The Figgis family of Sydenham House and Dublin City
Samuel Figgis married Sarah
born circa 1750
died 1825 Charlemont St
Samuel of 45 Charlemont Street was a member of the Congregational Church at York Street Chapel.
He may be the Samuel who became a Freeman of the City in 1804 - Guild of Glovers.
1 Thomas Figgis born circa 1779 married Marianne Keene. Thomas was a partner in the firm
Pollock Figgis & Co and lived at Richmond Street. Pollock Figgis was a wholesalers dealing in
coffee, Mediterranean fruit, drugs, oils and spices. Thomas died 7 Aug 1854 at Richmond Street
aged 74 and was buried at Mount Jerome. Margaret born circa 1800 died 26 Jul 1874 and
was buried with, her husband, her mother Jane who died aged 70 in 1845, and many of their
children. Thomas's sister Elizabeth was also buried with them.
1 Arthur Fernsley born circa 1825 died 27 Mar 1831 aged six and was buried at Mount
Jerome.
2 Samuel Figgis born circa 1826, a book seller trading as Hodges, Foster & Figgis from
1869 at 104 Grafton Street, after the firm Hodges and Foster was dissolved. He married
Mary Anne Cuttle, fourth daughter of Thomas H Cuttle of Millmount, Mullingar on
6 Sep 1860 at St Peter's Dublin. The firm of Booksellers, Publishers, Map & Estate agents
was trading as Hodges Foster & Figgis by 1876 and Hodges Figgis & Company by 1881.
Mary Anne died from Typhoid at Newlands, Bray on 8 Nov 1891.
1 Alice Barbara Figgis born 12.02.1865 at 3 Kensington Road, Rathgar and died of
Meningitis 04.12.1884 aged 19 years at Newlands, Bray.
2 Catherine Eva Figgis born 16.08.1867 at 3 Warwick Cottages, Brighton Avenue,
Rathgar and died on 03.07.1871 aged 4 years at 77 Leinster Road.
3 Thomas Frederick Figgis born 17.04.1869 at 94 Leinster Road married Anna Ellen
Consuella Black at St Bartholomew's Church on 18.05.1899. Thomas was a solicitor
of Newlands, Bray. Anna was the daughter of John Joseph Black, a wine merchant of
7 Pembroke Street and Granddaughter of James McCullagh of Brookfield, Blackrock
in 1899. They lived at Enderley, Dundrum. Thomas died 20.02.1942 at Enderly and
Anna died 21.09.1960 at Enderly, Dundrum. They are both buried at Mount Jerome.
4 Mary Constance Figgis born 29.06.1870 at 94 Leinster Road.
5 Samuel Figgis born 24.04.1872 at 77 Leinster Road and died 30.05.1872 at same place.
6 William F Figgis born 11.01.1874 at 77 Leinster Road, was a bookseller.
7 Edward Allen Keane Figgis born 09.02.1876 at 77 Leinster Road.
8 Helen Margaret Figgis born 04.06.1880 at 77 Leinster Road and died 26.08.1886 aged
6 years at Newlands, Bray.
Samuel secondly married Marie Heyn at Belfast on 7 Jun 1893. Samuel died four
years later on 1 January 1900 aged 64 at Newlands, Bray.
3 Thomas Gilbart Figgis born c1827 was a commission agent. He married Margaret
Bathsheba Phillips, the daughter of Thomas and Margaret Philips of Liverpool.
Margaret's sisters, Jessie Leonora Phillips, Anna Elizabeth Phillips and Emily Phillips
lived with them at Sydenham house, Emily died there on 25 Oct 1866 aged 22. After
Thomas died on 28 Dec 1876, Margaret moved with the children and her sisters Anna
and Jessie to Greystones. Margaret died at Killinacarrick Road, Delgany 30 Mar 1908
aged 72 and was buried at Mount Jerome with her husband.
1 Arthur Wellesley Lennox Figgis, eldest son born 21 Jun 1856 married Adelina
Wilson, widow of Samuel Morton Hewitt at the Church of the Holy Trinity,
Rathmines on 23 Jun 1885. He was a corn merchant and they lived in Greystones.
Arthur died 27 Mar 1920.
1 Gladys Enid (Jim) Figgis born 18 Jul 1890 married Richard Atkinson Stoney
in 1915. Richard was the son of Rev Robert Baker Stoney and Kate
Atkinson of Gortmore.
2 Thomas Phillips Figgis (TP), second son born 1858 became an architect. He designed
many railway stations in London and also designed the Parochial Hall on Navara
Road, Bray. He married Caroline Mary Patton and had two sons, one of whom, Captain
Lenox Paton Philips was killed in WWI 27 Aug 1915 aged 25. Thomas died on 2 May 1948
aged 90.
3 Emily Sarah Figgis born 14 Apr 1864 at Sydenham House died 25 Oct 1872 and was
buried at Mount Jerome.
4 Isabel Frances Figgis born 29 Mar 1866 at Sydenham House married Harold
Basden of Hampton Heath, London on 20 Dec 1892 at Holy Trinity Church,
Rathmines.
5 Frank Fernsley, third son, died 13 Jan 1942 at Belfast.
6 Lucy Ethel Figgis born 8 Oakland Villas, Highfield Road, Rathmines 7 Oct 1870.
7 Theodore Gilbart Figgis born circa 1877, youngest son born posthumously moved
to Belfast and married Grave Edith Paterson, third daughter of William R Paterson
of Belfast at Mary Magdalen Church, Belfast on 8 Jun 1909.
4 Sara Gouce Figgis born circa 1829 died17 Apr 1842 aged thirteen and was buried at
Mount Jerome.
5 William Henry Figgis born circa 1830 died 6 Oct 1874 and was interred at Claremont
in America.
6 John Alfred Figgis born circa 1834 died 20 Dec 1837 aged three and was buried at
Mount Jerome.
7 George Figgis born circa 1835 married Harriett Neul, daughter of Samuel Neul on
26 Aug 1867 in Dublin. George was a clerk working at the Bank of Ireland and living
25 North Strand Road. Their children were Lucy, George, Arthur, Alfred and Samuel.
8 Frederick Fernsley Figgis died 16 Jan 1843 and was buried at Mount Jerome.
9 Eliza Ann Figgis born circa 1839 died 20 Mar 1843 aged 4 and was buried at Mount
Jerome.
2 William Figgis born circa 1786, bookseller of 37 Nassau Street married Maria Holmes in
1806 at St Peters. They lived at Mount view, County Dublin. William died 9 Nov 1851
aged 65.
1 Jane Esther Figgis eldest daughter born circa 1807 married James Gibbons Wilson
2nd son of Richard Wilson of Jervis Street on 25.11.1828 at St Peter’s Church.
Witnesses: William Figgis and Richard Wilson. The family were living in Hackney in
1851 with her mother Maria Figgis.
2 Sarah Figgis born circa 1811 married John Theobald Purcell on 30.04.1831 at St
Peter’s Church. Witnesses: William Figgis and William Purcell. John a Solicitor lived
at 16 Fortescue Terrace, Rathmines Road and had an office on Abbey Street. John
died pre 1870 and Sarah died 29.12.1890 at 20 Rathmines Road.
3 Maria Figgis 3rd daughter born circa 1816 married Richard John Hicks on
16.05.1835 at St Peter’s Church. Witness: John Purcell and Mary Hicks.
4 Elizabeth Figgis born circa 1819 married John Nathaniel St Giorgio of South
Frederick Street on 30.07.1841 at St Peter’s Church. John a Solicitor lived at 9
Fortescue Terrace, Rathmines Road and had an office at 4 South Frederick Street.
John formerly of York Street and late of Cremorne Villas, Rathgar died on
08.02.1880 aged 100 years. John St Giorgio executor
5 Margaret born 11.06.1820 married Richard John Hicks, the widower of her sister
Maria on 19.04.1854 at Hackney, Middlesex
6 Edmund Johnstone Figgis, eldest son married Frances Anna Hicks daughter of
Richard Wingfield Hicks of Bachelors Walk at St Mary's Church, Dublin on
21 Oct 1847. Edmund was in partnership with Peter Carroll trading as Figgis &
Carroll, Stationers and Account Book manufacturers of 27 College Green but he
dissolved the partnership in 1854 and then traded as a corn merchant. He was a JP
and a council member of the Chamber of Commerce. The family lived a 2
Palmerston Park, Upper Rathmines (Dartry). Edmund died on 24 Feb 1907 and left
nearly 110K in personal estate, 25K of this was left to various charities.
1 Henry Wingfield Figgis born circa 1849 married Emily Harris, third daughter
of Col R R Harris at St Peter's Church on 4 Apr 1871. Emmie died 2 Dec 1891
at South Hill, Killiney and Henry died 5 Jul 1916 at 'The Chalet' Temple Road,
Rathmines leaving an estate worth more than 70K.
1 Daisy Figgis born circa 1872 married William Herbert Boyd at The
Grosvenor Hall, Dublin 20 7 Feb 1895.
2 Robert Edmund Figgis died 17 Nov 1876.
3 Russell Johnstone Figgis died 16 Dec 1879.
4 Harry Figgis died 16 Jun 1880.
5 Rex Figgis died 13 May 1890.
6 Hilda Constance Figgis died at 'The Chalet' on 16 Sep 1895.
7 May Gertrude Figgis, fourth daughter, died 28 Jan 1957.
Henry secondly married Lucy Jane Allen on 6 Jun 1894 at Merrion Hall.
8 Lucy Jane Figgis born circa 1876.
9 Lydia Anna Figgis born circa 1901.
2 Charles Edward Figgis born circa 1856, a corn and tea merchant married
Augusta Marian Wells, only daughter of Thomas Wells of Gosport at
Marylebone on 9 Jun 1891.
1 Douglas Thomas Figgis born circa 1894 became Chairman of Merchant
Warehousing on Burgh Quay. He married Noreen Ethel Wallis,
daughter of John Dennington Wallis at Delgany on 20 Aug 1924.
2 Frances Figgis born 1852 married John Girdwood Drury of Dartry on 30 Nov 1882 at
Adelaide Road Presbyterian Church.
3 Charles Edward Figgis
4 Edmund Johnstone Figgis
5 Arthur William Figgis, tea merchant, married Mary Anne Deane. The family immigrated
to Calcutta in India. Arthur worked as an agent in the tea business, and founded A W
Figgis & Co.
1 Darrell Figgis born 17 Sep 1882 at Palmerston Park married Emily Tate (Millie) in
1905 at a civil ceremony at Islington. They then married in church in 1907. In
1913 Darrell gave up his job and moved to Achill Island to learn Irish and become
part of the Gaelic revival movement. There, he formed a friendship with the
painter Paul Henry and was sworn into the Irish Volunteers and was the main
organiser of the famous arms shipment that was landed at Howth Pier in 1914.
Darrell did not take part in 1916 rising, but was interned in Reading Gaol. On his
release in 1917 he was appointed Secretary of Sinn Fein, but he was jailed again in
1919. A member of the first Dail, he chaired the committee that drew up the
State's first Constitution in the Shelbourne Hotel. He was attacked in his home by
the IRA in 1922, an event that his wife would never get over. He was elected an
Independent member of the fourth Dail in 1923 and was appointed a member of
the Dail Committee to award the State's first broadcasting licence which came
under investigation for corruption, though this was never proven. In 1924, his
wife Millie ordered a taxi to take her from her home at No 17 Fitzwilliam Street
to the Hellfire Club in the foothills of the Dublin Mountains. Near the Yellow House
in Rathfarnham, she took out a Webley revolver, which had been given to her
husband by Michael Collins, and she shot herself in the head. She was taken to
the Meath Hospital and when her husband arrived, he was handed a blood stained
suicide note expressing her sorrow for the pain she would cause him and referring
to the depression arising from the attack at their home in 1922.
Darrell had also been having an affair with dancing teacher; Rita North. On
discovering that Rita was pregnant, they went to London but Rita died from blood
poisoning after having an abortion. Darrell was found dead in a boarding house,
his room filled with gas, the day after the inquest into Rita's death on 25 Oct 1925.
The verdict was suicide while of unsound mind. He was a prolific writer, poet,
playwright and publisher. He dedicated much of his life to shape a nation and
new state and was then written out of its official history. He was buried in West
Hampstead.
4 Elizabeth Figgis, eldest daughter born circa 1789 died at 55 Richmond Street aged 75 and was
buried at Mount Jerome.
5 Martha Figgis born circa 1800, youngest daughter married the Rev Thomas Gilbert of London
on 11 Aug 1821. The Rev Gilbert preached regularly at the York Street Chapel.
6 Alexander G Figgis, second son, married Jane Cecelia Geary at St Peter Church on 14 Nov 1851.
7 John Figgis born circa 1801. He worked for Gordon, Pollock and company from 1813 until 1821
at which time he became a partner in the firm of druggists. The firm then traded as Ferrier &
Pollock from 16 Capel Street and then traded as Pollock & Figgis & Co from 1827. That company
was dissolved in 1842 and John partnered with T W Oldham of Grafton Street and traded as
Ferris & Oldham carrying on the trade of Druggists and General Merchants. He married Elizabeth
Bradley at St Peters on 27 Feb 1829, she was the eldest daughter of Benjamin Bradley of
Manchester. Figgis and Oldham was bankrupt in 1855. He was a director of Mount Jerome
Cemetery from its inception. The family lived at Victoria Lodge, Donnybrook.
1 Rev John Benjamin Figgis married Harriet Chaffney, widow of Mr Webb on 2 Jul 1862 at
Somerset, England.
2 Emma Sarah Figgis born circa 1840 died a spinster at Sussex on 1 Feb 1903.
3 Samuel Figgis, youngest son moved to London, he married Anne Marie Smith of Sutton
Lodge, Hackney at Old Gravel Pits Church, Hackney 12 Sep 1866.
John secondly married Margaret, the widow of John Moore on 26 Feb 1861. Margaret died at
68 Wellington Road on 31 Aug 1887 aged 74 and John died 23 Feb 1890 aged 94 at Leeson Street.
June Bow & Karen Poff – February 2019/Updated December 2022
Samuel Figgis married Sarah
born circa 1750
died 1825 Charlemont St
Samuel of 45 Charlemont Street was a member of the Congregational Church at York Street Chapel.
He may be the Samuel who became a Freeman of the City in 1804 - Guild of Glovers.
1 Thomas Figgis born circa 1779 married Marianne Keene. Thomas was a partner in the firm
Pollock Figgis & Co and lived at Richmond Street. Pollock Figgis was a wholesalers dealing in
coffee, Mediterranean fruit, drugs, oils and spices. Thomas died 7 Aug 1854 at Richmond Street
aged 74 and was buried at Mount Jerome. Margaret born circa 1800 died 26 Jul 1874 and
was buried with, her husband, her mother Jane who died aged 70 in 1845, and many of their
children. Thomas's sister Elizabeth was also buried with them.
1 Arthur Fernsley born circa 1825 died 27 Mar 1831 aged six and was buried at Mount
Jerome.
2 Samuel Figgis born circa 1826, a book seller trading as Hodges, Foster & Figgis from
1869 at 104 Grafton Street, after the firm Hodges and Foster was dissolved. He married
Mary Anne Cuttle, fourth daughter of Thomas H Cuttle of Millmount, Mullingar on
6 Sep 1860 at St Peter's Dublin. The firm of Booksellers, Publishers, Map & Estate agents
was trading as Hodges Foster & Figgis by 1876 and Hodges Figgis & Company by 1881.
Mary Anne died from Typhoid at Newlands, Bray on 8 Nov 1891.
1 Alice Barbara Figgis born 12.02.1865 at 3 Kensington Road, Rathgar and died of
Meningitis 04.12.1884 aged 19 years at Newlands, Bray.
2 Catherine Eva Figgis born 16.08.1867 at 3 Warwick Cottages, Brighton Avenue,
Rathgar and died on 03.07.1871 aged 4 years at 77 Leinster Road.
3 Thomas Frederick Figgis born 17.04.1869 at 94 Leinster Road married Anna Ellen
Consuella Black at St Bartholomew's Church on 18.05.1899. Thomas was a solicitor
of Newlands, Bray. Anna was the daughter of John Joseph Black, a wine merchant of
7 Pembroke Street and Granddaughter of James McCullagh of Brookfield, Blackrock
in 1899. They lived at Enderley, Dundrum. Thomas died 20.02.1942 at Enderly and
Anna died 21.09.1960 at Enderly, Dundrum. They are both buried at Mount Jerome.
4 Mary Constance Figgis born 29.06.1870 at 94 Leinster Road.
5 Samuel Figgis born 24.04.1872 at 77 Leinster Road and died 30.05.1872 at same place.
6 William F Figgis born 11.01.1874 at 77 Leinster Road, was a bookseller.
7 Edward Allen Keane Figgis born 09.02.1876 at 77 Leinster Road.
8 Helen Margaret Figgis born 04.06.1880 at 77 Leinster Road and died 26.08.1886 aged
6 years at Newlands, Bray.
Samuel secondly married Marie Heyn at Belfast on 7 Jun 1893. Samuel died four
years later on 1 January 1900 aged 64 at Newlands, Bray.
3 Thomas Gilbart Figgis born c1827 was a commission agent. He married Margaret
Bathsheba Phillips, the daughter of Thomas and Margaret Philips of Liverpool.
Margaret's sisters, Jessie Leonora Phillips, Anna Elizabeth Phillips and Emily Phillips
lived with them at Sydenham house, Emily died there on 25 Oct 1866 aged 22. After
Thomas died on 28 Dec 1876, Margaret moved with the children and her sisters Anna
and Jessie to Greystones. Margaret died at Killinacarrick Road, Delgany 30 Mar 1908
aged 72 and was buried at Mount Jerome with her husband.
1 Arthur Wellesley Lennox Figgis, eldest son born 21 Jun 1856 married Adelina
Wilson, widow of Samuel Morton Hewitt at the Church of the Holy Trinity,
Rathmines on 23 Jun 1885. He was a corn merchant and they lived in Greystones.
Arthur died 27 Mar 1920.
1 Gladys Enid (Jim) Figgis born 18 Jul 1890 married Richard Atkinson Stoney
in 1915. Richard was the son of Rev Robert Baker Stoney and Kate
Atkinson of Gortmore.
2 Thomas Phillips Figgis (TP), second son born 1858 became an architect. He designed
many railway stations in London and also designed the Parochial Hall on Navara
Road, Bray. He married Caroline Mary Patton and had two sons, one of whom, Captain
Lenox Paton Philips was killed in WWI 27 Aug 1915 aged 25. Thomas died on 2 May 1948
aged 90.
3 Emily Sarah Figgis born 14 Apr 1864 at Sydenham House died 25 Oct 1872 and was
buried at Mount Jerome.
4 Isabel Frances Figgis born 29 Mar 1866 at Sydenham House married Harold
Basden of Hampton Heath, London on 20 Dec 1892 at Holy Trinity Church,
Rathmines.
5 Frank Fernsley, third son, died 13 Jan 1942 at Belfast.
6 Lucy Ethel Figgis born 8 Oakland Villas, Highfield Road, Rathmines 7 Oct 1870.
7 Theodore Gilbart Figgis born circa 1877, youngest son born posthumously moved
to Belfast and married Grave Edith Paterson, third daughter of William R Paterson
of Belfast at Mary Magdalen Church, Belfast on 8 Jun 1909.
4 Sara Gouce Figgis born circa 1829 died17 Apr 1842 aged thirteen and was buried at
Mount Jerome.
5 William Henry Figgis born circa 1830 died 6 Oct 1874 and was interred at Claremont
in America.
6 John Alfred Figgis born circa 1834 died 20 Dec 1837 aged three and was buried at
Mount Jerome.
7 George Figgis born circa 1835 married Harriett Neul, daughter of Samuel Neul on
26 Aug 1867 in Dublin. George was a clerk working at the Bank of Ireland and living
25 North Strand Road. Their children were Lucy, George, Arthur, Alfred and Samuel.
8 Frederick Fernsley Figgis died 16 Jan 1843 and was buried at Mount Jerome.
9 Eliza Ann Figgis born circa 1839 died 20 Mar 1843 aged 4 and was buried at Mount
Jerome.
2 William Figgis born circa 1786, bookseller of 37 Nassau Street married Maria Holmes in
1806 at St Peters. They lived at Mount view, County Dublin. William died 9 Nov 1851
aged 65.
1 Jane Esther Figgis eldest daughter born circa 1807 married James Gibbons Wilson
2nd son of Richard Wilson of Jervis Street on 25.11.1828 at St Peter’s Church.
Witnesses: William Figgis and Richard Wilson. The family were living in Hackney in
1851 with her mother Maria Figgis.
2 Sarah Figgis born circa 1811 married John Theobald Purcell on 30.04.1831 at St
Peter’s Church. Witnesses: William Figgis and William Purcell. John a Solicitor lived
at 16 Fortescue Terrace, Rathmines Road and had an office on Abbey Street. John
died pre 1870 and Sarah died 29.12.1890 at 20 Rathmines Road.
3 Maria Figgis 3rd daughter born circa 1816 married Richard John Hicks on
16.05.1835 at St Peter’s Church. Witness: John Purcell and Mary Hicks.
4 Elizabeth Figgis born circa 1819 married John Nathaniel St Giorgio of South
Frederick Street on 30.07.1841 at St Peter’s Church. John a Solicitor lived at 9
Fortescue Terrace, Rathmines Road and had an office at 4 South Frederick Street.
John formerly of York Street and late of Cremorne Villas, Rathgar died on
08.02.1880 aged 100 years. John St Giorgio executor
5 Margaret born 11.06.1820 married Richard John Hicks, the widower of her sister
Maria on 19.04.1854 at Hackney, Middlesex
6 Edmund Johnstone Figgis, eldest son married Frances Anna Hicks daughter of
Richard Wingfield Hicks of Bachelors Walk at St Mary's Church, Dublin on
21 Oct 1847. Edmund was in partnership with Peter Carroll trading as Figgis &
Carroll, Stationers and Account Book manufacturers of 27 College Green but he
dissolved the partnership in 1854 and then traded as a corn merchant. He was a JP
and a council member of the Chamber of Commerce. The family lived a 2
Palmerston Park, Upper Rathmines (Dartry). Edmund died on 24 Feb 1907 and left
nearly 110K in personal estate, 25K of this was left to various charities.
1 Henry Wingfield Figgis born circa 1849 married Emily Harris, third daughter
of Col R R Harris at St Peter's Church on 4 Apr 1871. Emmie died 2 Dec 1891
at South Hill, Killiney and Henry died 5 Jul 1916 at 'The Chalet' Temple Road,
Rathmines leaving an estate worth more than 70K.
1 Daisy Figgis born circa 1872 married William Herbert Boyd at The
Grosvenor Hall, Dublin 20 7 Feb 1895.
2 Robert Edmund Figgis died 17 Nov 1876.
3 Russell Johnstone Figgis died 16 Dec 1879.
4 Harry Figgis died 16 Jun 1880.
5 Rex Figgis died 13 May 1890.
6 Hilda Constance Figgis died at 'The Chalet' on 16 Sep 1895.
7 May Gertrude Figgis, fourth daughter, died 28 Jan 1957.
Henry secondly married Lucy Jane Allen on 6 Jun 1894 at Merrion Hall.
8 Lucy Jane Figgis born circa 1876.
9 Lydia Anna Figgis born circa 1901.
2 Charles Edward Figgis born circa 1856, a corn and tea merchant married
Augusta Marian Wells, only daughter of Thomas Wells of Gosport at
Marylebone on 9 Jun 1891.
1 Douglas Thomas Figgis born circa 1894 became Chairman of Merchant
Warehousing on Burgh Quay. He married Noreen Ethel Wallis,
daughter of John Dennington Wallis at Delgany on 20 Aug 1924.
2 Frances Figgis born 1852 married John Girdwood Drury of Dartry on 30 Nov 1882 at
Adelaide Road Presbyterian Church.
3 Charles Edward Figgis
4 Edmund Johnstone Figgis
5 Arthur William Figgis, tea merchant, married Mary Anne Deane. The family immigrated
to Calcutta in India. Arthur worked as an agent in the tea business, and founded A W
Figgis & Co.
1 Darrell Figgis born 17 Sep 1882 at Palmerston Park married Emily Tate (Millie) in
1905 at a civil ceremony at Islington. They then married in church in 1907. In
1913 Darrell gave up his job and moved to Achill Island to learn Irish and become
part of the Gaelic revival movement. There, he formed a friendship with the
painter Paul Henry and was sworn into the Irish Volunteers and was the main
organiser of the famous arms shipment that was landed at Howth Pier in 1914.
Darrell did not take part in 1916 rising, but was interned in Reading Gaol. On his
release in 1917 he was appointed Secretary of Sinn Fein, but he was jailed again in
1919. A member of the first Dail, he chaired the committee that drew up the
State's first Constitution in the Shelbourne Hotel. He was attacked in his home by
the IRA in 1922, an event that his wife would never get over. He was elected an
Independent member of the fourth Dail in 1923 and was appointed a member of
the Dail Committee to award the State's first broadcasting licence which came
under investigation for corruption, though this was never proven. In 1924, his
wife Millie ordered a taxi to take her from her home at No 17 Fitzwilliam Street
to the Hellfire Club in the foothills of the Dublin Mountains. Near the Yellow House
in Rathfarnham, she took out a Webley revolver, which had been given to her
husband by Michael Collins, and she shot herself in the head. She was taken to
the Meath Hospital and when her husband arrived, he was handed a blood stained
suicide note expressing her sorrow for the pain she would cause him and referring
to the depression arising from the attack at their home in 1922.
Darrell had also been having an affair with dancing teacher; Rita North. On
discovering that Rita was pregnant, they went to London but Rita died from blood
poisoning after having an abortion. Darrell was found dead in a boarding house,
his room filled with gas, the day after the inquest into Rita's death on 25 Oct 1925.
The verdict was suicide while of unsound mind. He was a prolific writer, poet,
playwright and publisher. He dedicated much of his life to shape a nation and
new state and was then written out of its official history. He was buried in West
Hampstead.
4 Elizabeth Figgis, eldest daughter born circa 1789 died at 55 Richmond Street aged 75 and was
buried at Mount Jerome.
5 Martha Figgis born circa 1800, youngest daughter married the Rev Thomas Gilbert of London
on 11 Aug 1821. The Rev Gilbert preached regularly at the York Street Chapel.
6 Alexander G Figgis, second son, married Jane Cecelia Geary at St Peter Church on 14 Nov 1851.
7 John Figgis born circa 1801. He worked for Gordon, Pollock and company from 1813 until 1821
at which time he became a partner in the firm of druggists. The firm then traded as Ferrier &
Pollock from 16 Capel Street and then traded as Pollock & Figgis & Co from 1827. That company
was dissolved in 1842 and John partnered with T W Oldham of Grafton Street and traded as
Ferris & Oldham carrying on the trade of Druggists and General Merchants. He married Elizabeth
Bradley at St Peters on 27 Feb 1829, she was the eldest daughter of Benjamin Bradley of
Manchester. Figgis and Oldham was bankrupt in 1855. He was a director of Mount Jerome
Cemetery from its inception. The family lived at Victoria Lodge, Donnybrook.
1 Rev John Benjamin Figgis married Harriet Chaffney, widow of Mr Webb on 2 Jul 1862 at
Somerset, England.
2 Emma Sarah Figgis born circa 1840 died a spinster at Sussex on 1 Feb 1903.
3 Samuel Figgis, youngest son moved to London, he married Anne Marie Smith of Sutton
Lodge, Hackney at Old Gravel Pits Church, Hackney 12 Sep 1866.
John secondly married Margaret, the widow of John Moore on 26 Feb 1861. Margaret died at
68 Wellington Road on 31 Aug 1887 aged 74 and John died 23 Feb 1890 aged 94 at Leeson Street.
June Bow & Karen Poff – February 2019/Updated December 2022