James Fanning (abt. 1498 - bef. 1584)

Born about 1498 in Ballyclaghin, County Kilkenny, Ireland

Ancestors

Died before 1584 before about age 86 in Ireland

This profile is part of the Fanning Name Study.

Biography

James had at least 2 sons:

• William and Oliver (both born before 1544), as they were doing land transactions in 1565 (see below)
• Nicholas? of Ballinaclogh

William is the son of James, and the nephew of Oliver:^[1]

• January 27, 1584/5 -- Bond, by Richard Butler of Powleston,^[2][3] Co. Kilkenny, gentleman, and Morerteghe O'Riane [O'Mulryan] of Ballyclaghine in the same, gentleman, to the effect that they owe 300l. to Thomas, Earl of Ormond, on condition that William Fanyng, son and heir of James Fanyng, late of Balyclaghin, his heirs and assigns, and all other persons seised or to be seised to his and their use of the moiety of the towns and lands of Ballymclaghin and Ballytarsny,^[4] Co. Kilkenny, whereof William Fanyng, father of said James, was in his life-time seised, shall abide by the award of Gerald Blanchvild [Blancheville] of Blanchvilston, Robert Forstall of Kilfiragh, etc., concerning the right, title, and interest of the moiety of said towns, now in controversy between said William Fanyng and the Earl of Ormond.

• In March of the same year, an award was made to William Faninge fitz James of Ballymclaghne, where "the Earl shall make an estate in tail of the premises (above) to said William with remainder to Oliver Faninge, William's uncle, with remainder to said Earl.

• 22 April 1565 -- Oliver Faning and [brother] James Faning of Garrynegrye, county Tipperary, grant to Sir Thomas Butler, Earl of Ormond, the castle of Moylessan with all the messuages, lands, etc., in the town and field of the same. In February, 1570, this grant (deed) was declared void because the land mentioned was in mortgage for 19l. 6s. 8d.... which money was tendered and paid by an order taken at the sessions kept at Cashel, Feb. 27, 1570.^[5]

• 1597: Pardons are issued to Richard Faninge fitz Patrick, Richard Fannynge fitz Oliver, Geoffrey Fanning fitz John,^[6] Oliver Fannynge fitz James, William Faninge fitz James, William Fanninge^[7] (p.56)

Fanning Origins

The Fannings arrived with the Norman invasion of Ireland and were present in Kilkenny in the first decade of the 1200s. Thomas, son of Richard Fanyn [sic] received Knight's Fees in 1247 in Clomantagh, Barony of Crannagh, County Kilkenny. Later, in 1314-5 and again in 1317, Thomas Fanning received Knight's Fees, also in Clomantagh. The Fanning neighbours in the 1420s were Archdeacon, Butler, Purcell, Cantwell, St. Leger, de la Freyne, Le Poer, Tobin, Shortall, Archer, Fleming, Erley, Fitzgerald, Barron, Rocheford, Malherbe, Carew, Bigod, Grace.^[8][9][10]

For the first names of Fannings in south Ireland, consult the Calendar of Ormond Deeds.^[11][12] These are legal and land transactions in 6 volumes covering 1172 to 1603. A wealth of names and locations, and often useful for specifying family relationships (e.g., Geoffrey Fannyng, "son of Nicholas", lord of Ballyngarry, in Vol.4, 1509-1547). Many spelling variations including Fanyn(g)(e) and Fan(n)yng.^[13]

Sources

1. ↑ Extracts from the Calendar of Ormond Deeds, Edmund Curtis, 1932-43, Vol VI, p.15:
   • https://sites.rootsweb.com/~irlkik/history/fanning.html
2. ↑ Barony of Gowran, bordering Co. Carlow to the east.
3. ↑ The Polestown/Paulstown Butlers descended from Edmund MacRichard Butler (1420-1464). There are many "Richards" among Edmund MacRichard's descendants. It is believed his father Richard (son of James Butler, 3rd Earl of Ormond) received his first name because his godfather was Richard II, during the king's visit to Ireland. King Richard and the 3rd Earl of Ormond were distant cousins via Edward I.
4. ↑ On border of Co. Kilkenny and Co. Waterford -- east of Carrick-on-Suir.
5. ↑ Extracts from the Calendar of Ormond Deeds, Edmund Curtis, 1932-43, Vol V, p.152:
   • https://sites.rootsweb.com/~irlkik/history/fanning.html
6. ↑ John was likely the son of an earlier Geoffrey (ca.1490-1555), Lord of Ballingarry.
7. ↑ William Fanninge was the 1st cousin once-removed of both Oliver and William Fitz-James.
8. ↑ "15th Century Royal Service in County Kilkenny"
   • https://sites.rootsweb.com/~irlkik/history/royal_service_1423.htm
9. ↑ "The Fanning Family: Early Documented History"
   • https://sites.rootsweb.com/~irlkik/history/fanning.html
10. ↑ "Knights' Fees in County Kilkenny"
    • http://sites.rootsweb.com/~irlkik/history/knights_fees.htm
11. ↑ Search here for "Ormond Deeds" to see all 6 volumes in PDF format:
    • https://www.irishmanuscripts.ie/product-category/imc-digital-editions/
12. ↑ Note: "Ormond" refers to the lands of the Earls of Ormond, a title created by King Edward III in 1328 for James Butler, 1st Earl of Ormond. The 6 volumes of the Ormond Deeds were kept for centuries in Kilkenny Castle and transcribed by historian Edmund Curtis in the 1930s.
13. ↑ According to W.F. Brooks, p.6:
    • "The present form [of the surname], ending in -ing, seems to have become established in the 16th century. Then and subsequently we find the forms Fanyng, Fannyng, Fannynge, Fanynge, Faning, Fanyin, Fannying, Fannyn, Fanningc, Fannen, Fanan, Fannin, and Fannon."
      • https://archive.org/details/historyfanningf00broogoog/page/n32/mode/2up

• WikiTree profile Fanning-176 created through the import of My Family File072211.ged on Jul 25, 2011 by Grady Lucas.