Marshal of Ireland or Earl Marshal of Ireland is a hereditary title originally awarded to William Marshal, 1st Earl of Pembroke in the Lordship of Ireland, which descended to Baron Morley. The title of Marshal, like that of Baron Morley, has been in abeyance since 1697. William Lynch in 1830 described the duties attached to the office before it became ceremonial:Lynch pp. 74–75 Besides the duties which seemed to have been exercised by the Marshal of England, there were some other public services of great trust and consequence which devolved on the Marshal of Ireland. This appears from entries on the rolls of King John and Henry the Third, whereby we find that under the Marshal's care and superintendence were placed all the castles and fortresses, not only of the King, but of all minors and others whose estates were in the hands of the Crown : these he was bound to inspect and have always duly guarded and munitioned. The Marshal also in Ireland with the King's Justiciary laid out the bounds, and assigned the districts or territories granted to the Barons by the King, and exercised many other high functions, as will appear on reference to those rolls. List Holders of the title include: William Marshal, 1st Earl of Pembroke (died 1219) John Marshal (died 1235) (illegitimate son of John Marshal, brother of the above William Marshal, who died in 1194) was granted the office by King John 12 November 1207.Lynch p. 72 William Marshal 'who joined the Barons against King Henry III and 1264' (grandson of the last-mentioned John Marshal) John Marshal, son of the last-mentioned. His son next-mentioned succeeded him in 1284.Nicholas Harris Nicolas, A synopsis of the peerage of England], pages 761 and 764 William Marshal, 1st Baron Marshal (died 1314), son of the last-mentioned,Cockayne p. 266 quoting John Marshal, 2nd Baron Marshal (died 1316/17), son of the last-mentioned Robert de Morley, 2nd Baron Morley (died 1360) "having married Hawyse, sister and heir to John le Mareschall, of Hengham, in [the County of Norfolk] had livery of the lands of her inheritance, the 10th of Edward II. Which Hawyse held the office of marshal of Ireland by descent."Banks, p. 356 William de Morley, 3rd Baron Morley (died 1379)Cockayne p. 371 "the 38th of Edward III. had licence to travel beyond sea, as also to grant his office of mareschall of Ireland (which had descended to him by his mother), to Henry de Ferrers, to hold so long as he behaved himself well therein."Banks, p. 357 Thomas de Morley, 4th Baron Morley (died 1416)Details of Letters Patent confirming the office to him are in Calendar of Patent Rolls, 13 May 1411 (12 Henry IV), Volume 4, page 289 referring to Charter to John Marshal in Rotuli Chartarum, 12 November 1207, (9 John), page 173 Thomas de Morley, 5th Baron Morley (died 1435) The Barony of Morley was held by his descendants until it fell into abeyance in 1697.
Abeyance The representatives are among the issue of the final (15th) Baron Morley's aunt or aunts, viz
Elizabeth who Edward Cranfield of whose issue (if any) nothing is known; and Katharine (the 1st da.), who as his first wife John Savage, 2nd Earl Rivers, who died on 10 October 1654, leaving by her three sons and five daughters. The issue of all the sons became extinct (with the Earldom of Rivers), in 1728, while two of the daughters died without issue. Of the three other daughters of the Countess Rivers Lady Jane Savage, is represented by her issue by her third husband George Pitt, of whom were the Barons Rivers, extinct 1880, Lady Catherine, by her second husband, was represented by the Earls of Portmore, extinct 1835; and Lady Mary married (as his first wife), Henry Killigrew, Groom of the Bedchamber, by whom she had a son, James, living March 1682/3, who is said to have died without issue.Cockayne p. 373
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