My wife's ancestors - Fitzwilliam - Contents

Sir Thomas Fitzwilliam, Kt

Sir Thomas Fitzwilliam, Kt,
of Merrion, Baggotrath, Booterstown and Simmonscourt,
born c.1519 (succeeded to father's estate aged c.9 yrs).
His father died 1528, and he succeeded to the family estate.

He mar Genet Finglas.
He lived initially at Baggotrath, but later moved the seat of the family to Merrion Castle.
He seems to have left Baggotrath and rented it out by 1547.
MP for Co.Dublin 1559.
Vice-Treasurer of Ireland 1559.
Fought in the campaign against Shane O'Neill 1560.
Sheriff for Co.Dublin as at 1564.
The Lord Deputy Sir Henry Sidney visited him at Merrion in 1565 after arriving in Ireland and before entering Dublin.
He fought in a further campaign against Shane O'Neill 1566.
After this, Sir Henry Sidney knighted him, at Drogheda, autumn 1566.
The family conformed to Protestantism at the Reformation. But their conversion was only nominal and by 1600 they were Catholic again (although they were always loyal to the crown in Ireland).
Constable of Wicklow Castle. This was a frontier castle at the edge of the Pale, facing hostile Irish tribes (whose traditional leaders were the O'Byrnes).
He fixed the boundaries of Wicklow county (as Sir Henry Sidney did with Clare county in 1565).

Death, 1592:
His will dated 1591 (copy of will burnt in 1922).
He died 9 Nov 1592, age c.73 yrs.
Inquisition notes say he died 9 Nov 1591, but surely this is an error. Why would inquisition be held a year later on 30 Nov 1592?
Inquisition 30 Nov 1592.
Sir Thomas and Genet had issue:

1. Sir Richard Fitzwilliam, Kt.
   of Merrion, Co.Dublin.

   
   

2. Catherine Fitzwilliam.
   She mar 2ndly, pre-1584, to Christopher Preston, 4th Viscount Gormanston [born 1537] and had issue.

   
   

3. Nicholas Fitzwilliam.
   He lived at Baldungan, Co.Dublin.

Fitzwilliam wills listed in [Vicars' index of wills 1536-1810].
Includes the will of Sir Thomas Fitzwilliam, dated 1591.
All these wills were burnt in 1922.

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The Battle of Glenmalure, 1580

• References:
  • The Battle of Glenmalure, 25 August 1580: Cause and Course (or here), Emmett O'Byrne, Journal of the Rathdrum Historical Society, Vol.1, 1998.

The Battle of Glenmalure, Co.Wicklow, in 1580 was a major victory for the native Irish against The Pale.
The forces of the Crown under Arthur Grey, 14th Baron Grey of Wilton were defeated by a coalition of native Irish and Pale rebels under Fiach McHugh O'Byrne and James Eustace, 3rd Viscount Baltinglass.

• The song:
  • The battle spawned a 19th century song "Follow me up to Carlow" celebrating the Irish rebel victory.
  • The tune is traditional, but the lyrics are by Patrick Joseph McCall in the 19th century.
  • The lyrics refer to "black Fitzwilliam" who "stormed your place and drove you to the fern", but who is now getting his comeuppance: "Now, Fitzwilliam, have a care: fallen is your star, low! ... White is sick and Lane is fled, now for black Fitzwilliam's head".
  • It was suggested that "black Fitzwilliam" refers to Sir Thomas Fitzwilliam, which was plausible since he was Constable of Wicklow Castle ("The Black Castle") and long-time enemy of the O'Byrnes.

• The song does not refer to Sir Thomas Fitzwilliam:
  • However [O'Byrne, 1998] shows that "black Fitzwilliam" is Captain Bernard Fitzwilliam, an officer leading the English army into Glenmalure, who was killed by the rebels.
  • Another theory was that "Fitz William" is Arthur Grey, 14th Baron Grey, since he is son of William Grey, 13th Baron Grey. But this is not true.

The death of Captain Bernard Fitzwilliam ("Bernard fitz Williams capitanei") at Glenmalure.
From the Annals of Ireland, by Thady Dowling (died 1628).
From p.43 of 1849 edn of Dowling's Annals of Ireland.

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References

• Inquisition into death of Sir Thomas Fitzwilliam of Merrion, Dublin Castle, 30 Nov 1592. Notes in 2057/L/14.
  • See notes.

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Sources yet to be consulted

• Fitzwilliam in Calendar of State Papers, Ireland for 1571-1575.