DRAFT for use on Stradbrook
McCormick dynasty of Blackrock, Dun Laoghaire and Monkstown
The Rev Charles McCormick and Henrietta Smith
Charles McCormick was born circa 1778 in Co Tyrone to James McCormick and unknown Crozier. It
seems that as a small child in Co Tyrone, he was taken by his mother (who was herself a member of the
Established Church) to hear John Wesley himself speak. As an adult in 1800 in Co Tyrone, Charles
McCormick heard a Methodist preacher and was immediately converted. The conversion, it is alleged in
Methodist sources, had the drama of a ‘Road to Damascus’ experience. Seven years later he committed
himself to the life of a travelling preacher of the Methodist gospel and went immediately to preach in
Co Mayo. There he met Henrietta Smith (b 1790 to Samuel Smith and Jane Huston) whom he married in
1811. Having spent most of their married life following Charles’s mission, the couple came to Dublin in
1853 to live in Pottery Cottage (Monkstown). Charles and Henrietta had seven (known) children. None
of them followed Charles into ministry although the family identified as Methodist and at least one son,
William Ormsby, was active in his church in Dun Laoghaire. Charles died at Pottery Cottage in 1863 and
Henrietta in 1865. Both are buried in Deansgrange Cemetery.
1 James McCormick born circa 1812.
2 John McCormick, son of Rev Charles McCormick and Henrietta Smith, is listed in Thom's
Directory as residing in Stradbrook House in 1860. When he came there is not clear. He
had earlier lived in Mallow Co Cork where he married Eliza Rice in 1838. Eliza was the daughter
of Samuel Rice and Catherine Gardiner. John and Eliza had 11 (known) children, four daughters
and seven sons.
Unlike his Minister father, John became a coal merchant and began his business in Mallow
where where at least five of his children were born. By 1850 however the family had moved to
Dublin where John acquired a coal business, formerly owned by Thomas Peile, at Luke Street
and Great Brunswick Street or had bought him out. Peile’s business was well established by this
time, being listed in trade directories since the 1820s. The McCormick coal business acquired
further storerooms at City Quay and eventually had its main offices at 7 D’Olier Street. In 1897
McCormicks merged with Tedcastle to become Tedcastle McCormick. John was a tough business
and in 1890 he banned unionisation from his dockyard, causing a strike that spread well beyond
his own dockyard and involving some 2000 men. When he died of old age in 1900, John left
effects of some £11,500s with administration being granted to his son Thomas Charles
McCormick of Somerset and Blackrock House. He was pre-deceased by five of his children. His
wife Eliza died of chronic bronchitis in 1881. They are buried in Mount Jerome cemetery.
1 Catherine (Kate) McCormick 1840-1912, m 1868 Richard Latchford.
2 Charles McCormick 1841-1842
3 Henrietta McCormick 1843-1926, m 1868 John Chalk Barrett.
4 Samuel Smith McCormick 1845-1921
5 Elizabeth McCormick 1847-1850
6 John Gardiner McCormick 1848-1934
7 James Gardiner McCormick 1849-1860
8 William 1851-1858
9 Thomas Charles McCormick 1853-1935
10 Susan Jane McCormick 1855-1884
11 Edward Nathan McCormick 1856-1933, m 1892 Maria Alexandra McCormick his
first cousin and daughter of William Ormsby McCormick of Ashgrove and later
of Yapton.
3 Jane McCormick born circa 1816 married Rev Edward Banks in 1839 and died in 1901.
4 William Ormsby McCormick born circa 1819 married Maria Emily Hearn in 1848-1894. The
family lived at Ashgrove and Yapton.
5 Charles Ormsby McCormick born 1821 died in infancy.
6 Samuel McCormick born 1824 died in 1831.
7 Samuel Crozier McCormick 1833 married Mary Latchford in 1873. He secondly married Maud
Faussett in 1886.
Sources General Registry Office UK, General Register Office Ireland, Census records, Church records,
Directories, Press reports.
Contributor Bríd Nolan & Ross Nolan
Date July 2017, updated Jan 2020
McCormick dynasty of Blackrock, Dun Laoghaire and Monkstown
The Rev Charles McCormick and Henrietta Smith
Charles McCormick was born circa 1778 in Co Tyrone to James McCormick and unknown Crozier. It
seems that as a small child in Co Tyrone, he was taken by his mother (who was herself a member of the
Established Church) to hear John Wesley himself speak. As an adult in 1800 in Co Tyrone, Charles
McCormick heard a Methodist preacher and was immediately converted. The conversion, it is alleged in
Methodist sources, had the drama of a ‘Road to Damascus’ experience. Seven years later he committed
himself to the life of a travelling preacher of the Methodist gospel and went immediately to preach in
Co Mayo. There he met Henrietta Smith (b 1790 to Samuel Smith and Jane Huston) whom he married in
1811. Having spent most of their married life following Charles’s mission, the couple came to Dublin in
1853 to live in Pottery Cottage (Monkstown). Charles and Henrietta had seven (known) children. None
of them followed Charles into ministry although the family identified as Methodist and at least one son,
William Ormsby, was active in his church in Dun Laoghaire. Charles died at Pottery Cottage in 1863 and
Henrietta in 1865. Both are buried in Deansgrange Cemetery.
1 James McCormick born circa 1812.
2 John McCormick, son of Rev Charles McCormick and Henrietta Smith, is listed in Thom's
Directory as residing in Stradbrook House in 1860. When he came there is not clear. He
had earlier lived in Mallow Co Cork where he married Eliza Rice in 1838. Eliza was the daughter
of Samuel Rice and Catherine Gardiner. John and Eliza had 11 (known) children, four daughters
and seven sons.
Unlike his Minister father, John became a coal merchant and began his business in Mallow
where where at least five of his children were born. By 1850 however the family had moved to
Dublin where John acquired a coal business, formerly owned by Thomas Peile, at Luke Street
and Great Brunswick Street or had bought him out. Peile’s business was well established by this
time, being listed in trade directories since the 1820s. The McCormick coal business acquired
further storerooms at City Quay and eventually had its main offices at 7 D’Olier Street. In 1897
McCormicks merged with Tedcastle to become Tedcastle McCormick. John was a tough business
and in 1890 he banned unionisation from his dockyard, causing a strike that spread well beyond
his own dockyard and involving some 2000 men. When he died of old age in 1900, John left
effects of some £11,500s with administration being granted to his son Thomas Charles
McCormick of Somerset and Blackrock House. He was pre-deceased by five of his children. His
wife Eliza died of chronic bronchitis in 1881. They are buried in Mount Jerome cemetery.
1 Catherine (Kate) McCormick 1840-1912, m 1868 Richard Latchford.
2 Charles McCormick 1841-1842
3 Henrietta McCormick 1843-1926, m 1868 John Chalk Barrett.
4 Samuel Smith McCormick 1845-1921
5 Elizabeth McCormick 1847-1850
6 John Gardiner McCormick 1848-1934
7 James Gardiner McCormick 1849-1860
8 William 1851-1858
9 Thomas Charles McCormick 1853-1935
10 Susan Jane McCormick 1855-1884
11 Edward Nathan McCormick 1856-1933, m 1892 Maria Alexandra McCormick his
first cousin and daughter of William Ormsby McCormick of Ashgrove and later
of Yapton.
3 Jane McCormick born circa 1816 married Rev Edward Banks in 1839 and died in 1901.
4 William Ormsby McCormick born circa 1819 married Maria Emily Hearn in 1848-1894. The
family lived at Ashgrove and Yapton.
5 Charles Ormsby McCormick born 1821 died in infancy.
6 Samuel McCormick born 1824 died in 1831.
7 Samuel Crozier McCormick 1833 married Mary Latchford in 1873. He secondly married Maud
Faussett in 1886.
Sources General Registry Office UK, General Register Office Ireland, Census records, Church records,
Directories, Press reports.
Contributor Bríd Nolan & Ross Nolan
Date July 2017, updated Jan 2020