Patrick White (judge)


Sir Patrick White was an Irish politician, landowner and judge, who was notable for his forty-year tenure on the Irish Bench, much of which was spent as second Baron of the Court of Exchequer. He founded a dynasty who were Lords of the Manor of Dufferin, County Down, for several generations.

Career

He was born in Flemington, near Navan in County Meath. He is said to have come from a long-established landowning family, though little is known of his parents or his early life. He was appointed Baron of the Exchequer in 1521, and apart from a short period on the Court of King's Bench he served on the Court of Exchequer until his death. He was one of the original lessees of the King's Inns in 1541.
He became a member of the Privy Council of Ireland in 1533, and was knighted. John Rawson, the last Prior of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem at Kilmainham, and later Viscount Clontarf, was then one of the handful of men who dominated the Privy Council. White is known to have been close to him, and married his younger son Rowland to Rawson's natural daughter Catherine. Like most of his fellow judges he was enriched by the Dissolution of the Monasteries; he obtained lands at Clontarf which had belonged to the Order of St John, possibly at Lord Clontarf's suggestion.
He also held lands at Rathsallagh in County Wicklow, and extensive holdings in Meath, and became lord of the manor of Dufferin in County Down.
He died in 1561, while still serving on the Court of Exchequer.

Family

He married twice: little is known of his first wife. His second wife was Alison St Lawrence, daughter of Nicholas St Lawrence, 4th Baron Howth, and widow of John Netterville. He had at least three children: