Sir Maurice FitzGerald, 14th Knight of Kerry (died 1729) fought for James II in the

Williamite War in Ireland The Williamite War in Ireland (1688–1691; ga, Cogadh an Dá Rí, "war of the two kings"), was a conflict between Jacobite supporters of deposed monarch James II and Williamite supporters of his successor, William III. It is also called th ...

, but after the defeat he conformed to the established religion by joining the

Church of Ireland The Church of Ireland ( ga, Eaglais na hÉireann, ; sco, label= Ulster-Scots, Kirk o Airlann, ) is a Christian church in Ireland and an autonomous province of the Anglican Communion. It is organised on an all-Ireland basis and is the second ...

. He became Deputy Lieutenant of

Kerry Kerry or Kerri may refer to: * Kerry (name), a given name and surname of Gaelic origin (including a list of people with the name) Places * Kerry, Queensland, Australia * County Kerry, Ireland ** Kerry Airport, an international airport in Count ...

Birth and origins

Maurice was the eldest son of Sir John FitzGerald and his wife Honora O'Brien. His father was the 13th

Knight of Kerry Knight of Kerry (), also called The Green Knight, is one of three Hiberno-Norman hereditary knighthoods, all of which existed in Ireland since feudal times. The other two were The White Knight (surname fixed as Fitzgibbon), being dormant sinc ...

. His mother was the third daughter of

Connor O'Brien, 2nd Viscount Clare Connor O'Brien, 2nd Viscount Clare ( – 1670) was the son of Daniel O'Brien, 1st Viscount Clare and Catherine FitzGerald, a daughter of Gerald, 14th Earl of Desmond. Birth and origins Connor was born about 1605, the s ...

. Both parents were Roman Catholic. He was one of four brothers.

Williamite War

FitzGerald fought for James II in the

(1688–1691) alongside his brothers John, Daniel of Ballyruddery, and Thomas of Ardglass.

Marriage and children

On 30 June 1703 FitzGerald married Elizabeth, second daughter of David Crosbie (died 1717), of

Ardfert Abbey Ardfert Abbey (), also known as Ardfert Friary, is a ruined medieval Franciscan friary and National Monument in Ardfert, County Kerry, Ireland. It is thought to be built on the site of an early Christian monastic site founded by Brendan the Nav ...

, High Sheriff of

County Kerry County Kerry ( gle, Contae Chiarraí) is a county in Ireland. It is located in the South-West Region and forms part of the province of Munster. It is named after the Ciarraige who lived in part of the present county. The population of the co ...

, by his wife Jane Hamilton, daughter of William Hamilton of Liscloony, County Offaly. His wife was a

Protestant Protestantism is a Christian denomination, branch of Christianity that follows the theological tenets of the Reformation, Protestant Reformation, a movement that began seeking to reform the Catholic Church from within in the 16th century agai ...

and the sister of

Maurice Crosbie, 1st Baron Brandon Maurice Crosbie, 1st Baron Brandon, (c. 1689 –1762) was an Irish politician and peer. He was the son of David Crosbie, High Sheriff of Kerry, and his wife Jane Hamilton, daughter of William Hamilton of Lisclooney, County Offaly, and grandson ...

. Maurice and Elizabeth had three sons of whom: #

John John is a common English name and surname: * John (given name) * John (surname) John may also refer to: New Testament Works * Gospel of John, a title often shortened to John * First Epistle of John, often shortened to 1 John * Secon ...

(1706–1741), his immediate successor #

Robert The name Robert is an ancient Germanic given name, from Proto-Germanic "fame" and "bright" (''Hrōþiberhtaz''). Compare Old Dutch ''Robrecht'' and Old High German ''Hrodebert'' (a compound of '' Hruod'' ( non, Hróðr) "fame, glory, honou ...

(1717–1781), who succeeded as the 17th knight —and nine daughters, known as the "Nine Geraldines", of whom: # Jane, married George Herbert, Esquire of

Currans Currans () is a small village in County Kerry, Ireland. It is 8.5 km southwest of Castleisland and 4.7 km west of the neighbouring village of Currow. History The old parish church was abandoned after the Reformation, and fell into rui ...

# Honora, married Richard Meredyth, Esquire of Dicksgrove (near Currans) # Bridget married first Thomas Sandes and secondly Mr. Creagh # Margaret, married John Hewson of Ennismore

Later life and death

Their children were raised as Protestants. Their daughters married into the Herberts (twice), Merediths (twice), Sandes', Creaghs, Stacks, Hewsons, Collis', Rices and Days. In 1708 FitzGerald conformed to the established religion. His marriage, conversion, and the subsequent marriages of his children further alienated the Knights of Kerry from the local Catholic populace. FitzGerald became Deputy Lieutenant of

. FitzGerald died at Ballinruddery Castle, near

Listowel Listowel ( ; , IPA: �lʲɪsˠˈt̪ˠuəhəlʲ is a heritage market town in County Kerry, Ireland. It is on the River Feale, from the county town, Tralee. The town of Listowel had a population of 4,820 according to the CSO Census 2016. Desc ...

Birth and origins

Williamite War

Marriage and children

Later life and death

Notes and references

Citations

Sources

Further reading