Baron Decies

Barony of Decies
Blazon
  • Arms: Quarterly: 1st and 4th, Argent semée of Cross Crosslets fitchée three Fleurs-de-lis within a Bordure engrailed all Sable (Beresford); 2nd and 3rd, Argent a Chief indented Sable (de la Poer); a Mullet Argent for difference.
  • Crests: A Dragon's Head erased Azure transfixed in the neck with a broken Tilting Spear Or the Point broken off Argent transfixing the upper jaw charged with a Mullet for difference.
  • Supporters: On either side an Angel proper vested Argent crined and winged Or each holding in the exterior hand a Sword erect of the first pommelled and hilted of the second and charged on the breast with a Mullet for difference.
Creation date21 Dec 1812
Created byThe Prince Regent on behalf of King George III
PeeragePeerage of Ireland
First holderWilliam Beresford, 1st Baron Decies
Present holderMarcus Hugh Tristram de la Poer Beresford, 7th Baron Decies
Heir apparentthe Hon. Robert Marcus Duncan de la Poer Beresford
StatusExtant
Seat(s)Straffan Lodge
MottoNIL NISI CRUCE
Nothing without the Cross
William Beresford, 1st Baron Decies

Baron Decies, of Decies in the County of Waterford, is a title in the Peerage of Ireland.[1] It was created in 1812 for the Right Reverend William Beresford, Archbishop of Tuam from 1794 to 1819. He was the third son of Marcus Beresford, 1st Earl of Tyrone, and the younger brother of George Beresford, 1st Marquess of Waterford. His son, the second Baron, married Charlotta Philadelphia Horsley, the only daughter and heiress of Robert Horsley (1749-1809)[2] of Bolam Hall in Northumberland,[3][unreliable source?] which he built (using stone from the ruined ancient castle on the site[4]) on the estate purchased in 1727 by his father John Horsley.[5] In accordance with the terms of his wife's inheritance he assumed the additional surname of Horsley in 1810. However, none of the subsequent barons have held this surname. His grandson, the fifth Baron, was a Major in the Army and also sat in the House of Lords as an Irish representative peer from 1912 to 1944. As of 2013 the title is held by his grandson, the seventh Baron, who succeeded his father in 1992.

The family seat is Straffan Lodge, near Straffan, County Kildare.

  1. ^ "European Heraldry :: House of Beresford". europeanheraldry.org.
  2. ^ "Robert Horsley". images.findgrave.com. Dates per mural monument in Bolam Church
  3. ^ "Decies, Baron (I, 1812)".
  4. ^ "Bolam castle". gatehouse-gazeteer.info.
  5. ^ "parks" (PDF). northumberland.gov.uk.