Francis John Jones of Seapoint House
Francis John Jones married Mary Newcombe
June 1787 born circa 1760
died 6 Apr 1820 died 7 Nov 1847
London Cheltenham
Francis John Jones of College Green married Mary Newcombe of lower Abbey Street in June
1787. In April 1792 it was announced that a new boarding house would open within a few
days at Seapoint (previously the seat of Lady Osbourne). It was described as being at the
end of Newtown Avenue and opposite Lord Clonmel’s improvements, and close to the sea.
In February 1793 Mr Jones put the lease on his boarding house at No 32 Stephen’s Green
(now part of the Shelbourne Hotel) up for sale. It was four stories high and had 44 feet
frontage and 21 rooms with kitchens vaults and stables. Its large garden ‘opened at the
rere to the Duke of Leinster’s Lawn’. In October 1793 Francis Jones removed from Seapoint
House so that extensive additions could be make and retook the large commodious house
he occupied at 32 Stephen’s Green North and offered board and lodging from the Stephens
Green address from November that year. He reopened Seapoint again in 1794. He took
guests during the winter at half rates and opened the hotel to all guests from 1 Mar to 31st
October each year for the season. In 1797 he re-erected the warm and cold salt water
baths for the use of the residents of the hotel and in 1799 opened a new ballroom and
supper room. A grand ball was held each year and there was a promenade each evening
with a military band and music for dancing. They also provided accommodation for
servants and horses.
In April 1804 F J J was bankrupt, the interest in the lease of the houses and out offices at
Seapoint was put up for sale (345L pa) lives renewable forever and a peppercorn fine each
renewal. The household furniture which included 70 beds and mattresses were also for sale
along with some 3000 bottles of booze. In August that year the annual grand ball was to be
run on a full moon light night on 22nd August, the proprietor now given as his son Francis
Jones. The last grand ball of the season was run on the 24 Sep 1804 with a military and an
additional room to accommodate 300 diners for supper. Mr Jones also had two furnished
commodious houses on the avenue to let for the winter.
In 1807 a further house was taken to the avenue to accommodate the overflow of guests. In
1808 was looking for an active partner in the business. Preferably a married man of experience
with a wife who was competent in management. At this point the hotel was capable of
accommodating over 100 people and 50 horses. In about 1812 Francis John Jones took over
the lease on the Royal Hibernian Hotel from Lucinda Bourne, the proprietress.
In 1814 there was a boat race arranged by Mr Jones senior and admittance was by ticket
through Seapoint Terrace. Houses along the avenue closed their grounds so the admittance
was limited to entry through the terrace. The race was between a flag at Sir H Lees’ demesne
and a flag at Jones’ Baths, six boats took part and the crews were treated to breakfast by Mr
Jones and a military band were stationed at Seapoint Terrace. Numerous races were run
throughout the day. By 1810 Martin Bourke was the proprietor and sole proprietor by 1817.
In 1820 Francis John died in London and the lease on the house occupied by Francis junior
run as a gentleman’s academy was put up for sale and may have been bought by Martin
Bourke at this time.
1 Francis Jones born circa 1790 took over the lease of the Royal Hibernian Hotel,
Dawson Street in 1820 on the death of his father but was insolvent in 1832 and still
insolvent in 1835 and living at Monkstown. He opened the Antrim House Hotel in
Merrion Square North in 1836 and was gone by 1838. He opened Jones Spadaccini
Hotel at Lower Sackville Street (previously run by daughter of Martin Burke of Seafield
House). He was insolvent again in 1844. Francis died 20 Jun 1854.
2 Elizabeth Frances Jones eldest daughter born circa 1799. She was living at Gardiner
Street and married John Brandon at St Thomas’ on 7 Dec 1822. John was a captain in
the 23rd Regiment Bengal Native Infantry. By 1841 John was a major general retired
and they were living at Cheltenham. John died 24 Aug 1866 aged 79 at Cheltenham.
Elizabeth died 19 Nov 1873 at Cheltenham.
1 Mary Frances Brandon eldest daughter born circa 1827 in the East Indies. She
was living at Pittville Villas and married George Swiney on 7 Jul 1852 at St Mary’s
Church, Cheltenham. George was with the 7th Regiment BNI. Col Comdt Swiney
died on 10 Dec 1868 at Cheltenham. Mary Frances died 14 Feb 1910.
1 Elizabeth Swiney born circa 1854 in the East Indies.
2 George Swiney born 10 Nov 1855 at Berhampore, East Indies.
3 Ernest Swiney born circa 1864 in the East Indies.
4 Alexander Swiney born circa 1867 in Cheltenham.
2 Georgina Brandon born circa 1829.
3 Elizabeth J Brandon born circa 1838 in Worthing.
3 George William Jones of the Spadaccini Hotel married Mary Anne Bennett on 3 Apr 1843
at St Thomas’ Church. Mary Anne was the eldest daughter of Captain Bennett of the 5th
Foot.
4 William G Jones was proprietor of the Freemasons Hall and Tavern Hotel in 1826 and
later the Waterford Hotel on Sackville Street. He took over the Spadaccini Hotel in 1837.
5 Frances Elizabeth Jones youngest daughter born circa 1802 married Major John Rolson
Wornum, EIC Servies at Cheltenham in May 1839. Colonel Wornum died at Phoenix Lodge,
Cheltenham on 24 Aug 1857 and Frances went to live with her sister Elizabeth and niece
at Lansdown Crescent, Cheltenham. Frances died 2 Jul 1886 at Cheltenham. Probate to
her niece Mary Frances Swiney.
© June Bow & Karen Poff - July 2024
Return to Seapoint House page
Francis John Jones married Mary Newcombe
June 1787 born circa 1760
died 6 Apr 1820 died 7 Nov 1847
London Cheltenham
Francis John Jones of College Green married Mary Newcombe of lower Abbey Street in June
1787. In April 1792 it was announced that a new boarding house would open within a few
days at Seapoint (previously the seat of Lady Osbourne). It was described as being at the
end of Newtown Avenue and opposite Lord Clonmel’s improvements, and close to the sea.
In February 1793 Mr Jones put the lease on his boarding house at No 32 Stephen’s Green
(now part of the Shelbourne Hotel) up for sale. It was four stories high and had 44 feet
frontage and 21 rooms with kitchens vaults and stables. Its large garden ‘opened at the
rere to the Duke of Leinster’s Lawn’. In October 1793 Francis Jones removed from Seapoint
House so that extensive additions could be make and retook the large commodious house
he occupied at 32 Stephen’s Green North and offered board and lodging from the Stephens
Green address from November that year. He reopened Seapoint again in 1794. He took
guests during the winter at half rates and opened the hotel to all guests from 1 Mar to 31st
October each year for the season. In 1797 he re-erected the warm and cold salt water
baths for the use of the residents of the hotel and in 1799 opened a new ballroom and
supper room. A grand ball was held each year and there was a promenade each evening
with a military band and music for dancing. They also provided accommodation for
servants and horses.
In April 1804 F J J was bankrupt, the interest in the lease of the houses and out offices at
Seapoint was put up for sale (345L pa) lives renewable forever and a peppercorn fine each
renewal. The household furniture which included 70 beds and mattresses were also for sale
along with some 3000 bottles of booze. In August that year the annual grand ball was to be
run on a full moon light night on 22nd August, the proprietor now given as his son Francis
Jones. The last grand ball of the season was run on the 24 Sep 1804 with a military and an
additional room to accommodate 300 diners for supper. Mr Jones also had two furnished
commodious houses on the avenue to let for the winter.
In 1807 a further house was taken to the avenue to accommodate the overflow of guests. In
1808 was looking for an active partner in the business. Preferably a married man of experience
with a wife who was competent in management. At this point the hotel was capable of
accommodating over 100 people and 50 horses. In about 1812 Francis John Jones took over
the lease on the Royal Hibernian Hotel from Lucinda Bourne, the proprietress.
In 1814 there was a boat race arranged by Mr Jones senior and admittance was by ticket
through Seapoint Terrace. Houses along the avenue closed their grounds so the admittance
was limited to entry through the terrace. The race was between a flag at Sir H Lees’ demesne
and a flag at Jones’ Baths, six boats took part and the crews were treated to breakfast by Mr
Jones and a military band were stationed at Seapoint Terrace. Numerous races were run
throughout the day. By 1810 Martin Bourke was the proprietor and sole proprietor by 1817.
In 1820 Francis John died in London and the lease on the house occupied by Francis junior
run as a gentleman’s academy was put up for sale and may have been bought by Martin
Bourke at this time.
1 Francis Jones born circa 1790 took over the lease of the Royal Hibernian Hotel,
Dawson Street in 1820 on the death of his father but was insolvent in 1832 and still
insolvent in 1835 and living at Monkstown. He opened the Antrim House Hotel in
Merrion Square North in 1836 and was gone by 1838. He opened Jones Spadaccini
Hotel at Lower Sackville Street (previously run by daughter of Martin Burke of Seafield
House). He was insolvent again in 1844. Francis died 20 Jun 1854.
2 Elizabeth Frances Jones eldest daughter born circa 1799. She was living at Gardiner
Street and married John Brandon at St Thomas’ on 7 Dec 1822. John was a captain in
the 23rd Regiment Bengal Native Infantry. By 1841 John was a major general retired
and they were living at Cheltenham. John died 24 Aug 1866 aged 79 at Cheltenham.
Elizabeth died 19 Nov 1873 at Cheltenham.
1 Mary Frances Brandon eldest daughter born circa 1827 in the East Indies. She
was living at Pittville Villas and married George Swiney on 7 Jul 1852 at St Mary’s
Church, Cheltenham. George was with the 7th Regiment BNI. Col Comdt Swiney
died on 10 Dec 1868 at Cheltenham. Mary Frances died 14 Feb 1910.
1 Elizabeth Swiney born circa 1854 in the East Indies.
2 George Swiney born 10 Nov 1855 at Berhampore, East Indies.
3 Ernest Swiney born circa 1864 in the East Indies.
4 Alexander Swiney born circa 1867 in Cheltenham.
2 Georgina Brandon born circa 1829.
3 Elizabeth J Brandon born circa 1838 in Worthing.
3 George William Jones of the Spadaccini Hotel married Mary Anne Bennett on 3 Apr 1843
at St Thomas’ Church. Mary Anne was the eldest daughter of Captain Bennett of the 5th
Foot.
4 William G Jones was proprietor of the Freemasons Hall and Tavern Hotel in 1826 and
later the Waterford Hotel on Sackville Street. He took over the Spadaccini Hotel in 1837.
5 Frances Elizabeth Jones youngest daughter born circa 1802 married Major John Rolson
Wornum, EIC Servies at Cheltenham in May 1839. Colonel Wornum died at Phoenix Lodge,
Cheltenham on 24 Aug 1857 and Frances went to live with her sister Elizabeth and niece
at Lansdown Crescent, Cheltenham. Frances died 2 Jul 1886 at Cheltenham. Probate to
her niece Mary Frances Swiney.
© June Bow & Karen Poff - July 2024
Return to Seapoint House page