Gill of Roebuck House
Michael Gill married Mary Catherine Harte
born circa 1794 26 Jan 1836 born circa 1812
died 20 Mar 1879 Pro Cathedral died 15 May 1860
Sackville Street Roundtown
Michael Gill born circa 1794 son of Henry Gill. He was a commercial publisher of 180 Great
Brunswick Street and married Mary Harte on 26 Jan 1836 at the Pro Cathedral. Mary was
the daughter of the late Simon Harte of Kilkenny. In 1837 he became the lessee of the
College Printing Office (Dublin University Press) where is had worked as apprentice and
later manager, then partner for Graisberry & Campbell. In 1856 he acquired the business
of James McGlashan and traded as McGlashan & Gill of 50 Upper Sackville Street. He
published the ‘Annals of the Four Masters’, Petrie’s ‘Round Towers’ and the journals of the
Archaeological Society. Mary Catherine died on15 May 1860 at Horton, Roundtown and
was buried at Glasnevin. Michael retired from the University Printing Office in 1875 and his
post was taken over by Peter Murphy. In 1876 Michael changed the name of the firm to
M H Gill and Son. Michael died on 20 Mar 1879 at Sackville Street late of Horton in
Roundtown (Terenure). Henry of Eccles Street, his son the informant. He was buried in
the O’Connell Circle at Glasnevin. He left 40K on personal estate of which at least 1250 was
left to charity.
1 Henry Joseph Gill eldest son born Dublin City, baptised 1836 at St Andrews. He
was educated at Castleknock and graduated Trinity College. He was a book
publisher of 50 upper Sackville Street and married Mary Julia Keating on
24 May 1870 at St Paul’s Church, Aran Quay. Mary was resident at 4 Cumberland
Place and the daughter of James Keating, a commission agent. Henry was a
founder member and printer to the Society for the Preservation of the Irish
Language. He patented the Gill hot rolling machine in 1878. This was a device
for drying pressing and calendaring the paper as it came off the press. They
printed school texts, songs, novel and a hugh array of religious books. Henry was
a member of Dublin City Council from 1877 and a home-rule MP for Co Westmeath
from 1880 to 1883, and for Limerick City from 1885 to 1888. Henry died
29 Oct 1903 at Roebuck House and left 40K in personal estate. Mary died
3 May 1905 at Roebuck House aged 58 and left 38K in personal estate Michael J
Gill the informant.
1 Michael Joseph Gill eldest son born 19 Apr 1871 at 2 Cabra Parade was
educated at Clongowes and University College Dublin. He took over the
publishing house on the death of his father. He was secretary and
treasurer of the National Literary Society. He died unmarried on
27 May 1913 at Orpington, Kent. Probate to Richard Gill and Patrick
Keohane.
2 Henry Vincent Gill born 8 Jul 1872 (registered in 1881) at 2 Cabra Parade
became a Jesuit priest. Rev Gill died 27 Nov 1945 at St Vincent’s private
nursing home.
3 James Geoffrey (Jeffrey) Gill third son born 17 Nov 1873 at St John’s Terrace,
NCR. He was educated at Clongowes and the RCSI. He was a medical
doctor, joined the RAMC and served in South Africa, Burma and India. He
attained the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in 1917. He was awarded the CBE
and DSO. He married Norah Hanrahan on 18 Jun 1917 at the Church of St
Eustace, Paris. Norah was the daughter of J W Hanrahan, Clerk of the
Crown. He secondly married Elizabeth Mary Harrington on 23 Nov 1921 at
St Andrews, Westland Row. Elizabeth was the youngest daughter of John
Harrington of Cannycourt, Co Kildare and was living at the Nurses Hostel
in St Vincent’s Hospital. He died 12 Nov 1942 at Lasca an Baile, Sutton and
was buried at Glasnevin.
4 Joseph Patrick Gabriel Gill born 18 Mar 1876 in Dublin City was a bookseller
in 1901. He died a bachelor 7 Jul 1915 at St John of God, Stillorgan.
5 Gerald Francis Xavier Gill born 10 Aug 1877 in 39 Eccles Street, Dublin City
was a stockbroker in 1901. He married Mary (May) McMahon Murphy on
23 Apr 1902 at University Church. May was the daughter of James Murphy
from Carrick on Suir. Gerald emigrated to America in 1908. May and her
son were living with her mother in 1911 at Carrick on Suir.
1 Henry Joseph Gill born 16 May 1905 at Brookfield Terrace,
Donnybrook.
6 Mary Catherine Gill born circa 2 Nov 1879 at 39 Eccles Street, Dublin City.
Mary married William Harrington on 16 Jun 1903 at Donnybrook Church.
William was the son of John Harrington of Skerryfield, Rathfarnham.
7 Richard Frederick Aloysius Gill youngest son born 7 Apr 1880 at Roebuck
House, Clonskeagh was a bookseller in 1901. He was resident at Orwell
Park and married Alice Magdalane Scallon on 23 Jan 1907 at St Francis
Xavier Church, in Upper Gardiner Street. Rev H V Gill assisted at the service.
Alice was the youngest daughter of Willian Scallan, solicitor of Mountjoy
Square and Rockview, Dalkey. They were living at Sandford Road in 1911
and only two of their four children had survived. Richard took over the
publishing house on the death of his brother Michael in 1913. Prayer
Books for export was a significant part of their trade. Richard died
6 Jan 1923 at St Nessan’s, Sutton. The management of the company was
taken on by Patrick J Keohane until his step son was of age.
1 William Joseph Sinnott Gill only son born 10 May 1908 at Mountjoy
Square. He married Kathleen M (Kitty) Quigley of St Kevin’s, Sutton
on 23 Jun 1937 at St Andrew’s Church, Westland Row. Kathleen
was the youngest daughter of P J Quigley of Birr. He took over the
business and was managing director. Kitty died 25 Feb 1940 at a
Sutton nursing home after giving birth to a son. She was buried at
Glasnevin and President De Valera and his wife attended her
funeral. The firm ceased printing in 1965, partnered with MacMillan
in 1968 and in 2013 the Gill family bought out MacMillan.
2 Maeve Catherine Gill born 20 Dec 1909 at Ellesmere, Orwell Park
unmarried in 1940.
Alice Gill resident at St Nessan’s Sutton secondly married Patrick J Keoghan
on 10 Nov 1926 at St James’s Church. Her son and daughter acted as
witnesses. Patrick was the company secretary of M H Gill & Son.
8 Nora Mary Gill born 2 May 1881 at Roebuck House died 3 Dec 1884 at
Roebuck House and was buried at Glasnevin.
9 Eveleen Teresa Gill born 1882 at Roebuck House died 24 Jul 1888 and was
buried at Glasnevin.
2 Edward Gill baptised 1838 at St Andrews.
3 Frederick Gill baptised 1841 at St Andrews.
4 Mary Catherine Gill baptised 1842 at St Andrews.
5 Alice Gill baptised 1846 at St Andrews.
6 Michael Patrick Gill baptised 1848 at St Andrews.
© June Bow & Karen Poff - November 2023
Return to Roebuck House page
Michael Gill married Mary Catherine Harte
born circa 1794 26 Jan 1836 born circa 1812
died 20 Mar 1879 Pro Cathedral died 15 May 1860
Sackville Street Roundtown
Michael Gill born circa 1794 son of Henry Gill. He was a commercial publisher of 180 Great
Brunswick Street and married Mary Harte on 26 Jan 1836 at the Pro Cathedral. Mary was
the daughter of the late Simon Harte of Kilkenny. In 1837 he became the lessee of the
College Printing Office (Dublin University Press) where is had worked as apprentice and
later manager, then partner for Graisberry & Campbell. In 1856 he acquired the business
of James McGlashan and traded as McGlashan & Gill of 50 Upper Sackville Street. He
published the ‘Annals of the Four Masters’, Petrie’s ‘Round Towers’ and the journals of the
Archaeological Society. Mary Catherine died on15 May 1860 at Horton, Roundtown and
was buried at Glasnevin. Michael retired from the University Printing Office in 1875 and his
post was taken over by Peter Murphy. In 1876 Michael changed the name of the firm to
M H Gill and Son. Michael died on 20 Mar 1879 at Sackville Street late of Horton in
Roundtown (Terenure). Henry of Eccles Street, his son the informant. He was buried in
the O’Connell Circle at Glasnevin. He left 40K on personal estate of which at least 1250 was
left to charity.
1 Henry Joseph Gill eldest son born Dublin City, baptised 1836 at St Andrews. He
was educated at Castleknock and graduated Trinity College. He was a book
publisher of 50 upper Sackville Street and married Mary Julia Keating on
24 May 1870 at St Paul’s Church, Aran Quay. Mary was resident at 4 Cumberland
Place and the daughter of James Keating, a commission agent. Henry was a
founder member and printer to the Society for the Preservation of the Irish
Language. He patented the Gill hot rolling machine in 1878. This was a device
for drying pressing and calendaring the paper as it came off the press. They
printed school texts, songs, novel and a hugh array of religious books. Henry was
a member of Dublin City Council from 1877 and a home-rule MP for Co Westmeath
from 1880 to 1883, and for Limerick City from 1885 to 1888. Henry died
29 Oct 1903 at Roebuck House and left 40K in personal estate. Mary died
3 May 1905 at Roebuck House aged 58 and left 38K in personal estate Michael J
Gill the informant.
1 Michael Joseph Gill eldest son born 19 Apr 1871 at 2 Cabra Parade was
educated at Clongowes and University College Dublin. He took over the
publishing house on the death of his father. He was secretary and
treasurer of the National Literary Society. He died unmarried on
27 May 1913 at Orpington, Kent. Probate to Richard Gill and Patrick
Keohane.
2 Henry Vincent Gill born 8 Jul 1872 (registered in 1881) at 2 Cabra Parade
became a Jesuit priest. Rev Gill died 27 Nov 1945 at St Vincent’s private
nursing home.
3 James Geoffrey (Jeffrey) Gill third son born 17 Nov 1873 at St John’s Terrace,
NCR. He was educated at Clongowes and the RCSI. He was a medical
doctor, joined the RAMC and served in South Africa, Burma and India. He
attained the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in 1917. He was awarded the CBE
and DSO. He married Norah Hanrahan on 18 Jun 1917 at the Church of St
Eustace, Paris. Norah was the daughter of J W Hanrahan, Clerk of the
Crown. He secondly married Elizabeth Mary Harrington on 23 Nov 1921 at
St Andrews, Westland Row. Elizabeth was the youngest daughter of John
Harrington of Cannycourt, Co Kildare and was living at the Nurses Hostel
in St Vincent’s Hospital. He died 12 Nov 1942 at Lasca an Baile, Sutton and
was buried at Glasnevin.
4 Joseph Patrick Gabriel Gill born 18 Mar 1876 in Dublin City was a bookseller
in 1901. He died a bachelor 7 Jul 1915 at St John of God, Stillorgan.
5 Gerald Francis Xavier Gill born 10 Aug 1877 in 39 Eccles Street, Dublin City
was a stockbroker in 1901. He married Mary (May) McMahon Murphy on
23 Apr 1902 at University Church. May was the daughter of James Murphy
from Carrick on Suir. Gerald emigrated to America in 1908. May and her
son were living with her mother in 1911 at Carrick on Suir.
1 Henry Joseph Gill born 16 May 1905 at Brookfield Terrace,
Donnybrook.
6 Mary Catherine Gill born circa 2 Nov 1879 at 39 Eccles Street, Dublin City.
Mary married William Harrington on 16 Jun 1903 at Donnybrook Church.
William was the son of John Harrington of Skerryfield, Rathfarnham.
7 Richard Frederick Aloysius Gill youngest son born 7 Apr 1880 at Roebuck
House, Clonskeagh was a bookseller in 1901. He was resident at Orwell
Park and married Alice Magdalane Scallon on 23 Jan 1907 at St Francis
Xavier Church, in Upper Gardiner Street. Rev H V Gill assisted at the service.
Alice was the youngest daughter of Willian Scallan, solicitor of Mountjoy
Square and Rockview, Dalkey. They were living at Sandford Road in 1911
and only two of their four children had survived. Richard took over the
publishing house on the death of his brother Michael in 1913. Prayer
Books for export was a significant part of their trade. Richard died
6 Jan 1923 at St Nessan’s, Sutton. The management of the company was
taken on by Patrick J Keohane until his step son was of age.
1 William Joseph Sinnott Gill only son born 10 May 1908 at Mountjoy
Square. He married Kathleen M (Kitty) Quigley of St Kevin’s, Sutton
on 23 Jun 1937 at St Andrew’s Church, Westland Row. Kathleen
was the youngest daughter of P J Quigley of Birr. He took over the
business and was managing director. Kitty died 25 Feb 1940 at a
Sutton nursing home after giving birth to a son. She was buried at
Glasnevin and President De Valera and his wife attended her
funeral. The firm ceased printing in 1965, partnered with MacMillan
in 1968 and in 2013 the Gill family bought out MacMillan.
2 Maeve Catherine Gill born 20 Dec 1909 at Ellesmere, Orwell Park
unmarried in 1940.
Alice Gill resident at St Nessan’s Sutton secondly married Patrick J Keoghan
on 10 Nov 1926 at St James’s Church. Her son and daughter acted as
witnesses. Patrick was the company secretary of M H Gill & Son.
8 Nora Mary Gill born 2 May 1881 at Roebuck House died 3 Dec 1884 at
Roebuck House and was buried at Glasnevin.
9 Eveleen Teresa Gill born 1882 at Roebuck House died 24 Jul 1888 and was
buried at Glasnevin.
2 Edward Gill baptised 1838 at St Andrews.
3 Frederick Gill baptised 1841 at St Andrews.
4 Mary Catherine Gill baptised 1842 at St Andrews.
5 Alice Gill baptised 1846 at St Andrews.
6 Michael Patrick Gill baptised 1848 at St Andrews.
© June Bow & Karen Poff - November 2023
Return to Roebuck House page