Biography of William Ponsonby 1st Viscount Duncannon 1659-1724

Paternal Family Tree: Ponsonby

On 7th May 1640 Richard Wingfield and [his mother] Elizabeth Folliot (age 20) were married. She the daughter of [his grandfather] Henry Folliott 1st Baron Folliott and [his grandmother] Anne Strode Countess Roscommon. They were half sixth cousins.

On 12th April 1646 Edward Trevor and [his mother] Elizabeth Folliot (age 26) were married. She the daughter of [his grandfather] Henry Folliott 1st Baron Folliott and [his grandmother] Anne Strode Countess Roscommon.

In 1658 [his father] John Ponsonby (age 49) and [his mother] Elizabeth Folliot (age 38) were married. She the daughter of [his grandfather] Henry Folliott 1st Baron Folliott and [his grandmother] Anne Strode Countess Roscommon.

In 1659 William Ponsonby 1st Viscount Duncannon was born to [his father] John Ponsonby (age 50) and [his mother] Elizabeth Folliot (age 39).

In September 1660 [his half-brother] Folliot Wingfield 1st Viscount Powerscourt (age 17) and [his sister-in-law] Elizabeth Boyle Viscountess Powerscourt (age 18) were married. She the daughter of Roger Boyle 1st Earl Orrery (age 39) and Margaret Howard Countess Orrery (age 38). They were sixth cousins.

On 22nd February 1665 [his half-brother] Folliot Wingfield 1st Viscount Powerscourt (age 22) was created 1st Viscount Powerscourt. [his sister-in-law] Elizabeth Boyle Viscountess Powerscourt (age 23) by marriage Viscountess Powerscourt.

On 14th November 1677 William Ponsonby 1st Viscount Duncannon (age 18) was educated at Trinity College, Dublin.

The History of William Marshal, Earl of Chepstow and Pembroke, Regent of England. Book 1 of 2, Lines 1-10152.

The History of William Marshal was commissioned by his son shortly after William’s death in 1219 to celebrate the Marshal’s remarkable life; it is an authentic, contemporary voice. The manuscript was discovered in 1861 by French historian Paul Meyer. Meyer published the manuscript in its original Anglo-French in 1891 in two books. This book is a line by line translation of the first of Meyer’s books; lines 1-10152. Book 1 of the History begins in 1139 and ends in 1194. It describes the events of the Anarchy, the role of William’s father John, John’s marriages, William’s childhood, his role as a hostage at the siege of Newbury, his injury and imprisonment in Poitou where he met Eleanor of Aquitaine and his life as a knight errant. It continues with the accusation against him of an improper relationship with Margaret, wife of Henry the Young King, his exile, and return, the death of Henry the Young King, the rebellion of Richard, the future King Richard I, war with France, the death of King Henry II, and the capture of King Richard, and the rebellion of John, the future King John. It ends with the release of King Richard and the death of John Marshal.

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In 1678 [his father] John Ponsonby (age 69) died.

Before 1679 William Ponsonby 1st Viscount Duncannon (age 19) and Mary Moore were married.

In 1679 [his son] Brabazon Ponsonby 1st Earl Bessborough was born to William Ponsonby 1st Viscount Duncannon (age 20) and [his wife] Mary Moore. He married before 1704 his second cousin Sarah Margetson, daughter of John Margetson and Alice Caulfeild Baroness Carpenter, and had issue.

In 1685 [his son] Henry Ponsonby was born to William Ponsonby 1st Viscount Duncannon (age 26) and [his wife] Mary Moore. He married in or before 1720 Frances Brabazon, daughter of Chambre Brabazon 5th Earl Meath and Juliana Chaworth Countess Meath, and had issue.

Before 1704 [his son] Brabazon Ponsonby 1st Earl Bessborough (age 24) and [his daughter-in-law] Sarah Margetson (age 25) were married. They were second cousins.

On 26th May 1713 [his wife] Mary Moore died.

Around 5th February 1717 [his half-brother] Folliot Wingfield 1st Viscount Powerscourt (age 74) died. Viscount Powerscourt extinct.

In or before 1720 [his son] Henry Ponsonby (age 34) and [his daughter-in-law] Frances Brabazon (age 31) were married. She the daughter of Chambre Brabazon 5th Earl Meath and Juliana Chaworth Countess Meath.

Deeds of King Henry V

Henrici Quinti, Angliæ Regis, Gesta, is a first-hand account of the Agincourt Campaign, and subsequent events to his death in 1422. The author of the first part was a Chaplain in King Henry's retinue who was present from King Henry's departure at Southampton in 1415, at the siege of Harfleur, the battle of Agincourt, and the celebrations on King Henry's return to London. The second part, by another writer, relates the events that took place including the negotiations at Troye, Henry's marriage and his death in 1422.

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On 11th September 1721 William Ponsonby 1st Viscount Duncannon (age 62) was created 1st Baron Bessborough of Bessborough in Kilkenny.

On 28th February 1723 William Ponsonby 1st Viscount Duncannon (age 64) was created 1st Viscount Duncannon of Duncannon in Wexford.

On 17th November 1724 William Ponsonby 1st Viscount Duncannon (age 65) died. His son Brabazon (age 45) succeeded 2nd Viscount Duncannon of Duncannon in Wexford, 2nd Baron Bessborough of Bessborough in Kilkenny.

[his daughter] Elizabeth Ponsonby was born to William Ponsonby 1st Viscount Duncannon and Mary Moore. She married Richard Moore of Cashell County Tipperary and had issue.

[his daughter] Anne Ponsonby was born to William Ponsonby 1st Viscount Duncannon and Mary Moore. She married April 1806 her fourth cousin once removed Nicholas Loftus 1st Viscount Loftus and had issue.