John Vesey (archbishop of Tuam)

John Vesey (10 March 1638 – 28 March 1716) was a Church of Ireland clergyman.[1]

Biography

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He was born in Coleraine, son of Thomas Vesey, the local rector. His grandfather William Vesey had emigrated from Cumbria in the previous century. The family were Presbyterians who later conformed to the Established Church. He was educated at Westminster School and Trinity College, Dublin. He is said to have holy orders at an unusually young age. He was Archdeacon of Armagh, then Dean of Cork.[2] He was made Bishop of Limerick, Ardfert and Aghadoe in 1672.[3] In 1678 he became Archbishop of Tuam.[4]

During the religious troubles in the reign of King James II of England, he and his diocese suffered greatly: his cattle were driven off and attempts were made to burn his cathedral. Finally, fearing that their lives were in danger, he and his wife and twelve children fled to London in late 1688, where he obtained a poorly paid lectureship. He was proscribed by the Patriot Parliament in 1689. After James's downfall, he returned to Ireland and preached a sermon of thanksgiving before the Parliament of Ireland. In 1712 and 1714 he served as one of the Lords Justices of Ireland.[5] He died at Hollymount, County Mayo, in the large and comfortable house that he had built after the Episcopal palace at Tuam was burnt during his exile in England.

Family

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He married firstly Rebecca Wilson, who died about 1665, and secondly Anne Muschamp, daughter of Agmondisham Muschamp, and had at least fourteen children: they included:

References

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  1. ^ Works Created by or about John Vessey in Internet Archive.
  2. ^ Haydn's Book of Dignities (1894) p. 632
  3. ^ Haydn, p. 639.
  4. ^ Haydn, p. 611.
  5. ^ Haydn, p. 556.
  6. ^ Debrett's Peerage (1840) p. 312.
Church of Ireland titles
Preceded by Archdeacon of Armagh
1662–1663
Succeeded by
Thomas Vesey (again)
Preceded by Dean of Cork
1667–1672
Succeeded by
Preceded by Bishop of Limerick, Ardfert and Aghadoe
1672–1679
Succeeded by
Preceded by Archbishop of Tuam
1679–1716
Succeeded by
Government offices
Preceded by Lord Justice of Ireland
1712–1713
With: Sir Constantine Phipps
Succeeded by
Preceded by Lord Justice of Ireland
1714
With: the Archbishop of Armagh and Sir Constantine Phipps, temp. Queen Anne
the Archbishop of Dublin and the Earl of Kildare, temp. George I
Succeeded by