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Note: William was probably born in Ireland, but the date is uncertain. He appears to have killed a man in early life, to have taken refuge with the Earl of Tyrone, and to have followed him in his flight, only because he did not know what else to do. At Brussels he reported himself to Sir Thomas Edmonds, who mentioned the matter to Salisbury in his despatch on 4 Nov. 1607. He went from Brussels to Holland, and served in the army for at least eight years, during which he probably received the king's pardon. He was knighted on 25 April 1618, and on 3 July 1619 he had a large grant by patent of crown lands in Queen's County and Limerick, which was supplemented the next year by a further grant in the former county. Sir William fought a duel with Nicholas Bagnall on 17 June 1607 (or 1609), the Constable of Leighlin. Nicholas Bagnall died of wounds he received on 19 June 1607. Was this the man that William appears to have killed in early life? Privy Councillor and Lord President of Munster in 1627. Was Parliamentary representative for Cork in 1639, also that year appointed Sargeant Major-general in the army, he fought against the Rebels in Ireland. He purchased Doneraile. It is possible that Sir William St. Leger's children William and Elizabeth were children by Gertrude de Vries and that the other children were from a 2nd marriage to a Gertrude Heywood (see book "St. Leger, the Family and the Race" by Moya Frenz St. Leger, Phillimore 1986) although the Stammata Leodegario does not show this marriage and neither does Burkes Peerage, but in Burkes Landed Gentry the St. Legers of Heywards Hill line shows this to be the case. The Dictionery of National Biography also states that Sir William had at least two wives. Gertrude Heywood is mentioned as the first but the name of the second wife is not given. If his second wife was Gertrude Heywood It is possible that she was a sister to Mary Heywood (wife of Sir Warham St. Leger) ancestor of the St. Leger's of Heywoods Hill line but I cannot substantiate this matter and at the present time. It is possible that the 1st marriage ended in divorce as Gertrude de Vries appears to still be living in 1655 (after William had died). Sir William St. Leger occupied Doneraile Castle in 1639 and bought Doneraile from the Synan family. Later that same year Sir William had a confirmation of his lands under the commission of grace, and Doneraile was erected into a manor (ib.ii.394-8; Lodge, p. 112). St. Leger was at Doneraile when the great Irish rebellion broke out on 23 Oct. 1641. Three years after Sir William St. Leger died (1645) Doneraile Castle fell to the Irish under Lord Castlehaven and was burnt to the ground. The castle was eventually repaired but lay in ruins once more in 1750. Over it's remains a barrack was erected for a troop of Horse though noting can be seen today. Sir William had a fine house and a magnificent park near the Castle; it too was burnt down by the Irish. The house that stands today was designed by Rothery and has been described as one of the finest examples of Georgian architecture in Ireland. It propably occupies exactely the same position as the earlier house burnt by the Irish in 1645.
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