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The Standish Family of Ireland.

Christopher Standish of Duxbury Lancashire 1532 A.D.

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Standish Mason of Dublin Ireland 2008 A.D.      

  to -:

The Standish Family of Canada.       

1. The Standish Family of Ireland.

2. The Standish Family of Rathbeggan House, County Meath, Ireland.

3.date 1519. The TWO James Standishes

4. Marriage of James Standish and Elizabeth Butler.

5.Looking for the father of James Standish .

6.John Standish father of James Standish.

7.The Will of Thomas Standish Lord of the Manor of Duxbury.

8.1556 - Christopher Standish and the Mill at Duxbury.

9.The Evidence for Two Christopher Standishes living in Duxbury 1563 – 1599.

10. 1584 - John Standish and the parish register of the Church of St. Laurence.

11.The Family of Christopher Standish born Duxbury England 1532.

12. Lord of the Manor of Duxbury 2008.

13. THE STANDISHES OF CANADA .

14.The History of the Mason Family Business Dublin Ireland.

15.1649 The Battle of RATHMINES Dublin Ireland.

Letters to Henry Cromwell – Lansdowne MSS 453 (1655 to 1658) vol. iii, p218.

ref: Rev. W. Ball-Wright, M.A.

 After the presentation of your humble duty to his Highness and his earnest and very affectionate enquiry of yourself, lady and children’s welfare I communicated the grounds of my application pursuant to your Excellency’s commands and found a very favourable treatment his Highness expressing his contentment therein and that he would do what in him lay for the effectment thereof and in order thereunto the business was referred to a committee of Council and the Treasurer at Warre who with myself were ordered to draw up a statement of the particular for their view, which by reason of Capt. Blackwell’s being out of town yesterday and to-day will not be completed until to­morrow.

My Lord Fleetwood whom I have found very favourable and cordiale herein moved for their order, and at the same time also that the £17,000 paid into the Exchequer here as Advance by the Excise and Customs of Ireland and so much thereof as was undisposed might be paid into the hands of the Treasurer at Warre and what was disposed of thereof might be also be refunded and made good out of other cash, for the Irish service, which was accordingly granted and an order made to that purpose. I find also by discourse with the Treasurer at Warre a probability of a considerable sum in their hands or that will shortly be, as remaining of what hath been assigned to us in England to the 25^th instant and amounting to about £28,000 or £30,000 the certainty to the sum, and when it may be ready I shall shortly know, unto which if his Highness or Council may be presented with to advance our gold debt, but new demands of the £22,500 long since charged for Ireland or Goldsmith’s Hall your Excellency, will not be far of your desires. Howbeit there nothing shall be lost for want of asking of all that you have given me in command to document.

 I have had several opportunities with Mr. Secretary, who hath been very Inquisitive in this particular and hath seemingly received with very much satisfaction what I have informed him therein. And hath assured me of the utmost of his endeavours to accomplish your Lordships desired with a speedy despatch thereof. My Lord, these are the buds that have only as yet appeared. How they may blossom and come to perfection or be nipped I know not nor can I be assured. The lot is cast into the lap but the disposure thereof is from the Lord, to whose good protection and guidance I humbly commit your Lordship, and praying for your Lordships welfare remain -

 My Lord,

Your Excellency’s most humble and faithful servant,

  James Standish                                       

London 30^th May 1658                       

Seal of James Standish, Vice Treasurer of Ireland -

the common Seal of the Standish Family of Duxbury England.

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The Standish Family

of

Rathbeggan House, County Meath, IRELAND.

The following notes are from the article on James Standish, Vice-Treasurer of Ireland,

by Reverend William Ball Wright

(Jour. R.S.A. I, Vol, I, 5th Ser.).

Vice Treasurer of Ireland  -  James Standish a descendant of the Standish Family of Duxbury.

An article on James Standish, the Vice-Treasurer of Ireland during the Cromwellian period, was published in 1890. The author was Reverend William Ball Wright, M.A. The article suggests that the Vice-Treasurer and his brother Joseph Standish of St. Mary’s Lane, Oxmantown, Dublin, were sons of one Henry Standish and grandsons of Christopher Standish of the Duxbury family.

Christopher Standish appears in the Standish Pedigree as the second son of James Standish of Duxbury by his wife Elizabeth Butler, whom he married in 1526.

The baptismal register of Chorley Parish Church records the baptisms of several children of Christopher Standish, commencing with his son James, baptized on 21 January 1558. None of those recorded is named Henry. The Chorley registers record the burial of Elizabeth, wife of James Standish on 9 November 1565 and of James Standish, Esquire, on 1 May 1566.

In his article, Reverend Mr. Wright quotes a petition of James Standish, Vice-Treasurer, to Oliver Cromwell dated 6 April 1655 which appears to mean that James Standish was already living in Ireland in 1641 when the rebellion broke out against King Charles I. He was appointed Receiver General and Vice-Treasurer of Ireland by Cromwell early in 1649 and held that post until the Restoration of 1660. Wright quotes several letters written by James Standish in his official capacity and sealed with the Arms of Standish of Duxbury To have so used these Arms at that time without belonging to the Duxbury family would have been an act of incredible presumption. Although Wright was unable to prove the descent of James Standish, the use of the Arms is persuasive evidence that James was of the Duxbury line.

During the Cromwellian period, James Standish received a grant of land in County Antrim, Ireland. After the Restoration, he apparently made his peace with the government of Charles II and in the Patent Roll of 1666 he received a grant of forfeited lands in County Meath. Among these were the lands of Rathbeggan and Porterstown in the barony of Ratoath.

James Standish apparently married twice. His first wife is believed to have been Anne Carterett, a sister of Dr. Philip Carterett, Advocate General of the Cromwellian Army in Ireland. She was presumably the Anne Standish buried at St. Michan’s Church, Dublin. He seems to have had daughters by both wives but none that survived him.

The Vice-Treasurer had a house at the King’s Inns, the site of the present Four Courts in Dublin. Late in his life he moved to Hatton Garden, in the parish of St. Andrew’s, Holborn, London, where he owned another house. He died at his Holborn house in 1695 and by a short will dated 14 September 1683, he bequeathed to his wife Hannah, his lands in the Barony of Ratoath, County Meath, his stables, coach and horses in Hangeman Lane, Oxmantown (now part of Dublin), his houses in Dublin and Holborn. His widow proved the will in the Prerogative Court of Ireland in September 1695.

Hannah Standish of St. Andrew’s Parish, Holborn, widow, died in 1698 leaving a will which has survived in the Public Record Office, London. By somewhat complicated provisions, she left the property to the children of nephews of her late husband.

 As a result of the burning of the Public Record Office in Dublin in 1922, Irish genealogical research is notoriously difficult. For example, an Index has survived of the Prerogative Wills of Ireland from 1536. It lists a number of Standish wills but, with few exceptions, the wills themselves (including that of Joseph Standish’s father) were lost in the fire. An index of Marriage Licence Bonds has survived, but not the Bonds themselves. The old parish registers of many Church of Ireland parishes (including those for the parishes of Bourney and Skirk where Joseph’s ancestors lived) were deposited in the Public Records Office during World War I, only to go up in smoke in “the Troubles” that followed it.

The Irish records that have survived relate to three, and apparently only three, families bearing the name Standish: Standish of Bruff and Bally-frankie, County Limerick; Standish of Rathbeggan House, County Meath; and Standish of Mill Park, County Tipperary and Ballytarsna, Queen’s County.

The Meath Family

The Standish family of Rathbeggan House, County Meath were the heirs of Vice-Treasurer James Standish. Notes based on the wills of this family appear in Irwin’s Pedigrees

Mention has already been made of the will of Hannah Standish, widow of the Vice-Treasurer. The will was dated 1693 and there were codicils dated 1694,1695 and 19 September 1697. Probate was granted on 16 April 1698. Hannah left Rathbeggan and Porterstown, County Meath to “James Standish, eldest son of James Standish, late of the city of Dublin, gent., deceased, which James Standish was nephew to my late husband James Standish Esq. deceased and to his heirs male.” In the event of James the younger having no male heirs, the Meath lands were to go to Joseph Standish, the second son of the late James and his heirs, and then to Henry, the third son. The lease of the house in King’s Inn, Oxmantown was left to Anne and Jane Standish, daughters of the late James. The house in Hatton Garden, London, was left to John Standish, second son of “John Standish of Grey Friars, London, nephew to my husband.” Other children of John of Grey Friars were also mentioned.

It appears therefore that the Vice-Treasurer had had two nephews, believed by Reverend Mr. Wright to have been sons of Joseph Standish of St. Mary’s Lane, Oxmantown. This Joseph may be the “Jos. Standish” whose burial is recorded in the Parish Register of St. Michan’s Church, Dublin, on 17 March 1661.

The nephews were James Standish of Dublin who died before Hannah made her will and John Standish of Grey Friars, London, who survived. To the family of the late James, Hannah left the Irish property. To John’s family she left the English property and there is no evidence that any of John’s descendants ever lived in Ireland. As matters turned out, James the elder son of the Vice-Treasurer’s late nephew James had male heirs who inherited the Rathbeggan property and so that property never passed to his younger brothers, Joseph and Henry, mentioned in the Vice Treasurer’s will. Reverend Mr. Wright recorded nothing further about Joseph. Henry was apparently a merchant in Dublin whose will was probated in the Prerogative Court in 1741. Wright states that their sister Anne married Benjamin Rainsford of Leixlip and that their sister Jane married William Payne at St. Brides in 1697.

The fact that Reverend William Ball Wright compiled information on both Vice-Treasurer James and on the Mill Park family is one of several elusive hints that Robert of Mill Park was related to the Rathbeggan Standishes and through them to the Vice-Treasurer and ultimately to the Duxbury branch of the ancient Lancashire family. The other “hints” are as follows:

1.  There is a strong family tradition among the descendants of Joseph Standish of Esquesing, that Joseph was educated at the Diocesan School at Trim, County Meath. The story, which will be referred to again in Chapter VI in connection with the Wellesley family, was repeated very often by Joseph’s son-in-law, Dr. Robert McCullough of Georgetown, Ontario and his son, Dr. Allan McCullough. There was such a school at Trim in the late 18th century, when Joseph would have attended. It no longer exists and no records of it have been located from which to verify the tradition. Trim is a very long way from Roscrea and Borris-in-Ossory but it is only about 12 or 15 miles from Rathbeggan House. For Joseph’s father to have sent him to school at Trim seems totally inexplicable unless there were relatives living near Trim who, perhaps, took an interest in the boy.

2.  The Mrs. Standish of Rathbeggan, whom Joseph would have known, had the unusual name of Lydia. Joseph Standish gave that name to one of his daughters. He named his eldest daughter for his mother-in-law and his second for his mother. His third daughter, born in 1810 was

named Lydia. That name does not appear to have belonged to anyone in the immediate family of himself or of his wife. He does not seem to have been one pick names out of the air. His fourth daughter was given the name of his aunt Mrs. Percy, his fifth the name of his sister-in-law Mrs. Matthew Standish, and his sixth the full maiden name of his wife Mary Sawyer. Why Lydia, unless it was for Mrs. John Standish (nee Lydia Mason) of Rathbeggan House, County Meath?

The Standish Family of Rathbeggan House, County Meath, Ireland.

Children of James Standish of Dublin, son of Joseph Standish of St.Mary’s Lane, Oxmantown, brother of the Vice-Treasurer:

1.  James Standish of Dublin; died intestate 6 April 1732; m Rebecca Deacon, and had issue - (a).

2.  Joseph Standish.

3.  Henry Standish; Freeman of Dublin 1708; will probated 1741.

4.  Anne Standish; m Benjamin Rainsford of Leixlip.

5.  Jane Standish; m St. Bride’s Church, Dublin 1697, William Payne, and had issue.

(a) Children of James Standish, the younger, of Dublin and Rebecca Deacon, his wife:

1.  Joseph Standish; baptized at St. Andrew’s, Dublin, 17 March 1699; died in infancy.

2.  John Standish; born before 1700, B.A. (Trinity College, Dublin) 1724, M.A. 1727, ordained in the Church of Ireland, Curate of Maralin, County Down 1730-1766, Rector of Banbridge 1766-1776, d unm, will probated 1776.

3.  James Standish; died before Reverend John.

4.Deacon Standish; born cl700, goldsmith, Aungier Street, Dublin, will probated 1791, buried in St. Kevin’s Churchyard, Dublin. By his first wife he had a son John, baptized St. Andrew’s, Dublin 19 April 1750, died in infancy. Deacon m(2nd) Sarah Ryan of Leighlin Bridge. Her will was probated1801.

5.  Henry Standish; b cl701, seal cutter in Cole Alley, Dublin, Churchwarden of St. Werburgh’s, Dublin 1731 and 1739, inherited Rathbeggan, died intestate cl793. He married cl729 Susanna and had issue (see below - b).

6.  William Standish; born 1714, baptized St. Mary’s Dublin, buried April 1715.

7.  Rebecca Standish.

8.  Alice Standish; married Richard Wolfe of Baronsrath and died 1754, buried in Naas Church.

(b) Children of Henry Standish of Rathbeggan and of Susanna, his wife:

1.  Anne Standish; baptized St. Mary’s 29 September 1730.

2.  James Standish; baptized St. Werburgh’s 20 June 1733, seal cutter in Dublin, d unm and intestate 1807.

3.  John Standish; baptized St. Bride’s, Dublin, 4 March 1736, jeweller of Fade Street, Dublin, died intestate, buried St. Bride’s 23 April 1797. Married Lydia Mason and had issue who lived at Rathbeggan. (From John and Lydia the Standish family connection descends to Standish Mason and Margaret Lewis (nee Mason) of Dublin - 2008 and the Standish family of Canada as researched by the late J Richard Houston of Canada.)

Eventually Rathbeggan House was inherited by the Wilkinson family, descendants of John and Lydia.

4.  Henry Standish; of North Frederick Street, Dublin; will probated 1813; married Frances Diana Obree and had issue. - Copy of will below.

Christian Standish; married John Ball of Dorset St., Dublin, and has issue (including, probably, Reverend William Ball Wright).

The Will of Henry Standish; of North Frederick Street, Dublin;

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James Standish Lord of the Manor of Duxbury 1517 - 1566

Elizabeth Butler (wife of James) daughter of John Butler of Rawcliffe.

- their second son Christopher Standish born 1532.

The seal of James Standish and his wife Elizabeth in the year 1532..

date 1519. The TWO James Standishes Uncle and Nephew both have a son named "Christopher Standish"..

Lancashire Archives - DP 397/4/9 - date: 1519

In 20 marks: James Standish of Duckisburi esq, James Standisch of the same place gent. Richard Merton and Robert Haidocke of Heipa, yeomen to Oliver Haidocke of Heipa - and his assigns peaseabully to occupy and care at their pleasure all the 'tend cornys’ tithecorn in the town and fields of Heipa for life without any trouble from James Standisch esq. and James Standisch gent. which ‘cornys' they hold for a term of years of the Abbey of Evysham, County Worcs., and of Richard, Prior of Penwortham, provided that if this bond is not lawful, James Standisch esq, and James Standisch gent shall obtain a lease from the Prior to Oliver Haidocke

THE TWO JAMES STANDISHES of Duxbury in the year 1519.

1.  JAMES STANDISH ESQUIRE. – (Nephew)

2.  JAMES STANDISH   GENT.      – (UNCLE).

Lancashire Archives - DP397/4/11  date 12th July 1526. - Marriage of James Standish and Elizabeth Butler.

Elizabeth Butler was a descendent of Sir Richard le Botiller and Theobald Walter who was the original ancestor of the Butler family of England and Ireland. Thus when the parliamentary forces and government (including James Standish the Vice Treasurer of Ireland) were under attack in Dublin in 1649 by the royalist forces it was a distant cousin of Elizabeth Butler and James Standish the Vice Treasurer of Ireland (the Marquis of Ormond - James Butler) who was commander of the attacking royalist force.

Elizabeth Butler also brought the bloodline of the Washington family of Washington (the family of President George Washington of the USA) into the Standish family of Duxbury – Ireland – Canada.

The Marquis of Ormond - James Butler cousin of Elizabeth Butler.

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Record from the Visitation of Lancashire in the 1533  John Butler of  Racliffe.

Marriage Contract for Laurence (first son) then Thomas (second son) the sons of James and Elizabeth Standish date 1531.

De Houghton papers. Deed Number 1391.

Laurence the first son of James and Elizabeth Standish died in 1532 the same year that his brother Christopher was born, Thomas the second son became heir of James and Elizabeth Standish and married Margaret de Houghton another daughter of Sir Richard de Houghton as required by the terms of deed number 1391. Thomas Standish became Lord of the Manor of Duxbury in 1566.

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Looking for the father of James Standish -

the first Republican Vice Treasurer of Ireland 1649 –1661

The Reverend William Ball-Wright M.A. concluded that “James Standish the Vice Treasurer of Ireland 1649 –1661 was the grandson of Christopher Standish and Great grandson of James Standish Lord of the Manor of Duxbury 1515 –1566. Reverend William Ball-Wright M.A. also states “ James Standish was perhaps born in Lancashire between 1600 and 1610” and that “James Standish used the seal of the Standish family of Duxbury on private letters and state papers”.

The use of the seal of the Standish family of Duxbury by James Standish Vice Treasurer of Ireland had to be Lawful and Legal as the ascribed use of the seal was witnessed and vouched for by no other than Oliver Cromwell and King Charles the second.

1.  The Common Seal of the Standish family of the Pele Duxbury Lancashire.

2. Oliver Cromwell - The Lord Protector was born in Huntingdon on April 25th 1599 and died in 1658.e

Cromwell and Ireland

Cromwell’s reputation is considered by many to have been significantly blackened as a consequence of what happened in Ireland in the forty weeks from August 1649 to May 1650.

Biographers of Cromwell have differed on this subject and the truth of what happened is often obscured by myth and legend. It served the interests of both sides at the time to exaggerate the outcomes of Cromwell’s Irish Campaign, and the axiom that truth is the first casualty of war was as applicable in the 17th century as in the 21st.

3.  Charles 11 1630 - 1685.

The period of Charles II's reign (1660-1667) was that of the administration of Lord Clarendon, the principal author of the Restoration settlement. The King was granted the large revenue of 1,300,000. The naval and military forces were disbanded, but Charles managed to retain under the name of guards three regiments, which remained the nucleus of a standing army. The settlement of estates on a legal basis provided ill for a large number of the King's adherents who had impoverished themselves in his cause. The King's honour was directly involved in their compensation and, except for the gratification of a few individuals, was tarnished by his neglect to afford them relief. Charles used his influence to carry through parliament the Act of Indemnity, and the execution of some of the regicides was a measure not more severe than was to be expected in the times and circumstances; but that of Sir Henry Vane, who was not a regicide and whose life Charles had promised the parliament to spare in case of his condemnation, was brought about by Charles's personal insistence for revenge.

King Charles II and James Standish the Vice Treasurer of Ireland

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The Standish Family of Duxbury Lancashire – John Standish father of James Standish the Vice Treasurer of Ireland.

Extract -: from the Mason Family History.

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The Will of Thomas Standish Lord of the Manor of Duxbury 1566 – 1599 brother of Christopher Standish.

Thomas Standish clearly indicates in his Will that his brother Christopher has several children and that Christopher is still alive in 1600.

THE WILL OF THOMAS STANDISH "OF DUXBURY, IN THE COUNTY OF LANCASTER, ESQUIRE. MADE 1593. PROVED 1600.

IN the name of lorde god the xviijth daye of June in the yere one thousande fyve hundre the nyntye and three And in the xxxvth yere of the Reigne of or soveigne ladye Elizabethe by the grace of god. I Thomas Standishe of duckesburye in the Coutie of lancashire esquier sycke in bodye but of good and pfecte mynde and Remembrance laude and prayse bee unto almyghtie god, doe ordeyne and make my Testamente Conteyninge herein my laste Will in maner and forme as hereafter dothe appearc. That is to wyte fyrste and pryncipallie I gyve and bequethe my soule to almightie god my onlye maker and Redeemer trustinge in his great mercy and by the meryts of Christs Passion and Resurrection whereby I faithfullye doe belyve, that I shalbe one of the nomber of those that shalbee saved And my bodye to bee buryed wthin the pishe Churche of Chorley And for the disposynge of my worldlye goods I gyve and bequethe in man) and forme followinge, ffyrste and pryncipallie for all my howseholde goods belonginge to mee, wch are for the furnisshinge of my howse, and for all my Implements of howseholde, of what sorte or kynde so ever they bee of, whether of playte, pewter, copp, brasse, Iron, or woodde, or of any other sorte or kynde whatsover. And also all man) of furniture and necessaries belonginge unto husband rye beinge of hempe Iron or woodde, my will and mynde is that all the p’misses be devyded into three Equall pts whereof one thyrde pte I doe gyve unto Margaret my welbeloved wiffe to her owen use, And the other two thirde pts my will and mynde ys and I doe gyve the same unto my sonne Allexander Standish to his owen use. And for the Reste of my goods Cattell and debts what so ever quicke or deade after my debts and funlall dischardged my will and mynde is to have theym equallye devided into three equall pts whereof the fyrste pte I doe gyve  unto Margaret my said welbeloved wiffe to have and enioye to her owen prop use. And one other thirde pte my will and mynde ys that my daughter Ellyn shall have to and for the p’fermente of her mariage, soe as shee be cotented to be Ruled and doe not marrye wthoute the pryvitie Consente or lykinge of Margaret my said Wiffe, or my sonne Allexander, wch said thyrdde pte is to bee payed unto her by my Executors at suche tyme as shee shalbe marryed. And in the meane tyme to bee used to her moste benefytte and profytt att the disposition and discrecion of Margaret my said wiffe and my said sonne Allexander Standish, and for the laste thirde pte of the said goods my will and mynde is, that yt shalbe to and for the paymentc of my iegacs and bequethes wich heareafter followe, ffyrste I gyve unto evye one of my chyldrens chyldern wich I am grand father unto iiju vjs viijd a peece. Itm. I gyve &c. of the said thirde pte unto my sonne Leonarde Standish xl11 soe as the said leonarde bee Contented and pleased to bee obedyente and Ruled by my said Wiffe untill suche tyme as hee shall accomplishe the age of xxj yeares and then to doe suche acts or acte as my said Wiflfe shall in reason require of hym to bee downe for the unitinge and knyttinge of hym in an assured and lovinge frendsippe and amy tie with his brother Alexander wich I pray to god maye soe bee as yet may bee for the greate comforte of all those that dothe love theym bothe. Also I gyve  unto evye one of my three daughters Elizabethe, Jayne and Alice vjH xiijs iiijd a peece also I gyve unto evye one of my yomen suche as are my howseholde svants over and besyds theire waigs xxa a peece. Itm. I gyve. unto evye one of my worke svants ov and besids theire waigs xs apeece. And unto evye one of my maide svants over and besids theire  waigs vs apeece. Itm. I gyve unto my brother Xtofter Standish xls and to evy one of his chyldren xs apeece. Itm. I gyve unto my sister Clemens xls and for the resydue of the said last thirde pte if there bee anye remaninge I gyve the same unto my sonne Allexander Standish. Itm. yt is my mynde and will and I gyve and assigne by these prsnts unto John Wygan and his assignes all that messuage and tefite lyinge and beeinge in heapy with all howses and lands there unto belonginge nowe in the sevall occupacon of the said John Wygan excepte that parcell of lande lyinge and beeinge upon Copthurste neare unto John Johnsons howse To have and to holde the said messuage howses and lands there unto beionginge excepte before excepted to the said John Wygan and his assignes for terme of lx yeares yf the said John Wygan doe fortune to lyve’so longe by the yerelye rents and svyce there of due and accustomed. Itm. yt is my will and mynde and I gyve and assigne by these prsnts unto Roger Leylonde and his assignes for his svice downe ail that messuage and terite lyinge and beinge in Whytel in the Woodds with all howses and lands there unto belonginge nowe in the tenure holdinge or occupacon of the said Roger or of his assignes To have and to holde the said messuage howses and lands there unto belonginge unto the said Roger Leylande and his assignes for terme of ix yeres if the said Roger leylonde and Alice nowe his Wiffe or other of them so longe doe fortune to lyve by the yerely rents and svics thereof due and accustomed, and of this my laste will or testamente I doe constitute Margaret my welbeloved Wiffe and my lovinge sonne Allexander Standish my true and lawfull executors and for supvisors of the same I require to be my lovinge sonneinlawes and friends Xpofer Longworth,

Richard Houghton of Houghton esquier and Phiilippe Manwaringe and my lovinge brother in lawe Rauffe Assheton gyvinge unto eche of theym for a token of Remembrauce xs a peece. Also I doe by this my will Revoke and adnihillate all former Wills what soever they be whether by woorde or wrytinge.

(Signed)       THOMAS STANDISHE.  [Proved September 29,1600.]

The testator was the eldest, son and heir of James Standish of Duxbury, Esq., by his wife Elizabeth, daughter of John Butler, Esq.

He married Margaret, daughter of Sir Richard Hoghton of Hoghton, knight, by whom he had issue. His Inquisition post mortem, which was taken at Leigh on October 9th 1599  states that he died at Duxbury April 13, 1599, and that Alexander Standish, his son and heir, was then 29 years of age.

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Transaction 1556 between Christopher Standish son of James Standish Esquire and John Standish of Duxbury.

Standish of Duxbury Deed date 1566 Private Collection.

Christopher Standish uses the common Seal of the Standish family of Duxbury on this document.

Bond - Christopher Standish to John Standish -1556.

Nov[er]int univ[er]si p[er] p[rese]ntes me Chr[ist]oferu[m] Standyssh filiu[m] Jacobi Standyssh de Duckesbury in Comfitatu] Lancastr[ie] armigeri teneri et firmiter obligari Joh[ann]i Standyssh

In vigint[i] libris bone et legal [is] monet[e] Anglie Solvend[is] eidem Joh[ann]i aut suo certo attorn[ato] executor[ibus] sive administr[atoribus] suis in fest[o] natalis d[omi]ni p[rox]ime futur[o] post dat[am] p[rese]ntiu[m]

Ad q[ua]m quidem soluc[i]o[n]em b[e]n[e] et fidel[ite]r faciend[am] Obligo me heredes executorjes] et administr[atores] meos firmiter p[er] p[rese]ntes Sigillo meo sigillat[os]

Dat[os] tercio die Decembr[is] Annis Regnorfum] Ph[ilipp]i et Marie dei gr[ati]a Anglie Franc[ie] et utriusq[ue] Cicilie Jerusalem et Hib[er]nie fidei defensor[um] Archducu[m] Austrie Ducu[m] Mediolani Burgundie et Brabantie comitu[m] Haspurgi Flandrie et Tiroli tercio et quarto

p[er] me Xp[ist]offor[um] Standishe

[May all men know, by these presents, that I, Christopher Standish, the son of James Standish of Duxbury in the County of Lancaster, esquire, am held and firmly bounden unto John Standish,

In the sum of twenty pounds of good and lawful money of England, to be paid to the same John, or his certain attorney, his executors or administrators, on the Feast of the Birth of our Lord next coming after the date of these presents.

To which payment, indeed, well and faithfully to be made, I do, by these presents, sealed with my seal, firmly bind myself, my heirs, executors and administrators.

Dated the third day of December in the third and fourth years of the reigns of Philip and Mary, by the grace of God, [King and Queen] of England, France and both Sicilies, Jerusalem and Ireland, defenders of the faith, Archdukes of Austria, Dukes of Milan, Burgundy and Brabant, Counts of Hapsburg, Flanders and Tyrol]

The condiclijon of this obligac[i]on ys such,

That if the w[i]thin bounden Chr[ist]ofer Standyssh, his executours and assignes,

Doe at all tymes hereaft[er] [well] and truly observe, p[er]forme, fulfill and kepe all and singul[a]r coven[au]ntes, grauntes, articles [and] agrem[en]tes conteyned and sp[ec]yfied in one paier of Indentures, made betwene the w[i]thin [bounden] Chr[ist]ofer Standyssh of th'one p[ar]tie, and the w[i]thin named John Standish of the last testament of th'other p[ar]tie, bering date the daie of the date hereof, w[hi]ch in the same Indentures, on the p[ar]tie and behalf of the seid Chr[ist]ofer, are to be obs[er]ved and kept,

And alsoe if the w[i]thin named John Standishe Doe quietlie receyve the wolle p[ro]fytt of there mylle in Duckesbury in the com[itatu] [county] of Lancastr[e] from Pentycost next comeyng aft[er] [the] date hereof untill he, the said John, shall have clerelie receyved, of the p[ro]fe[tt] of the same mylle, the So[m]me of foure poundes of laufull money of England, according] to the teno[ur] and effect of one Dede thereof made to the said John Standish by the w[i]thin bounden Chr[ist]ofer Standyssh, likewise bering date w[i]th theis p[rese]nt[es],

That then this obligac[i]on to be voide, Or els to stande in effect.

Christofer Standyssh

Duxbury Mill in the ownership of Christopher Standish in the year 1556.

p[ro]fytt of there mylle in Duckesbury - 1556.

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The Evidence for Two Christopher Standishes living in Duxbury 1563 – 1599.

1.  Christopher Standish of Chorley brother of Thomas Standish Lord of the Manor of Duxbury date 1563.

 Lancashire Archives DP397/4/21. date 10 Dec. 1563

Christofer Standisshe of Chorley, gent, to Thomas  his brother - Christofer Standisshe to keep covenants contained in 2 indentures made between Christofer Standisshe and Thomas Standisshe on date hereof. 10 Dec. 1563

2.  Christopher Standish of Chorley brother of Thomas Standish Lord of the Manor of Duxbury date 15th August 1583.

.

Lancashire Archives DP397/4/26.  15th August 1583.

Bond: in £300:  Thomas Standishe of Duckesburie, esq. to Christofer Standishe of Chorley, gent, his brother, Thomas Standishe to fulfil award of Syr Gilbert Gerrard, ktv master of the Rolles, and of William Gerrarde, esq, brother of Sir Gilberte Gerrard concerning all matters between James Standish and Christofer Standishe, 15th August 1583.

3  Christopher Standish of Heapy cousin of Thomas Standish Lord of the Manor of Duxbury.

Lancashire Archives DP397/4/23. - date 8th August 1572

Bond:  in 100 marks:   Christofer Standishe of Heathe Charnocke, gent, to Thomas Standyshe of Duckesburie Esquire – Christofer Standishe not to expel or fine Oliver Totehill and Katherin late wife of William Totehill, mother of Oliver Totehill, tenants of a tenement in Anlazarghe and Hepaye or George Asteley, tenant of another tenement in Hepaye (botn tenements held by Christofer Standishe for life by gift of James Standish gent, deceased, his father), conveyed to John Aynesworth who mortgaged them to Thomas Standysshe , if redeemed from  Thomas Standishe, without consent of Thomas Standishe Esquire, William Chorley, sen, and James Anderson, Esquire.

Births 1545 to 1610 in the Parish Register of the Church of St. Laurence Chorley Lancashire.

Christian Names used by Christopher Standish (brother or Cousin ?) for their sons 1557 – 1565.

1558  James

  1561 Thomas

1562  Jo  

1565  William

The entry in the parish register for 1558 indicates the birth of James Standish son of Mr Christopher Standish and the title "Mr "before the name Christopher Standish is a protocol that indicates the brother of the Lord of the Manor. This protocol is not repeated for any other entry of the name Christopher Standish 1558 - 1565. Both Christopher Standishes are indicated to have Children in Standish family documentation. Consequently the exact father for each recorded birth in the register of a son to Christopher Standish is open to question. There are unfortunately many gaps in the original register the most serious being the omission of any entries for the years 1553 to 1556 inclusive and 1599 to 1611 inclusive. The period 1553 t0 1556 is earlier than the birth in 1558 of James Standish first son of Mr Christopher Standish, but the omission of any entries for the years 1599 to 1610 could be the reason that the  birth of James Standish the Vice Treasurer of Ireland is not recorded.

The parish register of the Church of St. Laurence Chorley does not record a child named John born the son of any Christopher Standish. It was a conclusion of the Reverend William Ball-Wright that James Standish the Vice Treasurer of Ireland "was probably the grandson of Christopher Standish”. The balance of probability based on the evidence of the Reverend William Ball-Wright - the Mason - Standish Irish family history - the history of the Standish family of Canada and the parish register of the Church of St. Laurence Chorley indicates that the birth of John Standish was more probable to have been recorded on the infamous torn and defaced page 39 of the parish register dated 1584, the only page in the parish register of the Church of St. Laurence where the name “John Christopher son of Mr. James Standishcould have been entered and thus accounted for.The probability is that John Standish was the Grandson of Christopher and the son of James Standish whose birth is recorded in the parish register in 1558. James Standish the Vice Treasurer of Ireland would be the great grandson of Christopher Standish.

Page 39 of the parish register of the Church of St. Laurence Chorley is said to be the page upon which the birth of Myles Standish one of the founding fathers of America was recorded. Many scholars have suggested that the page was torn and defaced after the death of Sir Frank Standish in 1812 to wilfully disinherit the American descendants of Myles.

However if the name entered on the infamous torn and defaced page 39 of the parish register of the Church of St. Laurence dated 1584 was “John Christopher son of Mr. James Standish ” (not Myles Standish) then the alleged act of fraud in 1812 was intended to disinherit the Standish Family of Ireland. The descendants of Christopher Standish alive in Ireland in 1812 were Lydia Standish (nee Mason - widow of John Standish) John Standish their son was next in line to inherit the Duxbury Estates and the title Baronet Standish!

On a transaction in 1556 between Christopher Standish son of James Standish Esquire and John Standish of Duxbury (this document is part of a private collection) Christopher Standish applies the common seal of the Standish family of Duxbury to seal the document, the very same seal was used by James Standish Vice Treasurer of Ireland to seal private and public documents as witnessed and vouched for by Oliver Cromwell the Lord Protector and King Charles the second between the years 1649 –1661.

- Tony Christopher.

Hand written notes from the Family Tree of the MASON Family of Dublin Ireland.

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The Family of Christopher Standish born Duxbury England 1532.-

1. Christopher STANDISH (b.1532 Duxbury Lancashire England.)

   sp: UNKNOWN

2. James STANDISH (b.1558)

sp: UNKNOWN

2a. John Standish (b.1584)

sp: UNKNOWN

3. James STANDISH (b.1610;d.1695) Vice-Treasurer of Ireland

3a. Joseph STANDISH (b.1612.)

   sp: UNKNOWN

4. James STANDISH (b.1630;d.1698)

   sp: Ann Cox

5. James STANDISH (d.1732)

   sp: Rebbeca DEACON

6. Joseph STANDISH (b.1699)

6. John STANDISH (b.1701;d.1766)

6. James STANDISH (b.1704)

6. Deacon STANDISH (b.1707;d.1791)

6. HENRY STANDISH (b.1710)

   sp: SUSANNA

7. Henry STANDISH (b.1730;d.1731)

7. James STANDISH (b.1735;d.1807)

7. JOHN STANDISH (b.1737;d.1797) -

   sp: LYDIA MASON

I

                                             I ---------Standish Family of Canada.

I

8. SUSANNA STANDISH (b.1781;d.1871)

   sp: Thomas MASON (b.1781;m.1808;d.1837)

I

9. SEACOME MASON (b.1808;d.1892)

   sp: Sarah Moore

10. THOMAS MASON (b.1840;d.1912)

   sp: Sara Barry

11. Thomas Holmes MASON (b.1877;d.1958)

   sp: Margaret Evelyn Gray (m.1908)

12. STANDISH MASON (b.1909;d.1969)

   sp: UNKNOWN

13. Gilda MASON

13. Standish MASON - (descended from Thomas Mason and

Susana Standish married 1808) - the senior Standish descendant

of John Standish and Lydia Mason alive in Ireland 2008

13. James MASON

13. Richard MASON

12. Alexander MASON (b.1910)

   sp: UNKNOWN

13. Margaret MASON (b.1943)

   sp: R J Lewis

 13. Jonathan MASON

12. Barry MASON

12. Dermot MASON

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LORD

EXCLUSIVE by Chris Gee.

A MAN who could prove once and for all that one of the American founding fathers was from Chorley has been tracked down.

Descendants of the Standishes of Duxbury were brought together at a recent festival celebrating the town's links with Myles Standish, the Pilgrim Father who was a soldier on the Mayflower on its voyage of discovery in 1620.

Among those attending the festival was Margaret Lewis from Stockport, whose cousin descends from the eldest male line of the Standishes.

Aptly named Standish Mason, his genealogy has been traced back and, as an eldest male descendant himself, he is even entitled to call himself Lord of the Manor of Duxbury.

He is also believed to hold the burial rights to the Standish family crypt at St Laurence's Church, which could be crucial.

As holder of the burial rights, Mr. Mason would be able to petition church authorities to open up the crypt to allow DNA tests, which if matched with Myles Standish's American descendants could prove definitively that Myles was from Chorley.

Mr. Mason, 63, was informed of his new­found title and historical significance this week.

He said: "I was amazed when I learnt that I had claim to the title.

"I was aware of my family history but had no idea that I was linked so strongly with Myles Standish”.

"I would like to come over to Chorley and co-operate in any way I could, whether it be DNA tests or a bid to open up the family tomb."

Local genealogist, Tony Christopher, who worked on the family tree for St Laurence's Historical Society, said: "The title of Lord of the Manor of Duxbury doesn't entitle Mr. Mason to any property.”

"But, as the eldest male in the family, I do think he will have the burial rights to the family crypt. We have contacted two people in the US who have pedigrees back to Myles, and if we can cross reference the DNA from the remains in the crypt to them, then it will prove that Myles originated from Chorley."

The news has caused a ripple of excitement across the borough, among historians and local residents alike.

Reverend John Cree of St Laurence's said: "It's so exciting that many strands of the Myles Standish story have come together after the recent festival and there is much of interest for us to look into further."

And church warden Ed Fisher, who has helped to co-ordinate the project, said: "This is marvelous news, hopefully Standish Mason will prove the final part in this amazing jigsaw puzzle."

Rev Cree said that church authorities would need to be petitioned to access the crypt.

"The first step will be to contact the registrar of Blackburn Diocese," he said.

"And from there it will go on to an ecclesiastical court in London along with the Home Office."

Chris Mellor cultural services spokesman for Chorley Borough Council, said: "The discovery of Standish Mason could be important in establishing Chorley's links with Myles.”

"It is certainly interesting that he has claim to the lord of the manor title and the burial rights."

- Chris Gee.

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THE STANDISHES OF CANADA .

The Standishes of Canada are descendants of three brothers, Joseph, Robert, and Matthew Standish, sons of John and Susan (England) Standish, of Glenora, near Borris-in-Asseny, Queen’s Count}’, Ireland, and James Standish, a nephew of the three brothers. James and his wife, Jane (Ward) Standish, came to Canada in 1820 and settled in Hartley, Ontario, and left a number of descendants. Joseph, Robert, and Matthew emigrated to Canada in 1818, and were Protestants members of the Church of England. Joseph Standish settled in Eyesing, Ontario, near Toronto, and his children were Thomas, John, Francis, Joseph, Elizabeth, Susanna, Ellen, Mary Charlotte, and Sarah; of these Joseph had six sons and two daughters living in 1887 one of whom, Joseph G., lived in Windsor, Ontario, and had two sons, Edwin Ernest Emmanuel and Arthur Mervyn. John left two sons and seven daughters. Thomas left three sons and twodaughters. Francis left several sons and a daughter.

Ira G. Standish, of Toronto, is a grandson of Thomas by his son Joseph Thomas.

Robert and Matthew Standish settled in Rougemont, County of Rouville, P. Q., and a number of their descendeuts still live in Rougement, in a little English-speaking neighborhood of some twenty-six families, settled in the midst of the French country.

In the National Library of Ireland, Kildare Street, Dublin, there is a manuscript (MS-8316) entitled “Research into a number of Irish families by H.A. Richey, 1900.” This consists of folders of genealogical material concerning a number of apparently unrelated families. The compiler was a Mr. H.A. Richey of 18 Upper Fitzwilliam Street, Dublin, whom the present staff of the National Library believe to have been a professional researcher. One folder in this collection is headed “Standish of Queen’s and Tipperary Counties, Ireland.” It outlines the descendants of “Robert Standish of Mill Park, Knock, Roscrea, Co. Tipperary, miller & farmer.” It sets out the chil­dren of Robert who appear on sheet of this work. The Standish line is traced through Joseph Standish of Esquesing to his son Thomas (1809-1849), his grandson Joseph Thomas and, finally, to his great grandson Ira Standish of Toronto.

At the foot of the family tree the following unsigned note appears:

“My family burying place is said to be Skirk in the parish of Abbeyleix or Borris in Ossory and Skirk. The Rector of Offer-lane Vicarage Mountrath says the family lived in his Parish. I gather that they lived at Knock, Roscrea, Co. Tipperary. This may all fit in with the facts. The marr. lie. or entry of John Standish & Susan England is entered in E. Killaloe m. lie. Bonds in 1770 I am told by the Reverend William Ball Wright of Osbaldwick Vicarage, York, England, who can furnish more information.”

While the place names are somewhat jumbled, most of this note makes sense when the true facts are known. Ira Standish of Toronto had a keen interest in the family history. In 1904, for example, he was corresponding with members of the Irish branch of the family and seeking information. He may have been the author of the unsigned note and may have employed Mr. Richey in 1900 to do some research for him.

- J Richard Houston.

J. Richard Houston author of Numbering the Survivors: A History of the Standish Family of Ireland, Ontario and Alberta.

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The History of the Mason Family Business Dublin Ireland.

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1649 The Battle of RATHMINES Dublin Ireland.

Oliver Cromwell called it “an astonishing mercy, so great and seasonable that we are like them that dreamed.” He was speaking of the outcome of the Battle of Rathmines, the last great battle fought in Dublin.

It is very hard to believe that a battle was ever fought in Rathmines. The whole area is so much a part of the city, with its tightly-packed terraces of Georgian and Victorian houses, that it requires a great leap of the imagination to think of Rathmines as a battlefield. Nowadays, it would barely serve as a suitable venue for a decent riot.

The landscape of the area was quite different in the summer of 1649. In those days, the city of Dublin extended no further south than St Stephen’s Green. Weston St John Joyce, in his book “The Neighbourhood of Dublin”, captured it well. Rathmines was far out in the country, laid out in fields, pastures and tillage lands, with perhaps occasional patches covered by furze or bracken. He concluded that there wasn’t even a village there at the time and we may suppose the district between Ratnmines Castle and the city to have been interspersed with cottages and farmhouses adjoining the two highways now known as the Rathmines and Ranelagh roads. Communication between the main thoroughfares was probably by means of rough lanes and tracks across the fields, used principally by farmers and others residing in the district.

Rathmines Castle was one of four small forts in the vicinity. It stood just to the north of what is now Palmerston Park, near the corner of Upper Rathmines Road, The other “castles” were at nearby Rathgar, at the corner of Highfield Road and Orwell Road, where there is a branch office of the Irish Permanent Building Society; at Rathfarnham, still there to this day, and Baggotrath, on Upper Baggot Street, where Searson’s public house now stands.

The Battle of Rathmines, though fought on Irish soil, was basically a cynicial engagement between the opposing forces of the English Civil War, the Royalists and the Parliamentarians. Dublin was held by Parliamentary garrison, under the command of a colonel with the rather common name of Michael Jones. The city had been ceded to them two years earlier by the Marquis of Ormond, Viceroy of Ireland, on the basis that English rebels were preferable to Irish ones.

Royalist.

Ormond was a committed Royalist, who had been unable to deal with the Catholic rebellion from 1641 onwards. The rebels, under the vacillating leadership of the Confederation of Kilkenny, were largely Royalists too or at least, they preferred the Royalists to the Puritanical Parliamentarians. As a result of their conflicting loyalties, they could neither make peace nor do battle with Ormond. Increasingly frustrated by the situation and by the collapse of the Royalist cause in England the Viceroy handed  Dublin over to Colonel Jones in June 1647 and left Ireland.

By all accounts, Jones was a rough customer and a brilliant military tactician. Only two months after he had assumed control of Dublin, he did what Ormond could never have done he took on the forces of the Con­federation and inflicted on them the shattering defeat of Duncan’s Hill. This has been described by G A Hayes McCoy as a death blow to the Confederates of Leinster, strengthening Jones hold on what from that time forward was quite clearly the bridgehead from which England would re-conquer Ireland.

In January 1649, King Charles 1 was executed after being sentenced to death by the English Parliament. His son, then in exile in Paris, re-appointed Ormond as Lord Lieutenant and the marquis returned to Ireland in an effort to secure the territory for the future King. Since Dublin held the key to nominal control of the whole country, he decided in June to march on the city — the same city that he himself had ceded to the English rebels only two years earlier.

By the time he laid siege to Dublin, Ormond had surrounded himself with a very motley crew indeed, a veritable rogue’s gallery of his former opponents. There were the Confederate generals, Preston and Castlehaven, as well as Murrough O’Brien, the Earl of Inchiquin, who had abandoned the Parliamentary cause a year earlier and brought his forces over to the Royalist side. The only Irish leader missing from the alliance was Owen Roe O’Neill, of whom Hayes McCoy says “it is difficult to resist the conclusion that he had chosen the wrong moment to stand aloof.”Ormond began his siege of Dublin on June 21^st with some desultory operations against the north side of the city from a base near Finglas, but he took no decisive steps until the end of July when he marched to Rathmines and set up camp on or about where Palmerston Park is today.John Joyce writes that the city was “in a very unfit state to sustain a prolonged siege. It was not properly fortified and the garrison was “in serious straits for provisions, besides being much inferior in numbers and equipment to the total forces of their adversaries.”

..

Merciless.

The strength of the Parliamentary garrison was about 7,500, including inhabitants bearing arms, while the besiegers probably numbered some 10,000, of which at least 1,500 were horse soldiers. It is clear that Ormond's strategy was to starve out the defenders. He even cut off the city's water supply by blocking the old watercourse from the Dodder weir at Firhouse, depriving the inhabitants of drinking water as well as stopping their corn mills. After taking Rathfarnham Castle with little difficulty on July 28^th,Ormond’s council of war decided to fortify the old castle at Baggotrath with the object of preventing the besieged garrison grazing their horses on the lush pastures between there and the city. However, as John Joyce notes, Ormond had waited too long in tightening his noose around the city. Several ships had arrived   from England, bringing reinforcements of men and munitions. Indeed, it was even put about by rumourmongers employed by Colonel Jones that the dreaded Cromwell himself had landed.

On August 1^st, under cover of darkness, Major-General Purcell and a force of 1,500 men were sent by Ormond to Baggotrath. Although the castle was only about a mile from the base camp,
Purcell and his men quite inexplicably seem to have lost their way. So when Ormond rode over there at daybreak on August 2^nd, he was shocked to find that very little progress had been made on the fortification work. In any case, Jones had outwitted him by dismantling the castle a few days earlier, leaving it in such a condition that it was scarcely worth fortifying. Seeing what was afoot, Jones immediately deployed a large force of cavalry and infantry on Lowsy Hill, now Townsend Street. When he observed this movement, Ormond ordered the bulk of his forces to Baggotrath, placed some artillery on Gallows Hill (now   Lower   Mount   Street) and   rode   back   to   his   camp   at Rathmines to take a nap (he had been up all night writing despatches) so that he would be fresh and ready for the action, which he expected later in the day. Jones lost no time, however at 10 o’clock, without any warning, he attacked the right flank of Ormond’s army at Baggotrath and routed them in one fell swoop. The survivors beat a hasty retreat towards Ormond’s camp and their flight had such a demoralising effect on some other regiments in the army that they fled without even facing the Parliamentarians despite the best efforts of Ormond and his officers to rally them. With only two regiments left, Ormond appears to have made a last desperate stand near his Rathmines camp. With Jones’ infantry advancing from the front, a party of Parliamentary cavalry rode down by the Dodder towards Milltown and attacked the remaining Royalists from the rear. Ormond himself was struck by a musket-ball, but his armour saved him from serious injury.

Cavalry.

In a letter to the exiled king, the 39-year-old viceroy wrote of his soldiers: "Some called for quarter, some threw away their arms and some continued shooting. Then we quit the field and endeavoured (but in vain) to rally the horse." Indeed, Ormond noted, he actually followed the cavalry for 12 miles in the hope of checking their retreat. Having failed to do so, he felt he had no alternative but to make good his escape westward, leaving his artillery and treasure in the hands of the hated Roundheads.

According to one contemporary account, by a Parliamentarian officer, “Colonel Jones pursued him close, finding little opposition, except for a party of Lord Inchiguin’s horse, who defended a pass for some time, but were after some dispute broken and forced to fly. Having routed these, he marched with all diligence up to the walls of Rathmines Castle, which were about 16 feet high and containing about 10 acres of ground, where many of the enemy’s foot had shut themselves up. But perceiving their army to be entirely routed and their General fled, they yielded them­selves prisoners. After this, our men continued their pursuit, found a party of about 2,000 foot of the Lord Inchiquin’s in a grove belonging to Rathgar Castle who, after some defence, obtained con­ditions for their lives and the next day most of them took up arms in our service.” John Joyce concludes that Jones won the Battle of Rathmines because his forces were well disciplined and skilfully handled, while those of Ormond’s were honeycombed with treachery and dissension, commanded by inexperienced officers and lacked the cohesion and enthusiasm essential to success”. He also suggests a very sinister reason for “the many acts of   treachery” that the Confederation of Kilkenny, influenced by the Rasputin like figure of Rinnucini might not   have wished Ormond to achieve too great a success.

Shameful.

A contemporary Irish critic of Ormond wrote: “Nothing happened in Christianity more shameful than the disaster at Rathmines near Dublin, where His Excellency as it seemed kept rather a Mart of Wares, a Tribunal of Pleadings, or a great Inne of play, drinking and pleasure, than a great camp of soldiers.” Whatever the truth of that par­ticular allegation, the victory of the Parliamentary forces was complete. It shattered the Irish Royalist army, raised the siege of Dublin and paved the way for Cromwell’s landing at Ringsend two weeks later. If the Royalists had won the Battle of Rathmines they would have taken control of the capital and who knows, Cromwell might never have come to Ireland. Ormond, however, had the last laugh. Though he went into exile in France for the second time in two years he returned to Ireland in triumph after the Restoration in 1660. He was viceroy once again, a fully-fledged duke and not merely a marquis and for the next quarter of a century, he proved himself one of the best and most   successful holders of that office. Among many other things it is to Ormond that Dubliners owe the Liffey Quays.

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