Bryant/Fitzgerald Genealogy: From Otho Gherandini to Lady Joan Fitzgerald

18th Generation: Maurice FitzThomas FitzGerald

• Maurice was born in 1445 in Ireland.
• He married Ellen Roche and they had four children together: Thomas, James, Joan, and Ellis.
• Maurice became the 9th Earl of Desmond after his older brother was murdered. He was lame and had to be carried by a horse litter.
• Maurice supported Perkin Warbeck, the pretender to the Crown, but was forgiven later by King Henry VII and granted customs fees for several counties.
• Maurice rebuilt Desmond Castle in Kinsdale to serve as a customs house.
• Unlike his ancestor, the Irish hated him due to his harsh treatment of them.
• Maurice died in 1520 (75 years old) in Desmond, Ireland. He is buried at Tralee, County Kerry, Ireland.
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maurice_FitzGerald,_9th_Earl_of_Desmond (there is a figure of him pictured on this page.)
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Desmond_Castle_(Kinsale) (pictures included on this page)

18th Generation: Ellen Roche

• Ellen was born in Ireland. She is the daughter of Maurice Roche, 2nd Lord of Fermoy.
• She married Maurice and they had four children together:
  • Thomas FitzMaurice FitzGerald (?-?) Died before 1520.
  • James Maurice FitzGerald (1491-1529) (who we are descended from)
  • Joan MacCarthy (?-?) She married Cormac Og MacCarthy
  • Ellis O’Brien (?-?) She married Conner O’Brien, King of Thormond.
• Ellen died in Desmond, Ireland, unknown year.