It is a poor Irish family that cannot trace its line back to a King or two. An ancient book of Irish genealogy which may be found in the reference room of the Philadelphia Public Library, formerly the Merchantile Library, states that King Milesius rule in Spain about two hundred years before the Christian era.

 

Milesius had a son Hebron who went over and conquered Ireland in 145 B.C. Of the line of Hebron comes the family of the O'Neils famous in Irish son and story. 

 

From the O'Neil King Eugene, or Owen, comes the family of the O'Cahanes, who were princes of Limvardi and Antrim.  Dermot O'Cahane had a son Henry, "a man of great might". The name of Henry is derived from the Irish "AN HIGH" meaning

the King.
 

From Henry, the son of Dermot O'Cahane No. 114 in the O'Cahane or O'Kane pedigree, stems the Clan Henry, O'Henry, McHenry and FitzHenry, all names used to designate the same family, each signifying the name of Henry.

 Hennessy's Ancient Irish Chronicle states, "The FitzHenry's or MacHenry's became the most important family in Antrim and had their seat at Castle Kenbaam on a lime stone rock at the south end of Giant's Causeway"

An article in Vol. 1 of Dublin Penny Magazine of 1832-33 in Philadelphia Public Library says, "Kenbaam Castle situates on a limestone rock projecting into the sea, a picturesque old Castle for many centuries, is now in ruins. It was built by the Clan of the McHenry's and was their stronghold for a long period of Irish History.

Kenbaam is close to Giant's Causeway and three miles from the village of  Ballycastle in the township of Coleraine, County Antrim, Ireland.  Hearth Money Records of 1696 County Antrim contain names of many of the McHenry's including:
    

    Daniel of Kenbaam, Patrick of Barony of Dumluce, Maurice of Giant's Causeway.
    Daniel was born in 1590 at Castle Kenbaam.
    Patrick was born in 1635 at Barony of Dumluce Conty Antrim.
    Maurice was born in 1696 at Giant's Causeway.
    John was born in 1725 at Giant's Causeway.
 

Along about 1719 the Scotch Irish Presbyterians of the Province of Ulster, which includes County Antrim in The North of Ireland, were greatly harassed and distressed by injustices and religious restrictions put upon them by the Church of England. This led to large numbers to seek wider opportunities and religious freedom in the New World.
 

From this time on we find the names of many of the McHenry's who emigrated to America . . .