William Annyas
Encyclopedia
In 1555 William Annyas became the Mayor of Youghal
in County Cork
, he was the first person of the Jewish religion to hold such an elected position in Ireland or Britain.
William Annyas was the grandson of Gil Anes of Belmonte
, Portugal
. Many of the first Jewish people to come to Ireland were Marrano
merchants from the Iberian peninsula.
His daughter married Yacov Kassin (Shamus Ciosain) son of Yehuda Kassin (Juan Cassin) a Marrano
merchant who had moved to Galway in Ireland.
His surname Annyas is sometimes written as Ãnes and anglicised to Ames, in some case the family may have used the surname Ennis.
There was a three-time Mayor of Youghal in 1569 and 1576 and 1581 called Francis Annyas, although the exact relation to William is unclear. He commanded the English garrison in Youghal during the Desmond Rebellions
and had a colourful life working as a spy for Sir Francis Drake
in the Azores
.
Youghal
Youghal is a town in County Cork, Ireland. Sitting on the estuary of the River Blackwater, in the past it was militarily and economically important. Being built on the edge of a steep riverbank, the town has a distinctive long and narrow layout...
in County Cork
County Cork
County Cork is a county in Ireland. It is located in the South-West Region and is also part of the province of Munster. It is named after the city of Cork . Cork County Council is the local authority for the county...
, he was the first person of the Jewish religion to hold such an elected position in Ireland or Britain.
William Annyas was the grandson of Gil Anes of Belmonte
Belmonte Jews
The history of the Jews in Belmonte, Portugal, reaches back over six hundred years.-Belmonte marranos:The marranos that have been living in Belmonte are sometimes referred to as the "Belmonte Jews." They are a community that has survived in secrecy for hundreds of years by maintaining a tradition...
, Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
. Many of the first Jewish people to come to Ireland were Marrano
Marrano
Marranos were Jews living in the Iberian peninsula who converted to Christianity rather than be expelled but continued to observe rabbinic Judaism in secret...
merchants from the Iberian peninsula.
His daughter married Yacov Kassin (Shamus Ciosain) son of Yehuda Kassin (Juan Cassin) a Marrano
Marrano
Marranos were Jews living in the Iberian peninsula who converted to Christianity rather than be expelled but continued to observe rabbinic Judaism in secret...
merchant who had moved to Galway in Ireland.
His surname Annyas is sometimes written as Ãnes and anglicised to Ames, in some case the family may have used the surname Ennis.
There was a three-time Mayor of Youghal in 1569 and 1576 and 1581 called Francis Annyas, although the exact relation to William is unclear. He commanded the English garrison in Youghal during the Desmond Rebellions
Desmond Rebellions
The Desmond Rebellions occurred in 1569-1573 and 1579-1583 in the Irish province of Munster.They were rebellions by the Earl of Desmond – head of the FitzGerald dynasty in Munster – and his followers, the Geraldines and their allies against the threat of the extension of Elizabethan English...
and had a colourful life working as a spy for Sir Francis Drake
Francis Drake
Sir Francis Drake, Vice Admiral was an English sea captain, privateer, navigator, slaver, and politician of the Elizabethan era. Elizabeth I of England awarded Drake a knighthood in 1581. He was second-in-command of the English fleet against the Spanish Armada in 1588. He also carried out the...
in the Azores
Azores
The Archipelago of the Azores is composed of nine volcanic islands situated in the middle of the North Atlantic Ocean, and is located about west from Lisbon and about east from the east coast of North America. The islands, and their economic exclusion zone, form the Autonomous Region of the...
.