Baron ffrench of Bellevue, Booterstown
Charles French married Maria Browne
born April 1786 29 Sep 1809
died 24 Sep 1860 Salthill died July 1827
Tower Hill Galway Castle Ffrench
Charles ffrench son of Thomas ffrench and Margaret Reddington, was born April 1786. His father was
a banker and head of one of the largest provincial Banks - Lord ffench & Co. On 27 Jun 1814 there
was a run on the bank causing it to collapse. In hindsight they were probably solvent but the legal fees
from the ensuing legal battle sucked up whatever money was available to pay creditors, causing huge
distress to business, landlords and tenants in Galway. On 9 Dec 1814, Thomas, Baron ffrench took his
own life at Trinity College and Charles succeeded his father as 3rd Baron of Castle Ffrench. He married
Maria Browne, eldest daughter of John Browne of Moyne on 29 Sep 1809 at Salthill. His two sisters,
Rose and Sarah married Francis Blake Foster and Edward J Beytagh respectively in October 1810.
Charles was Roman Catholic and a firm follower and supporter of O’Connell. They were patrons of the
Sick and Indigent roomkeepers charity. Maria died in July 1827 at Castle Ffrench and his mother died at
Glenloe on 7 Dec 1849 aged 82. Charles died 24 Sep 1860 at Tower Hill, the home of his son in law.
1 Thomas ffrench born circa 1811 succeeded his father at Castle ffrench in 1860 and became the
4th Baron. He married Mary Ann Thompson, only daughter of Richard Thompson of Stansty
Hall, Wrexham. They separated and Thomas was living at Coffey’s Hotel in 1869, and Mary
had moved to Calais. Thomas died on 19 Jan 1892 at Elm Park and was interred in the Vault
at Malborough Cathedral. Mary Anne moved to Elm Park and died there on 3 Jun 1906. Her
funeral was held at St John the Baptist in Blackrock and she was buried at Marlborough Street
Cathedral.
1 Maria Margaret ffrench born circa 1853 was placed in Rathfarnham Convent school by
her father. In 1869 her mother tried to get her extricated from there, as she was not
allowed contact with her daughter and a writ of Habeas Corpus was issued. Eleanor
Maria, only child died at Fitzwilliam Terrace, Bray in October 1870.
2 Hon Martin Joseph ffrench, third son born 1 Oct 1813 was called to the bar in 1841. He was a
practising barrister and a JP. He married Catherine Mary Anne O’Shaughnessy, daughter of
John O’Shaughnessy of Birchgrove, County Roscommon and Ellen Brabazon on 2 Jul 1862. They
moved to Bellevue circa 1886. Martin succeeded his brother Thomas in 1892 and became the
5th Baron. He died 31 May 1893 aged 81 at Bellevue, Booterstown. Catherine died at her
residence, St Joseph’s on Ailesbury Road 6 Mar 1908 and was interred at Malborough Street
Cathedral.
1 Ellen Mary Anne Josephine ffrench died 29 Sep 1918.
2 Maria Anne Josephine Catherine ffrench died 1928.
3 Frances Catherine Mary Anne Josephine ffrench died 28 Aug 1940.
4 Margaret Elizabeth Mary Anne Josephine ffrench died 18 Sep 1945.
5 Charles Austin Thomas Robert John Joseph ffrench born 20 Jun 1868 at Birch Grove
He married Mary M Corbally, daughter of the late Matthew J Corbally, DL of
Rathbeale Hall on 1 Sep 1892 at Balrothery. He became the 6th Baron ffrench on the
death of his father in 1893. He and was living at Hanover, Cape Colony in 1893 and in
1919 was living in London. Mary died in 1944 and he secondly married Kathleen
Elizabeth Nixon, daughter of Sir Christopher Nixon. Charles died at Ballinasloe,
Co Galway on 4 Mar 1955. He was succeeded by his nephew Peter.
6 John Martin Valentine Joseph ffrench second son born 19 Jul 1872 joined the army. He
was a captain with the 7th Battalion Leinster regiment and married Sophia Brambilla,
daughter of the late Signor G Brambilla, of Como, Italy. They lived at Brookfield House,
Anglesea Road, Dublin 4 and had two daughters. John died at Cork in 1946.
3 Hon John ffrench born circa 1814 was eduated at Clongowes Wood College. He joined the Society
of Jesus (Jesuits) and taught at St Stanislaus College near Tullabeg for 5 years before he became
the rector of St Francis Xavier, Great Denmark Street. He moved to Rome in 1857 and died there
aged 60 on 31 May 1873.
4 Michael ffrench, fourth son born circa 1816 died at Castle Ffrench in May 1834 aged 18.
5 Charles ffrench, fifth son born circa 1819 died in December 1836 from consumption at Castle
Ffrench.
6 Jasper ffrench, youngest son joined the Repeal Association in 1843. He resided with his uncle
Thomas. He died at Bruges on 6 Oct 1888.
7 Hon Margaret ffrench married Valentine O’Connor Blake of Tower Hill, third son of Thomas Blake
on 7 Jan 1836. Valentine purchased Bunowen castle, Co Mayo in 1853 he refurbished it and used it
as a summer residence. They had 7 sons and 3 daughters. Maria died at Tower Hill, Co Mayo in
July 1869 and Valentine died at Bray on 8 Aug 1879.
©June Bow & Karen Poff – June 2020
Charles French married Maria Browne
born April 1786 29 Sep 1809
died 24 Sep 1860 Salthill died July 1827
Tower Hill Galway Castle Ffrench
Charles ffrench son of Thomas ffrench and Margaret Reddington, was born April 1786. His father was
a banker and head of one of the largest provincial Banks - Lord ffench & Co. On 27 Jun 1814 there
was a run on the bank causing it to collapse. In hindsight they were probably solvent but the legal fees
from the ensuing legal battle sucked up whatever money was available to pay creditors, causing huge
distress to business, landlords and tenants in Galway. On 9 Dec 1814, Thomas, Baron ffrench took his
own life at Trinity College and Charles succeeded his father as 3rd Baron of Castle Ffrench. He married
Maria Browne, eldest daughter of John Browne of Moyne on 29 Sep 1809 at Salthill. His two sisters,
Rose and Sarah married Francis Blake Foster and Edward J Beytagh respectively in October 1810.
Charles was Roman Catholic and a firm follower and supporter of O’Connell. They were patrons of the
Sick and Indigent roomkeepers charity. Maria died in July 1827 at Castle Ffrench and his mother died at
Glenloe on 7 Dec 1849 aged 82. Charles died 24 Sep 1860 at Tower Hill, the home of his son in law.
1 Thomas ffrench born circa 1811 succeeded his father at Castle ffrench in 1860 and became the
4th Baron. He married Mary Ann Thompson, only daughter of Richard Thompson of Stansty
Hall, Wrexham. They separated and Thomas was living at Coffey’s Hotel in 1869, and Mary
had moved to Calais. Thomas died on 19 Jan 1892 at Elm Park and was interred in the Vault
at Malborough Cathedral. Mary Anne moved to Elm Park and died there on 3 Jun 1906. Her
funeral was held at St John the Baptist in Blackrock and she was buried at Marlborough Street
Cathedral.
1 Maria Margaret ffrench born circa 1853 was placed in Rathfarnham Convent school by
her father. In 1869 her mother tried to get her extricated from there, as she was not
allowed contact with her daughter and a writ of Habeas Corpus was issued. Eleanor
Maria, only child died at Fitzwilliam Terrace, Bray in October 1870.
2 Hon Martin Joseph ffrench, third son born 1 Oct 1813 was called to the bar in 1841. He was a
practising barrister and a JP. He married Catherine Mary Anne O’Shaughnessy, daughter of
John O’Shaughnessy of Birchgrove, County Roscommon and Ellen Brabazon on 2 Jul 1862. They
moved to Bellevue circa 1886. Martin succeeded his brother Thomas in 1892 and became the
5th Baron. He died 31 May 1893 aged 81 at Bellevue, Booterstown. Catherine died at her
residence, St Joseph’s on Ailesbury Road 6 Mar 1908 and was interred at Malborough Street
Cathedral.
1 Ellen Mary Anne Josephine ffrench died 29 Sep 1918.
2 Maria Anne Josephine Catherine ffrench died 1928.
3 Frances Catherine Mary Anne Josephine ffrench died 28 Aug 1940.
4 Margaret Elizabeth Mary Anne Josephine ffrench died 18 Sep 1945.
5 Charles Austin Thomas Robert John Joseph ffrench born 20 Jun 1868 at Birch Grove
He married Mary M Corbally, daughter of the late Matthew J Corbally, DL of
Rathbeale Hall on 1 Sep 1892 at Balrothery. He became the 6th Baron ffrench on the
death of his father in 1893. He and was living at Hanover, Cape Colony in 1893 and in
1919 was living in London. Mary died in 1944 and he secondly married Kathleen
Elizabeth Nixon, daughter of Sir Christopher Nixon. Charles died at Ballinasloe,
Co Galway on 4 Mar 1955. He was succeeded by his nephew Peter.
6 John Martin Valentine Joseph ffrench second son born 19 Jul 1872 joined the army. He
was a captain with the 7th Battalion Leinster regiment and married Sophia Brambilla,
daughter of the late Signor G Brambilla, of Como, Italy. They lived at Brookfield House,
Anglesea Road, Dublin 4 and had two daughters. John died at Cork in 1946.
3 Hon John ffrench born circa 1814 was eduated at Clongowes Wood College. He joined the Society
of Jesus (Jesuits) and taught at St Stanislaus College near Tullabeg for 5 years before he became
the rector of St Francis Xavier, Great Denmark Street. He moved to Rome in 1857 and died there
aged 60 on 31 May 1873.
4 Michael ffrench, fourth son born circa 1816 died at Castle Ffrench in May 1834 aged 18.
5 Charles ffrench, fifth son born circa 1819 died in December 1836 from consumption at Castle
Ffrench.
6 Jasper ffrench, youngest son joined the Repeal Association in 1843. He resided with his uncle
Thomas. He died at Bruges on 6 Oct 1888.
7 Hon Margaret ffrench married Valentine O’Connor Blake of Tower Hill, third son of Thomas Blake
on 7 Jan 1836. Valentine purchased Bunowen castle, Co Mayo in 1853 he refurbished it and used it
as a summer residence. They had 7 sons and 3 daughters. Maria died at Tower Hill, Co Mayo in
July 1869 and Valentine died at Bray on 8 Aug 1879.
©June Bow & Karen Poff – June 2020