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Sir Walter Butler, 11th Earl of Ormond and 4th Earl of Ossory (1559–1633), succeeded his uncle Black Tom, the 10th earl, in 1614. He was called "Walter of the Beads" because he was a devout Catholic, whereas his uncle had been a Protestant. King James I intervened and awarded most of the inheritance to his uncle's Protestant daughter Elizabeth. Ormond contested the King's decision and was for that insolence detained in the Fleet Prison from 1619 until 1625 when he submitted to the King's ruling. He then found a means to reunite the Ormond estate, by marrying his grandson James, who had been raised a Protestant, to Elizabeth's only daughter.

Birth and origins

Walter was born in 1559, the second son of John Butler of Kilcash and his wife Katherine MacCarthy. His father was a younger son of James Butler, 9th Earl of Ormond. His father's family, the Butler Dynasty, was Old English and descended from Theobald Walter, who had been appointed chief butler of Ireland by King Henry II in 1177.

Walter's mother was a daughter of Cormac na Haoine MacCarthy Reagh. Her father was the 13th prince of Carbery. Her family was Gaelic Irish. Walter's parents were both Catholic. Walter was one of four siblings, who are listed in his father's article.

Early life

Butler was brought up as a devout Catholic and was known as "Walter of the Beads" (Irish: "Váitéar an Phaidrín").

His father, John of Kilcash, died on 10 May 1570 when Walter was about eleven. His brother James inherited but died unmarried sometime before September 1576 when Walter became the owner of the land around Kilcash Castle that had been his father's appanage.

Butler worked closely with his uncle, the Earl of Ormond. As a reward for his military service with the earl, he was knighted by Adam Loftus and Robert Gardiner in 1598.

Marriage and children

About 1584 Butler married a second cousin, Helen Butler (also known as Ellen), eldest daughter of Edmund Butler, 2nd Viscount Mountgarret and his wife Grizel FitzPatrick. Their common great-grandfather was Piers Butler, 8th Earl of Ormond.

Walter and Helen had two sons:

1. Thomas Butler, Viscount Thurles (1594–1619), married Elizabeth, daughter of Sir John Pointz, and had issue, including James Butler, 1st Duke of Ormond
2. James, died young in France

—and nine daughters:

1. Margaret, married Barnaby Fitzpatrick, 5th Baron Upper Ossory
2. Catherine, married Piers Power of Monalargie, 2nd son of Richard Power, 2nd Baron Power of Curraghmore
3. Ellen (died 1663), married Pierce Butler, 1st Viscount Ikerrin
4. Helena, married James Butler of Grellagh, 5th son of James Butler, 2nd Baron Dunboyne
5. Joan, married 1st George Bagenal, 2ndly Theobald Purcell, and 3rdly Sir Thomas Esmond, 1st Baronet.
6. Mary, married George Hamilton of Greenlaw and Roscrea
7. Elizabeth, married 1st Sir Edmond Blanchville and 2ndly Richard Burke, 6th Earl of Clanricarde
8. Eleanor (died 1633), died unmarried
9. Ellis Butler (died 1625), who married Sir Terence O'Brien-Arragh, 1st Baronet of Arragh

Member of parliament

In 1613 the only Irish parliament of the reign of James I was called. On 13 April 1613 Butler was returned as member of the Irish House of Commons for County Tipperary County. He was part of the resistance to government attempts to introduce anti-Catholic legislation.

Earl of Ormond

His uncle, Black Tom, the 10th Earl died on 22 November 1614 leaving an only daughter, Elizabeth, who had married Richard Preston, 1st Earl of Desmond. Butler, his nephew, succeeded as the 11th Earl of Ormond and expected to also inherit the estates, but his claim to the family estates was challenged by Richard Preston, the husband of the 10th Earl's only child. The dispute was arbitrated by King James I, who awarded most of the estate, including Kilkenny Castle, to Preston. Ormond, as he now was, spent much time and money in litigation opposing the King's decision. His persistence resulted in him being committed to the Fleet prison in 1617. He remained incarcerated for eight years in great want with no rents reaching him from his estate. James meanwhile challenged his ownership of the county palatine of Tipperary with a writ of quo warranto (by what right?). This county had been vested in the head of the family for nearly four hundred years and could therefore under no circumstance have belonged to his cousin Elizabeth, the wife of Richard Preston. No answer was made to the writ, if indeed an opportunity was afforded for an answer, and James took the county palatine into his own hands.

Ormond was freed in 1625 and large parts of his estates were restored to him. For some while he lived in a house in Drury Lane, London, with his grandson James, afterwards Duke of Ormond. In 1629, on the projected marriage of his grandson with Elizabeth Preston, Preston's only child, Charles I of England granted her marriage and the wardship of her lands to him by letters patent dated 8 September. After the marriage Ormond was recognised, on 9 October 1630, heir to the lands of his uncle, Earl Thomas, as well as of Sir John Butler of Kilcash, his father.

Ormond also suffered problems within his own family. His son Thomas, styled viscount Thurles, married the daughter of Sir John Poyntz of Gloucestershire against his wish. In 1619 Thomas was accidentally drowned at The Skerries, Isle of Anglesey, at the beginning of Walter's long imprisonment in the Fleet Prison. Viscount Thurles had been a prominent Catholic and at the time of his death, was being sent to England on charges of having garrisoned Kilkenny.

Death and timeline

Ormond died at Carrick-on-Suir on 24 February 1633 and was buried in St. Canice's Cathedral, Kilkenny, on 18 June 1633. His eldest son having predeceased him, he was succeeded by his grandson, James Butler, later the 1st Duke of Ormond.

Notes and references

Notes

1. This family tree is partly derived from the condensed Butler family tree pictured in Dunboyne. Also see the lists of his sons and daughters in the text.
2. Older literature give his year of birth as 1569.

Citations

1. Dunboyne 1968, pp. 16–17. "Butler Family Tree condensed"
2. Edwards 2004, p. 230, right column, line 57. "... was born about Easter 1559, the second son of John Butler of Kilcash ..."
3. Cokayne 1895, p. 149, line 2. "He was b. 1569 and distinguished himself against the rebel Irish in 1599."
4. Airy 1886, p. 86. "Butler, Walter, of Kilcash, eleventh Earl of Ormonde (1569–1633)"
5. Debrett 1828, p. 640. "Theobald le Boteler on whom that office was conferred by King Henry II., 1177 ..."
6. ^ Burke & Burke 1915, p. 1549, right column, line=57. "3. John of Kilcash, to whom his father granted lands by deed, 26 May 1544; m. Katherine, dau. of Cormac MacCartie, the MacCartie Reagh, and d. 10 May 1570 ..."
7. French 1846, p. 26. "... was not ... his grandfather ... Walter earl of Ormond, for his devotion stiled Walter of the beads and rosarie?"
8. Edwards 2004, p. 230, right column, line 55. "... called Uatéir an bPaidrín, Walter of the Beads and Rosary."
9. ^ Edwards 2004, p. 231, left column, line 1: "He emerged as heir to the Kilcash estate in co. Tipperary some time before September 1576 after the death without issue of his brother ..."
10. Armstrong 2009, 1st paragraph. "He served with his uncle in the later stages of the nine years war ..."
11. Shaw 1906, p. 94. "1597-9, Jan. 22. Walter Butler, son and heir to John Butler, ... in St. Patrick's Church by Adam Loftus, archybishop of Dublin, and Sir Robert Gardiner ..."
12. ^ Edwards 2004, p. 231, left column, line 7. "About 1584 he married Ellen (d. 1631) daughter of Edmund Butler, second Viscount Mountgarrett ..."
13. Lodge 1789a, p. 38, line 27. "He married Hellena, eldest daughter of Edmond, the second Viscount Mountgarret ... having issue by her (who died 28 January 1631 ..."
14. Lodge 1789a, p. 38, line 32. "Thomas, his heir apparent, who died before him."
15. Burke & Burke 1915, p. 1550, left column, line 75. "2. James, d.s.p. in France."
16. Lodge 1789a, p. 38, line 35. "Daughter Margaret was married to Bryan, Lord Upper Ossory."
17. Lodge 1789a, p. 38, line 37. "Catharine, to Pierce Power of Monaghalargy in Tipperary, Esq.; second son of Richard, Lord Poer."
18. Burke & Burke 1915, p. 1550, left column, line 77. "2. Katharine m. Piers Power, of Monalargie."
19. Burke 1866, p. 443, left column, line 68. "II. Pierce of Monalargy, co. Waterford, who m. Catherine, 4th dau. of Walter, Earl of Ormonde."
20. Lodge 1789a, p. 38, line 39. "Ellan, to Sir Pierce Butler, 1st Viscount Ikerrin."
21. Lodge 1789a, p. 38, line 40. "Hellena, to James Butler of Grellagh, Esq.; eldest son of James, second Lord Dunboyne by his second wife, Margaret, daughter of Connor, Earl of Thomond."
22. Lodge 1789a, p. 39, line 4. "Joan, to George Bagenal of Dunleckney, in the county Carlow, Esq.; ancestor to Beauchamp Bagenal, of that place, Esq."
23. Burke & Burke 1915, p. 1550, left column, line 84. "6. Mary, m. Sir George Hamilton, of Roscrea."
24. Lodge 1789a, p. 39, line 8. "Elizabeth, married first to Sir Edmond Blanchville, of Blanchville's Town, by whom she had Gerald, who dying before them, 21 February 1646, she created a monument to his memory in the cathedral of Kilkenny; and secondly to Richard, sixth Earl of Clanrickard."
25. Lodge 1789a, p. 39, line 13. "Eleanor died unmarried, in 1633."
26. Lodge 1789a, p. 39, line 14. "Alice, married to Terence (or Turlogh) Mac 'brien-Arragh."
27. House of Commons 1878, p. 632. "1613 / 13 April / Sir Walter Butler, knt. / Kilcashe / Tipperary County"
28. ^ Flood 2020, p. 38.
29. ^ Cokayne 1895, p. 148, line 30. "He d. s.p.m. at Carrick, 22 Nov. 1614, aged 82 ..."
30. ^ Cokayne 1895, p. 149, line 6. "... committed for eight years, 1617–25, to the Fleet prison, London."
31. Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Ormonde, Earl and Marquess of" . Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 20 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 295.
32. Cokayne 1895, p. 149, line 14. "He d. v.p. being drowned off the Skerries, 15 Dec. 1619."
33. ^ Edwards 2004, p. 231, right column, line 57. "He died on 18 February 1633 and was buried in the Ormond family tomb in St Canice's cathedral ..."
34. Joyce 1903, p. 172. "On the 23d of September, 1601, a Spanish fleet entered the harbour of Kinsale with 3,400 troops ... "
35. Fryde et al. 1986, p. 44, line 1. "James I ... acc. 24 Mar. 1603 ..."
36. Fryde et al. 1986, p. 44, line 16. "Charles I. ... acc. 27 Mar. 1625 ..."
37. Lodge 1789a, p. 39. "Daughter Hellena was married to Walter, Earl of Ormond, and died 28 January 1631."

Sources

• Armstrong, Robert (October 2009). McGuire, James; Quinn, James (eds.). "Butler, Thomas". Dictionary of Irish Biography. Retrieved 28 August 2022.
• Airy, Osmund (1886). "Butler, Walter, of Kilcash, eleventh Earl of Ormonde (1569–1633)". In Lee, Sidney (ed.). Dictionary of National Biography. Vol. VIII. New York: MacMillan and Co. p. 86. OCLC 8544105.
• Burke, Bernard (1866). A Genealogical History of the Dormant, Abeyant, Forfeited and Extinct Peerages of the British Empire (New ed.). London: Harrison. OCLC 11501348.
• Burke, Bernard; Burke, Ashworth Peter (1915). A Genealogical and Heraldic History of the Peerage and Baronetage, the Privy Council, Knightage and Companionage (77th ed.). London: Harrison. OCLC 1155471554.
• Cokayne, George Edward (1895). Complete Peerage of England, Scotland, Ireland, Great Britain and the United Kingdom, Extant, Extinct, or Dormant. Vol. VI (1st ed.). London: George Bell and Sons. OCLC 1180818801. – N to R (for Ormond)
• Debrett, John (1828). Peerage of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. Vol. II (17th ed.). London: F. C. and J. Rivington. OCLC 54499602. – Scotland and Ireland
• Dunboyne, Patrick Theobald Tower Butler, Baron (1968). Butler Family History (2nd ed.). Kilkenny: Rothe House.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
• Edwards, David (2004). "Butler, Walter, eleventh earl of Ormond and fourth Earl of Ossory (1559–1633)". In Matthew, Henry Colin Gray; Harrison, Brian (eds.). Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. Vol. 9. New York: Oxford University Press. pp. 230–231. ISBN 0-19-861359-8.
• Flood, John (2020). Kilcash and the Butlers of Ormond: Conflict and Kinship from the Middle Ages to the Great Famine. Dublin: Geography Publications. ISBN 978-0-906602-94-2. — Google Books no preview
• French, Rev. Nicholas (1846) . Bindon, Samuel Henry (ed.). The Historical Works of the Right Rev. Nicholas French. Vol. II. Dublin: James Duffy. OCLC 4187137. – Contains "The Unkinde Desertor of Loyall Men and True Frinds"
• Fryde, Edmund Boleslaw; Greenway, D. E.; Porter, S.; Roy, I., eds. (1986). Handbook of British Chronology. Royal Historical Society Guides and Handbooks, No. 2 (3rd ed.). London: Offices of the Royal Historical Society. ISBN 0-86193-106-8. – (for timeline)
• House of Commons (1878). Return. Members of Parliament – Part II. Parliaments of Great Britain, 1705–1796. Parliaments of the United Kingdom, 1801–1874. Parliaments and Conventions of the Estates of Scotland, 1357–1707. Parliaments of Ireland, 1599–1800. London: His/Her Majesty's Stationery Office. OCLC 13112546.
• Joyce, Patrick Weston (1903). A Concise History of Ireland from the Earliest Times to 1837 (12th ed.). Dublin: M. H. Gill & Son. OCLC 815623752.
• Lodge, John (1789a). Archdall, Mervyn (ed.). The Peerage of Ireland or, A Genealogical History of the Present Nobility of that Kingdom. Vol. IV. Dublin: James Moore. OCLC 264906028. – Viscounts (for Butler, Viscount Mountgarrett)
• Shaw, William A. (1906). The Knights of England. Vol. II. London: Sherratt & Hughes. – Knights bachelors & Index

• 1559 births
• 1633 deaths
• 16th-century Anglo-Irish people
• 17th-century Anglo-Irish people
• Butler dynasty
• Earls of Ormond (Ireland)
• Inmates of Fleet Prison
• Irish expatriates in Austria-Hungary
• Irish MPs 1613–1615
• Members of the Parliament of Ireland (pre-1801) for County Tipperary constituencies