Bryan family of Jenkinstown, Kilkenny and Fairy Hill, Blackrock
George Bryan married Augustine de Rutart
born circa 1770 8 Aug 1795
died 8 Oct 1843 London died 7 Apr 1841
Kingstown London
George Bryan born circa 1770 son of George Bryan and Catherine Xaveria Byrne of Oporto.
He married Countess Augustine Maria-Louise de Rutaut in London on 8 Aug 1795. Maria-
Louise was the daughter of Count de Rutaut of Nancy, Lorraine. George succeeded to the
Bryan estates at Jenkinstown on the death of his uncle in 1805. In 1806 he was appointed
a major of the Kilkenny militia and retired in 1808. He had a residence at 11 Henrietta Street
from 1816 to 1843 and was a benefactor of North Anne Street, Church. He made claim to
the barony of Slane as the heir of his great grandmother, the Hon Alice Flemming, daughter
of Randal Lord Slane, but failed to establish his right. In 1825 he was believed to be the
richest commoner in Ireland and purchased the estate of Lord Robert Ponsonby Tottenham’s
(Bishop of Clougher); 1200 acres lying between Bennett’s Bridge and Mount Juliet having for
one boundary the river Nore for 30K. He paid for the building of a school house at
Jenkinstown in 1830. A fire at Jenkinstown in 1840 caused £500 worth of damage; it consumed
the dairy, laundry, cider house and private theatre. Augustine died 7 Apr 1841 in London.
Captain George Bryan MP died on 8 Oct 1843 at Kingstown and was buried in the family vault
at St Mary’s Kilkenny.
1 George Bryan born 25 Oct 1796 was educated at Oscott College a. He married Margaret
Talbot on 21 Mar 1820 at the Pro Cathedral. Margaret was the youngest daughter of
William Talbot of Castle Talbot, Wexford and niece to the Earl of Mountnorris and sister
to the Countess of Shrewsbury. A house was built for them on the estate but they lived
mainly on the continent where Margaret was known as the ‘Diamond of Ireland’ and is
purported to be the inspiration for Thomas Moore's 'The Last Rose of Summer'. The had
nine children but only two survived to adulthood. They leased Uppercourt, a house built
by the Montmorency family in Jenkinstown whilst renovation work was taking place at
Jenkinstown House. The portico collapsed in 1845 causing the death of two workmen.
Lieutenant Colonel George Bryan died on 5 Nov 1848 at Uppercourt. Margaret died at
Salthill on 22 Sep 1855.
1 Georgina Augustina Bryan born 7 February 1821 at 11 Henrietta Street baptised at
St Michan’s. As eldest daughter she died in October 1827 at Jenkinstown.
2 Maria Bryan second daughter died in Rome in July 1824.
3 Jeremina Bryan born circa 1825. As eldest daughter she died 2 Aug 1839 at Ostend.
4 Octavia Bryan born circa 1827. As eldest daughter she died 1 Dec 1846 at palazzo
Albani, Rome. In 1850 her parent employed Italian sculptor Vincenzo Gajassi to
create a memorial for her. It was installed at the Franciscan St Idadore’s Church in
Rome.
5 George Leopold Bryan born 29 Nov 1828 at Ballyduff, Kilkenny. Days after his coming
of age, he married Lady Elizabeth Georgiana Conyngham on 6 Dec 1849 at Sir William
M Somerville, chief secretary residence at the lodge in the Phoenix Park in the
presence of the Lord Lieutenant and the Countess of Clarendon. The bride wore
white silk and the ceremony was performed by Rev Meyler of St Andrews R C Church
in Westland Row. Elizabeth was a Protestant and the third daughter of Francis
Nathanial, Marquis Conyngham and Lady Jane Paget. The took Fairy Hill in Blackrock
in 1851. It is thought that Eliza eloped with James George Hay (her cousin) of the 92nd
Highlanders in September 1852. The couple were sighted at Liverpool on route to
America. George was High Sheriff in 1852 and MP for the County of Kilkenny from
1865 until his death. He reduced all the rents from 30s to 20s. He was passionate
about racehorses and fox hunting and in June 1852 he opened a racecourse in
Jenkinstown Park. He and the Marquis Conyngham were the first stewards. He
continued to host large parties with his mother acting as hostess. It is not clear what
happened to Elizabeth but by 1856 Elizabeth is travelling around Ireland, England and
the continent staying at various hotels with her parents and brother. When visiting
Ireland, she stayed at the Bilton Hotel in Freshford. In 1876 George owned 4,612 acres
in Co Kilkenny and Queen's County, the same year Elizabeth was left 90K on the death
of her father and was living at Folkestone when her husband died. George died on
29 Jun 1880 at Dover Street, London and left 25K in personal estate.
1 Mary Margaret Frances Bryan only child born 17 Jan 1852 died a spinster
on 19 Nov 1872 at Jenkinstown. She was interred in a new vault under
the private chapel at Jenkinstown house. The funeral was private and
with only the household and Lord Bellew and his son in attendance.
Elizabeth Bryan secondly married George James Finch-Hatton, 11th Earl of
Winchilsea on 16 Feb 1882 at St Andrew’s Church, Victoria Street. George died in
1887. The Dowager Countess of Winchilsea died 2 Feb 1904 at Asby Lodge,
Putney and was interred at the Conyngham family vault at Patrixbourne, Kent.
6 James Bryan born 1831 at Henrietta Street.
7 Augustus Margaret Gwendoline Bryan born circa 1834 only surviving daughter
married Lord Edward Bellow on 7 Feb 1853. Augusta Mary died 11 May 1904 at
Venice, Italy, widow, late of Barmeath Castle.
1 Patrick George Bellow born 1 Dec 1853 died unmarried 25 May 1874.
2 Charles Bertram Bellow, 3rd Baron.
3 George Leopold Bellow, 4th Baron.
4 Richard Eustace Bellow born 31 July 1858.
2 Mary Napolitana Bryan born circa 1800 married Colonel Sir John Milley Doyle on
1 Oct 1817 at St George’s Church of Ireland, Dublin and later in a Roman Catholic
service at her father’s house in Henrietta Street. They divorced in 1821 and Mary
went to live in France. She was an heir of her aunt Jane Clementina Bryan and
receiver the greater part of her large fortune. She tried to marry Andre Leon Larue
(known as Mansion), a miniature painter but her divorce was not recognised under
French law. They did however marry at the Chapel of the British Embassy in Paris
on 15 Nov 1823. Mary died in February 1851 and was buried in Wiltshire.
3 Daniel Bryan mentioned at the time of his father's death.
4 Anne Elizabeth George born circa 1812. She was the reputed daughter of George
and was granted the use of the name Bryan in 1844. She married Charles
Plowden of Florence on 12 Jul 1847 at the RC Chapel, Georges Street, Portman
Square. She died 6 May 1897 and left 36K in personal estate.
© June Bow & Karen Poff - January 2024
Return to Fairy Hill page
George Bryan married Augustine de Rutart
born circa 1770 8 Aug 1795
died 8 Oct 1843 London died 7 Apr 1841
Kingstown London
George Bryan born circa 1770 son of George Bryan and Catherine Xaveria Byrne of Oporto.
He married Countess Augustine Maria-Louise de Rutaut in London on 8 Aug 1795. Maria-
Louise was the daughter of Count de Rutaut of Nancy, Lorraine. George succeeded to the
Bryan estates at Jenkinstown on the death of his uncle in 1805. In 1806 he was appointed
a major of the Kilkenny militia and retired in 1808. He had a residence at 11 Henrietta Street
from 1816 to 1843 and was a benefactor of North Anne Street, Church. He made claim to
the barony of Slane as the heir of his great grandmother, the Hon Alice Flemming, daughter
of Randal Lord Slane, but failed to establish his right. In 1825 he was believed to be the
richest commoner in Ireland and purchased the estate of Lord Robert Ponsonby Tottenham’s
(Bishop of Clougher); 1200 acres lying between Bennett’s Bridge and Mount Juliet having for
one boundary the river Nore for 30K. He paid for the building of a school house at
Jenkinstown in 1830. A fire at Jenkinstown in 1840 caused £500 worth of damage; it consumed
the dairy, laundry, cider house and private theatre. Augustine died 7 Apr 1841 in London.
Captain George Bryan MP died on 8 Oct 1843 at Kingstown and was buried in the family vault
at St Mary’s Kilkenny.
1 George Bryan born 25 Oct 1796 was educated at Oscott College a. He married Margaret
Talbot on 21 Mar 1820 at the Pro Cathedral. Margaret was the youngest daughter of
William Talbot of Castle Talbot, Wexford and niece to the Earl of Mountnorris and sister
to the Countess of Shrewsbury. A house was built for them on the estate but they lived
mainly on the continent where Margaret was known as the ‘Diamond of Ireland’ and is
purported to be the inspiration for Thomas Moore's 'The Last Rose of Summer'. The had
nine children but only two survived to adulthood. They leased Uppercourt, a house built
by the Montmorency family in Jenkinstown whilst renovation work was taking place at
Jenkinstown House. The portico collapsed in 1845 causing the death of two workmen.
Lieutenant Colonel George Bryan died on 5 Nov 1848 at Uppercourt. Margaret died at
Salthill on 22 Sep 1855.
1 Georgina Augustina Bryan born 7 February 1821 at 11 Henrietta Street baptised at
St Michan’s. As eldest daughter she died in October 1827 at Jenkinstown.
2 Maria Bryan second daughter died in Rome in July 1824.
3 Jeremina Bryan born circa 1825. As eldest daughter she died 2 Aug 1839 at Ostend.
4 Octavia Bryan born circa 1827. As eldest daughter she died 1 Dec 1846 at palazzo
Albani, Rome. In 1850 her parent employed Italian sculptor Vincenzo Gajassi to
create a memorial for her. It was installed at the Franciscan St Idadore’s Church in
Rome.
5 George Leopold Bryan born 29 Nov 1828 at Ballyduff, Kilkenny. Days after his coming
of age, he married Lady Elizabeth Georgiana Conyngham on 6 Dec 1849 at Sir William
M Somerville, chief secretary residence at the lodge in the Phoenix Park in the
presence of the Lord Lieutenant and the Countess of Clarendon. The bride wore
white silk and the ceremony was performed by Rev Meyler of St Andrews R C Church
in Westland Row. Elizabeth was a Protestant and the third daughter of Francis
Nathanial, Marquis Conyngham and Lady Jane Paget. The took Fairy Hill in Blackrock
in 1851. It is thought that Eliza eloped with James George Hay (her cousin) of the 92nd
Highlanders in September 1852. The couple were sighted at Liverpool on route to
America. George was High Sheriff in 1852 and MP for the County of Kilkenny from
1865 until his death. He reduced all the rents from 30s to 20s. He was passionate
about racehorses and fox hunting and in June 1852 he opened a racecourse in
Jenkinstown Park. He and the Marquis Conyngham were the first stewards. He
continued to host large parties with his mother acting as hostess. It is not clear what
happened to Elizabeth but by 1856 Elizabeth is travelling around Ireland, England and
the continent staying at various hotels with her parents and brother. When visiting
Ireland, she stayed at the Bilton Hotel in Freshford. In 1876 George owned 4,612 acres
in Co Kilkenny and Queen's County, the same year Elizabeth was left 90K on the death
of her father and was living at Folkestone when her husband died. George died on
29 Jun 1880 at Dover Street, London and left 25K in personal estate.
1 Mary Margaret Frances Bryan only child born 17 Jan 1852 died a spinster
on 19 Nov 1872 at Jenkinstown. She was interred in a new vault under
the private chapel at Jenkinstown house. The funeral was private and
with only the household and Lord Bellew and his son in attendance.
Elizabeth Bryan secondly married George James Finch-Hatton, 11th Earl of
Winchilsea on 16 Feb 1882 at St Andrew’s Church, Victoria Street. George died in
1887. The Dowager Countess of Winchilsea died 2 Feb 1904 at Asby Lodge,
Putney and was interred at the Conyngham family vault at Patrixbourne, Kent.
6 James Bryan born 1831 at Henrietta Street.
7 Augustus Margaret Gwendoline Bryan born circa 1834 only surviving daughter
married Lord Edward Bellow on 7 Feb 1853. Augusta Mary died 11 May 1904 at
Venice, Italy, widow, late of Barmeath Castle.
1 Patrick George Bellow born 1 Dec 1853 died unmarried 25 May 1874.
2 Charles Bertram Bellow, 3rd Baron.
3 George Leopold Bellow, 4th Baron.
4 Richard Eustace Bellow born 31 July 1858.
2 Mary Napolitana Bryan born circa 1800 married Colonel Sir John Milley Doyle on
1 Oct 1817 at St George’s Church of Ireland, Dublin and later in a Roman Catholic
service at her father’s house in Henrietta Street. They divorced in 1821 and Mary
went to live in France. She was an heir of her aunt Jane Clementina Bryan and
receiver the greater part of her large fortune. She tried to marry Andre Leon Larue
(known as Mansion), a miniature painter but her divorce was not recognised under
French law. They did however marry at the Chapel of the British Embassy in Paris
on 15 Nov 1823. Mary died in February 1851 and was buried in Wiltshire.
3 Daniel Bryan mentioned at the time of his father's death.
4 Anne Elizabeth George born circa 1812. She was the reputed daughter of George
and was granted the use of the name Bryan in 1844. She married Charles
Plowden of Florence on 12 Jul 1847 at the RC Chapel, Georges Street, Portman
Square. She died 6 May 1897 and left 36K in personal estate.
© June Bow & Karen Poff - January 2024
Return to Fairy Hill page