Peerage Record – 2715

     Brabazon Ponsonby, 1st Earl of Bessborough was born in 1679.¹ He was the son of William Ponsonby, 1st Viscount Duncannon and Mary Moore.¹ He married, firstly, Sarah Margetson, daughter of John Margetson and Hon. Alice Caulfeild, before 1704.¹ He married, secondly, Elizabeth Sankey, daughter of John Sankey and Eleanor Morgan, on 28 November 1733.² He died on 4 July 1758 at Bessborough, County Kilkenny, Ireland^G, from ‘a surfeit of fruit’.¹ He was buried at Fiddown, County Kilkenny, Ireland^G.¹ His will was proven (by probate) on 23 August 1758.³
     He held the office of Member of Parliament (M.P.) for Newtonards, County Down between 1705 and 1714.¹ He gained the rank of Captain in 1707 in the 27th Regiment (Enniskillen.)¹ He held the office of Sheriff and Govenor of County Kilkenny in 1713.¹ He held the office of Sheriff and Govenor of County Kildare in 1714.¹ He held the office of Member of Parliament (M.P.) for County Kildare between 1715 and 1724.¹ He succeeded as the 2nd Viscount Duncannon, of the fort of Duncannon, co. Wexford [I., 1723] on 17 November 1724.¹ He succeeded as the 2nd Baron Bessborough, of Bessborough, co. Kilkenny [I., 1721] on 17 November 1724.¹ He was appointed Privy Counsellor (P.C.) on 10 May 1727.¹ He held the office of Commissioner of the Revenue [Ireland] between 1739 and 1744.¹ He was created 1st Earl of Bessborough [Ireland] on 6 October 1739.¹ He was created 1st Baron Ponsonby of Sysonby, co. Leicester [Great Britain] on 12 June 1749.¹ He held the office of Marshal of the Admiralty [Ireland] from 1751 to 1752.¹ His last will was dated 3 November 1753. He held the office of a Lord Justice [Ireland] from May 1754 to 1755.¹ He held the office of Vice-Admiral of Munster in 1755.¹ He held the office of a Lord Justice [Ireland] from May 1756 to 1757.¹

     Sarah Margetson was the daughter of John Margetson and Hon. Alice Caulfeild.¹ She married, firstly, Hugh Colvill.¹ She married, secondly, Brabazon Ponsonby, 1st Earl of Bessborough, son of William Ponsonby, 1st Viscount Duncannon and Mary Moore, before 1704.¹ She died on 21 May 1733.^2,1 She was buried at Fiddown, Ireland^G.¹
     Her married name became Colvill. From before 1704, her married name became Ponsonby. After her marriage, Sarah Margetson was styled as Viscountess Duncannon on 17 November 1724.

     John Margetson was born on 15 January 1656 at St. James, Clerkenwell, London, England.^2,3 He was the son of Most Rev. Dr. James Margetson and Anne Bennett.^1,2 He married Hon. Alice Caulfeild, daughter of William Caulfeild, 1st Viscount Charlemont and Hon. Sarah Moore, before 1694.⁴
     He matriculated at Trinity College, Dublin University, Dublin, County Dublin, Ireland^G, on 27 May 1672.² He graduated from Trinity College, Dublin University, Dublin, County Dublin, Ireland^G, in 1676 with a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.)²

     Most Rev. Dr. James Margetson was born in 1600 at Drighlington, Yorkshire, England^G.² He was the son of unknown Margetson.³ He married, firstly, Ann Martin.⁴ He married, thirdly, Anne Bennett, daughter of unknown Bennett, after 1654.² He died on 28 August 1678.² He was buried on 30 August 1678 at within the alter rails, Christ Church, Dublin, County Dublin, Ireland^G.²
     He held the office of Archbishop of Armagh.¹ He graduated with a Doctor of Divinity (D.D.)⁵ He held the office of Primate of All Ireland.²

     Rt. Hon. John Ponsonby was born on 29 March 1713.² He was the son of Brabazon Ponsonby, 1st Earl of Bessborough and Sarah Margetson.³ He married Lady Elizabeth Cavendish, daughter of William Cavendish, 3rd Duke of Devonshire and Catherine Hoskins, on 22 September 1743.² He died on 16 August 1787 at age 74.^2,4
     He was appointed Privy Counsellor (P.C.)² He held the office of Speaker of the House of Commons [Ireland].³

     Field Marshal Richard Molesworth, 3rd Viscount Molesworth of Swords was born after 1670. He was the son of Robert Molesworth, 1st Viscount Molesworth of Swords and Hon. Laetitia Coote.² He married, firstly, Jane Lucas.³ He married, secondly, Mary Jenney Ussher, daughter of Venerable William Ussher and Mary Jenney, on 7 February 1743/44.³ He died on 12 October 1758.⁴
     He gained the rank of Officer in 1702.³ He gained the rank of Ensign and Captain in the Royal Regiment of Foot.³ He gained the rank of Captain in the Coldstream Guards.³ He fought in the Battle of Ramillies in 1706.³ He was Aide-de-Camp to 1st Duke of Marlborough in 1706.³ He gained the rank of Lieuteuant of Ordnance between 1714 and 1716.³ In 1715 he raised a regiment (19th Light Dragoons) for suppression of the Uprising.³ He fought in the Battle of Preston in 1715, where he was wounded.³ He held the office of Member of Parliament (M.P.) for Swords [Ireland] between 1715 and 1726.³ He was Colonel of the Molesworth’s Foot between 1725 and 1732.³ He succeeded as the 3rd Lord Molesworth, Baron of Philipstown, in King’s County [I., 1716] on 17 February 1725/26.³ He succeeded as the 3rd Viscount Molesworth of Swords, co. Dublin [I., 1716] on 17 February 1725/26.² He was Colonel of the 9th Dragoons between 1732 and 1737.³ He was appointed Privy Counsellor (P.C.) [Ireland] in 1733.³ He gained the rank of Major-General in 1735.³ He was Colonel of the 5th Dragoons between 1737 and 1758.³ He gained the rank of Lieutenant-General in 1739.³ He gained the rank of General of Horse in 1741.³ He gained the rank of General in 1746.³ He was Commander-in-Chief of the Ireland in 1751.³ He gained the rank of Field Marshal in 1757.³

     Lady Charlotte Ponsonby was born on 29 November 1747 at London, England.¹ She was the daughter of William Ponsonby, 2nd Earl of Bessborough and Lady Caroline Cavendish. She married William Fitzwilliam, 4th Earl Fitzwilliam, son of William Fitzwilliam, 3rd Earl Fitzwilliam and Lady Ann Watson-Wentworth, on 10 July 1770 at St. George’s Hanover Square, London, England.¹ She died on 13 May 1822 at age 74 at Milton House, Little Milton, Oxfordshire, England.¹
     From 10 July 1770, her married name became Fitzwilliam.¹

     Charles William Fitzwilliam, 5th Earl Fitzwilliam was born on 4 May 1786 at Grosvenor Square, London, England.¹ He was the son of William Fitzwilliam, 4th Earl Fitzwilliam and Lady Charlotte Ponsonby. He married Hon. Mary Dundas, daughter of Thomas Dundas, 1st Baron Dundas of Aske and Lady Charlotte FitzWilliam, on 8 July 1806 at Arlington Street, London, England.^2,1 He died on 4 October 1857 at age 71.²
     He was appointed Knight, Order of the Garter (K.G.)² He succeeded as the 5th Earl Fitzwilliam, co. Tyrone [I., 1716] in 1833.

     William Fitzwilliam, 3rd Earl Fitzwilliam was born on 15 January 1719. He was the son of John Fitzwilliam, 2nd Earl Fitzwilliam and Anne Stringer. He married Lady Ann Watson-Wentworth, daughter of Thomas Watson-Wentworth, 1st Marquess of Rockingham and Lady Mary Finch, on 22 June 1744. He died on 10 August 1756 at age 37.
     He succeeded as the 3rd Earl Fitzwilliam, co. Tyrone [I., 1716] in 1728.

     Hon. Mary Dundas was born on 30 May 1787.² She was the daughter of Thomas Dundas, 1st Baron Dundas of Aske and Lady Charlotte FitzWilliam.¹ She married Charles William Fitzwilliam, 5th Earl Fitzwilliam, son of William Fitzwilliam, 4th Earl Fitzwilliam and Lady Charlotte Ponsonby, on 8 July 1806 at Arlington Street, London, England.^1,2 She died on 1 November 1830 at age 43.¹
     From 8 July 1806, her married name became Fitzwilliam.¹