After defeat at Kinsale in 1602 the native Irish lost much of their patrimony. In County Down the Mc Cartans and the Clanneboy O'Neills were initially compelled to hand over one third of their lands to the Crown. This led to much discord between the natives and colonisers. Marriages between the opposing sides were often good insurance against prolonged disputes and animosities. Two such marriages were between the McCartan and Forde families.

For supporting Hugh O'Neill, Earl of Tyrone, much of McCartan's lands in Dufferin and Kinelarty were confiscated. On 12th of September 1605, by Government dictate, the McCartans were compelled to grant one third of Kinelarty to Edward Lord Cromwell, Governor of Lecale. In total, 26 townlands became forfeit. This area was bounded in the north by Magheratimpany, in the south by Seaforde, in the east by Kilmore and in the west by Slieve Croob. The McCartans still held their castle and some land around Loughinisland.

 In 1636 the Cromwell family sold their acquisition for £8,000 to Matthew Forde of Dublin and Coolgreaney, County Wexford. He was Member of Parliament for Wexford, clerk of Crown Peace and Assize, and clerk of Nisi Prius before Comms. His titles to both Seaforde and Coolgreaney were confirmed by patent on 26th July 1637. Matthew also had a residence in Fishamble Street, Dublin and sat in Irish House of Commons. He married Eleanor McCartan of Kinelarty and by her had four children:

Nicholas, who lived in Killyleagh and was admitted Barrister of Law, Lincolns Inn in 1634. He was a captain in Lord Kildare's regiment. He married Elizabeth Loftus, third daughter of Sir Adam Loftus of Rathfarnham Knight.  Sir Adam was a grandson of Adam Loftus, Archbishop of Dublin and Lord Chancellor of Ireland.  Nicholas and Elizabeth had three children Matthew, Andrew and Margaret. Nicholas died and was interred in Saint John's Dublin 27^th July 1650. His widow married Edward Muschamp of Drumnakelly, County Down in Saint John's, Dublin, 9^th October 1651.

March 1652 and was interred in Saint John's, Dublin.

Matthew (1) was succeeded in his estates by his grand-nephew also called Matthew (II).  A son of Luke Forde of Coolgreaney, County Wexford, he became a captain in Colonel Richard Hamilton's regiment of Dragoons in 1686. On 23rd July 1673 he became a Justice of the Peace for County Down and Member of Parliament and High Sheriff for County Wexford around the same time. Doctor Patrick Delaney once, when speaking of the friends of the renowned Dean of St. Patrick's, said:

Matthew (II) had a sister called Bridget. Bridget became the second Forde to marry a McCartan, namely John of Ballydromerode (Drumaroad). This same John and his son Anthony fled to France with James II after the Treaty of Limerick. Charles De Gaulle was direct descendant.

It is interesting to note that Adam Loftus, whose third daughter married Nicholas, son of Matthew Forde and Eleanor McCartan, signed a warrant in 1642 for the arrest, dead or alive, of Patrick McCartan, with a reward of £300.

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