Dexter family of Kilmacud and Laburnum, Blackrock
John Dexter of Brenockstown died circa 1742.
1 James Dexter eldest son born circa 1712. He was of Brannockstown/Brenockstown
near Kilcullen and Dublin. He was a solicitor and married Margaret Armstrong in 1738.
Margaret was the daughter of Thomas Armstrong of Moyaliffe and Ballydavid, High
Sheriff of Co Tipperary. He was Marshal of the Four Courts in Fishamble Street from
1741. He took a lease on land at Little Green in the parish of St Michan’s with the
intention of building a new marshalsea but failed to raise the money and had to let the
lease go. John died 14 Mar 1788 and his wife died a few days later on 17 Mar 1788.
1 William Dexter admitted Kings Inns.
2 John Dexter born circa 1752 of Annefield near Kilcullen married Louisa Ann Fish
in 1780. Louisa was the daughter of Rev Philip Chamberlaine and the aunt of
Richard Brinsley Sheridan. John died at Annefield on 13 Oct 1819.
1 Ann Lydia Dexter eldest daughter born circa 1783 married Frederick
Homan of Ardenwood and Dublin. He was comptroller of the British Mail
Office in Dublin. He came into numerous conflicts with Sir Edward Lees.
He was insolvent in 1832. Ann died on 2 May 1834 at Laburnum in
Blackrock. Frederick died 28 Mar 1852 in South Gloucestershire aged 74.
1 John Homan born circa 1806 of Annefield Co Kildare married Jane
Anne Burton at Booterstown Church in October 1835. Jane was the
second daughter of Major Charles Burton of Williamstown, Co Dublin.
2 Amie Lydia Homan eldest daughter married George Henry Heathcote,
MD of Prospect Hill, Co Galway at Kilcullen Church on 19 Oct 1832.
3 Brinsley Sheridan Homan born March 1812 at Annefield, Co Kildare.
4 Son Homan born December 1815 at Annefield, Co Kildare.
5 Frederick Stock Homan, MD born April 1818 at Arden Wood, Co Kildare.
6 Lydia Margaret Homan married George Oswald on 25 Jun 1839 at
Whitechurch.
7 Helen Louisa Homan twelfth child born 9 Aug 1821 at Arden Wood, Co
Kildare.
2 Margaret Elizabeth Dexter youngest daughter married Robert Brereton of
New Abbey on 2 Mar 1809 at Merrion Square. Robert gained the rank of
Lieutenant-General in the Army. He was commander of the Southern
District, Ireland. He held the office of Governor of St Lucia between 1803
and 1807.
3 Elizabeth Dexter married Thomas Ellard of Brannockstown in 1770.
Thomas was the son of James Ellard and Alice Armstrong.
4 Sarah Dexter a spinster in 1788 took out the probate on her father.
2 John Dexter born circa 1726. He was educated at school in Digges Street and attended
Trinity. He was a contemporary and school friend of Henry Mossop and Francis
Gentleman. He acted with John Sowdon in ‘Grief A La Mode’ and with Spranger Barry in
‘The Orphan' at the Theatre Royal in 1755. He played opposite Thomas Sheridan in ‘Cato’
in 1756. He played opposite Maria Isabella Nossiter in ‘The Earl of Essex’, and danced a
minuet with Miss Elizabeth Hillyard, famous for the Scotch Dance. He appeared in 100s
of plays from Shakespeare through to tragedies and farces. He gave thousands of
performances mainly appearing in the Theatre Royal in Crow Street.
He married and his wife’s first appearance with him on the stage was in 1762 when she
took on the role of Alicia in 'Jane Shore'. In 1762 he was engaged by Henry Mossop for
the season at the Smock Alley Theatre. A benefit performance for Mr & Mrs Dexter of
‘The Distressed Mother' later in 1762 saw them both on the stage together again. He
had a house in Crow Street and also had a property in Kilmacud close to the three-mile
stone which he let out fields for grazing in 1761. He died at Kilmacud in August 1764.
After his death the property at Kilmacud was put up for sale; proposals to be received by
James Dexter of Kilcullen, John Richardson of High Street and Dalton M’Carthy of Cuffe
Street. The lands contained 21 acres well enclosed with ‘a rivulet running through them
even in the driest season’. There was a small house on the premises with offices, a garden
and fishponds. John’s wife died in June 1765.
© June Bow & Karen Poff - April 2026
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John Dexter of Brenockstown died circa 1742.
1 James Dexter eldest son born circa 1712. He was of Brannockstown/Brenockstown
near Kilcullen and Dublin. He was a solicitor and married Margaret Armstrong in 1738.
Margaret was the daughter of Thomas Armstrong of Moyaliffe and Ballydavid, High
Sheriff of Co Tipperary. He was Marshal of the Four Courts in Fishamble Street from
1741. He took a lease on land at Little Green in the parish of St Michan’s with the
intention of building a new marshalsea but failed to raise the money and had to let the
lease go. John died 14 Mar 1788 and his wife died a few days later on 17 Mar 1788.
1 William Dexter admitted Kings Inns.
2 John Dexter born circa 1752 of Annefield near Kilcullen married Louisa Ann Fish
in 1780. Louisa was the daughter of Rev Philip Chamberlaine and the aunt of
Richard Brinsley Sheridan. John died at Annefield on 13 Oct 1819.
1 Ann Lydia Dexter eldest daughter born circa 1783 married Frederick
Homan of Ardenwood and Dublin. He was comptroller of the British Mail
Office in Dublin. He came into numerous conflicts with Sir Edward Lees.
He was insolvent in 1832. Ann died on 2 May 1834 at Laburnum in
Blackrock. Frederick died 28 Mar 1852 in South Gloucestershire aged 74.
1 John Homan born circa 1806 of Annefield Co Kildare married Jane
Anne Burton at Booterstown Church in October 1835. Jane was the
second daughter of Major Charles Burton of Williamstown, Co Dublin.
2 Amie Lydia Homan eldest daughter married George Henry Heathcote,
MD of Prospect Hill, Co Galway at Kilcullen Church on 19 Oct 1832.
3 Brinsley Sheridan Homan born March 1812 at Annefield, Co Kildare.
4 Son Homan born December 1815 at Annefield, Co Kildare.
5 Frederick Stock Homan, MD born April 1818 at Arden Wood, Co Kildare.
6 Lydia Margaret Homan married George Oswald on 25 Jun 1839 at
Whitechurch.
7 Helen Louisa Homan twelfth child born 9 Aug 1821 at Arden Wood, Co
Kildare.
2 Margaret Elizabeth Dexter youngest daughter married Robert Brereton of
New Abbey on 2 Mar 1809 at Merrion Square. Robert gained the rank of
Lieutenant-General in the Army. He was commander of the Southern
District, Ireland. He held the office of Governor of St Lucia between 1803
and 1807.
3 Elizabeth Dexter married Thomas Ellard of Brannockstown in 1770.
Thomas was the son of James Ellard and Alice Armstrong.
4 Sarah Dexter a spinster in 1788 took out the probate on her father.
2 John Dexter born circa 1726. He was educated at school in Digges Street and attended
Trinity. He was a contemporary and school friend of Henry Mossop and Francis
Gentleman. He acted with John Sowdon in ‘Grief A La Mode’ and with Spranger Barry in
‘The Orphan' at the Theatre Royal in 1755. He played opposite Thomas Sheridan in ‘Cato’
in 1756. He played opposite Maria Isabella Nossiter in ‘The Earl of Essex’, and danced a
minuet with Miss Elizabeth Hillyard, famous for the Scotch Dance. He appeared in 100s
of plays from Shakespeare through to tragedies and farces. He gave thousands of
performances mainly appearing in the Theatre Royal in Crow Street.
He married and his wife’s first appearance with him on the stage was in 1762 when she
took on the role of Alicia in 'Jane Shore'. In 1762 he was engaged by Henry Mossop for
the season at the Smock Alley Theatre. A benefit performance for Mr & Mrs Dexter of
‘The Distressed Mother' later in 1762 saw them both on the stage together again. He
had a house in Crow Street and also had a property in Kilmacud close to the three-mile
stone which he let out fields for grazing in 1761. He died at Kilmacud in August 1764.
After his death the property at Kilmacud was put up for sale; proposals to be received by
James Dexter of Kilcullen, John Richardson of High Street and Dalton M’Carthy of Cuffe
Street. The lands contained 21 acres well enclosed with ‘a rivulet running through them
even in the driest season’. There was a small house on the premises with offices, a garden
and fishponds. John’s wife died in June 1765.
© June Bow & Karen Poff - April 2026
Return to Kilmacud page
Return to Laburnum page