Sir William Welles was an English-born statesman and judge in fifteenth-century Ireland, who held the office of Lord Chancellor of Ireland

Lord Chancellor of Ireland

The office of Lord Chancellor of Ireland was the highest judicial office in Ireland until the establishment of the Irish Free State in 1922. From 1721 to 1801 it was also the highest political office of the Irish Parliament.-13th century:...

: he was the brother of Lionel de Welles, 6th Baron Welles

Lionel de Welles, 6th Baron Welles

Lionel de Welles, 6th Baron Welles, KG was an English nobleman and soldier. He was killed fighting on the Lancastrian side at the Battle of Towton.-Life:Born about 1405, he was son of Eudo de Welles by Maude de Greystoke...

, a prominent supporter of the House of Lancaster

House of Lancaster

The House of Lancaster was a branch of the royal House of Plantagenet. It was one of the opposing factions involved in the Wars of the Roses, an intermittent civil war which affected England and Wales during the 15th century...

, who was killed at the Battle of Towton

Battle of Towton

In 1461, England was in the sixth year of the Wars of the Roses, a series of civil wars between the Houses of York and Lancaster over the English throne. The Lancastrians backed the reigning King of England, Henry VI, an indecisive man who suffered bouts of madness...

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Background

William was probably born in 1409 or 1410, second son of Eudo de Welles and Maud de Greystoke; his paternal grandfather was John de Welles, 5th Baron Welles

John de Welles, 5th Baron Welles

John de Welles, 5th Baron Welles was an English soldier and noble. He married Margaret de Mowbray , daughter of John, Lord Mowbray by Elizabeth, Baroness Segrave....

. Eudo died before his father and William's brother Lionel succeeded his grandfather in 1421.

Career

Lionel was appointed Lord Lieutenant of Ireland

Lord Lieutenant of Ireland

The Lord Lieutenant of Ireland was the British King's representative and head of the Irish executive during the Lordship of Ireland , the Kingdom of Ireland and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland...

 about 1438, and William acted as his brother's deputy; he was appointed deputy Chancellor in 1454 and Lord Chancellor of Ireland in 1461. Unlike his brother he does not seem to have been particularly active on behalf of Henry VI

Henry VI

Henry VI may refer to:* Henry VI, Holy Roman Emperor .* Henry VI of Luxembourg, Count of Luxembourg, * Henry VI of England...

, and despite his brother's death at Towton and the family's strong links to the House of Lancaster was still in office a year after Towton. He died in 1463. His main residence was at Posseckstown, near Enfield, County Meath

Enfield, County Meath

Enfield or Innfield is a town in south County Meath, Ireland, situated between Kilcock and Kinnegad and very close to the border with County Kildare...

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Family

William married Anne Barnewall of Crickstown, County Meath. There are references in different sources to a son and at least two daughters, but the only child whose identity is certain is Elizabeth (died 1506). Elizabeth married fiirstly Christopher Plunket, second Baron Killeen, and secondly James Fleming, 7th Baron Slane

James Fleming, 7th Baron Slane

James Fleming was a member of the Irish Parliament in 1491 and sheriff of County Meath.James was the son of William Fleming and his wife the former Janet Rochfort. He succeeded to the title of his 1st cousin once removed, Thomas Fleming, 6th Baron Slane in 1471...

 She had children by both marriages including Christopher Fleming, 8th Baron Slane

Christopher Fleming, 8th Baron Slane

Christopher Fleming was an Irish nobleman, who was Lord High Treasurer of Ireland from 1514 until his death. He succeeded as 8th Baron in 1492.- Family :...

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