O'Brien family of Lota
Michael O’Brien
born circa 1715
died 2 Feb 1783
Michael O’Brien born circa 1715 was a woollen merchant of High Street. His wife died in
August 1763 at High Street.
1 Christiana O’Brien only daughter born circa 1758. She took over as head of the drapery
business alongside her brothers when her father died. She married Nicholas Mulligan
in 1788 and her marriage settlement was for 1500l. Christina died 25 Apr 1800 and
Nicholas died 28 Dec 1808. Both are buried at Taney.
Michael secondly married Mary Boylan on 22 Apr 1864 at SS Michael & John, Dublin. Mary
was the daughter of Christopher Boylan, a baker of Cook Street and had a 1500l fortune.
Michael died on 2 Feb 1783 and is buried at Taney. He had property in South Dame Street,
Great George’s Street, East and a house with stables and garden and field in Booterstown
which he left in his will of 1877 to Christiana along with a third of his personal estate. She
was his executix along with Jane Boylan.
2 Richard O’Brien born circa 1769 was a woollen draper of Ushers Quay. He was in
business with his brother Michael. He died unmarried on 4 May 1817 at Usher’s Quay
after a few hours illness and is buried at Taney.
3 Michael O’Brien born circa 1772 was in business at High Street with his only brother
Richard trading as woollen drapers. They later moved premises to Usher’s Quay. He
married Mary Maguire and their county residence was Lota on Cross Avenue,
Booterstown. He was on numerous charitable committees and a director of the
Hibernian Bank and the Hibernian Fire and Life Assurance Company. Mary died
26 Jan 1819 at Usher’s Quay and is buried at Taney graveyard. Michael’s will was
written in 1820 shortly before he took a sea crossing to England. After a few small
bequests, he left 3K to his two eldest daughters. The rest of his estate was to be shared
equally between his four daughters and his wish was to be buried with his wife. He also
left an annuity to Catherine Lyons, his wife’s maternal aunt who it is presumed looked
after the children following the death of his wife. He was on various school/educational
committees in the late 1820s in Dundrum and Booterstown. Michael died 7 Feb 1829 at
12 Fitzwilliam Square and left 116k in personal estate. He is buried at Taney. The
executors; the Rev Patrick Ryan and John Vance, officially renounced their duties and his
daughter Christina was granted probate in August 1829.
1 Christina Marie O’Brien eldest daughter baptised in Booterstown 2 Mar 1806. She
was co-heiress of her father and inherited Lota after his death. She married the
O’Gorman Mahon on 12 May 1830 at 12 Fitzwilliam Square (marriage registered in
St Andrew’s). They were married by the Most Rev Dr Daniel Murray, Archbishop of
Dublin and they honeymooned in England. It was speculated that her dowry and
share in her father’s estate was about 50k. After their marriage Lota was leased
out by the year and only sometimes used by them. Christina died 20 Oct 1877 at
Seine-et-Oisem Paris.
1 Son an heir born circa December 1831 in Paris.
2 Catherine Mary O’Brien baptised 25 Jan 1837 at St Andrews Church, Dublin.
3 St John O’Gorman Mahon born as son and heir on 12 Jun 1838 at 12
Montpelier Parade was baptised at Booterstown on 24 Jun 1838 and died 1883
in Paris.
2 Catherine Mary (Kate) O’Brien second daughter born circa 1813. She had just
reached her majority and decided to travel to France for her health but died at
Kingstown on 30 Jul 1834 surrounded by her sisters. She is buried at Taney.
3 Bridget (Bedelia/Biddie) Mary (twin) O’Brien born circa 1819. She died unmarried
on 15 Nov 1876 at the Shelbourne Hotel, late of the Salt Hill Hotel and sometimes
the Hotel de Louvre, Paris, formerly of 12 Fitzwilliam Square. She left 80k in
personal estate, probate to Walter Hussey Walsh of 1 Glendower place, South
Kensington, London. She is buried in Taney. The O’Brien Institute for poor and
destitute children (initially known as the Twin Sisters School) was founded in
Marino based on a will trust formed by a bequest of Bridget O'Brien. It took a
number of years to build and was eventually formally opened in 1887.
4 Maria Anne O’Brien youngest daughter (twin) born circa 1819 died Friday
16 Apr 1847 at 12 Fitzwilliam Square in the arms of her sister. She is buried at
Taney and left the majority of her estate to her twin Bridget.
© June Bow & Karen Poff - June 2026
Return to Lota page
Michael O’Brien
born circa 1715
died 2 Feb 1783
Michael O’Brien born circa 1715 was a woollen merchant of High Street. His wife died in
August 1763 at High Street.
1 Christiana O’Brien only daughter born circa 1758. She took over as head of the drapery
business alongside her brothers when her father died. She married Nicholas Mulligan
in 1788 and her marriage settlement was for 1500l. Christina died 25 Apr 1800 and
Nicholas died 28 Dec 1808. Both are buried at Taney.
Michael secondly married Mary Boylan on 22 Apr 1864 at SS Michael & John, Dublin. Mary
was the daughter of Christopher Boylan, a baker of Cook Street and had a 1500l fortune.
Michael died on 2 Feb 1783 and is buried at Taney. He had property in South Dame Street,
Great George’s Street, East and a house with stables and garden and field in Booterstown
which he left in his will of 1877 to Christiana along with a third of his personal estate. She
was his executix along with Jane Boylan.
2 Richard O’Brien born circa 1769 was a woollen draper of Ushers Quay. He was in
business with his brother Michael. He died unmarried on 4 May 1817 at Usher’s Quay
after a few hours illness and is buried at Taney.
3 Michael O’Brien born circa 1772 was in business at High Street with his only brother
Richard trading as woollen drapers. They later moved premises to Usher’s Quay. He
married Mary Maguire and their county residence was Lota on Cross Avenue,
Booterstown. He was on numerous charitable committees and a director of the
Hibernian Bank and the Hibernian Fire and Life Assurance Company. Mary died
26 Jan 1819 at Usher’s Quay and is buried at Taney graveyard. Michael’s will was
written in 1820 shortly before he took a sea crossing to England. After a few small
bequests, he left 3K to his two eldest daughters. The rest of his estate was to be shared
equally between his four daughters and his wish was to be buried with his wife. He also
left an annuity to Catherine Lyons, his wife’s maternal aunt who it is presumed looked
after the children following the death of his wife. He was on various school/educational
committees in the late 1820s in Dundrum and Booterstown. Michael died 7 Feb 1829 at
12 Fitzwilliam Square and left 116k in personal estate. He is buried at Taney. The
executors; the Rev Patrick Ryan and John Vance, officially renounced their duties and his
daughter Christina was granted probate in August 1829.
1 Christina Marie O’Brien eldest daughter baptised in Booterstown 2 Mar 1806. She
was co-heiress of her father and inherited Lota after his death. She married the
O’Gorman Mahon on 12 May 1830 at 12 Fitzwilliam Square (marriage registered in
St Andrew’s). They were married by the Most Rev Dr Daniel Murray, Archbishop of
Dublin and they honeymooned in England. It was speculated that her dowry and
share in her father’s estate was about 50k. After their marriage Lota was leased
out by the year and only sometimes used by them. Christina died 20 Oct 1877 at
Seine-et-Oisem Paris.
1 Son an heir born circa December 1831 in Paris.
2 Catherine Mary O’Brien baptised 25 Jan 1837 at St Andrews Church, Dublin.
3 St John O’Gorman Mahon born as son and heir on 12 Jun 1838 at 12
Montpelier Parade was baptised at Booterstown on 24 Jun 1838 and died 1883
in Paris.
2 Catherine Mary (Kate) O’Brien second daughter born circa 1813. She had just
reached her majority and decided to travel to France for her health but died at
Kingstown on 30 Jul 1834 surrounded by her sisters. She is buried at Taney.
3 Bridget (Bedelia/Biddie) Mary (twin) O’Brien born circa 1819. She died unmarried
on 15 Nov 1876 at the Shelbourne Hotel, late of the Salt Hill Hotel and sometimes
the Hotel de Louvre, Paris, formerly of 12 Fitzwilliam Square. She left 80k in
personal estate, probate to Walter Hussey Walsh of 1 Glendower place, South
Kensington, London. She is buried in Taney. The O’Brien Institute for poor and
destitute children (initially known as the Twin Sisters School) was founded in
Marino based on a will trust formed by a bequest of Bridget O'Brien. It took a
number of years to build and was eventually formally opened in 1887.
4 Maria Anne O’Brien youngest daughter (twin) born circa 1819 died Friday
16 Apr 1847 at 12 Fitzwilliam Square in the arms of her sister. She is buried at
Taney and left the majority of her estate to her twin Bridget.
© June Bow & Karen Poff - June 2026
Return to Lota page
