Connection of the House of Windsor to the O’Mores of Laois and the O’Byrnes of Ballinacor
Rory Caoch O’More, son of Connell O’More (d. 1537), Lord of Laois. He sent his second son, Rory Oge O’More, by his wife Margaret Butler, granddaughter of Piers Butler, 8th Earl of Ormond, to be fostered by Shane O’Byrne of Ballinacor. Rory Caoch O’More was killed in 1557. His son:
Rory Oge O’More married Shane O’Byrne of Ballinacors’ granddaughter, Margaret O’Byrne (daughter of Hugh O’Byrne and sister of Feagh McHugh O’Byrne) in November 1573. Feagh McHugh O’Byrne attended the wedding in Co. Laois. In 1577, following an entrapment and massacre of the Laois leaders at Mullaghmast, Rory Oge O’More captured Henry Harrington, and General Francis Cosby’s son, Alexander Cosby. Lord Deputy Sydney used Tudor forces to hunt for his nephew Harrington. Robert Hartpole led a surprise nighttime attack upon the retinue of Rory Oge O’More. Although Rory Oge escaped the attack his wife Margaret was beheaded. Rory Oge took refuge in the territory of the Gabhal Raghnaill but was slain leading a raid a few months later on 30th June 1578. At Rory OgeO’More’s death Feagh McHugh O’Byrne adopted Rory’s sons, Owney and Brian O’More. Feagh later took in their half-brother, Brian Reagh O’More. Owney O’More became Feagh McHugh O’Byrne’s commander in Laois and won a significant victory over the Cosbys at the Battle of Stradbally Bridge on 19th May 1596. He also captured the Earl of Ormond on 9th April 1600. However, he was killed in an attack led by Lord Mountjoy in August 1600. Rory Oge O’More was uncle to:
Colonel Rory O’More (son of Callagh O’More) (d. 1655), who was a leader in the rebellion of 1641. He was father to:
Anne O’More who married Patrick Sarsfield, of Tully, Co Kildare and had issue:
William Sarsfield of Lucan who married Mary Crofts the daughter of Lucy Walter, mistress to Charles II. They had issue:
Charlotte Sarsfield who married Agmondesham Vesey and had issue:
Anne Vesey who married Sir John Bingham and had issue:
Charles Bingham, 1st Earl of Lucan (b. 1735), who had issue:
Lavinia Bingham (b. 1762) who married George Spencer, 2nd Earl Spencer (b. 1758). They had issue:
Frederick Spencer, Earl Spencer (1798-1857). He had issue:
Charles Robert Spencer, Earl Spencer, (1857-1922). He married the Hon. Margaret Baring and had issue:
Albert Edward John Spencer, Earl of Spencer (1892-1975). He married Lady Cynthia Hamilton and had issue:
Edward John Spencer, Earl of Spencer (1924-1992). He married the Hon. Frances Burke Ruth Roche and had issue:
Diana Frances Spencer, HRH the Princess of Wales (1961-1997). She married Charles Philip Arthur George Windsor, HRH the Prince of Wales. They had issue:
1) HRH William Arthur Philip Louis Windsor (b. 1982)
2) HRH Henry (Harry) Charles Albert David Windsor (b. 1984)