Thomas fitz Maurice was the son of Maurice FitzGerald and Joan de Cogan; although there are genealogies which record his mother as Maurice's 2nd wife, Maud de Barry.[1]
In 1282 Thomas succeeded to the barony of Desmond, in Munster, southwest Ireland. His succession followed a long minority, as he could not inherit his lands until the age of 21. His father, Maurice fitz John Fitzgerald and grandfather, John fitz Thomas FitzGerald were both killed in the Battle of Callann in 1261.[2][3]
He was nick-named Thomas-an-appagh (the monkey-nurtured) because of the story that, during his infancy, he was cared for by an ape during a time of trouble;[4] he is also occasionally referred to as "The Crooked Heir."[5][6]
In 1294, Thomas was appointed deputy justiciar, acting as Lord Justice after the death of William d'Oddingseles.[7]
Thomas died in 1298,[8], and was buried in the Dominican Priory of North Abbey, Youghal, which he had founded. Several of the Barons and Earls of Desmond were later buried in the same abbey.[9][10]
Family
Thomas was the son of Maurice (son of John) and Maurice's wife, Matilda, a daughter of David de Barry of Olethan.[11] Thomas's wife was Margaret Berkeley.[12]
Their children were:
1. Thomas FitzThomas FitzGerald, 3rd Baron Desmond
2. Maurice FitzThomas FitzGerald, 4th Baron Desmond, later created 1st Earl of Desmond
3. John son of Thomas, called Sir John of Athassell
4. Joan daughter of Thomas
Research Notes
Fitzgerald family historian Walter Fitzgerald, founder of the Journal of the County Kildare Archaeological Society in 1891, calls Thomas FitzMaurice FitzGerald "Lord of Connello, Decies, and Desmond" (as was his son) and shows his wife as Margaret de Burgh, whom King Edward I called his "cousin". Historian Fitzgerald says that (after Thomas' death in 1298) Margaret re-married in 1299 to Sir Reginald de Russell:[13]
Sources
An in-depth look at Thomas' life from historian Niall C.E.J. O Brien in "Thomas an Apa Fitz Maurice of Desmond: Survival, restoration and missed opportunities":
"[He] was called 'Thomas an-Apa,' or 'Thomas Simiacus,' from an incident which is thus related in the Desmond Pedigree: 'This Thomas, being in his swadling cloaths accidentally left alone in his cradle, was by an ape carryed up to the battlements of the monastery of Traly, where the little beast, to the admiration of many spectators, dandled him to and froe, whilst everyone ran with theire beds and caddows, thinking to catch the child when it should fall from the ape. But Divine Providence prevented that danger; for the ape miraculously bore away the infant, and left him in the cradle as he found him, by which accident this Thomas was ever after nicknamed from the ape."
↑ Webb, Alfred. A Compendium of Irish Biography. Dublin: 1878.
↑ Cokayne, George Edward, Complete Peerage of England, Scotland, Ireland, Great Britain and the United Kingdom, Extant, Extinct, or Dormant. Volume III. London: George Bell & Sons. 1890. p. 83
This page has been edited according to Style Standards adopted January 2014.
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