I’ve been reading the third volume of the magisterial New History of Ireland, mainly for the Tudor bits, though it goes up to 1691. The last of the chronological chapters has a certain amount about Sarsfield, James II’s dashing young general, who was created the first Earl of Lucan (the most recent Honora de Burgh, of Portumna in Mayo, whose much older half-brother Thomas was my 5x great-grandfather. Given the time that has passed, their father must by now have tens of thousands of living descendants, so I’m not particularly special in that regard; but it’s a pleasing connection of which I was previously unaware.

The second thing that I had forgotten was the local aspect to the story. Sarsfield / Lucan was fatally injured in 1693, at the Battle of Neerwinden (often referred to as the Battle of Landen so as not to be confused with the 1793 Battle of Neerwinden, though the unfortunate hamlet of Neerwinden saw most of the fighting in 1693 as well). Neerwinden is practically the next village to where B lives, and I’ve driven through it occasionally. The injured Sarsfield was taken to Huy, which is a little further away, where Honora (aged 17, with a toddler and a new baby) was able to join him before he died a few days later.

Honora and her children apparently hung around in Huy for a while, having no other option; but she was rescued from poverty by marrying the even more dashing Lambert Chaumont was actually based at St Martin’s Church in Huy until 1688. So the only answer, really, is to go and look for myself some time. I will report back when I do.