The Fitzmaurice family were established in Kerry c.1235. Next Sunday 28 April 2019, Lixnaw Heritage & Historical Group are holding a conference, examining the history of this important clan. I am currently researching and writing a book provisionally titled The Fall of The Fitzmaurices: The Demise of Kerry’s First Family, and I will be one of the speakers at the event. As I am still at the writing stage, compiling research,I will be giving a summary on Sunday:
By 1818, after five hundred years as Kerry’s foremost family, through a combination of extravagance, irresponsibility and feckless living, their titles and estates were no more From inheriting a great fortune, built up by the Fitzmaurice family over the generations, the last three Earls proceeded to spend and squander, resulting in the demise of the Fitzmaurice lineage, their wealth and their lands
The Fall of the Fitzmaurices describes the extravagance of Thomas, 21st Lord of Kerry, Baron of Lixnaw, enobled as an Earl in 1723, who having made a remarkable marriage to Lady Anne Petty, daughter of Sir William Petty, proceeded to live a feudal lifestyle at the ancient seat of his Norman ancestors, the Old Court in Lixnaw. There he developed a spectacular demesne amidst historic ruined castles and ringforts. Re-building and furnishing a large mansion, planting, enclosing and improving; canals, deer parks, formal gardens, orchards and plantations, no money was spared to show the importance and symbolism of Thomas and his family in the hierarchy of Kerry.
Thomas was followed by William his eldest son as 2nd Earl. William who heading the family for only seven years had already drained much of the Fitzmaurice patrimony through gambling, ‘wenching’ and court cases. His most outrageous achievement was his ‘marriage’ to an impoverished Dublin widow, which would not be recognized as marriage to-day and resulted in both a libel action and his excommunication from the Church of England.
Francis graduating from Trinity College
- ‘Trials for Adultery’ 18th-century booklets including the court case by Charles Daly against Anastasia Daly for adultery
William was followed by his son Francis, 3rd and last Fitzmaurice Earl of Kerry. Inheriting the family fortune and title at the age of seven, Francis lived mostly in Dublin at Kerry house, Molesworth St. Lixnaw and the Old Court were abandoned and allowed to deteriorate. Francis was left in the guardianship of the Lord Chancellor of Ireland. Although graduating from Trinity College at the age of 15, thereafter he enjoyed a lazy and indulgent lifestyle among the top echelons of 18th century Dublin aristocratic society. As a titled and wealthy young man, it would be expected that he would make a brilliant marriage. However, he fell in love with a married lady twenty years older than himself, a Catholic. Francis’ nephew, William Petty, 2nd Earl of Shelburne and former British Prime Minister, said of Francis ‘he fell in love with a married lady twenty years older than himself, the daughter of an eminent Roman Catholic lawyer, and she had obtained a divorce, married her- [she was] an extraordinarily vain person. Having their way to fight up into good society, and having no children, they sold every acre of land that had been in our family since Henry II’s time’.
The Tomb of Anastasia and Francis Fitzmaurice at Westminister Abbey
The Fall of the Fitzmaurices describes the spendthrift, aristocratic lifestyle enjoyed by Francis and his wife Anastasia in London, in the spa town of Bath and later in Paris, before fleeing for their lives during the French Revolution, not to mention a racy adultery case, and a divorce enabled by an Act of Parliament. A powerful combination of power, wealth, land, money, sex and the Irish aristocracy in the 18th century. Both Francis 3rd Earl of Kerry and his wife Anastasia are buried in an impressive tomb in Westminister Abbey.
Kay Caball ©
Oh wow I am looking forward to the book.
Fantastic story
Very interesting Kay. Look forward to reading your book and learning more.
Yes its a great story and has historic importance because Francis T. who was the real spendthrift sold off every acre of land they owned in North Kerry to the new Landlords who were then in power there during the Great Famine and afterwards.
Would love to learn more. Also I am looking for information on a possible connection to me of a Margaret Fitzmaurice and a Daniel Halpin from county Kerry. They are possibly my 3x great grandparents.
“extravagance, irresponsibility and feckless living” – love it!
It seems to me that the premise of your research is somewhat tainted by the gossip of the 1700s. Falling in love, marrying an older women and a divorcee, is not abhorrent. Having much of your fortune confiscated in the French revolution is a tragedy that I would not call frivolous. Francis only received minimal compensation for his losses. Spending your money on worldly goods, especially when you have no children to leave it to, is normal. Almost all tenant farmers in Ireland were poor not just Francis’ Kerry tenants. Paupers were not buried in Westminster Abbey. I suspect Francis paid a grand sum to be buried with royalty. The story of Francis is far more than the negative quotes about him. Also, the earldom is not extinct but the title is held by Simon Henry George Petty-Fitzmaurice, born 1970, and heir apparent to his father, the Marquis of Lansdowne. In my opinion history has not been fair to Francis. I hope you can put his life in the context of the times. Thanks.
Gerard I would hope that I can give a balanced picture of Francis T. Yes I know that Simon Petty Fitzmaurice is current earl of Kerry. I have been careful to point out that Francis was the last Fitzmaurice earl of Kerry.
Good to hear that you are putting pen to paper re the FitzMaurices. I look forward to publication.
You may be interested in one much earlier tale about that family that has been passed down in Stack Family law. From around 1325 one key event burned its way into the Stack collective memory, emerging in the record made by Colonel Robert Stack in 1766 – a remarkable 441 years later. The event was a turning point for the FitzMaurice family in their dealings with the Earl of Desmond and was significant for the Errimore Stacks many of whom were able to trace descent to William Fitz Nicholas FitzMaurice, the “Blind Baron”.
The Annals of Inisfallen record that in 1325 Diarmait Mac Carthaig was slain, in the monastery of Tralee, by the son of Nicholas FitzMaurice and other septs including the son of Nicholas O Samragyn the Bishop of Ardfert. As became apparent William was exercising a warrant for Diarmait’s arrest. However the Earl of Desmond had welcomed Diarmait as his guest, and taking exception to these events took revenge on those taking part. “The Legal Proceedings Against the First Earl of Desmond” by G.O. Sayles (Analecta Hibernica, No.23 (1966) describes the consequences. It translates from the Latin as follows:
“It is also said that the Earl, in breach of the Kings peace, picked out the eyes of William son of Nicholas, who in furtherance of the Kings peace had killed the felon MacCarthy; and William’s people who had taken part in the felon’s death were captured and beheaded; some were hanged; some were drawn between horses; without judgement proving that it was beyond the justice of the King which will not punish or put to death without judgement or just cause.” (I suspect there were Stacks among “William’s people.)
The handwritten manuscript accompanying Colonel Robert Stack’s application for arms in 1766 details the impact for William Fitz Nicholas FitzMaurice of the loss of his eyes. Under Brehon law it also meant banishment from his homeland and loss of his right to be the Baron of Lixnaw. For the Stacks of Errimore the conflict with the Earl of Desmond would be long remembered, and would serve to strengthen their links with the FitzMaurice family.
Great to be getting all this history of the Fitzmaurices and their lives. Another book is being written at present dealing with the 1500s to the 1690s by Martin Moore for publication in the Autumn.
The intertwining of the Stacks and the Fitzmaurices deserves attention, research and recording. A long history here.
The intertwining of the Stacks and the Fitzmaurices deserves attention, research and recording. A long history here.
Thank you Kay, as always for brilliant informative delivery.
Tks Tim
Yes, I too am looking forward to hearing your account of the family. The country around Ardfert was where my family, the Boyles were agricultural workers, as you know Kay. And some Boyles, not our relations, were able to acquire some land in that neck of the woods late in the 19th century. So, It will be fascinating to hear how the Fitzmaurice family managed their estates across the centuries.
The book will be an interesting read!
I am planning a family trip in May 2021 and happened upon your site. I have conducted some genealogy on my family, however once emigrated to the US am finding it increasingly difficult to obtain information. I would love to hear more about my family and am looking forward to your book. I am also interested in your services to assist me in putting together a more comprehensive family tree. I am very curious about my fathers middle name, his name was Henry Ward Fitzmaurice and the Wash middle name for s mentioned and used as a middle name elsewhere. I happened to marry a Ward and wonder about the significance of Ward as a middle name. Looking forward to hearing from you.
Kathleen good to see a Fitzmaurice here! Thank you for your comments and query. I will reply to you separately with a Genealogy Query Form to complete and then I can get back to you with some suggestions on how to move ahead.