Richard Butler, 3rd Viscount Mountgarret
Encyclopedia
Richard Butler, 3rd Viscount Mountgarret (1578–1651) was the son of Edmund Butler, 2nd Viscount Mountgarret
and Grany or Grizzel, daughter of Barnaby Fitzpatrick, 1st Baron Upper Ossory
. He is best known for his participation in the Irish Confederate Wars
on behalf of the Irish Confederate Catholics.
, married her second cousin, Walter Butler, 11th Earl of Ormond. Later, he was to clash politically with his grand-nephew James, the 12th Earl.
His first wife was Margaret, eldest daughter of Hugh O'Neill, earl of Tyrone, who was the most powerful Roman Catholic noble in the country at the time. He specially distinguished himself by his defence of the castles of Ballyragget
and Cullihill. His estates were nevertheless confirmed to him on the death of his father in 1605, and he sat in the parliaments of 1613, 1615, and 1634.
The Viscount was again twice married: to Thomasine (afterwards named Elizabeth), daughter of Sir William Andrews of Newport, and to Margaret, daughter of Richard Branthwaite, serjeant-at-law, and widow of Sir Thomas Spencer
of Yarnton
, Oxfordshire, but by neither of these marriages had he any issue.
, he placed himself in opposition to his powerful Anglican cousin - the Earl (later the Duke) of Ormonde. At the commencement of hostilities in the Irish Rebellion of 1641
, he appeared inclined to espouse the Government side, and was appointed joint Governor of Kilkenny with the earl. Fearing, however, that the rights and liberties of his Catholic brethren would be still further interfered with, he wrote an explanatory letter to the Earl and took possession of Kilkenny in the name of the Confederates. He endeavoured to protect the lives and property of the Protestants, without relaxing his efforts for the side he had espoused. He then detached parties to secure other adjacent towns, which was done with such success that in the space of a week all the fortresses in the counties of Kilkenny
, Waterford
, and Tipperary
were in their power.
After this he was chosen general of the Catholic Confederation
which the rebels had formed to coordinate their war effort; but the county of Cork
having insisted on choosing a general of its own. Thus were lost the advantages of undivided and vigorous control of the Confederate armies. The Viscount's forces were thereby considerably weakened, and he was defeated by the Earl of Ormonde at the Battle of Kilrush
, near Athy
, on 10 April 1642. Returning to Kilkenny, he was chosen president of the Supreme Council (the Confederate Government) formed there in the following summer.
In 1643 he was at the Battle of New Ross
, fought by General Preston
against the Marquis of Ormonde
. He was also at the capture, with his son Edmund (Roe), of the Castle of Borris, in Queen's County (Laois
) in 1643. He was with the Lords Netterville, Ikerrin, Upper Ossory, and Castlehaven at the siege of Ballinakill, which surrendered on 5 May.
Mountgarret was outlawed by Cromwell, and excepted from pardon for life or estate. His son-in-law Sir Walter Butler, 1st Baronet
of Polestown, was a supporter of the Government cause and was made Governor of Kilkenny in 1650. The Viscount died in 1651, and was interred in St. Canice's, Kilkenny. Although he was dead before it passed, he was excepted from pardon for life or estate by the crown in the Act of Settlement 1652 passed on 12 Aug. 1652. This was because of his participation in the rebellion of 1641.
Edmund Butler, 2nd Viscount Mountgarret
Edmund Butler, 2nd Viscount Mountgarret , was the son of Richard Butler, 1st Viscount Mountgarret and Eleanor Butler. He married Grany or Grizzel FitzPatrick, daughter of Barnaby Fitzpatrick, 1st Baron Upper Ossory....
and Grany or Grizzel, daughter of Barnaby Fitzpatrick, 1st Baron Upper Ossory
Barnaby Fitzpatrick, 1st Baron Upper Ossory
Barnaby Fitzpatrick was, by patent dated 11 June 1541, created the first Lord Baron Upper Ossory by King Henry VIII of England as part of the King's policy of Surrender and regrant...
. He is best known for his participation in the Irish Confederate Wars
Irish Confederate Wars
This article is concerned with the military history of Ireland from 1641-53. For the political context of this conflict, see Confederate Ireland....
on behalf of the Irish Confederate Catholics.
Family
His sister, Helen ButlerHelen Butler
Helen Butler , also known as the Honorable Helen Butler, was the daughter of Edmund Butler, 2nd Viscount Mountgarret and Grizel FitzPatrick. She married her second cousin Walter Butler, 11th Earl of Ormond...
, married her second cousin, Walter Butler, 11th Earl of Ormond. Later, he was to clash politically with his grand-nephew James, the 12th Earl.
His first wife was Margaret, eldest daughter of Hugh O'Neill, earl of Tyrone, who was the most powerful Roman Catholic noble in the country at the time. He specially distinguished himself by his defence of the castles of Ballyragget
Ballyragget
Ballyragget is a small town in County Kilkenny in Ireland. It is situated along the river Nore in the north of the county. It is located in the province of Leinster in the south-east of the island of Ireland. Ballyragget situated on the N77 north of Kilkenny and has a population of 1,451...
and Cullihill. His estates were nevertheless confirmed to him on the death of his father in 1605, and he sat in the parliaments of 1613, 1615, and 1634.
Descendants
By his first wife, Margaret, eldest daughter of Hugh O'Neill, earl of Tyrone, he had three sons and six daughters, of whom- Edmund became the 4th Viscount MountgarretEdmund Butler, 4th Viscount MountgarretEdmund Butler, 4th Viscount Mountgarret was the son of Richard, third viscount Mountgarret. He acceded to his title on the death of his father in 1651 and retained his lands in the north and east of Kilkenny while many others whose families had been involved in the Catholic Confederacy lost theirs...
- Margaret married another member of the Butler line, Sir Walter Butler, 1st Baronet Polestown.
The Viscount was again twice married: to Thomasine (afterwards named Elizabeth), daughter of Sir William Andrews of Newport, and to Margaret, daughter of Richard Branthwaite, serjeant-at-law, and widow of Sir Thomas Spencer
Thomas Spencer
Thomas Spencer was a founder of Marks & Spencer, a major British retailer. He was born in Skipton, Yorkshire and married Agnes Spencer Whitfield at St Saviour, Cross Green, Leeds in 1892....
of Yarnton
Yarnton
Yarnton is a village and civil parish in Oxfordshire about southwest of Kidlington and northwest of Oxford and southeast of Woodstock.-Archaeology:Early Bronze Age decorated beakers have been found in the parish...
, Oxfordshire, but by neither of these marriages had he any issue.
Rebellion
By joining his father-in-law's rebellionRebellion
Rebellion, uprising or insurrection, is a refusal of obedience or order. It may, therefore, be seen as encompassing a range of behaviors aimed at destroying or replacing an established authority such as a government or a head of state...
, he placed himself in opposition to his powerful Anglican cousin - the Earl (later the Duke) of Ormonde. At the commencement of hostilities in the Irish Rebellion of 1641
Irish Rebellion of 1641
The Irish Rebellion of 1641 began as an attempted coup d'état by Irish Catholic gentry, who tried to seize control of the English administration in Ireland to force concessions for the Catholics living under English rule...
, he appeared inclined to espouse the Government side, and was appointed joint Governor of Kilkenny with the earl. Fearing, however, that the rights and liberties of his Catholic brethren would be still further interfered with, he wrote an explanatory letter to the Earl and took possession of Kilkenny in the name of the Confederates. He endeavoured to protect the lives and property of the Protestants, without relaxing his efforts for the side he had espoused. He then detached parties to secure other adjacent towns, which was done with such success that in the space of a week all the fortresses in the counties of Kilkenny
County Kilkenny
County Kilkenny is a county in Ireland. It is part of the South-East Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the city of Kilkenny. The territory of the county was the core part of the ancient Irish Kingdom of Osraige which in turn was the core of the Diocese of...
, Waterford
County Waterford
*Abbeyside, Affane, Aglish, Annestown, An Rinn, Ardmore*Ballinacourty, Ballinameela, Ballinamult, Ballinroad, Ballybeg, Ballybricken, Ballyduff Lower, Ballyduff Upper, Ballydurn, Ballygunner, Ballylaneen, Ballymacarbry, Ballymacart, Ballynaneashagh, Ballysaggart, Ballytruckle, Bilberry, Bunmahon,...
, and Tipperary
Tipperary
Tipperary is a town and a civil parish in South Tipperary in Ireland. Its population was 4,415 at the 2006 census. It is also an ecclesiastical parish in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cashel and Emly, and is in the historical barony of Clanwilliam....
were in their power.
After this he was chosen general of the Catholic 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"...
which the rebels had formed to coordinate their war effort; but the county of Cork
County Cork
County Cork is a county in Ireland. It is located in the South-West Region and is also part of the province of Munster. It is named after the city of Cork . Cork County Council is the local authority for the county...
having insisted on choosing a general of its own. Thus were lost the advantages of undivided and vigorous control of the Confederate armies. The Viscount's forces were thereby considerably weakened, and he was defeated by the Earl of Ormonde at the Battle of Kilrush
Battle of Kilrush
The Battle of Kilrush was a minor engagement at the start of the Eleven years war.It was fought in April 1642 between an English army under the Earl of Ormonde, and Richard Butler, 3rd Viscount Mountgarret, who led an untrained horde of Irish troops raised during the Irish Rebellion of 1641...
, near Athy
Athy
The town developed from a 12th century Anglo-Norman settlement to an important British military outpost on the border of the Pale.The first town charter dates from the 16th century and the town hall was constructed in the early 18th century...
, on 10 April 1642. Returning to Kilkenny, he was chosen president of the Supreme Council (the Confederate Government) formed there in the following summer.
In 1643 he was at the Battle of New Ross
Battle of New Ross (1643)
The Battle of Ballinvegga or Battle of New Ross was a battle of the Irish Confederate Wars fought on 18 March 1643.In the battle, James Butler, 1st Duke of Ormonde defeated Thomas Preston, 1st Viscount Tara, and an Irish Confederate army north of the town of New Ross in the nearby townland of...
, fought by General Preston
Thomas Preston, 1st Viscount Tara
Thomas Preston, 1st Viscount Tara was an Irish soldier of the 17th century. He was a descendant of Sir Robert de Preston, who in 1363 purchased the lands of Gormanston, County Meath, and who was keeper of the Great Seal in Ireland some years later....
against the Marquis 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...
. He was also at the capture, with his son Edmund (Roe), of the Castle of Borris, in Queen's County (Laois
County Laois
County Laois is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Midlands Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It was formerly known as Queen's County until the establishment of the Irish Free State in 1922. The county's name was formerly spelt as Laoighis and Leix. Laois County Council...
) in 1643. He was with the Lords Netterville, Ikerrin, Upper Ossory, and Castlehaven at the siege of Ballinakill, which surrendered on 5 May.
Mountgarret was outlawed by Cromwell, and excepted from pardon for life or estate. His son-in-law Sir Walter Butler, 1st Baronet
Sir Walter Butler, 1st Baronet
Sir Walter Butler, 1st Baronet was an Irish nobleman. He was created a Baronet, of Polestown, in the Baronetage of Ireland on 8 July 1645.-Ancestors:* Great-great-great-great-great grandfather James Butler, 3rd Earl of Ormond...
of Polestown, was a supporter of the Government cause and was made Governor of Kilkenny in 1650. The Viscount died in 1651, and was interred in St. Canice's, Kilkenny. Although he was dead before it passed, he was excepted from pardon for life or estate by the crown in the Act of Settlement 1652 passed on 12 Aug. 1652. This was because of his participation in the rebellion of 1641.