Nicholas St Lawrence, 11th Baron Howth

Nicholas St Lawrence, 11th Baron Howth (1597-1643 ) was an Anglo-Irish nobleman of the seventeenth century. The Lord of Howth for over a century had played a crucial role in Irish politics; but Nicholas unlike his predecessors, preferred a private life. During the English Civil War, however, his loyalty to the Crown caused him to forfeit much of his estate, and the troubles of the time are said to have hastened his death.

Early life

He was the elder son of Christopher St Lawrence, 10th Baron Howth and Elizabeth Wentworth. ^[1]His childhood is unlikely to have been happy: his parents' marriage was notoriously troubled and they separated when he was still a small boy. Nicholas and his mother were never close: in her last will she graciously forgave him for the great grief he had caused her over a lawsuit.^[2]

Later life

He succeeded to the title at 22, by which time he was a married man with children, and by his own wish led " an uneventful and domestic life".^[3] In time he did play some role in politics. In 1625 he announced his willingness to make a " free gift " to the King, and was on the committee to raise a subsidy for the maintenance of troops. In 1627 Baron Dunboyne killed James Prendergast in a dispute over an inheritance and Lord Howth was one of the judges who found him guilty of manslaughter.In 1629 he joined with his fellow peers in protesting against the level of taxation and in 1630 petitioned for the summoning of Parliament. When the Earl of Strafford did summon the Irish Parliament in 1634 Howth played a prominent part in its proceedings, sitting on two key committees.

Civil war and death

In 1641 , at the outbreak of rebellion, Howth joined with the other leading men of the Pale in waiting on the Lords Justices to assure them of their loyalty to the Crown, and to complain of their defenceless state. In the early part of the Civil War the Earl of Ormond seems to have relied on Lord Howth and regarded Howth Castle as a safe refuge: Lord Howth played a key role in transmitting Ormond's dispatches to England However Howth's property suffered greatly: he was deprived of the substantial rents of his lands in Tyrone and Monaghan and he complained that his estate was "altogether wasted and burned".^[4] Under the strain his health gave way and he died in December 1643.

Family

When just 18, he married Jane Montgomery, daughter of George Montgomery, Bishop of Derry. Though not a love marriage (Jane was a considerable heiress) the marriage was happy though Jane is said to have disliked living in Ireland.They had 7 children:

• Adam and Nicholas, who died young
• William St Lawrence, 12th Baron Howth
• Susanna, who married a cousin, Michael St Lawrence
• Frances, who married Sir James Montgomery
• Elizabeth and Margaret who died unmarried

Character

Elrington Ball describes the 11th baron as a quiet, home-loving man, tolerant in religion and held in great esteem by his neighbours and relatives.

References

1. ^ Lodge, John and Archdall, Mervyn The Peerage of Ireland Volume 3 J. Moore Dublin 1789
2. ^ Ball, F. Elrington History of Dublin 6 volumes Alexander Thom and Co. Dublin 1902-1920
3. ^ Ball History of Dublin
4. ^ Balll History of Dublin