Dear Jane and list members, You may be interested to know a little of Edward Hay's background. (I'll try to keep it as genealogical as possible ;-)) The author of "History of the Insurrection in County Wexford AD 1798" (Dublin, 1803) was born at Ballinkeele, County Wexford about 1761. The Hay family were wealthy, landed Catholics and Edward was educated in France and Germany. His continental education seems to have radicalised his political views and he became active in the campaign for Catholic emancipation. In contrast, his father, Harvey Hay, a political conservative, became a Justice of the Peace in 1793. (This 'generation gap' between conservative parents and their radical sons was not unusual in wealthy Catholic circles in the 1790s in Ireland). In 1795 Harvey disinherited Edward (who was his eldest son) because he disapproved of his political activities. The extent of Edward's involvement in the 1798 rebellion is difficult to assess but it is unlikely that he was a combatant. After the rebellion many individuals on both sides testified to Edward's good conduct during the period and to his efforts to save lives. Perhaps because of their testimonies, Edward escaped with his life though he was imprisoned for a short time on the sloop "The Lovely Kitty" which the local butchers had declared to be unfit for pigs!!. His brother, John, was hanged as a rebel on Wexford bridge. Another brother, Philip (who became heir to Ballinkeele when Edward was disinherited) fought on the side of the government forces. Edward scarcely mentions John in his "History" and, not surprisingly, does not mention Philip at all ! Edward Hay's "History" was first published in 1803 and is essentially a Catholic apologia for the events of 1798. It concentrates on County Wexford because that was the area that Hay knew best. Hay denies that there were any premeditated plans for rebellion in Wexford and argues that the people were goaded into revolt by the activities and conduct of the local magistrates and government forces. (This view would be challenged by Hay's contemporaries and by modern historical research) The book was written largely for an English audience and as a reply to the ultra-loyalist historian, Sir Richard Musgrave whose "Memoirs of the Rebellions in Ireland" (Dublin, 1801) had claimed that the rebellion was a "Catholic plot" to annihilate Irish protestants. Hay claimed that over 3,000 copies of his work were sold. (Incidentally, Hay actually challenged Musgrave to a duel but Musgrave declined as he was already injured from another duel!!!!) After 1798 Edward Hay continued his political activity, becoming secretary of the Catholic Committee which was agitating for Catholic emancipation. Edward used his own meagre resources to finance much of his work as secretary and entered into litigation against his brother, Philip in an attempt to retrieve some of his inheritance. Although he got a decree for two thousand pounds against the Ballinkeele estate, the money was never paid. (Ballinkeele was sold in 1825 to the Maher family). By 1826 Edward, his wife and four daughters were living in penury. Edward died in October 1826 from blood poisoning. (He had cut his finger while chopping firewood, the bailiff having taken the family's last blanket). Ironically, there are no reports of his death in the contemporary Wexford local newspapers. If anyone would like to know more about Hay there is an article on him by Margaret O hOgartaigh in the forthcoming (Dec 12) Journal of the Wexford Historical Society, [No.17, 1997-98] I am indebted to Ms O hOgartaigh's article for much of the above information. There is also an article on Hay by William Sweetman in The Past, No 15, 1984, pp 54-68 There is a pedigree of the Hays of Ballinkeele c1600 - 1700 in the Genealogical Office in Dublin [MS 161, p 111]: a pedigree of the Hays of Slade, Co. Wexford (1772) is also in the Genealogical Office, Dublin [ MS 87, pp 127-134] Regards, Celestine Rafferty