On or before 28 August 1413, Joan married James Butler, 4th Earl of Ormond (April or May 1391 Kilkenny, Co. Kilkenny- 22 August 1452 Ardee, Co. Louth), the son of James Butler, 3rd Earl of Ormond and Anne Welles.[2] He was known as the White Earl, and esteemed for his learning and patronage of the arts. He was appointed Lord Deputy of Ireland in 1405, and later Lord Lieutenant of Ireland. The Earl and Joan's principal residence was Kilkenny Castle in Kilkenny, Ireland. They had five children:
James Butler, 5th Earl of Ormond, 1st Earl of Wiltshire KG, (24 November 1420- 1 May 1461), married firstly Avice Stafford, daughter of Sir Richard Stafford and Maud Lovell, and secondly Eleanor Beaufort, daughter of Sir Edmund Beaufort, 1st Duke of Somerset and Eleanor de Beauchamp. He was an ardent supporter of the House of Lancaster during the Wars of the Roses, and a favourite of Queen consort Margaret of Anjou. There was speculation that he was the actual father of Margaret's son Edward, Prince of Wales.[3] He was beheaded at Newcastle by the Yorkists after the Battle of Towton. His head was afterwards displayed on London Bridge.
John Butler, 6th Earl of Ormond (1422–1478), he never married but fathered an illegitimate son by an unknown Irish mistress, James Dubh Butler, who left descendants.
Elizabeth Butler (1432- 8 September 1473), married John Talbot, 2nd Earl of Shrewsbury, son of John Talbot, 1st Earl of Shrewsbury and Maud Nevill, by whom she had seven children, including John Talbot, 3rd Earl of Shrewsbury and Lady Eleanor Talbot
Ellen Butler
Thomas Butler, 7th Earl of Ormond (c.1426- 3 August 1515), married firstly Anne Hankford (1431- 13 November 1485), daughter of Sir Richard Hankeford and Anne Montagu, by whom he had two daughters:
1.Margaret Butler, (c.1454- 1539) wife of Sir William Boleyn of Blickling. Through their son Sir Thomas Boleyn, Margaret and Sir William were the grandparents of Queen consort Anne Boleyn and her sister Mary Boleyn.
2.Anne Butler (born c.1455), wife of Sir James St.Leger, by whom she had issue.
