Sir William Parsons, 1st Baronet of Bellamont facts for kids

Sir William Parsons, 1st Baronet of Bellamont (born around 1570 – died 1650) was an important figure in Irish history. He was known for helping to settle English and Scottish people in Ireland, a process called "plantations." He also held powerful government jobs, like Surveyor General of Ireland, which meant he was in charge of mapping and valuing land. From 1640 to 1643, he was one of the two Lord Justices of Ireland, acting as the King's main representatives during a difficult time that included the Irish rebellion of 1641 and the start of the Irish Confederate War.

Early Life and Family Roots

William Parsons was born in England around 1570. He was the oldest son of James Parsons and Catherine Fenton. His family was English and Protestant. His mother's brother was Sir Geoffrey Fenton, who was a very important secretary to Queen Elizabeth I in Ireland.

William had two younger brothers:

• Lawrence, who became a judge. His son, William Parsons, later became the 1st Baronet of Birr Castle.
• Fenton, who was knighted.

Moving to Ireland and Important Roles

William Parsons moved to Ireland around 1590, during the last years of Queen Elizabeth I's rule. He quickly became involved in the "plantations" – a system where the English Crown took land and gave it to new settlers, often from England or Scotland. He received a lot of land from the Crown himself.

In 1602, William became the Surveyor General of Ireland. This job meant he was responsible for surveying and mapping lands, especially those taken by the Crown. He also helped create the Court of Wards in Ireland, which managed the lands of young heirs who were under the King's protection. He became the first head of this court.

Serving in Parliament

William Parsons was a member of the Irish Parliament from 1613 to 1615. He represented Newcastle Borough in County Dublin. King James I created many new boroughs for this parliament to make sure there were more Protestant members.

Marriage and His Children

Around 1615, William Parsons married his cousin, Elizabeth Lany. She was the daughter of John Lany, a city official in Dublin. This marriage also connected him to Richard Boyle, 1st Earl of Cork, a very powerful Anglo-Irish leader of that time.

William and Elizabeth had five sons and seven daughters:

• Sons:
  • Richard, who also served in Parliament for Wicklow. He married Lettice Loftus but passed away before his father.
  • John
  • Francis
  • James (died unmarried)
  • William (died unmarried)
• Daughters:
  • Catherine, who married Sir James Barry.
  • Margaret
  • Elizabeth
  • Jane
  • Mary
  • Anne
  • Judith

Later Life and Achievements

William Parsons became a very respected figure. On June 7, 1620, he was knighted by Oliver St John.

Ruin of Bellamont Castle in 1767

Later that year, on November 10, he was given the title of 1st Baronet Parsons of Bellamont. A baronet is a special title, like a knight, but it can be passed down through the family. He built or rebuilt Bellamont Castle in 1622. Today, only a tower ruin remains in Ballymount Park, near the M50 Motorway in Dublin.

In 1623, Parsons became a member of the Privy Council of Ireland. This was a group of important advisors to the King in Ireland. He worked under Thomas Wentworth, 1st Earl of Strafford, who was the King's main representative in Ireland. Parsons didn't always agree with Wentworth, but he was careful not to openly oppose him.

Parsons was known for acquiring a lot of land. He often gained control of lands that were previously held by Irish families, using legal methods that some historians have questioned.

Serving in Parliament Again

Parsons served in the Irish Parliament two more times. He was a member for County Armagh from 1634 to 1635. Then, from 1639 to 1649, he represented County Wicklow. His son, Richard, also served in Parliament for Wicklow during this time.

Becoming Lord Justice

William Parsons' first wife, Elizabeth, passed away in April 1640. He likely remarried soon after to Catherine Jones.

In December 1640, Parsons was appointed as a Lord Justice alongside Robert Dillon. The Lord Justices were the chief governors of Ireland, acting on behalf of the King. Dillon was soon replaced, and Parsons then served with Sir John Borlase.

The King appointed Robert Sidney as Lord Lieutenant of Ireland in 1641, but Sidney never actually came to Ireland. This left Parsons and Borlase in charge. When the Irish Rebellion of 1641 began, Parsons had to manage the crisis almost by himself because Borlase was not very effective. Parsons believed the rebellion needed to be stopped with force and did not want to compromise.

Parsons continued as Lord Justice until March 1642, when King Charles I replaced him. In 1643, he was accused of disloyalty and briefly imprisoned, but he was quickly released. He felt this was a poor reward for his hard work for the Crown. He lived in Dublin until 1648, then moved back to England.

Death and Legacy

Sir William Parsons died in early 1650 in Westminster, London, and was buried at St Margaret's, Westminster. Since his oldest son, Richard, had died before him, William was succeeded by his grandson, also named William, who became the 2nd Baronet Parsons.

See also

• List of Irish Parliaments