# Theobald Dillon, 1st Viscount Dillon

Theobald Dillon, 1st Viscount Dillon (died 1624), was an Irish military commander and adventurer. He held extensive lands in eastern Connacht and north-western Leinster, some acquired by sharp practices. He was a loyal supporter of Elizabeth I of England in her Irish wars.

## Birth and origins

Theobald was probably born at Ballynakill, the habitual home of his father and grandfather. He was the third son of Thomas Dillon and his wife Margery Dillon of Kilmore, also called Mary. His father was the eldest son of his grandfather James Dillon, nicknamed the Prior, because he took care of several monastic properties at the dissolution of the monasteries. His father's side of the family descended from Lord Dillon of Drumraney, County Westmeath. Theobald's mother was a daughter of Christopher Dillon of Kilmore. His father's family like his mother's family were branches of the same widespread Old English family that descends from Sir Henry Dillon who came to Ireland with Prince John in 1185.
* Theobald listed among his brothers
* He appears among his brothers as the third son:
* Gerald, married Cicely, daughter of a Dillon of High Baskin, County Westmeath
* Edmund, lived in Ardnagrath Castle, County Westmeath
* Theobald (died 1624)
* Garret, a captain of an independent troop, ancestor of Garrett Dillon, Recorder of Dublin
* James, from whom descend the Dillons of Ballynakill and some other Dillon cadet branches
* List of Theobald's sisters
* Theobald had three sisters:
* Rose, married Thomas Dillon, son and successor to Gerald of Drumrany
* Catherine, married Edmund Fitz-Edmund Dillon of Kilcomane
* Bridget, married a Dalton of Moyvannane
Family tree :
| Gerald Dillon of Dunimoney | Gerald Dillon of Dunimoney | Gerald Dillon of Dunimoney | Gerald Dillon of Dunimoney | Gerald Dillon of Dunimoney | Gerald Dillon of Dunimoney | | | Ismay Tuite | Ismay Tuite | Ismay Tuite | Ismay Tuite | Ismay Tuite | Ismay Tuite |
| | | | | Robert Dillon of Dunimoney | Robert Dillon of Dunimoney | Robert Dillon of Dunimoney | Robert Dillon of Dunimoney | Robert Dillon of Dunimoney | Robert Dillon of Dunimoney | | | James Dillon The Prior | James Dillon The Prior | James Dillon The Prior | James Dillon The Prior | James Dillon The Prior | James Dillon The Prior | | | Catherine Dalton | Catherine Dalton | Catherine Dalton | Catherine Dalton | Catherine Dalton | Catherine Dalton | | | William Dillon | William Dillon | William Dillon | William Dillon | William Dillon | William Dillon |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Thomas Dillon of Ballynakill | Thomas Dillon of Ballynakill | Thomas Dillon of Ballynakill | Thomas Dillon of Ballynakill | Thomas Dillon of Ballynakill | Thomas Dillon of Ballynakill | Margery Dillon of Kilmore | Margery Dillon of Kilmore | Margery Dillon of Kilmore | Margery Dillon of Kilmore | Margery Dillon of Kilmore | Margery Dillon of Kilmore |
| Gerald Dillon | Gerald Dillon | Gerald Dillon | Gerald Dillon | Gerald Dillon | Gerald Dillon | | | Edmund Dillon of Ardnegragh | Edmund Dillon of Ardnegragh | Edmund Dillon of Ardnegragh | Edmund Dillon of Ardnegragh | Edmund Dillon of Ardnegragh | Edmund Dillon of Ardnegragh | | | Theobald 1st Viscount d. 1624 | Theobald 1st Viscount d. 1624 | Theobald 1st Viscount d. 1624 | Theobald 1st Viscount d. 1624 | Theobald 1st Viscount d. 1624 | Theobald 1st Viscount d. 1624 | | | Eleanor Tuite d. 1638 | Eleanor Tuite d. 1638 | Eleanor Tuite d. 1638 | Eleanor Tuite d. 1638 | Eleanor Tuite d. 1638 | Eleanor Tuite d. 1638 | | | Garret Dillon Captain | Garret Dillon Captain | Garret Dillon Captain | Garret Dillon Captain | Garret Dillon Captain | Garret Dillon Captain |
| Christopher Dillon of Ballylaghan d. 1624 d.v.p.* | Christopher Dillon of Ballylaghan d. 1624 d.v.p.* | Christopher Dillon of Ballylaghan d. 1624 d.v.p.* | Christopher Dillon of Ballylaghan d. 1624 d.v.p.* | Christopher Dillon of Ballylaghan d. 1624 d.v.p.* | Christopher Dillon of Ballylaghan d. 1624 d.v.p.* | | | Jane Dillon m. 1604 | Jane Dillon m. 1604 | Jane Dillon m. 1604 | Jane Dillon m. 1604 | Jane Dillon m. 1604 | Jane Dillon m. 1604 | | | Lucas Dillon 1579–1656 of Loughglynn | Lucas Dillon 1579–1656 of Loughglynn | Lucas Dillon 1579–1656 of Loughglynn | Lucas Dillon 1579–1656 of Loughglynn | Lucas Dillon 1579–1656 of Loughglynn | Lucas Dillon 1579–1656 of Loughglynn | | | Jane Moore | Jane Moore | Jane Moore | Jane Moore | Jane Moore | Jane Moore | | | James Dillon c. 1600 – aft. 1669 | James Dillon c. 1600 – aft. 1669 | James Dillon c. 1600 – aft. 1669 | James Dillon c. 1600 – aft. 1669 | James Dillon c. 1600 – aft. 1669 | James Dillon c. 1600 – aft. 1669 |
| Lucas 2nd Viscount 1610–1629 | Lucas 2nd Viscount 1610–1629 | Lucas 2nd Viscount 1610–1629 | Lucas 2nd Viscount 1610–1629 | Lucas 2nd Viscount 1610–1629 | Lucas 2nd Viscount 1610–1629 | | | Thomas 4th Viscount 1615–1673 | Thomas 4th Viscount 1615–1673 | Thomas 4th Viscount 1615–1673 | Thomas 4th Viscount 1615–1673 | Thomas 4th Viscount 1615–1673 | Thomas 4th Viscount 1615–1673 | | | Theobald Dillon | Theobald Dillon | Theobald Dillon | Theobald Dillon | Theobald Dillon | Theobald Dillon | | | Robert D. of Loughglynn | Robert D. of Loughglynn | Robert D. of Loughglynn | Robert D. of Loughglynn | Robert D. of Loughglynn | Robert D. of Loughglynn | | | Rose Dillon of Streamstown d. 1681 | Rose Dillon of Streamstown d. 1681 | Rose Dillon of Streamstown d. 1681 | Rose Dillon of Streamstown d. 1681 | Rose Dillon of Streamstown d. 1681 | Rose Dillon of Streamstown d. 1681 |
| Theobald 3rd Viscount 1629–1630 | Theobald 3rd Viscount 1629–1630 | Theobald 3rd Viscount 1629–1630 | Theobald 3rd Viscount 1629–1630 | Theobald 3rd Viscount 1629–1630 | Theobald 3rd Viscount 1629–1630 | | | Thomas 5th Viscount d. 1674 | Thomas 5th Viscount d. 1674 | Thomas 5th Viscount d. 1674 | Thomas 5th Viscount d. 1674 | Thomas 5th Viscount d. 1674 | Thomas 5th Viscount d. 1674 | | | Lucas 6th Viscount d. 1682 | Lucas 6th Viscount d. 1682 | Lucas 6th Viscount d. 1682 | Lucas 6th Viscount d. 1682 | Lucas 6th Viscount d. 1682 | Lucas 6th Viscount d. 1682 | | | Theobald 7th Viscount d. 1691 Jacobite | Theobald 7th Viscount d. 1691 Jacobite | Theobald 7th Viscount d. 1691 Jacobite | Theobald 7th Viscount d. 1691 Jacobite | Theobald 7th Viscount d. 1691 Jacobite | Theobald 7th Viscount d. 1691 Jacobite | | | Mary Talbot d. 1691 | Mary Talbot d. 1691 | Mary Talbot d. 1691 | Mary Talbot d. 1691 | Mary Talbot d. 1691 | Mary Talbot d. 1691 |
| XXX | XXX | XXX | XXX | XXX | XXX | Subject of the article | Subject of the article | Subject of the article | Subject of the article | Subject of the article | Subject of the article | XXX | XXX | XXX | XXX | XXX | XXX | Viscounts Dillon | Viscounts Dillon | Viscounts Dillon | Viscounts Dillon | Viscounts Dillon | Viscounts Dillon |
In 1559 Theobald commanded an independent force.

## Marriage and children

Theobald Dillon married Eleanor Tuite. So far the sources agree. However, she is either the widow or the daughter of William Tuite according to sources.
Theobald and Eleanor had 19 children, eight sons:
* Christopher (died 28 February 1624), the eldest, married the eldest daughter of James Dillon, 1st Earl of Roscommon and became the father of the 2nd Viscount and the 4th Viscount
* Lucas (1579–1656), ancestor of the 7th and later viscounts
* William, denominated of Tolchan
* Thomas, denominated of Brackloon
* Edward, became a Franciscan friar
* George, also became a Franciscan friar
* John, became an officer in the army and died unmarried
* James (c. 1600 – in or after 1669), the 8th and youngest son, who became an army officer
—and 11 daughters:
* Rose, died young
* Margaret, married Robert Dillon of Cannestown, son of Thomas Dillon, who was a brother of Lucas Dillon, the judge
* Anne, married John, Viscount Taaffe, and was the mother of Theobald Taaffe, 1st Earl of Carlingford
* Katherine, married Sir Ulick Burke of Glinsk, 1st Baronet
* Mary, married Gerald Pettyt of Mullingar in County Westmeath
* Elizabeth, married Thomas Fitzgerald of Newcastle in County Longford
* Jane, married Hugh O'Conor of Castlereagh
* Eleanor (died 1629), became a nun with the Poor Clares
* Cecily (c. 1603 – 1653), became the first Abbess of the Poor Clares in Ireland
* Bridget, died unmarried
* Barbara, died unmarried

## Later life

In 1582 in the context of the Composition of Connacht, a surrender and regrant action, Dillon was appointed collector-general of the composition money in Connacht and Thomond. During this period of the English reconquest in Connacht, Dillon was involved in some sharp practices with the local landholders. In particular, he persuaded the various Costello freeholders of the Barony of Costello in eastern County Mayo, to save expense and ensure the smooth legal transfer, to allow him to surrender their lands for them in one land-title in the Surrender and regrant process and had it regranted in his own name, becoming the legal landowner in the process. He never returned this title to the lands to the native owners, which would lead to rapparee actions by Dudley Costello (or Costellogh) against the Dillons in the 1660s.
He fought under the Earl of Essex in the Nine Years' War (1593–1603) and was knighted by him on 24 July 1599. To put this into perspective it should be said that Theobald was already in his sixties and that Essex knighted a great many people and was mocked by saying "he never drew sword but to make knights".
On 19 July 1608, King James I gave him a patent confirming the possession of the manor and town of Kilfaughny in County Westmeath where he then lived and finally died.
On 16 March 1622, King James I created him Viscount Dillon of Costello-Gallen, cementing his legal title. He became the first of a long succession of viscounts Dillon. The territorial designation "Costello-Gallen" refers to the baronies of Gallen and Costello in County Mayo.
Lord Dillon, as he now was, held the title of Lord President of Connaught from c. 1621 on, which he shared with Charles Wilmot, who held that same title from 1616 to 1644.

## Death, succession, and timeline

Lord Dillon died on 15 March 1624 in Kilfaughny in County Westmeath. It is said that he died "at so advanced an age, that at one time he had the satisfaction of seeing above an hundred of his descendants in his house of Killenfaghny". Christopher, his eldest son, died on 28 February about two weeks before his father and therefore never succeeded his father. On the first Viscount's death, the title, therefore, passed to his grandson Lucas, Christopher's eldest son.
Timeline :
| As his birth date is uncertain, so are all his ages. |||
| Age | Date | Event |
| 0 | 1530, estimate | Born. |
| 27–28 | 1558, 17 Nov | Accession of Queen Elizabeth I, succeeding Queen Mary I |
| 28–29 | 1559 | Commanded an independent force. |
| 51–52 | 1582 | Made collector-general of the composition money. |
| 68–69 | 1599, 24 Jul | Knighted by Essex. |
| 72–73 | 1603, 24 Mar | Accession of King James I, succeeding Queen Elizabeth I |
| 77–78 | 1608, 19 Jul | James I gave him a patent for Kilfaughny house. |
| 91–92 | 1622, 16 Mar | Created Viscount Dillon of Costello-Gallen. |
| 93–94 | 1624, 28 Feb | Eldest son, Christopher, died. |
| 93–94 | 1624, 15 Mar | Died at Kilfaughny and was succeeded by his grandson Lucas. |