Sir John Piers, 6th Baronet facts for kids

Sir John Bennett Piers (1772 – 22 July 1845) was an Anglo-Irish baronet. A baronet is a special title, like a knight, that can be passed down in a family. Sir John was the 6th person in his family to hold this title, which was connected to Tristernagh Abbey in Ireland. He is remembered today because he was the subject of an early poem by the famous writer John Betjeman, called Sir John Piers.

Early Life and Family History

Sir John Piers came from an old and important family in Ireland. They were known for living at Tristernagh Abbey in County Westmeath. The family's connection to the Abbey began when William Piers was given the land by Queen Elizabeth I. Later, in 1661, William's great-grandson, Sir Henry Piers, was given the baronet title.

By the time Sir John Piers inherited the title, the old Abbey building was gone. It had been replaced by a house that was not in good condition. Sir John was the oldest son of Sir Pigott William Piers, the 5th Baronet. His mother was Elizabeth Smythe. Sir John became the 6th Baronet and took over the family lands in 1798.

He first married Mary Pratt in August 1796. She was the daughter of Rev. Joseph Pratt from Cabra. Sadly, Mary died in 1798.

Life on the Isle of Man

Sir John Piers later met Elizabeth Denny, an actress in Dublin. They started a family together. They had seven children: Henrietta, Henry, John Edward, William Stapleton, George, Louisa, and Florence. These children were born between 1803 and 1819.

Sir John and Miss Denny moved to the Isle of Man and lived in a house in Braddan. They became involved in the local community there. However, Sir John sometimes got into trouble. He appeared in court after a fight at a theatre. He also had a duel with another man over a bet.

In 1810, there were reports that Sir John Piers had died, but these were not true.

It was said that Sir John and Miss Denny were married in May 1815, while they were still living on the Isle of Man. The wedding was private. Sir John explained that his mother did not approve of the relationship. He wanted to tell her about the marriage before making it public.

However, there was a problem. There was no clear proof of a special permission from the local Bishop that was needed for the marriage to be legal. This meant the marriage might not have been valid under the laws of the Isle of Man.

Later, Miss Denny (who was then called Lady Piers) said that Sir John truly wanted a legal marriage. He hoped their children would be able to inherit his family's property. Their youngest daughters, Louisa and Florence, later went to court. They wanted to claim money they believed they were owed as Sir John's legal children. They won their case, and this legal decision is still important in English law today. It helped to define how a marriage can be presumed to be legal, even without all the usual paperwork.

After several years on the Isle of Man, Sir John Piers returned to Tristernagh. A house was built for him there with a tall wall around it. This wall was meant to keep out people he owed money to.

Later Years and Legacy

In 1830, Sir John Piers was in court again. A man named Richard Malone accused him of causing trouble. It was claimed that Sir John had fired his gun on Malone's land. He also wrote a strong letter to Malone after an argument. The court decided that Sir John was not trying to start a duel.

Sir John and his family eventually moved to Saint-Omer in France. They lived on a small income from his family's lands. Sir John died in 1845 and was buried in Saint-Omer. His brother became the next baronet. However, Sir John's actions had caused many problems for the family's money and property.

The Poem Sir John Piers

One of the first poems written by John Betjeman was called Sir John Piers. It was first printed in a local newspaper. This poem tells a story about Sir John Piers.

The poem has five parts. Part I, The Fete Champetre, describes a fancy outdoor party. Sir John Piers is there and is called "the handsomest blade." Part II, The Attempt, is spoken by Sir John. Part III, The Exile, describes Sir John when he was living on the Isle of Man. Part IV, The Return, is also spoken by Sir John as he plans to build the walls around his house at Tristernagh. The last part, Tristernagh Today, is a spooky ending where the narrator finds something strange near the Tristernagh churchyard. Betjeman wrote the poem in a funny way, making fun of old-fashioned poems.

John Betjeman also took part in a 1978 TV show about Sir John Piers. The show was called The Bold Bad Baronet. It was made for BBC Northern Ireland.