Children of the 1st Duke of Leinster

[Paul Theroff]

I wonder whether anyone has an accurate and complete list of the children of the 1^st Duke of Leinster. Most of them are in the usual sources, but I have come across a couple extra ones mentioned in the Correspondence of the Duchess.

One particularly obscure problem is with two daughters named Louisa, neither of whom appears in many of the usual sources:

1) a daughter named Louisa Bridget, said to have died Jan 1765; I do not find her in Leinster genealogies but she is mentioned in a letter from Lady Holland to the Duchess in December 1764, and the editors of the Leinster letters say she died Jan 1765; her birth doesn’t easily fit anywhere among the known births

2) Lord Edward Fitzgerald, writing to his mother in 1773, mentions a sister named Louisa (along with Lucy, so Louisa and Lucy are separate children), and says that she is just beginning to walk

 

Also, the dates given in the usual sources sometimes differ from those in announcements in Gentleman’s Magazine of the period. This may be due to faulty communications from Ireland, where the Duchess gave birth to all (or at least most) of her children.

 

Here is the list I currently have:

1a) George, Earl of Offaly (15 Jan 1748-Richmond House 26 Sep 1765)

2a) WILLIAM Robert, 2^nd Duke of Leinster, etc (London 12 Mar 1749 [3 Mar 1749, per Gentleman’s Magazine 1749]-Carton House 20 Oct 1804); m.7 Nov 1775 Hon. Emilia Olivia Usher St.George (d.London 23 Jun 1798)

3a) Caroline Elizabeth Mabel (1750-1754)

4a) Emily Mary Margaretta (15 Mar 1751-8 Apr 1818); m. Blackrock, co Dublin 20 Aug 1774 Charles Coote, Earl of Bellamont [Bellomont] (bap 12 Apr 1738-20 Oct 1800)

5a) Henrietta Catherine (6 Dec 1753-1763)

6a) Caroline [Louisa?], b.23 Apr 1755, d.an infant by 1 May 1755

7a) Charles James, cr Lord Lecale of Ardglass 1800 (30 Jun 1756-Ardglass Castle 18 Feb 1810); m.London 18 Jul 1808 Mrs.Julia Carton (d.Courtlands, Devon 6 May 1844)

8a) Charlotte Mary Gertrude, cr Bss Rayleigh of Terling Place 1821 (29 May 1758-Bath 13 Sep 1836); m.Toulouse 23 Feb 1789 Joseph Holden Strutt (21 Nov 1758-Bath 18 Feb 1845)

9a) Louisa Bridget, d.Jan 1765; I do not find her in Leinster genealogies but she is mentioned in a letter from Lady Holland in Dec 1764, and the editors of the Leinster letters say she died Jan 1765; her birth doesn’t easily fit anywhere among the known births

10a) a son (20 Jan 1760 [per Gentleman’s Magazine 1760]-    )

11a) Henry; his issue took the surname Fitzgerald-de Ros (30 Jul 1761-Boyle Farm, Thames Ditton 9 Jul 1829); m.London 4 Aug 1791 Charlotte Boyle, 20^th Bss de Ros (London 24 May 1769-London 9 Jan 1831)

12a) Sophia Sarah Mary (6 Sep 1762 [9 Oct 1762, per Gentleman’s Magazine]-21 Mar 1845)

13a) Edward (15 Oct 1763 [22 Oct 1763, per Gentleman’s Magazine]-d.at Newgate Prison, Dublin, of wounds received in resisting arrest on charge of treason, 4 Jun 1798); m.Tournai 27 Dec 1792 Stephanie Caroline Anne "Pamela" Syms (d.1831)

14a) Robert Stephen (15 Jan 1765-2 Jan 1833); m.22 Jul 1792 Sophia Charlotte Feilding (1773-19 Sep 1834)

15a) Gerald (1766-lost at sea in the “Gulf of Florida” 1788)

16a) Augustus Joseph (8 Dec 1767 [12 Dec 1767, per Gentleman’s Magazine]-1771)

17a) Fanny Charlotte Elizabeth (28 Jan 1770-1775)

18a) Lucy Anne (5 Feb 1771-1851); m.31 Jul 1802 Sir Thomas Foley (1757-Portsmouth 9 Jan 1833)

19a) Louisa?; Lord Edward Fitzgerald mentions her in 1773 along with Lucy; in June 1773 he says she is beginning to walk; is she different than the Louisa said to have d.1765?

20a) George Simon (Dec 1773-1783)

 

 

 

And, after all that, the Duchess had a couple more children with her second husband!

[Paul Theroff]

Burke's in recent editions lists eleven children.

I suspect that a complete list might be in Lodge's Irish Peerage of 1789, but I cannot find an online copy of Volume 1, where the Leinsters are.

Lodge's British Peerage of 1832 says that there were seventeen children. The 1838 edition says there were eighteen children. Neither actually names all these children.

[Paul Theroff]

Collins' Peerage of England 1812 gives the following eighteen children:

First, George, Earl of Offaley, who was born at Dublin, on
January 15ih, 1/47-8, and had his late Majesty (represented by
William Stanhope, late Earl of Harrington, then lord-lieutenant
of Ireland) for one of his godfathers, but died a bachelor on Oc
tober 26th, 1765, at the house of his uncle, tbe Duke of Rich
mond, in Privy-Garden, Whitehall, and was buried at St. Martin's
in the Fields.

Second, William-Robert, the second Duke.

Third, Charles-James, born June 30th, 1/56, created, Octo
ber 20th, 1800, Lord Lecale, of Ardglass, December 27th, 1800;
a vice-admiral of the White, in the royal-navy.

Fourth, Henry, born, July 30th, 176!, married, August 4th,
179I, Charlotte, daughter and heiress of the Hon. Robert Boyle
Walsingham, brother to the Earl of Shannon, by Charlotte,
daughter and co-heiress of Sir Charles-Hanbury Williams, K. B.
by Lady Frances Coningsby, whose claim to the ancient baronjr
of de Roos, was admitted, by the house of lords, in May 180/,


Fifth, Edward, born October 15th, 1763, married, in De
cember, 1 792, Pamela, natural daughter of the Duke or Orleans ;
he died June 4th, 1798j falling a victim to his unfortunate resist
ance on being apprehended for a supposed charge of high treason,
leaving issue, Edward, born 1794, Pamela, born 179^, and Lucy,
born 1798.

Sixth, Robert-Stephen, born January 15th, 1765, late am
bassador to the court of Lisbon, and knight of the shire for Kildare,
married, July 22d, 1792, Sophia, daughter of Charles Field
ing, Esq. by Sophia Finch, sister of George, Earl of Winchelsea
and Nottingham, and daughter of the Hon. William FiDch, by
Lady Charlotte Fermor, second daughter of Thomas, first Earl of
Pomfret, by whom he has Matilda, born May 31st, 1793 ; Emily,
born July 21st, 1794; Robert-George, born September 30th,
1795; Charles Fielding, born December 21st, 1796; Sophia-
Charlotte and Geraldine- Augusta, twins, born March 14th, 1 799.

Seventh, Gerald, born 15th, 1766, lost at sea.

Eighth, Augustus Joseph, born December 8th, 17?1, died an
infant.

Ninth, George Simon, born December 1773, died 1783.

Tenth, Emilia-Maria-Margaret, born March 15th, 1752; mar
ried in August 20th, 1774, Charles Coote, Earl of Bellamont, who
died November, 1800, leaving issue four daughters and co-heir
esses, Mary, Prudentia, Emily, and Louisa, when the earldom of
Bellamont became extinct.

Eleventh, Charlotte-Mary-Gertrude, born May 29th, 1/58;
married, February 23d, 1789, Joseph Holden, Strutt, Esq. of
Terling Place, in Essex, M. P. for Maiden, and has issue, Emily-
Anne, born January 24th, 179O; John-James, born January 30,
1796; and Charlotte-Olivia-Eh'zabeth, born January 5th, 179S.

Twelfth, Sophia-Sarah-Mary, born September 6th, 1762.

Thirteenth, Fanny-Charlotte-Elizabeth, born January 28th,
1770, died 1775.

Fourteenth, Lucy- Anne, born February 5th, 1771 ; married,
July 31st, 1802, Thomas Foley, Esq of Abemarles, in Car
marthenshire, an admiral in the royal navy.

Also (15) Henrietta-Catharine, (16) Caroline-Elizabeth-Mabel, (17) Louisa, and (18) Caroline, who died young.

[S. S.]

As per Mervyn Archdall (ed), Peerage of Ireland (1789) 2nd edn, i, 113-15, 9 sons and 8 daughters are listed (total of 17 children):

1.       George, styled Baron Offaly; b 15 Jan 1747; d 26 Sept 1765 (bur at St Martin-in-the-Fields, London).

2.       William Robert, later 2nd Duke of Leinster; b 13 March 1748/49

3.       Lady Caroline Elizabeth Mabel; b 21 June 1750; d 13 Apr 1754

4.       Lady Emily Mary Margaretta; b 15 March 1751; mar Charles, Earl of Bellamont

5.       Lady Henrietta Katherine; b 8 Dec 1753; d 10 Sept 1763

6.       Lady Caroline; b Apr 1755; d a few days later

7.       Capt Lord Charles James RN; b 30 June 1756; MP for Kildare

8.       Lady Charlotte Mary Gertrude; b 29 May 1758

9.       Lady Louisa Bridget; b 8 June 1760; bur 25 Jan 1765 at Christ Church

10.   Lord Henry; b 30 July 1761; MP for Kildare

11.   Lady Sophia Sarah Mary; b 26 Sept 1762

12.   Lord Edward; b 15 Oct 1763; MP for Athy

13.   Lord Robert Stephen; b 15 Jan 1765;

14.   Lord Gerald; b 15 March 1766; d Jan 1788 at sea

15.   Lady Fanny Charlotte Elizabeth; b 28 Jan 1770

16.   Lord Augustus Joseph; b 8 Dec 1771; deceased

17.   Lord George Simon; b 17 Apr 1773; d May 1783

S.S.

[S. S.]

Based on everything else above, here are the 20 children (3 more added from what Paul notes): 

1.     George, styled Baron Offaly; b 15 Jan 1747; d 26 Sept 1765 (bur at St Martin-in-the-Fields, London).

2.    William Robert, later 2nd Duke of Leinster; b 13 March 1748/49

3.    Lady Caroline Elizabeth Mabel; b 21 June 1750; d 13 Apr 1754

4.    Lady Emily Mary Margaretta; b 15 March 1751; mar Charles, Earl of Bellamont

5.     Lady Henrietta Katherine; b 8 Dec 1753; d 10 Sept 1763

6.    Lady Caroline; b Apr 1755; d a few days later

7.     Capt Lord Charles James RN; b 30 June 1756; MP for Kildare

8.    Lady Charlotte Mary Gertrude; b 29 May 1758

9.    Lady Louisa Bridget; b 8 June 1760; bur 25 Jan 1765 at Christ Church

10. Lord Henry; b 30 July 1761; MP for Kildare

11.   Lady Sophia Sarah Mary; b 26 Sept 1762

12.  Lord Edward; b 15 Oct 1763; MP for Athy

13.  Lord Robert Stephen; b 15 Jan 1765;

14.  Lord Gerald; b 15 March 1766; d Jan 1788 at sea

15.  Augustus Joseph; b 8/12 1767; d 1771

16.  Lady Fanny Charlotte Elizabeth; b 28 Jan 1770

17.  Lucy Anne; b 5 Feb 1771; d 1851

18.  Lord Augustus Joseph; b 8 Dec 1771; deceased

19.  Lord George Simon; b 17 Apr 1773; d May 1783

20.George Simon; b Dec 1773; d 1783

S.S.

[Paul Theroff]

that leaves out the Louisa who, per Lord Edward, was just learning to walk in 1773.

[Paul Theroff]

thanks for the Lodge vol 1. I was able to find volumes 2-5 online, but not the one I needed. :)

[S. S.]

Couldn't have Lord Edward been mentioning Lucy Anne instead of Louisa Bridget? Lucy Anne would have been 2/3 in 1773 when he wrote that letter mentioning his sister just started walking? Louisa would have been much older at this point. 

S.S.

[Paul Theroff]

No... as I said in my original post, he mentions Louisa and Lucy as separate children.

[Paul Theroff]

I always did have eighteen children listed on my web-page. It was Lord Edward's mentions of this mystery Louisa which caused me to pose this question.

As you can see, the editors of the Correspondence had a footnote for every person mentioned, but they never did have a footnote for this Louisa, as far as I could find.

[Paul Theroff]

"16.   Lord Augustus Joseph; b 8 Dec 1771; deceased"

Though the Peerage works give this 1771 birth date, he is likely the son born 8 December 1767 [note same date though different year], or 12 Dec 1767, per Gentleman's Magazine.

Also, moving Augustus to 1767 leaves room for a Louisa to have been born in 1771/2, of an age to be learning to walk in 1773.

See attached. Though it is headed "List of Births for the Year 1768", this appeared in the January 1768 edition, so must refer to December 1767.


I mis-read the Gentleman's Magazine announcement from 1760; it announces a birth on 20 June [not January], and says it was a son, but this must be Louisa Bridget, otherwise said to have been born 8 June 1760. See attached.

So it looks as if there were nineteen children, if there was a Louisa born ca 1771/2, and adding Lucy to SS's list.

[Paul Theroff]

Another mention of a second Louisa: Lady Sarah Bunbury wrote to the Duchess 29 Dec 1774: "I long to hear how the remedies agree with little Louisa..."

The editor of the Leinster Correspondence in this instance has a footnote in which he guesses that "Lucy" is meant, but he has a "?" beginning that footnote.

As a reminder, Lord Edward mentions "Louisa" and "Lucy" as separate children, and that Louisa was beginning to walk in June 1773, and since Lucy was born in Feb 1771 he is unlikely to have meant her.

[Paul Theroff]

There are several mentions of a Leinster child called "Louisa" in the 1770s, in the correspondence of Lady Louisa Conolly with the Duchess of Leinster. Most of these are instances in which Lady Louisa is discussing the Duchess's children with the Duchess, and several mention Louisa and Lucy as separate children.

a) 7 March 1773:

"I hope that sweet Lucy's scabby face has been of use to her, and that when the two teeth are cut that she will have rest for some time and get quite strong again. To be sure, you must doat upon Louisa, since she is so fond of you ; I am happy to hear that she is so well."


b) 1 Sep 1774:

"How I do wish that a little bird could bring me an account how you all do, and what you are about. Poor little Fanny and Louisa, I fear, are uncomfortable ; Lucy, I imagine, is happy at being so much with dear Mama, and that monkey George, I do suppose, is as troublesome as ever he can be..."


c) 29 Nov 1774:

"I received yours of the 6th this evening, my dearest, dear sister, and sat down immediately to answer it, to tell you how glad I am that you have taken the resolution of leaving dear little Louisa at Montpellier with Doctor FitzMaurice. "


d) 16 Jun 1775:

"I don't like the accounts of poor little Louisa, and hope, my sweet sister, that you do not set your heart
upon her too much. I hope that Barege may do her good, and think you much in the right to try, but I confess I am alarmed about her. Thank God that pretty George has got his weaning over well, and I hope will continue so ; and Lucy by all accounts is growing very healthy and strong."


e) 1 Mar 1776:

"I am vastly glad to hear that poor little Louisa has been strong enough to throw off the jaundice, and that pretty Ciss [Cecilia Ogilvy, b.1775] has got her teeth."


f) 5 Dec 1777"

"She is charmed with the good looks, health, manners, and dress of the whole family, from you down to Ciss, poor little Louisa excepted, whom she thinks in a very declining way."

[Paul Theroff]

As far as I can tell, that 1777 letter is the last time that little Louisa was mentioned in the Leinster correspondence. She was almost always mentioned as a sickly child and probably died soon thereafter. She may have died in France. After the duchess married WIlliam Ogilvy in 1774 she spent much of the next part of her life in France, including at the Lennox estate at Aubigny, because Ogilvy was not widely accepted by society as a fit husband for her.

It is not easy to search the Lennox family's correspondence for mentions of little Louisa, because there were so many Louisas in the family. Besides Lady Louisa Conolly herself, their brother George had married Lady Louisa Kerr, and though she was known as "Lady George" by many, the family usually called her by her own name. Lord George and Lady Louisa Lennox had a daughter known as Louisa. Lady Sarah Bunbury's daughter by Lord William Gordon was called Louisa. And, in the correspondence of Lady Louisa Conolly, her husband's niece, Louisa Staples (through whom the great Conolly estates descended to the Pakenhams), is often mentioned.

[Paul Theroff]

Lady Sarah Lennox writes to the duchess, who was in France, 25 June 1776: "I have a notion I hear the outcry they make at your having had twenty children..."

Her first Ogilvie daughter was born in July 1775 and the second in May 1778. Unless the Ogilvie son (about whom I have no information) was born by June 1776, if the "twenty children" is accurate and not just an approximation, there must have been nineteen Leinster children.

[Paul Theroff]

Another mention of Louisa by Lady Sarah Bunbury to the duchess, 18 July 1776:

"By what I could learn of his account of your children they are delightful little animals. And even poor little Louisa diverts him by her tyranny over George, whom he raves of ; he says there never was anything so broad, so square, so jolly, so vulgar and so delightful as that little monkey."


If there really was a second Louisa, born probably about 1771, as seems very likely, it is really surprising that none of the genealogies ever noticed her, considering how often she is mentioned in the family's correspondence.

[Paul Theroff]

There are several burials of members of the family in "Inscriptoons on the Monuments... in Christ Church Cathedral" (1878):

https://archive.org/details/inscriptionsonmo00finl/mode/2up

The main one is the Inscription on the Monument of the Duke of Leinster's father. Among other things it said that he had four sons and eight daughters, who all died young except the Duke of Leinster and Lady Hillsborough. On later pages, in lists of Burials, a couple of these children who died young are mentioned.

Of the children of the 1st Duke of Leinster only a couple are mentioned:

1. Caroline, listed as buried 15 April 1754.

2. Louisa Bridget, buried 25 Jan 1765.

3. Augustus, buried 24 June 1771.

4. George, buried 1 May 1783.



Children of 2nd Duke of Leinster:

1. Burial of unnamed son of Duke of Leinster 31 October 1781. Since this death date does not match with any known son of the 1st Duke, it must be a son of the 2nd Duke. The usual genealogies do not mention any son born before George in 1783. Since this child was not called "Marquess of Kildare" it may have been stillborn?

2. Augusta, buried 11 March 1790.

On Saturday, December 27, 2025 at 11:49:02 AM UTC-6 Paul Theroff wrote:

[Paul Theroff]

the children of the 19th Earl of Kildare who died young and were buried at Christ Church:

Frances, bur Mar 1732
Charles, bur Feb 1733
Charlotte, bur Oct 1743