Baron Dunboyne facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Barony of Dunboyne
Blazon Arms: Or a Chief indented Azure overall three Escallops in bend counterchanged. Crests: Out of a Ducal Coronet Or a Plume of five Ostrich Feathers and issuant therefrom a Demi Falcon rising Argent. Supporters: Dexter: a Lion guardant Argent; Sinister: a Horse Sable maned tailed and hoofed Or
Creation date	11 Jun 1541
Creation	Second
Monarch	King Henry VIII
Peerage	Peerage of Ireland
First holder	Edmond Butler, 1st Baron Dunboyne
Present holder	Richard Pierce Theobald Butler, 20th Baron Dunboyne
Heir apparent	the Hon. Caspian Fitzwalter Butler
Status	Extant
Seat(s)	Argos Hill House
Motto	TIMOR DOMINI FONS VITAE The fear of the Lord is the fountain of life

A Baron Dunboyne is a noble title, which means it's a special rank given by a king or queen. This title was first held by the Petit family in Ireland, a long time ago, after the Normans came to Ireland.

History of the Barony

The area called Dunboyne was once part of the Lordship of Meath, a large territory ruled by a powerful lord. The Petit family, who first held the Dunboyne title, also owned land in a place called Mullingar.

In 1227, a man named Ralph Petit became the Bishop of Meath, a high-ranking church leader. He started a special religious house, called a priory, in Mullingar. He gave this priory some land in Dunboyne, including a "townland" (a small area of land) and the "rectory" (the church and its income) of Dunboyne. This helped the priory financially.

About a hundred years later, a new family, the Butlers, became involved. Thomas Butler, whose father was a very important person called the 4th Chief Butler of Ireland, married Sinolda. She was the heiress (the person who inherits everything) of William le Petit. This marriage was a big deal because it meant the Dunboyne lands and titles passed to the Butler family.

In 1324, Thomas Butler was officially given the title of Baron Dunboyne. This was done "by prescription," which means it was recognized based on a long-standing claim. Later, in 1541, the barony was officially created again by a "patent" (a special document from the king) in the Peerage of Ireland. The "Peerage of Ireland" is a list of all the noble titles in Ireland.

Sometimes, you might see the Barons Dunboyne numbered in two ways (like 28th/18th Baron). This is because some people count from the very early 1324 creation, while others count from the 1541 official creation. The first baron of the 1541 group actually married the heiress of an even earlier line of Barons Dunboyne, linking the families together.

Today, the main home of the family is Argos Hill House, which is located near Rotherfield in East Sussex, England.

Barons Dunboyne (from 1324)

The Barons Dunboyne lived at Kiltinan Castle in Fethard, County Tipperary, until the time of the Reformation in Ireland, which was a period of big religious changes.

• Thomas Butler, 1st Baron Dunboyne (died October 1329)
• Pierce (Piers) Butler, 2nd Baron Dunboyne (died 08/05/1370)
• Thomas "MacPiarais" Butler, 3rd Baron Dunboyne (died 11/07/1370)
• William Butler, 4th Baron Dunboyne (died 1406)
• Pierce Butler, 5th Baron Dunboyne (died 1415)
• Edmond Butler, 6th Baron Dunboyne (died 1419)
• James Butler, 7th Baron Dunboyne (died 1445), who was a "Seneschal" (a kind of manager) of Tipperary until 1457
• Edmond Butler, 8th Baron Dunboyne (died 1498), also a Seneschal of Tipperary from 1457 to 1478
• James Butler, 9th Baron Dunboyne (died 1508), also a Seneschal of Tipperary from 1478 to 1505
• James Butler, 10th Baron Dunboyne (died 1538)

Barons Dunboyne (from 1541)

This list starts with the barons who held the title after it was officially created by King Henry VIII in 1541.

• Edmond Butler, 1st/11th Baron Dunboyne (died 1566), the son of the 10th baron, received the title on June 11, 1541.
• James Butler, 2nd/12th Baron Dunboyne (died 1624)
• Edmond Butler, 3rd/13th Baron Dunboyne (died 1640), grandson of the 2nd baron
• James Butler, 4th/14th Baron Dunboyne (died 1662)
• Pierce Butler, 5th/15th Baron Dunboyne (died 1690)
• James Butler, 6th/16th Baron Dunboyne (died 1701)
• Pierce Butler, 7th/17th Baron Dunboyne (died 1718)
• Edmond Butler, 8th/18th Baron Dunboyne (died 1732)
• James Butler, 9th/19th Baron Dunboyne (died 1768)
• Pierce Butler, 10th/20th Baron Dunboyne (died 1773)
• Pierce Edmond Creagh Butler, 11th/21st Baron Dunboyne (died 1785)
• John Butler, 12th/22nd Baron Dunboyne (1720–1800), son of the 20th baron
• James Butler, 13th/23rd Baron Dunboyne (1780–1850)
• Theobald Fitzwalter Butler, 14th/24th Baron Dunboyne (1806–1881) (chosen to represent Irish nobles in Parliament in 1868)
• James Fitzwalter Clifford-Butler, 15th/25th Baron Dunboyne (1839–1899)
• Robert St John Fitzwalter Butler, 16th/26th Baron Dunboyne (1844–1913) (chosen to represent Irish nobles in Parliament in 1901)
• Fitzwalter George Probyn Butler, 17th/27th Baron Dunboyne (1874–1945)
• Patrick Theobald Tower Butler, 18th/28th Baron Dunboyne (often known as Paddy Dunboyne; 1917–2004) (He led the Irish Peers Association)
• John Fitzwalter Butler, 19th/29th Baron Dunboyne (1951–2013)
• Richard Pierce Theobald Butler, 20th/30th Baron Dunboyne (born 1983)

The person expected to inherit the title next is the current baron's son, Hon. Caspian Fitzwalter Butler.

A Special Story of Inheritance

When the 12th/22nd Baron Dunboyne, John Butler, inherited the title, he was a Roman Catholic bishop. Bishops take vows not to marry. He was worried that if he couldn't marry, he wouldn't have children, and the title would end. He tried to get permission to marry, but it was not granted.

To ensure the title could continue, he decided to leave his religious order and join the Church of Ireland. He then married, hoping to have a son to inherit the title. Sadly, his son died very young. It looked like the title might indeed end.

However, a distant relative of an earlier baron (the 2nd/12th baron) was found living in County Clare. This relative, James Butler, eventually became the 13th/23rd Baron Dunboyne. This shows how important it was to the family to keep the title going!

This new line of the family came from James Butler, 2nd/12th Baron Dunboyne, and his wife Margaret O'Brien. Their family line continued through several generations, including:

• Edward Butler and Elizabeth Dobbin
• James Butler and Janet Cantwell
• Edward Butler
• James Butler (died 1774), who became the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Cashel
• Michael Butler (died 15 Aug 1776) and Mary O'Leary
• James Butler (died 22 May 1784) and Bridget Sheehy. He lived at Cragnagowra, County Clare.
• Their son, James Butler (born 25 July 1780), became the 13th/23rd Baron Dunboyne. He was the great-great-great-grandson of the 2nd/12th baron.

See also

• Dunboyne