FITZGERALD of Desmond

Notes: The Old Countess. See The Complete Peerage vol.IV,p.250,note a for a discussion of her age at death. The 'old' Countess of Desmond, daughter of Sir John Fitzgerald, lord of Decies. Became the second wife of Thomas Fitzgerald, Earl of Desmond, some time after 1505. He died in 1534 at the age of eighty, leaving a daughter by her, so that her marriage is unlikely to have taken place after 1524. Sir Walter Raleigh in his History of the World (1614) stated that the 'old countess' was living in 1589 'and many years since'. That her death occurred in 1604 is stated in a manuscript of Sir George Carew's preserved in Lambeth Library. In his Itinerary (1617) Fynes Morison states that in our time' she had lived to the age of 'about' 140, she was able in her last years to go on foot three or four miles to the market town, and only a few years before her death all her teeth were renewed. Sir John Harrington, speaking in 1605 of the wholesomeness of the country, said that 'where a man hath lived to above 140 years, a woman, and she a countess, above 120, the country is likely to be healthy'. The story of her death being due to a fall from an apple, cherry or walnut tree is almost certainly apocryphal. That she lived to the age of 140 is, of course, highly unlikely, but it may reasonably be concluded that she reached at least 104 and may very well have lived well beyond that age.

Father: John FITZGERALD (B. Decies)

Mother:Ellen FITZGIBBON

Married:Thomas FITZGERALD (11° E. Desmond)

Gerald MacShane FITZGERALD (B. Decies)

Died: 1553

Father: John FITZGERALD (B. Decies)

Mother:¿?

Married: Ellice BUTLER

Children:

1. Maurice FITZGERALD (1°V. Decies)

2. James FITZGERALD (B. Decies)

3. Gerrot FITZGERALD

Maurice FITZGERALD (1° V. Decies)

Acceded: 1569

Died: 1572

Father:Gerald MacShane FITZGERALD (B. Decies)

Mother: Ellice BUTLER

James FITZGERALD (B. Decies)

Died: 1581

Father:Gerald MacShane FITZGERALD (B. Decies)

Mother: Ellice BUTLER

Married:¿?

Children:

1. Gerald FITZGERALD (B. Decies) (d. 1600)

Gerrot FITZGERALD

Died: 1569

Father:Gerald MacShane FITZGERALD (B. Decies)

Mother: Ellice BUTLER

Married:¿?

Children:

1. Gerrot FITZGERALD (B. Decies)(d. 1610)

Thomas FITZGERALD (7° E. Desmond)

Acceded: 1463

Died: 15 Feb 1467/8, Drogheda

Buried: Christ Church, Dublin, Ireland

Notes: the great. The Complete Peerage vol.IV,pp.247-248 corrected by vol.XIV,p.255. Lord Deputy of Ireland for the Duke of Clarence, brother of Edward IV, from 1462 to 1467. His father, James sixth Earl of Desmond was godfather to the Duke of Clarence.

Father:James FITZGERALD (6° E. Desmond)

Mother:Mary BURKE

Married:Ellice BARRY 22 Aug 1455

Children:

1. James FITZGERALD (8° E. Desmond)

2. Maurice Bacach FITZGERALD (9° E. Desmond)

3. Thomas FITZGERALD (11° E. Desmond)

4. John FITZGERALD (13° E. Desmond)

5. Gerrot óg FITZGERALD

6. Ellen FITZGERALD

Gerrot óg FITZGERALD

Died: 1520

Father:Thomas FITZGERALD (7° E. Desmond)

Mother: Ellice BARRY

Married:¿?

Children:

1. James FITGERALD of Macallop (d. 1557)

2. Thomas FITGERALD of Killmacow

3. Maurice FITGERALD of the Sheen

Ellen FITZGERALD

Father: Thomas FITZGERALD (7° E. Desmond)

Mother: Ellice BARRY

Married: Turlogh O'BRIEN (Capt. Thomond)

Children:

1.Margery O'BRIEN

James FITZGERALD (8° E. Desmond)

Born: 1459

Acceded: 1468

Died: 7 Dec 1487, Courtmontresse, Rathkeale, Limerick

Buried: Youghal

Notes: succeeded on his father's execution in 1467. Received immunity for any act which he had committed to avenge his father's death. He was a man of singular prudence and largely to the detriment of the Irish did he increase the territories he had acquired. King Richard III endeavoured to attach him to his interests, and sent him a collar of gold weighing 20 oz., with the device of a white boar, pendant from a circlet of roses and suns, but the Earl augmented his Irish alliances, and retained his Irish habits. He was murdered at Rathkeale, 7 Dec 1487 (aged 28) possibly at the instigation of his brother and successor, John Montagh Fitzgerald of Clenglish.

Father: Thomas FITZGERALD (7° E. Desmond)

Mother: Ellice BARRY

Married: Margaret O´BRIEN (dau. of Thady O'Bryen)

Children:

1. Joan FITZGERALD

Maurice Bacach FITZGERALD (9° E. Desmond)

Acceded: 1487

Died: 1520

Buried: Friars Preachers, Tralee

Notes: Called Bacagh, the lame. The Complete Peerage vol.IV,pp.248-249. Succeeded on the death of his brother in 1487. Being lame, and usually carried in a horse litter, he was styled "Vehiculus", or by some, on account of his bravery "Bellicosus". He sided with the pretender, Perkin Warbeck, in the siege of Waterford and other expeditions. Nevertheless, making humble submission, the King not only forgave, but took him into favor, 26 Aug 1497, and granted him all the "customs, cockets, poundage, and prize-wines of Limerick, Cork, Kingsale, Baltimore, and Youghall, with other privileges and advantages.

Father: Thomas FITZGERALD (7° E. Desmond)

Mother: Ellice BARRY

Married 1: Ellen ROCHE(dau. of Maurice Roche, Lord of Fermoy)

Children:

1. James FITZGERALD (10º E. Desmond)

2. Thomas FITZGERALD

3. Ellen FITZGERALD

4. Joan FITZGERALD

Married 2:Honora FITZGIBBON

Thomas FITZGERALD

Died: BEF 1564

Father:Maurice Bacach FITZGERALD (9° E. Desmond)

Mother:Ellen ROCHE

Married:Margaret BUTLER

Children:

1. Catherine FITZGERLAD

2. Sarah FITZGERALD

James FITZGERALD (10º E. Desmond)

Acceded: 1520

Died: 18 Jun 1529

Buried: Friars Preachers, Tralee, Ireland

Notes: The Complete Peerage vol.IV,p.249. Succeeded on his father's death in 1520. In 1529 he proferred fealty to the Emperor Carlos V, and declared himself willing to enter into a league against England. The Emperor commissioned his chaplain to visit Ireland. The report of his mission to Dingle, of the resources of the country, of the demeanour of the Earl, and his reasons for hostility to England, as given by Mr. Froude in his History of England, are extremely interesting. The chaplain writes: "The Earl himself is from thirty to forty years old, and is rather above the middle height. He keeps better justice throughout his dominions than any other chief in Ireland. Robbers and homicides find no mercy, and are executed out of hand. His people are in high order and discipline. they are armed with short bows and swords. The Earl's guard are in a mail from neck to heel, and carry halberds. He has also a number of horse, some of whom know how to break a lance. They all ride admirably, without saddle or stirrup". A skirmish between him and Ormond was thus reported to Henry VIII by the Lord Lieutenant: "In the sayd conflyct were slayn of the said Earl of Desmonde's party xviii banners of galoglas, bee commonly in every baner lxxx men, and the substance of xxiv baners of horsemen, which be xx under every banr at the leest, and under some xxx, xl, and l; and emonges others was slayne the said Erll is kinnesman, Sir John FitzGerot, and Sir John of Desmond takyn, and his son slayne, and Sir Gerald of Desmond, another of his uncles, sore wounded and takyn; with many others whereof the certainte yet appereth not... His discomfyture and losse may bee right hurtfull; the moost part of theym that overthrew him bee Irishmen; and I feare it shall cause theyme to wex the more prowder, and also cause other Irishmen to take pride therein, setting the less by Englishmen".

Father:Maurice Bacach FITZGERALD (9° E. Desmond)

Mother:Ellen ROCHE

Married: Amy MAC-I-BRIEN-ARA (b. 1497 - d. BEF 1537)

Children:

1. Joan FITZGERALD (C. Ormonde/C. Desmond)

Associated with: ¿?

Children:

2. James FITZGERALD

3. Honora FITZGERALD (d. 1577)

4. James Elagh "MacNamara" FITZGERALD

James Elagh "MacNamara" FITZGERALD

Father: James FITZGERALD (10º E. Desmond)

Mother: ¿?

Married: Dau. FITZGIBBON (dau. of Walter Fitzgibbon)

Children:

1. Dau. FITZGERALD

2. Dau. FITZGERALD

James FITZGERALD

Father: James FITZGERALD (10º E. Desmond)

Mother: ¿?

Married: Dau. WALL of Coolnamuck

Children:

1. Maurice FITZGERALD

2. James FITZGERALD

3. John FITZGERALD

4. Maurice Fitzjohn FITZGERALD

Joan FITZGERALD (C. Ormonde/C. Desmond)

Born: ABT 1509, Desmond, Ireland

Died: 2 Jan 1564/5

Buried: Askeaton, Limerick, Ireland

Notes: Her father was of the family ofGeraldines, one ot the prominent lines of Anglo-Irish lords who settled in Ireland in the time ofHenry II. It is interesting to note that not only did her first husband die unpleasantly. After the death of James Butler, 10th Earl of Ormond, she wished to marry her cousin, Gerald Fitzgerald, heir to the Earl of Desmond, although he was twenty years her junior, but since such a marriage would have united the Irish factions she was induced instead to wed Sir Francis Bryan, an Englishman. Bryan was appointed as Lord Marshall and the couple arrived in Ireland in Nov 1548. When Bryan lay dying at Clonmel, Joan was out hunting with cousin Gerald, who succeeded to the title of Earl of Desmond in 1554. Their subsequent marriage brought a measure of peace to Ireland and Joan even carried on a friendly correspondence with Queen Elizabeth. Eventually, however, annoyed by the dominant role his wife’s appeared to play in their marriage, Desmond broke his truce with her son. Joan spent nearly two weeks riding back and forth between hostile camps before peace was restored. From 1562-1564, Desmond was imprisoned in the Tower of London. Joan set herself the task of persuading Queen Elizabeth to release him, but by the time she was successful, she was on her deathbed. She was buried in the friary at Askeaton. There was no issue of the third marriage. Joan died 2 Jan 1564/5. There was no mystery of FitzGerald's death; he was attainted, chased down and on 11 Nov 1583 slain, and his head sent to Queen Elizabeth.The Countess appears to have been made an allowance by the Government. In Oct 1584, Perrot writes: "The Countess of Desmond lay at Clonmel, where she was allowed a diet of viiis. per diem for herself, her daughter, and weemen". This was afterwards disallowed, and she was permitted to live in Dublin Castle. In Mar 1587 she repaired to Elizabeth, who gave her a pension of £200 to be paid in Ireland, with 100 marks for her two daughters.

Father: James FITZGERALD (10º E. Desmond)

Mother: Amy MAC-I-BRIEN-ARA

Married 1: James BUTLER (9° E. Ormonde)BEF 21 Dec 1532

Children:

1. Thomas Dubh BUTLER (10° E. Ormonde)

2. Edmund BUTLER of Cloghgrenan

3. James BUTLER of Duisk

4. John BUTLER of Kilcash

5. Walter BUTLER of Nodstown

6. Edward BUTLER of Ballinahinch

7. Piers BUTLER of Grantstown

Married 2: Francis BRYAN (Sir Knight Lord Chief Justice of Ireland)BEF 28 Aug 1548, Childington, Buckinghamshire, England

Children:

8. Francis BRYAN (Sir)

9. Elizabeth BRYAN

Married 3: Gerald FITZGERALD (15° E. Desmond) ABT 1551

Children:

10. Margaret FITZGERALD

Thomas FITZGERALD (11° E. Desmond)

Born: 1454

Acceded: 1529

Died: 1534, Rathkeale

Buried: Youghal

Notes: The Complete Peerage vol.IV,pp.249-250. Succeeded on his nephew's death in 1529. He was known as "Sir Thomas the Bald", and "Thomas the Victorious". He win nine battles. Two Lords of Muskerry fell beneath his sword. He took up the intrigues of his predecessor. The King without hesitation established him in the earldom, merely endeavouring with friendly phrases to induce him to send his grandson and heir to his Majesty's court; which with phrases equally amiable, the Earl showed the impossibility of his doing. Eventually embarrassments attendant on the question of the succession obliged him to make every profession of loyalty to the King.

Father:Thomas FITZGERALD (7° E. Desmond)

Mother: Ellice BARRY

Married 1: Shela Mc CARTHY

Children:

1. Maurice FITZGERALD

Married 2:Catherine FITZGERALD (C. Desmond)

Maurice FITZGERALD

Died: 1529, Jerpoint, Kilkenny

Buried: Jerpoint, Kilkenny

Notes: The Complete Peerage vol.IV,pp.250-251.died of the plague.

Father: Thomas FITZGERALD (11° E. Desmond)

Mother: Shela Mc CARTHY

Married:Joan FITZGIBBON

Children:

1. James FITZGERALD (12º E. Desmond)

James FITZGERALD (12º E. Desmond)

Acceded: 1534

Died: 19 Mar 1540, Leacansgail, Kerry

Buried: Youghal

Notes: The Court Page. Assasinated. The Complete Peerage vol.IV,p.251. Called the "Court Page", having been hostage for his grandfather at the court of Windsor. On the earldom becoming vacant in 1534, Henry VIII loaded him with honours, and fitted out ships to accompany him to the Irish shores, and provided him with a number of men who were ready to stand by him against those who were inclined to dispute his title to the patrimonial honours and inheritance. His title to the earldom was disputed by his grand-uncle, Sir John, who being supported by a large faction, was de facto 13th Earl. This Sir John died about Christmas 1536. The "Court Page" did not long enjoy his honours, for he was murdered at Leacan Sgail in Kerry, by his cousin, Maurice an totean, son of his late opponent [Sir John Desmond], 19 Mar 1540. He married Mary MacCarthy, a daughter of his grand-uncle Cormac Oge MacCarthy.

Father:Maurice FITZGERALD

Mother: Joan FITZGIBBON

Married: Mary Mc CARTHY

Children:

1. Judith FITZGERALD

John FITZGERALD (13° E. Desmond)

Acceded: 1534

Died: 1536

Father:Thomas FITZGERALD (7° E. Desmond)

Mother: Ellice BARRY

Married:Maud (Mor) O´BRIEN (dau. of Donogh O'Brien of Carrigogunnell, Lord of Pobble O'Brien)

Children:

1. Thomas FITZGERALD (d. 1520)

2. James FITZGERALD (14º E. Desmond)

3. Maurice an Torteáin FITZGERALD (Sir)

4. John óg FITZGERALD (d. 1580)

Maurice an Torteáin FITZGERALD (Sir)

Died: 1564

Father:John FITZGERALD (13° E. Desmond)

Mother:Maud (Mor) O´BRIEN

Married:Julia O'MULRYAN

Children:

1. Thomas FITZGERALD

2. James FITZGERALD

3. EleanorFITZGERALD

Eleanor FITZGERALD

Acceded: 27 May 1590

Father:Maurice an Torteáin FITZGERALD (Sir)

Mother:Julia O'MULRYAN

Married:Maurice ROCHE (V. Roche of Fermoy)BEF 1566

Children:

1. Helen (Amy) ROCHE

2. Joan ROCHE

Thomas FITZGERALD

Died: 1567

Father: Maurice an Torteáin FITZGERALD (Sir)

Mother: Julia O'MULRYAN

Married: ¿?

Children:

1. Thomas óg FITZGERALD (d. 1581)

James FITZGERALD

Died: 1578

Notes: See his Biography.

Father:Maurice an Torteáin FITZGERALD (Sir)

Mother:Julia O'MULRYAN

Married: Catherine BURKE

Children:

1. Gerald FITZGERALD (d. 1588)

2. Maurice FITZGERALD (d. 1588)

3. Joan FITZGERALD

James FITZGERALD (14º E. Desmond)

Acceded: 1536

Died: 27 Oct 1558, Askeaton, Limerick, Ireland

Buried: 1 Nov 1558, White Friars Abbey, Tralee

Notes: See his Biography.

Father:John FITZGERALD (13° E. Desmond)

Mother:Maud (Mor) O´BRIEN

Married 1:Joan ROCHE(dau. of Maurice Roche, Lord Fermoy)

Children:

1. Thomas Ruadh FITZGERALD of Conna (Sir)

2. Joan FITZGERALD (d. 1596)

3. Eleanor FITZGERALD (d. 1569)

Married 2: Mór O'CAERBHAILL (d. 1548) (dau. of Sir Maolrony McShane O'Carroll, lord of Ely O'Carroll)

Children:

4. Gerald FITZGERALD (15° E. Desmond)

5. John FITZGERALD (Sir)

6. Margaret FITGERALD

7. Joan FITZGERALD

8. Ellice FITZGERALD

9. Honora FITZGERALD

Married 3:Catherine BUTLER (C. Desmond) BEF Feb 1549

Married 4: Evelyn Mór McCARTHY(dau. of Donald MacCarthy Mor)

Children:

10. Eleanor FITZGERALD

11. James FITZGERALD (Sir) (d. 1580)

John FITZGERALD (Sir)

Died: 1582

Father: James FITZGERALD (14º E. Desmond)

Mother: Mór O'CAERBHAILL

Associated with: ¿?

Children:

1. Son FITZGERALD (b. in Spain)

Married: Ellen MacCARTHY

Children:

2. Ellen FITZGERALD

Margaret FITGERALD

Died: 1563

Father: James FITZGERALD (14º E. Desmond)

Mother: Mór O'CAERBHAILL

Associated with: Diarmaid macDubhaltaigh O'CONNOR

Married: Thomas FITZMAURICE (15° B. Kerry) ABT 1550

Children:

1. Patrick FITZMAURICE (16° B. Kerry) (b. ABT 1541)

Eleanor FITZGERALD

Father: James FITZGERALD (14º E. Desmond)

Mother:Catherine BUTLER (C. Desmond)

Associated with:

Married: John POWER (B. Power)

Children:

1. Margaret POWER (m. James Fitzthomas Fitzgerlad, 17° E. Desmond)

Gerald FITZGERALD (15° E. Desmond)

Born: ABT 1533

Acceded: 1558

Died: 11 Nov 1583, Glenagintigha, Tralee, Kerry

Notes: See his Biography.

Father: James FITZGERALD (14º E. Desmond)

Mother: Mór O'CAERBHAILL

Married 1:Joan FITZGERALD (C. Ormonde/C. Desmond)ABT 1551

Children:

1. Margaret FITZGERALD

Married 2: EleanorBUTLER (C. Desmond)

Children:

2. James FITZGERALD (16° E. Desmond)

3. Catherine FITZGERALD

4. Jane FITZGERALD

5. Ellen FITZGERALD

6. Elizabeth FITZGERALD

7. Margaret FITZGERALD

8. Ellice FITZGERALD

Margaret FITGERALD

Father: Gerald FITZGERALD (15° E. Desmond)

Mother: Joan FITZGERALD (C. Ormonde/C. Desmond)

Married: Diarmaid MacDubhaltaigh O'CONNOR

Jane FITZGERALD

Father: Gerald FITZGERALD (15° E. Desmond)

Mother:EleanorBUTLER (C. Desmond)

Married: Dermot O'SULLIVAN BEARE

Ellen FITZGERALD

Father: Gerald FITZGERALD (15° E. Desmond)

Mother:EleanorBUTLER (C. Desmond)

Married1: ¿?

Married2: Robert CRESSEY (Sir)

Married3:Edmund BUTLER (3° B. Dunboyne)

Ellice FITZGERALD

Father: Gerald FITZGERALD (15° E. Desmond)

Mother:EleanorBUTLER (C. Desmond)

Married: Valentine BROWNE (1° Bt. Browne of Molahiffe)

Children:

1. Valentine BROWNE (2° Bt. Browne of Molahiffe)

2. James BROWNE (Capt.)

3. Nicholas BROWNE

4. Dau. BROWNE

5. Dau. BROWNE

Catherine FITZGERALD

Acceded: 1615

Notes: Listed in the History of the O'Briens as the 3rd daughter of Gerald 15th. Earl of Desmond. Parentage confirmed by The Complete Peerage vol.V,p.299.

Father: Gerald FITZGERALD (15° E. Desmond)

Mother:EleanorBUTLER (C. Desmond)

Married1: Maurice ROCHE (1° V. Fermoy)

Married2: Domhnall MacConchobhair O'BRIEN (1° V. Clare)

Children:

1. Donough O'BRIEN (Captain)

2. Connor MacDomhnail O'BRIEN (2° V. Clare)

3. Murrough O'BRIEN

4. Teige O'BRIEN

5. Dau. O'BRIEN

6. Dau. O'BRIEN

7. Dau. O'BRIEN