Cream Cracker tin circa 1954
Jacob family of Waterford and Dublin
William Beale Jacob married Hannah Hill Newsom
born 17 Aug 1825 1 Aug 1850 born 29 Jul 1819
Waterford Waterford Waterford
died 5 Aug 1902 died 29 Nov 1906
Rathmines Ballybrack
William Beale Jacob born 17 Aug 1825 in Waterford son of Isaac Thomas Jacob, a baker and
Ann Beale. William was 14 when his father died, his brother Robert was just 8 and his mother
ran the Bridge Street Bakery. William dissolved the partnership of W & R Jacob at Bridge
Street in 1847. He married Hannah Hill Newsom on the 1 Aug 1850 at Waterford. Hannah
was the daughter of Joshua and Isabella Newsom of Bagenalstown. He founded another
partnership of W & R Jacob and Co Ltd with his brother Robert in 1850 trading from The Quay
in Waterford and they equipped it with rollers and cutters. As well as general breads and sea
biscuits they commenced making fancy biscuits. The business grew and they got Vicars of
Liverpool to design them specialised machinery. In 1852 they took a property in Bishop’s Street
in Dublin and went steam powered. William set about equipping it while Robert looked after
the Waterford business. By 1855 they were supplying nearly 1000 establishments, their fancy
biscuits were a great success, and they started exporting to England. They sold the premises
in Waterford in 1858 to concentrate on the Dublin business. His brother Robert, and Robert’s
friend and brother in law James Walpole drowned in Tramore in 1861. They were out for a walk
on the cliffs on 13 Oct 1861, a storm blew up and they never returned home. William lost his
partner, brother, and closest friend. In 1863 he took William Frederick Bewley into the business
as a partner to replace his brother. William and Hannah lived at Spring Ville, Rathmines from
1871 to 1880. In 1878 his son George Newsom Jacob joined as a partner in the firm having
worked in various departments for six years. There was a fire at the factory and it was
substantially destroyed but rebuilt by 1881. Crackers were popular in the 1880s and after a
visit to America by son George, they launched the Canadian, the American and the Wave Crest
crackers in a very competitive market. However instant success came with the launch of the
'Cream Cracker' in 1885 which was described as 'appetising, unsweetened, easily digested and
invaluable to those in delicate health'. Another innovation that George brought back from his
trip were sprinkler systems. William died 5 Aug 1902 at Portobello House late of Ballybrack House
and is buried at Temple Hill. Hannah died aged 87 at Ballybrack on 29 Nov 1906, her daughter in
law Susan, the informant. She is buried at Temple Hill.
1 Robert Henry Jacob born 15 Sep 1853 died 1 Jan 1871 at Spring Ville, Temple Road.
2 George Newsom Jacob born 13 Jun 1854 at Rathgar. He married Mary Anne Clarke at the
Friends Meeting House, Reading on 6 Jun 1878. Mary Anne was the daughter of the late
Thomas E Clarke of Margate. George became a partner in W & R Jacobs that year having
worked in the business for six years and became managing director in 1883. They had two
children and lived at Palmerston Road. George was a director of the British & Irish Steam
Packet Company. Mary died 28 Nov 1933 at St Michael’s, Ailesbury Road. George died on
19 Dec 1942 at St Vincent’s Private Hospital late of St Michael’s, Aylesbury Road having been
involved in a road traffic accident. He is buried at the Society of Friends Cemetery at
Temple Hill and left 191k in personal estate.
1 Dora Jacob born 6 Oct 1880 at Palmerston Road married Sir Walter Jenkins.
2 Harold L Jacob born 26 Nov 1881 at Palmerston Road was chairman of Jacobs in 1941.
3 Isabella, born 13 Apr 1856 in Dublin. She married Thomas Millar on 20 Aug 1880 at Christ
Church Presbyterian Church in Rathgar. Thomas, was a merchant living at Rathmines and the
son of Jonathan Steen Millar, a merchant. They had three children and they lived at
Sandymount avenue. Isabella died a widow 3 Jul 1928 and left 4k in personal estate.
4 Charles Edwin Jacob born 29 May 1859 at Rathgar. He was a student at the Dublin
Metropolitan School of Art. He was a partner in W & R Jacob and married Susan Pim Wigham
on 17 Sep 1885 at the Friends Meeting House in Monkstown. Susan was the daughter of
John Richardson Wigham, an ironmonger. He was a member of the Hibernian band of Hope
Union from 1895, Chair of the executive committee of the Feis Ceoil in 1906 and President of
the Commercial Travellers Christian Society in 1914. He was appointed a JP circa 1904.
Charles was a founder member of the Sunshine Home for Children in Stillorgan and donated
the ultra-violet lamp in 1927. In 1933 he was a founder member and director of Tennant &
Ruttle Ltd, a nationwide distribution company. He was conferred with an honorary degree from
Trinity in 1940. Charles, president and former chairman of W&R Jacob died 11 Oct 1941 at
Enderley, Dalkey and is buried at Temple Hill. Donations to the Sunshine Home instead of
wreaths was requested by the family. He left 154k in personal estate in England and Ireland.
Susan died 22 Jul 1943 at Enderly aged 84.
1 Gladys Mary Jacob born 10 Jul 1888 at Dalkey. She married William Bayldon (Bayldon)
Barber on 15 Jun 1911 at the Friends Meeting House in Monkstown. She died
13 Mar 1939 at Chelsea, London.
2 Premature son Jacob born 3 May 1890 at Dalkey died 12 hours later.
3 Sylvia Hannah Jacob born 23 Mar 1892 at Dalkey, died unmarried on 2 Jul 1922 at
Enderley.
4 Olive Susan Jacob, born 17 Mar 1894 at Enderley. She died on 23 Sep 1896 at Enderley.
5 Winifred Ruth Jacob born 15 Aug 1899 at Enderley. She married Samuel Pim on
23 Feb 1925 at the Friends Meeting House in Monkstown. Samuel, a farmer was the son
of Albert Pim, a farmer of Mountmellick.
5 Helena Jacob born 1 May 1861 at Rathgar. She was of the committee of the Cottage Home for
Little Children. She died unmarried at Hughenden, Glenageary on 17 Apr 1952. She left 24k in
personal estate.
6 Henry William Jacob born 3 Sep 1865 at 26 Rathgar Road. He graduated Trinity College with a
medical degree and worked in Birmingham for a time. Henry a medical practitioner married
Charlotte Elizabeth Hunton on the 8 Aug 1893 at Christ’s Church Ellabombe. Charlotte was the
daughter of Thomas Hunton of Bronshill, Torquay. They lived at Great Malvern, Worcestershire
and they had no children. He was chairman of the Urban District Council in 1920 and
campaigned for the public ownership of what later became known as the Winter Gardens and
Priory Park. Charlotte died 11 Jun 1925. Henry died 25 Aug 1928 and left 30k in personal estate,
his sister Helena was one of his executors. A fountain, a bronze sculpture of four water babies
by Richard Goulden, was paid for by public donations in 1929 as a permanent memorial to Dr
Henry Jacob.
7 William Frederick Jacob born 15 Sep 1852 at Rathgar. He was a commission agent living at
Farleigh Place, Cork when he married Henrietta Maria Wright on 11 Jul 1877 at the Friends
Meeting House in Cork. Henrietta was the daughter of Samuel Wright, a tea dealer of Adelaide
Terrace Cork. The couple moved to New Zealand after they married and they had two children.
William bought a farm at Kiwitea where he grazed sheep and cattle.
8 Albert Edward Jacob born 22 Jan 1858 at Rathgar. He graduated Trinity College and moved to
England. He married Mary Buchanan on 28 Jun 1888 at Kelvinside, Glasgow. Mary was the
daughter of the late John Buchanan of Glasgow. He was a director of W & R Jacob's, Biscuit
Manufacturers, Alderman of Liverpool City Council, and Unionist MP for Liverpool East Toxteth.
Albert an MP died 26 Feb 1929 at Buckingham Gate, London. He was survived by his wife and
two sons. Mary died on 21 Dec 1950 and left 26k in personal estate.
© June Bow & Karen Poff - May 2026
Return to The Sunshine Home page
William Beale Jacob married Hannah Hill Newsom
born 17 Aug 1825 1 Aug 1850 born 29 Jul 1819
Waterford Waterford Waterford
died 5 Aug 1902 died 29 Nov 1906
Rathmines Ballybrack
William Beale Jacob born 17 Aug 1825 in Waterford son of Isaac Thomas Jacob, a baker and
Ann Beale. William was 14 when his father died, his brother Robert was just 8 and his mother
ran the Bridge Street Bakery. William dissolved the partnership of W & R Jacob at Bridge
Street in 1847. He married Hannah Hill Newsom on the 1 Aug 1850 at Waterford. Hannah
was the daughter of Joshua and Isabella Newsom of Bagenalstown. He founded another
partnership of W & R Jacob and Co Ltd with his brother Robert in 1850 trading from The Quay
in Waterford and they equipped it with rollers and cutters. As well as general breads and sea
biscuits they commenced making fancy biscuits. The business grew and they got Vicars of
Liverpool to design them specialised machinery. In 1852 they took a property in Bishop’s Street
in Dublin and went steam powered. William set about equipping it while Robert looked after
the Waterford business. By 1855 they were supplying nearly 1000 establishments, their fancy
biscuits were a great success, and they started exporting to England. They sold the premises
in Waterford in 1858 to concentrate on the Dublin business. His brother Robert, and Robert’s
friend and brother in law James Walpole drowned in Tramore in 1861. They were out for a walk
on the cliffs on 13 Oct 1861, a storm blew up and they never returned home. William lost his
partner, brother, and closest friend. In 1863 he took William Frederick Bewley into the business
as a partner to replace his brother. William and Hannah lived at Spring Ville, Rathmines from
1871 to 1880. In 1878 his son George Newsom Jacob joined as a partner in the firm having
worked in various departments for six years. There was a fire at the factory and it was
substantially destroyed but rebuilt by 1881. Crackers were popular in the 1880s and after a
visit to America by son George, they launched the Canadian, the American and the Wave Crest
crackers in a very competitive market. However instant success came with the launch of the
'Cream Cracker' in 1885 which was described as 'appetising, unsweetened, easily digested and
invaluable to those in delicate health'. Another innovation that George brought back from his
trip were sprinkler systems. William died 5 Aug 1902 at Portobello House late of Ballybrack House
and is buried at Temple Hill. Hannah died aged 87 at Ballybrack on 29 Nov 1906, her daughter in
law Susan, the informant. She is buried at Temple Hill.
1 Robert Henry Jacob born 15 Sep 1853 died 1 Jan 1871 at Spring Ville, Temple Road.
2 George Newsom Jacob born 13 Jun 1854 at Rathgar. He married Mary Anne Clarke at the
Friends Meeting House, Reading on 6 Jun 1878. Mary Anne was the daughter of the late
Thomas E Clarke of Margate. George became a partner in W & R Jacobs that year having
worked in the business for six years and became managing director in 1883. They had two
children and lived at Palmerston Road. George was a director of the British & Irish Steam
Packet Company. Mary died 28 Nov 1933 at St Michael’s, Ailesbury Road. George died on
19 Dec 1942 at St Vincent’s Private Hospital late of St Michael’s, Aylesbury Road having been
involved in a road traffic accident. He is buried at the Society of Friends Cemetery at
Temple Hill and left 191k in personal estate.
1 Dora Jacob born 6 Oct 1880 at Palmerston Road married Sir Walter Jenkins.
2 Harold L Jacob born 26 Nov 1881 at Palmerston Road was chairman of Jacobs in 1941.
3 Isabella, born 13 Apr 1856 in Dublin. She married Thomas Millar on 20 Aug 1880 at Christ
Church Presbyterian Church in Rathgar. Thomas, was a merchant living at Rathmines and the
son of Jonathan Steen Millar, a merchant. They had three children and they lived at
Sandymount avenue. Isabella died a widow 3 Jul 1928 and left 4k in personal estate.
4 Charles Edwin Jacob born 29 May 1859 at Rathgar. He was a student at the Dublin
Metropolitan School of Art. He was a partner in W & R Jacob and married Susan Pim Wigham
on 17 Sep 1885 at the Friends Meeting House in Monkstown. Susan was the daughter of
John Richardson Wigham, an ironmonger. He was a member of the Hibernian band of Hope
Union from 1895, Chair of the executive committee of the Feis Ceoil in 1906 and President of
the Commercial Travellers Christian Society in 1914. He was appointed a JP circa 1904.
Charles was a founder member of the Sunshine Home for Children in Stillorgan and donated
the ultra-violet lamp in 1927. In 1933 he was a founder member and director of Tennant &
Ruttle Ltd, a nationwide distribution company. He was conferred with an honorary degree from
Trinity in 1940. Charles, president and former chairman of W&R Jacob died 11 Oct 1941 at
Enderley, Dalkey and is buried at Temple Hill. Donations to the Sunshine Home instead of
wreaths was requested by the family. He left 154k in personal estate in England and Ireland.
Susan died 22 Jul 1943 at Enderly aged 84.
1 Gladys Mary Jacob born 10 Jul 1888 at Dalkey. She married William Bayldon (Bayldon)
Barber on 15 Jun 1911 at the Friends Meeting House in Monkstown. She died
13 Mar 1939 at Chelsea, London.
2 Premature son Jacob born 3 May 1890 at Dalkey died 12 hours later.
3 Sylvia Hannah Jacob born 23 Mar 1892 at Dalkey, died unmarried on 2 Jul 1922 at
Enderley.
4 Olive Susan Jacob, born 17 Mar 1894 at Enderley. She died on 23 Sep 1896 at Enderley.
5 Winifred Ruth Jacob born 15 Aug 1899 at Enderley. She married Samuel Pim on
23 Feb 1925 at the Friends Meeting House in Monkstown. Samuel, a farmer was the son
of Albert Pim, a farmer of Mountmellick.
5 Helena Jacob born 1 May 1861 at Rathgar. She was of the committee of the Cottage Home for
Little Children. She died unmarried at Hughenden, Glenageary on 17 Apr 1952. She left 24k in
personal estate.
6 Henry William Jacob born 3 Sep 1865 at 26 Rathgar Road. He graduated Trinity College with a
medical degree and worked in Birmingham for a time. Henry a medical practitioner married
Charlotte Elizabeth Hunton on the 8 Aug 1893 at Christ’s Church Ellabombe. Charlotte was the
daughter of Thomas Hunton of Bronshill, Torquay. They lived at Great Malvern, Worcestershire
and they had no children. He was chairman of the Urban District Council in 1920 and
campaigned for the public ownership of what later became known as the Winter Gardens and
Priory Park. Charlotte died 11 Jun 1925. Henry died 25 Aug 1928 and left 30k in personal estate,
his sister Helena was one of his executors. A fountain, a bronze sculpture of four water babies
by Richard Goulden, was paid for by public donations in 1929 as a permanent memorial to Dr
Henry Jacob.
7 William Frederick Jacob born 15 Sep 1852 at Rathgar. He was a commission agent living at
Farleigh Place, Cork when he married Henrietta Maria Wright on 11 Jul 1877 at the Friends
Meeting House in Cork. Henrietta was the daughter of Samuel Wright, a tea dealer of Adelaide
Terrace Cork. The couple moved to New Zealand after they married and they had two children.
William bought a farm at Kiwitea where he grazed sheep and cattle.
8 Albert Edward Jacob born 22 Jan 1858 at Rathgar. He graduated Trinity College and moved to
England. He married Mary Buchanan on 28 Jun 1888 at Kelvinside, Glasgow. Mary was the
daughter of the late John Buchanan of Glasgow. He was a director of W & R Jacob's, Biscuit
Manufacturers, Alderman of Liverpool City Council, and Unionist MP for Liverpool East Toxteth.
Albert an MP died 26 Feb 1929 at Buckingham Gate, London. He was survived by his wife and
two sons. Mary died on 21 Dec 1950 and left 26k in personal estate.
© June Bow & Karen Poff - May 2026
Return to The Sunshine Home page