John De Courcy 18th (13th) Lord of Kinsale

  General Notes:

Supported British against Spanish invasion during Battle of Kinsale

July 24, 1607 Letter to Lord Salisbury (see below) stating that Florence McCarthy (imprisoned in England) had laid claim to Old Head and Ring Roane and appealing to remain in possession of these properties pending trial. [Calendar of the State Papers, Relating to Ireland, of the Reign of ..., Volume 1
edited by John Patrick Prendergast, Charles William Russell]

1608 received a grant of 100 pounds annuall (to 150 in 1611)

1620 received, after surrender, a new grant for castle at Ringrone and castle of the Old Head (aka Downemac Patrick).

In 1627 Sir Dominick Sarsfield took the title of Viscount of Kingsale, which title infringed on that of the DeCourcys. The same year Lord DeCourcy and his son Gerald petitioned the King and Lords of Council of England to reinstate their title. Eventually Sarsfield had to relinquish the title.

According to this deed, the De Courcy property consisted of " The manor of Kilbrittan, Ringrone, with the mills and fisheries ; the lands of Carrotsheran, Holderness, Liffynin, Fathax, Lyside, and Kingsale, in the county Cork ; and the country of Glynardall and other lands in the county of Kerry." The title of Baron, or Viscount Kinsale, was fraudulently assumed by Sir Dominick Sarsfield, in 1627. John, Lord Courcy, and his son Gerald Courcy, petitioned the king against the pretender to the title. The petition was referred to the judges, who made the following report : "According to your majesty's pleasure, and upon a full hearing of the council, learned on both sides, we find it apparently proved, by ancient records, entries in parliament, etc. that the Lord Courcy, and his ancestors, have, time out of mind, been styled Barons of Kinsale and Ringroan. Although in some records, he is only called Lord Courcey, and Baron de Courcy, this argument being only grounded on omission, we hold to be of little force, as it is usual where divers baronies are in the same person, for the baron to name himself by the chief barony, and to forbear naming the rest, yet we find the same person, called Lord Kingsale, and baron of Courcey, long before this question was stirred. Then the Lord Viscount endeavoured to carry the barony into another line, and to shew the title was extinct by attainder, but both these allegations were clearly answered, so that we are fully satisfied, the barony of Kinsale anciently belonged to the Lord Courcey. Then it was alleged to have both titles stand, the one to be Viscount and the other to be Baron of Kinsale, which we conceive would be confounding titles of honour, and be of ill consequence ; therefore, we cannot advise your majesty to suffer it ; but we are of opinion, that Sir Dominick Sarsfield may retain the degree that he now hath, taking his title from some other place in Ireland, or else to be called Viscount Sarsfield. For that your majesty was not informed, that the title of Kinsale was given to any other baron, which the patent may recite ; and that, for the future, he shall be stiled by the new title, and not by that of Kinsale ; all which we humbly present, and leave to your majesty's good pleasure.
MARLBOROTTGH,
MANCHESTEB,
PEMBROKE,
TOTNESS,
March 19th, 1627.
Source: THE HISTORY OF THE COUNTY CITY OF CORK. BET. C. B. GIBSON, M.E.I.A. 1861

Titles reinstated and confirmed by King Charles I July 24, 1627 and Sept 17, 1627

COPY OF 1607 LETTER****
Lord de Courcy to Robert Cecil, earl of Salisbury, 24 July 1607.

Right Honouraourable and my very good Lord, my bounden and most humble duty always remembered: It may please your honorable good Lordship to be advertised that by virtue of letters from the honorable Lords of the Council, directed upon my humble suit to Her late Majesty for examining of my right to the Lordship and Seigneurie of Coursie's country, and for restoring me (upon proof thereof) to the Castle of the Old head of Kensale, being one of my principal manors I have been by order of the late Lord Lieutenant of this kingdom and the Lord Clapton (Sir Geo. Carewe) then Lord President of this province, established in the possession of the same; for that my right thereto, and to my Lordship, was well proved and found by inquisition recorded in his Majesty's Exchequer. Yet, Right Honourable good Lord, I am let to understand that Florence Mac Cartie (now in restraint there) being driven to his hard shifts, doth set forth that he is interested in the said Castle of the Old head, and to my manor of Ring Roane, and so doth hope to have some one there that hath more money to spare than good employment for, to hold and take the same from him: and lately the said Florence hath demised the said Castle of Old head to one Bellew, who lately repaired here hence towards the said Florence. I am an humble suitor to your honorable good Lordship that as I have felt and had your Lordship's former favour in my causes, that while my deserts shall serve the same, your honorable good Lordship do continue your honorable favour towards me; and that upon no untrue surmise or complaint of the said Florence, or any for, or by him, I may not be removed from the possess ion of the said castles, and the lands belonging to them, until that by order of Law the same be evicted against me, or myself present to make answer, and defence to my title. And so presuming upon your honorable good Lordship's favour I crave pardon for this my boldness, and do most humbly take leave

Cork the 24th of July 1607.
Your honorable, good Lordship's most humbly to command
JHO: DE COURCY.

To the Right Honourable and his very good Lordship the Earl of Salisbury, one of His Majesty's most Honourable Privy Council.
*******

John married Catherine Cogan, daughter of William Cogan and Unknown.

John next married Mary O'Crowley, daughter of Cornelius O'Crowley of Carbery and Unknown, in Waterford.