Peerage Record – 1280

     Sir William Parsons, 4th Bt. was born on 6 May 1731.¹ He was the son of Sir Laurence Parsons, 3rd Bt. and Mary Sprigge.¹ He married Mary Clere, daughter of John Clere, on 28 June 1754.¹ He died on 1 May 1791 at age 59.¹
     He succeeded as the 4th Baronet Parsons, of Birr Castle [I., 1677] in 1756.¹ He held the office of Member of Parliament (M.P.) for King’s County.¹ He held the office of High Sheriff of King’s County in 1779.¹

     Mary Clere was the daughter of John Clere.¹ She married Sir William Parsons, 4th Bt., son of Sir Laurence Parsons, 3rd Bt. and Mary Sprigge, on 28 June 1754.¹
     Her married name became Parsons.

     Sir Laurence Parsons, 3rd Bt. was born in 1707.² He was the son of William Parsons and Martha Pigott.¹ He married, firstly, Mary Sprigge, daughter of William Sprigge, on 5 September 1730.¹ He married, secondly, Anne Harman, daughter of Wentworth Harman and Frances Sheppard, on 16 February 1742.¹ He died in 1756.¹
     He succeeded as the 3rd Baronet Parsons, of Birr Castle [I., 1677] on 17 March 1740/41.¹

     Mary Sprigge was the daughter of William Sprigge.¹ She married Sir Laurence Parsons, 3rd Bt., son of William Parsons and Martha Pigott, on 5 September 1730.¹
     Her married name became Parsons.

     Anne Harman was the daughter of Wentworth Harman and Frances Sheppard.^1,2 She married Sir Laurence Parsons, 3rd Bt., son of William Parsons and Martha Pigott, on 16 February 1742.¹
     Her married name became Parsons.

     Laurence Harman, 1st Earl of Rosse was born on 26 July 1749.¹ He was the son of Sir Laurence Parsons, 3rd Bt. and Anne Harman.¹ He married Lady Jane King, daughter of Edward King, 1st Earl of Kingston and Jane Caulfeild, on 11 June 1772.² He died on 20 April 1807 at age 57.¹
     He was given the name of Laurence Harman Parsons at birth.¹ He was educated at Trinity College, Dublin University, Dublin, County Dublin, Ireland.¹ He held the office of Member of Parliament (M.P.) for County Logford [Ireland] between 1776 and 1792.¹ He was created 1st Baron Oxmantown, co. Wexford [Ireland] on 25 September 1792, with special remainder to heirs male of his body, in default of which to his nephew of the half-blood, Laurence.¹ He was created 1st Viscount Oxmantown, co. Wexford [Ireland] on 6 October 1795.¹ He was appointed Representative Peer [Ireland] between 1801 and 1807.¹ He held the office of Chancellor of Dublin University between 1802 and 1807.¹ He was created 1st Earl of Rosse [Ireland] on 3 February 1806, with special remainder to heirs male of his body, in default of which to his nephew of the half-blood, Laurence.³

     Lady Jane King was the daughter of Edward King, 1st Earl of Kingston and Jane Caulfeild.¹ She married Laurence Harman, 1st Earl of Rosse, son of Sir Laurence Parsons, 3rd Bt. and Anne Harman, on 11 June 1772.¹ She died on 26 January 1838.¹
     Her married name became Parsons. After her marriage, Lady Jane King was styled as Countess of Rosse on 3 February 1806.

     Edward King, 1st Earl of Kingston was born on 29 March 1726.¹ He was the son of Sir Henry King, 3rd Bt. and Isabella Wingfield.¹ He married Jane Caulfeild, daughter of Thomas Caulfeild and Peggy Jordan, on 5 January 1752.¹ He died on 8 November 1797 at age 71 at Kingston Lodge, County Roscommon, Ireland^G.¹
     He held the office of Member of Parliament (M.P.) for Boyle between 1749 and 1760.¹ He succeeded as the 5th Baronet King, of Boyle Abbey, co. Roscommon [I., 1682] on 22 May 1755.¹ He held the office of Grand Master of the Freemasons [Ireland] between 1761 and 1763.¹ He held the office of Member of Parliament (M.P.) for County Sligo between 1761 and 1764.¹ He was created 1st Baron Kingston of Rockingham, co. Roscommon [Ireland] on 15 July 1764.¹ He was created 1st Viscount Kingston of Kingsborough, co. Sligo [Ireland] on 15 November 1766.¹ He was created 1st Earl of Kingston [Ireland] on 25 August 1768.¹ He held the office of Grand Master of the Freemasons [Ireland] between 1769 and 1770.¹ He held the office of Custos Rotulorum of County Roscommon between 1772 and 1797.¹ He was appointed Privy Counsellor (P.C.) [Ireland] on 20 January 1794.¹

     Lady Frances Parsons was born on 31 March 1775.¹ She was the daughter of Laurence Harman, 1st Earl of Rosse and Lady Jane King.¹ She married General Robert Edward King, 1st Viscount Lorton of Boyle, son of Robert King, 2nd Earl of Kingston and Caroline FitzGerald, on 9 December 1799.¹ She died on 7 October 1841 at age 66 at Rockingham Castle, County Roscommon, Ireland^G.¹
     Her married name became King. After her marriage, Lady Frances Parsons was styled as Baroness Erris of Boyle on 29 December 1800. After her marriage, Lady Frances Parsons was styled as Viscountess Lorton of Boyle on 28 May 1806.

     General Robert Edward King, 1st Viscount Lorton of Boyle was born on 12 August 1773 at Hill Street, Berkeley Square, London, England^G.² He was the son of Robert King, 2nd Earl of Kingston and Caroline FitzGerald.³ He married Lady Frances Parsons, daughter of Laurence Harman, 1st Earl of Rosse and Lady Jane King, on 9 December 1799.² He died on 20 November 1854 at age 81 at Rockingham Castle, County Roscommon, Ireland^G.² He was buried on 24 November 1854 at Boyle, County Roscommon, Ireland^G.²
     He was educated between 1781 and 1789 at Eton College, Windsor, Berkshire, England^G.² He matriculated at Exeter College, Oxford University, Oxford, Oxfordshire, England^G, on 7 November 1789.² He gained the rank of officer in 1792 in the Army.² He fought in the capture of Guadeloupe, where he distinguished himself.² He fought in the capture of St. Lucia.² He fought in the capture of Martinique.² He fought in the Battle of Point-a-Petre, where he was wounded.² He held the office of Member of Parliament (M.P.) for Jamestown between 1796 and 1797.² He held the office of Member of Parliament (M.P.) for Boyle between 1798 and 1800.² In April 1798 he was tried at the Cork Assizes for the murder of Colonel Henry Gerald FitzGerald, for seducing his sister. He was acquitted as no witnesses came forward.³ He was created 1st Baron Erris of Boyle, co. Roscommon [Ireland] on 29 December 1800.² He was created 1st Viscount Lorton of Boyle, co. Roscommon [Ireland] on 28 May 1806.² He gained the rank of Major-General in 1808.² He gained the rank of Lieutenant-General in 1813.² He held the office of Representative Peer [Ireland] between 1823 and 1854.² He gained the rank of General in 1830.² He held the office of Lord-Lieutenant of County Roscommon between 1831 and 1854.²