Hodgens/O'Brien/Meldon (Roman Catholic)
The first record of William Hodgens at Newtown House appears 1835. This is consistent with the
death of Charlotte Deane née O'Meara in 1835. Her husband William Deane died in Canada in 1844
and it is reasonable to assume that he sold the house to William Hodgens soon after Charlotte’s death.
William Hodgens is named later in the Valuation Office Books and also noted in Griffith's Valuation
(1853) as the Lessor although Sir Edward Walsh is the occupant.
Records of the births of their children show that William's wife's name was Anne and a newspaper
notice of her death in 1876 confirm this, but none of the records give her maiden name. A marriage of
William Hodgens and Anne O'Connor took place in 1823. It is likely although not confirmed that these
are the couple that later lived at Newtown House, because Charles O'Connor was a sponsor at the
baptism of their daughter Ada in 1832 while a son is named Charles O'Connor Hodgens at his baptism
in 1835. At least two other children were born to the couple. Young William was born in 1834 and the
press announcement of Ada's marriage notes that she is the second daughter but is silent on the sister's
name.
William the elder died in Paris in 1857. Of his children, Ada is particularly interesting because it was
she who stayed at Newtown House after her father's death. She married Daniel O'Brien in July 1861.
No children have been identified and Daniel died only five years later. His will shows him to have been
a devout Catholic. Several bequests were made to religious institutions. A sum of £100 was left to buy
a gold cross for his sister Mary Anne Holdwright which was then to be left to Mary Anne's daughter
Mrs Little. There are some indications that Daniel came from the north side of Dublin, including his
bequest to Sister Josephine, Superior of the North William Street Convent, to be used to benefit “poor
schools”. Daniel's will was witnessed by a solicitor JD Meldon and in 1868 Ada married another Meldon
– Charles Henry Meldon. The couple had at least two children, respectively James Charles
William 1873 and Edith Maria Agnes 1875. Although Meldon is listed for Newtown House in various
directories, both children were born at 25 Rutland Square at which house Anne Hodgens (Ada's mother)
died in 1876. In addition to Newtown House and 25 Rutland Square, Thom's Directory of 1889 notes
that Meldon had another address in Jermyn Street in London.
Charles died at Rutland Square in 1892 and left effects to the value of £1,976.12.7. Ada was granted
probate in June 1898. Ada herself died at the same place in 1898 and left effects of £2,001.3.9 to her
two children.
William Hodgens Profile
Born
Died 1857 in Paris
Sibling Thomas Hodgens
Married Anne O'Connor 1803-1876. She died in Rutland Square where the family had a house.
Children William 1834
Charles 1835
Daughter
Ada 1832-1898
Married (1st) 1861 Daniel O’Brien died 1867
(2nd) 1868 Charles Henry Meldon 1842-1892
Children James Charles Meldon
Edith Maria Agnes Meldon
Sources General Register Office Ireland, Church records, Directories, Press reports.
Contributor Bríd Nolan, Ross Nolan
Date August 2017
The first record of William Hodgens at Newtown House appears 1835. This is consistent with the
death of Charlotte Deane née O'Meara in 1835. Her husband William Deane died in Canada in 1844
and it is reasonable to assume that he sold the house to William Hodgens soon after Charlotte’s death.
William Hodgens is named later in the Valuation Office Books and also noted in Griffith's Valuation
(1853) as the Lessor although Sir Edward Walsh is the occupant.
Records of the births of their children show that William's wife's name was Anne and a newspaper
notice of her death in 1876 confirm this, but none of the records give her maiden name. A marriage of
William Hodgens and Anne O'Connor took place in 1823. It is likely although not confirmed that these
are the couple that later lived at Newtown House, because Charles O'Connor was a sponsor at the
baptism of their daughter Ada in 1832 while a son is named Charles O'Connor Hodgens at his baptism
in 1835. At least two other children were born to the couple. Young William was born in 1834 and the
press announcement of Ada's marriage notes that she is the second daughter but is silent on the sister's
name.
William the elder died in Paris in 1857. Of his children, Ada is particularly interesting because it was
she who stayed at Newtown House after her father's death. She married Daniel O'Brien in July 1861.
No children have been identified and Daniel died only five years later. His will shows him to have been
a devout Catholic. Several bequests were made to religious institutions. A sum of £100 was left to buy
a gold cross for his sister Mary Anne Holdwright which was then to be left to Mary Anne's daughter
Mrs Little. There are some indications that Daniel came from the north side of Dublin, including his
bequest to Sister Josephine, Superior of the North William Street Convent, to be used to benefit “poor
schools”. Daniel's will was witnessed by a solicitor JD Meldon and in 1868 Ada married another Meldon
– Charles Henry Meldon. The couple had at least two children, respectively James Charles
William 1873 and Edith Maria Agnes 1875. Although Meldon is listed for Newtown House in various
directories, both children were born at 25 Rutland Square at which house Anne Hodgens (Ada's mother)
died in 1876. In addition to Newtown House and 25 Rutland Square, Thom's Directory of 1889 notes
that Meldon had another address in Jermyn Street in London.
Charles died at Rutland Square in 1892 and left effects to the value of £1,976.12.7. Ada was granted
probate in June 1898. Ada herself died at the same place in 1898 and left effects of £2,001.3.9 to her
two children.
William Hodgens Profile
Born
Died 1857 in Paris
Sibling Thomas Hodgens
Married Anne O'Connor 1803-1876. She died in Rutland Square where the family had a house.
Children William 1834
Charles 1835
Daughter
Ada 1832-1898
Married (1st) 1861 Daniel O’Brien died 1867
(2nd) 1868 Charles Henry Meldon 1842-1892
Children James Charles Meldon
Edith Maria Agnes Meldon
Sources General Register Office Ireland, Church records, Directories, Press reports.
Contributor Bríd Nolan, Ross Nolan
Date August 2017