Maurice FitzGerald, 14th Knight of Kerry

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Maurice FitzGerald
Hereditary knight
Tenurec. 1680 – 1729
SuccessorJohn, 15th Knight of Kerry
Died9 December 1729
Spouse(s)Elizabeth Crosbie
Issue
Detail		John, Robert & others
FatherJohn, 13th Knight of Kerry
MotherHonora O'Brien

Sir Maurice FitzGerald, 14th Knight of Kerry (died 1729) fought for James II in the Williamite War in Ireland, but after the defeat he conformed to the established religion by joining the Church of Ireland. He became Deputy Lieutenant of Kerry.

Birth and origins[edit]

Maurice was the eldest son of Sir John FitzGerald and his wife Honora O'Brien. His father was the 13th Knight of Kerry. His mother was the third daughter of Connor O'Brien, 2nd Viscount Clare.[1] Both parents were Roman Catholic. He was one of four brothers.

Family tree
Maurice FitzGerald with wife, parents, and other selected relatives.
John
12th Knight
fl. 1640		Katherine
FitzGerald
Thomas
d. 1667
d.v.p.*		Jane
Everard		Connor
2nd Viscount
Clare
1605–1670
John
13th Knight
d. c. 1680		Honora
O'Brien
Maurice
14th Knight
d. 1729		Elizabeth
Crosbie
John
15th Knight
1706–1741		Margaret
Deane		Robert
17th Knight
1717–1781		Katherine
Sandes
Maurice
16th Knight
1734–1779		Anne
FitzGerald		Maurice
18th Knight
1774–1849		Maria
La Touche
Peter
1st Baronet
Valencia
1808–1880
Legend
XXXSubject of
the article		XXXKnights
of Kerry		XXXBaronets
Valentia		XXXViscounts
Clare
*d.v.p. = predeceased his father (decessit vita patris)

Williamite War[edit]

FitzGerald fought for James II in the Williamite War in Ireland (1688–1691) alongside his brothers John, Daniel of Ballyruddery, and Thomas of Ardglass.[2]

Marriage and children[edit]

On 30 June 1703 FitzGerald married Elizabeth, second daughter of David Crosbie (died 1717), of Ardfert Abbey, High Sheriff of County Kerry, by his wife Jane Hamilton, daughter of William Hamilton of Liscloony, County Offaly.[3] His wife was a Protestant and the sister of Maurice Crosbie, 1st Baron Brandon.

Maurice and Elizabeth had three sons of whom:[4]

  1. John (1706–1741), his immediate successor
  2. Robert (1717–1781), who succeeded as the 17th knight

—and nine daughters, known as the "Nine Geraldines", of whom:[4]

  1. Jane, married George Herbert, Esquire of Currans[5]
  2. Honora, married Richard Meredyth, Esquire of Dicksgrove (near Currans)[6][7]
  3. Bridget married first Thomas Sandes and secondly Mr. Creagh[8]
  4. Margaret, married John Hewson of Ennismore[9]

Later life and death[edit]

Their children were raised as Protestants. Their daughters married into the Herberts (twice), Merediths (twice), Sandes', Creaghs, Stacks, Hewsons, Collis', Rices and Days.

In 1708 FitzGerald conformed to the established religion.[10] His marriage, conversion, and the subsequent marriages of his children further alienated the Knights of Kerry from the local Catholic populace. FitzGerald became Deputy Lieutenant of Kerry.

FitzGerald died at Ballinruddery Castle, near Listowel, on 9 December 1729.

Notes and references[edit]

Citations[edit]

  1. ^ Burke 1883, p. 406, right column, bottom. "... with 6 daus, Margaret, m. to Hugh O'Reilly; Ellen, m. to Sir Roger Shagnessy; Hornora, m. to John Fitzgerald, Esq., of Castleishen, and 2ndly to John Macnamafra, Esq.; Sarah, m. to Daniel Sullivan Bear; Mary m. _ Power of Doonil ..."
  2. ^ MacCotter 2016, p. 27, line 32. "Maurice fought in the Irish army of James II along with his brothers, John, Daniel of Ballinruddery and Thomas of Ardglass."
  3. ^ Burke 1879, p. 565, left column, line 37. "Maurice FitzGerald, Knight of Kerry m. [married] 30 June, 1703, Elizabeth, 2nd dau. [daughter] of David Crosbie, Esq. of Ardfert by Jane his wife, younger dau. [daughter] and co-heir of William Hamilton, Esq. ..."
  4. ^ a b Hickson 1872, p. 181, line 11. "... by whom he had three sons and nine daughters all married to Kerry gentlemen"
  5. ^ Burke 1879, p. 565, left column, line 43, left. "Jane, m. [married] George Herbert, Esq. of Currens;"
  6. ^ Burke 1879, p. 565, left column, line 43, right. "Honoria, m. [married] Richard Meredyth, Esq. of Tierna;"
  7. ^ Hickson 1872, p. 303, line 30. "Honora to Richard Meredith of Dicksgrove."
  8. ^ Burke 1879, p. 565, left column, line 44. "Bridget, m. [married] 1st Thomas Sandes, and 2ndly Mr. Creagh;"
  9. ^ Burke 1879, p. 565, left column, line 45. "Margaret m. [married] John Hewson. Esq. of Ennismore;"
  10. ^ MacCotter 2016, p. 27, line 37. "His children were raised as Protestants and Maurice himself conformed in 1708"

Sources[edit]

  • Burke, Sir Bernard (1879). A Genealogical and Heraldic History of the Landed Gentry of Great Britain and Ireland. Vol. I (6th ed.). London: Harrison. OCLC 972909415. – A to KYR (for FitzGerald, the Knight of Kerry)
  • Burke, Bernard (1883). A Genealogical History of the Dormant, Abeyant, Forfeited and Extinct Peerages of the British Empire (New ed.). London: Harrison. OCLC 499232768.
  • Hickson, Mary Agnes (1872). Selections from old Kerry Records. London: Watson & Hazell. OCLC 1084939992.
  • MacCotter, Paul (2016). "The earlier Geraldine Knights of Kerry". Journal of the Kerry Archeological and Historical Society. 2. 16: 5–36.

Further reading[edit]

  1. Public Record Office of Northern Ireland: The FitzGerald (Knights of Kerry) Papers (MIC/639 and T/3075)
  2. Personal Family history. Confirmation would be appreciated.
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