Maurice Fitzgerald, 14th Knight of Kerry
Encyclopedia
Sir Maurice FitzGerald, M.P., D.L., 14th Knight of Kerry
He was the eldest son of Sir John Fitzgerald, 13th Knight of Kerry
and Honora O'Brien, daughter of Connor O'Brien, 2nd Viscount Clare
. He lived at Ballinruddery Castle, County Kerry
and fought on the Catholic
side during the Battle of the Boyne
. In 1703, he became the first in his family line to marry a Protestant. His wife was Elizabeth Crosbie, daughter of David Crosbie (d.1717), of Ardfert Abbey, High Sheriff of Co. Kerry, by his wife jane, daughter of William Hamilton of Liscloony, Co. Offaly. Lady Fitzgerald was the sister of Maurice Crosbie (1689-1762), 1st Lord Brandon
, who was the father of William Crosbie, 1st Earl of Glandore
.
His marriage, and the subsequent marriages of his children further alienated the Knights of Kerry from the local Catholic populace. Maurice became a Member of Parliament
and Deputy Lieutenant
of Kerry
. He died at Ballinruddery Castle, 9 December 1729. He and his wife were the parents of two sons and nine daughters. Their eldest son, John
became the 15th Knight of Kerry
, and their youngest son, Robert
, became the 17th Knight. Their daughters married into the Herberts (twice), Merediths (twice), Sandes', Creaghs, Stacks, Hewsons, Collis', Rices and Days.
Knight of Kerry
Knight of Kerry, also called the Green Knight, is one of three Anglo-Irish hereditary knighthoods, all of which existed in Ireland since feudal times. The others are the White Knight and the Knight of Glin...
He was the eldest son of Sir John Fitzgerald, 13th Knight of Kerry
Knight of Kerry
Knight of Kerry, also called the Green Knight, is one of three Anglo-Irish hereditary knighthoods, all of which existed in Ireland since feudal times. The others are the White Knight and the Knight of Glin...
and Honora O'Brien, daughter of Connor O'Brien, 2nd Viscount Clare
Connor O'Brien, 2nd Viscount Clare
Connor O'Brien, 2nd Viscount Clare was the son of Daniel O'Brien, 1st Viscount Clare and Lady Catherine FitzGerald, a daughter of Gerald, 14th Earl of Desmond....
. He lived at Ballinruddery Castle, County Kerry
County Kerry
Kerry means the "people of Ciar" which was the name of the pre-Gaelic tribe who lived in part of the present county. The legendary founder of the tribe was Ciar, son of Fergus mac Róich. In Old Irish "Ciar" meant black or dark brown, and the word continues in use in modern Irish as an adjective...
and fought on the Catholic
Catholic
The word catholic comes from the Greek phrase , meaning "on the whole," "according to the whole" or "in general", and is a combination of the Greek words meaning "about" and meaning "whole"...
side during the Battle of the Boyne
Battle of the Boyne
The Battle of the Boyne was fought in 1690 between two rival claimants of the English, Scottish and Irish thronesthe Catholic King James and the Protestant King William across the River Boyne near Drogheda on the east coast of Ireland...
. In 1703, he became the first in his family line to marry a Protestant. His wife was Elizabeth Crosbie, daughter of David Crosbie (d.1717), of Ardfert Abbey, High Sheriff of Co. Kerry, by his wife jane, daughter of William Hamilton of Liscloony, Co. Offaly. Lady Fitzgerald was the sister of Maurice Crosbie (1689-1762), 1st Lord Brandon
Maurice Crosbie, 1st Baron Brandon
Sir Maurice Crosbie, was a British Member of Parliament for County Kerry in Ireland. He held the office from 1713 until 1758.He was educated at Trinity College in Dublin. He was knighted in approximately 1711, and was created 1st Baron Brandon in 1758.He died c1762 and is buried in...
, who was the father of William Crosbie, 1st Earl of Glandore
William Crosbie, 1st Earl of Glandore
William Crosbie, 1st Earl of Glandore , known as The Lord Brandon between 1762 and 1771 and as The Viscount Crosbie between 1771 and 1776, was an Irish politician....
.
His marriage, and the subsequent marriages of his children further alienated the Knights of Kerry from the local Catholic populace. Maurice became a Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
and Deputy Lieutenant
Deputy Lieutenant
In the United Kingdom, a Deputy Lieutenant is one of several deputies to the Lord Lieutenant of a lieutenancy area; an English ceremonial county, Welsh preserved county, Scottish lieutenancy area, or Northern Irish county borough or county....
of Kerry
County Kerry
Kerry means the "people of Ciar" which was the name of the pre-Gaelic tribe who lived in part of the present county. The legendary founder of the tribe was Ciar, son of Fergus mac Róich. In Old Irish "Ciar" meant black or dark brown, and the word continues in use in modern Irish as an adjective...
. He died at Ballinruddery Castle, 9 December 1729. He and his wife were the parents of two sons and nine daughters. Their eldest son, John
John FitzGerald, 15th Knight of Kerry
John FitzGerald, 15th Knight of Kerry was an Irish politician and hereditary knight.He was the older son of Maurice FitzGerald, 14th Knight of Kerry and his wife Elizabeth Crosbie, second daughter of David Crosbie. His younger brother was Robert FitzGerald. In 1728, FitzGerald entered the Irish...
became the 15th Knight of Kerry
Knight of Kerry
Knight of Kerry, also called the Green Knight, is one of three Anglo-Irish hereditary knighthoods, all of which existed in Ireland since feudal times. The others are the White Knight and the Knight of Glin...
, and their youngest son, Robert
Robert FitzGerald, 17th Knight of Kerry
Robert FitzGerald, 17th Knight of Kerry was an Irish politician, barrister and hereditary knight.He was the second son of Maurice FitzGerald, 14th Knight of Kerry and his wife Elizabeth Crosbie, second daughter of David Crosbie. He graduated with a Bachelor of Law and served then as Judge of the...
, became the 17th Knight. Their daughters married into the Herberts (twice), Merediths (twice), Sandes', Creaghs, Stacks, Hewsons, Collis', Rices and Days.
Sources
- PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE of NORTHERN IRELAND
- The FitzGerald (Knights of Kerry) Papers (MIC/639 and T/3075)
- Personal Family history. Confirmation would be appreciated.