Seeking Details on my Ancestors, Surname Macale
Hi there,
My name is Dion Macale and I am located in Western Australia.
Through genealogical research, I have traced some of my ancestors back to Monivea. It would seem my ancestor, Richard Macale, was employed as a foreman for Robert Ffrench (1716-1779), as he developed his flax business. I have copies of newspaper advertisements from 1756 that seem to back this. Richard appears to have been buried in the grounds of Athenry Abbey.
Richard’s sons, James and Richard, were employed by Robert Ffrench’s younger son, also Robert, after he inherited the Monivea estates, in the late 18th century. They worked as his agents and estate managers. I recently obtained day-to-day records of financial transactions, carried out by James and Richard, on Roberts’ behalf between 1796 and 1814. It is a fascinating insight into land records of the time.
The Macale family appear to have leased Corrandoo House and some other farms for three generations (refer to the legal case of French V Macale, 1842). They appear to have independently purchased some other farms in the region, including Kilbeg, Anabeg, Carroferrickeen and Derrydonnelbeg amongst others.
As their prospects rose, the Macale’s married into the Burke, O’Brien and Eyre families during the early 19th century, but this appears to have been the peak of their power, and they seem to have disappeared from the local Monivea record after 1869. Two descendants emigrated to Australia in 1850, where they became quite prominent pioneer pastoralists.
Attached is the will of James Macale, dated 1810 – he counts Sir Thomas Burke of Marble Hill, Robert French and his son Richard as his friends and executors.
I don’t know if the Macale family originated from the Monivea area, from within County Galway, or further afield. Hopefully, someone might have some local knowledge locked away!
