Photograph 1895 - Courtesy of Queensland University of Technology
Joseph Henry Ferguson of Merville
Hugh Ferguson, of Rathleigh, Killiney, Co. Dublin, son of Hugh and Rachel Ferguson of
Drumcondra Hill, was born at Belfast in 1792. He married Susan Biggs circa 1816. He was
a sadlier, harness, whip and portmanteau manufacturer with premises at 24 Bachelors
Walk trading as Ferguson & Co. He also hired bath chairs and in 1847 took on the
range of patented Euphorbia waterproof clothing. Susan died from Asiatic cholera at
Bachelors Walk on 6 Sep 1849 aged 56.
1 Hugh Ferguson born circa 1819. In 1844 he was practicing as a veterinary surgeon
and set up the Veterinary Institution at Denzille Street, Dublin. By 1847 Ferguson
held an appointment as veterinary surgeon to the lord lieutenant, and from 1852
he was veterinarian to the queen. In 1865 he was critical of the reports and the
methods to prevent the contagion from spreading when an epidemic of cattle plague,
also called rinderpest hit the country. The Irish Privy Council established a veterinary
department in 1866 with Hugh Ferguson as Director General. His title was
subsequently changed to that of Chief Veterinary Inspector. He died 6 Mar 1890 in
London.
2 Pearson Biggs Ferguson, born circa 1821 in Dublin was a member of the Veterinary
College of Alfort in Paris and London. He was attaché to the British Embassy at Paris.
He married Harriette Bates on 14 Sep 1850 at All Saints Church, Clayton-le-Moors.
He died at Prestwich, Lancashire on 19 Jan 1889 and left 42K in personal estate.
Probate was to his son his sole beneficiary.
1 William Bates Ferguson only son born circa 1854. He studied medicine but
forsook it for a career in law. He married Eveline Alice Peyton in 1893 and they
had two daughters. William died in 1937.
3 Joseph Henry Ferguson born circa 1823 in Dublin City. In 1849 he was a rubber
merchant and had shops specialising in selling waterproof clothing under the brand
name Euphorbia at 103 Grafton Street trading as Ferguson & Co. He married Mary
Jane Tilleth on 9 Jun 1851 at St Pauls, Liverpool. They lived at Merville, Stillorgan from
1856 to 1864. When they were selling the hay on the farm he would invite the buyers
to lunch before the auction started which increased his sales and obtained premium
prices. He was a member of the RDS from 1861 but in 1862 he took the RDS to court
on a charge of ‘unlawful detention of an umbrella’. He had refused to pay the RDS
charge of one penny for minding his umbrella when visiting an exhibition. He felt as a
member that he should not be charged – the case was dismissed. He 1883 he put
forward a motion for a Veterinary College to be established in Ireland under the control
of the RDS. He was bankrupt in 1865 and moved back to Kilternan Abbey, Golden Ball.
They moved to 10 Waltham Terrace in 1872. He was bankrupt again in 1877. He was a
lodgings keeper by 1880 with a house in Ely Place, Molesworth Street and they were
living at Holles Street in 1901. They had seven children of whom five survived in 1911
and were living at Rathmines. Joseph died 31 Jan 1912 at 143 Bedford Terrace and Mary
Jane died same place on 29 Jun 1919.
1 Hubert Ferguson born 1 Feb 1852 baptised at St Mark, Kennington, London.
2 Susanna Spencer Biggs Ferguson eldest daughter born 1854 at Islington, London
married Edmund Alfred Dutton on 21 Mar 1885 at Hackney, London.
3 Oscar Ferguson born 1856 in Islington was a commercial traveller. He married
Charlotte Jones on 5 Jan 1881 at Hulme, Lancaster.
4 Daughter born 14 Jan 1861.
5 Eva Araminta Ferguson born 3 Oct 1863 at Kilternan Abbey died from
diphtheria at 10 Waltham Terrace on 15 May 1872 at 10 Waltham Terrace.
6 Ellen Fannie (Ellie) Ferguson born 24 Jan 1867 at Waltham Terrace, Blackrock.
As second surviving daughter she married Charles Croker Haughton, a civil
servant clerk on 2 Jul 1890 at St Ann’s Church, Dublin. Charles was the son of
John Handcock Haughton, a merchant.
7 Jane Josephine born 29 Nov 1874 at 10 Waltham Terrace, was unmarried was
living with her parents in 1901 and 1911.
Hugh secondly married Elizabeth Squire on 20 Nov 1852 at St Olave Jewry, London. Elizabeth
was the daughter of John Squire of Doncaster. She died aged 55 on 4 Nov 1862 and was buried
at Mount Jerome. Hugh died 5 Sep 1876 aged 84 and was buried with his second wife.
© June Bow & Karen Poff - March 2024
Return to Merville page
Hugh Ferguson, of Rathleigh, Killiney, Co. Dublin, son of Hugh and Rachel Ferguson of
Drumcondra Hill, was born at Belfast in 1792. He married Susan Biggs circa 1816. He was
a sadlier, harness, whip and portmanteau manufacturer with premises at 24 Bachelors
Walk trading as Ferguson & Co. He also hired bath chairs and in 1847 took on the
range of patented Euphorbia waterproof clothing. Susan died from Asiatic cholera at
Bachelors Walk on 6 Sep 1849 aged 56.
1 Hugh Ferguson born circa 1819. In 1844 he was practicing as a veterinary surgeon
and set up the Veterinary Institution at Denzille Street, Dublin. By 1847 Ferguson
held an appointment as veterinary surgeon to the lord lieutenant, and from 1852
he was veterinarian to the queen. In 1865 he was critical of the reports and the
methods to prevent the contagion from spreading when an epidemic of cattle plague,
also called rinderpest hit the country. The Irish Privy Council established a veterinary
department in 1866 with Hugh Ferguson as Director General. His title was
subsequently changed to that of Chief Veterinary Inspector. He died 6 Mar 1890 in
London.
2 Pearson Biggs Ferguson, born circa 1821 in Dublin was a member of the Veterinary
College of Alfort in Paris and London. He was attaché to the British Embassy at Paris.
He married Harriette Bates on 14 Sep 1850 at All Saints Church, Clayton-le-Moors.
He died at Prestwich, Lancashire on 19 Jan 1889 and left 42K in personal estate.
Probate was to his son his sole beneficiary.
1 William Bates Ferguson only son born circa 1854. He studied medicine but
forsook it for a career in law. He married Eveline Alice Peyton in 1893 and they
had two daughters. William died in 1937.
3 Joseph Henry Ferguson born circa 1823 in Dublin City. In 1849 he was a rubber
merchant and had shops specialising in selling waterproof clothing under the brand
name Euphorbia at 103 Grafton Street trading as Ferguson & Co. He married Mary
Jane Tilleth on 9 Jun 1851 at St Pauls, Liverpool. They lived at Merville, Stillorgan from
1856 to 1864. When they were selling the hay on the farm he would invite the buyers
to lunch before the auction started which increased his sales and obtained premium
prices. He was a member of the RDS from 1861 but in 1862 he took the RDS to court
on a charge of ‘unlawful detention of an umbrella’. He had refused to pay the RDS
charge of one penny for minding his umbrella when visiting an exhibition. He felt as a
member that he should not be charged – the case was dismissed. He 1883 he put
forward a motion for a Veterinary College to be established in Ireland under the control
of the RDS. He was bankrupt in 1865 and moved back to Kilternan Abbey, Golden Ball.
They moved to 10 Waltham Terrace in 1872. He was bankrupt again in 1877. He was a
lodgings keeper by 1880 with a house in Ely Place, Molesworth Street and they were
living at Holles Street in 1901. They had seven children of whom five survived in 1911
and were living at Rathmines. Joseph died 31 Jan 1912 at 143 Bedford Terrace and Mary
Jane died same place on 29 Jun 1919.
1 Hubert Ferguson born 1 Feb 1852 baptised at St Mark, Kennington, London.
2 Susanna Spencer Biggs Ferguson eldest daughter born 1854 at Islington, London
married Edmund Alfred Dutton on 21 Mar 1885 at Hackney, London.
3 Oscar Ferguson born 1856 in Islington was a commercial traveller. He married
Charlotte Jones on 5 Jan 1881 at Hulme, Lancaster.
4 Daughter born 14 Jan 1861.
5 Eva Araminta Ferguson born 3 Oct 1863 at Kilternan Abbey died from
diphtheria at 10 Waltham Terrace on 15 May 1872 at 10 Waltham Terrace.
6 Ellen Fannie (Ellie) Ferguson born 24 Jan 1867 at Waltham Terrace, Blackrock.
As second surviving daughter she married Charles Croker Haughton, a civil
servant clerk on 2 Jul 1890 at St Ann’s Church, Dublin. Charles was the son of
John Handcock Haughton, a merchant.
7 Jane Josephine born 29 Nov 1874 at 10 Waltham Terrace, was unmarried was
living with her parents in 1901 and 1911.
Hugh secondly married Elizabeth Squire on 20 Nov 1852 at St Olave Jewry, London. Elizabeth
was the daughter of John Squire of Doncaster. She died aged 55 on 4 Nov 1862 and was buried
at Mount Jerome. Hugh died 5 Sep 1876 aged 84 and was buried with his second wife.
© June Bow & Karen Poff - March 2024
Return to Merville page