Protestant Exiles from France/Book First - Chapter 10 - Section I

by David Carnegie Andrew Agnew

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Chapter X.

ENGLAND AND THE REFUGEES IN THE REIGNS OF EDWARD VI. AND ELIZABETH.

I. Trench.

Ibegin this section with some appropriate and glowing words written by the Rev. Dr. Sirr^[1]:— “The noble family of Clancarty, unmindful of a long and illustrious pedigree, appear careful only to preserve the memory of one ancestor — a faithful servant of God, who established himself in Great Britain, and proved himself regardless of his ancient rank and heritage, so that he might retain the religion of the Bible, and escape at once the allurements and persecutions of papal idolatry. Frederic de la Tranche, or Trenche, Seigneur of La Tranche in Poitou, from which seigneurie the family derived its name, was a French Protestant nobleman, who, finding he must renounce either his conscience or his station, voluntarily expatriated himself, left his home, his kindred and his estates, in the troubles which arose about religion in his native land, took refuge in enlightened England, and established himself, A.D. 1574, in the county of Northumberland . . . . . . In about two centuries the posterity of the faithful exile who renounced all for Christ, having persevered in the profession of the same holy truths which caused him to endure suffering, and having met at every step of their course with distinguishing proofs of the providential favour of God, were finally elevated in two distinct branches to the highest rank amongst the noblest in the land of their adoption.”

In 1576 the refugee seigneur married Margaret, daughter of Thomas Sutton, Esq. His eldest son’s name is not recorded. The second son, the Rev. James La Tranche, removed the scene of action to Ireland. He obtained the ecclesiastical benefice of Clongall, acquired estates in County Cavan, and married Margaret, daughter of Hugh, Viscount Montgomery of Ards. The refugee’s youngest son, Adam Thomas La Tranche, probably resided in England, as he married Catherine, daughter of Richard Brooke, Esq., of Pontefract. His son Thomas was the male heir of the family, and married his cousin Anne, the only child and sole heiress of the Rev. James La Tranche. Thomas and Anne settled at Garbally in County Galway, and left two sons, Frederic (who died in 1669) and John.

(1.) The grandson and representative of Frederic was Richard Trench, Esq., of Garbally, who was a member of the Parliament of Ireland in 1761, representing County Galway. His wife, Miss Frances Power, was the heiress of the wealthy families of Power and Keating; she also represented the Barons of Le Poer. The heir of Richard was William Power Keating Trench, Esq., who represented the county of Galway in the Irish Parliament from 1768 to 1797. In the latter year he was transferred to the Upper House as Baron Kilconnel of Garbally; and was further promoted in the Peerage of Ireland, on 3rd January 1801, as Viscount Dunlo, and Earl of Clancarty, in the county of Cork. The Earl died on 27th April 1805.

(2.) The second line of the refugee family of La Tranche begins with the Very Rev. John Trench, Dean of Raphoe, younger son of Thomas and Anne La Tranche. The Dean married Anne, daughter of Richard Warburton, Esq., and dying in 1725 was succeeded by his eldest son, Frederic (who died in 1758), of Moate, County Galway. He was succeeded by his son, Frederic (born 1720, died 1797), of Moate and Wood lawn, who by his wife Catherine, daughter of Francis Sadleir, Esq., of Sopwell Hall, had seven sons and five daughters. His eldest son, Frederic Trench, of Woodlawn (born in 1757), represented Portarlington in the Irish Parliament, and on 27th December 1800 was created Baron Ashtown in the Peerage of Ireland, the patent being in favour of himself and his late father’s heirs-male.

Fragment of a Pedigree.
(1) Frederic (died 1669).				(2) John (died 1725).
a son — name unknown				Frederic, of Moate (died 1758).
Richard, M.P. (died 1768).				Frederic, of Moate and Woodlawn (died 1797).
William (died 1805), 1st Earl of Clancarty.				Frederic, of Woodlawn 1st Baron Ashtown (died 1840), no issue.				Francis (died 1829), of Sopwell Hall.		Richard (died 1860) barrister-at-law.
								Frederic, 2d Baron Ashtown (see Chap. XI.).		Richard-Chenevix, Abp. of Dublin (see Chap. XII.).
Richard, 2d Earl of Clancarty (see Chap. XL).		Power, Abp. of Tuam (see Chap. XIL).		William, Rear-Admiral.		Charles, Archdeacon of Ardagh (see Chap.XIL).
				William, Prebendary of Tuam (see Chap. XIL).

1. A Memoir of the Honourable and Most Reverend Power Le Poer Trench, last Archbishop of Tuam. By the Rev. Joseph D’Arcy Sirr, D.D., Vicar of Yoxford, Suffolk, and late Rector of Kilcoleman, Diocese of Tuam. Dublin, 1845.