History of the Mackenzies | Page 5

created Baron of Wicklow and Naas Offelim of the territory
of the Macleans for distinguished services rendered in the subjugation
of that country, by Henry II., who on his return to England in 1172 left
Maurice in the joint Government.
Maurice married Alicia, daughter of Arnulph de Montgomery, brother
of Robert Earl of Shrewsbury, and by that lady had four sons. The
eldest was known as Gerald Fitz-Maurice, who in due course succeeded
his father, and was created Lord Offaly. Having married Catherine,
daughter of Hamo de Valois, Lord Chief Justice of Ireland, he had a
son, named Maurice after his grandfather. This Maurice died in 1257,
leaving two sons, Thomas and Gerald. Thomas, generally called
"Tomas Mor," or Great Thomas, on account of his great valour and
signal services in the battlefield, succeeded his father as Lord Offaly.
He married the only daughter of Thomas Carron. This lady brought him
the Seigniory of Desmond as a dowry. By her Thomas Lord Offaly had
an only son, John, who, according to Colin Fitzgerald's supporters, was
first Earl of Kildare and married first, Marjory, daughter of Sir Thomas
Fitz-Antony, by whom he had issue - Maurice, progenitor of the Dukes
of Leinster. John married, secondly, Honora, daughter of Hugh
O'Connor, by whom he had six sons, the eldest of whom, according to
the Irish-origin theory, was Colin Fitz-Gerald - but who, if the
Fitzgerald theory had not been a pure invention, really ought to have

been called Colin Fitz-John, or son of John - the reputed ancestor of the
Mackenzies.
This, briefly stated, is the genealogy of the Fitzgeralds as given by the
supporters of the Irish origin of the Mackenzies, and it may be right or
wrong for all we need care in discussing the origin of the Mackenzies.
Its accuracy will, however, be proved impossible.
According to the true genealogy, Thomas, who was the third son of
Maurice, married Rohesia, heiress of Woodstock, near Athy, and
daughter of Richard de St. Michael, Lord of Rheban. By this lady he
had an only son, John, who succeeded as 6th Baron Offaly, and was in
1316 created 1st Earl of Kildare. John married Blanche, daughter of
John Roche, Baron of Fermoy; not the two ladies given him in the
Fitzgerald-Mackenzie genealogy.
The real authentic genealogy of the Fitzgeralds, from whom the Dukes
of Leinster and other Fitzgerald families are descended, is as follows:
The first,
I. OTHO, known as "Dominus Otho," belonged undoubtedly to the
Gherardini family of Florence. He passed into Normandy, and in 1057
crossed into England, became a favourite with Edward the Confessor,
and obtained extensive estates from that monarch. He had a son
II. WALTER FITZ OTHO, or son of Otho. He is mentioned in
Domesday Book in 1078 as being then in possession of his father's
estates. He was Castellan of Windsor and Warden of the Forests in
Berkshire. He married Gladys, daughter of Rhiwallon ap Cynfyn,
Prince of North Wales, and had three sons, the eldest being
III. GERALD FITZ WALTER, or son of Walter, who was appointed
by Henry I. to the Constableship of Pembroke Castle and other
important offices. He married Nesta, daughter of Rhys ap Gruffyd, ap
Tudor Mawr, Prince of South Wales, and had issue by her, three sons,
the eldest of whom was
IV. MAURICE FITZ GERALD, or son of Gerald. This, it will be
noticed, was the first Fitzgerald of which we have any record, and he
was the progenitor of the Irish Fitzgeralds. He accompanied Richard de
Clare, Earl of Pembroke, popularly known as "Strongbow," to Ireland,
and there highly distinguished himself, having, among other acts of
renown, captured the city of Dublin. He died at Wexford in 1177. He
married Alice or Alicia, daughter of Arnulph de Montgomery, fourth

son of Roger de Montgomery, who led the centre of the Norman army
at the battle of Hastings, and by her had issue - five sons, the eldest of
whom was William, Baron of Naas, not Gerald as claimed by the
supporters of the Colin Fitzgerald theory.
Thus far the two genealogies may be said to agree, except in a few of
the marriages.
V. GERALD FITZ MAURICE, the second son, in 1205 became first
Baron Offaly. The third son, Thomas, was progenitor of the original
Earls of Desmond, who have long been extinct in the male line, the
present Earldom, which is the Irish title of the Earl of Denbigh, having
been created in 1622. Gerald Fitz Maurice married Katherine, daughter
of Hamo de Valois, who was Lord Chief Justice of Ireland in 1197, and
by her had a son,
VI. MAURICE FITZ GERALD, second Baron Offaly, one of the Lord
Justices of Ireland. Maurice died in 1257, having married Juliana,
daughter of John de Cogan, who was Lord