The Darcus Family of Holywell, Drummartin
The Darcus family were a plantation family, they were involved in the siege of Derry and in possession
of the four locks to the four Derry Gates which they handed over to Derry Cathedral in 1913.
Solomon Darcus of Londonderry was Clerk of the Peace for the County of Antrim for 40 years.
1 Solomon Darcus born circa 1824 the son of Solomon Darcus, was educated by Rev Gwynn in
Portstewart and afterwards studied law. He was lieutenant in the Donegal Militia. He married
Catherine Anne Sweetenham Scott, elder daughter of the Rev Henry Scott of Foyle Hill,
Londonderry in 1857. On retirement he was allowed the rank of Lieut Col and granted leave
to wear his military uniform. He died 24 Jun 1881 at Gardenmore Larne and was buried at
McGarel cemetery, Larne. Catherine died 9 Mar 1887 at Drew Villa, Londonderry.
1 Solomon Henry Darcus born 1859. As an only son he succeeded to Gardenmore in 1881
on the death of his father. He married May Helen Caulfield, (1861-1942) elder daughter of
John Caulfield, of Glenarm, an officer of the RIC, at Glenarm Church Co Antrim on
5 Aug 1885. They lived at Holywell Drummartin before moving, firstly to Plas Newydd in
Killiney and then to Valetta in Kingstown. Henry and his wife May, along with their two
youngest children moved to North Brunswick, Canada in 1921. Solomon died at George's
Street, Fredricton, NB Canada on 29 Nov 1937. He was survived by his wife, six sons and
one daughter. May died in North Brunswick in 1942.
1 Solomon John Darcus eldest son born 23 Apr 1886 at Martello Terrace, Bray married
Ethel W Stavely, third daughter of Jones Hodder Stavely, barrister of Fassarow
Cottage, Enniskerry at Holy Trinity Church Killiney on 24 Aug 1908. The couple left for
Canada after the wedding. He enlisted in the Canadian Expeditionary Force in
Valcartier, Quebec on 23 Sep 1914. He served in the 2nd DHQ in France and was
demobbed in 1919 at North Brunswick. Solomon died 10 Jul 1973 Duncan, British
Columbia, Canada.
2 Henry George Darcus born 15 Jul 1887 at Holywell baptised at Taney. He played
hockey for Dundrum and Monkstown and was president of Monkstown Hockey Club
in 1943. He worked for the ESB and lived at 4 York Tce, Dun Laoghaire. He died a
bachelor at Willow Bank Nursing Home, Dun Laoghaire on 3 May 1966 and was
buried at Deansgrange.
3 Thomas Dickson Darcus born 10 Jul 1888 at Holywell baptised at Taney died in
London on 8 Mar 1972.
4 Francis Edward born 5 Dec 1889 at Holywell, Drummartin. He was an Irish
International Hockey Player known for his catchphrase ' My hockey stick and I will
never be parted'. He joined the Royal Dublin Fusiliers and in 1923 he married Dorothy
M Styles at Alton in Hampshire and they emigrated to Biere in Mozambique. Francis
was a tea planter and died at Malawi in March 1966. He was buried with his hockey
stick.
5 Catherine May (May) Darcus born 9 Oct 1891 at Holywell baptised at Taney married
Ernest W Allen, second son of George Allen of Northborough, Lincolnshire at
Monkstown Church on 11 Jul 1917.
6 Charles William (Charlie) Darcus, fifth son born 21 Feb 1893 at Holywell baptised at
Taney joined the machine Gun Section of the 26th Battalion Canadian Infantry. He
was KIA on 28 Aug 1918 Nord-Pas-de-Calais, France.
7 Richard James Darcus sixth son born 11 Aug 1894 at Holywell, baptised at Taney
enlisted in the 3rd Canadian Mounted Rifles, Canadian Expeditionary Force on
31 Dec 1914. He was wounded in April 1917 and again in November 1917. He was
wounded a fourth time in October 1918. He was awarded the military cross in March
1919. He died 19 Dec 1972 at Saanich, British Columbia, Canada.
8 Charlotte Helen Rosa Darcus born 25 Jun 1899, Killiney immigrated to Canada in 1921.
9 Arthur Thomas Darcus born circa 1903 immigrated to Canada in 1921.
©June Bow & Karen Poff – January 2020
The Darcus family were a plantation family, they were involved in the siege of Derry and in possession
of the four locks to the four Derry Gates which they handed over to Derry Cathedral in 1913.
Solomon Darcus of Londonderry was Clerk of the Peace for the County of Antrim for 40 years.
1 Solomon Darcus born circa 1824 the son of Solomon Darcus, was educated by Rev Gwynn in
Portstewart and afterwards studied law. He was lieutenant in the Donegal Militia. He married
Catherine Anne Sweetenham Scott, elder daughter of the Rev Henry Scott of Foyle Hill,
Londonderry in 1857. On retirement he was allowed the rank of Lieut Col and granted leave
to wear his military uniform. He died 24 Jun 1881 at Gardenmore Larne and was buried at
McGarel cemetery, Larne. Catherine died 9 Mar 1887 at Drew Villa, Londonderry.
1 Solomon Henry Darcus born 1859. As an only son he succeeded to Gardenmore in 1881
on the death of his father. He married May Helen Caulfield, (1861-1942) elder daughter of
John Caulfield, of Glenarm, an officer of the RIC, at Glenarm Church Co Antrim on
5 Aug 1885. They lived at Holywell Drummartin before moving, firstly to Plas Newydd in
Killiney and then to Valetta in Kingstown. Henry and his wife May, along with their two
youngest children moved to North Brunswick, Canada in 1921. Solomon died at George's
Street, Fredricton, NB Canada on 29 Nov 1937. He was survived by his wife, six sons and
one daughter. May died in North Brunswick in 1942.
1 Solomon John Darcus eldest son born 23 Apr 1886 at Martello Terrace, Bray married
Ethel W Stavely, third daughter of Jones Hodder Stavely, barrister of Fassarow
Cottage, Enniskerry at Holy Trinity Church Killiney on 24 Aug 1908. The couple left for
Canada after the wedding. He enlisted in the Canadian Expeditionary Force in
Valcartier, Quebec on 23 Sep 1914. He served in the 2nd DHQ in France and was
demobbed in 1919 at North Brunswick. Solomon died 10 Jul 1973 Duncan, British
Columbia, Canada.
2 Henry George Darcus born 15 Jul 1887 at Holywell baptised at Taney. He played
hockey for Dundrum and Monkstown and was president of Monkstown Hockey Club
in 1943. He worked for the ESB and lived at 4 York Tce, Dun Laoghaire. He died a
bachelor at Willow Bank Nursing Home, Dun Laoghaire on 3 May 1966 and was
buried at Deansgrange.
3 Thomas Dickson Darcus born 10 Jul 1888 at Holywell baptised at Taney died in
London on 8 Mar 1972.
4 Francis Edward born 5 Dec 1889 at Holywell, Drummartin. He was an Irish
International Hockey Player known for his catchphrase ' My hockey stick and I will
never be parted'. He joined the Royal Dublin Fusiliers and in 1923 he married Dorothy
M Styles at Alton in Hampshire and they emigrated to Biere in Mozambique. Francis
was a tea planter and died at Malawi in March 1966. He was buried with his hockey
stick.
5 Catherine May (May) Darcus born 9 Oct 1891 at Holywell baptised at Taney married
Ernest W Allen, second son of George Allen of Northborough, Lincolnshire at
Monkstown Church on 11 Jul 1917.
6 Charles William (Charlie) Darcus, fifth son born 21 Feb 1893 at Holywell baptised at
Taney joined the machine Gun Section of the 26th Battalion Canadian Infantry. He
was KIA on 28 Aug 1918 Nord-Pas-de-Calais, France.
7 Richard James Darcus sixth son born 11 Aug 1894 at Holywell, baptised at Taney
enlisted in the 3rd Canadian Mounted Rifles, Canadian Expeditionary Force on
31 Dec 1914. He was wounded in April 1917 and again in November 1917. He was
wounded a fourth time in October 1918. He was awarded the military cross in March
1919. He died 19 Dec 1972 at Saanich, British Columbia, Canada.
8 Charlotte Helen Rosa Darcus born 25 Jun 1899, Killiney immigrated to Canada in 1921.
9 Arthur Thomas Darcus born circa 1903 immigrated to Canada in 1921.
©June Bow & Karen Poff – January 2020