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Sir Hugh Purcell of Loughmoe was the founder of the Lordship and Barony of Loughmoe, as well as being the builder of a fragment of Loughmoe castle. He was married to Beatrix FitzWalter, who was the daughter of Theobald FitzWalter. He is known for being the first Lord of Loughmoe.
Sir Hugh Purcell of Loughmoe's ancestors, most probably patriarchal, derive from another Sir Hugh Purcell, a knight who as John O'hart notes, and as the family believed, participated in William the Conqueror's Norman invasion of England in 1066. [1] He was credited with being the first Norman to sail the English Channel and reach Pevensey Bay, [1] supposedly the first Norman to prove himself worthy by storming the ruins of an old Roman castle, which Harold Godwinson's soldiers were holding, [1] and the first to be formally recognized by William, after his success, and be allotted land by the new king. [1]
The elder Hugh Purcell had two sons, by the name of Dyno and Oyno or Oyn. [2] Dyno was the keeper of the bedchamber to the king, which perhaps signals strong friendship or alliances between the Purcell and the Royal family. [2] Oyno, although his brother had a considerably important position, inherited his father's legacy, and was awarded a Manor in Cattleshell, Surry, by King Henry I. These events unfolded at around 1120, with no specific date found. Oyno married the daughter of Nigel de Broc, of who was fairly known at the time. [2]
His son's name varies from the following (because although he refereed to be known by his mother's prestigious name, it was still more common for people to have their father's): Ralph de Broc, Ralph Purcell, Randulf de Broc and Randulf Purcell. He was unfortunately drawn in to the famous assassination of the Bishop Thomas Becket, [3] who, after the king said, "Will nobody rid me of this turbulent priest?" was murdered on Holy ground by knights. [3] Randulf had one of his estates, Saltwood by name, confiscated by the king because the knights received hospitality in his castle before the murder.
Randulf's nephew had the name of Robert Purcell, who was an administrator of justice, often mentioned in the public records.
One of Robert's sons, also Hugh Purcell, participated in the Norman invasion of Ireland, in 1171, where he may have been killed. O'hart claims that this Hugh Purcell was the unnamed knight mentioned by Giraldus Cambrensis, who states, "on the morrow, seeking to cross the river in one of the native boats to hold parley with the King, the boatmen rose upon him in the middle of the stream, stabbed him with their long skeans and the threw the body into the river." [4]
This Hugh Purcell's sons were Walter Purcell and Hugh Purcell of Loughmoe. [5]
Sir Hugh Purcell's matriarchal ancestors have noble blood, however illegitimate. To support this claim, Hugh Purcell's (of Loughmoe) tomb had a statue of a man in armour, or so our 17th century sources tell us, with a shield on his left arm. Painted across this are three lions - of course, the symbol of Richard the Lionheart or Richard I. [6] This gives the claim that his mother was an illegitimate daughter of Richard the Lionheart more support. Since, in this section of the article, we are tracing back the matriarchal ancestors of Hugh, we will stay on Richard's line of matriarchal ancestry. It goes as the following.
Dangereuse de L' Isle Bouchard was the earliest known matriarchal ancestor of Richard, who spanned from 1079 - 1151. Her daughter was Aénor de Châtellerault, who lives a relatively short life: 1103 - 1130. Her daughter was Eleanor of Aquitaine, who was arguably one of the most prominent women of her time, for she was the queen consort of France. [7]
Eleanor's son was Richard the Lionheart, [8] and the rest of the ancestry to Hugh has already been covered. Richard participated in the third crusade, scoring considerable victories (following the departure of Phillip Augustus) against the famous Muslim commander Saladin. [8] He is one of the only kings of England remembered by his epithet, not his number, and remains a prominent and influential icon in medieval history. He was mortally wounded and killed by a stray arrow while besieging Châlus in France. [8]
Hugh Purcell married the daughter of Theobald FitzWalter, Beatrix FitzWalter. As part of the marriage, Hugh received a dowry from Theobald, consisting of a town by the name of Loughmoe in Tipperary. Here, Hugh constructed a castle, Loughmoe castle. Beatrix had a previous husband; Thomas de Hereford [9] or Thomas de Hungerford. [5] According to O'hart, Beatrix was only a child when Thomas died, "thus the heiress to a splendid inheritance". [5] Theobald was the cup bearer to King Henry II. [10]
Hugh only built one of the towers. [11] Hugh's contribution to the castle was well-constructed and built in a defensive style. [11] As can be seen in the image, the two later additions have sharp corners and wide windows, while the prior tower has rounded corners, making it less vulnerable to cannon and artillery fire. [2]
Beatrix had lands given to her by her previous husband Thomas de Hereford, but Hugh Purcell kept much of the lands as Thomas de Hereford died without issue. Therefore, there was a large dispute over it later by Hugh's grandson and Thomas le Botiller, the grandson of Theobald FitzWalter, who claimed it to be his. Purcell pleaded that Botiller's grandfather had been given to Hugh, and recited the totidem verbis:
"In so many words; in these few words." [12]
Of which was denied by Botiller, who claimed the land. [9]
Hugh Purcell has multiple mentions in the Register of the Abbey of Saint Thomas, Dublin. In CLXXVII of Register of the Abbey of Saint Thomas, Dublin, Hugh Purcell gave a Grant to the Church. [13] The original Medieval Latin version goes like this,
"Universis Christi fidelibus presentes litteras inspecturis Hugo Purcel salutem:
Noverit universitas vestra me, divine pietatis intuitu, pro salute anime mee, patris mei, et matris mee, et Beatricis, sponse me, et liberorum meorum, consisse et quietum clamasse, Deo et ecclessia de Kildroch.
Et ut mea quitea clamacio firmitatem obtineat, sigillum Thome Purcel, commilitonis mei, presenti scripto, quia proprium sigillum meum in partibu Dublinie non habui curam apponere.
Hiis testibus: Waltero Purcel, patre meo; Thoma Purcel; Milone de Rocheford; Ricardo de Midia, clerico." [13]
The English translation of this is,
"All trustworthy Christians salute and examine the present grant of Hugh Purcell:
Know that I, divine piety, for the salvation of my soul, my father, my mother, and Beatrix my fiance, and my book, concise and tranquil, God and the Church of Kildroch.
And in order to prevent a discharge of my stability, the present script is sealed by Thomas Purcell, my comrade, and my own seal and parts of Dublin did not have to take the trouble.
The witness: Walter Purcell, my father; Thomas Purcell; Milon of Rocheford, Richard of Midia, clerk." [14]
Richard Purcell, Hugh's heir, was the first Baron of Loughmoe. [10] He was either Hugh's son or grandson, as we do not know what "direct descendant" [10] refers to.
Rhys ap Gruffydd or ap Gruffudd was the ruler of the kingdom of Deheubarth in south Wales from 1155 to 1197. Today, he is commonly known as The Lord Rhys, in Welsh Yr Arglwydd Rhys, although this title may have not been used in his lifetime. He usually used the title "Proprietary Prince of Deheubarth" or "Prince of South Wales", but two documents have been discovered in which he uses the title "Prince of Wales" or "Prince of the Welsh". Rhys was one of the most successful and powerful Welsh princes, and, after the death of Owain Gwynedd of Gwynedd in 1170, the dominant power in Wales.
Gerald of Wales was a Cambro-Norman priest and historian. As a royal clerk to the king and two archbishops, he travelled widely and wrote extensively. He studied and taught in France and visited Rome several times, meeting the Pope. He was nominated for several bishoprics but turned them down in the hope of becoming Bishop of St Davids, but was unsuccessful despite considerable support. His final post was as Archdeacon of Brecon, from which he retired to academic study for the remainder of his life. Much of his writing survives.
The FitzGerald dynasty is a Hiberno-Norman noble and aristocratic dynasty, originally of Cambro-Norman and Anglo-Norman origin. They have been peers of Ireland since at least the 13th century, and are described in the Annals of the Four Masters as having become "more Irish than the Irish themselves" or Gaels, due to assimilation with the native Gaelic aristocratic and popular culture. The dynasty has also been referred to as the Geraldines and Ireland's largest landowners. They achieved power through colonisation and the conquest of large swathes of Irish territory by the sons and grandsons of Gerald de Windsor. Gerald de Windsor was the first Castellan of Pembroke Castle in Wales, and became the male progenitor of the FitzMaurice and FitzGerald Dynasty. His father, Baron Walter FitzOther, was the first Constable and Governor of Windsor Castle for William the Conqueror, and was the Lord of 38 manors in England, making the FitzGeralds one of the "service families" on whom the King relied for his survival. Some of its members became the Black Knights, Green Knights and White Knights.
Theobald le Botiller, also known as Theobald Butler, 2nd Baron Butler was the son of Theobald Walter, 1st Baron Butler and Maud le Vavasour. He had livery of his lands on 18 July 1222.
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de Lacy is the surname of an old Norman family which originated from Lassy, Calvados. The family took part in the Norman Conquest of England and the later Norman invasion of Ireland. The name is first recorded for Hugh de Lacy (1020–1085). His sons, Walter and Ilbert, left Normandy and travelled to England with William the Conqueror. The awards of land by the Conqueror to the de Lacy sons led to two distinct branches of the family: the northern branch, centred on Blackburnshire and west Yorkshire was held by Ilbert's descendants; the southern branch of Marcher Lords, centred on Herefordshire and Shropshire, was held by Walter's descendants.
The title Baron of Loughmoe is an Irish feudal barony located in northern County Tipperary, Ireland. It was first held by Richard Purcell but the lands and castle were actually secured by Hugh Purcell of Loughmoe, first lord of Loughmoe. The title was possibly raised to a Jacobite peerage in 1690 while James II was in exile, Marquis de Ruvigny notes this in his 'The Jacobite Peerage, Baronetage, Knightage and Grants of Honour' Click here for link. The feudal title was granted to Richard Purcell in 1328 by James Butler, 1st Earl of Ormond as palatine Lord of Tipperary. Irish and Scottish feudal titles, particularly those granted by palatine lords, are difficult to classify in law, they are acknowledged as genuine hereditaments by the arms granting bodies of Ireland, Scotland, and England, but were never formally recognized by the Crown.
Nicholas Purcell, 13th Baron of Loughmoe was the son of James Purcell of Loughmoe and the maternal nephew of James Butler, 1st Duke of Ormonde.
Loughmoe Castle is a ruined castle at Loughmore Village, near Templemore in County Tipperary, Ireland. The castle was the ancestral home of the Purcell family, the Barons of Loughmoe.
Hugh de Lacy, Lord of Meath, 4th Baron Lacy, was an Anglo-Norman landowner and royal office-holder. He had substantial land holdings in Herefordshire and Shropshire. Following his participation in the Anglo-Norman invasion of Ireland, he was granted, in 1172, the lands of the Kingdom of Meath by the Anglo-Norman King Henry II, but he had to gain control of them. The Lordship of Meath was then the most extensive liberty in Ireland.
Walter de Lacy was lord of Meath in Ireland. He was also a substantial land owner in Weobley, Herefordshire, in Ludlow, Shropshire, in Ewyas Lacy in the Welsh Marches, and several lands in Normandy. He was the eldest son of Hugh de Lacy, a leading Cambro-Norman baron in the Norman invasion of Ireland, and Rohese of Monmouth.
Maud 'Matilda' le Vavasour, Baroness Butler was an Anglo-Norman heiress and the wife of Fulk FitzWarin, a medieval landed gentleman who was forced to become an outlaw in the early 13th century, who is allegedly linked to the tale of Robin Hood and its origins.
Egidia de Lacy, Lady of Connacht, was a Cambro-Norman noblewoman, the wife of Richard Mór de Burgh, 1st Baron of Connaught and Strathearn (c.1180–1242), and the mother of his seven children, including Sir William Óg de Burgh, a lord and warrior and Walter de Burgh, the first Earl of Ulster. She was also known as Gille de Lacy. Egidia was the daughter of Walter II de Lacy by his second wife Margaret de Braose.
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Meiler FitzHenry was a Cambro-Norman nobleman and Lord Chief Justice of Ireland during the Lordship of Ireland.
Philip de Barry, was a Cambro-Norman warrior from Manorbier in Pembrokeshire who participated in the colonisation of Kingdom of Desmond following the Norman invasion of Ireland. He was the founder of the Barry or De Barry family in County Cork, and common ancestor of the barons Barry and earls of Barrymore.
Elizabeth Poyntz (1587–1673), known as Lady Thurles, was the mother of the Irish statesman and Royalist commander James Butler, 1st Duke of Ormonde.
The Lordship of Meath was an extensive seigneurial liberty in medieval Ireland that was awarded to Hugh de Lacy by King Henry II of England by the service of fifty knights and with almost royal authority. The Lordship was roughly co-extensive with the medieval kingdom of Meath. At its greatest extent, it included all of the modern counties of Fingal, Meath, Westmeath as well as parts of counties Cavan, Kildare, Longford, Louth and Offaly. The Lordship or fiefdom was imbued with privileges enjoyed in no other Irish liberty, including the four royal pleas of arson, forestalling, rape, and treasure trove.
Richard Purcell of Loughmoe was the fourth-to-last Baron of Loughmoe. He inherited the title in the early 17th century, following the death of his older brother Ralph He commissioned the extension of Loughmoe castle to be constructed, and was a member of a jury in Clonmel. In 1846 The Annals of Ireland described Purcell as an "Anglo-Irish against the Queen Elizabeth I," referring to his participation in Essex's Rebellion c. 1599.
Lieutenant-General Patrick Purcell of Croagh was an Irish soldier. In his youth he fought in Germany during the Thirty Years' War. Back in Ireland he joined the Irish Rebellion of 1641 in 1642 when it reached Munster. He commanded units of the Confederate Munster Army, or precursors and successors of it, from 1642 to 1651 under their successive commanders-in-chief, Viscount Mountgarret, General Garret Barry, Viscount Muskerry, the Earl of Castlehaven, the Marquess of Ormond, and finally Hugh Dubh O'Neill. In 1651 at the surrender of Limerick to the Parliamentarians, he was excepted from pardon and executed by Henry Ireton.