William St Lawrence, 12th Baron Howth
Encyclopedia
William St Lawrence, 12th Baron Howth (1628-1671) was an Irish nobleman of the Restoration
period. He was an intelligent and popular man who would no doubt have played an influential role in Irish politics but for his premature death.
Though some sources refer to him as the nephew of the 11th baron, the balance of evidence is that he was the only surviving son of Nicholas St Lawrence, 11th Baron Howth
and Jane Montgomery, daughter of the Bishop of Derry
. He was born in 1628. The St Lawrence family had inherited estates near Colchester
through William's grandmother Elizabeth Wentworth, which presumably explains why he was sent to Colchester Grammar School, which he entered in 1639.
His father died at the height of the English Civil War
; as a strong loyalist his property had suffered considerably from Parliamentary forces. William himself however is said to have been left in peace after his father's death, despite having served briefly with the Royalist forces. In 1660 he used his influence in favour of the restoration of Charles II
, and was recommended to the KIng by the Duke of Ormond as a possible military commander.
He was appointed Custos Rotulorum
for Dublin in 1661, and in the Irish House of Lords
sat on several committees including the committee for grievances. In 1665 he is found acting in a judicial capacity at the general sessions in KIlmainham. He was on good terms with Ormond's successor as Lord Lieutenant, Lord Robartes, and entertained him at Howth Castle
in 1669.
He fell ill in 1671 and died in June. His last will dated May 14 is evidence of a wide circle of gifted friends including the Earl of Ossory
, John Keating (judge)
, the future Chief Justice, and the leading physician Nicholas Henshaw. He was buried, by his own direction in a new vault in St. Mary's Church.
He married his cousin Elizabeth St Lawrence, widow of Colonel Fitzwilliam. Their children were:
Restoration (1660)
The term Restoration in reference to the year 1660 refers to the restoration of Charles II to his realms across the British Empire at that time.-England:...
period. He was an intelligent and popular man who would no doubt have played an influential role in Irish politics but for his premature death.
Though some sources refer to him as the nephew of the 11th baron, the balance of evidence is that he was the only surviving son of Nicholas St Lawrence, 11th Baron Howth
Nicholas St Lawrence, 11th Baron Howth
Nicholas St Lawrence, 11th Baron Howth was an Anglo-Irish nobleman of the seventeenth century. The Lord of Howth for over a century had played a crucial role in Irish politics; but Nicholas unlike his predecessors, preferred a private life...
and Jane Montgomery, daughter of the Bishop of Derry
Bishop of Derry
The Bishop of Derry is an episcopal title which takes its name after the city of Derry in Northern Ireland. In the Roman Catholic Church it remains a separate title, but in the Church of Ireland it has been united with another bishopric.-History:...
. He was born in 1628. The St Lawrence family had inherited estates near Colchester
Colchester
Colchester is an historic town and the largest settlement within the borough of Colchester in Essex, England.At the time of the census in 2001, it had a population of 104,390. However, the population is rapidly increasing, and has been named as one of Britain's fastest growing towns. As the...
through William's grandmother Elizabeth Wentworth, which presumably explains why he was sent to Colchester Grammar School, which he entered in 1639.
His father died at the height of the English Civil War
English Civil War
The English Civil War was a series of armed conflicts and political machinations between Parliamentarians and Royalists...
; as a strong loyalist his property had suffered considerably from Parliamentary forces. William himself however is said to have been left in peace after his father's death, despite having served briefly with the Royalist forces. In 1660 he used his influence in favour of the restoration of Charles II
Charles II of England
Charles II was monarch of the three kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland.Charles II's father, King Charles I, was executed at Whitehall on 30 January 1649, at the climax of the English Civil War...
, and was recommended to the KIng by the Duke of Ormond as a possible military commander.
He was appointed Custos Rotulorum
Custos rotulorum
Custos rotulorum is the keeper of an English county's records and, by virtue of that office, the highest civil officer in the county...
for Dublin in 1661, and in the Irish House of Lords
Irish House of Lords
The Irish House of Lords was the upper house of the Parliament of Ireland that existed from mediaeval times until 1800. It was abolished along with the Irish House of Commons by the Act of Union.-Function:...
sat on several committees including the committee for grievances. In 1665 he is found acting in a judicial capacity at the general sessions in KIlmainham. He was on good terms with Ormond's successor as Lord Lieutenant, Lord Robartes, and entertained him at Howth Castle
Howth Castle
Howth Castle lies close to the village of Howth, Fingal County in Ireland. It is the ancestral home of the line of the St Lawrence family that died out in 1909. From 1425 to 1767 the title had been Lord Howth, holding the area since the Norman invasion of 1180. It is now held by their heirs, the...
in 1669.
He fell ill in 1671 and died in June. His last will dated May 14 is evidence of a wide circle of gifted friends including the Earl of Ossory
Earl of Ossory
Earl of Ossory is a subsidiary title held by the Earl of Ormond that was created in the Peerage of Ireland in 1528.In 1525, King Henry VIII of England became enamoured of Anne Boleyn and began pursuing her. As Henry's infatuation for Anne intensified, so did her father's titles...
, John Keating (judge)
John Keating (judge)
John Keating was an Irish judge who became Chief Justice of the Irish Common Pleas; despite a reputation for integrity, impartiality and benevolence, he fell from power after the Revolution of 1688, and committed suicide....
, the future Chief Justice, and the leading physician Nicholas Henshaw. He was buried, by his own direction in a new vault in St. Mary's Church.
He married his cousin Elizabeth St Lawrence, widow of Colonel Fitzwilliam. Their children were:
- Thomas St Lawrence, 13th Baron HowthThomas St Lawrence, 13th Baron HowthThomas St Lawrence, 13th Baron Howth was an Irish nobleman of the later Stuart and early Georgian era.He was born in 1659, eldest son of William St Lawrence, 12th Baron Howth, and Elizabeth Fitzwilliam. He was only twelve when his father died, and was under the guardianship of the Earl of Ossory...
- Charles
- Mary, who married the Earl of Mount AlexanderEarl of Mount AlexanderEarl of Mount Alexander was a title in the Peerage of Ireland. It was created in 1661 for Hugh Montgomery, 3rd Viscount Montgomery. He was the grandson of Hugh Montgomery, known as one of the "founding fathers" of the Ulster Scots, who was raised to the Peerage of Ireland as Viscount Montgomery, of...
- Sarah who married Thomas Stepney
- Martha, who married Hugh O'Neill, later a High Court judge.