Sir Henry Lynch, 1st Baronet explained

Henry Lynch
Baronet Lynch of Galway
Tenure:1622–1635
Successor:Sir Robert Lynch, 2nd Baronet
Spouse:Elizabeth Martin
Issue:Robert, and others
Issue-Link:
  1. chldrn
Father:Nicholas Lynch
Mother:unknown
Birth Date:unknown
Death Date:21 February 1635

Sir Henry Lynch, 1st Baronet (died 1635) was an Irish baronet, knight, lawyer, and land agent (i.e. estate manager). Lynch was among the first of his family to become a lawyer, and several of his younger sons followed him into this profession, as did, under his influence, Patrick D'Arcy, Richard Martyn, and Geoffrey Browne as well as many of the later generations of the Tribes of Galway.

Birth and origins

Henry was born the eldest of the 12 sons of Nicholas FitzStephen Lynch. His father was mayor of Galway 1584–1585. Henry was a great-grandson of Mayor Arthur Lynch (died 1539). His father's family was one of the 14 merchant families known as the Tribes of Galway. Nothing seems to be known about his mother.

Marriage and children

In or after 1603 Henry Lynch married Elizabeth, daughter of Richard Martyn and widow of James D'Arcy. This made him the stepfather of Patrick D'Arcy.

Henry and Elizabeth had three sons:

  1. Robuck (or Robert) (died 1667), his successor and mayor of Galway for 1638–39.
  2. Nicholas, a student of the Middle Temple in 1634
  3. Maurice, married Janet, youngest daughter of Sir Peter French, knight

—and three daughters:

  1. Elizabeth, married Thomas Lynch, ancestor of the Lynchs of Drimcong
  2. Mary (died 1671), married Geoffrey Browne of Galway
  3. Elinor (died 1692), married Sir Valentine Blake, Baronet of Menlough

Later life

Lynch was the Galway land agent (i.e. estate manager) for Richard Burke, 4th Earl of Clanricarde, who lived in south-east England. Their surviving correspondence from to c. 1632 was published in 1996. He was a mentor to his stepson Patrick D'Arcy and his nephew Richard Martyn, who later became senior political figures of Confederate Ireland.

Lynch was created a baronet on 8 June 1622 and thus became Sir Henry Lynch, 1st Baronet. Lord Falkland, the Lord Deputy, knighted Sir Henry in 1625. Sir Henry was Recorder of Galway from 1625 to his death in 1635.

He seems to have been the "Sir Henry Lynch", who was one of the 11 Irish agents who in 1628 negotiated with Charles I of England for the Graces. Together with Sir Lucas Dillon he represented Connaught among these agents.

Sir Henry shortly sat for County Galway in the parliament of 1634–1635. He was elected in June 1634 but fell ill and was replaced by Sir Richard Blake in a by-election in December. The parliamentary records indicate that he lived in Galway but also at Castle Carra in County Mayo.

Death and succession

Sir Henry Lynch died 21 February 1635 and was buried in the church of St Nicholas in Galway. He was succeeded by his eldest son Robert as 2nd Baronet.

Notes and references

Sources

Further reading

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