Edward Fitton (the younger)
Encyclopedia
Sir Edward Fitton the younger (1548?–1606), was an Englishman who helped in the Elizabethan plantation of Ireland
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of Gawsworth, Cheshire. His education included attending Brasenose College, Oxford
, from which he graduate in 1566 with a BA, and then on to Grays Inn (1568).
Fitton, was receiver general for Ireland in 1579. His father died in July that year and being disappointed in his expectation of succeeding his father as vice-treasurer of Ireland, he retired to England shortly after having been knighted by Sir William Pelham
in 1580.
Sir Edward was returned as a Member of Parliament (MP) for Wigan
, Lancashire in 1572, as MP for Boroughbridge
, Yorkshire in 1588.
Sir Edward's interest in Ireland revived when it was proposed to colonise Munster with Englishmen, and he was one of the first to solicit a slice of the forfeited estates of the Gerald FitzGerald, Earl of Desmond
. On 3 September 1587 Sir Edward passed his patent for 11,515 acres in the counties of Limerick, Tipperary, and Waterford; but the speculation proved to be not so profitable as he had anticipated, and on 19 December 1588 he wrote to William Cecil
that he was £1,500 out of pocket through it, and begged that his rent might be remitted on account of his father's twenty years' service and his own. He was most energetic in his proposals for the extirpation of the Irish, but failed to fulfil the conditions of the grant, and was noted as an absentee.
Sir Edward was also an active in administration of districts close to his family seat of Gawsworth
in Cheshire
. From around 1583 he was a Justice of the Peace (JP) in Cheshire and Lancashire
, Sheriff of Lancashire
in 1591/92, and in 1601 mayor of Macclesfield
. He died in London in March 1606 and was buried shortly after on 3 April at Gawsworth.
He was the father of Sir Edward Fitton (3 Dec 1572 - 10 May 1619), another son, Alexander, and daughters, Anne and Mary
, who has been speculated as the "Dark Lady" of Shakespeare's sonnets
.
Plantations of Ireland
Plantations in 16th and 17th century Ireland were the confiscation of land by the English crown and the colonisation of this land with settlers from England and the Scottish Lowlands....
.
Biography
Fitton was the son and heir of Sir Edward Fitton (the elder)Edward Fitton (the elder)
Sir Edward Fitton , known as Edward Fitton the elder, was Lord President of Connaught and Thomond and the Vice-Treasurer of Ireland. He was the eldest son of Sir Edward Fitton of Gawsworth and Mary Harbottle...
of Gawsworth, Cheshire. His education included attending Brasenose College, Oxford
Brasenose College, Oxford
Brasenose College, originally Brazen Nose College , is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom. As of 2006, it has an estimated financial endowment of £98m...
, from which he graduate in 1566 with a BA, and then on to Grays Inn (1568).
Fitton, was receiver general for Ireland in 1579. His father died in July that year and being disappointed in his expectation of succeeding his father as vice-treasurer of Ireland, he retired to England shortly after having been knighted by Sir William Pelham
William Pelham
William Pelham may refer to:* William Pelham * William Pelham * William Pelham , American Civil War sailor...
in 1580.
Sir Edward was returned as a Member of Parliament (MP) for Wigan
Wigan (UK Parliament constituency)
Wigan is a county constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election...
, Lancashire in 1572, as MP for Boroughbridge
Boroughbridge (UK Parliament constituency)
Boroughbridge was a parliamentary borough in Yorkshire from 1553 until 1832, when it was abolished under the Great Reform Act. Throughout its existence it was represented by two Members of Parliament in the House of Commons....
, Yorkshire in 1588.
Sir Edward's interest in Ireland revived when it was proposed to colonise Munster with Englishmen, and he was one of the first to solicit a slice of the forfeited estates of the Gerald FitzGerald, Earl of Desmond
Gerald FitzGerald, 15th Earl of Desmond
Gerald FitzGerald, 15th Earl of Desmond was an Irish nobleman and leader of the Desmond Rebellions of 1579.-Life:...
. On 3 September 1587 Sir Edward passed his patent for 11,515 acres in the counties of Limerick, Tipperary, and Waterford; but the speculation proved to be not so profitable as he had anticipated, and on 19 December 1588 he wrote to William Cecil
William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley
William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley , KG was an English statesman, the chief advisor of Queen Elizabeth I for most of her reign, twice Secretary of State and Lord High Treasurer from 1572...
that he was £1,500 out of pocket through it, and begged that his rent might be remitted on account of his father's twenty years' service and his own. He was most energetic in his proposals for the extirpation of the Irish, but failed to fulfil the conditions of the grant, and was noted as an absentee.
Sir Edward was also an active in administration of districts close to his family seat of Gawsworth
Gawsworth
Gawsworth is a civil parish and village in the unitary authority of Cheshire East and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. It is one of the eight ancient parishes of Macclesfield Hundred. Twenty acres of the civil parish were transferred to Macclesfield civil parish in 1936The country houses...
in Cheshire
Cheshire
Cheshire is a ceremonial county in North West England. Cheshire's county town is the city of Chester, although its largest town is Warrington. Other major towns include Widnes, Congleton, Crewe, Ellesmere Port, Runcorn, Macclesfield, Winsford, Northwich, and Wilmslow...
. From around 1583 he was a Justice of the Peace (JP) in Cheshire and Lancashire
Lancashire
Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
, Sheriff of Lancashire
High Sheriff of Lancashire
The High Sheriff of Lancashire is an ancient officer, now largely ceremonial, granted to Lancashire, a county in North West England. High Shrievalties are the oldest secular titles under the Crown, in England and Wales...
in 1591/92, and in 1601 mayor of Macclesfield
Macclesfield
Macclesfield is a market town within the unitary authority of Cheshire East, the county palatine of Chester, also known as the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. The population of the Macclesfield urban sub-area at the time of the 2001 census was 50,688...
. He died in London in March 1606 and was buried shortly after on 3 April at Gawsworth.
Family
Sir Edward married Alice, daughter and sole heiress of Sir John Holcroft of Holcroft, Lancashire, who survived him until 5 February 1626, and who, after his death in 1606, erected a monument to his memory in Gawsworth Church.He was the father of Sir Edward Fitton (3 Dec 1572 - 10 May 1619), another son, Alexander, and daughters, Anne and Mary
Mary Fitton
Mary Fitton was the daughter of Sir Edward Fitton of Gawsworth, Cheshire and Alice Halcroft, and is considered by some to be the "Dark Lady" of Shakespeare's sonnets. Her elder sister, Anne, married John Newdigate in 1587, at the age of fourteen...
, who has been speculated as the "Dark Lady" of Shakespeare's sonnets
Shakespeare's sonnets
Shakespeare's sonnets are 154 poems in sonnet form written by William Shakespeare, dealing with themes such as the passage of time, love, beauty and mortality. All but two of the poems were first published in a 1609 quarto entitled SHAKE-SPEARES SONNETS.: Never before imprinted. Sonnets 138 and 144...
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