The Draffens in Ireland

The family of Draffen has existed in Ireland for more than 300 years. The internet can identify that without too much difficulty. Their origins have previously been a little hazy but, again, the internet can identify existence of the name in Lanarkshire, Scotland. Tying details together with any certainty is not so easy. However, over recent years the reality of the Draffen history has become quite clear to me. Hitherto itďż˝s only been possible to say that James Draffen, Gentleman, suddenly appeared in Carrickmacross, Co Monaghan, Ireland, in the late 17th C without any explanation whatsoever. Itďż˝s been a mystery for some years. However, from more recent research it becomes very evident that our James is the fugitive survivor of the Battle of Bothwell Bridge, 1679, fleeing the royalist forces. I have some good ideas as to who his accomplices were and why he arrived in Carrickmacross, but that is for another time The subsequent grant of arms to two members of this family records the family as having been previously seated at Lesmahagow, Lanarkshire (Scotland) and from there flows the most intriguing tale. It appears to me that historically the Draffens have always been a quiet, hardworking family, not given to excessive self promotion, but everpresent and influential in the area they settled. Hopefully I will be able to provide more information as time goes on (if that time is available to me, of course).


Origins of the Draffens	Clan Draffen

Here is my own little version of the registered pedigree of the Draffen family in Ireland, my own maternal family (fortunately, in both Flemish and Scottish tradition, women aren't universally excluded from significance and consequently they are included in the hereditary scheme of things, under certain circumstances ..... ). Of course, I know that there are many other Draffens all over the world searching for their roots, and these notes don't answer all their questions. But, with increasing appearance of historic records and some diligence, all may yet be revealed!

			James Draffen Of Carrickmacross Co Monaghan b bef 1664, d aft 1718
	+-------	---------------	---------------+
	James Draffen b abt 1688 m 23 Feb 1708, Armagh Margaret Legate		Matthew Draffen 1702 - 1785 Rector of Strabane, Co Tyrone & Garton, Co Donnegal
			\|
	+----------	-------+-------	--------------+--------------	--------+--------	----------+----------	--------+
	William D b abt 1747 - 1844? \| \| \|	Thomas D b abt 1749 - 1795 Rector of Gartan Co Donegal (No Issue)	Frederick Draffen 1751/2 - 1810 Rector of Ardcolm Co Wexford	Robert D	Maria D	Elizabeth D
	\|		m	------------------	----------------------	m2 11.4.1799
	Joseph Wright D b abt 1785 - 1861 (No Issue)		Dorcas Waddy b abt 1747 Dtr of Cadwallader Waddy			Elizabeth Cox
		+-------	-------------+-------------	---------+---------	------------+
		Matthew D (No Issue)	Frederick D 1785 - 1854 Captain, RN	Richard D died young	Cadwallader D 1782 - 1830 Captain (No Issue)
			m 31/10/1822
			Anna Finney 1804/5 - 1869
			+--------------	------------------	------------+
			Frederick 1823 - 1895 Reverend (No Issue)		William Pitt D 1825 - 1906 Royal Marine Artillery Col Commanding Royal Westmorland
					\|
			+--------------	---------+---------	------------+------------	----------+----------	---------+---------	-------+-------	------+
			Frederick James D 1850 - 1921 \| \| \|	William Pitt D 1851 - 1882 Lt Royal Navy	Anna Bertha D b 1853 m 29 jun 1876 Philip Cornwallis Wykham-Martin of Leeds Castle, Kent	Constance Charlotte D b 1856	George Algernon D b 1858 Lt Col 4th Border Regiment	Charles Henry D 1858 - 1874	Lucy Marion D b 1861
			\|
+--------	-------+-------	------+------	-------------+-------------	---------+---------	--------------+
Frederick G W D 1880 Lt Col 1st Scottish Rifles 1st Kings Dragoons Queenďż˝s Bays (No Issue)	Charles Henry D b 1882	Bertha F E D b 1884	William Pitt D 1886 - 1954 \| \| \| \|	Lucy Marion D b 1888 (No Issue)	John Edward D b 1898
			m
			Lilian M E Williams
			\|
			Joan E Pitt Draffen

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