The Chittick Family History as written by Erminda (Chittick) Rentoul 1890 The Lodge, Cliftonville, Belfast. Ireland Chapter Five | The Barons of Audley The Barons of Audley   view the chart Sir Bernard Burke says: The family of Touchet came into England with the Conqueror, and was then of considerable note. It is to be found in the Battle Abbey Roll and in the chronicles of Normandy. William Touchet distinguished himself in the wars of Gascony and Scotland, tem Edward I., and had summons to Parliament from the 29th December, 1209, to the 3rd of Novemeber, 1306. Contemporary with this Lord Touchet was Sir Robert Touchet, Knight, of Tattenhale, County Chester, who was succeeded by his son, Sir Thomas Touchet, who died 23rd of Edward III., leaving a son, Sir John Touchet, Knight, a gallant and distinguished soldier in the martial times of Edward IV. He fell in a sanguinary conflict with the Spaniards off Rochelle in the 44th of the same king. Sir John married Joan, eldest daughter of James Adethley, Lord Audley, of Heleigh (a dignity created by writ of summons, 8tb January, 1313), and sole heiress in 1392 of her brother Nicholas, last Baron Audley, of that family. Collins' “ Peerage of England,” fifth edition, vol 6, pages 301 to 309:- The family of Touchet hath been of great note, and came in with William the Conqueror, the name being in the Roll of Battle Abbey and Chronicles of Normandy (see Selly's “Pedigree of Nobil.,” MS., P. 37). The first from whom, in lineal succession, the late Earl of Castlehaven and Lord Audley derived his descent is Ormus Touchet, who had issue Matthew, and probably Hugh. Hugh de Touchet gave to the Abbey of Leicester his lands in Esswell which Henry II. confirmed. William Touchet, 25th of Edward I. was in that expedition made into Gascoigne, and the year following in that into Scotland. In 29th of Edward I. he was one of the Barons who subscribed (being wrote William Touchet Lord of Leevenhales) that letter to Pope Boniface in answer to his claiming the sovereignty of Scotland, wherein they asserted that the king ought not to send any proctors, &c., to His Holiness, in any matter touching his temporalities, &c. They tell the Pope they will maintain with all power, and by God's help, the liberties, customs, &c., of their forefathers, In the 31st of Edward I. he was again in the wars of Scotland; so likewise in the 34th of Edward I., and had summons to Parliament among the Barons of the realm from the 28th of Edward 1. to the 34th of Edward I. inclusive. To him succeeded another William Touchet, who in the 4th of Edward II. received command to serve in Scotland, as likewise in 8th of same reign, also in 12th of Edward II. was again in the wars of Scotland; but three years after, on the insurrection of Thomas, Earl of Lancaster, and his defeat at Burrough Brigg, being there taken with him, he suffered death at Pomfret. Sir Thomas Touchet gave lands in Wombruge, Co. Salop, to the Canons of that place, and died 23rd Edward III., leaving issue John, his son and heir, twenty-two years of age, which John, in 20th of Edward Ill., being then a knight, was in the wars of France, and at the relief of Aquillon. And in the 25th of Edward III., doing his homage, had livery of his lands in Co. Salop, In 33rd of Edward III. he was at the seige of Rheims, in Champagne, and afterwards was a principal commander in the wars of France under John Hastings, Earl of Pembroke, when in 43rd of Edward III. they took several towns in Anjou. But the year after, embarking with the Earl of Southampton, in order to invade France by Poctore, and coming before Rochelle, June 22nd, to land there, and meeting with the Spanish fleet, there ensued a desperate engagement, wherein this Sir John Touchet was slain, and the Earl taken prisoner, the Spaniards being in greater force, and their ships much more numerous than the English. He had to wife Joan, eldest daughter of James, Lord Audley, of Heighly, and sister and coheiress of Nicholas Lord Audley, who was succeeded by John, his son and heir, and left issue John Touchet, his son and heir, which John, in 15th of Richard II, on the inquisition taken after the death of Nicholas Lord Audley, his great uncle, was found to be one of his next heirs, and at that time twenty years of age, viz., son of John Touchet, son of Joan, eldest sister of the said Nicholas. Thereupon bearing the title of Lord Audley, he was ordered in 4th Henry IV. (by reason of Owen Glendower's rebellion) to put a garrison into Lanqudevery, in Wales. He was also one of the Barons who in Parliament considered that the succession of the Crown of England had been settled on Henry Prince of Wales and his heirs male, with remainder to his brothers and their heirs male, whereby the females were excluded. They, at the King's request, with the consent of the Commons, repealed the said Act, setting their hands and seals to the succession whereby the females were included. He died on December 19th, 10th of Henry IV. Seized of the manor of Soperton, and a fourth part of that of Beggeworth, in Co. Glouc., as also of divers other manors and lands in the Marches of Wales and Staffordshire, the Counties of Salop, Rutland, Derby, Devon, Somerset, and Wiltshire, having by Isabella his wife, James, his son and heir, also a daughter, married to Baskerville James Touchet, Lord Audley, grandfather of James Touchet, Lord Audley, who was executed 27th June, 1497, on Tower Hill His son, John Touchet, was restored in blood to the dignity of Lord Audley in the 4th of Henry VIII. His lordship married Mary daughter of John Giffin, Esq., of Bradwell, Co. Northampton, and was succeeded by his son, George Touchet, Lord Audley, who in married Elizabeth, daughter of Sir Bryan Tuke, Knight, Treasurer of the Chamber to Henry VIII., and was succeeded by his son, Henry Touchet Lord Audley, who married Elizabeth, daughter of Sir William Snede, of Bradwell, Co. Stafford, and, dying in 1595, was succeeded by his elder son, George Touchet, 11th Baron Audley (counting from the original writ of summons in 1313 to Nicholas de Aldethley) who, residing in Ireland, was created a peer of that kingdom, in the dignities of Baron Orier and Earl of Castlehaven, 6th September, 16l7. His lordship married Lucy, daughter of Sir John Mervyn, of Fonthill Co Wilts, and, dying in 1617, was succeeded by his eldest son, Mervyn. Christian Audley, his daughter, married Sir Henry Mervyn, one of the Admirals of the fleet. Rev. George Hill, in his “Plantation of Ulster,” page 79, says “Lord Audley, on July 10th, 1609, stipulates for a grant of 100,000 acres, which he was willing to undertake on the following terrns-1. The 100,000 acres to be in Tyrone or the adjoining parts of Armagh, excepting the lands allotted to forts, colleges, free schools, hospitals, and natives. He will divide the 100,000 acres into thirty-three parts, on which he wi11 build thirty-three castles, and as many towns; to each castle he will assign 600 acres, and to each town 2,400 acres, which town shall consist of at least thirty families, comprising foot-soldiers, artificers and cottagers, with allotments of land to each. He will pay the rent expressed in the articles, L533 os. 8d. for the 100,000 acres. He will perform the building within four years. He prays that of the thirty-three towns four may be market towns, and one incorporate, with two fairs yearly, and one fair yearly in each market town. He is content to have only the advowsons within his own territories. He desires license freely to erect iron mills, to make iron and glass, and to engage extensively in the manufacture of various useful commodities." At page 135 Hill says:-" King James I., in writing to Lord Salisbury on the 20th of July, 1609, states that he is not a little comforted to hear that my Lord Audley and his son desire to be, and are like to be, undertakers in so large and frank a manner. They do not in this degenerate from their ancestors, for it was an ancestor of Lord Audley who first undertook to conquer or reduce North Wales, and was one of the first Lord Marchers there. Besides, on or two of the same family accompanied Sir John de Cursy in the conquest of Ulster, and planted there, in testimony whereof Audley, Castle is yet standing in Lecale, inherited at this day by one of the same name." Lionel of Antwerp, Duke of Clarence, and son of Edward III., who became in consequence 4th Earl of Ulster and Lord of Connaught. This Prince repaired to Ireland, and was Lord Lieutenant in 1361. He left at his death an only daughter, Philippa, who was given in marriage at the age of thirteen by her grandfather, Edward III., to Edward Mortimer, 3rd Earl of March, who, in right of his wife, at the decease of her father became 5th Earl of Ulster, and was succeeded by his son and grandson, as 6th and 7th Earls of March and Ulster. The latter, Edmund, dying in 1424, his elder sister, the Lady Anne Mortimer. Became his heir, and marrying Richard Plantagenet, Earl of Cambridge, their son, Richard Plantagenet, Duke of York, became Earl of Ulster in right of his mother. This Prince, who was declared heir to the Crown, fell at Wakefield in 1460 fighting under the colours of York, and was succeeded by his son, Edward Plantagenet, Earl of March and Ulster, who ascended the throne as Edward IV., and his Earldom merged in the Crown. Joan, 2nd daughter of Rodger Mortimer, 1st Earl of March, married James, Lord Audley, son of Nicholas, Lord Audley, Baron of Heleigh. Collins' Peerage of England, vol. 8, page 40, says,'Sir John Stowel wedded Lady Elizabeth, 2nd daughter to George Touchet, 8th Lord Audley in England, and 1st Earl of Castlehaven in Ireland, and by that lady, who was descended from the old Barons Tracy and Martin, Lords of Kemies, in Pembrokeshire, and of Barnstaple and Derrington, in Devonshire, and also from the Mortimers, Earls of March, was father of Sir John Stowel, who was made Knight of the Bath at the coronation of King Charles I. in February, 1625." Chapters: < previous | index | next >