Thomas Fitzwilliam, 4th Viscount Fitzwilliam
4th Viscount, 1700.
Used here with the kind permission of the
Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge.
Thomas Fitzwilliam, 4th Viscount Fitzwilliam,
born est c.1645.
See
wikipedia
and
genealogics.
He stayed Catholic.
He succ as 4th Viscount apparently 1675.
He mar 1stly to Mary Stapleton
[born pre-1636,
descendant of Edward III].
In 1686 the
old Catholic church at Booterstown
was constructed,
almost certainly under the 4th Viscount's protection.
He supported King James
in the
Williamite-Jacobite War 1689-1691.
[Complete Peerage]
says he was outlawed 7 May 1689 but shortly after restored.
He
fought with the Jacobite army
at the Siege of Limerick 1691,
at which the Jacobite cause
was finally defeated.
[Mount Merrion 300]
says that
his name is mentioned in the
Treaty of Limerick,
and
he was one of twelve Catholic Peers who were allowed to retain their lands.
Though he does not appear in
this text of the Treaty.
Still owner of the mill of Donnybrook.
He
could not take his seat in the
Irish House of Lords
in 1695
because he would not renounce the Catholic faith.
Mary died pre-1699. Maybe pre-1695.
The
4th Viscount
had issue by 1st wife:
- (dau) Fitzwilliam.
She mar her 1st cousin
Stephen Fitzwilliam Browne.
- Richard Fitzwilliam, 5th Viscount Fitzwilliam,
born c.1677.
He is
described as "about 17 years old in 1694".
[PP, vol.1, family tree]
has him as born 1679.
He
mar 2ndly
to
Elizabeth Pitt [born pre-1676].
She was dau of
George Pitt
(also
wikitree),
of
Stratfield Saye, Hampshire.
She was
grand-aunt of
George Pitt, 1st Baron Rivers (born 1721).
[Complete Peerage]
thought they mar shortly before 7 Oct 1699.
However there is a deed of 22 Mar 1695 (new style)
(7th William III)
between the 4th Viscount and
George Pitt of Stratfield Saye
(brother of Elizabeth, the father is dead)
and others,
concerning the 4th Viscount's entire Dublin estate.
This presumably is their marriage settlement.
The 4th Viscount apparently spent time living in England, and
Merrion Castle
fell into disrepair
[Mount Merrion 300].
He is party to his son's
marriage settlement
26 Feb 1704 (new style year).
His will
dated 24 Apr 1704.
The will notes his son
Richard is now married.
In his will he appoints Honora Belasyse,
widow of George Neville, 12th Baron Abergavenny,
as guardian of his dau Mary.
Her niece had recently married his son.
Death, 1705:
He
died Feb 1705 (new style year), age est c.60 yrs.
Evidence about date of death:
-
[Complete Peerage]
says
died 20 Feb 1704.
Date of will shows it must be 1705 new style.
-
2057/D5/18
says died Sunday night, (looks like 25) Feb 1704.
This does not fit Feb 1705 new style, in which 25 Feb was Wed.
It does not fit Feb 1704 new style either, in which 25 Feb was Mon.
His will says he wants to be buried
"with my Ancestors" at
Donnybrook chapel.
Will pr Apr 1705.
Elizabeth may be "the Lady Fitz-Williams" who died 4 Feb 1717.
The 4th Viscount
had issue by 2nd wife:
- Mary Fitzwilliam.
She had a huge inheritance.
She
mar 1719 to George Talbot
[grandson of
John Talbot, 10th Earl of Shrewsbury].
They had issue:
- George Talbot, 14th Earl of Shrewsbury, born 1719.
Mary Stapleton, 1679.
Used here with the kind permission of the
Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge.
[Wilkinson, 1925]
said a portrait of Mary Stapleton
"hung for many years in the diningroom at Mount Merrion".
This would be a different picture since this one
was given to Cambridge in 1816.
4th Viscount Fitzwilliam and his wife.
In the early Fitzwilliam tree in
2057/F1/7.
Must be dated 1670s.
See
larger
and
full size.
Death of "the Lady Fitz-Williams" on 4 Feb 1717.
From
p.9
of the Chronological Register
in
The Historical Register,
vol.2 no.8, 1717.
4th Viscount in
[Complete Peerage].
The 4th Viscount on
pp.20-21 of
[Ball, vol.2, 1903].
Sources yet to be consulted
- Deed of 22 Mar 1695 (new style)
(7th William III)
between 4th Viscount and George Pitt and others.
This may be the 4th Viscount's 2nd marriage settlement.
Covers 4th Viscount's entire Dublin estate.
Referred to in
5th Viscount's marriage settlement.
