Baron Skryne facts for kids
The Baron Skryne was a special title held by a family in Ireland. This title came from a place called Skryne (or Skreen) in County Meath. It wasn't a formal title like those in the Peerage of Ireland (a list of official noble titles), but the families who held it, first the de Feypos and then the Marwards, used it often.
Even though they weren't officially part of the highest nobility, the Barons of Skryne were often asked to attend the Irish Parliament. This title stopped being used in the 1600s when the family's lands were taken by the English Crown. The last person to be called Baron Skryne was Thomas Marward, who passed away in 1568 without any sons to inherit.
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De Feypo Barons of Skryne
In 1173, Hugh de Lacy, Lord of Meath, gave the lands of Skryne and Santry to his trusted helper, Adam de Feypo. Adam was the first of his family to use the title Baron of Skryne.
Adam de Feypo was loyal to Hugh de Lacy. However, Adam's son, Richard, who became the second Baron Skryne, was present when the de Lacy family lost their lands in 1210. Later, another Richard (possibly the first Richard's grandson) died during the time of King Edward I. He left behind a young son named Simon.
In 1302, Simon, who was then an adult, won a lawsuit against his former guardian, Theobald de Verdon. Simon claimed that Theobald had wasted his inheritance while Simon was a child. The last de Feypo baron of Skryne was Francis. Around 1340, he founded an Augustinian friary (a home for monks) and a chantry (a place where prayers were said for the dead).
Marward Barons of Skryne
Francis de Feypo's daughter and heiress, Katherine, married Thomas Marward around 1375. Francis's older son, John, and his grandson, also named John, had died before Francis. This made Katherine the heiress to Skryne. Katherine's surviving brother, Robert de Feypo, might have been upset because he would normally have been the heir. The de Feypo family had held the Baron title for five generations. Robert lived in Santry Castle and his family also used the title Baron Skryne.
It's not clear exactly when the Marward family started using the title Baron Skryne. But it was definitely before 1414. In that year, Thomas Marward, Baron Skryne, was killed while helping to stop a rebellion by O'Connor Fahy. His son, also named Thomas, was a child. He became a Royal ward, meaning the King became his guardian. In 1422, King Henry VI of England gave the guardianship to Stephen de Bray, a top judge in Ireland.
A few years later, Anne Marward, described as the daughter of Baron Skryne (likely Richard, who died in 1478), married Sir Alexander Plunket. He later became a very important judge, the Lord Chancellor of Ireland. Walter Marward, Baron Skryne (who died in 1487), was probably Anne's brother. He was an important person and married Margaret St Lawrence, whose father was the powerful Anglo-Irish leader Christopher St Lawrence, 2nd Baron Howth. After Walter's death, Margaret married Sir William Darcy of Platten, another important Irish leader and writer.
William Nugent, the second son of Richard, Baron Delvin, married Janet Marward. Janet was the only daughter and heiress of Walter Marward, Baron of Skryne, who died around 1565. Through this marriage, William inherited the manor of Santry and other properties.
In the 1500s, the Marward family was involved in two notable events. In 1534, James Marward, Baron Skryne, died. His wife, Maud Darcy, later married Richard FitzGerald. James left behind a son, Thomas (or Walter), who died around 1565. Thomas left a daughter and heiress named Janet, who was then called Baroness Skryne.
Janet's mother, Janet Plunket, later married a leading judge named Nicholas Nugent. Nugent became the guardian of his step-daughter, Janet. Nicholas Nugent arranged for his nephew, William Nugent, to marry Janet. This marriage caused a lot of talk, but it could not be undone. William died in 1625 and Janet in 1629.
Forfeiture of the Barony
The Skryne inheritance then passed to James Nugent, the eldest son of William and Janet. However, his lands were taken away by the English Crown after he took part in the Irish Rebellion of 1641. Because of this, the title of Baron Skryne stopped being used.
List of the Barons Skryne (de Feypo; title ended by 1375)
This list is not complete
- Adam de Feypo, Baron Skryne (died 1190/91)
- Richard de Feypo, Baron Skryne (alive in 1210)
- Richard de Feypo, Baron Skryne (alive in 1290)
- Simon de Feypo, Baron Skryne (alive in 1302)
- Francis de Feypo, Baron Skryne (died before 1375)
List of the Barons Skryne (Marward; title ended around 1565)
This list is not complete
- Thomas Marward, Baron Skryne (killed 1414)
- Thomas Marward, Baron Skryne (alive in 1422)
- Richard Marward, Baron Skryne (called Baron in 1459, died 1478)
- Walter Marward, Baron Skryne (died 1487)
- Thomas Marward, Baron Skryne (1484-1503)
- James Marward, Baron Skryne (1501-1534)
- Walter Marward, Baron Skryne (died around 1565)
List of the Barons Skryne (Nugent; title taken away 1641)
- Janet Marward Nugent, Baroness Skryne (died 1629)
- James Nugent, Baron Skryne (died after 1641)
