Helena know as 'Mother' by the cabbies of London
|
Grants and Confirmations of Arms, Vol. E,
1803-1853 available at the NLI
|
English family of Thornhill and later of Farmley, Castleknock
William English married Anne Richardson
born circa 1768 2 Jan 1802
died 21 Jun 1847 7 Jan 1856
Farmley Leeson Street
William English born circa 1798 only son of William English, a doctor of Tullow, Co Carlow. He
was a corn merchant of 19/20 Meath Street and married Anne Richardson on 2 Jan 1802. They
lived at 16 Eccles Street and William was churchwarden at St George’s in 1832. They lived at
Thornhill in 1837 and took a lease on Farmley from Charles French in 1839. William was a
director of the Corn Exchange Building Company and a director of the National Assurance
Company. William and his descendants were granted arms in 1840 on the basis of the family
being settled in Ireland by the Inglish/Inglis family of Scotland. William died at Farmley (later
known as Farmeigh), Castleknock on 21 Jun 1847 and left 18k in personal estate; probate to his
son John. Anne died at 50 Leeson Street on 7 Jan 1856.
1 Helena English eldest daughter married Edward William Murphy of Temple Street on
27 Dec 1830 at St George’s Church. Edward was a surgeon and the son of John Murphy
of Upper Dorset Street. He worked in the Rotunda Hospital and in moved to practice in
London in 1840. He was Professor of Midwifery at London University College and was
one of the first doctors to use chloroform in London. He also invented a chloroform
inhaler. They had eight children of whom three survived him. He died on 4 Jan 1877
aged 73 at Regents Park.
1 John Edward Murphy eldest son died at Temple Street on 11 Nov 1839 aged 7.
2 Helena Adelaide Stormont Murphy born 9 Jan 1845 took over the Cabdrivers
Benevolent Fund on the death of her brother George. She was granted a civil pension
of £50 pa in 1910. She was called ‘Mother’ by the cabbies and died 23 Mar 1925 at
Regents Park. She is buried at Kensal Green.
3 George Stormont Murphy born circa 1839 was the founder of the cabdrivers
Benevolent Fund and died 8 Feb 1893 in London.
2 John English born circa 1819 graduated Trinity College. He was of Farmleigh and married
Margaret Wilson on 29 Aug 1848 at Stillorgan Church. Margaret was the eldest daughter of
Thomas Wilson of upper Temple Street and Westbury, Stillorgan.
3 William English born circa 1817 in Dublin graduated Trinity College. He was a captain in
HM 14th Light Dragoons. He served throughout the Punjaub campaign of 1848-9, including
the action of Ramnuggur (with the charging squadrons), passage of the Chenab, battles of
Chillianwallah and Goojerat, pursuit of the enemy. He was in Meerut, India in 1851. He died
1 Feb 1858 at 50 Leeson Street. His sister Anne Lee took out letters of administration.
4 Anne English youngest daughter born circa 1814 married Rev William Lee, FTCD on
28 May 1844 at Castleknock. William was the son of William Lee, rector of Mealiffe and his
wife Jane White. He published a number of books and articles including 'Position and
Prospects of the Church of Ireland' in 1867. Ven Archdeacon William Lee, rector of St Peter’s
died 11 May 1883 in Merrion Square aged 68. He left 15k in personal estate and was survived
by two sons and three daughters. Anne died 3 Mar 1889 at Elgin Avenue, Maida Vale, London.
1 William Lee born took Holy orders.
2 Jane Lee born circa 1849. She was vice principal of Newnham College, Cambridge and
died a spinster on 8 Nov 1895.
3 Thomas Richard Lee born 5 Oct 1854 in Dalkey was a barrister. He was living at Elgin
Avenue, Maida Vale in 1921. He died in 1932.
4 Henry Lee
5 Alice Lee born circa 1874 living at Elgin Avenue, Maida Vale in 1921. She received a
joint civil pension with her sister Annie of £60pa in 1925.
6 Annie Lee born circa 1876 living at Elgin Avenue, Maida Vale in 1921. She received a
joint civil pension with her sister Alice of £60pa in 1925.
5 Thomas K English youngest son born circa 1820 in Dublin graduated Trinity College. He died
at Florence on 29 Mar 1845.
© June Bow & Karen Poff - October 2025
Return to Thornhill page
William English married Anne Richardson
born circa 1768 2 Jan 1802
died 21 Jun 1847 7 Jan 1856
Farmley Leeson Street
William English born circa 1798 only son of William English, a doctor of Tullow, Co Carlow. He
was a corn merchant of 19/20 Meath Street and married Anne Richardson on 2 Jan 1802. They
lived at 16 Eccles Street and William was churchwarden at St George’s in 1832. They lived at
Thornhill in 1837 and took a lease on Farmley from Charles French in 1839. William was a
director of the Corn Exchange Building Company and a director of the National Assurance
Company. William and his descendants were granted arms in 1840 on the basis of the family
being settled in Ireland by the Inglish/Inglis family of Scotland. William died at Farmley (later
known as Farmeigh), Castleknock on 21 Jun 1847 and left 18k in personal estate; probate to his
son John. Anne died at 50 Leeson Street on 7 Jan 1856.
1 Helena English eldest daughter married Edward William Murphy of Temple Street on
27 Dec 1830 at St George’s Church. Edward was a surgeon and the son of John Murphy
of Upper Dorset Street. He worked in the Rotunda Hospital and in moved to practice in
London in 1840. He was Professor of Midwifery at London University College and was
one of the first doctors to use chloroform in London. He also invented a chloroform
inhaler. They had eight children of whom three survived him. He died on 4 Jan 1877
aged 73 at Regents Park.
1 John Edward Murphy eldest son died at Temple Street on 11 Nov 1839 aged 7.
2 Helena Adelaide Stormont Murphy born 9 Jan 1845 took over the Cabdrivers
Benevolent Fund on the death of her brother George. She was granted a civil pension
of £50 pa in 1910. She was called ‘Mother’ by the cabbies and died 23 Mar 1925 at
Regents Park. She is buried at Kensal Green.
3 George Stormont Murphy born circa 1839 was the founder of the cabdrivers
Benevolent Fund and died 8 Feb 1893 in London.
2 John English born circa 1819 graduated Trinity College. He was of Farmleigh and married
Margaret Wilson on 29 Aug 1848 at Stillorgan Church. Margaret was the eldest daughter of
Thomas Wilson of upper Temple Street and Westbury, Stillorgan.
3 William English born circa 1817 in Dublin graduated Trinity College. He was a captain in
HM 14th Light Dragoons. He served throughout the Punjaub campaign of 1848-9, including
the action of Ramnuggur (with the charging squadrons), passage of the Chenab, battles of
Chillianwallah and Goojerat, pursuit of the enemy. He was in Meerut, India in 1851. He died
1 Feb 1858 at 50 Leeson Street. His sister Anne Lee took out letters of administration.
4 Anne English youngest daughter born circa 1814 married Rev William Lee, FTCD on
28 May 1844 at Castleknock. William was the son of William Lee, rector of Mealiffe and his
wife Jane White. He published a number of books and articles including 'Position and
Prospects of the Church of Ireland' in 1867. Ven Archdeacon William Lee, rector of St Peter’s
died 11 May 1883 in Merrion Square aged 68. He left 15k in personal estate and was survived
by two sons and three daughters. Anne died 3 Mar 1889 at Elgin Avenue, Maida Vale, London.
1 William Lee born took Holy orders.
2 Jane Lee born circa 1849. She was vice principal of Newnham College, Cambridge and
died a spinster on 8 Nov 1895.
3 Thomas Richard Lee born 5 Oct 1854 in Dalkey was a barrister. He was living at Elgin
Avenue, Maida Vale in 1921. He died in 1932.
4 Henry Lee
5 Alice Lee born circa 1874 living at Elgin Avenue, Maida Vale in 1921. She received a
joint civil pension with her sister Annie of £60pa in 1925.
6 Annie Lee born circa 1876 living at Elgin Avenue, Maida Vale in 1921. She received a
joint civil pension with her sister Alice of £60pa in 1925.
5 Thomas K English youngest son born circa 1820 in Dublin graduated Trinity College. He died
at Florence on 29 Mar 1845.
© June Bow & Karen Poff - October 2025
Return to Thornhill page