Darcy (noble family)

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Medieval coat of arms of the Darcy family

The Darcy family (also D'Arcy ) was an English noble family, from which several lines led various titles of nobility until 1778. Numerous members of the family were elected as MPs for the House of Commons .

Anglo-Norman Lords Darcy

The first known member of the family was Norman Darcy († between 1116 and 1129), who, according to the Domesday Book , owned 1,086 lands from which he had annual income of over £ 63. The main focus of his holdings was Nocton in Lincolnshire . Until 1116 he was able to expand his possessions slightly. He was heir to Robert Darcy , who was believed to be his son, and most likely also the Darcy named as a vassal of the Percy family in 1129 or 1130 . His son and heir was Thomas Darcy , who as crown vassal owned just over twenty Knight's Fee in Lincolnshire and probably five other Knight's Fee as fiefs of the Percy family. His son of the same name and heir Thomas Darcy did not come of age until 1185. In order to be able to take over the administration of the inheritance, his mother had to pay a large sum to the crown, in addition the younger Thomas Darcy had to take on further debts in order to fulfill his vassal obligations towards the crown. This resulted in his son Norman Darcy taking over a highly indebted inheritance in 1206. Norman Darcy had to go into further debt due to the demands of the crown, which is why he was probably one of the rebels from 1215 who fought against the king in the First War of the Barons . He finally submitted to the new King Henry III. His son and heir Philip Darcy also served Henry III. loyal as a military man and also supported the king when a noble opposition rebelled against his rule . Philips' sons Norman Darcy and Roger († 1284), however, supported the nobility opposition in 1264. After the king's victory, Norman Darcy likely had to pay a heavy fine in 1267, for which he went into great debt. To repay the debt, he had to sell significant parts of his inherited land holdings. His brother Roger started a branch of the family with properties in Nottinghamshire .

Barons Darcy of Nocton

Norman Darcy's heir became his son Philip Darcy . He was invited to the parliaments as Baron Darcy of Nocton , but from 1321 he supported the rebellion of the Earl of Lancaster against King Edward II. The rebellion was put down in 1322. Philip's son Norman Darcy was able to get back part of his father's confiscated property. With the early death of his son Philip before 1350, the main line of the family died out in male line of succession. The remaining possessions were divided between the two sisters of Norman Darcy and their descendants.

Darcy of Knaith

Roger Darcy († around 1284), the second son of Philip Darcy († 1264), was able to acquire Oldcotes and Styrrup in Nottinghamshire and thus establish his own family. His son and heir Sir John Darcy first made a career in the service of Aymer de Valence, 2nd Earl of Pembroke , before he was justiciar of Ireland in 1323 . He succeeded, even after the fall of Edward II in 1326 under the reign of Roger Mortimer and then during the reign of Edward III. to hold important offices. He was invited to parliaments several times, but after 1334 he only took part in parliaments because of his offices. But thanks to the favor of the king, he was able to expand his possessions considerably. He also acquired properties in Ireland through his second marriage to Joan , a daughter of Richard de Burgh, 2nd Earl of Ulster . This resulted in his eldest son John Darcy inheriting the English possessions, while his son William Darcy inherited the Irish possessions from his second marriage and established a branch of the family there. The younger John Darcy distinguished himself as a military man at the beginning of the Hundred Years War and was personally invited to parliaments from 1348. His eldest son John died underage, after which his second son Philip Darcy inherited the property in 1362. He also served in the military during the Hundred Years War. Philip's son John , however, achieved no major military or political importance. At his untimely death in 1411 he left two underage sons, Philip and John (before 1412-1458). Philip died in 1418, before he came of age. But he had married Eleanor FitzHugh , daughter of Henry FitzHugh , 3rd Baron FitzHugh . With her he had at least two daughters. But they inherited only a small part of the estates, while the greater part of the inheritance in Yorkshire finally fell to their uncle Sir John Darcy, who founded another line of the family.

In 1903, the House of Lords decided that John Darcy († 1347) was considered the rightful Baron Darcy , and his title was given the addition of de Knayth to distinguish it from the main line of the family after his Knaith estate in Lincolnshire . His direct male descendants were also awarded the title until the title fell in Abeyance after the death of Philip Darcy in 1418 .

More lines

Baron Darcy of Darcy

Sir John Darcy, his son and grandson did not achieve greater political importance. Only his great-grandson Thomas Darcy became a high-ranking official and advisor to King Henry VIII. In 1509 he was raised to Baron Darcy de Darcy and accepted into the Order of the Garter. As a participant in the Pilgrimage of Grace , however, he was sentenced to death as a traitor and executed in 1537, making his title forfeit. However, his eldest son, George Darcy , managed to have his conviction overturned in 1548. The title was then restored, but his father's possessions were not returned to him. According to other sources, the title was not restored, but re-created as Baron Darcy of Aston . With the death of Georg Darcy's great-grandson John Darcy, 4th Baron Darcy de Darcy , who died without surviving descendants in 1635, the title expired.

Conyers Darcy, who later became 1st Earl of Holderness. Portrait, around 1625

Baron Darcy of Knayth and Earl of Holderness

Sir Arthur Darcy , the third son of Thomas Darcy, 1st Baron Darcy of Darcy had several sons. His eldest son, Sir Henry Darcy , was elected MP for several constituencies in the general election between 1558 and 1578. Of his other sons, Edward Darcy was elected MP for Truro in 1584 and Sir Francis Darcy was elected MP for Lymington in 1601 . His grandson Sir Conyers Darcy was able to obtain the abeyance of the title Baron Conyers , which was awarded to him , in 1641 . In 1903 he was subsequently recognized as Baron Darcy de Knayth. His son of the same name, Conyers Darcy , was made Earl of Holderness in 1682 . As influential nobles, he and his descendants managed to have several of their sons elected as MPs for the House of Commons. Robert Darcy, 4th Earl of Holderness held the office of Secretary of State in various governments from 1751 to 1761 . When he died in 1778 with no surviving male descendants, the family died out in direct male line of succession and the title of Earl of Holderness became extinct. His heiress became his only surviving daughter, Amelia Darcy , who later also became the heiress of the title Baron Darcy de Knayth.

Coat of arms of the Earls of Holderness from the House of Darcy

Baron Darcy of Navan

James Darcy , a grandson of Conyers Darcy, 4th Baron Conyers was elected several times as MP for Richmond in general elections from 1698 onwards . He was raised to Baron Darcy of Navan in the Peerage of Ireland in 1721 . Since he had no sons, he was allowed to bequeath the title to the male descendants of his daughter Mary . With the childless death of his grandson James Darcy, 2nd Baron Darcy of Navan in 1733, the title already expired.

Tribe list from the Lords Darcys to the 15th century (excerpt)

  1. Norman Darcy († between 1116 and 1129)
    1. Robert Darcy († between 1148 and 1160) ⚭ Alice
      1. Thomas Darcy († 1180) ⚭ Aelina
        1. Thomas Darcy (1166 / 7–1206) ⚭ Joan
          1. Norman Darcy († 1254) ⚭ Agnes
            1. Philip Darcy († 1264) ⚭ Isabel Bertram
              1. Norman Darcy (before 1236 – around 1296) ⚭ Julian
                1. Philip Darcy, 1st Baron Darcy of Nocton (before 1259 – around 1333) ⚭?
                  1. Norman Darcy, 2nd Baron Darcy of Nocton († 1340) ⚭ Isabel
                    1. Philip Darcy, 3rd Baron Darcy of Nocton († before 1350)
                  2. Julian Darcy († between 1346 and 1350) ⚭ I Philip de Neville; ⚭ II John de Limbury
                  3. Agnes Darcy (around 1300 – before 1359) ⚭ I Robert de Friskeneye; ⚭ II Sir Roger de Pedwardine
              2. Roger Darcy († 1284) ⚭ Isabel d'Aton
                1. John Darcy, 1st Baron Darcy de Knayth († 1347) ⚭ I Emmeline Heron; ⚭ Joan de Burgh
                  1. John Darcy, 2nd Baron Darcy de Knayth (1317–1356) ⚭ Elizabeth de Meinill
                    1. John Darcy, 3rd Baron Darcy de Knayth († 1362)
                    2. Philip Darcy, 4th Baron Darcy de Knayth (1352-1399) ⚭ Elizabeth Gray († 1412)
                      1. John Darcy, 5th Baron Darcy de Knayth (1377–1411) ⚭ Margaret Gray
                        1. Philip Darcy, 6th Baron Darcy de Knayth (1397–1418) ⚭ Eleanor FitzHugh
                          1. Elizabeth Darcy (around 1417 – between 1458 and 1461) ⚭ Sir James Strangways
                          2. Margery Darcy (1418–1468 / 9) ⚭ Sir John Conyers
                        2. John Darcy (before 1412–1458) (descendants see below)
                  2. William Darcy (1330 – before 1362)

Tribe list from the middle of the 15th century until the lapse of the title Earl of Holderness (excerpt)

  1. John Darcy (before 1412–1458) ⚭ Joan Greystoke
    1. Richard Darcy († before 1458) ⚭ Eleanor le Scrope
      1. William Darcy (around 1454–1488) ⚭ Euphemia Langton
        1. Thomas Darcy, 1st Baron Darcy de Darcy (around 1467–1537) ⚭ Dowsabel Tempest
          1. George Darcy, 2nd Baron Darcy of Darcy († 1557) ⚭ Dorothy Melton
            1. John Darcy, 3rd Baron Darcy de Darcy (1529–1587) ⚭ Anne Babington
              1. Michael Darcy († 1588) ⚭ Margaret Wentworth
                1. John Darcy, 4th Baron Darcy de Darcy (around 1579–1635) ⚭ Rosamund Frescheville
                  1. John Darcy (around 1602-1624)
          2. Arthur Darcy († 1561) ⚭ Mary Carew
            1. Thomas Darcy († 1605) ⚭ Elizabeth Conyers
              1. Conyers Darcy, 4th Baron Conyers (around 1570–1654) ⚭ Dorothy Belasyse
                1. Conyers Darcy, 1st Earl of Holderness (1599–1689) ⚭ Grace Rokeby
                  1. Conyers Darcy, 2nd Earl of Holderness (1622–1692) ⚭ Frances Howard
                    1. John Darcy (1659-1688) ⚭ Bridget Sutton
                      1. Robert Darcy, 3rd Earl of Holderness (1681–1722) ⚭ Frederica Schomberg
                        1. Robert Darcy, 4th Earl of Holderness (1718–1778) ⚭ Mary Doublet
                          1. Amelia Darcy (1754–1784) ∞ Francis Osborne, 5th Duke of Leeds
                      2. Conyers Darcy (around 1685–1758)
                    2. Philip Darcy (1661-1694)
                2. Marmaduke Darcy (1615–1687)
                3. James Darcy (1617–1673) ⚭ Isabel Wyvill
                  1. James Darcy, 1st Baron Darcy of Navan (around 1650–1731) ⚭ Bethia Payler
                    1. Mary Darcy († 1737) ⚭ William Jessop
                      1. James Darcy, 2nd Baron Darcy of Navan († 1733)
          3. Henry Darcy (around 1539 – after 1593)
          4. Edward Darcy (1543-1612)
          5. Francis Darcy († 1641)

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Paul Dalton: Darcy family (per. 1086-1333). In: Henry Colin Gray Matthew, Brian Harrison (Eds.): Oxford Dictionary of National Biography , from the earliest times to the year 2000 (ODNB). Oxford University Press, Oxford 2004, ISBN 0-19-861411-X , ( oxforddnb.com license required ), as of 2004
  2. ↑ Anthony Verduyn: Darcy family (per. C. 1284–1488). In: Henry Colin Gray Matthew, Brian Harrison (Eds.): Oxford Dictionary of National Biography , from the earliest times to the year 2000 (ODNB). Oxford University Press, Oxford 2004, ISBN 0-19-861411-X , ( oxforddnb.com license required ), as of 2004
  3. ↑ Anthony Verduyn: Darcy family (per. C. 1284–1488). In: Henry Colin Gray Matthew, Brian Harrison (Eds.): Oxford Dictionary of National Biography , from the earliest times to the year 2000 (ODNB). Oxford University Press, Oxford 2004, ISBN 0-19-861411-X , ( oxforddnb.com license required ), as of 2004
  4. ^ WM Ormrod: Darcy, Sir John (b. Before 1284, d. 1347). In: Henry Colin Gray Matthew, Brian Harrison (Eds.): Oxford Dictionary of National Biography , from the earliest times to the year 2000 (ODNB). Oxford University Press, Oxford 2004, ISBN 0-19-861411-X , ( oxforddnb.com license required ), as of 2004
  5. ↑ RW Hoyle: Darcy, Thomas, Baron Darcy of Darcy (b. In or before 1467, d. 1537). In: Henry Colin Gray Matthew, Brian Harrison (Eds.): Oxford Dictionary of National Biography , from the earliest times to the year 2000 (ODNB). Oxford University Press, Oxford 2004, ISBN 0-19-861411-X , ( oxforddnb.com license required ), as of 2004
  6. ↑ Cracroft's Peerage: Darcy of Aston, Baron (E, 1548 - 1635)
  7. ↑ Cracroft's Peerage: Holderness, Earl of (E, 1682 - 1778) ( Memento of the original dated February 11, 2011 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.cracroftspeerage.co.uk
  8. ↑ James Darcy, 1st Baron Darcy of Navan on thepeerage.com , accessed December 29, 2018.