This was not the English civil war which did not start until Aug 1642. It may be refering to the Ulster uprising which started in 1641. Ulster was then part of combined Ireland. This uprising was over exagerated in the cruelties commited against the protestants in order to gain sympathy in England. It was known officially as the "late horrid Rebellion". After the civil war Oliver Cromwell went to Ireland to seek retribution on those who had been part of the 1641 uprising. The conquest by Cromwells forces caused great suffering amongst the Old Irish. The settlement of Ireland which followed the conquest was dictated by both political and Economic moves. "Every Irish proprieter who had resided in Ireland at any period during the war and who could not prove his constant good affection to the Commonwealth of England was to forfeit a proportion of his estate". This meant that almost all of the land owners in Ireland no matter what faith was brought under condemnation. All the forfeiting landlords were ordered to remove to Connaught or Clare.

The Connaught Certificates of Appeals and Determination of claims of Transporters 1653-1654 list

Ledwich Nicholas

Ledwitch Anne Widdow

Katherine

Richard

For County Westmeath the list of persons transported include

Morice Ledwige of Lackin

John Hope, Ledwigtowne

The situation in Ireland at this time was more confusing than in England. There being 3 protagonists in the fighting, Irish, Royalist and Parliament. What the Irish records do not show is that Richard may have been a Royalist or an Irish national, either way the Royalist cause was affected. As a result of the outcome of the civil war many people lost land and were transported out of the area. This was due to the government who in order to pay for the war gave away land they did not have and so had to evict the losers in order to pay and give land to their own supporters. Irish Pedegrees F 4.18 listing those deposed of their estates include, Ledwich.

Grants under the Act of Settlement 1661-1665 include

Ledwich Nicholas

Ledwich George

The names that occur in the lists are those heads of families who lost their land through the Cromwellian Settlement and were not for the most part compensated with grants in Connacht or Clare nor were they restored by the Courts of Claims which functioned in 1663. Although virtually all of these persons were Catholic, because it was the ‘Irish Papists’ that were dispossessed by Cromwell, it should be remembered that many of their descendants conformed later, especially during the 18th century. The lists include:

Mathew Ledwitch of Ballynelarcke

Thomas Ledwitch of Clondaliner

Richard Ledwitch of Cookestowne

The qualifications of lists furnished to Ormond whence to select nominees, They were selected as those who by their early repentance redeemed their former failings by submitting to the cessation in 43 to the peace in 46 to the cessation with the Earle of Inshiquyn & uppon all other occasions. Those who submitted & constantly adhered to the peace of 48 and those who since the cessation in 43 lived quietly & inoffensively at home.

The Inrolments of the Adjudications in favour of 1649 officers and the 49 lots. These refer to the arrears of the commisioned officers who served Charles I and Charles II in the wars of Ireland before 1649. The enrolment includes:

Ledwich James

Inrolments of the Decrees of Innocents 1821-1825 include

Ledvidge Richard

Ledwich James

Soldiers of the commonwealth 1816-1820 include

Ledwich George of Longford.