Theobald was probably born at Loughglynn, his parents' habitual residence. He was a son of Robert Dillon and his wife Rose Dillon. His father, Captain Robert Dillon of Loughglynn,[1] was a member of the landed gentry. He was son and heir of Lucas Dillon of Loughglynn, who had been the second son of Theobald Dillon, 1st Viscount Dillon.[2] At the time of Theobald's birth, the Dillons of Loughglynn were a cadet branch of the Viscounts Dillon. Theobald's mother was a daughter of John Dillon of Streamstown.[3]
In the 1680s Dillon was lieutenant-colonel in Clanricarde's Regiment of Guards of the Irish Army.[19]
In 1683 Lucas Dillon, 6th Viscount Dillon, died childless at Kilfaughny, County Westmeath, despite having married twice.[20] He was the last of the senior branch descended from Christopher Dillon of Ballylaghan. Theobald, his second cousin, was the next heir male of the 1st Viscount. Theobald inherited the title and the estate, becoming the 7th Viscount Dillon.
In 1688 Lord Dillon, as he now was, raised two regiments of foot for James II, one commanded by his eldest son, Henry Dillon, the other by his second son, Arthur Dillon.[21] Both fought in the Williamite war in Ireland, but the second, Arthur Dillon's was sent to France with the Irish Brigade in April 1690 in exchange against the Lauzon's French Expeditionary Force.[22]
Lord Dillon fell at the Battle of Aughrim on 12 July 1691.[24] His widow was killed accidentally by the explosion of a bomb during the Siege of Limerick on 7 September 1691.[25] As he had been attainted, his title and his lands were forfeit. However, in 1694 his son Henry managed to obtain a reversal of the attainder and succeeded to title and lands.[26]
Timeline
The accuracy of the given ages depends on that of his birth (estimated) and those of the dated events.
^This family tree is partly derived from the Dillon family tree pictured in La Tour du Pin (1913).[8] Also see the lists of siblings and children in the text.
^His year of birth is constrained by the birth of his son Arthur in 1670.
^Burke & Burke 1915, p. 646, left column, line 1. "2. Luke (Sir) of Lough Glynn ... m. [married] Jane dau.[daughter] of John Moore, of Brees, Balla, and Cloghan, co. Mayo ..."
^Cokayne 1916, p. 359, line 12. "7. Theobald (Dillon) Viscount Dillon of Castello-Gallen, cousin and h. [heir] male, being s. [son] and h. [heir] of Robert Dillon of Loughglynn, co. Roscommon, by Rose, 1st da. [daughter] of John Dillon of Streamstown, which Robert was s. and h. of Sir Lucas D., of Loughglynn afsd."
^Lodge 1789, p. 193, line 32. "Alice, or Elizabeth (married to James Ferrall of Callows, in the county of Longford, Esq.);"
^Lodge 1789, p. 193, line 34. "Jane (first to ––––Lally of Tullynedaly, Esq. by whom she was mother of Brigadier General Lally, colonel of an Irish regiment in French service, and was wounded at the Battle of Fontenoy; the said Jane married secondly John Mac-Hubert Bourke.);"
^Lodge 1789, p. 193, line 42. "... [Theobald Dillon] was lieutenant-colonel to Clanricarde's regiment of Guards in the army of King James II ..."
^ abLodge 1789, p. 191, line 7. "... he [the 6th Viscount] died in September or October 1682, at Killenfaghny in Westmeath, the usual mansion-house of the family, and having had no issue by either of his Ladies, the title and estates descended to Theobald Dillon of Kilmore, Esq., the next heir male of the body of Theobald the first Viscount ..."
^D'Alton 1855, p. 584. "He [Theobald] raised two Regiments for King James's service; the one ... commanded by the above Colonel Henry Dillon, his eldest son ... The second Regiment was put under the command of his second son, the Honorable Arthur Dillon ..."
^ abBoulger 1911, p. 209. "On the other hand Viscount Dillon was not at all opposed to his regiment going to France under the command of his second son, Arthur, who was a keen soldier."
^ abBoulger 1911, p. 243. "Lord Galway and Lord Dillon (Theobald) were killed."
^Cokayne 1916, p. 359, line 24. "His [Theobald Dillon's] widow was accidentally killed a few weeks later, 7 Sep. 1691, in Limerick, during the siege, by the explosion of a bomb."
^Lodge 1789, p. 195, line 1. "After this period it appears by a rule book of the Court of King's Bench, in Trinity Term (6. Will and Mary) that the outlawry against his father was reversed by the judgement of the said court, and which judgement was duly entered up and enrolled, and also examined by the House of Lords, 2 December 1697, when the Lord Viscount Massereene reported that the said outlawry was reversed."
Fryde, E. B.; Greenway, D. E.; Porter, S.; Roy, I., eds. (1986). Handbook of British Chronology. Royal Historical Society Guides and Handbooks, No. 2 (3rd ed.). London: Offices of the Royal Historical Society. ISBN0-86193-106-8. – (for timeline)
