James Dillon, 1st Earl of Roscommon

James Dillon, 1st Earl of Roscommon (died March 1641) was an Irish peer.

James Dillon
Earl of Roscommon
Reign	1641–1642
Successor	Robert, 2nd Earl of Roscommon
Died	March 1641
Spouse(s)	Eleanor Barnewall
Detail Issue Robert & others
Father	Lucas Dillon
Mother	Jane Bathe
Religion	Catholic

Birth and origins

James was born in Ireland, the eldest son of Lucas Dillon (1530–1592) and his wife Jane Bathe.[1] His father was a judge and Chief Baron of the Irish Exchequer. His father's family was Old English and descended from Sir Henry Dillon who came to Ireland with Prince John in 1185.[2] His family held substantial lands in Meath, Westmeath, Longford and Roscommon. James's mother was a daughter of James Bathe (c. 1500 – 1570), who also was a Chief Baron of the Irish Exchequer. She was James's father's first wife. His father's second marriage seems to have been childless.

Family tree

James Dillon with wife, parents, and other selected relatives. James Bathe c. 1500 – 1570 Chief Baron Robert Dillon of Newtown Chief Justice Elizabeth Barnewall Jane Bathe Lucas Dillon 1530–1592 Chief Baron Marion Sharl Christopher Barnewall 1522–1575 James 1st Earl d. 1641 Eleanor Barnewall d. 1628 Theobald 1st Viscount d. 1624 Robert 2nd Earl d. 1642 Margaret Barry Jane Dillon m. 1604 Christopher Dillon of Ballylaghan d. 1624 James 3rd Earl c. 1605 – 1649 Elizabeth Wentworth Lucas 2nd Viscount 1610–1629 Legend XXX James Dillon XXX Earls of Roscommon XXX Viscounts Dillon This family tree is partly derived from the Roscommon pedigree in Cokayne.[3] Also see the lists of siblings and children in the text.

James was one of seven brothers and had five sisters.

James listed among his brothers
He heads the list of his brothers below as the eldest: James (died 1641); Henry (died 1609) of Kentstown in Meath;[4] Christopher, died childless;[5] Oliver, died childless;[5] Alexander, died childless;[5] John, either died childless[5] or married a daughter of Sir William Sarsfield of Lucan;[6] Robert, settled in King's County (now Offaly);[7]

James's sisters
Janet, also called Genet, married Christopher Plunkett, the 9th Baron Killeen (1564–1613) and was the mother of the 1st Earl of Fingall;[8][9] Elinor, married Robert Rochfort of Kilbride;[10] Elizabeth; Margaret, married John Sarsfield of Shurninges;[11] and Anne, married Richard Plunket of Rathmore.[12]

Stepmother

Dillon's mother, Jane Bathe, must have died about 1570 as his father remarried in 1575 to Marion Barnewall, née Sharl, the widow of Sir Christopher Barnewall (1522–1575) of Turvey House, Dublin.[13][14] Marion, his stepmother, had 15 children from her first marriage, among them Eleanor with whom James fell in love.

Marriage and children

Mr Dillon married Eleanor Barnewall, also called Helen, his step-sister through his father's second marriage. She was a daughter of Sir Christopher Barnewall.[15][16][17]

James and Eleanor had 13 children, seven sons:[18]

1. Robert (died 1642) became the 2nd Earl;[19]
2. Lucas of Twomere, or of Trinity Island, County Cavan, from whom the 9th, 10th and 11th earls descended,[20] married Mary, daughter of Sir John Thorpe;[21]
3. Thomas, died unmarried;[22]
4. Christopher, died unmarried;[22]
5. George, died unmarried;[22]
6. John, died unmarried;[22] and
7. Patrick, from whom the 12th and last Earl descended,[23] married Jame Malone, daughter of Baron Malone.[24]

—and six daughters:[25]

1. Jane, married in 1604 her distant cousin Sir Christopher Dillon, son of Theobald Dillon, 1st Viscount Dillon,[26][27]
2. Elizabeth, married Hussey, Baron Galtrim;[28]
3. Frances, married the playwright and politician Henry Burnell and had many children, including the poet Eleanor Burnell.[29]
4. Margaret, married a Nugent of Drumcree;[30]
5. Mary, married sir John Bellew;[31] and
6. Alison, married Roger O'Farrell of Morrin, chief of his name.[32]

Later life, death and timeline

Dillon's father died in 1592 in Dublin.[33] There must have been some complications with the inheritance as he obtained special livery of his inheritance on 8 April 1595.[34]

In 1599 Dillon raised a troop of 25 horse loyal to Elizabeth I at his own expense, to help keep order in County Roscommon.

His grandson James, his son Robert's the eldest son and future 3rd Earl, was born in 1605.[35]

Dillon was knighted by King James.[36] On 24 January 1620 Sir James Dillon, as he was now, was raised to the peerage with the title of Baron Dillon of Kilkenny-West, in the Peerage of Ireland.[37] This elevation was announced in a ceremony performed by the chief governor of Ireland, Lord Deputy Oliver St. John, in the Presence Chamber of Dublin Castle on 25 January.[38]

On 5 August 1622 Lord Kilkenny-West was advanced to the dignity of Earl of Roscommon.[39] His baronial title became a subsidiary title, which he gave as a courtesy title to his heir apparent as is the custom. His eldest son Robert therefore was styled Lord Kilkenny-West 1622–1641.[40]

Lord Roscommon was a signatory of a response to Charles I from the Lords of the Pale that established a military force to protect The Crown's interests in Ireland.[41] In 1627, he was a Commissioner for raising money for the King's Army in Meath, Westmeath and Longford.

His wife predeceased him on 11 October 1628.[42]

On 14 July 1634, Lord Roscommon took his seat in the Irish House of Lords.[43] This was the first Irish Parliament called by King Charles I.

He died in March 1641[44] and was succeeded in his titles by his eldest son, Robert as the 2nd Earl of Roscommon.[45]

Timeline
Age	Date	Event
0	1565, estimate	Born.[lower-alpha 1]
10	1575	His father married 2ndly Marion Barnewall, née Sharl after his mother's death.[13]
22	1587, about	Married Eleanor (or Helen), 2nd Daughter of Sir Christopher Barnewall by Marion Sharl, his stepmother.[16]
27	1592	Father died in Dublin.[33]
30	1595, 8 Apr	Had special livery of his inheritance.[34]
34	1599	Raised a troop of 25 horse loyal to Elizabeth I at his own expense in 1599
38	1603, 24 Mar	Accession of King James I, replacing Queen Elizabeth I.[46]
39	1604, Nov	His daughter Jane married Christopher Dillon of Ballylaghan, the heir apparent of Theobald Dillon, 1st Viscount Dillon.
40	1605, about	His grandson James, the future 3rd Earl, was born.[35]
55	1620, 24 Jan	Created Baron Dillon of Kilkenny-West.[37]
57	1622, 5 Aug	Elevated to Earl of Roscommon.[39]
60	1625, 27 Mar	Accession of King Charles I, replacing King James I.[47]
63	1628, 11 Oct	His wife died.[42]
63	1634, 14 Jul	Took his seat in the Irish House of Lords.[43]
76	1641, Mar	Died.[44]

Notes and references

1. He must be born before 1575 when his father married his 2nd wife. As he was the eldest of 7 brothers and he had sisters as well, ample time must be given for all these children to be born.

1. Cokayne 1895, p. 410, line 15: "... s. and h. of Sir Lucas DILLON of Newtown and Moymet co. Meath, Chief Baron of the Exchequer [I.] and Senechal of the Barony of Kilkenny West, by Jane da. of James BATHE, also Chief Baron of the Exchequer [I.] ..."
2. Webb 1878, p. 149, line 7: "... [Sir Henry Dillon] came to Ireland in 1185 as secretary to Prince John ..."
3. Cokayne 1895, p. 414.
4. Lodge 1789, p. 157, line 8: "Henry Dillon, (the second son) of Kentstown, in Meath and of Strokestown and Ardnecrane in Dillon's Country, married Elizabeth, daughter to the Lord Culpepper and dying 18 April 1609 (or 20 April 1610) had four sons and three daughters ..."
5. Lodge 1789, p. 156, line 36: "Christopher, Oliver, Alexander, and John, all died childless;"
6. Crawford 2004, p. 220, left column, line 27: "Another son [of Lucas Dillon], John, married the daughter of Sir William Sarsfield of Lucan, co. Dublin.
7. Lodge 1789, p. 156, line 37: "Robert, who settled in the King's County, and left posterity in Munster and in England;"
8. Lodge 1789, p. 156, line 38: "Genet, married to Christopher, the ninth lord Killeen, and was mother to Lucas created Earl of Fingall."
9. Cokayne 1892, p. 377: "He [the 9th Baron] m. before 1595, Janet, sister of James, 1st Earl of Roscommon ... "
10. Lodge 1789, p. 156, line 40: "Elinor, to Robert Rochfort of Kilbride, in Meath, Esq.."
11. Lodge 1789, p. 157, line 5: "Margaret, to John Sarsfield of Shurninges, in the county of Kildare, Esq;"
12. Lodge 1789, p. 157, line 6: "Anne, to Richard Plunket of Rathmore, Esq."
13. Crawford 2004, p. 220, left column, line 12: "After the death of his first wife, Jane, he [Lucas Dillon] married Marion (née Sharl), widow of Sir Christopher Barnewall of Turvey, in 1575 "
14. Ball 1926, p. 212, line 9: "Married as his second wife Marion Sharles, widow of Sir Christopher Barnewall of Turvey 1575."
15. Burke 1832b, p. 366, right column, line 42: "His lordship m. Elinor, daughter of Sir Christopher Barnewall, knt, of Turvey .."
16. Cokayne 1895, p. 411, line 1: "He [James D. 1st Earl] m. Helen, 2d da. of Sir Christopher BARNEWALL of Turvey, co. Dublin, by Marion da. of Patrick CHALLIS, otherwise Serle, of Shallon, co. Meath."
17. Debrett 1828, p. 647: "... he m. Eleanor, da. of sir Christopher Barnewall, of Turvey ..."
18. Debrett 1828, p. 647, line 23: "... d. 1641, leaving issue 7 sons;"
19. Cokayne 1895, p. 411, line 17: "He d. at Oxmantown, 27 Aug. 1642, and was bur. 7 Sep. in St Patricks, Dublin."
20. Debrett 1828, p. 647, line 24: "2. Lucas, of Twomere, ancestor of the 9th, 10th, and 11th earls;"
21. Burke 1832b, p. 366, right column, line 38: "Lucas, of Trinity Island, Co Cavan m. Mary, daughter of Sir John Thorpe and was s. by his son ..."
22. Burke 1832b, p. 366, right column, line 47: "Thomas, Christopher, George, John, all died unmarried."
23. Debrett 1828, p. 647, line 27: "7. Patrick, said to be the ancestor of the present claimant, Michael-James-Robert Dillon, esq."
24. Burke 1832b, p. 366, right column, line 51: "Patrick, of Rath in the King's county m. Jane, daughter of Baron Malone of Ballinshewne and Clanmullen ... "
25. Burke 1832b, p. 366, right column, line 43: "... and [James D. 1st Earl] had (with 6 daughters) .."
26. Lodge 1789, p. 160, line 11: "Jane, married to Sir Christopher Dillon, heir apparent to Theobald, the first Viscount Dillon."
27. Burke 1832a, p. 367, left column, line 9: "CHRISTOPHER (Sir), of Bealalahin, in the county of Mayo, who m. in 1604, Lady Jane Dillon, eldest daughter of James, first Earl of Roscommon, and dying before his father, left seven sons and five daughters."
28. Lodge 1789, p. 160, line 12: "Elizabeth, to ___ Hussey, Baron of Galtrim;"
29. Lodge 1789, p. 160, line 13: "Frances to Henry, son and heir to Christopher Burnell of Castlenock, Esq.;"
30. Lodge 1789, p. 160, line 14: "Margaret to ___ Nugent of Drumcree, Esq.;"
31. Lodge 1789, p. 160, line 15: "Mary, to Sir John Bellew, of Bali-Robinstown, Knt.;"
32. Lodge 1789, p. 160, line 16: "Allison, to Roger O'Farrell, of Morrin, chief of his name."
33. Crawford 2004, p. 220, left column, line 5: "... after [Lucas] Dillon's death, which took place in Dublin in 1592 "
34. Cokayne 1895, p. 410, line 19: "... had special livery of his inheritance, 8 April 1595;"
35. Cokayne 1895, p. 411, line 19: "[James] s. and h. by his 1st wife, b. about 1605;"
36. Cokayne 1895, p. 410, line 20: "... was knighted by James I. ..."
37. Cokayne 1895, p. 410, line 21: "... was cr. 24 Jan. 1619/20 LORD DILLON, BARON OF KILKENNY-WEST [I]."
38. Lodge 1789, p. 158, line 5: "... [Robert] s. and h. styled LORD KILKENNY-WEST (1622–41)."
39. Cokayne 1895, p. 410, line 22: "... being subsequently cr. 5 Aug. 1622 EARL OF ROSCOMMON [I.]."
40. Cokayne 1895, p. 411, line 5: "He m. firstly Margaret, sister of David, 1st Earl OF BARRYMORE [I.], da. of David (BARRY) VISCOUNT BUTTEVANT [I] by his 1st wife Ellen, da. of David (ROCHE) VISCOUNT FERMOY [I.]."
41. Aidan Clarke, 'The Army and Politics in Ireland 1625-30', Studia Hibernica (No. 4, 1964), 34.
42. Cokayne 1895, p. 411, line 3a: "She [Eleanor] d. 11 Oct. 1628."
43. Cokayne 1895, p. 410, line 23: "He took his seat 14 July 1634."
44. Cokayne 1895, p. 411, line 3b: "He d. March 1641."
45. Burke 1832b, p. 367, left column, line : "James, first Earl of Roscommon, was s. by his eldest son, ROBERT, second earl ..."
46. Smyth 1839, p. xiii, line 17: "James I. . [Accession] 24 March 1603"
47. Smyth 1839, p. xiii, line 18: "Charles I. . [Accession] 27 March, 1625"

• Ball, Francis Elrington (1926), The Judges in Ireland 1221–1921, 1 (1st ed.), London: John Murray
• Burke, John (1832a), A General and Heraldic Dictionary of the Peerage and Baronetage of the British Empire, 1 (4th ed.), London: Henry Colburn and Richard Bentley – Abdy to Hutchinson (for Dillon)
• Burke, John (1832b), A General and Heraldic Dictionary of the Peerage and Baronetage of the British Empire, 2 (4th ed.), London: Henry Colburn and Richard Bentley – Ibbetson to Zouche (for Roscommon)
• Cokayne, George Edward (1892), The complete peerage of England, Scotland, Ireland, Great Britain and the United Kingdom, extant, extinct, or dormant, 4 (1st ed.), London: George Bell and Sons – G to K (for Killeen)
• Cokayne, George Edward (1895), The complete peerage of England, Scotland, Ireland, Great Britain and the United Kingdom, extant, extinct, or dormant, 6 (1st ed.), London: George Bell and Sons – N to R (for Roscommon)
• Crawford, Jon G. (2004), "Dillon, Sir Lucas (d. 1592)", in Matthew, Colin; Harrison, Brian (eds.), Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, 16, New York: Oxford University Press, pp. 219–220, ISBN 0-19-8613660 (for his father)
• Debrett, John (1828), Peerage of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, 2 (17th ed.), London: F. C. and J. Rivington – Scotland and Ireland
• Lodge, John (1789), The Peerage of Ireland, 4, Dublin: James Moore – Viscounts (for Dillon)
• Smyth, Constantine (1839), Chronicle of the Law Officers of Ireland, London: Henry Butterworth (table of reigns)
• Webb, Alfred (1878), "Dillon, Theobald, Viscount", Compendium of Irish Biography, Dublin: M. H. Gill & Son, p. 149

External links

• Genealogy of James Dillon 1st Earl of Roscommon on The Peerage website

Peerage of Ireland
New creation	Earl of Roscommon 1622–1641	Succeeded by Robert Dillon
New creation	Baron Dillon of Kilkenny West 1620–1641	Succeeded by Robert Dillon