My ggggGrandfather's name was Patrick O'Flyng. We have records of him in America where he served in the Revolutionary War and the War of 1812. In these records, he states that he was born in Ireland in 1750. Family stories passed down indicate that he was born in Cork, and that he was Catholic. This has not been proven however, and in America he was a member of a Protestant Church, so we just don't know for sure. We do not know anything at all about his family, nor whether he emigrated to America alone or with family. We do not know when he emigrated, but the first we see of him in America is in New Hampshire in the early 1770's.
O'Flyng is an unusual surname. We know for certain that this is how he spelled his name in later life, and this is the way his wife and children spelled their name. But, his name appears in various early records as O'Fling, Fling, and Flyng. I have been trying to find people with the surname O'Flyng in Ireland and have not been successful. I have found one probate record for William Flyng 1734 in Cork listed in a transcribed list of wills for Cork and Ross 1548-1800. Otherwise, I have only found similar surnames Fling, Flynn, Flyn, Flinn and Flin. I have no idea if these names are related.
Does anyone know anything that could help me? It would be most appreciated.