At what period Charles MacCarthy left Ireland and located in St. Christopher, or St. Kitts, is problematical. If we knew the time of his coming to New England we might be able to approximate the St. Kitts date. It is assumed, however, that he was in St. Kitts as early as 1650. In an old French atlas by Sanson, published that year, Montserrat is described as having been settled by Irish. Rev. Andrew White, S. J., who accompanied the first colonists to Maryland, in 1634, makes a like statement. He adds that these Irish Catholics had gone first to Virginia, but being refused permission to land had taken possession of Montserrat. Large numbers of Irish are heard from in St. Kitts in 1650. They were visited by Father John Destriche (also written De Stritch) disguised as a trader to protect him from persecution, or even death, at the hands of the English officials who had no tolerance for a priest of the Church of Rome.
In time he collected on that and the neighboring islands a flock of 3,000 Catholics for whom he conducted religious services in the depths of the forest. Persecution at the hands of the English, however, soon broke up this condition of affairs and dispersed the Irish to New England and other parts along the coast. Were these the “troubles in Cristifars” that obliged Charles MacCarthy to leave that place? It is possible. Be that as it may, his coming was of benefit to Rhode Island, it being at a time when stout hearts, strong arms, and vigorous characters were especially desired in the colony.
Early Maguires and Boyds of Rhode Island.
Constant Maguire settled in Rhode Island prior to 1750. His first name as here given was probably an abbreviated form of Constantine. He was a native of the County Fermanagh, in Ireland, was evidently a man of education and seems to have taken much interest in matters pertaining to genealogy.
In one record book he is described as “Constant Maguire, son of John, son of Constantine, the younger, natives of the County Fermanagh.”
It should here be stated that Fermanagh was the ancient patrimony of the Maguires. Thomas Maguire, lord of Fermanagh, died in 1430. He was described by the Irish annalists as “a man of universal hospitality toward poor and mighty, founder of monasteries and churches, ... peacemaker for many chiefs and septs, beloved by all conditions for the excellence of his administration.”
Bryan, another of the Maguires, was made baron of Enniskillen in 1627. The title was forfeited by his son, Connor, attainted by British law in 1644.
Constantine, or Constant, the Rhode Island settler, located in Warwick, R. I., but later removed to East Greenwich, R. I. His wife’s name was Ruth. Among their children were Mary, born February 16, 1750; Mercy, born March 28, 1753; and John, born April 19, 1755. Mary was born in Warwick and the others in East Greenwich.
Another numerous family in East Greenwich and vicinity were the Boyds. Some of them were born in Ireland; all are believed to have been of Irish blood. Several bore the name Andrew. One Andrew Boyd is mentioned as having been born in the County Antrim, Ireland, of which his mother, Sarah (Moore) Boyd, was also a native. Another Andrew, probably of the same stock, is thus mentioned in the records of the Rhode Island Assembly, October, 1776:
In Council was read the return of Andrew Boyd, clerk of the company of Kentish Guards, choosing Christopher Greene, of Warwick, son of Nathaniel, second lieutenant of said company, in the room of Thomas Holden, who refused.