ELVIS Presley’s Irish roots have been revealed in 18th century court papers.
Dated 1775, the document states that his ancestor’s fled Leinster and headed to the US, according to The Irish Times.
The legal document will be auctioned in a Dublin saleroom on May 14. It concerns court proceedings brought by William Presley, the singer’s great-great-great-great-grandfather.
He was a farmer, originally from Shillelagh, Co. Wicklow, and had claimed in Carlow Court of Assizes on August 25, 1775, that he had been “violently insulted, assaulted, beat and abused” by a group of Wicklow men.
He said he was now in “great dread and fear of his life” as the men had used their “whips and fists, dragged him down by the legs”, and attacked him “without any provocation”.
The magistrate agreed to list the case for a further hearing, although it is not clear what happened thereafter.
Presley emigrated to the US later that year with his son Andrew and the pair first settled in New Orleans.
Auctioneer Ian Whyte said: “Elvis’s great-great-great-great-grandfather left Ireland after being attacked . . . this document proves the link and explains why Elvis was born in America.”
The document is being auctioned by Whyte’s Auctioneers on May 14 and has an estimated value of €500-700.
Elvis was born to Vernon and Gladys Presley in Mississippi on January 8, 1935.
He starred in 33 successful films, gained a reputation for his record-breaking, live concert performances on tour and had sold over one billion records worldwide during his successful career.
Elvis died at his Memphis home, Graceland, on August 16, 1977.
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