Dillon family of Gracefield
John Blake Dillon married Adelaide Hart
born 5 May 1814 11 Oct 1847
Ballaghaderrin St Andrews
Co Mayo Westland Row
died 15 Sep 1866 died 29 May 1872
Druid Lodge, Killiney St Columba, Killiney
John Blake Dillon born 5 May 1814 third son of Luke Dillon and Anne Valentine. His father
was a farmer and shopkeeper and also acted as land agent to his cousin Patrick Dillon, 11th
Earl of Roscommon. He had a least six siblings and was educated at Maynooth and Trinity
and was called to the Irish Bar in 1842. He was joint editor of the Morning Register along
with Thomas Duffy. He along with Thomas Davis and Charles Gavan Duffy founded a
newspaper called The Nation in 1842. He married Adelaide Hart on 11 Oct 1847 at St
Andrew’s Westland Row, Dublin. Adelaide was the daughter of William Francis Hart, a solicitor
of Leinster Street. He was a Young Irelanders and left Ireland after the abortive rising in 1848.
The went to New York where their eldest son was born. He was admitted to the American Bar
in 1850. He returned to Ireland on amnesty in 1855 and was MP for Tipperary in 1865. He
died on 15 Sep 1866 of cholera at Druid Lodge, Killiney and is buried at Glasnevin. Adelaide
died 29 May 1872 at St Columba, Killiney.
1 Rosalie Dillon baptised 25 Feb 1849 at St Andrew’s Westland Row. Rose died in
Castlerea on 24 Apr 1869 and was buried at Kilcolman Old Graveyard.
2 William J Dillon eldest son born in Brooklyn on 10 Jul 1850 and was called to the Irish
Bar in 1874. He married Elizabeth Radcliffe in May 1885 in Colorado. He wrote a book
on the life of John Mitchell published in 1888. He was a practising attorney in Chicago
and was editor of New World of Chicago newspaper from 1893 to 1902. They were
living at Cook County, Illinois in 1900 with their five children.
3 John Dillon second son born 4 Sep 1851 at Gracefield baptised 14 Sep 1851 at
Booterstown, sponsors Charles Hart and Ann Gavan. He entered the Catholic University
medical school in Cecilia Street and obtained a degree from the College of Surgeons. He
married Elizabeth Matthews at St Wilfred’s Chapel, Brompton Oratory on 21 Nov 1895.
Elizabeth was the eldest daughter of Justice Sir James Matthews. He was an MP and
surgeon (licentiate of RCSI) and living at North Georges Street in 1901. Elizabeth died at
Georges Street on 14 May 1907 aged 42 from influenza. John died in August 1927 at a
London Nursing Home. His body was repatriated and he was buried at Glasnevin.
1 John Matthew Dillon born 1896 was ordained a priest. He was the Parish Priest
of Castleknock and died in 1970.
2 Anne Elizabeth Dillon born 29 Oct 1897 married Dr Patrick J Smyth on 12 Jun 1923
at the Pro Cathedral.
3 Theobald Wolfe Tone Dillon born 1898 became a doctor and died in 1946.
4 Myles Patrick Dillon born 11 Apr 1900. He was an Irish professor at Trinity and
married Elizabeth Caroline Maria (Bessie) La Touche on 24 Aug 1938 at Kells
Registrar’s Office.
5 James Matthew Dillon 26 Sep 1902. He was a barrister and TD for Co Donegal
between 1932 and 1937. He married Maura Phelan on 30 Sep 1942 in Dublin. He was
Minister of Agriculture between 1954 and 1957.
6 Brian Francis Dillon born 13 Mar 1905 was ordained a priest in 1933 for the
Southwark diocese before joining the Benedictine monastery at Glenstal, Co Limerick
in 1934 where he received the habit and the name Matthew.
4 Alice Dillon born circa 1855 died at Fitzwilliam square on 5 Apr 1867.
5 Henry Joseph Dillon fourth son born circa 1856 was a barrister in 1883. He professed at the
Franciscan Church in Killarney in 1887. Father Nicholas died on 12 Jan 1939 at Multyfarnham.
6 Mary Christina Dillon born 9 Feb 1862 baptised at St Andrews died at Ballaghaderrin on
7 Jan 1881. She is buried at Kilcolman Old Graveyard
© June Bow & Karen Poff - January 2025
Return to Gracefield page
John Blake Dillon married Adelaide Hart
born 5 May 1814 11 Oct 1847
Ballaghaderrin St Andrews
Co Mayo Westland Row
died 15 Sep 1866 died 29 May 1872
Druid Lodge, Killiney St Columba, Killiney
John Blake Dillon born 5 May 1814 third son of Luke Dillon and Anne Valentine. His father
was a farmer and shopkeeper and also acted as land agent to his cousin Patrick Dillon, 11th
Earl of Roscommon. He had a least six siblings and was educated at Maynooth and Trinity
and was called to the Irish Bar in 1842. He was joint editor of the Morning Register along
with Thomas Duffy. He along with Thomas Davis and Charles Gavan Duffy founded a
newspaper called The Nation in 1842. He married Adelaide Hart on 11 Oct 1847 at St
Andrew’s Westland Row, Dublin. Adelaide was the daughter of William Francis Hart, a solicitor
of Leinster Street. He was a Young Irelanders and left Ireland after the abortive rising in 1848.
The went to New York where their eldest son was born. He was admitted to the American Bar
in 1850. He returned to Ireland on amnesty in 1855 and was MP for Tipperary in 1865. He
died on 15 Sep 1866 of cholera at Druid Lodge, Killiney and is buried at Glasnevin. Adelaide
died 29 May 1872 at St Columba, Killiney.
1 Rosalie Dillon baptised 25 Feb 1849 at St Andrew’s Westland Row. Rose died in
Castlerea on 24 Apr 1869 and was buried at Kilcolman Old Graveyard.
2 William J Dillon eldest son born in Brooklyn on 10 Jul 1850 and was called to the Irish
Bar in 1874. He married Elizabeth Radcliffe in May 1885 in Colorado. He wrote a book
on the life of John Mitchell published in 1888. He was a practising attorney in Chicago
and was editor of New World of Chicago newspaper from 1893 to 1902. They were
living at Cook County, Illinois in 1900 with their five children.
3 John Dillon second son born 4 Sep 1851 at Gracefield baptised 14 Sep 1851 at
Booterstown, sponsors Charles Hart and Ann Gavan. He entered the Catholic University
medical school in Cecilia Street and obtained a degree from the College of Surgeons. He
married Elizabeth Matthews at St Wilfred’s Chapel, Brompton Oratory on 21 Nov 1895.
Elizabeth was the eldest daughter of Justice Sir James Matthews. He was an MP and
surgeon (licentiate of RCSI) and living at North Georges Street in 1901. Elizabeth died at
Georges Street on 14 May 1907 aged 42 from influenza. John died in August 1927 at a
London Nursing Home. His body was repatriated and he was buried at Glasnevin.
1 John Matthew Dillon born 1896 was ordained a priest. He was the Parish Priest
of Castleknock and died in 1970.
2 Anne Elizabeth Dillon born 29 Oct 1897 married Dr Patrick J Smyth on 12 Jun 1923
at the Pro Cathedral.
3 Theobald Wolfe Tone Dillon born 1898 became a doctor and died in 1946.
4 Myles Patrick Dillon born 11 Apr 1900. He was an Irish professor at Trinity and
married Elizabeth Caroline Maria (Bessie) La Touche on 24 Aug 1938 at Kells
Registrar’s Office.
5 James Matthew Dillon 26 Sep 1902. He was a barrister and TD for Co Donegal
between 1932 and 1937. He married Maura Phelan on 30 Sep 1942 in Dublin. He was
Minister of Agriculture between 1954 and 1957.
6 Brian Francis Dillon born 13 Mar 1905 was ordained a priest in 1933 for the
Southwark diocese before joining the Benedictine monastery at Glenstal, Co Limerick
in 1934 where he received the habit and the name Matthew.
4 Alice Dillon born circa 1855 died at Fitzwilliam square on 5 Apr 1867.
5 Henry Joseph Dillon fourth son born circa 1856 was a barrister in 1883. He professed at the
Franciscan Church in Killarney in 1887. Father Nicholas died on 12 Jan 1939 at Multyfarnham.
6 Mary Christina Dillon born 9 Feb 1862 baptised at St Andrews died at Ballaghaderrin on
7 Jan 1881. She is buried at Kilcolman Old Graveyard
© June Bow & Karen Poff - January 2025
Return to Gracefield page