Hugh Purcell of Loughmoe

Sir Hugh Purcell of Loughmoe was the founder of the Lordship and Barony of Loughmoe, as well as being the builder of a fragment of Loughmoe castle. He was married to Beatrix FitzWalter, who was the daughter of Theobald FitzWalter. He is known for being the first Lord of Loughmoe.

Ancestry

Patriarchal Sir Hugh Purcell of Loughmoe's ancestors, most probably patriarchal, derive from another Sir Hugh Purcell, a knight who as John O'hart notes, and as the family believed, participated in William the Conqueror's Norman invasion of England in 1066. He was credited with being the first Norman to sail the English Channel and reach Pevensey Bay, Dyno was the keeper of the bedchamber to the king, which perhaps signals strong friendship or alliances between the Purcell and the Royal family. who, after the king said, "Will nobody rid me of this turbulent priest?" was murdered on Holy ground by knights.

This Hugh Purcell's sons were Walter Purcell and Hugh Purcell of Loughmoe.

Matriarchal Sir Hugh Purcell's matriarchal ancestors have noble blood, however illegitimate. To support this claim, Hugh Purcell's (of Loughmoe) tomb had a statue of a man in armour, or so our 17th century sources tell us, with a shield on his left arm. Painted across this are three lions - of course, the symbol of Richard the Lionheart or Richard I. This gives the claim that his mother was an illegitimate daughter of Richard the Lionheart more support. Since, in this section of the article, we are tracing back the matriarchal ancestors of Hugh, we will stay on Richard's line of matriarchal ancestry. It goes as the following.

Dangereuse de L' Isle Bouchard was the earliest known matriarchal ancestor of Richard, who spanned from 1079 - 1151. Her daughter was Aénor de Châtellerault, who lives a relatively short life: 1103 - 1130. Her daughter was Eleanor of Aquitaine, who was arguably one of the most prominent women of her time, for she was the queen consort of France.

Eleanor's son was Richard the Lionheart, and the rest of the ancestry to Hugh has already been covered. Richard participated in the third crusade, scoring considerable victories (following the departure of Phillip Augustus) against the famous Muslim commander Saladin. or Thomas de Hungerford.

Loughmoe castle under Hugh Purcell

Hugh only built one of the towers. Hugh's contribution to the castle was well-constructed and built in a defensive style.

Of which was denied by Botiller, who claimed the land. The original Medieval Latin version goes like this,

"Universis Christi fidelibus presentes litteras inspecturis Hugo Purcel salutem:

Noverit universitas vestra me, divine pietatis intuitu, pro salute anime mee, patris mei, et matris mee, et Beatricis, sponse me, et liberorum meorum, consisse et quietum clamasse, Deo et ecclessia de Kildroch.

Et ut mea quitea clamacio firmitatem obtineat, sigillum Thome Purcel, commilitonis mei, presenti scripto, quia proprium sigillum meum in partibu Dublinie non habui curam apponere.

Hiis testibus: Waltero Purcel, patre meo; Thoma Purcel; Milone de Rocheford; Ricardo de Midia, clerico."

Hugh's heir Richard Purcell, Hugh's heir, was the first Baron of Loughmoe. He was either Hugh's son or grandson, as we do not know what "direct descendant" refers to.

Sources and further reading

Giraldus Cambrensis, The history and topography of Ireland John D'alton, King James' Irish army list John Gillingham, Richard I John O'hart, The Irish and Anglo-Irish landed gentry John O'hart, Irish pedigrees