Talbot family genealogy

Duke and Earl of Tyrconnell

Arms: Ar. a lion ramp. gu. armed and langued az. Crest: A talbot dog ar. langued and collared gu. Supporters: Dexter, a lion, and sinister, a talbot, both ar. Motto: Forte et fidele.

The Talbots belonged to an ancient Norman family, and entered England in the suite of William the Conqueror. Two of the name, Richard and Robert, came to Ireland, temp. Henry II.; Richard settled at Malahide, in the county Dublin, where his descendants still reside; and whence branches of the family spread to other parts of Ireland.

Sir Thomas Talbot, of Malahide, Knight, had livery of his estate, 12th February, 23 Edward III., and was summoned to Parliament in 1372.

Sir William Talbot, of Carton, co. Kildare, Bart., son of Robert Talbot, second son of Thomas Talbot, Esq., of Malahide, was created a Baronet (extinct) in 1622; his Fun. Entry, in Ulster’s Office, is dated 1633. Sir William, who was a Barrister, married Alison Netterville.

Richard[1] Talbot, youngest son of Sir William Talbot, of Carton, the first Bart., was, by James II., in 1685, created Earl of Tyrconnell, and, in 1689, raised to a Dukedom. (See his career in the note, p. 405.)

John Talbot, a Captain in Tyrconnell’s Horse, was of the Belgard branch of the family. The Castle of Belgard, situate in the co. of Dublin, was a frontier fortress of the Pale, and, at that period, wars with the natives were both constant and bloody; but the Talbots of Belgard were never unnecessarily harsh or cruel to the Irish people, who were fighting for their own. Captain John Talbot had fought against Cromwell, and had to follow Charles II. into exile; but on the Restoration, he received back a portion of his family estates. He restored the Castle of Belgard, which was ruined in the Cromwellian war; and, after a short time, again drew his sword in defence of James II., who appointed him Lord Lieutenant of the county Wicklow, and Commissary-General for the counties of Meath, Louth, Dublin, Wicklow, and Wexford. He fought at the Boyne, Aughrim, and Limerick; was included within the Articles of Limerick, and so saved his estates—at least some of them. Being then too old to accompany his fellow-soldiers to France, he retired to his Castle of Belgard, where he died without male issue.

His daughter, Catherine, was married to Thomas Dillon, of Brackloon, grandson of Theobald, first Lord Viscount Dillon. The son of Catherine Talbot and Thomas Dillon lived and died at Belgard.

Notes

[1] Richard: This Richard appears to have been born in Belgard Castle (then one of the family residences), early in the 17th century. At nineteen years of age he went to the Continent, and rose to the rank of Colonel in the French Service. Though a Catholic, he was subsequently induced by the Ormond party to return to Ireland, where he served against Owen Roe O’Neill. He was with the army that defended Drogheda against Cromwell; but, in the storm and slaughter of the garrison, his life was saved by Reynolds, a Parliamentary officer. Escaping to Flanders, he entered the service of the Duke of York, with whom he returned to England, on the Restoration. During the reign of Charles II., Colonel Talbot lived mostly in Ireland, where he was regarded by the Catholics as a countryman who stood in high favour, and would stand higher as soon as the Duke of York came to the throne. When that event occurred, in February, 1685, James II. gave a commission of Lieutenant-General to Colonel Richard Talbot; in the same year created him Baron of Talbot’s Court, Viscount Baltinglass, and Earl of Tyrconnell; and in February, 1686-’7, he was made Lord Lieutenant of Ireland. When James II. retired to France in 1688, the Earl of Tyrconnell adhered to his cause and at once set about organizing forces in his interest. When James II. landed at Kinsale, in March, 1688-9, Tyrconnell met him, and was thereupon made a Duke. During the ensuing campaign he continued to be the King's principal adviser. He fought at the battle of the Boyne, in July, 1690. In the autumn of that year he visited France; and in January, 1691, he entered the Shannon with three frigates laden with provisions, clothing, arms, ammunition, and about £8,000 in money. After the defeat at Aughrim he acted as Governor of Limerick; but died of apoplexy, on the 14th August, 1691, just as the advanced-guard of the English army came within sight of the town. He was buried in St. Mary’s Cathedral, but no inscription marks the spot.

Peter Talbot (a younger brother of Richard, Duke of Tyrconnell), was born in Malahide in 1620. In 1669, at Antwerp, he was consecrated Archbishop of Dublin, when he immediately proceeded to administer the affairs of his diocese, which for 20 years had been almost entirely neglected; but early in 1673 he was banished the kingdom. In 1675 he returned from the Continent to England, and resided for a while in Cheshire, in poor health, until, through the influence of the Duke of York, he obtained permission to return to Ireland. In October, 1678, he was arrested at his father’s house, near Carton, Maynooth, on the charge of participation in a “Popish Plot,” and committed a close prisoner to the Castle. On examination, nothing appeared against him; yet he was detained in confinement, and died in Dublin Castle, in 1680. He wrote numerous theological works, thirteen of which are named in Harris’s Ware.