Fagans - Land agents - Mount Merrion.
Bryan Fegan (Fagan) married Elizabeth (Tracy?)
died 21 Jan 1761 1727 died 25 Sep 1789
St Audeons Usher's Island
Bryan Fagan, believed to have been a brewer, was an agent to the Fitzwilliam estates
from 1751 taking over from land agent Richard Matthews. Bryan had leased land
from the Viscount and built a brick house surrounded by a 9ft wall by 1738. As Bryan was
Catholic he could only get a lease for 21 years so his 3 life lease on the property was
concealed behind Protestant Thomas Bomforde. The 6th Viscount Fitzwilliam was an
absentee landlord, so Bryan worked the the Viscount's younger brother William
who had been dispatched to Ireland in 1749. His account book of 1755 shows that he
visited Lady Denny of Peafield Cliff House five times that year in order to satisfy issues
over ditches and quicks. When he died in 1761 his wife Elizabeth took over as agent and
again there would be many such visits and much correspondence between Lady Denny
and Elizabeth.
Elizabeth was awarded power of attorney in 1761 and took over the management of the
Fitzwilliam estate. She had three houses on the estate but lived at Usher's Quay in
1773-1774 and in Usher's Island from 1779. The brewery she leased, was advertised 'to let'
in 1784, this possibly developed as Madders brewery which started trading from Ushers
Street in 1785. One of her houses was on the upper end of The Black Rock Avenue,
probably what is now called Mount Merrion Avenue. When it is advertised for let after her
death it was described as being opposite that of the Lord Chancellor James Hewitt who lived
at Stillorgan Park House.
As land agent for Lord Fitzwilliam (she served two) she was responsible for letting his
property which included lands at Merrion, The Rock, Drummartin, Irishtown, Ringsend,
Kingstown and Bray.
1 Richard Fagan fl 1788 converted/Oath of Allegiance in 1790.
2 James Fagan fl 1788.
3 Margaret Fagan born circa 1743 married Henry Farrell at St Audeon’s Church of
Ireland on 6 Jan 1763.
4 Teresa Fagan born 1747 married Theobald Jennings on 11 Jun 1767 at St Audeon’s.
She appears on the convert roll of 1778. Theobald was a grocer at 4 Castle street,
he traded there from 1773 until his death in June 1784. Teresa carried on the
business. There was a fire at 4 Castle street in 1785 but she was insured. Teresa’s
Will was proved 11 Jan 1794, the executor was Philip Sullivan and her estate was
left to her son Richard.
1 Richard Fagan Jennings.
5 Frances Fagan married Thomas Reily, a Dublin merchant. This may be the Thomas
Reily of Ushers street and the New Holland Iron-works who went missing in 1784.
He had been carrying the wage roll for his factory, it was presumed that he had been
attacked as all that was found was his horse and his hat.
1 Eliza Mary Reilly born circa 1785.
6 Agnes Joseph Fagan married Philip Sullivan, Philip O'Reilly, a merchant had premises at
22 Fishers lane from 1789 – 1797 selling various items including clover and seltzer water.
1 Mary Teresa Joseph Sullivan baptised 15 Sep 1785 at St Michan’s RC Church.
2 Cornelius James Sullivan born baptised Sept 1786 at St Michan's RC married
Frances Phillipa. He was a Magistrate & Deputy Lieut. for the County.
Cornelius became the land agent for the Earl of Pembroke’s estate in 1827 but
it is likely that he was involved in the business much earlier, as he held a
gaming certificate for Mount Merrion from 1806 and was working alongside
Richard Verschoyle in 1818. He had addresses at Mount Street and Mount
Merrion. Cornelius died at Mount Merrion Street on 9 Aug 1849 and Frances
died at Upper Merrion Street aged 78 on 16 May 1867.
1 Barbara Elizabeth Sullivan only child married Godrich Shedden 23rd
May 1939. Godrich was the son of Lieut Col Shedden of The Elms in
Hampshire. He would become a captain with the 8th Kings Royal Irish
Hussars. They lived at 22 Upper Merrion Street. Godrich died at
Kingstown on 20 Sep 1884 aged 78.
1 Frances Millicent Shedden only daughter born circa 1840
married Jonas Austin Domage on 12 Sep 1864 at St Peters, Dublin.
As a child and in attendance with her Grandfather and mother, she
acted as the representative of the Hon. Sydney Herbert and laid
the foundation stone of St John’s Church, Sandymount. She was
presented with a silver trowel. In 1901 the family were living on
St Stephens Green.
3 Richard Joseph Sullivan baptised 16 Nov 1787 at St Michan’s RC, his sponsors
were Lord Richard Fitzwilliam the Hon Mrs Fitzwilliam.
4 William Philip Joseph Sullivan baptised 29 Nov 1789 RC.
5 Philip Joseph Sullivan baptised 5 Dec 1790 at St Michan’s RC, his sponsor the Hon
William Fitzgerald.
6 Joseph Sullivan baptised 25 Feb 1794 at St Michan’s RC.
7 Barbara Fagan born circa 1750 married Richard Verschoyle, a Dublin protestant merchant
on 8 Sep 1790 at St Audeons. She was Roman Catholic but converted in 1785 according
to material in the National Archives, it is far more likely that she was listed on the
Qualification Rolls which were merged with the Convert Rolls. This would mean that she
took a Oath of Allegiance to the Crown but did not change religion. She was agent to the
Fitzwilliam estate which was over 12000 acres and was responsible for letting these lands
during troubled times; The Rebellion of 1798 and the Act of union which cleared Dublin of it’s
aristocracy in 1800. She negotiated leases to the professional classes who subsequently
moved into these areas. She would have had to vet them and arrange to collect their rents.
She frequently threw lavish parties at her seat Mount Merrion for the nobility of the area and
her parties in Merrion square were likewise attended. Richard was Sheriff of Dublin in 1819
and had an office house at 27 Merrion Square. Richard died at Brighton on 27 Aug 1827
where he had gone to recover his health. There is a memorial tablet to Richard Verschoyle at
SS Philip and John (C of I) Booterstown. Barbara died Intestate on 25 Jan 1837 and was buried
in Booterstown RC church which she had persuaded Lord Fitzwilliam to give the land and money
to build in 1812 and she then persuaded Sidney Herbert, 1st Baron Herbert of Lea, to support
the establishment of a convent and school at Booterstown to which she contributed £20 per
year. After her death her personal belongings were sold which included 80 sets of jewellery,
mainly diamonds and precious gems.
8 Catherine fl 1788.
9 Mary fl 1788 RC, she converted/took Oath of Allegiance in 1790 and died circa 1809.
10 Anastacia (Anse) fl 1788.
© June Bow & Karen Poff – September 2018
Bryan Fegan (Fagan) married Elizabeth (Tracy?)
died 21 Jan 1761 1727 died 25 Sep 1789
St Audeons Usher's Island
Bryan Fagan, believed to have been a brewer, was an agent to the Fitzwilliam estates
from 1751 taking over from land agent Richard Matthews. Bryan had leased land
from the Viscount and built a brick house surrounded by a 9ft wall by 1738. As Bryan was
Catholic he could only get a lease for 21 years so his 3 life lease on the property was
concealed behind Protestant Thomas Bomforde. The 6th Viscount Fitzwilliam was an
absentee landlord, so Bryan worked the the Viscount's younger brother William
who had been dispatched to Ireland in 1749. His account book of 1755 shows that he
visited Lady Denny of Peafield Cliff House five times that year in order to satisfy issues
over ditches and quicks. When he died in 1761 his wife Elizabeth took over as agent and
again there would be many such visits and much correspondence between Lady Denny
and Elizabeth.
Elizabeth was awarded power of attorney in 1761 and took over the management of the
Fitzwilliam estate. She had three houses on the estate but lived at Usher's Quay in
1773-1774 and in Usher's Island from 1779. The brewery she leased, was advertised 'to let'
in 1784, this possibly developed as Madders brewery which started trading from Ushers
Street in 1785. One of her houses was on the upper end of The Black Rock Avenue,
probably what is now called Mount Merrion Avenue. When it is advertised for let after her
death it was described as being opposite that of the Lord Chancellor James Hewitt who lived
at Stillorgan Park House.
As land agent for Lord Fitzwilliam (she served two) she was responsible for letting his
property which included lands at Merrion, The Rock, Drummartin, Irishtown, Ringsend,
Kingstown and Bray.
1 Richard Fagan fl 1788 converted/Oath of Allegiance in 1790.
2 James Fagan fl 1788.
3 Margaret Fagan born circa 1743 married Henry Farrell at St Audeon’s Church of
Ireland on 6 Jan 1763.
4 Teresa Fagan born 1747 married Theobald Jennings on 11 Jun 1767 at St Audeon’s.
She appears on the convert roll of 1778. Theobald was a grocer at 4 Castle street,
he traded there from 1773 until his death in June 1784. Teresa carried on the
business. There was a fire at 4 Castle street in 1785 but she was insured. Teresa’s
Will was proved 11 Jan 1794, the executor was Philip Sullivan and her estate was
left to her son Richard.
1 Richard Fagan Jennings.
5 Frances Fagan married Thomas Reily, a Dublin merchant. This may be the Thomas
Reily of Ushers street and the New Holland Iron-works who went missing in 1784.
He had been carrying the wage roll for his factory, it was presumed that he had been
attacked as all that was found was his horse and his hat.
1 Eliza Mary Reilly born circa 1785.
6 Agnes Joseph Fagan married Philip Sullivan, Philip O'Reilly, a merchant had premises at
22 Fishers lane from 1789 – 1797 selling various items including clover and seltzer water.
1 Mary Teresa Joseph Sullivan baptised 15 Sep 1785 at St Michan’s RC Church.
2 Cornelius James Sullivan born baptised Sept 1786 at St Michan's RC married
Frances Phillipa. He was a Magistrate & Deputy Lieut. for the County.
Cornelius became the land agent for the Earl of Pembroke’s estate in 1827 but
it is likely that he was involved in the business much earlier, as he held a
gaming certificate for Mount Merrion from 1806 and was working alongside
Richard Verschoyle in 1818. He had addresses at Mount Street and Mount
Merrion. Cornelius died at Mount Merrion Street on 9 Aug 1849 and Frances
died at Upper Merrion Street aged 78 on 16 May 1867.
1 Barbara Elizabeth Sullivan only child married Godrich Shedden 23rd
May 1939. Godrich was the son of Lieut Col Shedden of The Elms in
Hampshire. He would become a captain with the 8th Kings Royal Irish
Hussars. They lived at 22 Upper Merrion Street. Godrich died at
Kingstown on 20 Sep 1884 aged 78.
1 Frances Millicent Shedden only daughter born circa 1840
married Jonas Austin Domage on 12 Sep 1864 at St Peters, Dublin.
As a child and in attendance with her Grandfather and mother, she
acted as the representative of the Hon. Sydney Herbert and laid
the foundation stone of St John’s Church, Sandymount. She was
presented with a silver trowel. In 1901 the family were living on
St Stephens Green.
3 Richard Joseph Sullivan baptised 16 Nov 1787 at St Michan’s RC, his sponsors
were Lord Richard Fitzwilliam the Hon Mrs Fitzwilliam.
4 William Philip Joseph Sullivan baptised 29 Nov 1789 RC.
5 Philip Joseph Sullivan baptised 5 Dec 1790 at St Michan’s RC, his sponsor the Hon
William Fitzgerald.
6 Joseph Sullivan baptised 25 Feb 1794 at St Michan’s RC.
7 Barbara Fagan born circa 1750 married Richard Verschoyle, a Dublin protestant merchant
on 8 Sep 1790 at St Audeons. She was Roman Catholic but converted in 1785 according
to material in the National Archives, it is far more likely that she was listed on the
Qualification Rolls which were merged with the Convert Rolls. This would mean that she
took a Oath of Allegiance to the Crown but did not change religion. She was agent to the
Fitzwilliam estate which was over 12000 acres and was responsible for letting these lands
during troubled times; The Rebellion of 1798 and the Act of union which cleared Dublin of it’s
aristocracy in 1800. She negotiated leases to the professional classes who subsequently
moved into these areas. She would have had to vet them and arrange to collect their rents.
She frequently threw lavish parties at her seat Mount Merrion for the nobility of the area and
her parties in Merrion square were likewise attended. Richard was Sheriff of Dublin in 1819
and had an office house at 27 Merrion Square. Richard died at Brighton on 27 Aug 1827
where he had gone to recover his health. There is a memorial tablet to Richard Verschoyle at
SS Philip and John (C of I) Booterstown. Barbara died Intestate on 25 Jan 1837 and was buried
in Booterstown RC church which she had persuaded Lord Fitzwilliam to give the land and money
to build in 1812 and she then persuaded Sidney Herbert, 1st Baron Herbert of Lea, to support
the establishment of a convent and school at Booterstown to which she contributed £20 per
year. After her death her personal belongings were sold which included 80 sets of jewellery,
mainly diamonds and precious gems.
8 Catherine fl 1788.
9 Mary fl 1788 RC, she converted/took Oath of Allegiance in 1790 and died circa 1809.
10 Anastacia (Anse) fl 1788.
© June Bow & Karen Poff – September 2018