Atkinson family of Dornden, Booterstown and Riversdale Stillorgan
James Atkinson married Emily Macartney
born circa 1804 10 Jun 1829 born circa 1810
Belfast, Armagh Newry
died 17 Dec 1864 died 28 Jun 1887
Australia Monkstown
James Atkinson born circa 1804 in Belfast, Co Armagh son of Dr Edward Atkinson and Mary
Macartney was educated at Armagh School and admitted Kings Inns in 1821. He married Emily
Macartney on 10 Jun 1829 at St Mary’s Church, Newry. Emily was the youngest daughter of the
late Andrew Macartney of Rosebrook, Armagh. James held a commission in the 5th Fusiliers
and emigrated to Australia in 1830. He was a solicitor in Sydney NSW and in 1843 he was
granted a Special Survey of eight square miles (5,120 acres) on Port Fairy Bay and called it
Belfast. He drained swamps, subdivided and leased the land. By 1853 Belfast had over 1000
people and began to flourish as a town.
James was a director of the Oriental Bath Company in 1861 and their Dublin residence was at
Monkstown. He returned to Sydney in 1863 to make final arrangements on his estate. He died
17 Dec 1864 at Sydney in NSW formerly of 18 Longford Terrace, Monkstown and left 1k in
personal estate in Ireland. Edward Baker Boulton was one of his executors. Emily died
28 Jun 1887 at 8 Montpelier Place and left 2k in personal estate.
1 Mary Atkinson eldest daughter born circa 1830 married Edward Baker Boulton on
29 Mar 1850 at Sydney. Mary died at Albany House, Monkstown of 4 Dec 1859.
1 Daughter Boulton born 28 Nov 1859 at Albany House, Monkstown.
2 Emily Atkinson born 1831 Parramatta, St John's died unmarried at 4 Belgrave Square.
Her sister Jane Moore was the informant and she is buried at Mount Jerome.
3 Harriette Wingfield Atkinson born 1836 at Parramatta, New South Wales, Australia. She
married John Galloway junior of Clifton Terrace Monkstown on 13 Jul 1865 at Monkstown
Church.
4 James Carleton Atkinson born 1837 at St John's, Parramatta died circa 1841.
5 Louisa Atkinson born 1838 at St Johns, Parramatta.
6 Matilda Atkinson baptised 27 May 1840 at St John Parramatta, NSW died circa 1844.
7 Jane Atkinson fourth daughter baptised 14 Jan 1842 at St John Parramatta, New South
Wales, Australia. married Joseph Fletcher (Fletcher) Moore on 5 Dec 1861 at Monkstown
Church. Fletcher was the only son of Joseph Scott More of The Manor, Kilbride, Co
Wicklow. They had at least seven children.
8 Bertha Atkinson baptised 3 Mar 1843 at St John Parramatta, New South Wales, Australia.
She married Edmund John Scovell at Monkstown Church on 27 Aug 1864. Edmund was a
captain in the 96th Regiment and was the second son of George Scovell of Grosvenor
Place, London.
9 Edward Atkinson born 1844 at St John Parramatta, NSW died an infant.
10 Nithsdale Carleton Atkinson baptised 25 Oct 1845 at St John Parramatta, New South
Wales. As only son, he married Lucy Hone on 23 Jul 1868 at Monkstown Church. Lucy was
the daughter of Thomas Hone and Jane Browning of Yapton. They lived at Riversdale in
Stillorgan in 1870 and by 1871 they were living at Birchgrove, Monkstown. They later moved
to Belgrave Square with their seven children. Nithsdale died 8 Jan 1913 at 29 Belgrave
Square formerly of 8 Belgrave Square, Monkstown. He left 151k in personal estate and is
buried at Deansgrange. His will provided 10k to each of his unmarried children, and 7k to
Jeanie Dobbs as had already settled 3k on her. Lucy died 2 Apr 1933 at 29 Belgrave Square
aged 85 and is buried with her husband.
1 Jane Constance (Jeanie) Atkinson 11 May 1869 at Yapton. She married Conway Dobbs
at Monkstown Church on 27 Apr 1895.
2 Emily Lucie (Lily) Atkinson born 9 Nov 1870 at Riversdale Stillorgan living with her
parents in 1911. She died unmarried at 29 Belgrave square on 22 Feb 1941 and is
buried at Deansgrange. After her death 29 Belgrave Square and the furniture were
put up for sale by her executors.
3 Mabel Florence Atkinson born 20 Jun 1871 at Birchgrove living with her parents in
1911. She died unmarried on 6 Aug 1940 at 29 Belgrave Square and is buried at
Deansgrange.
4 Thomas Nithsdale Atkinson born 24 Sep 1872 at Birchgrove, Kingstown. He was
educated at Sherborne School in Dorset. He was a stockbroker living at Belgrave
Square when he married Lucy Violet French on 4 Sep 1913 at Taney Church. Lucy
was living at Taney House and was the daughter of the late William Michael French,
barrister and Frances Browning Hone. They moved to Dornden after they married,
and they had no children. Thomas was a member of the firm Messrs Barton,
Copeland & Hamilton and was a racehorse owner. He was found close to his
residence unconscious, thought to be the victim of a hit and run motor accident.
He was pronounced dead on arrival at Monkstown Hospital on 28 Sep 1936. His
funeral service was held at SS Phillip & James, Booterstown. He left £113k in
personal estate and is buried at Deansgrange. He left 1k to his chauffeur Edward
Prenter who had also been chauffeur to his father. He left £100 to his gardener and
£25 to each of his indoor and outdoor staff. Lucy continued to live at Dornden where
she died 26 Feb 1957 aged 87 and is buried with her husband.
5 Blanche Sylvia Atkinson born 14 Jun 1875 at Birchgrove, Kingstown. She married
George Crozier on 11 Jun 1902 at St Thomas’ Church, Mount Merrion. George was
resident at Ballinasloe and was the son of the late Francis Crozier.
6 William Herbert (Willie) Atkinson born 6 Nov 1876 at Birchgrove. He was a barrister
living with his parents in 1911. He served with D Company, 7th (Pals) battalion of the
Royal Dublin Fusiliers during WW1. He died a bachelor on 21 Dec 1927 at 29 Belgrave
Square, Monkstown and is buried at Deansgrange.
7 Geoffrey Oswald Atkinson born 8 Jan 1879 at Birchgrove, Monkstown. He living with
his parents in 1911 and died unmarried on 24 Jun 1925 at 29 Belgrave Square,
Monkstown and is buried at Deansgrange.
11 Annie Atkinson youngest daughter baptised 5 Oct 1846 at Belfast and Port Fairy, New South
Wales, Australia. She married Dr George Westby on 10 Jun 1880 at Monkstown Church.
George was of Farmleigh, Lodge Lane, Liverpool and the son of Henry Westby.
© June Bow & Karen Poff - June 2026
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James Atkinson married Emily Macartney
born circa 1804 10 Jun 1829 born circa 1810
Belfast, Armagh Newry
died 17 Dec 1864 died 28 Jun 1887
Australia Monkstown
James Atkinson born circa 1804 in Belfast, Co Armagh son of Dr Edward Atkinson and Mary
Macartney was educated at Armagh School and admitted Kings Inns in 1821. He married Emily
Macartney on 10 Jun 1829 at St Mary’s Church, Newry. Emily was the youngest daughter of the
late Andrew Macartney of Rosebrook, Armagh. James held a commission in the 5th Fusiliers
and emigrated to Australia in 1830. He was a solicitor in Sydney NSW and in 1843 he was
granted a Special Survey of eight square miles (5,120 acres) on Port Fairy Bay and called it
Belfast. He drained swamps, subdivided and leased the land. By 1853 Belfast had over 1000
people and began to flourish as a town.
James was a director of the Oriental Bath Company in 1861 and their Dublin residence was at
Monkstown. He returned to Sydney in 1863 to make final arrangements on his estate. He died
17 Dec 1864 at Sydney in NSW formerly of 18 Longford Terrace, Monkstown and left 1k in
personal estate in Ireland. Edward Baker Boulton was one of his executors. Emily died
28 Jun 1887 at 8 Montpelier Place and left 2k in personal estate.
1 Mary Atkinson eldest daughter born circa 1830 married Edward Baker Boulton on
29 Mar 1850 at Sydney. Mary died at Albany House, Monkstown of 4 Dec 1859.
1 Daughter Boulton born 28 Nov 1859 at Albany House, Monkstown.
2 Emily Atkinson born 1831 Parramatta, St John's died unmarried at 4 Belgrave Square.
Her sister Jane Moore was the informant and she is buried at Mount Jerome.
3 Harriette Wingfield Atkinson born 1836 at Parramatta, New South Wales, Australia. She
married John Galloway junior of Clifton Terrace Monkstown on 13 Jul 1865 at Monkstown
Church.
4 James Carleton Atkinson born 1837 at St John's, Parramatta died circa 1841.
5 Louisa Atkinson born 1838 at St Johns, Parramatta.
6 Matilda Atkinson baptised 27 May 1840 at St John Parramatta, NSW died circa 1844.
7 Jane Atkinson fourth daughter baptised 14 Jan 1842 at St John Parramatta, New South
Wales, Australia. married Joseph Fletcher (Fletcher) Moore on 5 Dec 1861 at Monkstown
Church. Fletcher was the only son of Joseph Scott More of The Manor, Kilbride, Co
Wicklow. They had at least seven children.
8 Bertha Atkinson baptised 3 Mar 1843 at St John Parramatta, New South Wales, Australia.
She married Edmund John Scovell at Monkstown Church on 27 Aug 1864. Edmund was a
captain in the 96th Regiment and was the second son of George Scovell of Grosvenor
Place, London.
9 Edward Atkinson born 1844 at St John Parramatta, NSW died an infant.
10 Nithsdale Carleton Atkinson baptised 25 Oct 1845 at St John Parramatta, New South
Wales. As only son, he married Lucy Hone on 23 Jul 1868 at Monkstown Church. Lucy was
the daughter of Thomas Hone and Jane Browning of Yapton. They lived at Riversdale in
Stillorgan in 1870 and by 1871 they were living at Birchgrove, Monkstown. They later moved
to Belgrave Square with their seven children. Nithsdale died 8 Jan 1913 at 29 Belgrave
Square formerly of 8 Belgrave Square, Monkstown. He left 151k in personal estate and is
buried at Deansgrange. His will provided 10k to each of his unmarried children, and 7k to
Jeanie Dobbs as had already settled 3k on her. Lucy died 2 Apr 1933 at 29 Belgrave Square
aged 85 and is buried with her husband.
1 Jane Constance (Jeanie) Atkinson 11 May 1869 at Yapton. She married Conway Dobbs
at Monkstown Church on 27 Apr 1895.
2 Emily Lucie (Lily) Atkinson born 9 Nov 1870 at Riversdale Stillorgan living with her
parents in 1911. She died unmarried at 29 Belgrave square on 22 Feb 1941 and is
buried at Deansgrange. After her death 29 Belgrave Square and the furniture were
put up for sale by her executors.
3 Mabel Florence Atkinson born 20 Jun 1871 at Birchgrove living with her parents in
1911. She died unmarried on 6 Aug 1940 at 29 Belgrave Square and is buried at
Deansgrange.
4 Thomas Nithsdale Atkinson born 24 Sep 1872 at Birchgrove, Kingstown. He was
educated at Sherborne School in Dorset. He was a stockbroker living at Belgrave
Square when he married Lucy Violet French on 4 Sep 1913 at Taney Church. Lucy
was living at Taney House and was the daughter of the late William Michael French,
barrister and Frances Browning Hone. They moved to Dornden after they married,
and they had no children. Thomas was a member of the firm Messrs Barton,
Copeland & Hamilton and was a racehorse owner. He was found close to his
residence unconscious, thought to be the victim of a hit and run motor accident.
He was pronounced dead on arrival at Monkstown Hospital on 28 Sep 1936. His
funeral service was held at SS Phillip & James, Booterstown. He left £113k in
personal estate and is buried at Deansgrange. He left 1k to his chauffeur Edward
Prenter who had also been chauffeur to his father. He left £100 to his gardener and
£25 to each of his indoor and outdoor staff. Lucy continued to live at Dornden where
she died 26 Feb 1957 aged 87 and is buried with her husband.
5 Blanche Sylvia Atkinson born 14 Jun 1875 at Birchgrove, Kingstown. She married
George Crozier on 11 Jun 1902 at St Thomas’ Church, Mount Merrion. George was
resident at Ballinasloe and was the son of the late Francis Crozier.
6 William Herbert (Willie) Atkinson born 6 Nov 1876 at Birchgrove. He was a barrister
living with his parents in 1911. He served with D Company, 7th (Pals) battalion of the
Royal Dublin Fusiliers during WW1. He died a bachelor on 21 Dec 1927 at 29 Belgrave
Square, Monkstown and is buried at Deansgrange.
7 Geoffrey Oswald Atkinson born 8 Jan 1879 at Birchgrove, Monkstown. He living with
his parents in 1911 and died unmarried on 24 Jun 1925 at 29 Belgrave Square,
Monkstown and is buried at Deansgrange.
11 Annie Atkinson youngest daughter baptised 5 Oct 1846 at Belfast and Port Fairy, New South
Wales, Australia. She married Dr George Westby on 10 Jun 1880 at Monkstown Church.
George was of Farmleigh, Lodge Lane, Liverpool and the son of Henry Westby.
© June Bow & Karen Poff - June 2026
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Return to Riversdale page
