1st Baron Slane, who died on 13 September 1370.

An unusual feature of the title was the ability of the holder to petition the Crown to transfer it: after the death of the 12th Baron in 1625, the 13th Baron successfully petitioned the Crown to transfer the title to his younger brother, since as a Roman Catholic priest he did not expect to live on or manage the family estate. He later became Roman Catholic Archbishop of Dublin.

The 17th Baron, Christopher, was attainted in 1691 for fighting against William III. The title became dormant after the death of the 19th Baron in 1771.

kellyeileen20@…

Eileen:

Thanks for your posting. Elena just provided me her genealogy summary below.

Roger

Christopher Fleming VIII

       │

 ┌─────────┴─────────┐

 │           │

Line remained in    Branches emigrated to Europe

Ireland        ├── France

            ├── Flanders

            └── Spain (Cádiz / El Puerto de Santa Marí

Sir Christopher Fleming I

Baron of Slane (14th century)

Married: Lady Eleanor de Lacy

       │

       ▼

Thomas Fleming II

Baron of Slane

Married: Lady Margaret Plunkett

       │

       ▼

Christopher Fleming III

Baron of Slane

Married: Lady Elizabeth Bermingham

       │

       ▼

Christopher Fleming IV

Baron of Slane

Married: Lady Catherine FitzGerald

       │

       ▼

Christopher Fleming V

Baron of Slane

Married: Lady Anne Cusack

       │

       ▼

Christopher Fleming VI

Baron of Slane

Married: Lady Mary O’Connor

       │

       ▼

Christopher Fleming VII

Baron of Slane

Married: Lady Bridget Roche

       │

       ▼

Christopher Fleming VIII

Baron of Slane

Married: Lady Joan Butler

(Rebellion of 1641)

JONH FLEMING + HELEN GEYNAN 

     │

Anthony Mary Fleming

     │

Dominic Mary Fleming (guardian)

     │

Stephen Fleming + Mary Hore

     │

Anthony Fleming Pérez (1878)

     │

Married: Antonia Helen Castro

     │

5 children

     │

Leonor Fleming Castro (youngest)

     │

You – youngest daughter

Anthony Fleming (1732)

     │

Anthony Mary Fleming

     │

Dominic Mary Fleming (guardian)

     │

Stephen Fleming + Mary Hore

     │

┌─────────────┬───────────┬───────────┐

│        │       │

Anthony Fleming Pérez William Fleming Ann Mary Fleming

(1878)      (brother)  (sister)

│

Married: Antonia Helen Castro

│

5 children

│

Leonor Fleming Castro (youngest)

│ELena 

Introduction: The Legacy of the Flemings of Slane in Spain

"This research documents the history of the Fleming family, one of the most illustrious lineages of County Meath, and their extraordinary transition from Slane Castle to the merchant and noble elite of El Puerto de Santa María, in Cádiz, Spain.

As direct descendants of the Barons of Slane, our branch of the family was part of the 'Wild Geese'—those Catholic nobles who sought refuge in Europe following the 17th-century rebellions. Upon settling on the Spanish coast, the Flemings not only preserved their honor and coat of arms but also became key figures in the 'Carrera de Indias' (The Indies Trade).

Through strategic alliances with other prominent Irish families, such as the MacNamarasand the Hores, they consolidated an empire based on transatlantic trade and distilleries, gaining official recognition as 'Hidalgos' in Spain in 1732.

This family tree tells a story of resilience and success: from the sacrifice of Anthony Mary Fleming Geynan, who after being widowed dedicated his life to the Church and entrusted the guardianship of his children to his brother Dominic, to the 1902 marriage of my grandfather, Antonio Fleming Pérez, to Antonia Helen Castro. Today, as the youngest generation of this lineage, I present this legacy to honor our shared roots between the fields of Ireland and the wineries of southern Spain."

Castlemore RoscommonIrelandXO Volunteer

EIena,

From Wikipedia:

The earliest surviving structures within the boundaries of the modern-day village [of SIane] were built by the invading Norman family of the Flanders (now Fleming), during the Norman invasion of Ireland. The most relatively undisturbed structure, built under the feudal lordship of this family, is a motte and bailey, which is in close proximity to the Hill of Slane settlement.

Something to see when you visit SIane.

glanvil3@aol.com

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