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Sir George Courtenay, 1st Baronet facts for kids

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George Courtenay
Baronet Courtenay of Newcastle
Tenure 1621–1644
Successor Sir William Courtenay, 2nd Baronet
Born Between 1580 and 1585
Died 1644
Spouse(s) Catherine Berkeley
Issue
Detail
William, and others
Father William Courtenay (died 1630)
Mother Elizabeth Manners

Sir George Oughtred Courtenay, 1st Baronet, of Newcastle (c. 1585 – 1644) was an Irish landowner and soldier. He defended Limerick at the siege of 1642 during the Irish Rebellion of 1641.

Birth and origins

George was born between 1580 and 1585, the fourth son of William Courtenay and his first wife, Elizabeth Manners. His father was a member of the Devonshire gentry but would much later in 1831 be recognised as de jure 3rd Earl of Devon. His father's family was the English branch of the House of Courtenay. His mother was a daughter of Henry Manners, 2nd Earl of Rutland in England.

Family tree
George Courtenay with wife, parents, and other selected relatives.
William
Courtenay

c. 1529 – 1557
Elizabeth
Paulet

c. 1533 – 1576
Henry
Oughtred

c. 1533 – 1599
William
Courtenay

1553–1630
Elizabeth
Manners
Francis
Berkeley

d. 1615
of Askeaton
Francis
Courtenay

1576–1638
George
1st Baronet
c. 1585 – 1644
Catherine
Berkeley
William
1st Baronet
1628–1702
William
2nd Baronet
1616–1652
Francis
3rd Baronet
1617–1660
Francis
Courtenay

d. 1699
d.v.p.*
William
4th Baronet
c. 1659 – c. 1700
Legend
XXX Subject of
the article
XXX Courtenay
Irish Baronets
XXX Courtenay
English Bts
*d.v.p. = predeceased his father (decessit vita patris)

Plantation of Munster

His father was an undertaker in the Plantation of Munster after the Desmond Rebellions and was in 1585 granted the seignory of Newcastle, 10,500 acres, in the Barony of Connello, in the western part of County Limerick.

Between 1598 and 1611 Courtenay bought the seignories of Mayne (south east of Newcastle) and Beauly (also called Muskrinownan) from Sir Henry Oughtred's heirs, increasing his lands in Munster from 10,500 to 33,678 acres. Oughtred had died childless in 1599 and was his father's stepfather.

Marriage and children

George Courtenay married Catherine Berkeley before 1616. Her father was Francis Berkeley of Askeaton, County Limerick, third son of Maurice Berkeley of Bruton in Somerset. Her uncle Captain Edward Berkeley had in 1585 or 1586 been made Constable of Askeaton Castle, which had been taken by the English in April 1580 soon after the beginning of the Second Desmond Rebellion. George and Catherine had three sons:

  1. William (1616–1652), 2nd Baronet, died without son
  2. Francis (1617–1660), 3rd Baronet
  3. Morris, died without issue

Baronet

In 1622 Courtenay was created 1st Baronet Courtenay of Newcastle, County Limerick. In that year he was also appointed constable of Limerick Castle. His father died on 24 June 1630. His elder brother Francis Courtenay became de jure Earl of Devon and inherited the English lands. George inherited the Irish land.

Siege of Limerick

In May and June 1642, Courtenay defended King John's Castle, Limerick's citadel, against the Munster rebels under General Garret Barry, Patrick Purcell of Croagh, Lord Muskerry, and Maurice Roche, 8th Viscount Fermoy. The besiegers attacked the eastern wall and the bastion on its south-east corner by digging mines. Courtenay surrendered the castle on 21 June and Muskerry took possession.

Loss of Newcastle

In July and August 1642 Purcell besieged Newcastle, Courtenay's seat, which fell on 6 August after a cannon had been brought from Limerick.

Death and timeline

Sir George died in 1644. He was succeeded by his eldest surviving son, Sir William Courtenay, 2nd Baronet.

Timeline
As his birth date is uncertain, so are all his ages.
Age Date Event
0 1580–1585 Born
18 1601, 29 May The Súgán earl, James FitzThomas FitzGerald is captured.
18 1601, 22 Sep The Spanish landed at Kinsale
20 1603, 24 Mar Accession of King James I, succeeding Queen Elizabeth I
33 1616 Married Catherine Berkeley
39 1622 Created Baronet Courtenay of Newcastle
42 1625, 27 Mar Accession of King Charles I, succeeding King James I
47 1630, 24 Jun Father died in London.
61 1644 Died
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