Thomas FitzWilliam, 1st Viscount FitzWilliam: Difference between revisions
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*Richard, who predeceased his father |
*Richard, who predeceased his father |
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*[[Oliver FitzWilliam, 1st Earl of Tyrconnell]] |
*[[Oliver FitzWilliam, 1st Earl of Tyrconnell]] |
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*Christopher |
*Christopher, who lived mainly in England |
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*[[William FitzWilliam, 3rd Viscount FitzWilliam]]. |
*[[William FitzWilliam, 3rd Viscount FitzWilliam]]. |
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Revision as of 20:03, 10 February 2015
Thomas FitzWilliam, 1st Viscount Fitzwilliam (1581–1650) was an Irish nobleman of the Stuart age. He was born to wealth and privilege, and acquired a peerage, but due to his loyalty to the English Crown his estates suffered greatly during the English Civil War, and he died poor.
Background
He was born in Dublin, probably at Merrion Castle, eldest of the five sons of Sir Richard FitzWiliam, Constable of Wicklow, and Jane Preston, daughter of Christopher Preston, 4th Viscount Gormanston.[1] The FitzWilliam family are recorded in Dublin from about 1210, and by the time of Thomas' birth were among the wealthiest and most influential families in the Pale.
Early career
Thomas was only fourteen when his father died. He spent some time in London studying law at Gray's Inn, and was knighted in 1605, the year of his marriage.
In 1608 he narrowly avoided entanglement in the rebellion of Sir Cahir O'Doherty, having stood surety for the good behaviour of O'Doherty, who had married his aunt Mary Preston.[2] A messenger arrived at Merrion Castle ordering FitzWilliam to produce the person of O'Doherty; fortunately FitzWilliam was not at home. No doubts seem to have been entertained about his own loyalty to the Crown, then or later, and in 1629 King Charles I created him Viscount FitzWilliam in recognition of his family's long record of service to the Crown.[3] It appears that a good deal was expected in return for the title, and Thomas made substantial gifts to the Crown. This put a particular burden on his estates since he was involved in protracted litigation with his numerous brothers and sisters, due to his father's breaking of an entail on the estates, which benefitted Thomas but not his siblings.
Civil war and last years
When the Irish Rebellion of 1641 broke out, FitzWilliam, unlike many of the nobility of the Pale, remained loyal to the Crown, despite strong pressure from his mother's family, the Prestons of Gormanston, to join the Irish Confederacy.[4] He was one of three nobles to offer their assistance in the Royalist defence of Dublin, and a garrison was placed in Merrion Castle. It was betrayed in June 1642 and thereafter FitzWilliam only lived there for short periods. He went to London to offer his services to the Crown, but was rebuffed, and took no further part in the fighting. In his last years he led an unsettled existence, sometimes at Merrion, sometimes with his eldest son at Howth, and sometimes in Louth. At times he seems to have been almost destitute, and wrote to James Butler, 1st Duke of Ormonde in 1647 asking for repayment of a debt. In 1648 he was promised a pension of £100 a year, but it is unclear if he ever received it.[5]
Due perhaps to the confused conditions of the English Civil War, little seems to be known about the date and place of his death. Even the year has been disputed, but is generally stated to be 1650. He was certainly dead before 1655 when his eldest surviving son Oliver was allowed to inherit a part of the estates, though most of them were not restored until 1663.[6]
Family
In 1605 he married Margaret Plunkett, daughter of Oliver Plunkett, 4th Baron Louth and Frances, sister of Henry Bagenal.[7] They had four sons:
- Richard, who predeceased his father
- Oliver FitzWilliam, 1st Earl of Tyrconnell
- Christopher, who lived mainly in England
- William FitzWilliam, 3rd Viscount FitzWilliam.
Character
His friend James Butler, 1st Duke of Ormonde described him as a man "in every way faithful to his allegiance".[8]