Brittain family of Tanrego, Avoca Avenue
Francis Armstrong Brittain married Harriett Ballam
born circa 1842 4 Dec 1866 born circa 1847
Manorhamilton, Co Leitrim Roscommon Roscommon
died 26 Nov 1923 died 26 Apr 1919
Co Down Belfast
Francis Armstrong Brittain born circa 1842 at Manoramilton, Co Leitrim, son of Francis Brittain.
He was a merchant and married Harriett Ballam on 4 Dec 1866 at Kilronan Church, Co
Roscommon. Harriett was the daughter of John Ballam. In 1911 the family were living at
Windsor Park, Belfast and Francis was a director of a Laundry Company. They had eighteen
children of whom eleven had survived in 1911. Harriett died 26 Apr 1919 at Windsor Park and
Francis died 26 Nov 1923 at Hollywood, Co Down.
1 Elizabeth Jane (Lizzie) Brittain born 1 May 1868 at Manorhamilton married Rev William
Caldwell at Manorhamilton on 29 Jul 1891.
2 Francis William (Frank) Brittain born circa 1870 was a chemist and married Esther
Hobson on 1 Oct 1894 at the Methodist Church, Cork. Esther was living at Blackrock,
Cork and was the daughter of John Hobson an accountant. Frank also ran the Drogheda
Steam Laundry Company. They had two children and were separated by 1906.
3 John Wesley (Jack) Brittain born 28 Oct 1871 at Manorhamilton. He was a director of a
laundry company living at 153 Union Street, Lurgan and married Elizabeth McLarnon on
19 July 1899, at Donegall Square Methodist Church, Belfast. Elizabeth was living at
Surrey Street, Belfast and was the daughter of William McLarnon, a tobacconist. He
was the founder and proprietor of the Metropolitan Laundry and The White Heather
Laundry in Dublin in 1899. They lived at Kilronan, Alyesbury Road with their five
children. Jack established The Swastika Laundry in Ballsbridge, Dublin in 1912. Jack
died 24 Mar 1937 in Manchester and is buried in Deansgrange. Elizabeth died at the
Greenore Hotel in Co Louth on 12 Apr 1944.
4 Harriet Anne Brittain born 5 Aug 1873 at Manorhamilton married Rev Henry O’Connell
on 25 Aug 1807 at Manorhamilton Methodist Church.
5 Emilie Susan Brittain born 12 Dec 1875 at Manorhamilton married Joseph Armstrong
on 5 Aug 1900 at Manorhamilton Methodist Church. John was an assistant land
commissioner.
6 George Alfred Brittain born 22 Jan 1878 at Manorhamilton. George of Windsor Park,
Belfast, an auto engineer and director of a motor company married Alice Louisa Finlay on
27 Aug 1912 at St James’ Church, Dublin. Alice worked in the civil service and was the
daughter of William John Finlay. They were living in Herbert Park in 1915. By 1920 George
was the sole agent for Morris Motors in Ireland (excluding Ulster). He purchased a 2 acre
site in Portobello in 1929 and from here ran a service and parts facility. He established
an assembly plant for Morris motors in 1935 and by January 1936 GA Brittain Ltd were
employing 200 men. The family lived at Tanrego on Avoca Avenue from 1930 to 1935 and
were at Hove in Sussex from 1936. George died 30 Oct 1943 at Hove and Alice returned
to Dublin. She died 21 Nov 1970 at Tanrego, Greenfield Park, Donnybrook aged 90. Both
are buried at Mount Jerome.
1 George Clemenger Vincent Brittain eldest son born 16 April 1913 joined the family
business in 1935 and took over after the death of his father. He married Marjorie
Maud Swale on 29 Jul 1937 at All Saints Church Blackrock. Marjorie was the
daughter of A V Swale of Frescati Park. The lived at Mount Henry in Dalkey in 1949.
2 Norman Armstrong Brittain born 6 Nov 1915 at Argyle Road, Herbert Park. He
graduated in Law from Oxford. He was a Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve onboard
the HMS Curacoa. He was lost at sea on 2 Oct 1942 and was buried at Loch Ailort,
Scotland.
3 Alan Francis Brittain born 22 Jul 1918 at Baggot Street father living at Eglinton
Road died 24 Dec 1918.
4 Alice Patricia Brittain born 8 Oct 1919 married Desmond Oliver Fry at All Saints
Church, Blackrock on 30 Jan 1941. Desmond was a merchant and the son of W
Annesley O Fry, company director.
5 Rosemary Phoebe Brittain born 1 Jul 1922 father living at 57 Eglinton Road.
She served with WRNS during WW1 and married Jock M Clarke-Campbell in
1944 at Hove.
7 Samuel Henry Brittain born 6 Oct 1879 at Manorhamilton living with his brother
Frank at Drogheda in 1901. He married Margaret Sarah Daisy Boyd in 1907. He
was the director of a laundry company living at Heaton Norris, Cheshire.
8 Robert Armstrong Brittain born 8 Jun 1881 at Manorhamilton working as a shop
assistant and living with his parents in 1901.
9 Mary Florence Brittain born 5 Jul 1882 at Manorhamilton living with her parents
in 1911.
10 Frederick Arthur Brittain (twin) born 2 Apt 1884 at Manorhamilton died September
1884.
11 Laura Amelia Brittain (twin) born 2 Apt 1884 at Manorhamilton died July 1884.
12 Son Brittain born 5 Sep 1885 at Manorhamilton.
13 James Jackson Brittain born circa 1887 living with his parents in 1901. He married
Madeline Woods Nicholl at Belfast on 10 Jun 1915.
14 Anna Eveline (Eva) Brittain born 31 Oct 1888 at Manorhamilton living with her
parents in 1911. She married Alexander Smith on 24 Mar 1915 at Belfast. Alexander
was a leather merchant.
© June Bow & Karen Poff - March 2025
Return to Tanrego page
Francis Armstrong Brittain married Harriett Ballam
born circa 1842 4 Dec 1866 born circa 1847
Manorhamilton, Co Leitrim Roscommon Roscommon
died 26 Nov 1923 died 26 Apr 1919
Co Down Belfast
Francis Armstrong Brittain born circa 1842 at Manoramilton, Co Leitrim, son of Francis Brittain.
He was a merchant and married Harriett Ballam on 4 Dec 1866 at Kilronan Church, Co
Roscommon. Harriett was the daughter of John Ballam. In 1911 the family were living at
Windsor Park, Belfast and Francis was a director of a Laundry Company. They had eighteen
children of whom eleven had survived in 1911. Harriett died 26 Apr 1919 at Windsor Park and
Francis died 26 Nov 1923 at Hollywood, Co Down.
1 Elizabeth Jane (Lizzie) Brittain born 1 May 1868 at Manorhamilton married Rev William
Caldwell at Manorhamilton on 29 Jul 1891.
2 Francis William (Frank) Brittain born circa 1870 was a chemist and married Esther
Hobson on 1 Oct 1894 at the Methodist Church, Cork. Esther was living at Blackrock,
Cork and was the daughter of John Hobson an accountant. Frank also ran the Drogheda
Steam Laundry Company. They had two children and were separated by 1906.
3 John Wesley (Jack) Brittain born 28 Oct 1871 at Manorhamilton. He was a director of a
laundry company living at 153 Union Street, Lurgan and married Elizabeth McLarnon on
19 July 1899, at Donegall Square Methodist Church, Belfast. Elizabeth was living at
Surrey Street, Belfast and was the daughter of William McLarnon, a tobacconist. He
was the founder and proprietor of the Metropolitan Laundry and The White Heather
Laundry in Dublin in 1899. They lived at Kilronan, Alyesbury Road with their five
children. Jack established The Swastika Laundry in Ballsbridge, Dublin in 1912. Jack
died 24 Mar 1937 in Manchester and is buried in Deansgrange. Elizabeth died at the
Greenore Hotel in Co Louth on 12 Apr 1944.
4 Harriet Anne Brittain born 5 Aug 1873 at Manorhamilton married Rev Henry O’Connell
on 25 Aug 1807 at Manorhamilton Methodist Church.
5 Emilie Susan Brittain born 12 Dec 1875 at Manorhamilton married Joseph Armstrong
on 5 Aug 1900 at Manorhamilton Methodist Church. John was an assistant land
commissioner.
6 George Alfred Brittain born 22 Jan 1878 at Manorhamilton. George of Windsor Park,
Belfast, an auto engineer and director of a motor company married Alice Louisa Finlay on
27 Aug 1912 at St James’ Church, Dublin. Alice worked in the civil service and was the
daughter of William John Finlay. They were living in Herbert Park in 1915. By 1920 George
was the sole agent for Morris Motors in Ireland (excluding Ulster). He purchased a 2 acre
site in Portobello in 1929 and from here ran a service and parts facility. He established
an assembly plant for Morris motors in 1935 and by January 1936 GA Brittain Ltd were
employing 200 men. The family lived at Tanrego on Avoca Avenue from 1930 to 1935 and
were at Hove in Sussex from 1936. George died 30 Oct 1943 at Hove and Alice returned
to Dublin. She died 21 Nov 1970 at Tanrego, Greenfield Park, Donnybrook aged 90. Both
are buried at Mount Jerome.
1 George Clemenger Vincent Brittain eldest son born 16 April 1913 joined the family
business in 1935 and took over after the death of his father. He married Marjorie
Maud Swale on 29 Jul 1937 at All Saints Church Blackrock. Marjorie was the
daughter of A V Swale of Frescati Park. The lived at Mount Henry in Dalkey in 1949.
2 Norman Armstrong Brittain born 6 Nov 1915 at Argyle Road, Herbert Park. He
graduated in Law from Oxford. He was a Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve onboard
the HMS Curacoa. He was lost at sea on 2 Oct 1942 and was buried at Loch Ailort,
Scotland.
3 Alan Francis Brittain born 22 Jul 1918 at Baggot Street father living at Eglinton
Road died 24 Dec 1918.
4 Alice Patricia Brittain born 8 Oct 1919 married Desmond Oliver Fry at All Saints
Church, Blackrock on 30 Jan 1941. Desmond was a merchant and the son of W
Annesley O Fry, company director.
5 Rosemary Phoebe Brittain born 1 Jul 1922 father living at 57 Eglinton Road.
She served with WRNS during WW1 and married Jock M Clarke-Campbell in
1944 at Hove.
7 Samuel Henry Brittain born 6 Oct 1879 at Manorhamilton living with his brother
Frank at Drogheda in 1901. He married Margaret Sarah Daisy Boyd in 1907. He
was the director of a laundry company living at Heaton Norris, Cheshire.
8 Robert Armstrong Brittain born 8 Jun 1881 at Manorhamilton working as a shop
assistant and living with his parents in 1901.
9 Mary Florence Brittain born 5 Jul 1882 at Manorhamilton living with her parents
in 1911.
10 Frederick Arthur Brittain (twin) born 2 Apt 1884 at Manorhamilton died September
1884.
11 Laura Amelia Brittain (twin) born 2 Apt 1884 at Manorhamilton died July 1884.
12 Son Brittain born 5 Sep 1885 at Manorhamilton.
13 James Jackson Brittain born circa 1887 living with his parents in 1901. He married
Madeline Woods Nicholl at Belfast on 10 Jun 1915.
14 Anna Eveline (Eva) Brittain born 31 Oct 1888 at Manorhamilton living with her
parents in 1911. She married Alexander Smith on 24 Mar 1915 at Belfast. Alexander
was a leather merchant.
© June Bow & Karen Poff - March 2025
Return to Tanrego page