Edward Fitton (the elder)
Encyclopedia
Sir Edward Fitton known as Edward Fitton the elder, was Lord President of Connaught
and Thomond and the Vice-Treasurer of Ireland. He was the eldest son of Sir Edward Fitton of Gawsworth and Mary Harbottle. Knighted by Sir Henry Sidney
in 1566.
With the establishment of provincial governments in Connaught
and Munster
, he was appointed first Lord President of Connaught and Lord President of Thomond on 1 June 1569 arriving in Ireland in July and set up his seat at Michaelmas. He became besieged in Galway
by the Connor O'Brien
, Earl of Thomond
and the sons of the Richard Burke
, Earl of Clanricarde
. Henry Sidney, Lord Deputy of Ireland
sent a detachment to relieve the siege at Galway. With the siege broken, Edward with the relieving forces assistance, together with the Richard Burke, Earl of Clanricarde captured Shrule Castle
, a place of strategical importance.
Attacked by Mac Uilliam Ochtair, Lord of Thomond, the de Burghs of Mayo and McDonnells of Mayo while camping at Shrule Castle, he was unhorsed and severely wounded in the face. During the next few years he captured many castles in Galway and Mayo. Edward gradually lost ground during 1571–2 with the de Burghs rising up in arms vigorously supported by a large body of Scottish
gallóglaighs. Believing that the Richard Burke, Earl of Clanricarde was secretly instigating his rebellious sons, Richard was arrested and clapped in irons at Dublin Castle
.
A quarrel with Sir William Fitzwilliam
, who had succeeded Sidney as Lord Deputy of Ireland, in relation to Richard Burke, Earl of Clanricarde's imprisonment, occurred. After six months of imprisonment Clanricarde was released, whereupon he showed his loyalty by hanging his own son, his brother's son, his cousin-german's son, one of the captains of his own galloglasses and fifty of his followers that bore armour and weapons. Fitton meanwhile was besieged within Athlone Castle and requested reinforcement or to be relieved of his government. In early 1572, Athlone Castle was burnt to the ground, and Fitton was recalled to Dublin where the office of Lord President of Connaught and Lord President of Thomond were put into abeyance.
Returning to England
in 1572, he returned to the family estates at Gawsworth
, Cheshire
. He was appointed Vice-Treasurer and Treasurer at Wars in December 1572. On 25 March 1573 he returned to Dublin in charge of Gerald FitzGerald
, Earl of Desmond
, and entered upon his duties as treasurer. Shortly afterwards a fresh quarrel broke out between Edward and Fitzwilliam, Lord Deputy of Ireland which was mediated by Queen Elizabeth I. On 18 June he was commissioned, along with Richard Burke, the Earl of Clanricarde, William O'Mullally, the Archbishop of Tuam
, and others, to hold court hearings in Connaught.
Upon his return from Connaught, he accompanied William Fitzwilliam to Kilkenny
, where he was requested to proceed into Munster
and endeavour to prevent the disturbances likely to arise there owing to the escape from Dublin Castle of Gerald FitzGerald, Earl of Desmond, which he refused. In May 1575 he escorted Gerald FitzGerald
, the Earl of Kildare and his two sons suspected of treason to England. Edward returned in September with Sir Henry Sidney, Fitzwilliam's successor as Lord Deputy of Ireland and went on the northern expedition. In April 1578 he created a scene at the Irish Council refusing to agree that there had been an increase in the revenue and was only supported by Sir William Drury
, Lord Justice to the Irish Council.
. He was buried on 21 September in St. Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin beside his wife Anne Warburton. His son and heir was Edward
(1548?–1606).
He married Anne Warburton, the second daughter of Sir Peter Warburton, of Areley in the county of Chester, who was born 1 May 1527 on Sunday 19 January 1539 (aged 12). They lived together for 34 years before she died on 9 January 1573. They had 15 children, 9 sons and 6 daughters. The senior Fitton line died out in 1643, leading to a bitter struggle for possession of Gawsworth between two branches of his descendants, the Gerards and the Fittons of Limerick, which lasted more than forty years
Lord President of Connaught
The Lord President of Connaught was a military leader with wide-ranging powers, reaching into the civil sphere, in the English government of Connaught in Ireland, in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries.*1569-1572 Sir Edward Fitton...
and Thomond and the Vice-Treasurer of Ireland. He was the eldest son of Sir Edward Fitton of Gawsworth and Mary Harbottle. Knighted by Sir Henry Sidney
Henry Sidney
Sir Henry Sidney , Lord Deputy of Ireland was the eldest son of Sir William Sidney of Penshurst, a prominent politician and courtier during the reigns of Henry VIII and Edward VI, from both of whom he received extensive grants of land, including the manor of Penshurst in Kent, which became the...
in 1566.
With the establishment of provincial governments in Connaught
Connacht
Connacht , formerly anglicised as Connaught, is one of the Provinces of Ireland situated in the west of Ireland. In Ancient Ireland, it was one of the fifths ruled by a "king of over-kings" . Following the Norman invasion of Ireland, the ancient kingdoms were shired into a number of counties for...
and Munster
Munster
Munster is one of the Provinces of Ireland situated in the south of Ireland. In Ancient Ireland, it was one of the fifths ruled by a "king of over-kings" . Following the Norman invasion of Ireland, the ancient kingdoms were shired into a number of counties for administrative and judicial purposes...
, he was appointed first Lord President of Connaught and Lord President of Thomond on 1 June 1569 arriving in Ireland in July and set up his seat at Michaelmas. He became besieged in Galway
Galway
Galway or City of Galway is a city in County Galway, Republic of Ireland. It is the sixth largest and the fastest-growing city in Ireland. It is also the third largest city within the Republic and the only city in the Province of Connacht. Located on the west coast of Ireland, it sits on the...
by the Connor O'Brien
Connor O'Brien, 3rd Earl of Thomond
Connor O'Brien, 3rd Earl of Thomond , called Groibleach , grandson of Conor O'Brien ; succeeded to the earldom, 1553; his right to the lordship of Thomond was disputed by his uncle, Donnell; confirmed in his possessions by Thomas Radclyffe, 3rd Earl of Sussex in 1558, who proclaimed his uncles...
, 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 the sons of the Richard Burke
Richard Burke, 2nd Earl of Clanricarde
Richard Sassanach Burke, 2nd Earl of Clanricarde, died 1582.He was the son of Ulick nagCeann Burke, 1st Earl of Clanricarde and Grace O'Carroll...
, Earl of Clanricarde
Earl of Clanricarde
Earl of Clanricarde is a title that has been created twice in the Peerage of Ireland, first in 1543 and again in 1800. The former creation became extinct in 1916 while the 1800 creation is still extant and held by the Marquess of Sligo since 1916....
. Henry Sidney, Lord Deputy of Ireland
Lord Deputy of Ireland
The Lord Deputy was the King's representative and head of the Irish executive under English rule, during the Lordship of Ireland and later the Kingdom of Ireland...
sent a detachment to relieve the siege at Galway. With the siege broken, Edward with the relieving forces assistance, together with the Richard Burke, Earl of Clanricarde captured Shrule Castle
Shrule Castle (County Mayo)
Shrule Castle is a ruined tower castle near Shrule in County Mayo, Ireland. The castle was built in c.1238, near the Black River at the County Mayo and County Galway border by the de Burgh family...
, a place of strategical importance.
Attacked by Mac Uilliam Ochtair, Lord of Thomond, the de Burghs of Mayo and McDonnells of Mayo while camping at Shrule Castle, he was unhorsed and severely wounded in the face. During the next few years he captured many castles in Galway and Mayo. Edward gradually lost ground during 1571–2 with the de Burghs rising up in arms vigorously supported by a large body of Scottish
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
gallóglaighs. Believing that the Richard Burke, Earl of Clanricarde was secretly instigating his rebellious sons, Richard was arrested and clapped in irons at Dublin Castle
Dublin Castle
Dublin Castle off Dame Street, Dublin, Ireland, was until 1922 the fortified seat of British rule in Ireland, and is now a major Irish government complex. Most of it dates from the 18th century, though a castle has stood on the site since the days of King John, the first Lord of Ireland...
.
A quarrel with Sir William Fitzwilliam
William Fitzwilliam
William FitzWilliam may refer to:*William FitzWilliam, 1st Earl of Southampton , English courtier*William FitzWilliam , Lord Deputy of Ireland...
, who had succeeded Sidney as Lord Deputy of Ireland, in relation to Richard Burke, Earl of Clanricarde's imprisonment, occurred. After six months of imprisonment Clanricarde was released, whereupon he showed his loyalty by hanging his own son, his brother's son, his cousin-german's son, one of the captains of his own galloglasses and fifty of his followers that bore armour and weapons. Fitton meanwhile was besieged within Athlone Castle and requested reinforcement or to be relieved of his government. In early 1572, Athlone Castle was burnt to the ground, and Fitton was recalled to Dublin where the office of Lord President of Connaught and Lord President of Thomond were put into abeyance.
Returning to England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
in 1572, he returned to the family estates at Gawsworth
Gawsworth
Gawsworth is a civil parish and village in the unitary authority of Cheshire East and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. It is one of the eight ancient parishes of Macclesfield Hundred. Twenty acres of the civil parish were transferred to Macclesfield civil parish in 1936The country houses...
, Cheshire
Cheshire
Cheshire is a ceremonial county in North West England. Cheshire's county town is the city of Chester, although its largest town is Warrington. Other major towns include Widnes, Congleton, Crewe, Ellesmere Port, Runcorn, Macclesfield, Winsford, Northwich, and Wilmslow...
. He was appointed Vice-Treasurer and Treasurer at Wars in December 1572. On 25 March 1573 he returned to Dublin in charge of Gerald FitzGerald
Gerald FitzGerald, 15th Earl of Desmond
Gerald FitzGerald, 15th Earl of Desmond was an Irish nobleman and leader of the Desmond Rebellions of 1579.-Life:...
, Earl of Desmond
Earl of Desmond
The title of Earl of Desmond has been held historically by lords in Ireland, first as a title outside of the peerage system and later as part of the Peerage of Ireland....
, and entered upon his duties as treasurer. Shortly afterwards a fresh quarrel broke out between Edward and Fitzwilliam, Lord Deputy of Ireland which was mediated by Queen Elizabeth I. On 18 June he was commissioned, along with Richard Burke, the Earl of Clanricarde, William O'Mullally, the Archbishop of Tuam
Archbishop of Tuam
The Archbishop of Tuam is an archiepiscopal title which takes its name after the town of Tuam in County Galway, Ireland. The title was used by the Church of Ireland until 1839, and is still in use by the Roman Catholic Church.-History:...
, and others, to hold court hearings in Connaught.
Upon his return from Connaught, he accompanied William Fitzwilliam to Kilkenny
Kilkenny
Kilkenny is a city and is the county town of the eponymous County Kilkenny in Ireland. It is situated on both banks of the River Nore in the province of Leinster, in the south-east of Ireland...
, where he was requested to proceed into Munster
Munster
Munster is one of the Provinces of Ireland situated in the south of Ireland. In Ancient Ireland, it was one of the fifths ruled by a "king of over-kings" . Following the Norman invasion of Ireland, the ancient kingdoms were shired into a number of counties for administrative and judicial purposes...
and endeavour to prevent the disturbances likely to arise there owing to the escape from Dublin Castle of Gerald FitzGerald, Earl of Desmond, which he refused. In May 1575 he escorted Gerald FitzGerald
Gerald FitzGerald, 11th Earl of Kildare
Gerald FitzGerald, 11th Earl of Kildare , also known as the "Wizard Earl" , was an Irish peer....
, the Earl of Kildare and his two sons suspected of treason to England. Edward returned in September with Sir Henry Sidney, Fitzwilliam's successor as Lord Deputy of Ireland and went on the northern expedition. In April 1578 he created a scene at the Irish Council refusing to agree that there had been an increase in the revenue and was only supported by Sir William Drury
William Drury
Sir William Drury, Knt., was an English statesman and soldier,He was a son of Sir Robert Drury of Hedgerley in Buckinghamshire, and grandson of another Sir Robert Drury , who was speaker of the House of Commons in 1495. He was a brother of Dru Drury.He was born at Hawstead in Suffolk, and was...
, Lord Justice to the Irish Council.
Death and legacy
He died on 3 July 1579 from a disease caught during an expedition into LongfordLongford
Longford is the county town of County Longford in Ireland. It has a population of 7,622 according to the 2006 census. Approximately one third of the county's population resides in the town. Longford town is also the biggest town in the county...
. He was buried on 21 September in St. Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin beside his wife Anne Warburton. His son and heir was Edward
Edward Fitton (the younger)
Sir Edward Fitton the younger , was an Englishman who helped in the Elizabethan plantation of Ireland.-Biography:Fitton was the son and heir of Sir Edward Fitton of Gawsworth, Cheshire...
(1548?–1606).
He married Anne Warburton, the second daughter of Sir Peter Warburton, of Areley in the county of Chester, who was born 1 May 1527 on Sunday 19 January 1539 (aged 12). They lived together for 34 years before she died on 9 January 1573. They had 15 children, 9 sons and 6 daughters. The senior Fitton line died out in 1643, leading to a bitter struggle for possession of Gawsworth between two branches of his descendants, the Gerards and the Fittons of Limerick, which lasted more than forty years