John De Courcy 25th (20th) Lord of Kinsale

  General Notes:

Extraordinary story of succession

Came to Ireland in 1756 (with his eldest son) after discovering he might have right to titles. He had apparently been sought out by Gerald DeCourcy - who without male issue was concerned about the next heir and searched for a male heir. This required going back a few generations and following the DeCourcy line through Rhode Island. This John's father, Miles had left the Cork area to join the navy and been lost at sea between 1724-1733 but had meanwhile married Abigail Williams in Rhode Island and had children - of which John survived.

He was able to convince the elderly Lord (Gerald) Courcy of his heritage and was written into the wills. He went through a formal petition to claim the titles in 1760 and had to overcome the objections of Gerald's three daughters (and the husbands of the two married daughters).
His claim was referred Mar 6, 1760 and reported upon Aug 27, 1761 by the Attorney Gen. and Solicitor Gen. of Ireland as follows:

"that the Baronies of Kingsale and Ringrone are ancient Baronies vested in the family of DeCourcy, and have always descended in the male line of that Family; that the said Baronies some time before 1627 became vested in John DeCourcy, who left issue 4 sons, Gerald, Patrick, Edmund and David; and that the issue male of Gerald Patrick and Edmund, the three eldest sons, is now extinct. And we are humbly of the Opinion that the Petitioner has laid before us sufficient evidence to prove that he is Heir Male of the Body of David, the fourth son of said John Lord Coursie, Baron of Kingsale and Ringrone, and consequently is entitled to the honours of Lord Coursie and also of Baron of Kingsale and Baron of Ringrone, and to a Writ of Summons to call him to Parliament as a Peer of the Realm."

- See: Copy of Report of Phillip Tisdall Esq. Attorney General and John Gore Esq. Solicitor General for Ireland: Secretary's office, Dublin Castle.


Took his seat Feb 1, 1762.

Bred a carpenter in Jamaica per 1762 letter by George Montagu.

John, the 25th (20th) Lord was responsible for bringing to Ireland a special breed of hounds trained to hunt wolves which still remained in Ireland at that time. These hounds became quite famous and were known as the Kingsale Hounds. An artist has rendered a pair of these in stone (limited edition). One of these pairs is on display at Old Head.

John lived in the castle at Old Head

Asserted the ancient privilege accorded to DeCourcys of wearing his hat in the royal presence on Sept. 15th, 1762 (George III) (Source: Biography of Honorable Micheal DeCourcy, his son)

1768- June 29: John DeCourcy pleads to Commission of Treasury that he has income of only 900 pounds per annum, yet debts of 14,000. He must support his family of 9 children. Plea is for 400 pounds annually to allow him to educate his children befitting their rank.
- Annals of Kinsale p. lxxxii

Note: The 1760 petition refers to original rights and titles being established in 1397 (20th of Richard II). There being no existing patent, the evidence produced is an entry in the Office of Arms of Ireland, of a Pedigree of the Family DeCourcy, copied from a manuscript of the late Earl of Totnes. (President of Munster)

  Noted events in his life were:

• Confirmed Baroncy, 1761.

• "Hat Privelege" exercised: King George III, 15 Sep 1762.

John married Martha Heron, daughter of Willam Heron of Dorchester and Unknown, on 26 Oct 1746. (Martha Heron died in 1803 and was buried in Ringrone.)