3

and MacCostello to the modern English Costello, occasionally spelt Costelloe.
   Philip MacCoisteaia, Sherriff of Connaught in 1277, was father of the afore-
mentioned Baildrin, and also of Siurtan Dubh, who became ancestor of the
Jordan family, and of Pilib, who became ancestor of the Philbin family. The
Costellos, Waldrons, Jordans and Philbins were the principal families of East
Mayo for generations, with the n'aldrons having their seat at Doo Castle. 8
  Around 1586, for reasons which are none too clear, Sir Theobald Dillon
arrived in the Barony of Costello and received 'of free gift a great portion of'
Sean MacCoisteala's land. Thereafter, the Waldrons and their relatives appear
to have settled into the role of tenants of the Dillons, until the passage of the
Land Acts of the late nineteenth century. 9
   The second Waldron family, a branch of the Wellesleys, was introduced to
Ireland in 1174, but the details are not well-documented, to the best of the
present author's knowledge.
  The third Waldron family can trace their direct ancestry to Henry Waldron
of the Parish of St Sepulchre without Newgate in London, who was born about
1450. His great-great-grandson, Sir Richard Waldron, Knt., of Charley Hall in
Charnwood Forest, Leicestershire settled in 1609 at Dromellan Castle (or Farn-
ham) in the Barony of Loghtee in County Cavan where King James I of Eng-
land allotted him an extensive estate of about 2,000 acres. Sir Richard's great-
grandson Henry Waldron sold Farnham in 1697 and settled at Cartron, Kil-
lukin, near Carrick-on-Shannon, County Leitrim. Henry's great-great-grandson
Charles Waldron sold Cartron in 1831 and settled at Illawarra, N.S.W., Aus-
tralia. In the Irish branch of this family, the surname has also become Waldfon-
Hamilton. 10
   The descendants of Baildrin MacCoisteala are mainly Roman Catholics and
those of Sir Richard Waldron mainly Anglicans, although after so many gener-
ations there are bound to be exceptions.


3 Modern Waldron Families

Not many living bearers of the Waldron name or descendants of Waldrons are
lucky enough to be able to trace their Irish ancestry all the way back to Baildrin
MacCoisteala or Sir Richard Waldron. One exception in recent times was the
Rev. Oswald Bruce Waldron-McCarthy (c.1915-1978) whose mother was the
great-granddaughter of the afore-mentioned Charles Waldron of Cartron who
went to Australia. He bequeathed his extensive records to the Society of Aus-
tralian Genealogists, of which he was once (1967) President. The Society has
files titled Waldron of Cartron and Illawarra, Waldron of Charley Hall, Waldron

8 Molloy, Bekan.
9 Bekan.
10 Waldron-McCarthy.