John Bathe (died 1586) facts for kids

John Bathe (born 1536, died 1586) was an important Irish lawyer and government official in the 1500s. He held several big jobs, like being the main lawyer for Ireland (Attorney General) and managing the country's money (Chancellor of the Exchequer). John Bathe came from a well-known family in County Dublin who owned a lot of land. He even bought more land for his family. One of his children was William Bathe, a Jesuit priest who was also famous for studying music.

John Bathe's Early Life and Family Background

John Bathe was the only son of James Bathe, who was a top judge in Ireland (Chief Baron of the Irish Exchequer). His mother was Elizabeth Burnell. John's father, James, was a trusted helper of the English King and Queen for 30 years. Even though some people doubted his loyalty during a rebellion, he stayed in his important job. Both John and his father publicly followed the Church of Ireland, but many believed they were secretly Roman Catholic.

The Bathe family was a branch of an older family from County Meath. They had lived in Rathfeigh since the 1360s. John's father, James, became a big landowner in Dublin. He owned Drimnagh Castle and started building Drumcondra Castle, which John later finished. Today, Drumcondra House stands where the old castle was. There's even a special stone there that mentions John Bathe and his first wife, Eleanor Preston, as the builders of the castle.

John Bathe's Career in Law and Government

John Bathe studied law at Lincoln's Inn in London starting in 1560. He got help from a gift left to him by his cousin, Richard Burnell, who was also a lawyer. After finishing his studies, John became a lawyer and returned to Ireland. At first, it was hard for him to build his law practice. But from the late 1560s, his career grew very quickly.

He became the main lawyer for the government in Ireland (Principal Solicitor for Ireland) in 1570. Then, in 1574, he became the Attorney-General for Ireland, which is a very important legal position. In 1576, he was part of a powerful group chosen by the King to investigate "hidden lands." These were lands that used to belong to monasteries or people who had lost their property due to crimes.

John's career faced a small problem when the leader of Ireland, Sir Henry Sidney, decided to only appoint Protestant judges and lawyers. John was known to be secretly Catholic, so he was removed from his job in 1577. But this didn't last long! The very next year, he was appointed Chancellor of the Exchequer, a job where he managed the country's money. He held this important role until he died.

Many English officials in Ireland, especially Sir John Perrot, respected John Bathe. It's said that John Bathe even helped make things easier for the native Irish people who were treated harshly by Sir John Perrot. John's kindness is also shown in his will, where he left money to build a hospital for poor men in Balgriffin.

Unlike his father, John was never suspected of being disloyal to the Crown. Even though a rebel named William Nugent was a relative by marriage, John Bathe did not join his uprising. He publicly followed the Church of Ireland, but his private loyalty to the Roman Catholic faith was well known. His second wife, Jenet, was openly Catholic, and their children were clearly raised in that faith. Two of his children even became Catholic priests. Jenet's strong Catholic beliefs were a concern for the government, and she was watched carefully for many years.

John Bathe's Property and Family Life

John Bathe was very skilled at adding to his family's land and wealth. He successfully claimed lands that used to belong to his mother's family, the Burnells, in Balgriffin and Chapelizod. He also bought land in Clonturk, Ballybough, and Glasnevin, as well as in other counties like Meath and Kildare. Some people say he wasn't just greedy, but wanted to make sure his large family had enough to live comfortably.

He married his first wife, Eleanor Preston. They had two sons and a daughter:

• William Bathe (1564-1614) inherited his father's large estates. He became a Jesuit priest and was known for studying languages and music.
• Sir John Bathe (1565-1634) later received the family estates from his brother William. He became a leading voice for Irish Catholic landowners.

John Bathe's second wife was Jenet Finglas. They had five children. The most notable was:

• Luke, who also became a priest. He took the name Father Edward and led the Capuchin mission in Ireland for many years.

After John Bathe died, his widow Jenet married Sir William Warren, a famous soldier. They had several daughters. After Sir William died, Jenet married a third time to Terence O'Dempsey, 1st Viscount Clanmalier.

Jenet and Sir William Warren are believed to have helped arrange the marriage of the famous Irish leader Hugh O'Neill, Earl of Tyrone to Mabel Bagenal in 1591. This wedding took place at Drumcondra Castle. Jenet died in 1627.