Malcomson Family of Leopardstown Park House
The Malcomson family owned numerous corn mills and stores in Clonmel and Portlaw
and they had interests in Steamship Companies and Railways in that area. The model
town of Portlaw 2 kilometres to the west of Rocketts Castle was constructed by the
Malcomson family to house their employees. It was here that the 'Portlaw roof' was
developed. Bowlike trusses were covered with timber battons, then calico cloth
followed by a layer of tar.
Joseph Malcomson born circa 1798, eldest son of David Malcomson of the wealthy
Quaker Family of Portlaw, Clonmel married Charlotte Pim born 24.04.1803 daughter of
Richard Pim and Mary Ann Robinson at the Friends Meeting House, Eustace Street,
Dublin on 21.07.1829. Joseph Malcomson died on 15.04.1858 at Mayfield House,
Portlaw and was buried at Clonmel Quaker Cemetery.
Shortly after Joseph died, Charlotte withdrew her share in the Malcomson business.
Charlotte living at Vevay in County Wicklow purchased Leopardstown House circa 1861
on approximately 92 acres. Charlotte commissioned John Skipton Mulvany to reconstruct
the house with alterations to the stables at a cost of £6,500, the builder was William
Crowe. Charlotte’s brother George Pim lived nearby at Brennanstown House.
In 1871 Charlotte Malcomson deeded the property at Leopardstown to her son-in-law
Arthur Kiely Ussher because of the love and affection she had for her daughter Mary.
Arthur Ussher put the house up for sale in January 1877 describing it as a large mansion
for a family of position together with 100 acres of beautiful park like meadows. He refers
to improvements made in the last 12 years. Rebuilding of the house had cost £8,000
and the sale price of the estate was £15,000.
The Usshers together with Charlotte Malcomson went to live in London. Charlotte died
27.12.1897 at Folkestone, England. Arthur Ussher ended his life on 01.05.1908 and Mary
his wife died 14.05.1909 of Woodhurst, Crawley, England.
1 David Malcomson born 05.07.1830 at Melview, near Clonmel. He married "out" and
died 19.07.1867 Waterford.
2 George Pim Malcomson born 22 Jul 1832.
3 Marianne Malcomson born 17.03.1834 at Mayfield died 16.05.1848 at Mayfield.
4 Richard Pim Malcomson born 11.09.1835 at Mayfield House died 30.06.1847 Waterford.
5 Frederick Malcomson born 08.09.1837 at Mayfield House married Alice Helen Bloomfield
4th daughter of Fitzmaurice Gustavus Bloomfield of New Park, Co Waterford on
02.06.1874 at the Abbey Church, Waterford. Frederick died on 20.12.1876 at Clodagh
House, Portlaw.
6 Mary Malcomson born 20.11.1840 married Arthur Kiely Ussher son of Arthur Ussher of
Ballysaggartmore, County Waterford on 05.05.1863 at Monkstown Church. In October
1843 his father Arthur Kiely was granted a change of name from Kiely to Usher out of
respect for his grandmother Sarah. The Kiely family had been large landowners.
© June Bow & Karen Poff - November 2017
The Malcomson family owned numerous corn mills and stores in Clonmel and Portlaw
and they had interests in Steamship Companies and Railways in that area. The model
town of Portlaw 2 kilometres to the west of Rocketts Castle was constructed by the
Malcomson family to house their employees. It was here that the 'Portlaw roof' was
developed. Bowlike trusses were covered with timber battons, then calico cloth
followed by a layer of tar.
Joseph Malcomson born circa 1798, eldest son of David Malcomson of the wealthy
Quaker Family of Portlaw, Clonmel married Charlotte Pim born 24.04.1803 daughter of
Richard Pim and Mary Ann Robinson at the Friends Meeting House, Eustace Street,
Dublin on 21.07.1829. Joseph Malcomson died on 15.04.1858 at Mayfield House,
Portlaw and was buried at Clonmel Quaker Cemetery.
Shortly after Joseph died, Charlotte withdrew her share in the Malcomson business.
Charlotte living at Vevay in County Wicklow purchased Leopardstown House circa 1861
on approximately 92 acres. Charlotte commissioned John Skipton Mulvany to reconstruct
the house with alterations to the stables at a cost of £6,500, the builder was William
Crowe. Charlotte’s brother George Pim lived nearby at Brennanstown House.
In 1871 Charlotte Malcomson deeded the property at Leopardstown to her son-in-law
Arthur Kiely Ussher because of the love and affection she had for her daughter Mary.
Arthur Ussher put the house up for sale in January 1877 describing it as a large mansion
for a family of position together with 100 acres of beautiful park like meadows. He refers
to improvements made in the last 12 years. Rebuilding of the house had cost £8,000
and the sale price of the estate was £15,000.
The Usshers together with Charlotte Malcomson went to live in London. Charlotte died
27.12.1897 at Folkestone, England. Arthur Ussher ended his life on 01.05.1908 and Mary
his wife died 14.05.1909 of Woodhurst, Crawley, England.
1 David Malcomson born 05.07.1830 at Melview, near Clonmel. He married "out" and
died 19.07.1867 Waterford.
2 George Pim Malcomson born 22 Jul 1832.
3 Marianne Malcomson born 17.03.1834 at Mayfield died 16.05.1848 at Mayfield.
4 Richard Pim Malcomson born 11.09.1835 at Mayfield House died 30.06.1847 Waterford.
5 Frederick Malcomson born 08.09.1837 at Mayfield House married Alice Helen Bloomfield
4th daughter of Fitzmaurice Gustavus Bloomfield of New Park, Co Waterford on
02.06.1874 at the Abbey Church, Waterford. Frederick died on 20.12.1876 at Clodagh
House, Portlaw.
6 Mary Malcomson born 20.11.1840 married Arthur Kiely Ussher son of Arthur Ussher of
Ballysaggartmore, County Waterford on 05.05.1863 at Monkstown Church. In October
1843 his father Arthur Kiely was granted a change of name from Kiely to Usher out of
respect for his grandmother Sarah. The Kiely family had been large landowners.
© June Bow & Karen Poff - November 2017