Terrys in Spain and Latin-America: Exile and Rise of an Irish Merchant Family

Abstract

Introduction In recent years the role played by foreign families in the modern and contemporary history of Spain has been increasingly recognized by historians (Oscar Recio 2012). The most numerous groups were French, Genoese, Flemish and Irish who settled in colonial Cadiz during the 17th and 18th centuries. According to Bustos (2005: 141), the Irish community represented 18 percent of foreigners in Cadiz by 1750 and were the third most important colony after the Genoese and French. This work traces the history of a noble Irish family from Cork, the Terrys, since 1600. Following a long family tradition marked by a strong influence in commercial, civil and ecclesiastic affairs in their home country, the Terrys lost power and most of their possessions during The Cromwellian wars. This prompted a number of them to go into exile to Spain during the first half of the 18th century, where they achieved remarkably rapid social and economic ascent. Particular attention is given to the origin and accomplishments of some prominent Terrys in military, diplomatic, and commercial affairs in 18th and 19th century Spain. Our study of the genealogy of these Terrys in Cadiz and Malaga illuminates their origins and family relationships. Three family branches can be distinguished: two of which arrive in Cadiz directly from Ireland, whereas a third branch came from Genoa. Historical Context of the Early 17th Century: The Constitutional Struggle (1603-1641) In 1600, there were three distinct groups in Ireland, Gaelic Irish, Old English and New English. (1) The vast majority of Gaelic Irish were rurally based. Towns were not characteristic of Gaelic lordships, except for Episcopal centres and the unusual exception of the O'Reilly's settlement at Cavan (Foster 1988: 16). The towns existing in 1600 were often imposed on older foundations or sited at a port or estuary. Franchises and liberties were extensive by English standards. The freemen of these towns tended to be aristocratic merchants rather than craftsmen: Old English burgher families or local gentry who had migrated inside the walls. On Queen Elizabeth's death, James VI of Scotland became King James I of England. James was a son of the Catholic Mary Stuart. In expectation that he would show himself well disposed towards his mother's faith, the Irish recusants, i.e. those who refused the Oath of Supremacy of the King (or Queen) as Head of the Church, looked forward hopefully to his reign. It was among the Old English, and not among the natives, that this expectation was highest (Beckett 1966: 46).This was the case in Cork City, where the delay in proclaiming the new King was intended to impress upon the new monarch the seriousness of the opposition of Catholics to the law compelling them to attend Protestant worship. One of the ringleaders to the opposition was Edmund Terry (2) (Hackett 2001: 116). Traditionally, the Old English had held themselves aloof from the conspiracies and rebellions of the Gaelic Irish. But during the first four decades of the 17th century their loyalty was placed under increasing strain. They were excluded, in theory, from local as well as central government; heavy fines were imposed on prominent citizens refusing to attend Protestant services and even their titles to land like those of the Gaelic Irish, began to be questioned in courts that inevitably found for the crown. For periods, the English establishment took a pragmatic view, and the evidence shows that Catholics still held positions in civil authorities (Dickson 2005: 3-28). The Old English combined loyalty to England with a Catholicism that, since the Reformation, no longer attracted English support. They also controlled one-third of Irish land at a time when political acceptability was becoming dependant on religious conformity (Clarke 2000: 15). The map of Cork city in 1600 (O'Brien 1974) shows the city to be walled and bounded on all sides by channels of the River Lee (Figure 1). …