My wife's ancestors - Fitzwilliam - Contents

The Earls Fitzwilliam of England

This family had many contacts with the family of the Viscounts Fitzwilliam of Ireland through the centuries. They often referred to each other as kinsmen, and they used similar arms. But there is no real evidence they are related.

Sprotbrough, Yorkshire.
"Ch." in the centre is St Mary's Church.
From old map. Revised: 1901. Published: 1904.

Sir John Fitzwilliam,
of Sprotbrough, near Doncaster, Yorkshire (see map).
He mar Elizabeth Clinton.
He founded in 1372 the chantry of St.Edward in St Mary's Church, Sprotbrough (see map and street view and Geograph).
Sir John and Elizabeth had issue:

Sir William Fitzwilliam.
He mar Maud Cromwell [descendant of King John].
They had issue:

Sir John Fitzwilliam.
He mar Eleanor Greene.
He might be Sir John Fitzwilliam who erected a cross (now gone) next to St Mary's Church, Sprotbrough, during the reign of Henry V (1413 to 1422).
He died 1417.
Sir John and Eleanor had issue:

1. John Fitzwilliam.
   He mar Margaret Clarell and had issue:
   1. William Fitzwilliam, of Sprotbrough.
      He died 1474.
      Brass in St Mary's Church, Sprotbrough.

   
   

2. John Fitzwilliam,
   of Greens Norton, Northamptonshire.
   Apparently there really were two sons called John.
   He mar Helen Villiers.
   They had issue:
   1. Sir William Fitzwilliam, Knt..
      Ancestor of the Earls Fitzwilliam.

Sprotbrough on p.514 of vol.6 of Magna Britannia Antiqua & Nova, Thomas Cox, 1738.
Says the Fitzwilliam cross in Sprotbrough was "pulled down in 1520".
Claims the Viscounts Fitzwilliam of Ireland are related to this family.

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Fitzwilliam of Aldwark, Yorkshire

From another son of Sir John Fitzwilliam and Elizabeth Clinton descends Fitzwilliam of Aldwark, Yorkshire.

Claim of relationship to Irish family: Draft claim to the Earldom of Warrington by the Irish 7th Viscount Fitzwilliam, claims that William Fitzwilliam, 1st Earl of Southampton, of this branch, is a relation of his family. But gives no evidence. See 2057/L/14.

• Richard Fitzwilliam,
  of Aldwark, Yorkshire.
  He mar Elizabeth Clarell.
  He died 1479.
  They had issue:
  1. Sir Thomas Fitzwilliam,
     of Aldwark, Yorkshire.
     He died 1495.

  
  

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References

• FITZWILLIAM in [Burkes Peerage]

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Sources yet to be consulted

• FITZWILLIAM in [Complete Peerage]

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• The Earls Fitzwilliam

• The Fitzwilliam Missal:
  • The Irish 7th Viscount Fitzwilliam (died 1816) collected a 15th century missal that belonged to Richard Fitzwilliam of Aldwark (died 1479).
  • He later gave this along with his collection to Cambridge to found the Fitzwilliam Museum.
  • See pp.146-149 of The illuminated manuscripts in the library of the Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge, William George Searle, 1876.
  • See Searle's Fitzwilliam tree showing who is listed in the missal (Fitzwilliam of Aldwark family).
  • See p.87 and p.88 and p.429 of A descriptive catalogue of the manuscripts in the Fitzwilliam Museum, Montague Rhodes James, 1895.
  • James says the 7th Viscount inherited the missal through his family, but this seems unlikely.