John (Roche) de la Roche (abt. 1220 - 1255)

Born about 1220 in Pembrokeshire, Wales

Ancestors

Descendants

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Biography

John de la Roche, probably son or nephew of David of whom he succeeded, in 1252 held the barony of Roche as 1-1/3 fee of the Bohun share of the Earl Marshal's inheritance in co. Pembroke. John de la Roche married Maud, niece of Thomas le Waleys, Bishop of St. David's (1248-55]. ^[1]

The Roche, De La Roch (or in Latin De Rupe) family are of Anglo-Norman descent and held one of the great lordships of Munster. They were especially prominent in the Fermoy / Castletownroche area of north Cork, known as "Roches Country" from the 13th century. ^[2]

Research Notes

For further exploration: Possible first cousin or elder brother of Alexander de la Roche, born in Wales, whose descendants also settled in Ireland with the titles Lord Fermoy and Viscount Roche of Fermoy.

A disconnected family member with a Pembroke connection -- Gerald de la Roche (c.1200–1262), son of David fitz Robert:^[3]

• Gerald's father had been granted lands in Wicklow, Ireland, which Gerald inherited after his father's death, displacing the daughters of his deceased elder brother Raymond.
• Gerald married a daughter of Thomas FitzAnthony.
• His son Alexander died during his father's lifetime, but de la Roche arranged a marriage between his grandson David and Amice, daughter of William de Caunteton (Condon).
• The family's importance was acknowledged by Henry VII in 1489 when David Roche was recognised as Lord Roche. From the 13th to the 16th century the Roche inheritance passed in unbroken succession from father to son or grandson.

This (unsourced) website for Blackwater Castle, an ancestral home of the Roches of Fermoy, records the following members of the family (not necessarily father-to-son). The years appear to refer to when he held the title rather than lifespan:

• 1202: Alexander FitzHugh (grandson of Maurice FitzGerald of Lanstephen) establishes Bridgetown Priory (in ruins): "The daughter of Alexander FitzHugh, Synolda, married David de la Roche which alliance started the period of Roche overlordship which would last from the early 13th century up to the mid-17th century."
• Early 1200s – 1229: David de la Roche, husband of Synolda^[4]
• 1229 -1262: Gerald de la Roche [see bio above and profile from Dictionary of Irish Biography]
• 1262 – ca.1300: David de la Roche,^[5][6] grandson of Gerald (whose son Alexander had pre-deceased him)
• 1300 – 1374: David de la Roche – 1st Lord Roche (knighted 1365 by King Edward III^[7]
• 1374 – 1387: John, Lord Roche^[8]
• 1387 – 1448: Maurice, Lord Roche^[9]
• 1448 – 1488: David "Mór", The Great, Lord Roche, 1st Viscount of Fermoy (ca.1470 created a Viscount)^[10]
• 1488 – early 1500s: Maurice, Lord Roche, 2nd Viscount of Fermoy^[11]
• Early 1500s – 1544: David, Lord Roche, 3rd Viscount of Fermoy
• 1544 – 1561: Maurice “The Mad”, Lord Roche, 4th Viscount Fermoy
• 1561 – 1583: David, Lord Roche, 5th Viscount of Fermoy (knighted ca.1570 by Sir Henry Sidney, Lord Deputy of Ireland)^[12]

Note: It is unclear if Alexander was the father or son of the David who held power from 1262-ca.1300.

Sources

1. ↑ http://cybergata.com/roots/9979.htm
2. ↑ Cork City Archives : PR28 Reference Code: IE CCCA/PR28 Roche Family MSS
3. ↑ Gerald de la Roche's profile in the Dictionary of Irish Biography:
   • https://dib.cambridge.org/viewReadPage.do?articleId=a7744
4. ↑ From the same Blackwater Castle website:
   • "David becomes the founder of the Roche family in Cork on his marriage to Alexander Fitz-Hugh’s daughter Synolda and the first of the Roche line to become known as “de la Roche”. Other sources contend that Synolda married an Adam de Rupe ... Adam who may well have been a brother of David. The genealogical line here is not clearly established."
5. ↑ "This third Roche was chiefly distinguished by his marriage to Amicia de Caunteton, heiress of Fermoy, which firmly established the Roches in the region when the estates of the Roches merged with the significant holdings of the de Cauntetons (subsequently known as Condon). The Roches triumphed over the Condons ... to assume the overlordship of the area."
6. ↑ The Condons were later represented by Patrick Condon, neighbour and staunch ally of the White Knights (FitzGibbons).
7. ↑ "David had a long reign consolidating the influence of the Roches in the region. In 1351 and 1356 we know he received letters from King Edward III indicating his position of power at the time. He was known as Lord Roche and by 1358 he was signing letters as “Lord of Fermoy”. David died in battle in 1374."
8. ↑ "John, the 2nd Lord of Fermoy, was made Sheriff of Cork in 1382 and died after a relatively short period in power in 1387."
9. ↑ "Maurice was a minor when he came into his title and estate and had a long period [in power] and also acted as County Sheriff from 1422."
10. ↑ "David Mór was quite warlike ... and engaged in many local battles, invasions, and raids. His activity against rebels earned him further favour with the Crown and he was created a Viscount before 1478. The Roches generally and David Mór in particular were great patrons of the arts. The manuscript The Book of Fermoy or The Book of Roche, now preserved in the Royal Irish Academy, was written under the patronage of the Roches during the 14th-16th centuries. The Book is of significant importance as a late Medieval manuscript. While it is not in pristine condition (seemingly for a period part of it had served as a pot cover) it is still legible in parts ... and for our purposes it is invaluable in tracing the history of the Castle and the geneaology of its former residents."
11. ↑ "The 2nd Viscount of Fermoy continued the dominance of the Roche family in the area and was a trusted servant of the Crown. He was summoned to Greenwich by Henry VII along with other Irish peers confirming his position of power and influence in the region by then known as “Roche Country”."
12. ↑ "The Roches had always been recognised as loyal subjects, but for the first time some doubt was raised as to the allegiance of David. In a letter written by the Lord Lieutenant at the time, Thomas Sussex, he mentions a rumour that the Earl of Desmond had sworn Lord Roche to him. Despite these persistent rumours, David continued to support the Crown and this loyalty was rewarded when Sir Henry Sidney knighted David. He also received letters from Queen Elizabeth in 1565 requesting that he assist in maintaining order in the troublesome province and in 1572 he received a further letter thanking him for his continued support."

• Cokayne's Complete Peerage, 2nd Edition, Vol. XI, p. 42

• Wikipedia: Blackwater Castle