Among the Guardians of Multyfarnham friary in the first quarter of the 18th century were two friars who filled the office of Provincial in challenging times. Fr Peter Warren came from a family distinguished since the early days of the Norman occupation, when they received generous grants of land and fixed their principal seat at Warrenstown, Co Meath.
During the English Civil War (1642 – 1651), the family consistently supported the Royalist cause and as a result suffered severely under Cromwell. At the Restoration they were singled out under the Act of Settlement for special treatment as ‘innocent papists’ and obtained lands at Castleknock. In later years they stood by the Stuarts and the soldier members of the family followed James II into exile.
Fr Peter was educated at St Anthony’s, Louvain, where he later taught theology for many years. He also spent some years in France, occupying the position of Custos over one of the French Franciscan Provinces. In 1697 the Minister General appointed him Commissary Visitator for Ireland, and in that capacity, he presided at the Chapter held in Dublin on July 28 of that year. In 1700 he was elected Definitor. Three years later he was appointed Guardian of Multyfarnham, and in 1706 he was elected Minister Provincial.
On May 12, 1708, he presided at an Intermediate Chapter held in Dublin and attended by sixty-two friars. It was probably on the occasion of this Chapter that Fr Paul McEgan OFM and five other priests were arrested and thrown into prison. Fr McEgan was liberated, or contrived to escape, but two of his confreres died in gaol between 1709 and 1711.
On relinquishing the office of Provincial in October 1709, Fr Warren appears to have retired to Multyfarnham. In 1714 he was appointed Definitor by Pope Clement XI. Three years later he was Guardian of Multyfarnham, and he was re-appointed to that office in 1717, and again in 1724.
In this later year he is styled Pater Provinciae. As his name disappears after that date from the records of the Province, it may be presumed that he died about this time, in Multyfarnham.
Fr Francis Delamar was first appointed Guardian of Multyfarnham in the year 1700. A member of the distinguished family that founded the Abbey whose chequered history is being told in these pages, he entered the Franciscan Order at an early age, in the friary of Multyfarnham.
He was educated at St Anthony’s, Louvain and after his ordination, he was appointed to teach theology there. In 1697 he became Guardian of St Anthony’s. In 1699 was re-appointed to that office and given faculties as preacher and confessor. On his return to Ireland in 1700 he was appointed Guardian of Multyfarnham. In subsequent years he was nominated Superior of that friary on six occasions. In 1703 and 1705 he was appointed Guardian of Dublin. At the Chapter held in Dublin in October 1709, he was elected as a Definitor, and in 1711 he was appointed Secretary of the Definitory.
In 1716 he was again a member of the Definitory and in 1720 he was elected Provincial.
As Minister Provincial he attended the General Chapter of the Order held at Rome in 1723 and was elected to the high office of Definitor General of the Order. In 1733 he was back in Ireland. He died circa 1735 / 1736.