Barnaby Fitzpatrick (born Irish: Brían Mac Giolla Phádraig) (c.1478–1575[1]) was the last person to have claim to the kingship of Osraige; forfeiting his ancestral title in favour of being created the first Lord Baron Upper Ossory by King Henry VIII of England, by patent dated 11 June 1541, as part of the King's policy of Surrender and regrant.[2] Barnaby Fitzpatrick was subsequently knighted on 1 July 1543.
Biography
Brían, finding his brother Diarmaid an embarrassment and a hindrance to his ambitions of becoming an English Baron, gave up his brother to the Butlers and the Butlers acted out their cruel revenge on him. That being done, Brían, in 1537, submitted to the English king and gave up all his ancient rights. So in 1541, Brían became Barnaby Fitzpatrick, the First Baron of Upper Ossory at Castletown.[3]
He was afterwards imprisoned at Waterford until he restored "some preys he had seized in Leix".[4]
Family
First, about 1491 he married an unknown daughter of Ó Mórdha, who was his first cousin;[5] she died, probably in childbirth.[6]
Second, about 1492 he married an unknown first cousin, who was also the first cousin of his first wife. Without dispensation from the church this second marriage was declared null.[5]
Third, about 1493 he married Catherine Ó Mórdha, who was his half-sister and also the half-sister of his first wife. They had children, which resulted in an uproar among the relatives of the second wife. Nevertheless the Pope absolved the pair, permitted their marriage, and decreed their present and future children were legitimate.[5]
According to Carrigan[7] Brian’s children before his marriage to Margaret Butler probably included:
Barnaby (c. 1533–1581), his successor and second Baron, was invited to study in London with the boy-king Edward VI, who developed a deep affection for him.[8] In his later years a severe rift developed between Brian and Barnaby, who was his eldest legitimate son.[9]
Florence, who succeeded to Upper Ossory on the death of his brother.[10]
In 2002, researchers Ronan Fitzpatrick and Steve Zalewski published a book containing a list of all known descendants of Barnaby Fitz-Patrick, 1st Baron Upper Ossory; revised edition published in 2013.[13][14] – it is considered the list of descendants is incomplete.[6]
^State Papers of Henry VIII. (1541). p. 291, Certen Articles and Condicions, Whiche Mac Gilpatrike Did Promesse Duely to Observe and Perfurme, at Suche Tyme as He Made His Submyssion to the Kinges Majestie.
Fuller, Anne (1998). Calendar of Papal Registers Relating To Great Britain and Ireland 1492-1503 Alexander VI. Vol. 17–2. Dublin: Irish Manuscripts Commission.
O’Hart, John (1892). Irish pedigrees: or, The origin and stem of the Irish nation. Dublin: J. Duffy.