John Povey

[2] He is first heard of in Ireland in 1658, when he was acting as legal advisor to Sir John Barrington, 3rd Baronet, a politician and landowner who, although he was a relative of Oliver Cromwell, had refused to sit as one of the judges at the trial of Charles I. Povey went on the Munster circuit, did well at the Irish Bar, and brought his family to live in Ireland.

After the Restoration of Charles II, Povey continued to prosper: James Butler, 1st Duke of Ormonde, the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland thought well of him, while his cousin Thomas was now Treasurer to the future Catholic King James II.

Arthur Capell, 1st Earl of Essex, the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, supported Booth, but Charles II, who favoured a considerable degree of toleration of Roman Catholics, rejected him as being too strong a Protestant.

He earned praise for his good services as Chief Justice, and it was suggested that he might be transferred to the English Bench in 1675; but soon after his wife's death in 1677, his health began to fail.

His body was brought back to Ireland, and he was buried in St. Michan's Church, Dublin[2] In 1648 he married Elizabeth Folliott (died 1677), eldest daughter of Guthlake (or Guthlac) Folliott of Martin Hussingtree, Worcester, clerk to the chapter of Worcester Cathedral, and his wife Elizabeth.