John was born about 1635[3] probably at Dromana, the only son ofGerald FitzGerald and his wifeMabel Digby. His father was esquire of Dromana and styled Lord of the Decies. His family was a cadet branch of the FitzGerald of Desmond, an IrishOld English family. The Dromana branch started when Gerald FitzGerald, the second son ofJames FitzGerald, 6th Earl of Desmond (died 1462) was given Dromana as appanage.[4]
His father was a protestant like his wife and sided with the government during theIrish Rebellion of 1641 and the ensuingIrish Confederate Wars. He died in 1643 in his early thirties, probably killed in action while fighting the Confederates. Dromana castle had been lost to the insurgents in 1642 or 1643 when his mother surrendered the castle to them.Murrough O'Brien, 6th Baron Inchiquin retook the castle in April 1647.[6]
When Charles II summoned the Irish Parliament of 1661–1666, FitzGerald stood forDungarvan Bourough and was elected[13] as one of its two representatives.
^Mackenzie 1907, p. 112. "his [Gerald's] son John, at this time [1643] about eight years old ..."
^Burke 1866, p. 204, right column. "II. Sir Gerald More FitzGerald, ancestor of the FitzGeralds of Dromana, County Waterford, Lords of Decies"
^Burke 1838, p. 462, left column. "2. Mabel m. [married] first to Gerald Fitzgerald, esq. of Dromana, in the county of Waterford; and secondly, to Donagh O'Brien, of Arragh."
^Bagwell 1895, p. 323, left column, line 14. "Cappoquin and Dromana against which he had cherished designs since 1642 were easily taken. There was a little fighting at Dungarvan ... This was early in May [1647]."
^Cokayne 1895, p. 286. "He [John Power] was born about 1599, being 8½ years old in 1607, and was sent to England for education and admitted to the Inner Temple 1614. Having been a lunatic for above 21 years before 1654, he escaped 'transplantation'.&mnsp... He d. 1661."
^Mackenzie 1907, p. 119. "In 1658 ... John FitzGerald of Dromana ... took unto himself as a wife Katharine, daughter of John Power, 5th Lord Power of Carroghmore."
^Burke & Burke 1909, p. 1839, line 54. "1. Katherine, m. [married] 1658, John FitzGerald of Dromana, Lord of the Decies, and d. [died] 22 Aug. 1660."
^Burke 1866, p. 561, line 72. "Sir John FitzGerald, of Dromana, Knt., M.P. for Dungarvan, m. [married] 1st Catherine, dau. [daughter] of John, Lord Poer, she d. [died] 22 August 1660, and 2ndly Helen, dau. of Donogh MacCarthy; he d. 1 March 1664 ..."
^abBurke 1866, p. 561, line 72. "Sir John FitzGerald, of Dromana, Knt., M.P. for Dungarvan, m. [married] 1st Catherine, dau. [daughter] of John, Lord Poer, she d. [died] 22 August 1660, and 2ndly Helen, dau. of Donogh MacCarthy; he d. 1 March 1664 ..."
^Mackenzie 1907, p. 124. "John had no children by his second marriage, and when he died in 1664, his daughter Katherine was left as the sole heiress of all his broad acres."
^House of Commons 1878, p. 635. "1661 / 11 April / John FitzGerald, esq. / Dromana / ditto [Dungarvan Borough]"
^Fuller 1904, p. 11. "To make matters still worse, her [Catherine's] father died in 1662."
