References
Paul Gore was the fifth child of Gerard and Helen Gore of London. The circumstances are not known but, in November 1602, Paul came to the attention of Lord Deputy, Charles Blount, Lord Mountjoy, who was at that time in command of Elizabeth I’s army in Ireland, and Paul was deputed to lead a troop of 100 horse to bring Rory O'Donnell and O Conor Sligo back to Athlone to swear allegiance to Elizabeth I. Paul was successful in his mission. Rory O’Donnell emerged as Earl of Tyrconnell, and it is recorded that Capt. Paul Gore was rewarded with 1,000 acres of land at Carrick in the Baronly of Boylagh and Banagh in Co. Donegal. This was a period when land was being seized and hurriedly apportioned to a large number of English and Scottish settlers (the term used was ‘plantations’ – the ‘planting’ of persons in a foreign land). The property is described as being ‘a 60 foot square bawne of lime and stone three Flankers with a house in it occupied by an English Gentleman’. Also situated on the land were a further eight English families.
Paul's tenure at Carrick was shortlived. In 1610 this area comprising both baronies was re-allocated to John Murray, Earl of Annandale and a favourite of James I, and Paul was ‘compensated’ with an inferior estate of 1,348 acres at Magherabeg in the Precinct of Kilmacrennan and Barony of Castlecoole and Tircanada, some 60 miles to the north-east, ‘to hold the same forever at the annual rent of £10 16s’. It seems likely that Paul was ‘re-located’ prior to 1610 as his eldest son, Ralph, is recorded as being born in Magherabeg in 1608. This property is likely to be the one recorded in ‘Plantations of Ulster’ as being ‘a Bawne of Lime and Stone 60 foot square, with two Flankers, 12 foot high, with a Timber There is also a reference in Carew’s Report of 1611 that ‘Capt. Paul Gore has erected a fair stone house out of the ruins of O’Boyle’s old castle upon the sea side, which he has by direction of the Lords of the Council, delivered up to Laird Broughton …’. Paul is recorded in a survey made by Captain Nicholas Pynnar in 1618 as (still) holding 1,000 acres in the Precinct of Kilmacrennan.
Paul married Isabella Wycliffe (born abt 1583) in about 1607. She was the daughter of Francis Wycliffe and Jane Rokeby of Wycliffe, Yorkshire. It is not known where the marriage took place. Five children are known from this marriage: Ralph (b. abt 1608), Arthur (b. 1610) later Sir Arthur Gore 1st Baronet of Newton Gore, Francis (b. 1612) later Sir Francis Gore, Sydney, Henry (b. 1619), but John Burke claims to have identified a total of thirteen children. Only his eldest son Ralph's descendancy line has been followed up in this narrative.
Paul Gore sat in the House of Commons as MP for Ballyshannon from 1613 to 1615. This does not provide any indication of where he lived at the time, and he could well have already moved to Magherabegg since records found in the IGI suggest that his eldest son Ralph was born there.
On 2nd February 1622 Paul was created baronet at the age of 62, with the title of 1ST Baronet of Magherabeg. His estate was promoted into the status of manor under the name Manor Gore. He remained there until his death in 1629, and is buried in the Abbey Church in Donegal. This church no longer exists, but may have been part of the Franciscan Abbey at the mouth of the river Eske on the West coast of Donegal. It is not known when Isabella died.
| Additional Information | ||
|---|---|---|
| Date of Birth | 1st Jan 1567 | |
| Date of Death | 1st Jan 1629 | |
| Father (First Name/s and Surname) | Gerard Gore of London | |
| Mother (First Name/s and Maiden) | Helen Davenant of London | |
| Spouse (First Name/s and Maiden/Surname) | Isabella Wycliffe | |
| Names of Children | Ralph (b. abt 1608), Arthur (b. 1610) later Sir Arthur Gore 1st Baronet of Newton Gore, Francis (b. 1612) later Sir Francis Gore, Sydney, Henry (b. 1619) | |
