Individual Details

He was known as William McCulloch of Randalstown on 6 Dec 1681 in Randalston, Upper Toome Barony, Antrim Co., Northern Ireland.

.....& was succeeded by his Eldest Son William McCulloch Esqr of Brandalston, who died in the Year [blank] & left two Sons to wit, James of Grogun & Henry of Brandalston.....(Iredell)

Notes from Bob Epperson:
1) There was a mention of William McCullock of Grogan in the Registry of Deeds, Dublin. The date of the will was 1715. He was signer of the recorded memorial. That this William is connected with James McCulloch of Grogan is almost assured by the fact the document was witnessed by Francis Iredell (father of James Iredell and husband of Margaret McCulloh, the granddaughter of James McCulloch of Grogan). Margaret's mother was Mary Ferguson, who was likely related to Victor Ferguson another witness.

2) My guess is that William of Grogan is an older son of William of Randalstown, who probably died between 1715 and 1725 (when it appears that James McCulloch of the Barony of Toome died - think he might be James of Grogan). Assuming William of Grogan had no heirs or at least no male heirs, his estate would devolve on his next youngest brother giving us James McCulloch of Grogan.

3) The testator in the will above was Patrick Shaw, a kinsman of William of Grogan. Also mentioned was a Patrick Agnew.

4) In the book The History of the Lands and Their Owners in Galloway, I found mention of Houston, Agnew, Stewart/Stuart, and McCulloch families from Galloway Scotland. William Houston of Cottreoch had a daughter who married an Agnew. The Houston's also intermarried with the Stuart family of Stewart Newton, Dumfrieshire, Galloway, Scotland. In the 1600s the Stuarts took up land in County Antrim north of Lough Neagh in the Barony of Upper or Lower Antrim - don't remember which. Lough Neagh is the largest lake in the British Isles and is located 15 miles west of Belfast, Ireland. Note: In Ireland a lake is a LOUGH, while in Scotland a lake is a LOCH. Now ain't that an interesting commentary on the difference between McCullOUGH and McCullOCH. It also indicates a nuance in pronunciation between Irish and Scottish Gaelic. Well the Stuart family sold out in Scotland and went to live on their property in Ireland. When a member was admitted to the Irish Peerage in the 1800s, he changed the name of the title to Stewart, but didn't change the family name from Stuart. Even the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland (PRONI) admits this caused a great deal of confusion.

5) At least this information explains a connection I had read some time back, but could never relocate referring to a Houston living in Castle Stewart. The reference was apparently to the Castle Stewart in County Antrim not the family seat in Stewart Newton in Scotland. The Castle Stewart mentioned by Godfrey McCulloch before his execution in 1697 was the one located in Scotland, but it is associated with the same family as the one in Ireland.

6) Never the less, looking at names in Griffiths Valuation (1848 I think), there is a large concentration of Houston, Stewart/Stuart, and McCulloch families in Upper and Lower Toome and Upper and Lower Antrim. The Stewart castle in Ireland is in Upper or Lower Antrim. It appears that for whatever reason many of the families of Galloway Scotland acquired land in the western part of County Antrim or at least their relatives did. Then when things got a little poorly in Scotland economically speaking, they sold out or lost for debts their holdings in Scotland and moved to Ireland. This whole area is also the home of the O'Neill family. Living in the area would familiarize the children with the history of the O'Neill's which may have been the basis for James Iredell's story of Cullo moving to Ireland in 1318 with Robert the Bruce and his son taking the name McCullo - McCulloch. Equally possible is that Iredell's story has some basis in fact and the McCulloch's are connected to the O'Neill's.


"Brandalston" is Randalstown, is a district in County Antrim, up in the north-east corner of Ireland, present day Northern Ireland.

"A census of Ireland. circa 1659" Irish Manuscripts Commission. :
In Barony of Toome, co. Antrim, N. Ireland :
Lieut.William MaColloch / McCulloch, gent, townland of "The Lyne of Mountereredy" (Mt. Erridy ?).
William Houston, gent.
Robert Colwill (Colville) Esqr, Townland of Galgorm.
(Both were probably brothers-in-law of Sir Robert Adair).

McCullough Family.
(Compiled by E. C. Meade of Virginia.)

The McCullough family is one of the oldest as well as one of the most brilliant stars in the constellation of heraldry, as it dates back to the time of Robert Bruce of Scotland. A record of the ancient family lineage of McCullough was brought over to this country by Henry McCullough and his nephew Judge Iredell and can be found in McCree's Life of Iredell. The founder of the family was Cullo O'neil who was knighted by Edward Bruce, was made Captain of Horse in his army and made Standard Bearer and Secretary of State. Sir Cullough O'neil whose given name was "Cullo" was the first Laird of Myrton 1316.

Sir Cullo died in 1358 and was succeeded by his eldest son who assumed the Sir name of McCullo. In Scotland it was changed to McCulloch; in Ireland to McCullough. The endings in "ch" instead of "oh" or "gh" is purely Scotch.

The McCullough arms are thus decribed in Crozier's General Armory of American Families. Argent, white. A cross, dark azure (blue) with white pheons or (gold). Crest: An embowed arm in armor holding a dart ppr. (natural tints). Motto: Vi et animo (strength and courage.)

The McCulloughs were in the crusades from 1100 to 1250 as the cross borne upon their banners indicate; the pheon is a sharp pointed iron wedge shaped with barbs on each side which were used on the end of javalins. The mailed arm holding a dart ready to be thrown all denote the family were warriors and participated in the earliest wars when there were no fire arms. The motto also denotes that they were very courageous. Blue is used mostly by the French and is a sign of royalty, and during the Holy Crusades the blue cross was upon their banners while the red cross was upon the English banners.

The McCulloughs were among the early immigrants to America. However some of them returned to England as they had taken the oath to George III., and with them this conduct was a matter of principle. The line that remained in America were staunch revolutionists. They were prominent during the colonial and revolutionary periods. Bishop Meade makes honorable mention of them.

Henry McCullough and his nephew Alexander McCullough occupied prominent places in the early history of North Carolina in Colonial times. The McCulloughs came from England and settled in Virginia, Maryland, and N.C. Captain Benjamin McCullough came to America in 1740 and brought the arms and family silver with him.

Alexander lived in Halifax, N.C. He was agent of Henry, his uncle, and signed land grants, in Duplin County as agent for Henry--Henry Eustace was son of Henry. He had several daughters--Texas McCulloughs all same family--Gen. Benjamin McCullough, or McCullock, was a fine officer from Texas,----------- McCulloch record sent me from Texas-------------

THE McCULLOCH FAMILY.

This McCulloch is an old Scotch family, their record running back to the time of Robert Bruce of Scotland and to the early wars in Ireland. The name is variously written McCulloch, McCullough and McCullock. In 1316 the Irish, in their distress, called upon Robert Bruce, King of Scotland, for assistance and promised him if he would send over his younger brother, Edward Bruce, to help them they would make him King of Ireland. Edward went to Ireland and was made King. Among those who rallied to his standard was "Sir Cullo O'niel, first Laird of Myrton, who about 1316 was "preferred" by Edward de Bruce to Captain of Horse in his army, was knighted, made Standard Bearer and Secretary of State. Though at first successful in the Irish wars, Edward was eventually repulsed and returned to Scotland accompanied by Sir Cullo who was given a grant of land in Scotland. He died in 1331 and was succeeded by his eldest son Sir Godfrey, who assumed the surname of McCullo, died and was succeeded by his eldest son,- on the the seventh generation, when Sir Henry McCulloch, a descendant in the direct line, spelled the name as we now have it, McCulloch. The succession continued in a direct line to the time of Henry McCulloch.

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I have the record of the McCullough family sent me by a descendant of the family living in Texas. - M. Bailey, from the Iredell family in this state, N.C.- From, "The Life of James Iredell" by McRee. I copied a good deal of family history. James Iredell was a nephew of Henry McCullough and is frequently referred to in Colonial State Records of N.C., was a son of his sister; and much beloved.


THE McCULLOCHS. (Compiled by E. C. Meade of Virginia.)

The McCullochs trace back to he very early part of the Fourteenth century.
...Alexander McCulloch (son of Henry, or grandson of James of Grogan, by his first wife) may be styled the cis-Atlantic "starter." He emigrated from Scotland to the Province of North Carolina, and settled near the old, aristocratic town of Halifax, N. C. He held several important positions. He was Councilor of the Province; and, whilst he was, as were his brothers-in-law, Montford and Campbell, too old for active service, he was an ardent Whig during the old Revolutionary war. As already mentioned, Alexander McCulloch married Sarah, one of the three famous Miss Hills, and he and his wife had issue.
(1) James, who died unmarried in early manhood.
(2) Benjamin, who married Sarah Stokes, a sister of Hon. John Stokes, U. S. Judge, and Governor Montford Stokes, who held many high positions
- see Table (1).
(3) A daughter, probably, named Penelope, who married John or Thomas
Frohock, who was a Royalist, and on the breaking out of the Old Revolutionary War, went with his wife to England. They never returned, and all trace of their lineage, if any, is lost.
(4) Henry - no data.

THE STARTER ACROSS THE ATLANTIC WAS:

(1) Sir Cullo O'niel, first Laird of Myrton, who, about 1316, was
"preferred" by Edward de Bruce to Captain of Horse in his army; was
knighted and made Standard Bearer and Secretary of State. Sir Cullo died
in 1358, and was succeeded by his eldest son--

(2) Sir Godfrey, who assumed the surname of "McCullo." He died in 1331
and was succeeded by--

(3) Alexander McCullo, Who died in 1399, and was succeeded by his eldest
son--

(4) Sir Norman McCullo, who died 1445, and was succeeded by his eldest son--

(5) Sir Eleseus McCullo, who died 1448, and was succeeded by his eldest
son--

(6) Sir Alexander McCullo, who died 1524 without issue male and was
succeeded by his son-in-law and his wife

(7) Sir Henry McCulloch and his wife, Margaret: Sir Henry was a
descendant of Sir Norman ante Sir Henry died 1561, and was succeeded by
his eldest son--

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Note- The original was a given name - Cullo - changed by Sir Godfrey,
then changed, in Scotland, to McCulloch, and, in Ireland, to McCulloch.
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(8) Simon McCulloch, who died, and was succeeded by his eldest son--

(9) William McCulloch, who died, and was succeeded by his eldest son--

(10) Alexander McCulloch, who died 1643, and was succeeded by his eldest
son--

(11) William McCulloch of Brandalston, who died, and left two sons, namely:

(12) James of Grogan and (1202d) Henry of Brandalaton. James of Gragan
married twice (names of wives lost). By his first wife had issue:

(13) Henry McCulloch. His son was:

(14) Alexander McCulloch, THE STARTER OF THE SIC-ATLANTIC SIDE.

By his second wife he had issue:

(1) William, who had issue: (a) James (b) William.

(2) James.

(3) Henry.

James (son of James of Grogan) married and had issue: (c) Margaret, who married Francis Iredell, from who descended a son: (a) James Iredell, Assistant Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States, and his son, (b) James Iredell, Judge, Governor of North Carolina, United States Senator, etc., (d) Jane who died unmarried.

Death	Bef 1682	Ireland, County Antrim, Randalstown
Probate	1682	Ireland, County Antrim, Randalstown
Marriage		Susanna Blundell
Birth

Spouse	Susanna Blundell ( - )
Child	James McCulloch Esq. of Grogan, Scotland ( - 1724)
Child	Henry McCulloch Esq. of Fewghogue ( - 1728)

Father

Alexander McCulloch ( - 1643)

Notes