David Roche, 7th Viscount Fermoy

David Roche, 7th Viscount Fermoy (1573–1635) was an Irish magnate, soldier, and politician.

David Roche
Viscount Fermoy
Tenure1600–1635
PredecessorMaurice, 6th Viscount Fermoy
SuccessorMaurice, 8th Viscount Fermoy
Bornc. 1573
Died22 March 1635
Castletownroche
BuriedBridgetown Abbey
Spouse(s)Joan Barry
Issue
Detail
Maurice & others
FatherMaurice, 6th Viscount Fermoy
MotherEleanor FitzGerald

Birth and origins edit

David was born about 1573,[1][2][3] probably in Castletownroche, County Cork, Ireland. He was the only surviving son of Maurice Roche and his first wife, Eleanor FitzGerald.[4] His father was the 6th Viscount Fermoy (also counted as the 1st). His father's family, the Roches were Old English and descended from Adam de Rupe who had come to Ireland from Wales with Robert FitzStephen.[5]

His mother was a daughter of Sir Maurice fitz John FitzGerald of Totane, younger brother of James FitzJohn FitzGerald, 13th Earl of Desmond[6] and third son of the de facto 12th Earl of Desmond.[7] She also was a sister of James FitzMaurice FitzGerald, the "archtraitor", who led the first Desmond Rebellion. Her family were the FitzGeralds of Desmond, a cadet branch of the Old English Geraldines, whose senior branch were the FitzGeralds of Kildare.

Family tree
David Roche with wife, parents, and other selected relatives.[a]
John
de facto
12th Earl

d. 1536
James
13th Earl

d. 1558
Maurice
FitzJohn

of Totane
Gerald
14th Earl

c. 1533 – 1583
Rebel Earl
David
5th Viscount
Fermoy

d. 1582
Ellen
Butler
James
FitzMaurice

d. 1579
Archtraitor
Eleanor
FitzGerald
Maurice
6th Viscount
Fermoy

d. 1600
Catherine
FitzGerald
David
7th Viscount
Fermoy

1573–1635
Joan
Barry
Maurice
8th Viscount
Fermoy

1597–1670
Ellen
Power
Donal
MacCarty
Reagh

d. 1636
Ellen
Roche
Charles
1st Viscount
Muskerry

1564–1641
David
9th Viscount
Fermoy

d. 1703
Naval officer
Charles
Kilbrittain
Eleanor
MacCarthy
Legend
XXXSubject of
the article
XXXViscounts
Fermoy
XXXViscounts Muskerry
& Earls of Clancarty
XXXEarls of
Desmond
David listed among his brothers
He was the eldest of three brothers:
  1. David (1573–1635)
  2. Theobald, married Grany daughter of Sir Owen MacCarthy[13]
  3. John, of whom only the name is known[14]
David's sisters
  1. Ellen, also called Joan, married Donogh O'Brien, 4th Earl of Thomond.[15][16]
  2. Amy, married Dermot MacCarthy of Duhallow [17]

Early life and Desmond Rebellions edit

Despite these family relations, his father and grandfather fought against the insurgents in the Desmond Rebellions during which two of his paternal uncles were killed.[18][19] His father succeeded his grandfather as the 6th Viscount Fermoy in 1581 or 1582. David was about ten in 1583 when the Desmond Rebellions ended with the killing of Gerald FitzGerald, the rebel earl.[20]

His mother was still alive in 1590, but she predeceased his father, who remarried to Catherine FitzGerald, third daughter of the rebel earl by his second wife, Eleanor Butler.[21]

Marriage and children edit

Before 1593 Roche married Joan, daughter of James de Barry, 4th Viscount Buttevant, by his wife Ellen MacCarthy Reagh.[22] His wife's family, the de Barrys, were Old English like his own and descended from Philip de Barry, who had come to Ireland from Wales in 1183.[23]

David and Joan had five sons:

  1. Maurice (1593–1670), who succeeded as the 8th Viscount Fermoy[24]
  2. John, deaf and dumb, died unmarried[25]
  3. Theobald, married Julia, daughter of Dominick Sarsfield, 1st Viscount Sarsfield, but had no issue[26]
  4. Ulick, married Gyles (Cecilia) daughter of John O'Conor Kerry, of Carrigfoyll, County Kerry[27]
  5. Redmond, accompanied St. Leger to Waterford in 1641 to submit the insurgents.[28]

—and four daughters:

  1. Ellen, who married first Donal MacCarthy Reagh of Kilbrittain, secondly Charles MacCarthy, 1st Viscount Muskerry, and thirdly Thomas Fitzmaurice, 4th son of Thomas Fitzmaurice, 18th Baron Kerry.[29]
  2. Elinor
  3. Joan
  4. Amy, married John Everard of Fethard, County Tipperary, as his second wife.[b]

7th Viscount edit

Roche succeeded his father as the 7th Viscount Fermoy on 24 October 1600.[33] He is also counted as 2nd Viscount.[3]

Proclamation of James I edit

Queen Elizabeth I died on 24 March 1603. Charles Blount, 8th Baron Mountjoy, her Lord Deputy of Ireland, proclaimed James VI and I as King. Several Irish towns, dominated by Old English families delayed the proclamation still hoping for a Catholic succession. This was the case of Cork.[34] On 11 April Mountjoy sent Captain Morgan to Cork to proclaim James.[35] Thornton and Fermoy, as he now was, proclaimed James I as King on 13 April 1603, outside the walls in the northern suburbs[36] when the mayor, Thomas Sarsfield, hesitated to do so.[37][38]

House of Lords edit

Fermoy sat in the House of Lords of the Irish Parliament 1613–1615,[39] the only Irish Parliament of James I. He coordinated the opposition to the electoral abuses of James I, together with Jenico Preston, 5th Viscount Gormanston[40]

The Irish Parliament of 1634–1635 was opened on 14 July 1634[41][42] by the new Lord Deputy of Ireland, Thomas Wentworth[43] (later to become Lord Strafford), who had taken up office in July 1633.[44] Lord Fermoy, an old man, sat by proxy in the House of Lords of the Parliament 1634–1635.[45]

Death and timeline edit

Fermoy died on 22 March 1635 at Castlerochetown and was buried at Bridgetown Abbey.[46] He was succeeded by his son Maurice as the 8th Viscount (also counted as the 3rd).

Timeline
As his birth date is uncertain, so are all his ages.
Age Date Event
0 1573, about Born[2]
7–8 1581 or 1582 His father succeeded his grandfather as the 6th Viscount Fermoy.[47]
9–10 1583, 11 Nov His stepmother's father, the 14th Earl of Desmond killed at the end of the 2nd Desmond Rebellion.[20]
16–17 1590, 27 May His mother was still alive but predeceased his father.[48]
19–20 1593 Eldest son, Maurice, born[24]
26–27 1600, 24 Oct Succeeded as 7th Viscount Fermoy[33]
27–28 1601, 22 Sep The Spanish landed at Kinsale[49]
29–30 1603, 24 Mar Accession of King James I, succeeding Queen Elizabeth I[50]
39–40 1613, Mar Took his seat in the Parliament of Ireland
51–52 1625, 27 Mar Accession of King Charles I, succeeding King James I[51]
60–61 1634, 26 July Took his seat by proxy in the Parliament of Ireland 1634–1635[45]
61–62 1635, 22 Mar Died at Castletownroche[46]

Notes, citations, and sources edit

Notes edit

  1. ^ This family tree is based on genealogies of the viscounts of Fermoy,[8] the earls of Clancarty,[9][10] the MacCarthy of Muskerry family,[11] and the earls of Desmond.[12] Also see the lists of siblings and children in the text.
  2. ^ John Everard of Fethard married Catherine Comerford, who predeceased him.[30] Amy seems to have been his second wife.[31][32]

Citations edit

  1. ^ Cokayne 1926, p. 299, line 16. "... b. before, probably long before, 1588."
  2. ^ a b Dunlop & Cunningham 2004, p. 460, left column, line 33. "Roche, David, seventh Viscount Roche of Fermoy (1573?–1635) ..."
  3. ^ a b Ó Siochrú 2009, Beginning. "Roche, David (c.1573–1635), 2nd Viscount Fermoy, politician, was the eldest surviving son ..."
  4. ^ Cokayne 1926, p. 299, line 15. "VII. 1600. 7. David (Roche), Viscount Roche of Fermoy [I.], only surv. s. and h. by his 1st wife."
  5. ^ Burke 1866, p. 454. "The family of Roche was established in Ireland by Adam de Rupe of Roch Castle, co. Pembrokeshire, who accompanied Robert FitzStephen to that country in 1196."
  6. ^ Dunlop & Cunningham 2004, p. 460, left column, line 40. "His mother was Eleanor, daughter of Maurice FitzJohn FitzGerald (brother of James FitzJohn FitzGerald, fourteenth earl of Desmond), and sister of James FitzMaurice FitzGerald, the 'archtraitor'."
  7. ^ Burke 1866, p. 455, left column, line 56. "He [Maurice Roche] m. 1st Ellener, dau. of Sir Maurice FitzJohn, 3rd son of John, 14th Earl of Desmond ..."
  8. ^ Burke 1866, pp. 454–456.
  9. ^ Burke 1866, p. 344Genealogy of the earls of Clancarty
  10. ^ Cokayne 1913, pp. 214–217Genealogy of the earls of Clancarty
  11. ^ Lainé 1836, pp. 74–78Genealogy of the MacCarthy of Muskerry family
  12. ^ Burke 1866, p. 204–206.
  13. ^ Burke 1866, p. 455, left column, line 63. "II. Theobald, who m. Grany, dau. of Sir Owen MacCarthy ..."
  14. ^ Burke 1866, p. 455, left column, line 72. "III. John."
  15. ^ Burke 1866, p. 455, left column, line 73. "I. Ellen, or rather Joan, m. to Donogh, 3rd Earl of Thomond."
  16. ^ Cokayne 1896, p. 392, line 5. "He [Donogh] m. [married] firstly Helen or Any, da. [daughter] of Maurice (Roche) Viscount Roche of Fermoy [I. [Ireland]] (who d. 1600) but by which of his two wives is uncertain. She d. [died] s.p.m. [without male issue]."
  17. ^ Burke 1866, p. 455, left column, line 74. "II. Amy m. [married] to Dermot MacCarthy of Duhallow, alias MacDonogh."
  18. ^ Burke 1866, p. 455, line 24. "IV Theobald, who m. Grany, dau. of Murrough O'Brien Ara, and was killed by the Seneschal of Imokilly, in the Queen's wars."
  19. ^ Burke 1866, p. 455, line 28. "VII A son, killed by the rebels in the Queen's wars."
  20. ^ a b Cokayne 1916, p. 253, line 15. "Finally he was slain while under attainder, 11 Nov. 1583, at Glenagintigha, near Tralee, co. Kerry, by one Daniel Kelly."
  21. ^ Burke 1866, p. 455, left column, line 57. "... and 2ndly Catherine, 3rd dau. [daughter] of Gerald, 16th Earl of Desmond; by the latter who survived him he had no issue, yet by another inquisition he is said to have had his children by her;"
  22. ^ Dunlop & Cunningham 2004, p. 460, left column. "Roche married, before 1593, Joan daughter of James FitzRichard Barry, Viscount Buttevant, and his wife, Ellen MacCarthy Reagh."
  23. ^ Furnivall 1896, p. 126. "Nat longe ther aftyr, come into Irland Richard de Cogan, Miles brother, wyth fair meygne from the kynge I-sent; & ther-aftyr yn the begynnyge of Marce come Phylype de barry, a man ..."
  24. ^ a b Dunlop & Cunningham 2004, p. 460, right column, line 20. "He was succeeded by his son Maurice Roche, eighth Viscount Roche of Fermoy (1592/3–1670) ..."
  25. ^ Burke 1866, p. 455, right column, line 25. "II. John, deaf and dumb, who d. unm. [died unmarried] after 1642."
  26. ^ Burke 1866, p. 455, right column, line 26. "III. Theobald (Sir), who m. [married] Julia, dau. [daughter] of Dominick, 1st Viscount Kilmallock and left no issue by the said wife ..."
  27. ^ Burke 1866, p. 455, right column, line 30. "IV. Ulick, who m. [married] Gyles (Cecilia) dau. [daughter] of John O'Çonor Kerry, of Carrigfoyll, co. Kerry ..."
  28. ^ Burke 1866, p. 455, right column, line 36. "V. Redmond, who 4 December, 1641, accompanied Sir William St. Leger, President of Munster, to quell the rebellion in co. Waterford. He m. [married] 1st Joan, dau. [daughter] and co-heir to Sir John Dowdall of Kilfinny, Knt.; and 2ndly Alice ..."
  29. ^ Burke 1866, p. 455, right column, line 42. "I. Ellen m. [married] 1st to Donnel McCarthy Reagh, of Killbritain, co. Cork, Esq.; 2ndly to Charles Viscount Muskerry, and 3rdly to Thomas Fitzmaurice, 4th son of Thomas 18th Lord Kerry."
  30. ^ O'Hart 1892, p. 187, left column, line 11. "Married to Catherine Comerford."
  31. ^ Burke 1866, p. 455, right column, line 47. "IV. Amy or Catherine who m. John Everard, of Fethard, co. Tipperary, Esq."
  32. ^ O'Hart 1892, p. 187, Note. "D. Amia alias Roche, relicta Johannis ..."
  33. ^ a b Burke 1866, p. 455, left column, line 54. "... 24 October 1600, he [Maurice, the 6th Viscount] d. [died] at his seat at Glanogher ..."
  34. ^ Gibson 1861, p. 13. "The religious element in this rebellion was paramount. Though a large portion of the inhabitants of Cork were of Danish, Norman, and Saxon descent, they were sincere Catholics&mnsp..."
  35. ^ Smith 1893, p. 52. "The Lord Deputy Mountjoy, on the 11th of April (A.D. 1603) sent Captain Morgan to Cork to proclaim King James I. On which occasion Sir George Thorton, one of the comissioners of Munster, applied to Tholas Sarsfield, then mayor, who answered that by the charter he might take time to consider it."
  36. ^ Cokayne 1890, p. 327. "7. David (Roche) Viscount Roche of Fermoy [I. [Ireland]], s. [son] and h. [heir], probably by his first wife. He proclaimed James I as King, 13 Apr 1603, at Cork, the Mayor refusing to do so."
  37. ^ Fitzpatrick 1989, p. 8. "Within weeks of the conclusion of the Nine Years' War and Tyrone's surrender, the very towns to which the earl had appealed for support and which had remained stubborn in their loyalty to the crown, suddenly revolted in a mass profession of their Catholicism."
  38. ^ Smith 1893, p. 53. "Upon this delay to proclaim King James, Sir George Thornton told him he would proceed to the ceremony without them. Mead, the recorder, answered that he had no authority to do it in their liberty, nor would the citizens suffer it ; however. Sir George, with Lord Roche and about eight hundred soldiers, proclaimed his majesty in the north suburb, near Shandon castle;"
  39. ^ Cokayne 1926, p. 299, line 22. "He sat in the Parl. [I.] 1613 "
  40. ^ Ó Siochrú 2009, 2nd paragraph. "In 1613 he entered parliament (the first held since 1585) and coordinated, along with Jenico Preston (qv), 5th Viscount Gormanston, opposition to the electoral abuses perpetrated by the government."
  41. ^ Gardiner 1899, p. 274, left column. "Parliament met on 14 July 1634."
  42. ^ Kearney 1959, p. 53. "Parliament met on 14 July [1634] and the first session lasted until 2 August."
  43. ^ Wedgwood 1961, p. 150. "Parliament met on July 14th, 1634. Wentworth rode down in state ..."
  44. ^ Yorke 1911, p. 978, para 6. "... In January 1632 he had been named lord-deputy of Ireland, and arrived in Dublin in July 1633."
  45. ^ a b House of Lords 1779, p. 11, left column. "Die sabbati, 26o Julii 1634o ... Memorandum: That the Earl of Westmeath presented the like Proxy from the Lord Viscount of Fermoy, which accordingly was accepted."
  46. ^ a b Dunlop 1897, p. 68, left column, bottom. "He died in the odour of loyalty at Castletown Roche on 22 March, 1635, and was buried on 12 April at the Abbey, Bridgetown."
  47. ^ Cokayne 1926, p. 298. "He d. between Nov.1581 and Nov. 1582."
  48. ^ Cokayne 1926, p. 299. "She [Eleanor] was living on 27 May 1590."
  49. ^ Joyce 1903, p. 172. "On the 23d of September, 1601, a Spanish fleet entered the harbour of Kinsale with 3,400 troops ... "
  50. ^ Fryde et al. 1986, p. 44, line 1. "James I ... acc. 24 Mar. 1603 ..."
  51. ^ Fryde et al. 1986, p. 44, line 16. "Charles I. ... acc. 27 Mar. 1625 ..."

Sources edit

Peerage of Ireland
Preceded by
Maurice Roche
Viscount Fermoy
1600–1635
Succeeded by