Fitzwilliam Square 1903
The Fry family of Herbert Hill Dundrum
Thomas Fry eldest son of John Fry of Woodlands, Cullenswood Avenue Ranelagh married
Esther Clarkson. He was treasurer of the National Association for the Freedom of Worship,
a group which wanted to abolish pew rental. A furniture dealer, he traded as Messrs Fry & Co
from 40 O’Connell Street.
Thomas Fry married Esther Maria Clarkson
born circa 1842 7 Sep 1865 born circa 1867
died 31 May 1902 St Peters died 31 Mar 1918
Rathmines London
buried Mt Jerome buried Mt Jerome
1 Mary Constance Fry born 17 Sep 1866 at Palmerston Road, Rathmines married Rev
Edward A Boulter, the curate of Blessington & Kilbride on 7 Jun 1892 at Leeson Park.
2 Emma Louisa Fry born 19 Aug 1867 at Palmerston Road, Rathmines died August 1958 and
was buried at Mount Jerome with her parents.
3 Son Fry born 17 Dec 1868 at 9 Palmerston Road.
3 Edith Frances Fry born 17 Mar 1870 at 9 Palmerston Road, Rathmines died 1 Aug 1882 and
was buried at Mount Jerome.
4 Sydney Lawrence Fry, second son born 21 Nov 1871 at 9 Palmerston Road Rathmines
married Emilie Mabel Sampson from Lancashire on 3 Jun 1903 at West Kirby, Cheshire.
Sydney was the Dublin manager with the London & Lancashire Insurance Company. He
was an International Lawn Tennis player and played until 1913. He then took on the role
of secretary to the East of Ireland Tournament series which was played at the Pavilion
Gardens in Kingstown. He was also a swimmer and in 1889 saved a boy from drowning in
the Liffey. They lived at Herbert Hill from 1920 to 1935. Sydney died 26 Dec 1935 at
Herbert Hill and was buried at Kilternan. Emilie died 3 Jun 1946 at Halsten, Richmond
Road and was buried with her husband.
1 Cyril Lawrence Fry born 14 Apr 1905 at Dodder Cottage, Rathfarnham. As a young
boy was fascinated by the trains that ran along his back garden on the Harcourt
Street line. Cyril went to boarding school in England. He helped start a model
railway club at his school. When he was 17, he became an apprentice and went
on to become an engineer with the Inchicore Railway Works in Dublin. Cyril
married Nancy McMullen in 1934. Throughout his working career, he spent his
spare time building over 350 precision made models. His attic was laid out to
accommodate and display them. The setup included signal lights and level
crossing barriers which all worked automatically.
Often working from original plans from the railway companies to get exact details
and scale. The wheels and doors were made in their own mould which was filled
with hot metal. Once cooled they were filed into shape on a lathe. Cyril then hand
painted the model with a small brush to enable a name to be added to the model.
Cyril died in 1972 and his collection of models was purchased by Dublin Regional
Tourism and initially stored in the CIE Works at Inchicore before going on display
at Malahide Castle.
At the present time the collection can be seen at the newly restored Casino
cottage in Malahide village. Cyril Fry will be remembered for his lifelong passion
for trains.
2 Edward Fry born, organist and choirmaster at St Bartholomew’s Church.
5 Edward Dawson Fry born 12 May 1873 married Esther Maiben Roe on 24 July 1899 at the
Church of the Holy Trinity, Rathmines. He secondly married Nora Smyth, divorcee and
moved to Greystones.
6 John Henry Fry fourth son born 27 Dec 1874 married Margaret McKenzie 25 Oct 1905 at
St Paul’s Church Dublin. They had six children including twin girls. John died at Clontarf in
1926.
7 George Ernest Fry born 15 Oct 1876 at 9 Palmerston Road, took Holy orders and was rector
at Slane.
©June Bow & Karen Poff – November 2019/Update January 2020
Thomas Fry eldest son of John Fry of Woodlands, Cullenswood Avenue Ranelagh married
Esther Clarkson. He was treasurer of the National Association for the Freedom of Worship,
a group which wanted to abolish pew rental. A furniture dealer, he traded as Messrs Fry & Co
from 40 O’Connell Street.
Thomas Fry married Esther Maria Clarkson
born circa 1842 7 Sep 1865 born circa 1867
died 31 May 1902 St Peters died 31 Mar 1918
Rathmines London
buried Mt Jerome buried Mt Jerome
1 Mary Constance Fry born 17 Sep 1866 at Palmerston Road, Rathmines married Rev
Edward A Boulter, the curate of Blessington & Kilbride on 7 Jun 1892 at Leeson Park.
2 Emma Louisa Fry born 19 Aug 1867 at Palmerston Road, Rathmines died August 1958 and
was buried at Mount Jerome with her parents.
3 Son Fry born 17 Dec 1868 at 9 Palmerston Road.
3 Edith Frances Fry born 17 Mar 1870 at 9 Palmerston Road, Rathmines died 1 Aug 1882 and
was buried at Mount Jerome.
4 Sydney Lawrence Fry, second son born 21 Nov 1871 at 9 Palmerston Road Rathmines
married Emilie Mabel Sampson from Lancashire on 3 Jun 1903 at West Kirby, Cheshire.
Sydney was the Dublin manager with the London & Lancashire Insurance Company. He
was an International Lawn Tennis player and played until 1913. He then took on the role
of secretary to the East of Ireland Tournament series which was played at the Pavilion
Gardens in Kingstown. He was also a swimmer and in 1889 saved a boy from drowning in
the Liffey. They lived at Herbert Hill from 1920 to 1935. Sydney died 26 Dec 1935 at
Herbert Hill and was buried at Kilternan. Emilie died 3 Jun 1946 at Halsten, Richmond
Road and was buried with her husband.
1 Cyril Lawrence Fry born 14 Apr 1905 at Dodder Cottage, Rathfarnham. As a young
boy was fascinated by the trains that ran along his back garden on the Harcourt
Street line. Cyril went to boarding school in England. He helped start a model
railway club at his school. When he was 17, he became an apprentice and went
on to become an engineer with the Inchicore Railway Works in Dublin. Cyril
married Nancy McMullen in 1934. Throughout his working career, he spent his
spare time building over 350 precision made models. His attic was laid out to
accommodate and display them. The setup included signal lights and level
crossing barriers which all worked automatically.
Often working from original plans from the railway companies to get exact details
and scale. The wheels and doors were made in their own mould which was filled
with hot metal. Once cooled they were filed into shape on a lathe. Cyril then hand
painted the model with a small brush to enable a name to be added to the model.
Cyril died in 1972 and his collection of models was purchased by Dublin Regional
Tourism and initially stored in the CIE Works at Inchicore before going on display
at Malahide Castle.
At the present time the collection can be seen at the newly restored Casino
cottage in Malahide village. Cyril Fry will be remembered for his lifelong passion
for trains.
2 Edward Fry born, organist and choirmaster at St Bartholomew’s Church.
5 Edward Dawson Fry born 12 May 1873 married Esther Maiben Roe on 24 July 1899 at the
Church of the Holy Trinity, Rathmines. He secondly married Nora Smyth, divorcee and
moved to Greystones.
6 John Henry Fry fourth son born 27 Dec 1874 married Margaret McKenzie 25 Oct 1905 at
St Paul’s Church Dublin. They had six children including twin girls. John died at Clontarf in
1926.
7 George Ernest Fry born 15 Oct 1876 at 9 Palmerston Road, took Holy orders and was rector
at Slane.
©June Bow & Karen Poff – November 2019/Update January 2020