The Origin mid History of Lynch Law.
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inally come from the city of Lintz, the capi were Lynches. (See Hardiman's " History tal of Upper Austria, from which the name of Galway," p. 18.) Shield, in his " Sketches is derived. They claim descent from Char of the Irish Bar," makes honorable mention lemagne, the youngest son of the emperor of one of the Lynches, who was a member of that name. Sir Hugo de Lynch, a gen of that bar. Of this ancient stock was the eral under William the Conqueror, came to Count Lynch, mayor of Bordeaux, who so England with that monarch, in whose esti "eminently distinguished himself in the mation he stood very high, and from whom cause of the royal family of France against he received considerable favors. The first Bonaparte," and also Charles Lynch, the of the name who came to Ireland was An! progenitor of the Virginia Lynches. drew de Lynch, to whom Henry II gave The latter left his home in the north of large possessions in the vicinity of Castle- Ireland while still a boy, and came to the knock, near Dublin. His youngest son, colony of Virginia in the early part of the John Lynch, who was married to the daugh last century. He is said to have left Ireland ter of William de Mareschall, migrated west in consequence of a punishment (presum ward to Gal way about the year 1 261, "where ably a flogging) received at school. The his line acquired much property, and, until high spirit of the youth appears to have re the middle of the seventeenth century, was volted at this indignity offered him by the one of the most influential families." schoolmaster, and, shortly afterward, meet The manner in which the family received ing with the captain of a vessel which was its armorial bearings is quite interesting. just starting on a transatlantic trip, he em One of the Lynches, long before the inva barked, doubtless thinking of how he would sion of England by the Conqueror, was thus punish his family for letting his school governor of Lintz, and defended the city grievances go unheeded and unredressed. with unexampled ardor and fortitude against It was the old story, however. As he a very powerful enemy. From the uncom thought of the consternation his absence mon length of the siege, his provisions be would create, and of the scenes of sorrow came exhausted, and the garrison was re to be enacted around the old home fireside, duced to the miserable necessity " of sub his heart warmed to the scenes and friends sisting on the common herbage of the of his early childhood he was leaving, per fields." Notwithstanding this extremity, haps never to see again, and he was con he was finally victorious, and his prince, sumed with regret. So great was his desire amongst other recognitions of his valor, to return, that, while the ship was yet not a presented him with a trefoil on a field of great way from shore, he actually sprang azure for his arms, and a lynx, the sharpest into the sea and endeavored to swim back. sighted of all animals, for his crest, — the He was picked up, however, and, as if by former in allusion to the extremity to which fate, borne on to " the land of the setting he had been reduced for subsistence during sun." ("Sketches and Recollections of the siege, and the latter to his foresight and Lynchburg," p. lo.) vigilance. As a further testimony of his Upon the arrival of the vessel in the col fidelity, he also received the motto, "Semper ony of Virginia, the captain, in accordance fidelis," which arms, crest, and motto are with the custom of the day regarding indi borne by the family in both Virginia and gent persons, put up young Lynch, to sell at the "Old Country" to this day. auction to the highest bidder his services wayPierce in 1484, Lynch andwas during the first the next mayortwo of hun Gal- for a sufficient time to raise the amount of his passage money. Christopher Clark, a dred years no less than eighty-four mayors wealthy and influential planter, attracted
