Rochfort family
Encyclopedia
The Rochfort family came to Ireland in the thirteenth century and acquired substantial lands in counties Kildare
, Meath
and Westmeath. Several members of the family were prominent in law and politics. They gained the title Earl of Belvedere
, and gave their name to the village of Rochfortbridge
. The main Rochfort line ended with the death of the 2nd Earl of Belvedere in 1814.
and Adare
.Sir John was still alive in 1269. In 1300 Henry Rochfort surrendered three manors in Kildare to the Crown. Sir Maurice Rochfort was Lord Justice of Ireland in 1302. The main Rochfort line descends from Sir Milo de Rochfort, living 1309. His great-grandson John was Lord of Tristledelan ; about 1415 he settled at Kilbryde, the family seat for centuries. John's son Thomas had two sons, Robert and Roger : Robert inherited the main estates including KIlbryde, while Roger was the father of the distinguished judge and cleric Thomas Rochfort
( died 1522 ) Master of the Rolls in Ireland
and Dean of St. Patrick's Cathedral
. During the Civil War the head of the family was Colonel James Rochfort, nick-named " Prime-Iron ". Colonel Rochfort killed a fellow officer, Major Turner, in a duel : rather unexpectedly the Army treated the case as one of murder, and he was court-martialled and shot. His second and posthumous son Robert Rochfort ( 1652-1727 ) had a highly distinguished career, being Speaker of the Irish House of Commons and Chief Baron of the Irish Exchequer. Robert's grandson, also Robert was created 1st Earl of Belvedere in 1756. Their principal residences were Gaulstown House and Belvedere House
in Westmeath, both of which still exist.
Kildare
-External links:*******...
, Meath
Meath
Meath may refer to:*County Meath, Republic of Ireland**Kingdom of Mide, medieval precursor of the county**Meath , in UK and Irish parliaments**Meath GAA, including the intercounty football and hurling teams**Diocese of Meath...
and Westmeath. Several members of the family were prominent in law and politics. They gained the title Earl of Belvedere
Earl of Belvedere
The title Earl of Belvedere was created in 1756 in the Peerage of Ireland. The associated titles were Baron Bellfield and Viscount Bellfield...
, and gave their name to the village of Rochfortbridge
Rochfortbridge
Rochfortbridge is a village in County Westmeath, Ireland, with a population of 1,473 persons. It is located at the intersection of the R400 and the N6 national primary route, which recently bypassed the village....
. The main Rochfort line ended with the death of the 2nd Earl of Belvedere in 1814.
History
While the name is clearly French, the family's origins are a matter of conjecture. They had settled in Ireland by 1243, when Sir Richard and Sir John de Rochfort were lords of CromCrom
Crom is a deity created by American author Robert E. Howard. He is mainly mentioned in swearing by his character Conan the Cimmerian, and "worshipped," it is presumed, by the bulk of the Cimmerian people...
and Adare
Adare
-General information:Adare's origin is as a settlement by a crossing point on the river Maigue. It is situated 16 km from Limerick City. Renowned as one of Ireland's prettiest villages, Adare is designated as a Heritage Town by the Irish government...
.Sir John was still alive in 1269. In 1300 Henry Rochfort surrendered three manors in Kildare to the Crown. Sir Maurice Rochfort was Lord Justice of Ireland in 1302. The main Rochfort line descends from Sir Milo de Rochfort, living 1309. His great-grandson John was Lord of Tristledelan ; about 1415 he settled at Kilbryde, the family seat for centuries. John's son Thomas had two sons, Robert and Roger : Robert inherited the main estates including KIlbryde, while Roger was the father of the distinguished judge and cleric Thomas Rochfort
Thomas Rochfort
Thomas Rochfort was a distinguished Irish judge and cleric who held the offices of Solicitor General for Ireland, Master of the Rolls in Ireland, and Dean of St. Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin....
( died 1522 ) Master of the Rolls in Ireland
Master of the Rolls in Ireland
The office of Master of the Rolls in Ireland originated in the office of the keeper of the Rolls in the Irish Chancery and became an office granted by letters patent in 1333. It was abolished in 1924....
and Dean of St. Patrick's Cathedral
St. Patrick's Cathedral
St. Patrick's Cathedral may refer to:Northern Ireland*St Patrick's Cathedral, Armagh *St Patrick's Cathedral, Armagh Republic of Ireland*St Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin, Church of IrelandAustralia...
. During the Civil War the head of the family was Colonel James Rochfort, nick-named " Prime-Iron ". Colonel Rochfort killed a fellow officer, Major Turner, in a duel : rather unexpectedly the Army treated the case as one of murder, and he was court-martialled and shot. His second and posthumous son Robert Rochfort ( 1652-1727 ) had a highly distinguished career, being Speaker of the Irish House of Commons and Chief Baron of the Irish Exchequer. Robert's grandson, also Robert was created 1st Earl of Belvedere in 1756. Their principal residences were Gaulstown House and Belvedere House
Belvedere House
Belvedere House may mean:*Belvedere House and Gardens, a famous country house in county Westmeath, Ireland*Belvedere House on Belvedere Estate, a house in Calcutta, India that housed government officials in the colonial era...
in Westmeath, both of which still exist.
Notable family members
- Thomas RochfortThomas RochfortThomas Rochfort was a distinguished Irish judge and cleric who held the offices of Solicitor General for Ireland, Master of the Rolls in Ireland, and Dean of St. Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin....
, Master of the Rolls and Dean of St. Patrick's Cathedral - James " Prime-Iron " Rochfort, Cromwellian army officer, executed for murder
- Robert RochfortRobert RochfortRobert Rochfort was attorney-general, judge and speaker of the Irish House of Commons.Rochfort was probably born on 9 December 1652. He was the second son of Lieutenant-Colonel James "Prime-Iron " Rochfort , a Cromwellian soldier, and Thomasina Pigot...
, son of James, Speaker of the House of Commons and Chief Baron - Robert Rochfort, 1st Earl of BelvedereEarl of BelvedereThe title Earl of Belvedere was created in 1756 in the Peerage of Ireland. The associated titles were Baron Bellfield and Viscount Bellfield...
- George Rochfort, 2nd Earl of BelvedereEarl of BelvedereThe title Earl of Belvedere was created in 1756 in the Peerage of Ireland. The associated titles were Baron Bellfield and Viscount Bellfield...
.
Places associated with Rochfort family
- Belvedere HouseBelvedere HouseBelvedere House may mean:*Belvedere House and Gardens, a famous country house in county Westmeath, Ireland*Belvedere House on Belvedere Estate, a house in Calcutta, India that housed government officials in the colonial era...
- Gaulstown House
- Killadoon, CelbridgeCelbridgeCelbridge is a town and townland on the River Liffey in County Kildare, Ireland. It is west of Dublin. As a town within the Dublin Metropolitan Area and the Greater Dublin Area, it is located at the intersection of the R403 and R405 regional roads....
- RochfortbridgeRochfortbridgeRochfortbridge is a village in County Westmeath, Ireland, with a population of 1,473 persons. It is located at the intersection of the R400 and the N6 national primary route, which recently bypassed the village....