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A Brief Sarsfield Family History
Introduction:
For convenience, the History has been divided into four parts, each corresponding to historical periods. The first runs from 1172 to 1500 (part of what are called The Middle Ages); the second from 1500 to 1600 (roughly corresponding to the reign of the Tudors in England); the third from 1600 to 1700 (roughly corresponding to the Stuarts); and the last from 1700 to the present day.
1170 - 1500
Historical Background:
In 1172, Henry 2nd of England landed in Ireland. He planned to conquer the country and add it to his already large possessions. Among his knights, referred to as Normans, was Sir Thomas de Sarsefield, described as Chief Standard-Bearer to the King. He and other knights had presumably been tempted by the promise of Irish land. Henry never completed the conquest, but Sir Thomas de Sarsefield remained, and he and his companions carved out large estates for themselves and held them by force of arms (and a legal title granted by the King).
The Sarsfields seem to have settled first in or near Dublin and one branch of the family (ancestors of Patrick Sarsfield, 1st Earl of Lucan) was to remain there. But presently we hear of Sarsfields acquiring land in other parts of Ireland, particularly Cork and Limerick.
As the years passed, dual allegiance - to Ireland as their native land and to England for part of their culture as well as, most importantly, the legal right of possession of their Irish estates - caused considerable strain. The strain was to reach breaking point in the 17th century but by that time it had been complicated by the question of religious
allegiance as well. Some met violent deaths as a result, some went into exile, some lost their lands and some managed to trim their opinions to the times and hold on a little longer. The Sarsfield family has examples of all these.
People:
Sir Thomas de Sarsfield was the first to settle in Ireland and is the first recorded member of the family there. This family can be traced back in unbroken succession from the present day to David de Sarsfield (alive in 1300) and his wife Amabilla. They owned property at Glanmire near Cork. But before and apart from them, there are mentions in official documents of:
1) Walter Sarsfield of Dublin (c.1200);
2) Thomas de Sarsfield (in connection with St Thomas's Abbey near Dublin at about the same time;
3) Two brothers, Hugh and Adam de Sarsfield in 1213 (also concerning St Thomas's Abbey);
4) Thomas de Sarsfield in 1220;
5) Richard Sarsfield and his wife Basile;
6) Thomas de Sarsfield, who owned land in County Kildare (1247);
7) Thomas de Sarsfield in 1301;
8) Thomas and Stephen de Sarsfield, described as Magnates or 'Knights of High Degree', who were invited by
Edward 1st to help him in the Scottish wars (1302);
9) In the same reign, a branch of the family settled in Lucan, County Dublin. These appear to be the ancestors of
Patrick Sarsfield, 1st Earl of Lucan;
10) Stephen de Sarsfield, who was one of the Guardians of the Peace for Cork in 1345;
11) Dominick Sarsfield, who was Sheriff of Cork in 1472;
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