Standing: Mrs James Geoghegan, Eleanor Lady Yarrow, Lady Nixon, the Earl of Belmore, Miss Tina Nixon, Miss Kay Nixon, and Mr Franz Ofner.
Sitting; Ulick C Jennings, Josephine, Lady Trimleston, A Davies, Miss Greene and Hon Justice James Geoghegan
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Dresses of the bride and the seven bridesmaids of Christina Nixon in 1912
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Nixon of Roebuck Grove, Rockford and Newtown House Blackrock
Christopher Nixon married Mary Ann Hackett
15 Feb 1846 born circa 1827
died 1847 died 10 Dec 1893
Roebuck Grove
Christopher Nixon, son of Christopher Nixon of Montgomery/Mabbot Street married Mary Ann Hackett
at Amiens Street, the residence of her brother on 9 Feb 1846. The marriage was registered at the Pro
Cathedral on 15 Feb 1846. John Nixon and James Hackett were the witnesses. Christopher died in 1847
and Mary Ann died a widow at Roebuck Grove on 10 Dec 1893 aged 66.
1 Christopher John Nixon born posthumously 29 Jun 1847 was baptised at the Pro Cathedral on
2 Jul 1847. He was educated at College of Our Blessed lady of Mount Carmel in Terenure and at
the Catholic University School of Medicine, Cecilia Street. He was conferred with the Licentiate of
the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland in1868 and the Licentiate of the College of Physicians of
Ireland in 1869 aged 20. Christopher Nixon married Maria Agnes Blake, daughter of Dominick
Edward Blake and Anna Bourke of Blackrock at Booterstown R C Church on 6 Nov 1871. Mary
Agnes was living at Merrion Avenue and was the granddaughter of Joseph Blake of Castlegrove,
Co Galway. Christopher was living at 11 Westland Row and his parent’s address was given as
Amiens Street in Dublin. Witness’ were James Hackett of 99 Amiens Street and Fanny Blake of
Gardiner Street. He was created a knight in 1895 and a baronet in 1906. He is attributed with the
establishment of the Royal Veterinary College of Ireland in 1895 and was appointed its first
President. Christopher was admitted to the Fellowship of the College of Physicians in 1876 and
served as President from 1900 to 1902. It was also the lead physician at the Mater Hospital from
1892. The Nixons were very sociable and had many parties and garden fetes at their home in
Roebuck Grove. Christopher was a fan of horse racing and many of the parties followed a race
meeting at Leopardstown. Mary was said to have the talent of making any stately dinners
appear delightfully informal. All the family were musical and entertained their guests, and they
also had numerous dogs. Christopher worked at Cecilia Street School of Medicine from 1873 and
was Dean of the Catholic University Medical School in 1900 and was the author of ‘Handbook of
Hospital Practice and Physical Diagnosis. He was also a visiting consultant to the Central Lunatic
Asylum in Dundrum. Sir Christopher drove a Gobron-Brillié motor car registration IK 538 and
died 19 Jul 1914 at Roebuck Grove, Clonskea and was interred at St Andrew’s, Westland Row. He
left 41K in personal estate. Dowager Lady Mary died at 2 Merrion Square on 11 Jan 1924 aged 71
and was interred in St Andrews with her husband.
1 Josephine Anna Nixon born at 32 Merrion Square baptised at St Andrew’s in 1874.
2 Maria Christina (Ina) Nixon born at 32 Merrion Square baptised at St Andrews in
1875 married Major William Jack Preston of the Indian Army at St James' Church, Spanish
Arch on 16 Aug 1912. W J was the son of the Surgeon General, honorary physician to
the King.
1 Christopher Preston pageboy to the wedding of Hon Margaret Barnehall in 1919.
3 Christopher William Nixon born at 32 Merrion Square R H A baptised at St Andrews in
1877. He graduated from RUI and TCD and joined the army in 1900 and served with the
Royal Artillery in WW1. Major Sir C Nixon was wounded in 1916. He became the 2nd
Baronet on the death of his father in 1914. He married a Louise (Lulie) Clery daughter of
Robert Clery of Moorfield and Athlacca, Limerick on 7 Jul 1917 at St Andrew's Church.
Major Sir Christopher was based at Athlone before being transferred to Woolwich in
1921 and was knighted in 1924. The couple had four children, three sons and one
daughter. In 1925 Sir Christopher purchased Rockford in Blackrock from Sir Timothy
O'Brien. After he retired he became chairman of Clery's & Co Department Store and
lived at Loughlinstown House. In 1936 Clerys was in serious financial trouble and Sir
Christopher borrowed £200K from the Equity Law Assurance to keep Clery's afloat but it
went into liquidation in May 1940. A receiver was appointed, the shop was closed, the
staff were let go and the assets were put up for sale. It was purchased by Denis Guiney
in November 1940 for £230K. Sir Christopher was appalled at the price the receiver
accepted, the building itself being worth between 250 and 300K and a court action
ensued. Christopher was the registered holder of the majority of the ordinary shares,
and most of the preference shares belonged to his wife and her sister, the daughters of
Mr Robert Clery one of the original owners of Clery and Co. Christopher died at the
Mater Hospital on 24 Apr 1945 late of Hollybrook, Bray. Louisa died 27 Mar 1949 at
12 Waterloo Road.
1 Christopher John Louis Joseph Nixon born 21 Mar 1918 at 2 Merrion Square
was wounded in Korea in 1951.
2 Kenneth Michael John Nixon born 22 Feb 1919 at Merrion Square became a
Jesuit priest.
3 Cecil D Nixon was a major in the British Army in 1947.
4 Christina Mary (Tina) Nixon married John Gerard Counihan in 1947.
4 Josephine Francesca (Joan) Nixon born at 32 Merrion Square baptised at St Andrews in
1879. She had a wonderfully deep contralto voice and was described as very talented.
She was engaged to Lieut M Theodore Daniel in 1900 but it appears that a marriage
did not go ahead. She married Charles A Barnewall, 18th Baron Trimleston, late of
Bloomsbury, Kells, Co Meath on 12 Aug 1930 at Christchurch, Eltham, Kent as his third
wife. Her brother Sir Christopher gave her away, and he and his wife Louise held the
wedding reception for her. The moved to Newtown House in Blackrock in 1933 where the
threw many lavish parties, hosting upwards of 200 guests. Charles died 26 Jan 1937 at
Loughlinstown House. Joan died 15 Jun 1945 at Newtown House, Blackrock
5 Catherine Elizabeth (Kathleen/Kay) Nixon born at 2 Merrion Square baptised at St Andrews
in 1881. She was presented with her sister to the Pope when they were visiting Rome
in 1904. Catherine lived with her sister Josephine and was still living at Newtown House in
1947. She was a cellist and a member of The Garden Club in London. She married Lord
Ffrench of Castle Ffrench in 1951 at the age of 70, her husband was 13 years her senior.
6 Dominick Francis Edward Nixon, youngest son born 3 Sep 1883 at 2 Merrion Square
died 23 Jul 1890 at Roebuck Grove.
© June Bow & Karen Poff – December 2020
Christopher Nixon married Mary Ann Hackett
15 Feb 1846 born circa 1827
died 1847 died 10 Dec 1893
Roebuck Grove
Christopher Nixon, son of Christopher Nixon of Montgomery/Mabbot Street married Mary Ann Hackett
at Amiens Street, the residence of her brother on 9 Feb 1846. The marriage was registered at the Pro
Cathedral on 15 Feb 1846. John Nixon and James Hackett were the witnesses. Christopher died in 1847
and Mary Ann died a widow at Roebuck Grove on 10 Dec 1893 aged 66.
1 Christopher John Nixon born posthumously 29 Jun 1847 was baptised at the Pro Cathedral on
2 Jul 1847. He was educated at College of Our Blessed lady of Mount Carmel in Terenure and at
the Catholic University School of Medicine, Cecilia Street. He was conferred with the Licentiate of
the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland in1868 and the Licentiate of the College of Physicians of
Ireland in 1869 aged 20. Christopher Nixon married Maria Agnes Blake, daughter of Dominick
Edward Blake and Anna Bourke of Blackrock at Booterstown R C Church on 6 Nov 1871. Mary
Agnes was living at Merrion Avenue and was the granddaughter of Joseph Blake of Castlegrove,
Co Galway. Christopher was living at 11 Westland Row and his parent’s address was given as
Amiens Street in Dublin. Witness’ were James Hackett of 99 Amiens Street and Fanny Blake of
Gardiner Street. He was created a knight in 1895 and a baronet in 1906. He is attributed with the
establishment of the Royal Veterinary College of Ireland in 1895 and was appointed its first
President. Christopher was admitted to the Fellowship of the College of Physicians in 1876 and
served as President from 1900 to 1902. It was also the lead physician at the Mater Hospital from
1892. The Nixons were very sociable and had many parties and garden fetes at their home in
Roebuck Grove. Christopher was a fan of horse racing and many of the parties followed a race
meeting at Leopardstown. Mary was said to have the talent of making any stately dinners
appear delightfully informal. All the family were musical and entertained their guests, and they
also had numerous dogs. Christopher worked at Cecilia Street School of Medicine from 1873 and
was Dean of the Catholic University Medical School in 1900 and was the author of ‘Handbook of
Hospital Practice and Physical Diagnosis. He was also a visiting consultant to the Central Lunatic
Asylum in Dundrum. Sir Christopher drove a Gobron-Brillié motor car registration IK 538 and
died 19 Jul 1914 at Roebuck Grove, Clonskea and was interred at St Andrew’s, Westland Row. He
left 41K in personal estate. Dowager Lady Mary died at 2 Merrion Square on 11 Jan 1924 aged 71
and was interred in St Andrews with her husband.
1 Josephine Anna Nixon born at 32 Merrion Square baptised at St Andrew’s in 1874.
2 Maria Christina (Ina) Nixon born at 32 Merrion Square baptised at St Andrews in
1875 married Major William Jack Preston of the Indian Army at St James' Church, Spanish
Arch on 16 Aug 1912. W J was the son of the Surgeon General, honorary physician to
the King.
1 Christopher Preston pageboy to the wedding of Hon Margaret Barnehall in 1919.
3 Christopher William Nixon born at 32 Merrion Square R H A baptised at St Andrews in
1877. He graduated from RUI and TCD and joined the army in 1900 and served with the
Royal Artillery in WW1. Major Sir C Nixon was wounded in 1916. He became the 2nd
Baronet on the death of his father in 1914. He married a Louise (Lulie) Clery daughter of
Robert Clery of Moorfield and Athlacca, Limerick on 7 Jul 1917 at St Andrew's Church.
Major Sir Christopher was based at Athlone before being transferred to Woolwich in
1921 and was knighted in 1924. The couple had four children, three sons and one
daughter. In 1925 Sir Christopher purchased Rockford in Blackrock from Sir Timothy
O'Brien. After he retired he became chairman of Clery's & Co Department Store and
lived at Loughlinstown House. In 1936 Clerys was in serious financial trouble and Sir
Christopher borrowed £200K from the Equity Law Assurance to keep Clery's afloat but it
went into liquidation in May 1940. A receiver was appointed, the shop was closed, the
staff were let go and the assets were put up for sale. It was purchased by Denis Guiney
in November 1940 for £230K. Sir Christopher was appalled at the price the receiver
accepted, the building itself being worth between 250 and 300K and a court action
ensued. Christopher was the registered holder of the majority of the ordinary shares,
and most of the preference shares belonged to his wife and her sister, the daughters of
Mr Robert Clery one of the original owners of Clery and Co. Christopher died at the
Mater Hospital on 24 Apr 1945 late of Hollybrook, Bray. Louisa died 27 Mar 1949 at
12 Waterloo Road.
1 Christopher John Louis Joseph Nixon born 21 Mar 1918 at 2 Merrion Square
was wounded in Korea in 1951.
2 Kenneth Michael John Nixon born 22 Feb 1919 at Merrion Square became a
Jesuit priest.
3 Cecil D Nixon was a major in the British Army in 1947.
4 Christina Mary (Tina) Nixon married John Gerard Counihan in 1947.
4 Josephine Francesca (Joan) Nixon born at 32 Merrion Square baptised at St Andrews in
1879. She had a wonderfully deep contralto voice and was described as very talented.
She was engaged to Lieut M Theodore Daniel in 1900 but it appears that a marriage
did not go ahead. She married Charles A Barnewall, 18th Baron Trimleston, late of
Bloomsbury, Kells, Co Meath on 12 Aug 1930 at Christchurch, Eltham, Kent as his third
wife. Her brother Sir Christopher gave her away, and he and his wife Louise held the
wedding reception for her. The moved to Newtown House in Blackrock in 1933 where the
threw many lavish parties, hosting upwards of 200 guests. Charles died 26 Jan 1937 at
Loughlinstown House. Joan died 15 Jun 1945 at Newtown House, Blackrock
5 Catherine Elizabeth (Kathleen/Kay) Nixon born at 2 Merrion Square baptised at St Andrews
in 1881. She was presented with her sister to the Pope when they were visiting Rome
in 1904. Catherine lived with her sister Josephine and was still living at Newtown House in
1947. She was a cellist and a member of The Garden Club in London. She married Lord
Ffrench of Castle Ffrench in 1951 at the age of 70, her husband was 13 years her senior.
6 Dominick Francis Edward Nixon, youngest son born 3 Sep 1883 at 2 Merrion Square
died 23 Jul 1890 at Roebuck Grove.
© June Bow & Karen Poff – December 2020