Barnabas O'Brien, 6th Earl of Thomond
Encyclopedia
Barnabas O'Brien, 6th Earl of Thomond (died 1657), son of Donogh O'Brien, 4th Earl of Thomond
; succeeded his brother, 1639; lord-lieutenant of Clare, 1640–1: his rents seized, 1644; admitted a parliamentary garrison to Bunratty Castle
and went to England: joined Charles I
; successfully petitioned parliament for £2,000 spent in the parliamentary cause.
, afterwards 1st Viscount Clare
; but, being compelled to go to England for a time, a writ was issued for a fresh election.
In 1639 Barnabas succeeded his brother Henry
as sixth earl of Thomond
, and applied for the governorship of Clare, which Thomas Wentworth, Earl of Strafford refused him on the ground that his conduct differed entirely from that of his brother, and that he deserved nothing. Nevertheless he was lord-lieutenant of Clare in 1640–1. "When the Irish rebellion broke out he attempted to maintain neutrality, in spite of the support given by his kinsmen to the confederation, and did not sign the oath of association in 1641.
Thomond lived quietly on his lands in Clare, and was in frequent communication with James Butler, 1st Duke of Ormonde
. In 1644 the council of the confederation
forbade Thomond's agents to collect his rents, and even formed a scheme for seizing his chief stronghold at Bunratty, which his uncle, Sir Daniel O'Brien, was appointed to carry out. Thereupon Thomond, finding that no troops were forthcoming wherewith to defend Bunratty Castle
, entered into negotiations with the parliamentarians, in spite of the remonstrances of Edward Somerset
, Earl of Glamorgan. At the instigation of his kinsman, Murrough O'Brien, 1st Earl of Inchiquin
, he admitted a parliamentary garrison to the castle, and went to live in England.
Thomond soon joined King Charles I at Oxford, and received, on 3 May 1645, a patent creating him Marquis of Billing in Northamptonshire. But the patent never passed under the great seal.
A few years later Thomond petitioned parliament for the recovery of £2,000 which had been seized in Bunratty, pleading that his real estate was in the hands of the Irish rebels, and that he had spent £16,OOO on the parliamentary cause. His petition was granted, and he apparently gave no cause for suspicion to the Commonwealth or protectorate, for his son Henry's
request, on 15 December 1657, for the governorship of Thomond was favourably received by Henry Cromwell
. Thomond died in November 1657, and his will, dated 1 July 1657, in which he left some bequests to Great Billing, was proved in England on 6 February, and in Ireland on 28 April in the same year.
Pollard mentiones that the authors of Lodge's Peerage (ed Archdall) maintained that Thomond was of strict loyalty, religion, and honour, and that his lands were taken from him during the rebellion through the unnatural conduct of his nearest relations; it was also believed that he gave up Bunratty at Ormonde's instigation.
His elder brother, Henry O'Brien, 5th Earl of Thomond
, who succeeded to the earldom on his father's death in 1624, was a strenuous adherent of the government in Ireland, was warmly commended by Thomas Wentworth, Earl of Strafford for his loyalty, and died without male issue in 1639.
Barnabas married Mary, youngest daughter of Sir George Fermor and widow of James, lord Sanquhar, by whom he had one son, Henry O'Brien, 7th Earl of Thomond
, his successor (1621–1691); and one daughter, Penelope, who married Henry Mordaunt, 2nd Earl of Peterborough
.
Donogh O'Brien, 4th Earl of Thomond
Donogh O'Brien, 4th Earl of Thomond and Baron of Ibrickan was an Irish nobleman and soldier noted for his loyalty to the English Crown...
; succeeded his brother, 1639; lord-lieutenant of Clare, 1640–1: his rents seized, 1644; admitted a parliamentary garrison to Bunratty Castle
Bunratty Castle
Bunratty Castle is a large tower house in County Clare, Ireland. It lies in the centre of Bunratty village , by the N18 road between Limerick and Ennis, near Shannon Town and its airport. The name Bunratty, Bun Raite in Irish, means the 'bottom' or end of the 'Ratty' river. This river, alongside...
and went to England: joined Charles I
Charles I of England
Charles I was King of England, King of Scotland, and King of Ireland from 27 March 1625 until his execution in 1649. Charles engaged in a struggle for power with the Parliament of England, attempting to obtain royal revenue whilst Parliament sought to curb his Royal prerogative which Charles...
; successfully petitioned parliament for £2,000 spent in the parliamentary cause.
Life
Barnabas entered the Irish parliament in 1613 as member for Coleraine. In 1634 he was returned for Clare as colleague of his uncle, Daniel O'BrienDaniel O'Brien, 1st Viscount Clare
Daniel O'Brien, 1st Viscount Clare was the younger son of Connor O'Brien, 3rd Earl of Thomond and Una O'Brien....
, afterwards 1st Viscount Clare
Viscount Clare
-First creation:The titles of Viscount Clare and Baron Moyarta were conferred on Daniel O'Brien, a younger son of Connor O'Brien, 3rd Earl of Thomond, on 11 July 1662. These titles were forfeit by the attainder of the third Viscount in 1691. However, the title continued to be used by his...
; but, being compelled to go to England for a time, a writ was issued for a fresh election.
In 1639 Barnabas succeeded his brother Henry
Henry O'Brien, 5th Earl of Thomond
Henry O'Brien, 5th Earl of Thomond was an Irish peer, styled Lord Ibrickane until 1624.O'Brien was the son of Donogh O'Brien, 4th Earl of Thomond and Elisabeth FitzGerald...
as sixth earl of Thomond
Earl of Thomond
"Earl of Thomond" was a title in the Peerage of Ireland. It was created twice for the family of Ó Briain. The O'Brien dynasty were an ancient Irish sept native to north Munster....
, and applied for the governorship of Clare, which Thomas Wentworth, Earl of Strafford refused him on the ground that his conduct differed entirely from that of his brother, and that he deserved nothing. Nevertheless he was lord-lieutenant of Clare in 1640–1. "When the Irish rebellion broke out he attempted to maintain neutrality, in spite of the support given by his kinsmen to the confederation, and did not sign the oath of association in 1641.
Thomond lived quietly on his lands in Clare, and was in frequent communication with James Butler, 1st Duke of Ormonde
James Butler, 1st Duke of Ormonde
James Butler, 1st Duke of Ormonde PC was an Irish statesman and soldier. He was the second of the Kilcash branch of the family to inherit the earldom. He was the friend of Thomas Wentworth, 1st Earl of Strafford, who appointeed him commander of the Cavalier forces in Ireland. From 1641 to 1647, he...
. In 1644 the council of the confederation
Confederate Ireland
Confederate Ireland refers to the period of Irish self-government between the Rebellion of 1641 and the Cromwellian conquest of Ireland in 1649. During this time, two-thirds of Ireland was governed by the Irish Catholic Confederation, also known as the "Confederation of Kilkenny"...
forbade Thomond's agents to collect his rents, and even formed a scheme for seizing his chief stronghold at Bunratty, which his uncle, Sir Daniel O'Brien, was appointed to carry out. Thereupon Thomond, finding that no troops were forthcoming wherewith to defend Bunratty Castle
Bunratty Castle
Bunratty Castle is a large tower house in County Clare, Ireland. It lies in the centre of Bunratty village , by the N18 road between Limerick and Ennis, near Shannon Town and its airport. The name Bunratty, Bun Raite in Irish, means the 'bottom' or end of the 'Ratty' river. This river, alongside...
, entered into negotiations with the parliamentarians, in spite of the remonstrances of Edward Somerset
Edward Somerset, 2nd Marquess of Worcester
Edward Somerset, 2nd Marquess of Worcester , styled Lord Herbert of Ragland from 1628–1644, was an English nobleman involved in royalist politics and an inventor...
, Earl of Glamorgan. At the instigation of his kinsman, Murrough O'Brien, 1st Earl of Inchiquin
Murrough O'Brien, 1st Earl of Inchiquin
Murrough McDermod O'Brien, 1st Earl of Inchiquin and 6th Baron Inchiquin , was known as Murchadh na dTóiteán ....
, he admitted a parliamentary garrison to the castle, and went to live in England.
Thomond soon joined King Charles I at Oxford, and received, on 3 May 1645, a patent creating him Marquis of Billing in Northamptonshire. But the patent never passed under the great seal.
A few years later Thomond petitioned parliament for the recovery of £2,000 which had been seized in Bunratty, pleading that his real estate was in the hands of the Irish rebels, and that he had spent £16,OOO on the parliamentary cause. His petition was granted, and he apparently gave no cause for suspicion to the Commonwealth or protectorate, for his son Henry's
Henry O'Brien, 7th Earl of Thomond
Henry O'Brien, 7th Earl of Thomond PC was an Irish peer, styled Lord Ibrackan from 1639 to 1657.O'Brien was the son of Barnabas O'Brien, 6th Earl of Thomond and Anne Fermor.In 1641, he married his first cousin Anne O'Brien Henry O'Brien, 7th Earl of Thomond PC (Ire) (c.1620 – 2 May 1691) was an...
request, on 15 December 1657, for the governorship of Thomond was favourably received by Henry Cromwell
Henry Cromwell
Henry Cromwell was the fourth son of Oliver Cromwell and Elizabeth Bourchier, and an important figure in the Parliamentarian regime in Ireland.-Life:...
. Thomond died in November 1657, and his will, dated 1 July 1657, in which he left some bequests to Great Billing, was proved in England on 6 February, and in Ireland on 28 April in the same year.
Pollard mentiones that the authors of Lodge's Peerage (ed Archdall) maintained that Thomond was of strict loyalty, religion, and honour, and that his lands were taken from him during the rebellion through the unnatural conduct of his nearest relations; it was also believed that he gave up Bunratty at Ormonde's instigation.
Family
Barnabas was the second son of Donogh O'Brien, 4th Earl of Thomond, by his second wife, Elizabeth, fourth daughter of Gerald FitzGerald, 11th Earl of KildareGerald FitzGerald, 11th Earl of Kildare
Gerald FitzGerald, 11th Earl of Kildare , also known as the "Wizard Earl" , was an Irish peer....
His elder brother, Henry O'Brien, 5th Earl of Thomond
Henry O'Brien, 5th Earl of Thomond
Henry O'Brien, 5th Earl of Thomond was an Irish peer, styled Lord Ibrickane until 1624.O'Brien was the son of Donogh O'Brien, 4th Earl of Thomond and Elisabeth FitzGerald...
, who succeeded to the earldom on his father's death in 1624, was a strenuous adherent of the government in Ireland, was warmly commended by Thomas Wentworth, Earl of Strafford for his loyalty, and died without male issue in 1639.
Barnabas married Mary, youngest daughter of Sir George Fermor and widow of James, lord Sanquhar, by whom he had one son, Henry O'Brien, 7th Earl of Thomond
Henry O'Brien, 7th Earl of Thomond
Henry O'Brien, 7th Earl of Thomond PC was an Irish peer, styled Lord Ibrackan from 1639 to 1657.O'Brien was the son of Barnabas O'Brien, 6th Earl of Thomond and Anne Fermor.In 1641, he married his first cousin Anne O'Brien Henry O'Brien, 7th Earl of Thomond PC (Ire) (c.1620 – 2 May 1691) was an...
, his successor (1621–1691); and one daughter, Penelope, who married Henry Mordaunt, 2nd Earl of Peterborough
Henry Mordaunt, 2nd Earl of Peterborough
Henry Mordaunt, 2nd Earl of Peterborough, KG, PC, FRS was an English soldier, peer and courtier.-Early life:Styled Lord Mordaunt from 1628, he was the eldest son of John Mordaunt, 1st Earl of Peterborough...
.