Since the preceding pages were written I have been in
correspondence with Dr W. H. Grattan-Flood, of Enniscorthy, with
reference to the Irish Purcells mentioned on p. 120. Dr
Grattan-Flood claims to have proved Henry Purcell to be descended
from a distinguished Irish family. Before quoting from his kind
communication, I may say it seems to me very probable the Purcells
were of good family. Both the elder Henry and his brother Thomas,
were musicians of note when we first hear of them, and at the
Restoration were members of the King's Band, Henry being also
"Master of the Choristers" of Westminster Abbey. Edward Purcell,
an elder brother of the composer, was a distinguished officer, who
took part in the Siege of Gibraltar, and ended his days in
honourable retirement at the seat of the Earl of Abingdon, at
Wytham, near Oxford, in the chancel of which Church he is interred.
Another small point is the fact that Purcell's first published
work, the Sonatas, was issued with a portrait of the composer and
with a coat-of-arms. All this looks as if "Roger Purcell, the
'Bayliffe' of Mr. Giles," (see p. 120) is not so likely to have
been an ancestor of the musician as one of the Irish Purcells.
I am not able to give all the matter kindly sent to me--which I
hope Dr Grattan-Flood will make public--but append his observations
on the most important points:--
"Henry Purcell, the composer, was the younger son of Henry Purcell
the Elder; and was adopted at the age of six by his uncle Thomas.
The puzzle, then, is: Who was the father of Henry Purcell the Elder
and of Thomas Purcell?
{140}
"In order to answer this, I have made a systematic search in the
_Fiants_ of Elizabeth and James I, in the _Calendars of State
Papers, Ireland_, 1623-1670, in the _Inquisitions, Funeral Entries
in the Office of Arms_, etc., and have succeeded in tracing the
father and grandfather of Henry Purcell the Elder. I had unusual
opportunities of making this investigation inasmuch as I assisted
Capt R. P. Mahaffy, B.L., in the editing of the _Irish State Papers
of Charles I and Charles II_.
"Henry Purcell the Elder was the son of Thomas Purcell of Gortanny
and Ballycross, Co. Tipperary, the son of Thomas Fitz Piers
Purcell, cousin of the Baron of Loughmoe, and cousin of the
Purcells of Croagh, Co. Limerick. Both Henry and Thomas Purcell
were brought when quite young to England by their aunt, and placed
in the Chapel Royal. Their aunt was a blood-relation of the
Marquis of Ormonde, who was on intimate terms with King Charles I.
Mrs James Purcell, their aunt, took for her second husband Colonel
John Fitzpatrick, who was also a personal friend of Charles I and
of Charles II. This lady was Elizabeth Butler, 4th daughter of
Thomas, Viscount Thurles; her marriage jointure is dated 11
February, 1639. She returned from London in 1643.
At the Restoration, through the influence of the Marquis of
Ormonde, who was created Duke of Ormonde on March 30, 1661, both
Henry Purcell the Elder and his brother Thomas were given posts as
Gentlemen in the Chapel Royal, and were in the immediate entourage
of the Court, and not unregarded by the observant Pepys. Henry
married _circa_ 1651, and his eldest son, Edward, called after an
uncle of the same name, was born in 1653."
"W. H. GRATTAN-FLOOD."
It will be seen Dr Grattan-Flood gives interesting particulars of
the Irish family. On one point the {141} suggestion that the elder
Purcell and his brother Thomas were "placed in the Chapel Royal," I
wish he could give some real proof, for it would, I think, explain
all the ensuing musical success of Purcell's father, his Uncle
Thomas, and himself. But I can only hope that Dr Grattan-Flood's
further researches may end in completely clearing up the mystery of
the ancestry of Henry Purcell.