James Dillon, 1st Earl of Roscommon
James Dillon | |
|---|---|
| Earl of Roscommon | |
| Tenure | 1622–1641 |
| Successor | Robert, 2nd Earl of Roscommon |
| Died | March 1641 |
| Spouse(s) | Eleanor Barnewall |
| Issue Detail | Robert & others |
| Father | Lucas Dillon |
| Mother | Jane Bathe |
James Dillon, 1st Earl of Roscommon (died March 1641) fought for the crown in the Nine Years' War. He was ennobled despite being a Catholic after his son Robert turned Protestant.
Birth and origins
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James was born in Ireland, the eldest son of Lucas Dillon (c. 1530 – 1593) and his first wife Jane Bathe.[2] At the time of his birth, his father was a lawyer but would later become a judge and finish his career as Chief Baron of the Irish Exchequer. His father's family was Old English and descended from Sir Henry Dillon who came to Ireland with Prince John in 1185 during the Anglo-Norman invasion of Ireland.[3] His family held substantial lands in Meath, Westmeath, Longford, and Roscommon.
James's mother was a daughter of James Bathe (c. 1500 – 1570), who preceded James's father as chief baron of the Irish Exchequer. She was James's father's first wife. His father's second marriage was childless.[4] James was one of 12 siblings, who are listed in his father's article.
Stepmother
[edit]Dillon's father remarried in 1575 to Marion Barnewall, née Sharl (or Sherle), the widow of Sir Christopher Barnewall (1522–1575) of Turvey House, Dublin.[5][6] Marion, his stepmother, had 15 children from her first marriage, among them Eleanor with whom James fell in love.
Marriage and children
[edit]Dillon married Eleanor Barnewall, also called Helen, his step-sister through his father's second marriage. She was a daughter of Sir Christopher Barnewall of Turvey.[7][8][9]
James and Eleanor had 13 children, seven sons:[10]
- Robert (died 1642) became the 2nd Earl[11]
- Lucas of Twomere, or of Trinity Island, County Cavan, from whom the 9th, 10th and 11th earls descended,[12] married Mary, daughter of Sir John Thorpe[13]
- Thomas, died childless[14]
- Christopher, died childless[15]
- George, died childless[16]
- John, died childless[17]
- Patrick, from whom the 12th and last Earl descended,[18] married Jane Malone, daughter of Edmund Malone[19]
—and six daughters:[20]
- Jane, married in 1604 her distant cousin Sir Christopher Dillon, son of Theobald Dillon, 1st Viscount Dillon[21][22]
- Elizabeth, married Hussey, Baron Galtrim[23]
- Frances, married the playwright and politician Henry Burnell and had many children, including the poet Eleanor Burnell[24]
- Margaret, married a Nugent of Drumcree[25]
- Mary, married sir John Bellew[26]
- Alison, married Roger O'Farrell of Morrin, chief of his name[27]
Later life, death, and timeline
[edit]Dillon's father died in February 1593 in Dublin.[28][29] There must have been some complications with the inheritance as Dillon obtained special livery of his inheritance in 1595 when he was about 30.[30]
In 1599, during the Nine Years' War (1593–1603), Dillon raised a troop of 25 horse loyal to Elizabeth I at his own expense, to help keep order in County Roscommon. Dillon was knighted, probably by the new Lord Deputy Mountjoy in November 1600.[31][32]
His eldest son, Robert, the future 2nd earl, and his grandson James, the future 3rd earl, were both raised as Catholics but conformed to the established religion, while Dillon himself stayed Catholic. Robert converted before 1619.[33] James, born in 1605,[34] was at a young age converted by James Ussher, Archbishop of Armagh.[35]
On 24 January 1620 Dillon was raised to the peerage with the title of Baron Dillon of Kilkenny-West, in the Peerage of Ireland.[36] This elevation was announced in a ceremony performed by the chief governor of Ireland, Lord Deputy Oliver St. John, in the Presence Chamber of Dublin Castle on 25 January.[37]
On 5 August 1622 Lord Kilkenny-West was advanced to the dignity of Earl of Roscommon.[38] His baronial dignity became a subsidiary title, which he gave as a courtesy title to his heir apparent as is the custom. His eldest son Robert, therefore, was styled Lord Kilkenny-West from 1622 on.[39]
Lord Roscommon was a signatory of a response to Charles I from the Lords of the Pale that established a military force to protect The Crown's interests in Ireland.[40] In 1627, he was a Commissioner for raising money for the King's Army in Meath, Westmeath and Longford.
His wife predeceased him on 11 October 1628.[41]
On 14 July 1634, Lord Roscommon took his seat in the Irish House of Lords.[42] This was the first Irish Parliament called by King Charles I.
He died in March 1641[43] and was succeeded in his titles by his eldest son, Robert as the 2nd Earl of Roscommon.[44]
| Timeline | ||
|---|---|---|
| Age | Date | Event |
| 0 | 1565, estimate | Born[b] |
| 4–5 | 1570 | Father appointed Chief Baron of the Irish Exchequer[45] |
| 9–10 | 1575 | Father married 2ndly Marion Barnewall, née Sharl, after James's mother's death[5] |
| 21–22 | 1587, about | Married Eleanor (or Helen), 2nd Daughter of Sir Christopher Barnewall by Marion Sharl, his stepmother[8] |
| 27–28 | 1593, Feb | Father died in Dublin[46][29] |
| 29–30 | 1595, 8 Apr | Had special livery of his inheritance.[30] |
| 33–34 | 1599 | Raised a troop of 25 horse loyal to Elizabeth I at his own expense |
| 34–35 | 1600, 21 Jan | Mountjoy, appointed Lord Deputy of Ireland[47] |
| 37–38 | 1603, 24 Mar | Accession of King James I, succeeding Queen Elizabeth I[48] |
| 37–38 | 1603, 30 Mar | The Treaty of Mellifont ended Tyrone's Rebellion.[49] |
| 38–39 | 1604, Nov | Daughter Jane married Christopher Dillon of Ballylaghan, the heir apparent of Theobald Dillon, 1st Viscount Dillon |
| 39–40 | 1605, about | Birth of grandson James, the future 3rd Earl[34] |
| 49–50 | 1615, 2 Jul | Oliver St John, appointed Lord Deputy of Ireland[50] |
| 54–55 | 1620, 24 Jan | Created Baron Dillon of Kilkenny-West[36] |
| 56–57 | 1622, 5 Aug | Elevated to Earl of Roscommon[38] |
| 59–60 | 1625, 27 Mar | Accession of King Charles I, succeeding King James I[51] |
| 62–63 | 1628, 11 Oct | Wife died[41] |
| 62–63 | 1634, 14 Jul | Took his seat in the Irish House of Lords[42] |
| 75–76 | 1641, Mar | Died[43] |
Notes and references
[edit]Notes
[edit]- ^ This family tree is partly derived from the Roscommon pedigree in Cokayne.[1] Also see the lists of children in the text.
- ^ He must be born before 1575 when his father married his 2nd wife. As he was the eldest of 7 brothers and he had sisters as well, ample time must be given for all these children to be born.
Citations
[edit]- ^ Cokayne 1895, p. 414.
- ^ Cokayne 1895, p. 410, line 15. "1. James Dillon, s. [son] and h. [heir] of Sir Lucas Dillon of Newtown and Moymet co. Meath, Chief Baron of the Exchequer [I.[Ireland] ] and Senechal of the Barony of Kilkenny West, by Jane da. [daughter] of James Bathe, also Chief Baron of the Exchequer [I.] ..."
- ^ Webb 1878, p. 149, line 7. "... [Sir Henry Dillon] came to Ireland in 1185 as secretary to Prince John ..."
- ^ Clavin 2009, last paragraph. "After the death of his first wife he married (1575) Marion Sherle, widow of Sir Christopher Barnewall; they had no children."
- ^ a b Crawford 2004, p. 220, left column, line 12. "After the death of his first wife, Jane, he [Lucas Dillon] married Marion (née Sharl), widow of Sir Christopher Barnewall of Turvey, in 1575 "
- ^ Ball 1926, p. 212, line 9. "Married as his second wife Marion Sharles, widow of Sir Christopher Barnewall of Turvey 1575."
- ^ Burke 1883, p. 172, left column, line 46. "His lordship m. [married] Elinor, dau. [daughter of Sir Christopher Barnewall, Knt. of Turvey .."
- ^ a b Cokayne 1895, p. 411, line 1. "He [James D. 1st Earl] m. Helen, 2d da. of Sir Christopher Barnewall of Turvey, co. Dublin, by Marion da. of Patrick Challis, otherwise Serle, of Shallon, co. Meath."
- ^ Debrett 1828, p. 647. "... he m. [married] Eleanor, da. [daughter] of sir Christopher Barnewall, of Turvey ..."
- ^ Debrett 1828, p. 647, line 23. "... d. 1641, leaving issue 7 sons;"
- ^ Cokayne 1895, p. 411, line 17. "He d. at Oxmantown, 27 Aug. 1642, and was bur. 7 Sep. in St Patricks, Dublin."
- ^ Debrett 1828, p. 647, line 24. "2. Lucas, of Twomere, ancestor of the 9th, 10th, and 11th earls;"
- ^ Burke 1883, p. 172, left column, line 49. "II. Lucas, of Trinity Island, co. Cavan m. [married] Mary, dau. [daughter] of Sir John Thorpe and was s. [succeeded] by his son ..."
- ^ Burke 1883, p. 172, left column, line 64. "III. Thomas d.s.p."
- ^ Burke 1883, p. 172, left column, line 65. "IV. Christopher d.s.p."
- ^ Burke 1883, p. 172, left column, line 66. "V. George d.s.p."
- ^ Burke 1883, p. 172, left column, line 67. "VI. Johne d.s.p."
- ^ Debrett 1828, p. 647, line 27. "7. Patrick, said to be the ancestor of the present claimant, Michael-James-Robert Dillon, esq."
- ^ Burke 1883, p. 172, left column, line 68. "VII. Patrick, of Rath in the King's county m. [married] Jane, dau. [daughter] of Edmund Malone of Ballinahoune and Clanmullen, chief of his name ... "
- ^ Burke 1883, p. 172, left column, line 47. "... and [James D. 1st Earl had, (with 6 daughters) .."
- ^ Lodge 1789, p. 160, line 11. "Jane, married to Sir Christopher Dillon, heir apparent to Theobald, the first Viscount Dillon."
- ^ Burke & Burke 1915, p. 645, right column, line 79. "1. Christopher (Sir), of Bealalahin, Mayo, ...m. [married] Nov. 1604, Lady Jane Dillon, eldest dau. [daughter] of James, 1st Earl of Roscommon, and d.v.p. 28 Feb. 1624, leaving issue ..."
- ^ Lodge 1789, p. 160, line 12. "Elizabeth, to ___ Hussey, Baron of Galtrim;"
- ^ Lodge 1789, p. 160, line 13. "Frances to Henry, son and heir to Christopher Burnell of Castlenock, Esq.;"
- ^ Lodge 1789, p. 160, line 14. "Margaret to ___ Nugent of Drumcree, Esq.;"
- ^ Lodge 1789, p. 160, line 15. "Mary, to Sir John Bellew, of Bali-Robinstown, Knt.;"
- ^ Lodge 1789, p. 160, line 16. "Allison, to Roger O'Farrell, of Morrin, chief of his name."
- ^ Clavin 2009, 13th paragraph. "... his [Luke's] death in February 1593."
- ^ a b Crawford 2004, p. 220, left column, line 5. "... after [Lucas] Dillon's death, which took place in Dublin in 1592 "
- ^ a b Cokayne 1895, p. 410, line 19. "... had special livery of his inheritance, 8 April 1595;"
- ^ Shaw 1906, p. 98. "1600, Nov, 17. James Dillon (idid. by same [at Drogheda by Mountjoy])"
- ^ Cokayne 1895, p. 410, line 20. "... was knighted by James I. ..."
- ^ Clavin 2009, paragraph 1. "By 1619 he had converted to protestantism; his conformity set him apart from most of his relatives, and the motivations behind his conversion are open to interpretation. It was largely because his heir was a protestant that Sir James was created Lord Kilkenny West in 1619 and earl of Roscommon in 1622. "
- ^ a b Cokayne 1895, p. 411, line 19. "[James] s. and h. by his 1st wife, b. about 1605;"
- ^ Burke 1883, p. 172, left column, line 32: "This nobleman says Anthony à Wood, 'was reclaimed, when young, from the superstitions of the Roman church by primate Ussher ..."
- ^ a b Cokayne 1895, p. 410, line 21. "... was cr. 24 Jan. 1619/20 Lord Dillon, Baron of Kilkenny-West [I]."
- ^ Lodge 1789, p. 158, line 5. "... [Robert] s. [son] and h. [heir] styled Lord Kilkenny-West (1622–41)."
- ^ a b Cokayne 1895, p. 410, line 22. "... being subsequently cr. [created] 5 Aug. 1622 Earl of Roscommon [I.]."
- ^ Cokayne 1895, p. 411, line 5. "He m. firstly Margaret, sister of David, 1st Earl of Barrymore [I.], da. of David (Barry) Viscount Buttevant [I] by his 1st wife Ellen, da. of David (Roche) Viscount Fermoy [I.]."
- ^ Clarke 1964, p. 34.
- ^ a b Cokayne 1895, p. 411, line 3a. "She [Eleanor] d. 11 Oct. 1628."
- ^ a b Cokayne 1895, p. 410, line 23. "He took his seat 14 July 1634."
- ^ a b Cokayne 1895, p. 411, line 3b. "He d. March 1641."
- ^ Burke 1883, p. 172, right column, line 20 . "James, first Earl of Roscommon, was s. [succeeded] by his eldest son, Robert, second earl;"
- ^ Smyth 1839, p. 163. "Sir Lucas Dillon ... made Chief Baron, -patent 4 June 1570."
- ^ Clavin 2009, paragraph 13. "... his [Luke's] death in February 1593."
- ^ Fryde et al. 1986, p. 168, line 40. "1600, 21 Jan. / 28 Feb. / Charles Blount, lord Mountjoy, L.D. [Lord Deputy]"
- ^ Fryde et al. 1986, p. 44, line 1. "James I ... acc. 24 Mar. 1603 ..."
- ^ Augusteijn 2004, p. 373. "Mellifont, treaty of (30–1 Mar. 1603), ending the Nine Year's War."
- ^ Fryde et al. 1986, p. 168, line 33. "1615, 2 July / 30 Aug. / Sir Oliver St John, L.D. [Lord Deputy] (aft. Lord Grandison)"
- ^ Fryde et al. 1986, p. 44, line 16. "Charles I. ... acc. 27 Mar. 1625 ..."
Sources
[edit]- Augusteijn, Joost (2004). "Mellifont, treaty of". In Connolly, Sean Joseph (ed.). The Oxford Companion to Irish History (2nd ed.). Oxford: Oxford University Press. pp. 373–374. ISBN 0-19-280501-0.
- Ball, Francis Elrington (1926). The Judges in Ireland 1221–1921. Vol. I (1st ed.). London: John Murray. OCLC 832154869. – 1221 to 1690
- Burke, Bernard (1883). A Genealogical History of the Dormant, Abeyant, Forfeited and Extinct Peerages of the British Empire (New ed.). London: Harrison. OCLC 499232768.
- Burke, Bernard; Burke, Ashworth Peter (1915). A Genealogical and Heraldic History of the Peerage and Baronetage, the Privy Council, Knightage and Companionage (77th ed.). London: Harrison. OCLC 1155471554.
- Clarke, Aidan (1964). "The Army and Politics in Ireland 1625–30". Studia Hibernica (4): 28–53. doi:10.3828/sh.1964.4.2. JSTOR 20495781. S2CID 240837304.
- Clavin, Terry (October 2009). McGuire, James; Quinn, James (eds.). "Dillon, Lucas (Luke)". Dictionary of Irish Biography. Retrieved 5 January 2022.
- Cokayne, George Edward (1895). Complete Peerage of England, Scotland, Ireland, Great Britain and the United Kingdom, Extant, Extinct, or Dormant. Vol. VI (1st ed.). London: George Bell and Sons. OCLC 1180818801. – N to R (for Roscommon)
- Crawford, Jon G. (2004). "Dillon, Sir Lucas (d. 1592)". In Matthew, Colin; Harrison, Brian (eds.). Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. Vol. 16. New York: Oxford University Press. pp. 219–220. ISBN 0-19-861366-0. (for his father)
- Debrett, John (1828). Peerage of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. Vol. II (17th ed.). London: F. C. and J. Rivington. OCLC 54499602. – Scotland and Ireland
- Fryde, Edmund Boleslaw; Greenway, D. E.; Porter, S.; Roy, I., eds. (1986). Handbook of British Chronology. Royal Historical Society Guides and Handbooks, No. 2 (3rd ed.). London: Offices of the Royal Historical Society. ISBN 0-86193-106-8. – (for timeline)
- Lodge, John (1789). Archdall, Mervyn (ed.). The Peerage of Ireland or, A Genealogical History of the Present Nobility of that Kingdom. Vol. IV. Dublin: James Moore. OCLC 264906028. – Viscounts (for Dillon)
- Shaw, William A. (1906). The Knights of England. Vol. II. London: Sherratt & Hughes. – Knights bachelors & Index
- Smyth, Constantine (1839). Chronicle of the Law Officers of Ireland. London: Henry Butterworth. OCLC 1018312937.
- Webb, Alfred (1878). "Dillon, Theobald, Viscount". Compendium of Irish Biography. Dublin: M. H. Gill & Son. p. 149. OCLC 122693688.