Patrick White (judge) facts for kids

Sir Patrick White (around 1480-1561) was an important Irish politician, landowner, and judge. He was known for working as a judge for about forty years. For much of that time, he was the second Baron of the Court of Exchequer (Ireland). This court helped manage the King's money and legal cases.

Patrick White started a family line that became important landowners in Dufferin, County Down. They were called the Lords of the Manor of Dufferin for many years. Sometimes, they had to leave Dufferin because of local troubles. His younger son, Rowland, became a writer who shared his ideas about politics. Rowland's writings were very important in his time.

In 1533, Patrick White became a member of the Privy Council of Ireland. This was a group of trusted advisors to the King or Queen. He was also made a knight. John Rawson, who was a powerful leader, was one of the few people who controlled the Privy Council. Sir Patrick White was good friends with him. Patrick's younger son, Rowland, married Catherine, who was John Rawson's daughter. This marriage helped the White family become much wealthier.

Like many judges back then, Sir Patrick White gained a lot of land when the King closed down monasteries. This event was called the Dissolution of the Monasteries. He received lands in Clontarf that used to belong to a religious group called the Order of St John. This might have been suggested by his friend, Lord Clontarf. He also owned lands in Rathsallagh in County Wicklow and many properties in Meath. He became the lord of the manor of Dufferin in County Down. Sir Patrick White died in 1561 while still working as a judge.

His son Rowland became a Protestant. He was a sincere religious reformer, but his ideas were sometimes unusual. Because of this, the Catholic Queen Mary I was suspicious of him. However, Patrick White himself seems to have remained a Roman Catholic. He kept his faith even in his later years when the Protestant Queen Elizabeth I was ruling.

White Family Life

Sir Patrick White was married twice. We don't know much about his first wife. His second wife was Alison St Lawrence. She was the daughter of Nicholas St Lawrence, 4th Baron Howth. Alison had been married before. Patrick White had at least three children.

Patrick's Children

• Nicholas (died around 1566) was Patrick's oldest son and heir. He lived in Flemington and had at least one son, also named Patrick.
• Rowland lived in Dufferin. He married Catherine Rawson, the daughter of Viscount Clontarf. Catherine brought a very large dowry with her. A dowry was money or property that a bride's family gave to her husband. Rowland used this money to build a successful business. He was a major leader in the politics of Ulster in the 1560s. He also wrote several important books, including "Discourse touching Ireland" (around 1569) and "The Disorders of the Irishry" (around 1571). Rowland died from the plague in 1572. His son, John, later bought Dufferin from his cousin Patrick (Nicholas's son). John then sold Dufferin to James Hamilton, 1st Viscount Clandeboye around 1606.
• Margaret married Walter Forster, who was an important city official in Dublin. They had one daughter who survived, also named Margaret.