Smyth of Belmont
John Smyth married Sarah Allen Wall
born circa 1797 16 Apr 1817 born circa 1792
St George’s
died 4 Dec 1852 died 20 Mar 1874
Belmont
John Smyth born circa 1797 graduated Trinity AM, MD, his thesis in Latin was ‘Effects of the
Imagination, both in causing and curing diseases’. He married Sarah Allen Wall on
16 Apr 1817 at St George’s, Dublin. He opened his Select Boarding and Day School in August
1822. The school was located at 11 Lower Dominick Street, Dublin. In 1830 he was elected
VP of the Teacher Literary Society. In July 1833 the school moved to Belmont House,
Stillorgan on 20 acres. The move to Stillorgan was very successful and a lot of the local
gentry sent their sons to him, including the Guinness’, Croftons, Darleys and Pilkingtons.
Parents were encouraged to visit the school regularly to check out the facilities and
accommodation. His students were very successful and were offered a general education
alongside classical education and some very practical subjects as well as drawing, painting
and accomplishments, mapmaking and field work was taught by an ex-employee of the OSI
and continental languages were taught by native speakers and they offered lots of outdoor
activities. He also employed civil and military engineers to teach. In 1847 students were
coming from all provinces and from India and the West Indies and England. Eight nephews of
peers attended the school that year. One of his selling points was as that well as an educator
he was a regular medical doctor and was also a member of the Academic Association. A huge
amount of his pupils went on to leave their mark all over the world. The ethos of the school
was strictness and mildness.
Doctor Smyth died on 4 Dec 1852 and was buried at St Matthews, Ringsend. His wife and
brother in law his executors and the school was put up for sale. His widow Sarah carried on
the domestic arrangement for the school as did her brother, the Rev Dr Richard Henry Wall,
Chaplain of the Royal Chapel, Ringsend, who visited the school twice weekly as the school
was gradually closed down. Sarah died on 20 Mar 1874 (possibly in Islington).
1 Jane Smyth eldest daughter born 19 Jan 1818 baptised at St Georges died on
19 Feb 1870 at Shoreditch, London.
2 Richard Henry Smyth baptised at St Georges’ on 26 Dec 1819 educated by his father and
graduated Trinity. He took Holy orders and was ordained to the curacy of Irishtown in
1848. He was appointed chaplain to the Lord Bishop of Cashel in 1851 and the
precentor of Waterford Cathedral in 1856. He was also the Catechist of Bishop Foy’s
school in Waterford. He given the living at Ballinakill in 1858. He* married Margaret Kate
Smith on 29 July 1859 at Stradbally, Co Waterford and they had three children. Margaret
was the second daughter of Captain James Ramsey Smith of Carrigburahane and the
niece of Lady Osborne of Newtown- Annar. He was appointed rector of Carrick on Suir
in 1863 where he died on 23 Dec 1863 aged 44 from diphtheria. Margaret and their
three children also contracted diphtheria but survived. The Bishop of Cashel gifted his
widow and three small infants 1K.
1 May Smyth born 28 May 1860 at Waterford fl 1884.
2 Catherine Isabella (Kathleen) Smyth younger daughter born circa 1861 in
Waterford married Henry (Harry) Eley on 8 Oct 1884 at Glanmire Church. Harry
was a lieutenant with the 8th (The Kings) Regiment and the son of Henry and
Mary Jane Eley of Bittacy House, Hendon. They were living at Altyre House, Great
Horkesley, Colchester and all three of their children had survived. Harry died on
the 3 Oct 1934. Kathleen died on 29 Jan 1950 and left 16k in personal estate.
3 Son Smyth born 14 Dec 1863 at Carrick on Suir.
3 John Babington Smyth born 1822 died 27 Sep 1845 at Belmont House and was buried
at St Matthew's, Ringsend.
4 George Smyth born 22 Jun 1823 baptised at Irishtown educated by his father and fl 1841.
5 Maria Smyth born and baptised 12 Dec 1824 baptised at Irishtown.
© June Bow & Karen Poff - September 2024
Return to Belmont page
John Smyth married Sarah Allen Wall
born circa 1797 16 Apr 1817 born circa 1792
St George’s
died 4 Dec 1852 died 20 Mar 1874
Belmont
John Smyth born circa 1797 graduated Trinity AM, MD, his thesis in Latin was ‘Effects of the
Imagination, both in causing and curing diseases’. He married Sarah Allen Wall on
16 Apr 1817 at St George’s, Dublin. He opened his Select Boarding and Day School in August
1822. The school was located at 11 Lower Dominick Street, Dublin. In 1830 he was elected
VP of the Teacher Literary Society. In July 1833 the school moved to Belmont House,
Stillorgan on 20 acres. The move to Stillorgan was very successful and a lot of the local
gentry sent their sons to him, including the Guinness’, Croftons, Darleys and Pilkingtons.
Parents were encouraged to visit the school regularly to check out the facilities and
accommodation. His students were very successful and were offered a general education
alongside classical education and some very practical subjects as well as drawing, painting
and accomplishments, mapmaking and field work was taught by an ex-employee of the OSI
and continental languages were taught by native speakers and they offered lots of outdoor
activities. He also employed civil and military engineers to teach. In 1847 students were
coming from all provinces and from India and the West Indies and England. Eight nephews of
peers attended the school that year. One of his selling points was as that well as an educator
he was a regular medical doctor and was also a member of the Academic Association. A huge
amount of his pupils went on to leave their mark all over the world. The ethos of the school
was strictness and mildness.
Doctor Smyth died on 4 Dec 1852 and was buried at St Matthews, Ringsend. His wife and
brother in law his executors and the school was put up for sale. His widow Sarah carried on
the domestic arrangement for the school as did her brother, the Rev Dr Richard Henry Wall,
Chaplain of the Royal Chapel, Ringsend, who visited the school twice weekly as the school
was gradually closed down. Sarah died on 20 Mar 1874 (possibly in Islington).
1 Jane Smyth eldest daughter born 19 Jan 1818 baptised at St Georges died on
19 Feb 1870 at Shoreditch, London.
2 Richard Henry Smyth baptised at St Georges’ on 26 Dec 1819 educated by his father and
graduated Trinity. He took Holy orders and was ordained to the curacy of Irishtown in
1848. He was appointed chaplain to the Lord Bishop of Cashel in 1851 and the
precentor of Waterford Cathedral in 1856. He was also the Catechist of Bishop Foy’s
school in Waterford. He given the living at Ballinakill in 1858. He* married Margaret Kate
Smith on 29 July 1859 at Stradbally, Co Waterford and they had three children. Margaret
was the second daughter of Captain James Ramsey Smith of Carrigburahane and the
niece of Lady Osborne of Newtown- Annar. He was appointed rector of Carrick on Suir
in 1863 where he died on 23 Dec 1863 aged 44 from diphtheria. Margaret and their
three children also contracted diphtheria but survived. The Bishop of Cashel gifted his
widow and three small infants 1K.
1 May Smyth born 28 May 1860 at Waterford fl 1884.
2 Catherine Isabella (Kathleen) Smyth younger daughter born circa 1861 in
Waterford married Henry (Harry) Eley on 8 Oct 1884 at Glanmire Church. Harry
was a lieutenant with the 8th (The Kings) Regiment and the son of Henry and
Mary Jane Eley of Bittacy House, Hendon. They were living at Altyre House, Great
Horkesley, Colchester and all three of their children had survived. Harry died on
the 3 Oct 1934. Kathleen died on 29 Jan 1950 and left 16k in personal estate.
3 Son Smyth born 14 Dec 1863 at Carrick on Suir.
3 John Babington Smyth born 1822 died 27 Sep 1845 at Belmont House and was buried
at St Matthew's, Ringsend.
4 George Smyth born 22 Jun 1823 baptised at Irishtown educated by his father and fl 1841.
5 Maria Smyth born and baptised 12 Dec 1824 baptised at Irishtown.
© June Bow & Karen Poff - September 2024
Return to Belmont page