Thomas Butler, Viscount Thurles, son of Walter Butler “Walter of the Rosaries,” was probably the first of the family to take up residence in Thurles Castle. Thomas was summoned to England in 1619 to answer charges of treason, but the ship conveying him was wrecked off the coast of Skerries and he was drowned on 15th December 1619. His wife was Elizabeth Poyntz, daughter of Sir John Poyntz, Bart., of Acton in Gloucestershire, and the celebrated Lady Thurles (see pic). They had been married since 1608 and were the parents of three sons and four daughters.
After Viscount Thurles’s death, his widow, Lady Thurles, married again, about 1620, one Captain George Mathew of Radyr and Llandaff in Glamorganshire, Wales, by whom Lady Thurles had a further two sons and a daughter. Captain George Mathew died at Tenby in Wales in 1636. His widow, Lady Thurles survived him by 37 years and died in Thurles in May 1673. Her body was interred beside St. Mary’s Famine Museum Church in Thurles. A period portrait, oil on canvas, of Lady Thurles is in the possession of the Tipperary County Library at the Source building in Thurles.
(Please click on both images for higher resolution)
Lady Thurles was a loyal and staunch Catholic, but also a loyal and staunch Englishwoman (Royalist). From the time of her marriage with Viscount Thurles until her death in May 1673, she resided in Thurles Castle, except perhaps for a short period (1658-1660) during the Cromwellian regime.
Generations later, the 3rd Duke of Abercorn’s daughter married Earl Spencer, grandfather of the Lady Diana Spencer who married Prince Charles of England. Thus Thomas Butler, Viscount Thurles, and Elizabeth Poyntz, Lady Thurles are direct ancestors of Lady Diana Spencer.
Prince Charles of England is a direct descendant of Viscount and Lady Thurles through their eldest son, the Duke of Ormond. The Duke’s daughter, Elizabeth, married Philip Stanhope, 2nd Earl Chesterfield, and their daughter Elizabeth Stanhope married John Lyon, 4th Earl Strathmore. Later in direct line was the 14th Earl Strathmore whose daughter, Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon married the future King George VI; and these are the grandparents of Prince Charles.
Very impressive research, a fact I have often delivered in conversations about 17th century Ireland, now I can guide the sceptics here, well done.
This and other major historical facts pertaining to Thurles, like the major Norman defeat and reversal of Strongbow by the forces of Ard Ri Roderick and Donal Mor O’Brien in 1174, should really be played up a lot more in the Thurles tourism stakes.
But it is a great pity that the remains of the Black Castle in Thurles are left to the crows (and the occasional interested glance of a ‘developer’ or two, who would gladly see the structure pulled down.) The castle, an early Anglo-Norman tower-house/keep structure presumably built over existing native/Viking structures, as Irish historical Annals reveal another great battle fought at Thurles circa 930AD between the Northern and Southern Clan Ely, allied with the Viking inhabitants of Thurles and Caithream Ceallachain Caisil of Clan Eogan, newly elected King of Munster, allied with the Clan Eoganacht. The Annals tell us that during the battle the chief of the Clan Ely was captured and submitted to Ceallachan and that all the Viking inhabitants of Thurles were slain. This is an important reference to Thurles being a significant fortified pre-Norman town, and is a lost revenue potential for the town of Thurles in the form of historical and cultural tourism.
Surely the remains of the Black Castle could be respectfully re-enforced and roofed (maybe as a Fas project), with the future intent of a full or partial restoration. The opportunity to construct a cut stone faced structure opposite the gate tower at the bridge, thus recreating the twin towers which once existed at the Suir river entrance, was lost some years back to a neo-modern type structure which is out of character in its surroundings. Thurles has great historical tourism potential if only a concerted effort could be made to bring its physical history to life.
Hi Proinsias,
I agree totally with you that Thurles remains totally hidden in relation to its historical importance. One hopes now with Mary Hanafin in charge of Tourism, things will change for the better.
She will certainly get support in this “neck of the woods”. Thank you for your comments.
They are not asleep in Moneygall, or waiting for outsiders to do the work for them.
A very interesting article. My uncle William Matthews traced our family history back to George Mathew and lady Elizabeth Poyntz, using church records, so they are Great, great ,, Grandparents its really nice to read this information and now that I know where Lady Elizabeth is buried I shall bring my family to visit.
Micheal Matthews: George Mathew was originally from Wales and lady Elizabeth Poyntz was from England. They are both my 9 great grandparents. George Mathew is from the great knight sir David Mathew of Wales 1411-1493. My 14th great grandfather. He was in the battle of Towton and saved King Edward IV life in that battle. Our ancestry of Mathews in Wales goes back a very very long way.
Michael Matthews. I traced our direct Mathew male line back too 1100 AD in Wales. Though our Mathew last name was first used in 1411 from David Mathew. (He was the first to use a modern name) David’s fathers name and all before him was pre modern Welsh.
Hi Michael,
Thank you so much for your comment. I am only reading it now. That’s very interesting my uncle William actually mentioned that story about our ancestor taking an arrow for the king, so that adds up. I didn’t know which battle so thank you for that info. Actually my email address is alsatticladders@gmail.com if you have any more information i would very much appreciate it.
One odd coincidence is that Anne Bolyen was due to marry the guy who would become Viscount Thurles but took job as Catherine of Aragon’s hand maid and later Henry VIII second wife. Mother of Queen Elizabeth I.
What if she had married him. No QEI. No Spanish Armada 🙂
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anne_Boleyn
Anne was the daughter of Thomas Boleyn, 1st Earl of Wiltshire, and his wife, Lady Elizabeth Howard, and was educated in the Netherlands and France, largely as a maid of honour to Queen Claude of France. Anne returned to England in early 1522, to marry her Irish cousin James Butler, 9th Earl of Ormond; the marriage plans were broken off, and instead she secured a post at court as maid of honour to Henry VIII’s wife, Catherine of Aragon.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Butler,_9th_Earl_of_Ormond
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Seeking information of MATTHEWS family hailing from Down Ampney, Cromhall etc in Gloucestershire who were engaged in indigo planting in Bengal mid 18 th century. I believe my Matthews family with strong links to India and Pakistan may well be related through indigo planting . Evidence shows a William Matthews of Down Ampney arriving in India , mid 18th century under patronage of Sir John Shore , Director East India Comapany , was granted land and established a successful indigo factory. The Mutiny of 1857 caused William and family to flee and resettle in Calcutta.
I would be most grateful if anyone with information can get in touch with me please.
Hello Micheal Fox,
Having read your very interesting and informative posts I would very much like to get in touch with you.
I am trying to find the link between my paternal Matthews / Matthew / Mathews line-and those hailing from the Gloucestershire area, in particular, Down Ampney and Cromhall. The common thread is of indigo planting in Bengal , India / Pakistan certainly from mid 18 th century for the Gloucestershire and early 19 th century for mine.
My late relative Robert ‘ Bob ‘ Matthews in his autobiography’ Striking Out ‘ and in his chapter in ‘ Last Children of The Raj ‘ by Tully & Fleming , contends he / we are descended from the line of Earl of Landaff, Cardiff. To date no evidence has been found to support this claim, however the research continues! I
I would be most interested to get in touch with you.
I discovered that Hailey shares a common ancestor with King Charles III, namely Elizabeth Poyntz, Lady Thurles.