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Theobald Dillon, 1st Viscount Dillon

Theobald Dillon, 1st Viscount Dillon (died 1624), was an Irish military commander and adventurer. He held extensive lands in eastern Connacht and north-western Leinster, some acquired by sharp practices. He was a loyal supporter of Elizabeth I of England in her Irish wars.

Theobald Dillon
Viscount Dillon
Tenure1622–1624
SuccessorLucas Dillon, 2nd Viscount Dillon
Died15 March 1624
Kilfaughny, County Westmeath
Spouse(s)Eleanor Tuite
Issue
Detail		James, Eleanor, Cecily, & others
FatherThomas Dillon of Ballynakill
MotherMargery Dillon of Kilmore

Birth and origins

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Theobald was probably born at Ballynakill, the habitual home of his father and grandfather. He was the third son of Thomas Dillon[1] and his wife Margery Dillon of Kilmore, also called Mary.[2][3] His father was the eldest son of his grandfather James Dillon, nicknamed the Prior,[4] because he took care of several monastic properties at the dissolution of the monasteries. His father's side of the family descended from Lord Dillon of Drumraney, County Westmeath. Theobald's mother was a daughter of Christopher Dillon of Kilmore.[2] His father's family like his mother's family were branches of the same widespread Old English family that descends from Sir Henry Dillon who came to Ireland with Prince John in 1185.[5]

Theobald listed among his brothers
He appears among his brothers as the third son:
  1. Gerald, married Cicely, daughter of a Dillon of High Baskin, County Westmeath[6]
  2. Edmund, lived in Ardnagrath Castle, County Westmeath[7]
  3. Theobald (died 1624)
  4. Garret, a captain of an independent troop, ancestor of Garrett Dillon, Recorder of Dublin[8]
  5. James, from whom descend the Dillons of Ballynakill and some other Dillon cadet branches[9]
List of Theobald's sisters
Theobald had three sisters:
  1. Rose, married Thomas Dillon, son and successor to Gerald of Drumrany[10]
  2. Catherine, married Edmund Fitz-Edmund Dillon of Kilcomane[11]
  3. Bridget, married a Dalton of Moyvannane[12]
Family tree
Theobald Dillon with wife, parents, and other selected relatives.[a]
Gerald
Dillon
of Dunimoney		Ismay
Tuite
Robert
Dillon
of Dunimoney		James
Dillon
The Prior		Catherine
Dalton		William
Dillon
Thomas
Dillon
of Ballynakill		Margery
Dillon
of Kilmore
Gerald
Dillon		Edmund
Dillon
of Ardnegragh		Theobald
1st
Viscount
d. 1624		Eleanor
Tuite
d. 1638		Garret
Dillon
Captain
Christopher
Dillon
of Ballylaghan
d. 1624
d.v.p.*		Jane
Dillon
m. 1604		Lucas
Dillon
1579–1656
of Loughglynn		Jane
Moore		James
Dillon
c. 1600 –
aft. 1669
Lucas
2nd
Viscount
1610–1629		Thomas
4th
Viscount
1615–1673		Theobald
Dillon		Robert D.
of Loughglynn		Rose Dillon
of
Streamstown
d. 1681
Theobald
3rd
Viscount
1629–1630		Thomas
5th
Viscount
d. 1674		Lucas
6th
Viscount
d. 1682		Theobald
7th
Viscount
d. 1691
Jacobite		Mary
Talbot
d. 1691
Legend
XXXSubject of
the article		XXXViscounts
Dillon
*d.v.p. = predeceased his father (decessit vita patris)

In 1559 Theobald commanded an independent force.[13]

Marriage and children

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Theobald Dillon married Eleanor Tuite. So far the sources agree. However, she is either the widow or the daughter of William Tuite according to sources.[14][15]

Theobald and Eleanor had 19 children, eight sons:[16][b]

  1. Christopher (died 28 February 1624), the eldest, married the eldest daughter of James Dillon, 1st Earl of Roscommon and became the father of the 2nd Viscount and the 4th Viscount[17][18]
  2. Lucas (1579–1656), ancestor of the 7th and later viscounts[19]
  3. William, denominated of Tolchan[20]
  4. Thomas, denominated of Brackloon[21]
  5. Edward, became a Franciscan friar[22]
  6. George, also became a Franciscan friar[22]
  7. John, became an officer in the army and died unmarried[23]
  8. James (c. 1600 – in or after 1669), the 8th and youngest son, who became an army officer[24]

—and 11 daughters:

  1. Rose, died young[25]
  2. Margaret, married Robert Dillon of Cannestown,[26] son of Thomas Dillon, who was a brother of Lucas Dillon, the judge[27]
  3. Anne, married John, Viscount Taaffe, and was the mother of Theobald Taaffe, 1st Earl of Carlingford[28]
  4. Katherine, married Sir Ulick Burke of Glinsk, 1st Baronet[29]
  5. Mary, married Gerald Pettyt of Mullingar in County Westmeath[30]
  6. Elizabeth, married Thomas Fitzgerald of Newcastle in County Longford[31]
  7. Jane, married Hugh O'Conor of Castlereagh[32]
  8. Eleanor (died 1629), became a nun with the Poor Clares[33][34]
  9. Cecily (c. 1603 – 1653), became the first Abbess of the Poor Clares in Ireland[34][35][36]
  10. Bridget, died unmarried[37]
  11. Barbara, died unmarried[37]

Later life

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In 1582 in the context of the Composition of Connacht, a surrender and regrant action, Dillon was appointed collector-general of the composition money in Connacht and Thomond.[38] During this period of the English reconquest in Connacht, Dillon was involved in some sharp practices with the local landholders. In particular, he persuaded the various Costello freeholders of the Barony of Costello in eastern County Mayo, to save expense and ensure the smooth legal transfer, to allow him to surrender their lands for them in one land-title in the Surrender and regrant process and had it regranted in his own name, becoming the legal landowner in the process. He never returned this title to the lands to the native owners, which would lead to rapparee actions by Dudley Costello (or Costellogh) against the Dillons in the 1660s.[39]

He fought under the Earl of Essex in the Nine Years' War (1593–1603) and was knighted by him on 24 July 1599.[40][41][c] To put this into perspective it should be said that Theobald was already in his sixties and that Essex knighted a great many people and was mocked by saying "he never drew sword but to make knights".[42]

On 19 July 1608, King James I gave him a patent confirming the possession of the manor and town of Kilfaughny in County Westmeath[43] where he then lived and finally died.

On 16 March 1622, King James I created him Viscount Dillon of Costello-Gallen, cementing his legal title. He became the first of a long succession of viscounts Dillon. The territorial designation "Costello-Gallen" refers to the baronies of Gallen and Costello in County Mayo.[44]

Lord Dillon, as he now was, held the title of Lord President of Connaught from c. 1621 on, which he shared with Charles Wilmot, who held that same title from 1616 to 1644.[45]

Death, succession, and timeline

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Lord Dillon died on 15 March 1624[46] in Kilfaughny in County Westmeath. It is said that he died "at so advanced an age, that at one time he had the satisfaction of seeing above an hundred of his descendants in his house of Killenfaghny".[47] Christopher, his eldest son, died on 28 February[18] about two weeks before his father and therefore never succeeded his father. On the first Viscount's death, the title, therefore, passed to his grandson Lucas, Christopher's eldest son.[48]

Timeline
As his birth date is uncertain, so are all his ages.
Age Date Event
0 1530, estimate Born.[d]
27–28 1558, 17 Nov Accession of Queen Elizabeth I, succeeding Queen Mary I[49]
28–29 1559 Commanded an independent force.[13]
51–52 1582 Made collector-general of the composition money.[38]
68–69 1599, 24 Jul Knighted by Essex.[40]
72–73 1603, 24 Mar Accession of King James I, succeeding Queen Elizabeth I[50]
77–78 1608, 19 Jul James I gave him a patent for Kilfaughny house.[43]
91–92 1622, 16 Mar Created Viscount Dillon of Costello-Gallen.[44]
93–94 1624, 28 Feb Eldest son, Christopher, died.[18]
93–94 1624, 15 Mar Died at Kilfaughny and was succeeded by his grandson Lucas.[46]

Notes and references

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Notes

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  1. ^ Also see the lists of siblings and children in the text.
  2. ^ Burke (1949) mentions only Christopher and Lucas; Cokayne (1916) does not mention his children; Debrett states he had eight sons but does not give details. Lodge lists all eight sons in detail.
  3. ^ Lodge give this year as 1559, which seems to be an error.
  4. ^ Theobald's year of birth is set at very roughly 1530 as he died in 1624 at a very advanced age, which is interpreted to mean that he was in his 90s.

Citations

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  1. ^ Lodge 1789, p. 177, line 14: "... [the 1st Viscount was] the third son of Thomas Dillon, son of James ..."
  2. ^ a b Lodge 1789, p. 174, line 7: "Thomas, the eldest son ... married Margery, daughter of Christopher Dillon, of Kilmore ..."
  3. ^ Cokayne 1916, p. 357, line 16: "Theobald Dillon, 3rd s. [son] of Thomas D. of Ballynakill, by Mary, da. of Christopher Dillon, of Kilmore ..."
  4. ^ Lodge 1789, p. 173, line 24: "... he [James Dillon] obtained a temporary lease of divers Monasteries ... he was nicknamed the Prior ..."
  5. ^ Webb 1878, p. 149, line 7: "... [Sir Henry Dillon] came to Ireland in 1185 as secretary to Prince John ..."
  6. ^ Lodge 1789, p. 174, line 14: "Gerald, who married Cicely, daughter of ___ Dillon ..."
  7. ^ Lodge 1789, p. 174, line 23: "Edmund, who settled in the castle of Ardnegragh, in county of Westmeath ..."
  8. ^ Lodge 1789, p. 175, line 22: "Garret, who was Captain of an independent company in the reign of Q. Elizabeth ..."
  9. ^ Lodge 1789, p. 177, line 7: "James, the fifth and youngest son of Thomas, was father of James who lived in the reign of James I. and was seated at Carrownegarry, in county Roscommon; ... from this branch descended the families of Ballynakill, Tully, Portmore, Rathmoyle, Cloontowart ..."
  10. ^ Lodge 1789, p. 174, line 10: "Rose, married to Thomas Dillon, son and successor to Gerald, of Drumrany ..."
  11. ^ Lodge 1789, p. 174, line 11: "Catherine, to Edmund Fitz-Edmund Dillon of Kilcomane;"
  12. ^ Lodge 1789, p. 174, line 12: "Bridget, to ___ Dalton of Moyvannane."
  13. ^ a b Webb 1878, p. 149: "In 1559 he commanded an independent troop in the royal cause ..."
  14. ^ Burke 1832, p. 367, left column, line 4: "His lordship [Theobald Dillon] m. Eleanora, daughter of Sir Edward Tuite, knt., of Tuitestown, in the county of Westmeath, and widow of William Tuite of Monilea ..."
  15. ^ Cokayne 1916, p. 357, line 25: "He [Theobald Dillon] m. Eleanor, da. of William Tuite of Tuitestown, co. Westmeath."
  16. ^ Debrett 1828, p. 748, line 11: "He [Theobald Dillon] had issue 8 sons and 11 das.;"
  17. ^ Burke 1832, p. 367, left column, line 9: "Christopher (Sir), of Bealalahin, in the county of Mayo, who m. in 1604, Lady Jane Dillon, eldest daughter of James, first Earl of Roscommon, and dying before his father, left seven sons and five daughters."
  18. ^ a b c Cokayne 1916, p. 357, line 33: "Christopher was s. [son] and h. ap. [heir apparent] of the last Viscount but d. v.p. [predeceased his father], 28 Feb 1623/4."
  19. ^ Lodge 1789, p. 181, line 2: "Sir Lucas, from whom the present Lord Dillon descends."
  20. ^ Lodge 1789, p. 181, line 4: "William Dillon of Tolchan, Esq; who had considerable estates assigned to him."
  21. ^ Lodge 1789, p. 181, line 10: "Thomas, on whom the estates of his nephew George devolved he was born in the Tower of London, and styled of Bracklyn or Brackloon in county of Roscomon."
  22. ^ a b Lodge 1789, p. 182, line 38: "Edward and George, Friars of the Order of St. Francis."
  23. ^ Lodge 1789, p. 182, line 40: "John, who had a command in the army, and died unmarried."
  24. ^ Murtagh 2004, p. 210, right column: "Dillon, Sir James (b. [born] c. 1600 d. [died] in or after 1669) army officer, was probably born at Kilfaughny, co. Westmeath, the eighth and youngest son of nineteen children of Theobald, first Viscount Dillon ..."
  25. ^ Lodge 1789, p. 184, line 12: "Daughter Rose, who died young."
  26. ^ Lodge 1789, p. 184, line 13: "Margaret, married Robert Dillon of Cannestown in Westmeath ..."
  27. ^ Lodge 1789, p. 155, line 9: "Thomas who married first the daughter of Walter Peppard by whom he had a son Tibbot; and secondly Margaret daughter of ___ Cushen, and by her had a son Robert, who married Margaret, eldest daughter of Theobald, the first Viscount Dillon ..."
  28. ^ Lodge 1789, p. 184, line 19: "Anne to John, Viscount Taaffe of Corran, and mother of Theobald, Earl of Carlingford."
  29. ^ Lodge 1789, p. 184, line 21: "Catherine to Sir Ulick Bourke of Glinsk in the county of Roscomon, Bart."
  30. ^ Lodge 1789, p. 184, line 23: "Mary, to Gerald Pettyt of Irishtown or Molyngar in Westmeath ..."
  31. ^ Lodge 1789, p. 184, line 30: "Elizabeth, to Thomas Fitzgerald of Newcastle, in county of Longford ..."
  32. ^ Lodge 1789, p. 184, line 36: "Jane to Hugh O'Connor Dunn of Castlereagh in Roscommon ..."
  33. ^ Clarke 2004, p. 203, left column, line 20"Having arrived in Dublin on 13 June 1629, they established themselves in Merchant's Quay. As her sister Eleanor died soon after her return to Ireland, it was Cecily Dillon who was elected abbess ..."
  34. ^ a b Lodge 1789, p. 184, line 38: "Ellen, Cecilia, Nuns of the Order of St. Clare, and who established the Franciscan order of nuns in Galway."
  35. ^ Chambers 1882, p. 198, line 16: "In the year 1625 six nuns left the Gravelines convent for that country [Ireland] ... Two of them were daughters of Viscount Dillon ... Mary Joseph and Cicely Francis."
  36. ^ Clarke 2004, p. 202"Dillon, Cecily (c 1603 – 1653). Poor Clare abbess ..."
  37. ^ a b Lodge 1789, p. 184, line 41: "Bridget, and Barbara, died unmarried."
  38. ^ a b Lodge 1789, p. 177, line 18: "... was appointed by patent, General Collector and Receiver of all and singular the Composition Money, within the provinces of Connaught and Thomond."
  39. ^ Simms 1976, p. 448, line 27: "Dudley Costello, the most celebrated of the Connacht tories, was an 'ensignman' whose estate was held by Lord Dillon, against whom he conducted a vigorous private war."
  40. ^ a b Cokayne 1916, p. 357, line 21: "... took an active part against the rebel Irish under Tyrone, 1598–1601; knighted by the Earl of Essex, 24 July 1599."
  41. ^ Lodge 1789, p. 177, line 31: "... and in 1559, received the honour of Knighthood in the field of battle."
  42. ^ Hammer 2004, p. 957, left column: "Already angry over the vast cost of his expedition, she was further enraged by Essex's profligacy in bestowing knighthoods ..."
  43. ^ a b Lodge 1789, p. 178, line 19: "The King also ... did by patent 19 July 1608, 6 of his reign, regrant, sell, and confirm to him, his heirs and assignes forever, the entire manor, castle, or stone-fort and town of Killenfaghny ..."
  44. ^ a b Lodge 1789, p. 177, line 35: "... creating him Viscount Dillon of Costello-Gallen in the Kingdom of Ireland, by letters patent bearing date at Westminster, 16 March 1621-2 ..."
  45. ^ Pollard 1900, p. 60, left column: "On 3 June 1616 he [Charles Wilmot] was appointed president of Connaught."
  46. ^ a b Debrett 1828, p. 748, line 9: "... and d. [died] 15 March 1624 ..."
  47. ^ Webb 1878, p. 149, right column, line 38Cited in the text
  48. ^ Burke 1832, p. 367, left column, line 26: "He [the 1st Viscount] was s. by his grandson Lucas, second viscount ..."
  49. ^ Fryde et al. 1986, p. 43, line 41: "Elizabeth I ... acc. 17 Nov. 1558;"
  50. ^ Fryde et al. 1986, p. 44, line 1: "James I ... acc. 24 Mar. 1603 ..."

Sources

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Peerage of Ireland
New creation Viscount Dillon
1622–1624 		Succeeded by
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