Sir Tristram Beresford, 3rd Baronet

Sir Tristram Beresford, 3rd Baronet (1669 – 16 June 1701)^[1] was an Irish politician and baronet.

Background

He was the second, but oldest surviving son of Sir Randal Beresford, 2nd Baronet and his wife Catherine Annesley, daughter of Francis Annesley, 1st Viscount Valentia.^[2] In 1681, he succeeded his father as baronet.^[3]

Career

Commanding a Protestant regiment, Beresford was attained by King James II of England in May 1689, however was acquitted after the Glorious Revolution.^[2] He entered the Irish House of Commons in 1692, sitting for Londonderry County until 1699.^[4]

Family and death

In February 1687, he married Nichola Sophia Hamilton, youngest daughter of Hugh Hamilton, 1st Baron Hamilton of Glenawly, and had by her four daughters and a son.^[5] His wife grew up with James Power, 3rd Earl of Tyrone and according to a family legend they both agreed in their childhood, that whoever should die at first, should try to return and report to the other about the afterlife.^[6] In October 1693, Nichola wore one morning a black ribbon and after a request by her husband, declared that her friend had died.^[6] Shortly thereafter a letter from the earl's steward arrived, confirming her assertion.^[6] She also predicted Beresford the birth of his son and when in 1713, a clergyman presented her documents, which changed her age to fortyseven, she announced her oncoming death. Nichola told a female friend, that in the night after the earl's death, his ghost had manifested and had given her information about her future life.^[6] As a proof, that it had been no dream, a black mark then appeared at her wrist, which she later covered with the rippon.^[6] Following this explanation Nichola expired in the presence of her friend.^[6] Beresford himself died in 1701 and was succeeded in the baronetcy by his son Marcus, later raised to the Peerage of Ireland by the title Earl of Tyrone.^[3]

References

1. "Leigh Rayment - Baronetage". Retrieved 29 August 2009.
2. Collins, Arthur (1812). Sir Egerton Brydges, ed. Collin's Peerage of England. vol. VIII. London: T. Bensley. pp. 84–87.
3. Lodge, Edmund (1838). The Genealogy of the Existing British Peerage (6th ed.). London: Saunder and Otley. p. 512.
4. "Leigh Rayment - Irish House of Commons 1692-1800". Retrieved 29 August 2009.
5. Lodge, John (1789). Mervyn Archdall, ed. The Peerage of Ireland or A Genealogical History of the Present Nobility of that Kingdom. vol. II. Dublin: James Moore. pp. 299–301.
6. Chambers, Robert (2004). Book of Days: A Miscellany of Popular Antiquities in Connection with the Calenda. vol. II. Kessinger Publishing. pp. 785–786. ISBN 0-7661-8339-4.