John (James) Margetson

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siege_of_Limerick_(1690). this website gives a short history relating to this episode in which John lost his life in the defence of his religion and his country of Ireland.

THE KING’S REGIMENT OF INFANTRY. 415 This fine Regiment is stated in the Establishment of 1687-8 as then consisting of only twelve companies (1080 men); its charge being stated as £17,827 12s. When strengthened as in this Muster .Roll, it comprised twenty-two companies of ninety soldiers each, or 1980 men, exclusive of officers. The celebrated Doctor Alexius Stafford (a secular priest of Wexford County) Dean of Christ Church, Master in Chancery, and member for Bannow in King James’s Parliament, was Chaplain to the Regiment; and he, having in his zeal passed into the ranks at the battle of Aughrim, fell on that disastrous day. The Clarendon Correspondence (vol. 1, p. 434,) gives an interesting account of a review of this Regiment in 1686. “This morning (8th June, 1686) the Royal Regiment drew up in St. Stephen’s Green, when my Lord Tyrconnei viewed them and saw them exercise ; Lieutenant-Colonel Dorrington was in his post; I was not in the field. His Lordship told the officers that the King was so satisfied in the long services of Sir Charles Fielding, that he had removed him to prefer him to a better post, and that he did the like for Master Billingsley, who was then in the field, Major Barker not being yet come. His Lordship likewise said, as I am informed, His Majesty did not remove any of the other officers out of any dislike, for lie was well satisfied with their services, but to make room for other men of great merit. Then presented Captain Harman to the Company he was to command, on the head of which was Captain Margetson, who said he bought his employment to show his readiness to venture his life and fortune in the King’s service ; that whilst he had been in it he behaved himself with loyalty and honor, and did now most readily submit to his Majesty’s pleasure.” This Regiment of Infantry, together with Fitz-James’s, Lord Galway’s, Sir Maurice Eustace’s, and Colonel Ramsay’s, Lord Galmoy’s, Lord Abercorn’s, and Colonel Dominick Sheldon’s Horse, constituted the besieging force at Derry ; and at the Boyne and on the last fatal field of Aughrim, the valour and steadiness of this truly Royal Regiment were preeminent.
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quote from.........Journal of the Very Rev. Rowland Davies, LL.D. Dean of Ross, 1842 17th August....The King and Prince were in person to see the action, and stayed abroad until three in the morning. This day Major Margetson was shot by a cannon-ball on the hip and side of his belly as he lay in his tent, and little hope of his recovery is to be had.
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Document reference in the National Archives, Kew:= PROB 11/401/271 In the name of God Amen. I John Margetson Esquire, Major of the Regiment of Foot under the command of the Right Honourable William Peirpont, Earle of Kingston and Colonell of the said Regiment, being in good health and of sound and perfect memory thanks be to God, revoking all former wills by mee made, doe make and ordaine this my last will and testament in manner and forme following, that is to say first I give and bequeath my soule into the hands of Allmighty God my heavenly ffather trusting through the death of my Saviour and Redeemer Jesus Christ to bee saved and received into eternall rest, my body I commit to the earth to bee buried in such decent manner as my dear wife Allice Margetson shall think good and touching the distributeing of my worldly estate whih God in his mercy hath lent me. I dispose of the same as followeth. First I give and devise unto my said deare wife Allice Margetson in testimony of the love and affection which I bearr unto her All my Messuages, Lands, Tenements and Hereditaments whatsoever with their and every of their appurtenances situate, lying and being in Newall Drighlington Rotheram and elsewhere within the county of York which said Messuages and premises in Drighlington stand charged with the payment of Sixtie pounds by the yeare or thereabouts to the ffreeschoole in Drighlington aforesaid and the Messuages and premises in Rotheram aforesaid stand charged with the payment of thirty five pounds by the yeare to Leiutenant Edward Wybrants for his life. And alsoe all my Messuages, Lands, Tenements and Hereditaments whatsoever with their appurtenances situate, lying and being in Stanton in the county of Nottingham. And also all that my Mannor of Wicken with all it’s rights members and appurtenances whatsoever within the County of Cambridge. And also all my Messuages, Lands, Tenements and Hereditaments and advantages whatsoever in Wicken aforesaid in the County of Cambridge to have and to hold all and singular the said Mannor, Messuages, Lands, Tenements, Hereditaments and premises with their and every of their appurtenances unto my said deare wife Allice Margetson for and during the terme of her naturall life. And I doe also hereby devise the Guardianship, Custody and education of my two children Ann and Sarah unto my said deare wife until they shall respectively attaine their respective ages of one and twenty years. Item, I give and bequeath unto my nephew James Margetson of Cambridge Esqr. One hundred pounds to bee paid to him by my executrix within twelve months after my decease. And lastly I doe make and constitute my said deare wife Allice Margetson sole executrix of this my last will and testament to whome I give all the rest and residue of my goods and chattels not herein before bequeathed in witness whereof I have hereunto sett my hand and seale this twenty fift (sic) day of June in the first yeare of the raigne of our Soveraigne Lord and Lady William and Mary by the grace of God of England, Scotland, ffrance and Ireland , King and Queene, defenders of the ffaith. And in the yeare of our Lord God one thousand six hundred eighty and nine. Jo: Margetson signed sealed and published in the presence and sight of us Cha. Ffeilding, Will Craven, Henry Green, R. Wilcox Probatum.....This segment of the will comprises 8 lines written in Latin. The name of Aliciae Margetson, Relict can be seen. Part of the history of Wicken manor revolves around this Margetson family. In 1665 Richardson transferred the Wicken lordship to his second son William, a lawyer. (fn. 41) William sold it in 1675 in trust for James Margetson, archbishop of Armagh, named as lord from 1677. Dying in 1678, the archbishop was succeeded at Wicken by his son John (d. 1690), (fn. 42) who devised Wicken to his widow Alice for her life. (fn. 43) Remarried from 1694 to George Carpenter, she possessed the manor until it was transferred in 1704 to Brabazon Ponsonby, the second husband of Alice and John Margetson's daughter Sarah (fn. 44) (d. 1733). Ponsonby, an Irish peer from 1724, was created earl of Bessborough in 1739. In 1751 he transferred Wicken to his son William, who succeeded as earl in 1758 and died in 1793. His son Frederick, the third earl, (fn. 45) was still lord of Wicken (fn. 46) in 1800 when he offered the manor and its lands for sale. (fn. 47)

The purchaser, lord from 1802, was John Rayner, who in 1798 had succeeded to his deceased father Robert's long tenancy of Wicken Hall farm. Dying without issue in 1813, John Rayner left his Wicken estate absolutely to his widow Sarah, who owned it until her death in 1832. The estate was then split up. Her trustees sold the lordship separately after 1834. From 1835 to 1842 it belonged to C. B. Dryden as trustee, between 1846 and 1852 to James Cuddon, and from 1853 to James Thornton (d. 1880). In 1881 the manorial rights with almost £20 of quitrents were sold to Messrs. Paine and Brettle of Chertsey (Surr.), owners until the early 1920s. By 1929 and in the 1930s they belonged to R. H. Edlestone. source:- http://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/cambs/vol10/pp556-561
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quoted from The Ponsonby Family by Major General Sir John Ponsonby KCB. by the Medicic Society. Bishopscourt, Couty Kildare was originally owned by William Myagh, Bishop of Kildare in 1548, from whom it passed into the hands of Sir John Alen, Knight, who left the property to his nephew John. It was forfeited for participation in the rebellion of 1641 and in 1666 Bishopscourt was in the possession of Lord Kingston who died 1676. It then became a possession of the Margetson family, presumably James the archbishop, whose son John, a Major in King William's army, was killed at Limerick. John Margetson appears to have lived at Bishopscourt, for it is given as his residence in the list of those attainted by the Irish Parliament of James ll. It is by his marriage to to Alice that Bishopscourt passed into the hands of the Ponsonby family. In 1788 William Ponsonby built the present house of Bishopscourt, which was descibed at the time as being a magnificent pile of buildings. The estate was a very large one and was valuable owing to various quarries and lead mines. In 1836 or 1838 the house and contents were sold by John, Viscount Ponsonby, to the 3rd Earl of Clonmel, who lived there until his death. Both his sons, the 4th and 5th Earls, also resided there. The 7th Earl of Clonmel sold the property to Edward Kennedy.

Death: Aug 21 1690 - At The Siege Of Limerick