1st Earl Fitzwilliam

THE EARLS FITZWILLIAM OWNED 115,743 ACRES OF LAND: 89,891 ACRES IN COUNTY WICKLOW, 22,192 ACRES IN YORKSHIRE, 1,532 ACRES IN COUNTY KILDARE, 881 ACRES IN NORTHAMPTONSHIRE, 522 ACRES IN CAMBRIDGESHIRE, 325 ACRES IN COUNTY WEXFORD, 308 ACRES IN DERBYSHIRE, 75 ACRES IN HUNTINGDONSHIRE, AND 17 ACRES IN LINCOLNSHIRE.

The family of FITZWILLIAM is of an antiquity equalled by few, and surpassed by none in England.

WILLIAM, son of Godric, married Aubreye, daughter of Robert de Lizour (she was born about 1130, and married firstly, Richard FitzEustace, Baron of Halton, County Palatine of Chester, and had issue, John, Constable of Chester).

In 1178, William rendered account of ten Marks for his marriage with the mother of John the Constable.

The lands of Aubreye de Lizour were divided between the issue of her two marriages, the Lacy lands to the heirs of John the Constable, and the lands of Lizour to William her son by her second marriage.

William, son of Godric, sometimes styled William de Clairfait, was a follower of KING STEPHEN, and founded the monastery of Hampole.

His son,

WILLIAM, was possessed of eight knights' fees in Yorkshire, as heir of his mother.

He used a seal on which he is shown on horseback with the Arms of Fitzwilliam on a shield on his arm.

He is said to have been in arms against KING JOHN and to have returned to his allegiance in the fifth year of HENRY III's reign.

His son and heir,

THOMAS FITZWILLIAM, styled grandson of Aubreye de Lizour, had free warren in 1253 in his lands in Yorkshire and Nottinghamshire.

At the battle of Chesterfield in 1266 he was made prisoner by HENRY III.

He wedded Agnes, daughter of Roger Bertram (and received a Manor and a rent with her), and had issue,

WILLIAM FITZ THOMAS, who pleaded before the commissioners of EDWARD I that he claimed in his lands of Sprotbrough, Yorkshire, the rights of assize which his ancestors had there since the Conquest.

His son,

SIR WILLIAM FITZWILLIAM, of Sprotbrough, who in the 29th year of the reign of EDWARD I was in the Scottish wars, but in the next reign joined in the great insurrection of Thomas, Earl of Lancaster and, being made prisoner with that nobleman at the battle of Boroughbridge in 1322, was hanged at York immediately afterwards.

He espoused Agnes, daughter of Richard, Lord Grey of Codnor, and dvp, leaving an only son,

SIR WILLIAM FITZWILLIAM who was summoned as a Baron in the first year of the reign of EDWARD III to the Muster of Arms, but never afterwards as Baron or to Parliament as such.

He wedded Maud, daughter of Edmund, Lord Deincourt, and had several children, of whom,

SIR JOHN FITZWILLIAM, who founded in 1372 St Edward's Chantry in the church of Sprotbrough; and having wedded Elizabeth, daughter of William, Lord Clinton, had three sons, one of whom - Edmond - was ancestor of William FitzWilliam, Earl of Southhampton.

The eldest son,

SIR WILLIAM FITZWILLIAM, married Maud, daughter of Ralph, Lord Cromwell, of Tattershall and co-heir of the Lord Treasurer Cromwell, by whom he had one son and two daughters, and was succeeded by the former,

SIR JOHN FITZWILLIAM, of Sprotbrough, who wedded Eleanor, daughter of Sir Henry Green, of Drayton, and died in 1418, having had six sons and a daughter.

The branch of the family at Sprotbrough became extinct in 1516 but there were several other branches in existence at that time.

In 1565 the family history was written by Hugh FitzWilliam who called himself "of Sprotbrough."

The youngest son of Sir John Fitzwilliam,

JOHN FITZWILLIAM, of Milton, and Greens Norton, Northamptonshire, married Eleanor, daughter of William Villiers, of Brooksby, Leicestershire, by whom he had three sons and two daughters, and was succeeded by his eldest son, 

SIR WILLIAM FITZWILLIAM (c1460-1534), of Milton and Gaynes Park, Essex, and also of the City of London, of which he was Sheriff in 1506, and subsequently Alderman of Bread Street Ward. 

He wedded thrice: firstly, Anne, daughter of Sir John Hawes, Knight, of the City of London; secondly, Mildred, daughter of Richard Sackville; and thirdly, Jane, daughter and co-heiress of John Ormond.

The eldest son,

SIR WILLIAM FITZWILLIAM, Knight, who espoused Anne, daughter of Sir Richard Shapcote, of Elton,  Huntingdonshire, and had three sons and one daughter.

Sir William died in 1576, and was succeeded by his eldest son,

SIR WILLIAM FITZWILLIAM (1526-99), Knight, born at Milton, Lord Deputy and Lord Justice of Ireland, 1560-94.

This eminent person is thus noticed by Fuller, in his Worthies of England:

"Sir William Fitzwilliam was five times Lord Deputy of Ireland, a sufficient evidence of his honesty and ability, ELIZABETH I never trusting twice where she was once deceived in a Minister of State. And she so preserved him in the power of his office, that, when sending over Walter, Earl of Essex, to be Governor of Ulster, the Earl was ordered to take his commission from the Lord Deputy."

Sir William wedded Agnes, daughter of Sir William Sydney, and aunt of the 1st Earl of Leicester, and had issue.

He died in 1599, and was succeeded by his son,

SIR WILLIAM FITZWILLIAM, of Milton and Gaynes Park Hall, who married Winifred, daughter of the Rt Hon Sir Walter Mildmay, Knight, Chancellor of the Exchequer, and Under-Treasurer of England; and died in 1618, being succeeded by his elder son,

WILLIAM FITZWILLIAM (1577-1643), who was elevated to the Peerage of Ireland, by letters patent, dated at Westminster, 1620, in the dignity of Baron Fitzwilliam of Liffer, alias Lifford, County Donegal.

His lordship married Catherine, daughter of William Hyde, of South Denchworth, Berkshire; and died in 1643, being succeeded by his elder son,

WILLIAM, 2nd Baron (c1609-58), who espoused, 1638, Jane, daughter and co-heir of Hugh Perry, otherwise Hunter, Alderman of London, and had, with another son (dsp),

WILLIAM, his successor;

Jane, m Sir Christopher Wren, the celebrated architect.

His lordship was succeeded by his eldest surviving son,

WILLIAM, 3rd Baron (1643-1719); advanced to an Irish viscountcy and earldom, 1716, as Viscount Milton, County Westmeath, and EARL FITZWILLIAM, County Tyrone.

He married, in 1669, daughter and sole heir of Edmund Cremor, of West Winch, Norfolk, by whom he had four sons and six daughters, and was succeeded by his third, but eldest surviving son,

Coat-of-arms of John, 2nd Earl Fitzwilliam (Image: NLI)

JOHN, 2nd Earl (c1685-1728), who wedded, in 1718, Anne, daughter and sole heir of John Stringer, of Sutton cum Lound, Nottinghamshire, by whom he had issue (with three daughters), a son and successor,

WILLIAM, 3rd Earl (1719-56); who was enrolled amongst the Peers of Great Britain by GEORGE II, 1742, in the dignity of Baron Fitzwilliam, of Northamptonshire; and advanced, 1746, to an English viscountcy and earldom, as Viscount Milton and EARL FITZWILLIAM.

He espoused, in 1744, the Lady Anne Watson-Wentworth, eldest daughter of Thomas, 1st Marquess of Rockingham, KB, and sister and co-heir of the 2nd Marquess, by whom he had issue, two sons and six daughters, of whom the elder son,

WILLIAM, 4th Earl (1748-1833), Lord Lieutenant of Ireland for a very short period, in 1795, wedded firstly, 1770, the Lady Charlotte Ponsonby, second daughter of 2nd Earl of Bessborough, by the Lady Caroline Cavendish, his wife, daughter of 3rd Duke of Devonshire, and had an only child,

CHARLES WILLIAM WENTWORTH, his successor as 5th Earl.

He married secondly, in 1823, Louisa, fourth daughter of 3rd Viscount Molesworth, and widow of 1st Baron Ponsonby, by whom he had no further issue.

His lordship was succeeded by his only son,

CHARLES WILLIAM, 5th Earl (1786-1857), KG, who wedded, in 1806, Mary, fourth daughter of 1st Baron Dundas, by whom he had numerous issue, of whom the eldest surviving son,

WILLIAM THOMAS SPENCER, 6th Earl (1815-1902), KG, who espoused, in 1838, the Lady Frances Harriet Douglas, eldest daughter of George, 17th Earl of Morton, by whom he had numerous issue.

His lordship's eldest son and heir, William, styled Viscount Milton, dvp 1877, and the 6th Earl was consequently succeeded by his grandson,

WILLIAM (Billy) CHARLES DE MEURON, as 7th Earl (1872-1943), KCVO, CBE, DSO,  who married, in 1896, the Lady Maud Frederica Elizabeth Dundas, daughter of Lawrence, 1st Marquess of Zetland, and had issue,

WILLIAM HENRY LAWRENCE PETER, his successor;

Maud Lillian Elfreda Mary; Marjorie Joan Mary; Donatia Faith Mary; Helena Albreda Marie Gabriella.

His lordship was succeeded by his son and heir,

WILLIAM HENRY LAWRENCE PETER, 8th Earl (1910-48), DSC, who wedded, in 1933, Olive Dorothea, daughter of the Most Rev and Hon Benjamin John Plunket, Lord Bishop of Meath.

His lordship dying without male issue, the family honours reverted to his second cousin once removed,

ERIC SPENCER, as 9th Earl (1883-1952), who married, in 1912, Jessica Gertrude, daughter of R F Rowlands; the 9th Earl, however, had no male issue, and the honours reverted to his cousin,

WILLIAM THOMAS GEORGE, as 10th Earl (1904-79), who wedded, in 1956, Joyce Elizabeth Mary, daughter of Colonel Joseph Philip Langdale, of Houghton Hall, Yorkshire.

The 10th Earl died without issue, in 1979, and the titles expired.

                                                                                                                                                         

Former seat ~ Wentworth Woodhouse, near Rotherham, Yorkshire.

Former residences ~ Coollattin, Shillelagh, County Wicklow; 4, Grosvenor Square, London; 10, Grosvenor Street, London.                                            

1st Earl of Godolphin

This family derived its surname from Godolphin (originally written Godolghan), in Cornwall, which word in Cornish signifies a white eagle, and that emblem became the device on the shield of the family. Sir Alexander de Godolghan (c1295-1349) was established as the principal landowner of Godolpin during the 14th century.

His lineal descendant,

SIR JOHN GODOLPHIN, of Godolphin, was High Sheriff of Cornwall, 1505, during the reign of HENRY VII, and joint steward, with Robert, Baron Willoughby de Broke, of the mines in Devon and Cornwall.

His elder son and successor,

WILLIAM GODOLPHIN (c1486-c1570), of Godolphin, married Margaret, daughter and co-heir of John Glynn, and was succeeded by his elder son,

SIR WILLIAM GODOLPHIN (1515-70), Knight, MP for Cornwall, 1539-53, an eminent person in the time of HENRY VIII, who received for his services the honour of knighthood.

Sir William was thrice High Sheriff of Cornwall, and he attained a high military reputation, particularly at the siege of Boulogne.

He wedded Blanch, daughter of William Langdon, and had three daughters, Margaret, Grace, and Anne.

Sir William left no male issue, and the representation of the family devolved, upon his decease, upon his nephew,

SIR FRANCIS GODOLPHIN (c1534-1608), Knight, MP for Cornwall, 1589, Lostwithiel, 1593, who espoused Margaret, daughter of Sir John Killigrew, of Arwennack, Cornwall, and was succeeded by his eldest son,

SIR WILLIAM GODOLPHIN (c1568-1613), Knight, MP for Cornwall, 1605, who married Thomasine, daughter and heir of Thomas Sidney, of Wighton, Norfolk, and had issue,

FRANCIS, his heir;
Sidney;
William;
Penelope.

Sir William, who received the honour of knighthood in 1599 at Dublin Castle, was succeeded by his eldest son,

SIR FRANCIS GODOLPHIN KB MP (1605-67), of Godolphin, Breage, Cornwall, who was appointed a Knight of the Bath at the coronation of CHARLES II.

He wedded Dorothy, daughter of Sir Henry Berkeley, of Yarlington, Somerset, and had a numerous family including,

William, his heir;
SIDNEY, of whom we treat;
Henry (Very Rev), Dean of St Paul's;
Elizabeth; Ursula; Jael.

The second son,

THE RT HON SIR SIDNEY GODOLPHIN KG MP (1645-1712), of Whitehall, QUEEN ANNE'S chief minister, was elevated to the peerage, in 1684, in the dignity of Baron Godolphin, of Rialton.

He espoused, in 1675, Margaret, daughter of Thomas Blagge, and had issue, an only child, FRANCIS, his successor.

Photo Credit: National Portrait Gallery, London

His lordship was advanced, in 1706, to the dignities of Viscount Rialton and EARL OF GODOLPHIN.

He was succeeded by his only son,

FRANCIS, 2nd Earl (1678-1766), who married, in 1698, the Lady Henrietta Churchill, daughter of John, 1st Duke of Marlborough, and had issue,

WILLIAM, his successor;
Henry;
Margaret;
Henrietta, m 1st Duke of Newcastle-upon-Tyne;
Mary, m 4th Duke of Leeds.

Without living male heirs, the titles expired.

GODOLPHIN HOUSE, near Helston, in Cornwall, was once the ancestral seat of the Earls of Godolphin.

First published in February, 2019.  Godolphin arms courtesy of European Heraldry.

1st Earl of Stamford

This was one of the most ancient and illustrious families in the peerage. It deduced an uninterrupted line from the Conquest, and allied with the Plantagenets and Tudors.

HENRY DE GREY (1155-1219) obtained from RICHARD I the manor of Thurrock in Essex, and had the same confirmed by KING JOHN, with the privilege of hunting the fox and hare in any lands belonging to the crown except the King's own demesnes.

In the reign of HENRY III, he had a grant of the manor of Grimston, in Nottinghamshire, from Robert Bardolf, whose niece and co-heiress, Isolda, he married and eventually shared in the shared inheritance of the said Robert's lands.

From his second son by this lady, JOHN DE GREY, descended the Lords Grey de Ruthyn, the extinct Earls and Dukes of Kent, the extinct Dukes of Suffolk, the Earls of Wilton, and the house of which we are now treating.

The second son of Reginald, 3rd Baron Grey de Ruthyn,

SIR EDWARD GREY (c1415-57), wedded Elizabeth, 6th Baroness Ferrers of Groby, daughter and heiress of Henry, son and heir-apparent of William, Baron Ferrers of Groby, and in consequence assumed that title.

His lordship was succeeded by his eldest son,

SIR JOHN GREY (c1432-61), of Groby, who espoused Elizabeth, eldest daughter of Richard Woodville, 1st Earl Rivers, by whom he had two sons.

Sir John fell at the second battle of St Albans fighting under the banner of HENRY VI, and his widow became subsequently Queen Consort of EDWARD IV.

Sir John Grey's eldest son and heir,

SIR THOMAS GREY (1455-1501), through the influence of his mother, was created Earl of Huntingdon, and four years later advanced to a marquessate, in 1475, in the dignity of MARQUESS OF DORSET.

After King Edward's death, however, his lordship was attainted of high treason, but restored upon the accession of HENRY VII to the throne.

He was succeeded by his eldest surviving son (by his second wife, Cecily, daughter and heiress of William Bonville, 6th Baron Harington),

THOMAS, 2nd Marquess (1477-1530), KG KB, who carried the Sword of State at the celebrated meeting between HENRY VIII and FRANCIS I, King of France, at Ardres in 1520.

His lordship was succeeded by his eldest son,

HENRY, 3rd Marquess (1517-54), KG KB; who married for his second wife, the Lady Frances Brandon, eldest daughter and co-heiress of Charles, 1st Duke of Suffolk, by Mary, Queen Dowager of France, and sister of HENRY VIII, and was in consequence advanced, in 1551, to a dukedom, as DUKE OF SUFFOLK, and installed a Knight of the Garter.

The Lady Jane Grey

The issue of this marriage were three daughters: the eldest, the amiable and unfortunate LADY JANE GREY (1537-54), having, through the ambition of her father, and father-in-law, for a few days usurped the empty trappings of royalty, was attainted and, subsequently, in consequence of her father's second rebellion, brought with her husband, Lord Guildford Dudley, to the block, 1554.

The Lady Katherine Grey (1540-68), the second daughter, marrying Edward Seymour, 1st Earl of Hertford, without the permission of ELIZABETH I, was committed to the Tower by Her Majesty, where she died, 1568.

The youngest daughter, the Lady Mary Grey (1545-78), espoused Thomas Keyes, of Kent, Sergeant Porter to ELIZABETH I, and died without issue, 1578.

The unhappy father, having rebelled again after receiving the Queen's pardon, suffered soon after his eldest daughter and his brother, Thomas, following.

From that period the honours of the family were eclipsed until revived by JAMES I, who created SIR HENRY GREY, Knight (1547-1614), in 1603, Baron Grey of Groby.

His lordship wedded Anne, daughter of William, 2nd Baron Windsor, of Bradenham, Buckinghamshire; and dying in 1614, was succeeded by his grandson,

HENRY, 2nd Baron (c1599-1673), who was created, in 1628, EARL OF STAMFORD.

His lordship wedded the Lady Anne Cecil, youngest daughter and co-heiress of William, Earl of Exeter, in whose right he became possessed of the Castle, Borough, and Manor of Stamford.

Henry, 1st Earl of Stamford

The 1st Earl was a parliamentary military commander during the civil wars, as was his son, Thomas, Lord Grey, who predeceased him.

His lordship was succeeded by his grandson,

THOMAS, 2nd Earl (c1654-1720), PC; imprisoned for the part he had taken in the Duke of Monmouth's rebellion, but was admitted to bail; and he finally secured his safety under the amnesty granted, 1685-6.

His lordship married twice; but leaving no issue at his decease, the honours reverted to his cousin,

HARRY GREY, as 3rd Earl (1685-1739), grandson of the 1st Earl through his third son, the Hon John Grey, of Enville Hall, Shropshire.

His lordship wedded Dorothy, daughter of Sir Nathan Wright, 2nd Baronet, of Caldecote Hall, Warwickshire, Lord Keeper of the Great Seal in the reigns of WILLIAM III and QUEEN ANNE.

He was succeeded by his eldest son,

HARRY, 4th Earl (1715-68), who married, in 1736, the Lady Mary Booth, only daughter and heiress of George, 2nd and last Earl of Warrington, and had issue,

GEORGE HARRY, his successor;
Booth;
John;
Mary; Anne Grey.

His lordship was succeeded by his eldest son,

GEORGE HARRY, 5th Earl (1737-1819); who was created, in 1796, Baron Delamer and EARL OF WARRINGTON, the honours enjoyed by his maternal grandfather.

His lordship espoused, in 1763, the Lady Henrietta Bentinck, daughter of William, 2nd Duke of Portland, and had issue,

GEORGE HARRY, his successor;
William Booth;
Anchitel;
Henry;
Henrietta; Marie; Maria; Louisa; Sophia; Ameila.

His lordship was succeeded by his eldest son,

GEORGE HARRY, 6th Earl (1765-1845), who wedded, in 1797, Henrietta Charlotte, sister of Francis, 8th Earl of Wemyss, and had issue,

GEORGE HARRY  (1802-35), father of the 7th Earl;
Henrietta Charlotte; Jane.

His lordship was succeeded by his grandson,

GEORGE HARRY, 7th Earl (1827-83), who espoused firstly, in 1848, Elizabeth, daughter of John Billage; and secondly, in 1855, Katherine, second daughter of Henry Cocks, though the marriages were without issue, when the honours reverted to his lordship's kinsman,

HARRY, 8th Earl (1812-90),

Harry Grey, 8th Earl (1812-90);
William Grey, 9th Earl (1850–1910);
Roger Grey, 10th Earl (1896–1976).

Ancestral seats ~ Enville Hall, Staffordshire; Dunham Park, Cheshire.

First published in December, 2018.

1st Earl of Tyrone

The O'Neills of Ulster were for ages the most formidable of the indigenous clans in Ireland.

HENRY MacOWEN O'NEILL, King of Tyrone, chief of his nation in the 15th century, married the daughter of MacMurrough, and by her, who was living in 1452, he had issue,

CON MÓR, of whom presently;

Henry, slain at the house of Art O'Neill, of The Fews, 1498;

Donald, competitor with his brother Henry;

Bryan.

The eldest son,

CONN MÓR O'NEILL, King of Tyrone, who founded the Franciscan monastery of Ballynasaggart, in Tyrone, 1489, wedded the Lady Eleanor FitzGerald, daughter of Thomas, 7th Earl of Kildare, and was murdered by his brother Henry in 1493.

He had issue,

CONN BACACH, of whom presently;

Art Oge;

John, father of Sir Henry O'Neill;

Turlough, Governor of Kinard;

Bryan;

Joanne.

The eldest son,

CONN BACACH O'NEILL (c1480-1559), King of Tyrone, having, according to Fynes Moryson, joined in the Geraldine Rebellion, and fearing the King's vengeance, "sayled into England," and renouncing the title of The O'Neill, surrendered his royalty, had a re-grant of his lands by patent in 1541, and was created, in 1542, EARL OF TYRONE for life, with remainder to his son MATTHEW.

He married the Lady Alice FitzGerald, daughter of Gerald, 8th Earl of Kildare, and had issue,

Shane;

Phelim Caoch;

Turlough;

Mary, m Sorley Boy MacDonnell, father of 1st Earl of Antrim.

Conn Bacach O'Neill, Earl of Tyrone, had also by Alison Kelly, the wife of a blacksmith at Dundalk, an illegitimate son,

MATTHEW O'NEILL (1520-58), called Feardorcha, who was created, in 1542, Baron Dungannon.

This Matthew wedded Siobhan, daughter of Constantine (or Cuconnaught) Maguire, Lord of Fermanagh, and had issue,

Brian, murdered by MacDonnell;

HUGH, of whom hereafter;

Cormac (Sir);

Barnaby;

Art MacBaron.

The second son,

HUGH O'NEILL (c1550-1616), Earl of Tyrone, was chiefly educated at the court of ELIZABETH I, where he learnt, from the English statesmen, Burghley, Leicester, and Hatton, that knowledge of political craft which marked his entire career.

Eventually, throwing off his allegiance to the English sovereign, the "Arch Rebel," as he was styled, disclaimed the title of Earl of Tyrone and proclaimed himself The O'Neill.

He conquered every army sent to him by The Queen; until after the siege of Kinsale in 1603, he found his cause hopeless and surrendered to LORD MOUNTJOY, by whom he was received into protection.

Subsequently, in 1607, he fled to France, and thence proceeded to Louvain, and finally to Rome where he was maintained on a monthly allowance granted by Pope PAUL V and the King of Spain.

He married firstly, in 1574, a daughter of Brian MacPhelim O'Neill, of Clandeboye, County Down, from whom he was legitimately divorced.

Hugh wedded secondly, ca 1574, Joanna (or Siobhán), daughter of SIR HUGH O'DONNELL, and had issue,

HUGH (1585-1609), Baron Dungannon, died at Rome;

Henry, a colonel of an Irish regiment, in the Archduke's service;

Ursula; Sarah (or Sorcha); Margaret.

He espoused thirdly, Mabel, daughter of SIR NICHOLAS BAGENAL, to whom he was married by the Most Rev Thomas Jones, Lord Bishop of Meath, 1591; she dsp.

Hugh wedded fourthly, Catherine, daughter of Sir Hugh Magennis of Iveagh, who accompanied him to Rome where she died. 

By Catherine he had further issue,

John (or Shane), called El Condé de Tyrone, in Spain, where he had attained the rank of Lieutenant-General; killed in Catalonia.

Con Brian, page to the Archduke, murdered at Brussels, 1617.

Hugh O'Neill, Earl of Tyrone, died at Rome, old and blind, on the 20th July, 1616, and was buried with great pomp in the church of San Pietro in Montorio, where the tombs of O'Donnell and O'Neill, Baron Dungannon, are objects of attraction to English and Irish sojourners in the Eternal City.

The tomb of the Earl of Tyrone is no longer in existence, but happily the inscription it bore is still preserved in the Book of Obits, of San Pietro's monastery, and runs thus: 

D.O.M. 

Hic Quiescunt Ossa

Hugonis Principis O'Neill

It would appear that this brief epitaph was suggested by that on the tomb of Tasso in the neighbouring church of Sant'Onofrio.

Hugh, Earl of Tyrone, was attainted in 1612.

Extracts from Burke's Genealogical History of Dormant, Abeyant, Forfeited, and Extinct Peerages (1866).

1st Earl of Tyrconnell

THE LEGENDARY IRISH KINGDOM OF TYRCONNELL IS ASSOCIATED GEOGRAPHICALLY WITH COUNTY DONEGAL

MANUS O'DONNELL, "Rex Tyrconnelliæ," succeeded his father, Sir Hugh Duff O'Donnell, as Chieftain in 1537.

He was married four times, and died in 1564.

Of his sons we shall treat with

SIR HUGH McMANUS O'DONNELL, King of Tyrconnell, who married firstly and had issue,

Duncan;

Donnell;

Rory;

Joan; another daughter.

He married secondly, Iníon Dubh, daughter of the house of the McDonnells of the Isles, and had further issue,

HUGH ROE, his heir;

RORY, succeeded his brother;

Manus;

Cathbarr;

Nuala; Margaret; Mary; Gráinne.

The eldest son of his second marriage,

HUGH ROE O'DONNELL (c1572-1602), Red Hugh, was perhaps the most dangerous antagonist the English government ever had to contend with in Ireland: in early life he not only displayed considerable genius and independence of spirit, but made those qualities prized among his clansmen and countrymen, by the noble generosity of his manners, and the matchless symmetry of his form.

In former times, the O'Donnells of Tyrconnell, and the O'Neills of Tyrone, were often addressed by the English monarch as his equals, and aid against foreign foes was more than once asked of them, as peers in royalty, by English monarchs.

In 1244, HENRY III solicited help by a letter, still on record, addressed, "Donaldo Regi de Tirconnell;" and some of the successors of the puissant HENRY III, and the scarcely less proud king of Tyrconnell, interchanged these royal courtesies as peers in degree.

It was not unnatural that the high-spirited young Hugh should desire to substantiate an independence so often and so distinctly recognized.

Burke's Genealogical History of the Dormant, Abeyant, Forfeited, and Extinct Peerages (1866) apprises us that he made no secret of his intentions, which were soon the theme of conversation throughout Ireland, and which reaching the ears of the Lord Justice, alarmed in no light measure the royal council in Dublin Castle.

Sir John Perrot, Lord Deputy of Ireland, instead of courting the haughty young chieftain with honours and favour, framed a plot to seize him, which, though successful at the time, conduced eventually to render implacable the proud and injured youth.

In 1587 a ship, laden with Spanish wines, was fitted out and dispatched to one of the harbours of Tyrconnell, and the young Hugh O'Donnell, Prince of Tyrconnell, having been lured by false appearances to trust himself on board, he was made prisoner and conveyed to Dublin Castle.

There he was held captive for three full years, but in 1591, he managed to elude his keepers, and found means to pass into Tyrconnell, where, his aged father resigning in his favour, he was proclaimed by the tribes chief of his name, and the white wand, the simple sceptre of his sway, was placed in his hands, with solemn and time-honoured rites by the Coarb of Kilmacrenan.

For the sixteen years following he was the scourge and terror of the government.

He kept his mountain territory of Donegal, in spite of ELIZABETH I's best generals: carried his excursions to the remotest parts of Munster, and made his power dreaded, and his name a word of terror, "even in the rich plains of Meath, and to where the Shannon blends its waters with the Atlantic."

At last, the only military fault he was ever known to commit led to his total rout at Kinsale in the early spring of 1601, by LORD MOUNTJOY, one of the ablest generals, and perhaps the wisest statesman ever sent by England to Ireland.

Hugh Roe, King of Tyrconnell, this bold and ill-fated chieftain, was the first exile of the O'Donnells.

After the defeat of the Irish, and the inefficient force of their Spanish allies at Kinsale, he sailed for Spain to crave further succours of PHILIP III, King of Spain.

In the known religious sympathies of the Spanish king, the exile set his trust; and, as the annalists quaintly tell us, "moreover, on account of that monarch's love for the Gaels, from their having primally come out of Spain to invade Ireland, as is manifest in the Book of Invasions."

On the 6th January, 1602, O'Donnell, with his brave companions, took shipping at Castlehaven, near Bantry; and on the 14th of the same month, he landed at Corunna, where he was nobly received by the Conde de Caraçena, then Governor of Galicia, who invited him to lodge in his house.

The Annals of the Four Masters record faithfully the princely welcome PHILIP III gave him; but O'Donnell's course was well-nigh run.

On his arrival at Simancas, two leagues from the court, which was sojourning at Valladolid, the exiled chieftain took his death sickness, and died on the 10th September, 1602, in the house which the King of Spain had in that town of Simancas.

THIS celebrated Irishman had no child and was consequently succeeded by his brother,

RORY O'DONNELL (1575-1608), last King of Tyrconnell, who submitting to the English government, surrendered his royalty, and obtained a re-grant of his lands from the Crown, to be held in capite; and was created, in 1603, Baron Donegal and EARL OF TYRCONNELL.

He soon, however, with reason or not, suspected the government of plotting his ruin, and fled to the continent for safety, perhaps for succour.

He bore with him his only son, Hugh, aged but eleven months.

With them fled the Earl's brother, Cathbarr, together with his only son, Hugh, and Cathbarr's young wife, the sister of the chivalrous Sir Cahir O'Doherty.

With them too fled their sister, the Lady Nuala, wife of her valiant but turbulent kinsman, Sir Niall Garve O'Donnell, who, after refusing from the government the title of Baron Lifford, died in the Tower of London, having lain there for a quarter of a century, a state prisoner of the government in whose service he had often risked life and honour against the cause of his tribe and his co-religionists.

Rory O'Donnell, 1st Earl, espoused the Lady Bridget FitzGerald, daughter of Henry, 12th Earl of Kildare, and, as we have seen, left an only and infant son, named Hugh, subsequently Hugh Albert.

He lived in Spain and the Low Countries, and styles himself, in existing documents, of almost regal character, Earl of Tyrconnell and Donegal, Baron of Lifford, Lord of Sligo and Lower Connaught, and knight commander of the Order of Alcántara.

He rose to be a general in the French service, married Anna-Margaret, daughter of Maximilien II de Hénin, 5th Count of Bossu, Knight of the Golden Fleece, and a near kinswoman of the last eccentric Duke of Guise.

When the 1st Earl died, this only son was aged about 2½.

For some few years one loses sight of both him and his first cousin, Hugh, son of Cathbarr, but in all probability they were confided to the charge of Cathbarr's youthful widow Rosa, Lady O'Doherty, who wedded secondly, Owen Roe O'Neill, the famous general of the confederate Catholics, in the war against the Parliamentarians.

It may be presumed that she brought back these children from Rome to the archducal court at Brussels.

As both boys were called Hugh, there was added to the name of him who was chief of his house that of the Archduke, his protector, who was in all likelihood his godfather in confirmation; and henceforward this

HUGH ALBERT O'DONNELL (1606-42), 2nd Earl of Tyrconnell.

About this time he was attached as page to the court of the Infanta Isabella, the consort of Albert VII, Archduke of Austria.

That the two young O'Donnells were brought up at the University of Louvain is clear, from the authority of Nicolaus Vernulæus.

The Irish naturally cherished a generous memory of this heir of one of their most famous chieftains.

The court of Spain was fully alive to the political importance of the exile.

Even at the cautious Roman court there appears to have been some that partook in a measure of the illusions of the native Irish, that the exiled O'Donnells might one day be placed by circumstances in a position to renew the stern struggle for their faith and lands, in which fate had declared against their fathers.

In 1641, when the Irish rose in arms to oppose the Parliamentarians, many an anxious eye was turned towards Albert Hugh, the banished heir of Tyrconnell, who was then a Spanish general of reputation.

His military rank and experience, his undoubted claim to the position of chief, though not senior of his clan, the popular belief that he was alluded to in the "old rhyming prophesies," which for ages had such a strong hold upon the Celtic imagination, and even still are not forgotten - all contributed to make some of the ablest of his countrymen look anxiously for his return to his native land.

He seems indeed to have craved permission of the Spanish court to place himself at the service of his country; but owing to the war with France, in which he was employed, this permission was refused; and he was killed in action when his ship engaged a French vessel in 1642 and caught fire, the year following that in which his country had again taken up arms.

Hugh Albert, the 2nd Earl, does not appear to have had any issue.

The titles attainted by JAMES I remained under forfeiture.

First published in November, 2922.  Extracts from Burke's Dormant, Abeyant, Forfeited, and Extinct Peerages (1866)

1st Earl of Carhampton

The Luttrells of Luttrellstown, County Dublin, claimed kinship with the Luttrells of Dunster Castle, Somerset, though the armorial bearings differ. Nevertheless, the land known as Luttrellstown, in Ireland, is said to have been possessed by the Somerset branch from the era of KING JOHN.

SIR GEOFFREY DE LUTEREL (c1158-1218), who had large estates in Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire, and Yorkshire, accompanying KING JOHN to Ireland, and diligent in public affairs, "obtained a grant from the crown of Luttrellstown, on the payment of twenty ounces of gold, to hold by military service, and had livery of these lands" from John Marshal, Lord Marshal of Ireland.

His son,

SIR ANDREW LUTTRELL (c1205-64), claimed certain estates, known as the barony of Irnham, in Lincolnshire, as heir to Maurice de Gaunt; and left a son,

SIR GEOFFREY LUTTRELL, whose son,

SIR ROBERT LUTTRELL, was summoned to Parliament in 1295, and died in 1297, leaving a son and heir,

SIR ANDREW LUTTRELL; whose son,

SIR GEOFFREY LUTTRELL (1276-1345), was one of the principal knights in EDWARD III's army.

ROBERT LUTTRELL (a younger brother of Sir John Luttrell, feudal baron of Dunster, Somerset, and one of the first Knights of the Bath) died in 1436, "seised of the castle and lands of Luttrellstown" (originally granted to Sir Gregory Luttrell by KING JOHN); and his great-grandson,

SIR THOMAS LUTTRELL, was Chief Justice of the Common Pleas and a Privy Counsellor in Ireland during the reign of HENRY VIII.

THOMAS LUTTRELL, MP for County Dublin in the reigns of JAMES I and CHARLES I, died in 1634.

His lineal descendant,

HENRY LUTTRELL (c1655-1717), raised and commanded five squadrons of cavalry for JAMES II.

In 1702, he was appointed a major-general in the Dutch service; but, on the death of WILLIAM III, retired to his principal residence at Luttrellstown, where he was assassinated "in his sedan chair by a band of ruffians" in the city of Dublin.

General Luttrell's two sons were educated in England. Robert, the elder, died in 1717 while travelling; the younger brother,

SIMON LUTTRELL (1713-87), a prominent politician, was elevated to the peerage, in 1768, in the dignity of Baron Irnham, of Luttrellstown, County Dublin.

Simon Luttrell, 1st Earl of Carhampton, in Turkish attire, 

by Jean-Étienne Liotard

The 1st Baron was advanced to a viscountcy, in 1781, as Viscount Carhampton, of Castlehaven, County Cork; and further advanced, in 1785, to the dignity of an earldom, as EARL OF CARHAMPTON.

His lordship married, in 1737, Judith Maria, daughter of Sir Nicholas Lawes, Governor of Jamaica, and had issue,

HENRY LAWES, his successor;
JOHN, 3rd Earl;
Temple Simon;
James;
Thomas;
Anne; Elizabeth; Lucy.

The 1st Earl was succeeded by his eldest son,

HENRY LAWES, 2nd Earl (1743-1821), MP for Old Leighlin, 1783-7, who wedded, in 1776, Jane, daughter of George Boyd, though died without male issue, when the family honours devolved upon his next brother,

JOHN, 3rd Earl (1739-1829), who espoused firstly, in 1766, Elizabeth, daughter of John Omnius, 1st Baron Waltham, and had issue,

John, died 1769;
James, died 1772;
Frances Maria (1768-1848).

He married secondly, in 1798, Maria, daughter of John Morgan, and had issue, a daughter, MARIA ANNE (1799-1857).

The 3rd Earl died at Devonshire Place, London, without surviving male issue, when the titles expired.

The Gentleman's Magazine, Volume 145 (1829) informs us that

"Though some distant branches of the Luttrells remain, the titles, from the failure of male heirs, have become extinct; being the thirty-third peerage of Ireland that has expired since the Union in 1801. The Irish estate at Luttrellstown was sold by the 2nd Earl; that in Jamaica now devolves on Captain Moriarty, nephew of the deceased, pursuant to the 2nd Earl's will."

First published in July, 2020.  Carhampton arms courtesy of European Heraldry.