Heremon By M.O’Neill

In the Irish mythological legends Heremon was the son of Milesius that was born in Galicia, Spain who cut off his hand to win the kingship of Ulster, and there we get one of the myths of the Red Hand. Later in the legends Heremon slays his brother Heber and Amergin, and becomes the sole monarch of Ireland and divides it among his commanders and family.  According to the myths Heremon gave Munster to the sons of Heber: Er, Orba, Feron, and Ferga. Ulster to Ir, the Eastern part of Leinster he gave to his commander Criomtham-Sciath-Bheil, Connaught to one of his commanders named Un-Mac-Oigge, and a section of Munster to Lughaidh the son of Ithe.

O’Rahilly also points out that the figure of Ir was an invention by Irish genealogist.

A third son, Ir, was added early; the ‘HistoriaBrittonum’ speaks of the invasion of Ireland by tresfilliiMilitisHispaniae, who can only be Eber, Eremon, and Ir. The invention of Ir was probably due in the first instance to the genealogist, who were favorably disposed towards the Cruthin and determined to provide them with a highly respectable Goidelic pedigree. Before the end of the ninth century the number of Mil’s sons had been increased to six by the addition of Donn, Colptha, and Amairgein. Later we find two others added, viz. ErechFebria and Airennan, making a total of eight. In the course of time the genealogist ennobled the remnants of the Erainn by inventing Goidelic pedigrees for them. This was done in particular in two ways. Some branches of them, especially the CorcuLoigde, they made descend from Ith, who is usually represented as son of Bregon and uncle of Mil.  – T.F. O’Rahilly Early Irish History and Mythology.

The name Ir may represent the Irminones, also referred to as Herminones or Hermiones were a group of early Germanic tribes that circa the 1st century AD who expanded into Bavaria, Swabia and Bohemia. Also lead you to believe thatthe word Heremon may also be a corruption of the word Hermiones.According to T.F. O’Rahilly the name Heremon is based on Eriu, meaning “Ireland.” Yet Ireland was called by many names by the Romans and Greeks: Ierne, Ierna, Ierna, Iris, Irin, Insla Sacra, Ivernia, Ibernia, Hibernia, Juvernia, and Verna. One of the most ancient names was Ogy – Ogia meaning “The most ancient land.”

Irminonic or Elbe Germanic is the conventional term of grouping early West Germanic dialects of ancestral to High German. The name Irminones origins are from the work Germania in 98 A.D.by the Roman Tacitus who categorized them as one of the tribes of the mythical Mannus. Mannus is a Germanic mythological figure he is the son of Tuisto, the mythological founder of the Hermiones, Istvaeones, and Ingaevones.

The mythical founder of the Herminones was Irmin, in Old High German Ermen, and Old Norse Jermun, and Old English Eormen. The name Amergin looks like another corruption of the mythical Armenon or Armin from the name Irmin.

The name Heber is another name that looks to be another corruption of the Hebrew bible figure named Eber, an ancestor of the Israelites; he was the great grandson of Noah’s son Shem and the father of Peleg. This figure Eber refused to help with the building of the Tower of Babel, so his language was not confused with others and he and his family ended up retaining the original human language Hebrew a language named after Eber. But according to T.F. O’Rahilly the name Eber simply means ‘Irishman’ from the words Eberus, Ebernus, and Hibernus. In my opinion, this again proves how the creators of the Milesian genealogies used all types of information from various sources including the Bible to eliminate all types of pagan ancestry, and this would look respectable in the eyes of the church during those periods in Ireland.

The most interesting account is that of Heremon and his association with the origin of the “Red Hand of the O’Neill’s.” I have researched the origin of the Red Hand, and, in my opinion, its origins are of a Germanic one.  There are some tales of the two sons, of a Viking who fought, and one lost his hands in battle to gain kingship of Ulster. This practice is known has “The fountain of Tyr” associated with Viking berserkers, but there is no evidence of this practice was ever done in battle.

Another is an ancient worship of the God Tyr, who lost his right hand versus Fenrir, but the Left Red Hand was used by the O’Neill Kings and the myths say Heremon cut off his Left Hand.  Very likely we will never know the true origins of these mythological legends of the O’Neill’s, but from I have seen they are elaborates creations based on some truth, and after centuries of countless additions of legends taken from various sources very hard to find the truth. 

The Royal House of O’Neill? By M.O’Neill

Many of the Irish families or surname clans were members of the Ui Néill, tracing their descent to a mythical King named Niall of the Nine Hostages also known, as Niall Noígallach, yet the O'Neill Royal dynasty took their name from Niall Glúndub mac Áedo. I believe that all scholars and everyone that has studied the Royal House of O’Neill will agree and come to the common consensus, but you still have those people out there that still want to the O’Neill’s to be part of the Ui Neill dynasty.

I think I have explained enough about Niall Glundubh mac Áedo and the overlooked statement in the Anglo Saxon Chronicles:

.

A.D. 921 And all the army in East-Anglia swore union with him; that they would all that he would, and would protect all that he protected, either by sea or land.  And the army that belonged to Cambridge chose him separately for their lord and protector, and confirmed the same with oaths, as he had advised.  This year King Edward repaired the town of Gladmouth; and the same year King Sihtric slew Neil his brother.
Annals of Ulster

In 919 The heathens won a battle against the Irish at Duiblinn in which fell Niall Glúndub son of Aed, king of Ireland, in the third year of his reign, on the fourth feria, the eighteenth of the Kalends of October 14 Sept., and here fell also Aed son of Eochucán, king of Conchobor's Province, and MaelMithig son of Flannacán, king of Brega, and Conchobor grandson of Mael Sechnaill, heir designate or king of Temair, and Flaithbertach son of Domnall, heir designate of the North, and the son of Dub Sínaig, i.e. MaelCraibe, king of Airgialla, and many other nobles.—The battle of Áth Cliath won by the foreigners.

I believe that we can all say that Sigtrygg Cáech was the Norse King of Dublin who later reigned as King of York, and it was him that killed Niall Glundubh mac Áedo. In a warfare that is recorded to have occurred in 918, and in 919. But this is not the only problem with the Royal House of O’Neill pedigree! We have according to the Lebor Eoghanach it clearly stating that Aodh Athlaman is said to be the last of his race! Anyone with a common sense would ask. How the hell the Royal House O’Neill’s could have been the descendants from someone who was the last of his race? And if this is true then this would mean very likely that they were not the same as the others within the O’Neill clan.

The truth is that from the years of 1036 to 1177 the O’Neill’s genealogy of pedigree is not really known that is over 140 years!!!! Let’s say an estimated 4 generations. For any O’Neill to claim to be from the Royal House O’Neill, because he tests positive for the SNP M222 is total ignorance and stupidity. We have O’Neill’s of the SNP M405/S21/U106 R1b1a2a1a1a; O’Neill’s of the SNP L21/S145/M529 R1b1a2a1a1b4 (4,000 ybp.); O’Neill’s of the SNP S28/U152 R1b1a2a1a1b3 (3,500 ybp.); O’Neill’s of the SNP P312/S116R1b1b2a1b (5,300 ybp.); also O’Neill’s that belong to the Haplogroup I etc. 

There is also the Feardorcha “Matthew” O’Neill Bloodline that produced one of the greatest O’Neill’s of all time, yet he is said to be the bastard son of a John Kelly, and considered not to be a true O’Neill by many in Ireland. There are also various off shoots and clans of the Royal Tyrone House of O’Neill and then the Clannabuidhe O’Neill’s etc. 

The facts are that a simple independent test of the y-dna, of many of the O’Neill ancient remains, and the coming forward of a few males of the O’Neill’s of the Fews in Spain and Clannabuidhe in Portugal  will be very beneficial to finding and finally putting an end to the foolishness of many. All sort of NPE (Non Paternal Events) could have occurred with the Royal House O’Neill, and this is including the arrival of the Normans in Ulster, during a period when the Royal House O’Neill clan pedigree is very dubious. But still you have every O’Neill claiming to be a descendant of the Royal Tyrone House of O’Neill, honestly the SNP and Haplotype of the Royal Tyrone House of O’Neill is not known. And definitely regardless what some believe the M222 Niall of the Nine Hostages may not be it!  

In search of Don Constantino O’Neill: I By M.O’Neill

I started my final search for Don Constantino O’Neill, and what I have found is not much, since there are so many O’Neill’s with the name Conn, but not many in Spain, or what is now the Holland and Belgium once known as the Spanish Netherlands. I found a few short excerpts from letters in the 1600’s referring to Constantino O'Neill.

In another letter written this time by Don Eugenio (Owen Roe) O’Neill he writes the following:

“He (that is Hugh Duff O’Neill) desires more particularly to witness to your excellency that I have seen the will of the late Earl of Tyrone, John O’Neill, and the father of the younger man that is lately dead here, after whom is also and another, Conn O’Neill, who is also dead, I can assure you excellency that this Hugh O’Neill that now calls himself Earl of Tyrone, is the third, and consequently, the head of the house.”

This John O’Neill mentioned was Don Juan O’Neill who died in January of 1641 in the Battle of Montjuic in Catalonia. The Conn O’Neill mentioned was the younger son of Don Hugh O’Neill, 2^nd Earl of Tyrone, he is said to have died in the tower of London.

In a letter written in April 12, 1642 on regard of a Don Constantino O’Neill the letter has the following written:

“As to what you write touching Don Eugenio O’Neill, I apprehend no such danger; he is not disposed to claim more than his father enjoyed for he acknowledges that all immediate right to the earldom of Tyrone belongs to Don Constantino, who is in Spain. So long as he lives, Don Eugenio can claim nothing, as he publicly acknowledges, offering to serve no matter who – Don Felim, or another, in common cause of religion and realm.”

What is interesting is Don Eugenio (Owen Roe) O’Neill was asked, if he was or would be the Earl of Tyrone, and he replied by saying the “True” Earl of Tyrone was Constantino O’Neill at the time living in Spain. To my knowledge I don’t believe anyone knows who this Constantino was , and it may look like that I’m not the only one looking for a Don Constantino O’Neill, if it’s the same one which I can no say he is or not at the moment.

What is known is that this Don Constantino in August of 1642 took to the sea from Rochelle with fifty soldiers in a ship laden with arms and powder. La Rochelle is a city in Western France and was the largest seaport on the Bay of Biscay, or the Atlantic coast of France.Where was this ship heading to? And was this Don Constantino O’Neill who was raised in Galicia, Spain? What is also known is that La Rochelle was a haven for French privateers, merchants, and pirates. The Caribbean was well known to these men example are the maps of the islands in the West Indies done in the early 1600’s. I have not found any evidence that a Don Constantino O’Neill sailed to the Caribbean during the mid-1600, and finding records of such a voyage is basically impossible for me to do.

In 1641 around 300 Irish soldiers from Ireland arrived in Galicia, Spain, the question is the progenitor of the O’Neill’s of Puerto Rico among these men? It must not be forgotten that in August of 1653 the Spanish crown declared a moratorium on all Irish soldiers arriving in Spain, and in that same year many of the surviving soldiers, of the army, of Don Eugenio (Owen Roe) O’Neill during the Irish Rebellion arrived in La Coruna, Galicia, Spain. From 1641 to 1654 over 22,000Irish arrived in Spain.The last ship to arrive in Galicia, Spain from Ireland was in 1654.

Was Don Constantino O’Neill among these men in Galicia? From what I have been able to find is that Don Juan O’Neill was likely born in Spain and not on the island of Puerto Rico, and there is a possibility that Don Patricio O’Neill arrived with Don Alejandro “Bloody” O’Reilly in 1765 on the island, yet I have not found any military records to confirm this theory. The general theory is thatDon Juan O’Neill arrived with his two brothers circa the 1700’s from Spain or possible other islands in the Caribbean. From 1686 to 1701 the Spanish crown denied all Flemish and Irish families to settle in Puerto Rico.

What I have found and know is that this O’Neill family was separate and very different from the others O’Neill’s, and it seems that they did not intermingled with others for whatever their reasons. Another thing is the lack of males in this family and this is shown by their y-dna Haplotype and SNP that is not found among the O’Neill’s in Ireland. This has made the search harder not that the O’Neill’s of Puerto Rico do not match any other O’Neill’s I can careless for that but the fact that theydo not match anyone, as if all know relatives have vanished from the face of the earth. Yet this is common among a few families in the SNP L48 it seem that those within this SNP kept the male gene pool limited. On the y-dna end I expect very little news outside new results coming in when I test for some new subclades of the SNP L48. I don’t expect any y-dna matches at all unless another O’Neill of Puerto Rico is brave enough, or cares enough about his ancestry to take a y-dna test, and asking for those to test is something I have given up on.

 The big mystery is to know in reality the true origin of the O’Neill’s in Spain, and the biggest one being the progenitor of the O’Neill’s of Puerto Rico Don Constantino O’Neill.These O’Neill’s kept many secrets one account that is puzzling is the father in law of François-Henry O’Neill, who married one Herminie de la Ponce. NowFrançois-Henry’s, father in law claimed that Brian O'Neill was not murdered as a schoolboy in Brussels, but grew up to be killed at Barcelona in 1641. Now if this is true then this Brian O’Neill, son of Don Hugo O’Neill, 2^nd Earl of Tyrone may have had children. Who knows what truly happened in this family and what they did, I don’t care, if I descend from any of this men , but finding the origins of the O’Neill’s of Puerto Rico is a the goal. 

There is the letter and records that places a Don Constantino O’Neill in La Rochelle, France circa 1642, and I have no idea of his age at that time. Assuming this is the Don Constantino O’Neill I am in search of.

1642 – A Don Constantino O’Neillis in La Rochelle, France.

1670’s - Patrick O’Neill’s son James O’Neill (2nd Comte de Tyrone) receives lands from the Compagnie des Iles d'Amérique or Company of the American Islands, and settles on the island of Martinique.

1686 to 1701 - The Spanish crown denied all Flemish and Irish families to settle in Puerto Rico.

Early 1700’s – Don Juan O’Neill is Born.

1761 - Colonel Don Tomas O’Daly, who served in the Ultonia Regiment in 1744, and also was educated in Barcelona, by 1761 O’Daly, had a thriving sugar plantation in Puerto Rico, and Don Tomas O'Daly had a brother named Jaime O’Daly, who resided in Cadiz circa 1763.

1765 – Don Alejandro “Bloody” O’Reilly arrives in Puerto Rico.

1775 - Jaime O'Daly applied for a license to export goods from Puerto Rico, and with the protection of his brother Colonel Don Tomas O’Daly, he became a well-known sugar and tobacco merchant.

1778 - Don Patricio O'Neill Garcia married Anna Feliciano in in Guaynabo, Puerto Rico.

From what we see is that those in the Ultonia Regiments already had settled in Puerto Rico in the start of the 1760’s, or possibly even earlier. Once more documents are found more will be known, and the records from the Ultonia regiment are one component that is necessary to solve this mystery. I have other leads that I will no talk about that will likely give me some results, and I hope that in my spare time I’m able to find some clues.

SIDE NOTE: Any info is welcomed I can be emailed at theredhandking@gmail.com

Does it matter? by M.O'Neill

Does it matter if the O’Neill’s of Puerto Rico match their y-dna with any other O’Neill in Ireland, Australia, or the United States?  To me personally it does not matter at all and it doesn’t make any difference, since the O’Neill’s of Puerto Rico are likely not to match anyone at all, or even the O’Neill’s of the Fews and the Clannabuidhe O’Neill’s. If an O’Neill those match us outside the Island of Puerto Rico? It will be interesting, but, in my opinion, matching a person with that McLachlan or McLaughlin surname would be of a greater importance, since they are the closest kindred of the O’Neill’s.There are McLaughlin’s who are of the SNP U106 and have not tested for the SNP L48, although their haplotype doesn’t match ours. 

The O’Neill’s of Puerto Rico are unique and from an ancient Germanic tribal origin. The most important things are one is to find a different progenitor, or a common one, among the various O’Neill families in Puerto Rico. Second finding the O’Neill’s Germanic tribal origins of our ancestors is important all points to an East Germanic origin.The East Germanic tribes were a wave of migrants who may have moved from Scandinavia into the area between theOder and Vistula rivers between the years 600 and 300 BC. Some theories have the East Germanic tribes, related to the North Germanic tribes.

Looking at those matches with a -20 and – 18 genetic distances within the SNP L48, and then those that have the value of 21 on the marker DYS YCA II b the regions of those matches are in Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic, and Sweden.I highly doubt although not impossible that our O’Neill’s ancestor origins is of a Germanic tribe that made their way from Central Europe all the way into Ireland. Among the possible ancient ancestorsof the O’Neill’s of Puerto Rico are the Belgae ,the Bastarnae, theBurgundians, theGoths, the Thervings, the Greuthungs, the Visigoths, the Ostrogoths, the Crimean Goths, the Gepids, the Rugians, theScirii, theVandals, the Heruli, or the Lombard.

Now I would not discard a possible Norman origin during their time and well known involvement with the O’Neill’s in Ulster. A Non Paternal Event like the marriage of a Viking, and an O’Neill daughter that has been well documented to have occurred, and have spent some time in previous blog postings on this very subject.

I estimate that there are around 100 to 150 O’Neill’s of Puerto Rico males. I also estimate that around up to 60 % of the male O’Neill’s of Puerto Rico will share the same common ancestor, and will be of the SNP L48 ,or its subclades, and the rest 40% maybe of various other SNPs.

·         Any O’Neill of Puerto Rico or in the Caribbean that is willing to take a y-dna can contact me at the theredhandking@gmail.com . 

The Last Of Our Kind? By M.O’Neill

I have had various experts look at the Haplotype and none has found a possible origin outside it being of a Germanic origin. Only two O’Neill’s of Puerto Rico are currently FTDNA y-dna tested and from my SNP test results it’s concluded that both are R1b1b2a1a4 L148- L48+ P107- U106+ U198- . The only current match is this distant cousin from Puerto Rico who tested, and was 35/37 markers. And he did not only not on the mismatch marker of DYS CDY a/b which is common. Outside that we are 100% related with a TMRCA estimated around 95% circa the year 1710 A.D. This being the progenitor of the O’Neill’s of Puerto Rico Don Juan O'Neill.

(TMRCA this term used by population geneticists indicates the Time to the Most Recent Common Ancestor shared with another person.)

DYS 393 = 13

DYS 390 = 23

DYS 447 = 24

DYS 448 = 19

DYS YCA II a = 19

DYS YCA II b = 21

DYS 456 = 13

DYS 537 = 11

DYS 534 = 17

DYS 413 a / b = 23, 23

DYS 492 = 13

(MISMATCH MARKERS VALUES: DYS 439 = 11; DYS 385 a/b = 11, 14; DYS 389-1 = 13; DYS 389-2 = 29; DYS 458 = 19; DYS 459 a/b = 9, 10; DYS 464 a/b = 15, 15; DYS 576 = 18; DYS 570 = 18; CDY a/b = 38, 41)

The O’Neill’s of Puerto RicoL48 SNP Haplotype matches at 67 markers and the closest genetic distance are -18. There is no doubt that the O’Neill’s of Puerto Rico are of a Germanic origin, but it looks to be of an ancient origin, since all matches are -18 and -20. In my opinion, the O’Neill’s of Puerto Rico look to have origins sometime around 400 B.C. – 300 B.C.in the ancient regions of what are now the Czech Republic, Austria, Germany , Poland, and Switzerland.

Using all 67 markers searching for matches with those already of the L48 + SNP I had these results:

Staffordshire, England -18

Banbury, Oxford, England -19

Banbury, Oxford, England     -21

Switzerland   -20

West Bromwich, England -22

Sarvijoki, Jurva, Finland -20

Region Westph.Low Saxony,, Germany -21

Netherlands Antilles    -21

Scotland -21

Sweden    -23

Dublin, Ireland -22

Devonshire, England -21

Altona, Germany    -22

Germany   -23

Ippischburg (now Eppisburg), Bavaria/Bayern, Germany      -23

Goteborg, Sweden   -23

Orkney, Scotland -23

Outer Hebrides, Scotland -25

Kronoberg, Sweden -24

Rukingen, Germany -24

Germany   -24

Yorkshire, England -24

Denmark   -24

Gent, Belgium -25

Almendralejo Spain, Spain -26

Smaland, Sweden -25

Cologne, Germany -25

Gnevezow, Mecklenburg, Germany -24

Prussia, Germany -26

Spain     -27

Germany   -26

Nanzweiler, Germany -26

Canton Berne, Switzerland -27

Vardingholt-Rhede, Germany -27

Norway    -29

Stockholm, Sweden -30

Rijkevorsel, Belgium -29

Denmark   -30

Stockholm (city), Sweden -31

Hoelstein, Canton Basel, Switzerland -30

West Prussia, Germany -32   

Prussia, Germany -32

Romania   -33

Bavaria/Bayern, Germany -35

Those R1b1a2a1a1a4 / L48 that match at 37 markers tested and their – minus genetic distances. A 36/37 match is a 50% probability that there is a MRCA within 4 generations within (120 years), and a 95% probability within 10 generations (300 years).

Yorkshire, England - 14

West Prussia/ Germany - 12

North Rhine- Westphalia, Germany -16

Lippe, Germany     -17

Posen/Pozna'n, Germany - 19

Nordrhein-Westfalen/North Rhine- Westphalia, Germany -18

Epleny/Olaszfalu, Hungary -18

Bukovina, Transylvania, Hungary   -16

Saponara, Sicily -18

Agdenes, Norway -20

Kleinmantel, Germany -21

Germany   -21

Joniskis, Lithuania -23

Hessen-Kassel, Germany -23

Roxburgh, Roxburghshire, Scotland     -23

Switzerland   - 23

Soppe le Haut, Alsace, France -23

France    -23

Hutton le Hole, Yorkshire, England -23

Sachsen (Electoral Saxony), Germany -10

Those that only match 23 of the 25 markers, but do not match past 25 markers. Many are of different SNP’s and do not match outside just markers. Currently only two have not tested past 12 to 25 markers, and the rest have tested for 37 markers.

Wilkinson (Y37);Broadhurst (Y37);Plies (Y37); Wilkerson (Y37); Roper (Y37);Banks (Y37); Lee (Y37);Crowe (Y37);Brown; Harvey (Y67); Holliday (Y37); Sherwood (Y67);Beal; Leask (Y37);Holden(Y67).

Surnames that just match -1 GD at 12 markers there is a 95% probability that there is a MRCA within 1,410 years. Only the McLaughlin’s have tested positive for the L48 SNP, but are too far apart when it comes to above 12 markers. 

Kelley (Y67); McLaughlin (Y37); Holmes (Y67); White (Y37); Walker (Y67); O'Neill (Y37); Boucek (Y67); Broadhurst (Y37); Harris (Y67); Johnson (Y67); Sorensen (Y12); Lynch (Y67); McLaughlin (Y67); McLaughlin (Y67); Mones (Y67); Harley (Y67); Nieves (Y37); Grant (Y67).

Side Note:

For those O’Neill’s of Puerto Rico who have yet to have a Y-DNA test or don’t understand why its’ important. Y-DNA passes from father to son almost unaltered for long periods of time, and this is why it’s important to know who is related to whom or who is not.

According to the O’Neill’s of Puerto Rico Oral History: By M.A.O’Neill

The oral history of the O’Neill’s of Puerto Rico states that the progenitor our line was a tall man of blue eyes and dark hair. He arrived in Puerto Rico with his brother both military men, but in reality there seems to have been three brothers, and it’s not known if the third even arrived in Puerto Rico. There are said to have fought in the land were people wore Wooden Shoes and there were windmills , and this at  first I knew nothing of but then realized this was the Spanish Netherlands what is now  modern day Belgium. He was said to have been involved in piracy and had a violent temper that fought bulls with a shield and gun for entertainment. The family oral history also states that our origins are from a man named Edmundo, Eamon, or an Enrique Rui O'Neill who fought in the Spanish Netherlands and the head of the family was a man named Don Constantino O’Neill.

This Don Constantino O’Neill seemed to have been based out of Galicia, Spain and possibly also in the regions of Asturias. He had some association with a woman named Rosio or Rose.From my understanding he was raised alone most of his life, but had two other brothers. Now the question is was Enrique Rui / Rua O’Neill his brother? I doubt that this Enrique was the son of Owen Roe O’Neill, Don Enrique RuaO’Neill that was taken prisoner by Sir Charles Coote at Scariffhollis and beheaded at Derry on July 1650.

Owen Roe "the Red" O’Neill, died on November 6,1649 , he was a Spanish Officer for 30 years, held Arras against the French, surrendering "after a notable resistance" in 1640. Eoghan was the Lord General of the Catholic Army in the Ulster. Most important is that he served in the Spanish Netherlands, was married to a Rose, had four sons and among them was one named Conn Rua O’Neill, and he was of the Feardorcha “Matthew” O’Neill bloodline. Yet there was other O’Neill’s in the Spanish Netherlands and in Spain named Conn, but only these O’Neill’s fit the oral history very well. Outside that one of the sons named John (Juan) O’Neill became a monk. There was the third son of Art O’Neill; his name was Don Conn O’Neill who had two sons one named Daniel and the other named Brian O’Neill who had a son named Conn O’Neill who died in Spain.

There possibility that Don Constantino O’Neill was in the Caribbean during the late 1600’s, or possibly just his sons. Spanish military records show a Constantino O’Neill being talked about his involvement with the Commander General of the Havana, Cuba Navy Don Juan de Araaz.What people don’t understand is that there are plenty of O’Neill’s that live in Spain, with no clues abouttheir own origins. Not everything was written down, nor did the O’Neill’s to leave certain trails of their exploits for all to known. There is so much yet to be discovered! Believe me there is somewhere in some dusty records in Spain, or the Netherlands the facts of the origins of Don Constantino O’Neill.

In 1765, Colonel Thomas O'Daly and Field Marshall Don Alejandro "Bloody " O’Reilly were sent to Puerto Rico on the orders of King Carlos III of Spain, to investigate contraband, and piracy. Church records show that Don Patricio O'Neill Garcia married Anna Feliciano in March 5th, 1778 Guaynabo, Puerto Rico. That was 13 years after the arrival of Don Alejandro “Bloody” O’Reilly! Did Don Patricio arrive in Puerto Rico with Don Alejandro” Bloody” O’Reilly? And then married Dona Anna Feliciano 13 years later after his arrival?  Don Patricio’s father Don Juan O’Neill may have already been in Puerto Rico, or maybe he was in Spain?  Don Juan who could have been either named original named Sean or John O’Neill.

On a Side Note:

Nowmy main goal is finding the origins of Don Constantino O’Neill in Spain, or the Netherlands is the key to finding the origins of the O’Neill’s of Puerto Rico.  I know for a fact that there must a few people out there who know exactly who this Don Constantino O’Neill was, and will not share the info, but it doesn’t matter, because at the end the truth will be shown and made public for the world to see. I know exactly why they do not share information or hide the facts. Many of these O’Neill’s live in a fantasy, and an illusion, of being the descendants of some Royal lineage, and I can careless for all that nonsense. Nor do I care what other O’Neill’s think! If they don’t share my genetics or are from the Island of Puerto Rico why should they matter? 

And why do I say this? Because the O’Neill’s of Puerto Rico are the last of a long bloodline, and with the some miracle we found some safety on a small island, with the help of the Spanish crown, and our ancestor’s military service. I take pride that we stand alone with no ties with any other surname or any other O’Neill.

Unlike some of the O’Neill’s in Spain, France, and Portugal I don’t fear the truth and that is why the O’Neill’s of Puerto Rico y-dna is there for the whole world to see.  One day the true origins of the O’Neill’s of Puerto Rico will be known, and it won’t matter, if I have to do it all by myself what I know is that I get things done.It’s a big puzzle to decipher but I have slowly done so going on the oral history ,and documents have slowly come to find some clues, yet it’s a long road ahead, and this is why my main focus now is to find the origins of Don Constantino O’Neill , Rose , and Don Juan O’Neill. I did enough trying to help putting together the genealogy of the various families the O’Neill’s of Puerto Rico and the Sevilla O’Neill’s of the Fews that I uncovered through my research.

Now is time for those who care like I stated in an earlier blog post is up to them to find their own origins, and if they want to obtain a y-dna test to prove they are of linked to one of the O’Neill’s of Puerto Rico branches they are more than welcomed.  At this moment there are only 3 O’Neill’s of Puerto Rico that I can take into account as I move forward in any future development, and they know who they are.

What has been accomplished so far? By M.O’Neill

I have taken most of my free time doing research on the O’Neill’s of Puerto Rico, unlike any other O’Neill in Puerto Rico, since the arrival of Don Juan O’Neill in Puerto Rico. Due to the lack of interest by many O’Neill’s on the island of Puerto Rico it makes it nearly impossible to find any clues, or further the research, since at this moment, sadly, I have to say that only 2 others outside myself have been brave, or show great interest to know their origins that they have taken a y-dna test. Mainly what many of the O’Neill’s of Puerto Rico have been doing is just assuming that they are all related. If it was not for the kindness of a female O’Neill who had her brother y-dna tested I would have never developed a haplotype that show that the descendants of Don Juan O’Neill all share common mutations in their haplotype. And if it wasn’t for the interest, of another O’Neill, for his origins we would have not found the SNP J2 among one family that this may shed light into the various oral history of other O’Neill’s and their origins.Again it’s very easy just to sit back and let others do the work, and research, and not participate or not care at all.

Example: A few years ago I was given limited genealogical information by an O’Neill of Puerto Rico, and then when I ask him to take a y-dna test, he no longer emailed me back. I had another email me once about his descendants from Fajardo, and when I asked him to obtain a y-dna test never emailed again this is very common.

                                                               This is why I don’t care, for those, who are just wasting their time and are not serious about finding their origins. Don’t waste my time or yours it’s that simple! For starters there is no money, inheritance, nor any titles, there seem to be a few out there that believe this stupidity for whatever greed they may hold. I have never made a dime or a U.S. Dollar on this research, but have spent over $1,000.00 USD in research not to say the time and effort. Nor will I make or expect any money, but to find the true origins of the O’Neill’s of Puerto Rico. So, I don’t understand why anyone won’t spend $150.00 USD to take a y-dna test?  That doesn’t involve blood, but a swab that takes a sample of your saliva.

http://youtu.be/AN07Adpu7Bs

                                                              I suspect the majority of the O’Neill’s of Puerto Rico will all be of the SNP L48, until further test are done, I will be taking a new Deep SNP test, and likely the SNP will change to one, of the new subclades of the U106 and L48 SNP, since new SNP’s are being discovered has I write this. Looking at the mutations of the O’Neill’s of Puerto Rico Haplotype the descendants of Don Juan O’Neill, and my theory of the DYS YCA II b = 21 very likely the results will be positive for the L44 SNP .

                                                            The descendants of Don Juan O’Neill are the majority among the population of the O’Neill’s of Puerto Rico, although there are other O’Neill’s throughout the island of Puerto Rico in the municipalities of Aguadilla, Ponce, Mayaguez, and Fajardo. Also it must be stated that all the O’Neill’s of Puerto Rico are not related there was I estimate around 4 different O’Neill’s emigrations on the island. Barring any non-paternal events I estimate that the O’Neill’s of Puerto Rico will be up to 90% of the SNP L48. I estimate the population of the descendants of Don Juan O’Neill is around 80 to 100 O’Neill males, and around a total of 40 plus of other O’Neill’s on the island that their origins are not known. The majority of the O’Neill’s are based on the municipality of Guaynabo these mainly being the descendants of Don Juan O’Neill. Then there are other O’Neill’s through various areas of Puerto Rico, and it’s not known, if they are related due to the lack of interest from the majority of them.

What has been accomplished?

1.      The y-dna haplotype of the descendants of Don Juan O’Neill is shown to be unique and his descendants among the last of his kind.

2.      The O’Neill’s of Puerto Rico have no common ancestor with any of the O’Neill’s in Ireland, Australia, and the United States at the moment.

3.      I have compiled a genealogy of many of the O’Neill’s of Puerto Rico families.

4.      I have created a WEB Page for the O’Neill’s of Puerto Rico, to show the world our origins and share information.

5.      I have created a blog for the O’Neill’s of Puerto Rico.

6.      I started the Caribbean Y-DNA project to help others in the Caribbean find their origins and possibly find other O’Neill’s in the Caribbean, because before I started the project the y-dna of those in the Caribbean has been neglected.

7.      Thanks to the help of an O’Neill female, and she knows who she is, I finally created a Haplotype and found the genetic link between one the branches of the descendants of Don Juan O’Neill.

8.      Thanks to an O’Neill for his interest of his origins I found out that not all of the O’Neill’s in Puerto Rico have the same male common ancestor.

9.      Thanks to another O’Neill a direct descendant of Don Juan O’Neill via Don Hipolito O’Neill we have documents of the O’Neill’s of Puerto Rico and clues to their blood ties and business dealings.

10.  Thanks to another O’Neill who gave me genealogical info on seconds cousins.

What is needed to be done by many of the O’Neill’s of Puerto Rico, and What I will do?

1.      The male descendants of Don Hipolito O’Neill must obtain a y-dna test to establish a genetic with a paper trail the connection with Don Juan O’Neill.

2.      Begin a database with all the paper trails of those O’Neill’s of Puerto Rico. Something I have somewhat have done by showing the relations of many of the O’Neill’s of Puerto Rico with their genealogy.

3.      Once more O’Neill’s of Puerto Rico get y-dna tested I will create an O’Neill’s of Puerto Rico Y-DNA Project.

4.      Have more O’Neill’s throughout the island to obtain a y-dna test, because this will show either a difference between, or a common ancestor for many of the O’Neill’s on the island.

5.      Find the origins of Don Constantino O’Neill, Don Juan O’Neill, and Dona Rosa.