David Power, of Corheen, Loughrea, High Sheriff of Galway, "Priest-hunter"

1685 - 1761  (76 years)

• Name	David Power
  	"Fanny Power" by the famous Irish blind harper O'Carolan (1670 – 1738). "This tune is also called Mrs. Trench. Fanny (Frances) Power was an heiress, daughter of David and Elizabeth Power of Coorheen, Loughrea (for whom Carolan wrote Carolan's Concerto or Mrs. Power). In 1732 Fanny married Richard Trench of Garbally, County Galway. The tune was probably composed before her wedding because in the second verse (the Gaelic lyrics) Carolan expresses hope he will live to dance at her wedding.". Betham's Genealogical Extracts: 195 William Donnellan of Carrowcrioin in Co. Galway, Gent. 16 Jun 1740 [date of will, or date proved?] COUSIN DAVID POWER OF COORHEEN IN CO. GALWAY, ESQ. 1st dau - Ann, 2 - Catharine, 3 - Elinor, 4 - Mary, 5 - Hellen, 1st son [blank], 2 - Nicholas, 3 - Peter, 4 - Edmond. NOTE: If William was a first cousin of David, then either William Donnellan's mother was a Power, or David's mother was a Donnellan? To be checked. I note a Donnellan name listed is Ellinor - I have noticed that name somewhere in connection with the Powers of Kilbolane.
  Suffix	of Corheen, Loughrea, High Sheriff of Galway, "Priest-hunter"
  Born	1685	likely in Co. Galway, Ireland
  	Birth year as given in General Armory.
  Gender	Male
  Religion:	1709	Possibly David converting to Church of Ireland? Note however his putative mother was likely a Protestant
  	I suspect the earlier of these two convert roll entries might be David, perhaps at the time he married his 'Church of Ireland' wife: 1. David Power Esq. 20 Dec 1709 There are two other David Power entries, one also noted as being a Galway resident, but only the following states Loughrea: 2. David Power, Loughrea. Enrolment: 21 Jun 1734. No.: 25f. [From Catholic Qualification & Convert Rolls 1701-1845 - Calendar Of Rolls Of Converts 1703-1838 Vol. 1 - Dates of Certs - first part: 5 Jun 1734] This second David Power is perhaps a cousin? I doubt David could have been appointed High Sheriff of Galway in 1711 and a priest-hunter if he had not followed his pocket and converted to Church of Ireland earlier. The convert date of 1709 accords nicely with when he may have married his 'Church of Ireland' wife, Elizabeth Keating. Of course neither entry might be David - the family may have converted in an earlier generation, although if his father was indeed a supporter of James II and attainted, then that might speak to the father being RC.
  Event:	1711	Report from David regarding operations of Catholic priests (and an arrest)
  	Report of David Power, High Sheriff:— “ Most of the Constables in this county are Papists and it is hard to trust them in this affair and especially (as regards) the priests who are in great numbers registered and unregistered. “ I have acquainted severall of the Justices of the Peace of the Lord’s Justices commands in relation to the priests and their meeting. It is a general rumour that there are several men with scarlet cloaks and that spake ffrench go up and down the country by night. The Gentlemen in the country are in great feare and apprehension.” David Power, High Sheriff to Dublin Castle :— “ Sir —I have seized Doctor Ambrose Madden a regular popish priest from the parish of Loughrea; this man is looked upon to be the chief of them in this County. I send you the enclosed certificate as desired from the Gaoler. I have acquainted severall of the Justices of the Peace of their Lordships resentment in not apprehending the popish priests. If it were not for the assistance of the Dragoons at Loughrea I should be stoned to death by the mobb on account of Madden for there was two or three hundred comeing about me by night. Ihey (priests) absconded from me and are out upon their keeping and if the Government were pleased to send me directions to gett the Recognizances that were given by severall of the Gentlemen of the County at the time they were registered and to see their sureties upon the said Recognizances they would all come in. Pray lay this before his Grace and their Excellencies. This I hope will be lookt upon as a good method to secure them priests that abscond.” (Enclosure:) “Co. Galway. I Doe hereby Certify that David Power Esq. High Sheriff of the said County committed to my Gaole the body of Ambrose Madden Popish priest and registered for the Parish of Loughrea and that I have him now in my custody in the said Gaole. Given under my hand the 7th day of March 1711. David Power, High Sheriff to Dublin Castle “I have searched diligently but could not seize any more of the popish priests but Collonel Samuel Eyre tooke Dermot Dolan a priest but he made his escape by a rescue. They have all absconded but this day I sent their sureties to bring in the priests.”
  Legal:	General Armory - grant of arms to David Power of Corheen, Co. Galway
  	Power (Corheen, co. Galway; descended from Kilbolane, the representative, DAVID POWER, Esq., of Corheen, co. Galway, d. 1689 [sic?], left an only dau. and heiress, FRANCES POWER, m. RICHARD TRENCH, Esq., of Garbally, and had a son, WILLIAM POWER KEATING TRENCH, first Earl of Clancarty. Arms confirmed by Fortescue, Ulster, to DAVID POWER, Esq., of Corheen, co. Galway). NOTE: David is stated to be the representative, inferring perhaps that he was the sole or only surviving son of his father etc back to Sir William Power, first granted Kilbolane Castle and lands in 1613.
  Property:	Apparently held land in the baronies of Leitrim, Dunkellin and Loughrea in Co. Galway.
  Official Position/s	1711	High Sheriff of Co. Galway
  Died	c Feb 1761	Coorheen, Loughrea, Co. Galway, Ireland
  	Faulkner's Dublin Journal, Saturday 14 Feb 1761: Died near Loughrea in the co of Galway, David Power [to complete]
  Person ID	I168	Donald
  Last Modified	15 Feb 2022

  
  

  Father	Col. John Power, MP for Charleville, Jacobite, attainted 1691,   d. 1692, Saint-Germain, near Paris, France
  Relationship	Birth
  Mother	Sarah Bowen, of Farahy, Co. Cork
  Relationship	Putative
  Married	1682
  	Year as given in Burke's Landed Gentry 1862 - see Bowen of Bowenscourt, Co. Cork.
  Family ID	F82	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family	Elizabeth Keating, of Dublin,   b. c 1687,   d. 12 Apr 1747, likely at Corheen, Co. Galway, Ireland  (Age ~ 60 years)
  Married	c 1710
  	Just a guess - if the 1709 convert is David converting before he marries Elizabeth Keating?
  Children	+ 1. Frances (Fanny) Power, heiress, subject of O'Carolan's well known waltz,   b. 1716,   d. 1793  (Age 77 years)  [Birth]
  Last Modified	18 Jan 2022
  Family ID	F74	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

• Photos » Slide Show		Arms granted to David Power of Corheen, Co. Galway
  		Arms granted
  		Arms