O'Brien of Newtown House, Blackrock
Robert O’ Brien married Bridget
1 Marianne O’Brien born circa 1799 was of Great Britain Street when she married Edward
Holdright, corn merchant and Grocer of 69 North King Street (near Smithfield) at Artane
on 12 Jul 1842. After the death of John Holdright, seed merchant in 1849, Edward
acquired the premises at 28 Thomas Street. Edward died 11 Jan 1866 at Grosvenor Terrace
and was buried at Glasnevin. He left 25K in personal estate and his Will was proved by
Robert O’Brien. Marianne, late of 17 Trafalgar Terrace, Monkstown died 5 Apr 1883 at
Dundrum House aged 84 and was buried at Glasnevin. Philip F Little was present at her
death and her Will was proved by her child Mary Jane. She left 5K in personal estate.
1 Mary Jane Holdright born circa 1843 married Philip Francis Little of Dublin and
Newfoundland on 4 May 1864, at Kingston RC Church. Philip was the son of
Cornelius Little and was chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Newfoundland.
Charles Henry Meldon (her uncle by marriage) was a witness to their marriage.
The couple had 13 children and were living in Monkstown in 1901. Philip Francis Little
died at New Brighton, Monkstown age 73 on 21 Oct 1897 and was buried at Glasnevin.
He left 22K in personal estate. Mary Jane died 29 Mar 1914 and left 2K in personal
estate. She was buried at Deansgrange. Three of her children are buried with her.
2 Daniel O’Brien, born circa 1804 a salesmaster of 43 Smithfield. He was in partnership with
Michael Berne and dissolved same in 1846. He was a partner in Whelan O’Brien, Salesmasters
and seed, corn and wool factors from 1848. He married Ada Hodgens daughter of William and
Anne Hodgens of Newtown House, Blackrock at St. Sylvester's, Malahide on 31 Jul 1861 and
Daniel moved into Ada’s family home. In 1862 Daniel arranged for Matthew Wright to take
over selling on his stand at the Cattle market. Daniel and his brother Robert were on the
committee to stop Cattle Plague (Rinderpest) entering Ireland in 1865. Daniel died 22 Apr 1867
at Newtown House leaving 20K in personal estate and was buried at the O’Connell circle with
his brother Robert. Various monies were owed to Daniel at his death and Ada employed Messrs
Meldon Attorneys to act on her behalf to recover the sums.
3 Robert O’Brien born circa 1809 was a sales master of 47,48,50 & 51 Smithfield. In 1848 he went
into partnership with James Whelan as a junior partner trading as Whelan O’Brien taking over the
partnership of Byrne & Whelan. Robert and his siblings lived at 45 Great Britain Street (now
known as Parnell Street from 1838. Robert moved to 8 Eblana Terrace, NCR in 1859. They were
also wool merchants and exhibited Wicklow wool and Alpaca white and brown wool at the Great
Industrial exhibition held at the Mansion house in 1853. He was a Town Councillor for the Inns
Quay ward and a director of many companies including the Atlantic Royal Mail steam navigation
company and the Cork and Bandon Railway. The firm subscribed 1K towards the building of the
new cattle market in Prussia Street in 1863. James D Meldon was the solicitor to the firm. Robert
was a JP and lived at 8 Eblana Tce, NCR. He developed heart disease, retired and died a few weeks
later on 18 Nov 1866. He was buried in the O’Connell circle at Glasnevin. Philp Francis Little was
one the executors to his Will. He left 60K in personal estate of which at least 5000 was given to
various religious charities. William Hodgens (his brothers - brother in law) was in attendance at his
funeral.
©June Bow & Karen Poff – August 2020
Robert O’ Brien married Bridget
1 Marianne O’Brien born circa 1799 was of Great Britain Street when she married Edward
Holdright, corn merchant and Grocer of 69 North King Street (near Smithfield) at Artane
on 12 Jul 1842. After the death of John Holdright, seed merchant in 1849, Edward
acquired the premises at 28 Thomas Street. Edward died 11 Jan 1866 at Grosvenor Terrace
and was buried at Glasnevin. He left 25K in personal estate and his Will was proved by
Robert O’Brien. Marianne, late of 17 Trafalgar Terrace, Monkstown died 5 Apr 1883 at
Dundrum House aged 84 and was buried at Glasnevin. Philip F Little was present at her
death and her Will was proved by her child Mary Jane. She left 5K in personal estate.
1 Mary Jane Holdright born circa 1843 married Philip Francis Little of Dublin and
Newfoundland on 4 May 1864, at Kingston RC Church. Philip was the son of
Cornelius Little and was chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Newfoundland.
Charles Henry Meldon (her uncle by marriage) was a witness to their marriage.
The couple had 13 children and were living in Monkstown in 1901. Philip Francis Little
died at New Brighton, Monkstown age 73 on 21 Oct 1897 and was buried at Glasnevin.
He left 22K in personal estate. Mary Jane died 29 Mar 1914 and left 2K in personal
estate. She was buried at Deansgrange. Three of her children are buried with her.
2 Daniel O’Brien, born circa 1804 a salesmaster of 43 Smithfield. He was in partnership with
Michael Berne and dissolved same in 1846. He was a partner in Whelan O’Brien, Salesmasters
and seed, corn and wool factors from 1848. He married Ada Hodgens daughter of William and
Anne Hodgens of Newtown House, Blackrock at St. Sylvester's, Malahide on 31 Jul 1861 and
Daniel moved into Ada’s family home. In 1862 Daniel arranged for Matthew Wright to take
over selling on his stand at the Cattle market. Daniel and his brother Robert were on the
committee to stop Cattle Plague (Rinderpest) entering Ireland in 1865. Daniel died 22 Apr 1867
at Newtown House leaving 20K in personal estate and was buried at the O’Connell circle with
his brother Robert. Various monies were owed to Daniel at his death and Ada employed Messrs
Meldon Attorneys to act on her behalf to recover the sums.
3 Robert O’Brien born circa 1809 was a sales master of 47,48,50 & 51 Smithfield. In 1848 he went
into partnership with James Whelan as a junior partner trading as Whelan O’Brien taking over the
partnership of Byrne & Whelan. Robert and his siblings lived at 45 Great Britain Street (now
known as Parnell Street from 1838. Robert moved to 8 Eblana Terrace, NCR in 1859. They were
also wool merchants and exhibited Wicklow wool and Alpaca white and brown wool at the Great
Industrial exhibition held at the Mansion house in 1853. He was a Town Councillor for the Inns
Quay ward and a director of many companies including the Atlantic Royal Mail steam navigation
company and the Cork and Bandon Railway. The firm subscribed 1K towards the building of the
new cattle market in Prussia Street in 1863. James D Meldon was the solicitor to the firm. Robert
was a JP and lived at 8 Eblana Tce, NCR. He developed heart disease, retired and died a few weeks
later on 18 Nov 1866. He was buried in the O’Connell circle at Glasnevin. Philp Francis Little was
one the executors to his Will. He left 60K in personal estate of which at least 5000 was given to
various religious charities. William Hodgens (his brothers - brother in law) was in attendance at his
funeral.
©June Bow & Karen Poff – August 2020