Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Barry, David Fitzjames de
BARRY, DAVID FITZJAMES de, Viscount Buttevant (1550–1617), one of the leaders on the English side in the Irish rebellion of 1594–1603, headed by Hugh O'Neill, earl of Tyrone, was the second son of James Fitz-Richard Barry Roe, lord of Ibawne, Viscount Buttevant, and lord of Barrymore. The cause of his succession to the honours of the family in 1581 during the life of his elder brother Richard was remarkable. Richard was deaf and dumb, and on that account, though otherwise in his perfect senses, he was not permitted to succeed to the honours. He survived his brother five years, dying, unmarried, at Liscarrol, 24 April 1622. The arrangement of the succession was not universally accepted, for in 1613, when King James I proposed to hold a parliament in Dublin, his majesty found it necessary to issue a special royal rescript on behalf of David, Lord Barry, commanding that ‘if the question of his right to sit in parliament should be stirred by any person it should be silenced.’ Lord Barry was accordingly present in that parliament, and on 20 May 1615 was appointed one of the council for the province of Munster. He had previously sat as one of the lords of the parliament held by Sir John Perrot in April 1585, when no objection seems to have been raised to his presence. During Desmond's rebellion (1579–83), Lord Barry was an active partisan of that rebellious earl, slaying and plundering on all sides. In a letter of Sir Walter Raleigh, dated Cork, 25 Feb. 1581, it is written: ‘David Barry has burnt all his castles and gone into rebellion.’ Raleigh desired the keeping of Barry Court and the island adjoining (Cal. of State Papers, Ireland, 1574, pref. p. lxxxvi, and p. 289). Barry was proclaimed in May 1581, about the time of his father's death. But the stern repression of the insurrection by Lord Grey restored and secured his fealty. The argument that converted Barry to loyalty was an attack by Governor Zouch made upon him (2 May 1582) as he lay in the woods of Dromfinnin with a great prey taken from John Fitz Edmonds. All his carriages and cattle were taken, and thirty of his men were killed. The next day Barry ‘made mean’ to the governor to receive him to her majesty's mercy and pardon (Cal. of State Papers, Ireland, 1574, pref. 101). He did great service against the rebels in Munster. In 1601 he was made general of the provincials, and, with his brother John and Sir George Thornton, ravaged the country of the insurgents. ‘These provinciall forces,’ says Stafford quaintly, ‘were not prepared for any great need that was of their service. It was thought meet to draw as many hands together as conveniently might bee, who, according to their manner, for spoyles sake, would not spare their dearest friends. And also it was thought no ill policie to make the Irish draw bloud one upon another, whereby their private quarrels might advance the publike service.’ For these and similar services he was rewarded by King James with a grant of the forfeited lands of the Mac Carthys slain in rebellion. He died at Barryscourt, near Cork, 10 April 1617.
[Lodge's Peerage of Ireland, i. 293–4; Stafford's Pacata Hibernia; Calendar of State Papers, Ireland, 1574–85.]