Flynn Family of Flynns Cove,
Cumberland Co., Tenn.

 


 


MOTTO: "Non sine periculo" (Not without danger) 

     ARMS: Azure, a wolf  passant argent, in chief three bezants.

CREST: A dexter hand erect couped, holding a serpent, head to the sinister, all proper.
 

The legend that "all Irishmen come from kings" certainly applies to the Flynns, for references consulted claim that they are descended from Milesius, ancient King of Spain, through his son, Heremon. However, recorded history does not go back to such ancient times and the legend is unsupported by documentary evidence.

Recorded history states that there were two main branches of this old Irish sept, one settled in the Counties of Antrim and Down, and the other seated in Counties Leitram, Cavan and Roscommon. But, as with all very old families, branches spread over the centuries to all parts of Ireland and many places in the British Empire.

One reference states that the sept settled in Counties Leitrim, Cavan and Roscommon was founded by Rossa Failge, son of Cathire More, King of Ireland about 144 A.D. The other branch holding lands in Antrim and Down are stated to have been part of the Hy Tuirtre tribe, a branch of the Hy Many founded by Fiacha Tort, son of Colia Vais, King of Ireland about 315 A.D. While no attempt is made here to connect the two branches, it does appear that both descended from common ancestry.

When opportunity for fame, fortune and freedom presented itself in the New World, many descendants of this ancient sept came and helped win a new nation from the wilderness. American history justly records their contributions toward the nation's match of progress.

This line of Flynns originated in County Down, Ulster, Northland Ireland. Laughlin Flinn [1679-1731] arrived in 1718 with his wife Margaret, and their three boys.  Laughlin settled in of Lunenburg County, VA. His grandson John [1724-1790] and great-grandson John, Jr. [1760-1832] both fought in the Revolutionary War. John, Jr. received a land grant for his war service and settled in what would become known as Flynn's Cove, located in White County, TN - Later changed to Cumberland Co.
But the most famous of the Flynns was John's grandson, Richard Lafayette Flynn, known as the "Red Fox" for his exploits during the Civil War.


 
 

Other family names include:

Ashworth ,  Brown , Browning ,  Cantrell , Cantril ,  Chitwood ,  Collins , Corn ,  Davidson ,  Duncan , Evans , Fite ,  Flinn , Flynn ,  Hancock ,  Hayes ,  Henson ,  Hill ,  Howard ,  Kelly ,  Key , Lamberson , LaRue , Laughlin ,  Lloyd ,  Maddox ,  May ,  McKissick ,  Meyers ,  Narramore , Neale , Norman ,  Raleigh ,  Selvidge , Sherwood , Sikes , Smallwood ,  Stoker ,  Taylor , Tillotson , Tolson , Torey , Trammel , Trembell ,  Waggoner , Wallace ,  Wood ,  Wyatt