Arthur Herbert Orpen and Annie St George Caulfeild - Parents of Sir William Orpen
Orpen Family of Oriel, Stillorgan
Richard John Theodore Orpen of North Great Georges Street and Ardtully, Co Kerry. He went on
a grand tour with his brother Charles in 1817/8. He practiced as a solicitor in Dublin and was
President of the Incorporated Law Society from 1860 to 1876 and knighted in 1868. He spent
much of his spare time in his later years tracing the history of the Orpen family. He married
Elizabeth Stack, the daughter of the Rev Richard Stack in 1819.
1 Theodora Elizabaeth Orpen born circa 1824, married the Rev James Going, Vicar of
Kilgarvan on 14 Jan 1851 at St George's Church, Dublin. James died at Violet Hill, Cavan
on 27 Apr 1874 and Theodora died as Rosemount, Blackrock 19 Sep 1880. They had
no children.
2 Mary Orpen married George Hall Stack, a barrister and son of the Rev Thomas Stack of
Omagh on 14 Feb 1846 at St George's Church. Mary died in Omagh Co Tyrone on
28 Mar 1880 and George died in 1887.
1 Cornelia Minnie Stack born circa 1856 married William K Stuart King on 1 Nov 1901
in Bombay.
2 Mary Elizabeth Stack born circa 1856 married William Purser Geoghegan of
Rockfield on 1 Mar 1893 at Castlederg.
3 Emily Grace Caroline Stack born circa 1860 married Montague Brown of Glasgow
on 8 Oct 1884 at Castlederg.
3 Francis FitzRichard Orpen was born 16 Jul 1827, a barrister died unmarried on at
George's Street, Dublin on 25 Jan 1858.
4 Richard Hugh Millerd Orpen born 7 Nov 1829 married Amy Nobel Horwood on
5 Jan 1871. They lived at Monkstown and had eight children. Richard died at Ardtully
on 2 Jan 1907.
5 Arthur Herbert Orpen, M A, born 29 Dec 1830 married Anne St George Caulfeild. Annie
was the daughter of Ven Charles Caulfeild, who is featured on a 1$ commemorative stamp
issued for the 150th Anniversary of the Anglican Diocese of the Bahamas and The Turkes
& Caicos Islands and the establishment of the City of Nassau. In 1861 Queen Victoria
designated the Bahamas a Diocese of the Church of England, and the Archdeacon of the
Bahamas, the Venerable Dr Charles Caulfeild was named the first Bishop of the new
Diocese.
Following the wedding of his daughter Annie to Arthur Herbert Orpen in St George's Church
on the 3 Oct 1861, Archbishop Charles Caulfeild left for his new job as Bishop of Nassau in
the Bahamas in May 1862. He sailed to New York on what was to be the last Cunard paddle
steamer to cross the Atlantic but missed his connection to Nassau and was forced to charter
an American clipper ship named "The wild Pigeon" to complete the journey. Three months
after arriving in Nassau he died of yellow fever along with three of his nieces.
Annie died 9 Mar 1912 and Arthur died 6 Mar 1926 having served on the Vestry of St Brigid's
Church since 1867. Both are buried at Deansgrange.
1 Premature son born 28 Dec 1862 at Monkstown.
2 Richard Francis Caulfeild Orpen, BA, RHA, born 24 Dec 1863 at Oriel, Stillorgan.
He was an architect and the youngest ever president of the Royal
Institute of Architects of Ireland from 1914-1917. He was Architect to
Christchurch in 1910. His work includes the Dublin Dental Hospital in Lincoln
Place and Alexandra College in Earlsfort Tce (since demolished). He is considered to
be "The originator of the bungalow in Ireland and built quite a colony of pretty red
tiled gabled houses in Foxrock" - Irish Builder 27/8/1904. He was a skilled artist,
draughtsman and cartoonist and was able to draw simultaneously with both
hands. He married Violet Caulfeild, the daughter of Robert Caulfeild on
7 Mar 1900. He oversaw the interior remodelling of St Brigid's Church, Stillorgan.
He died 27 Mar 1938 at Coologe in Carrickmines, a house that he had designed for
himself and Violet. Violet died 18 Nov 1955 and they had no children. Richard and
Violet were buried at Deansgrange.
3 Charles St George Orpen born 12 Dec 1864 at Oriel, educated Columba's College,
and MA Trinity married Cerise Maria Darley on 27 Aug 1901 at St Brigid's Church
Stillorgan. Cerise was the daughter of John Henry Darley and Mary Cerise Lees
of Ferney, Stillorgan. Charles was a solicitor in the firm of Darley, Orpen &
McGillycuddy of Kildare Street and was a president of the Incorporated Law Society.
He played Hockey for Three Rock Hockey Club and was capped for Ireland. A keen
golfer, he was president of Foxrock Golf Club in 1935. Cherrie joined the Red
Cross at the outbreak of WW1. She worked over 1300 hours at Cabinteely War
Hospital Supply Depot and over 700 hours at the garrison buffet in Dublin. She
worked many socks & garments for the front using her needlework skills.
Charles died 5 Mar 1939 at Portobello House late of Lisheens, Carrickmines and
left 11K in personal estate. Cerise died Good Friday 7 Apr 1950 at Carrickmines.
Both were buried at Deansgrange.
1 Arthur Frederick St George Orpen was born 19 Mar 1903 at Lisheens,
Carrickmines and baptised on 26 Apr 1903 at Tullow Church. He was a
commander in the Royal Navy and was in charge of a gunship on the Yangtse
when his father died in 1939. Arthur Frederick married Augusta Dorothy
Morris nee Alderson in 1940. He retired 8 Jan 1952.
2 Cerise Mary Orpen was born 27 Mar 1904 at Lisheens, Carrickmines and
baptised 22 May 1904 at Tullow Church married Cyril Brian Denis Parker
on 19 Jul 1932 at Tullow Church.
3 Grace Ann Orpen was born 19 Nov 1905 at Lisheens, Carrickmines and
baptised 14 Jan 1906 at Tullow Church married Philip Somerville-Large.
4 Kathleen Hilda Orpen was born 27 Jan 1910 at Lisheens, Carrickmines and
baptised on 13 Mar 1910 at Tullow Church married Hugh Alexander Delap
in 1933 at Tullow Church.
5 Beatrice Orpen was born 7 Mar 1913 at 9:00 at Lisheens, Carrickmines and
baptised on 20 Apr 1913 at Tulllow Church. She was educated at home with
a governess before attending the French School in Bray and Alexandra College,
Dublin married Chalmers Edward Fitzjohn Trench 5 Jul 1940 at Tullow Church.
She was a member of the ICA but is best known as a landscape painter.
6 Annette Rothe Orpen was born 7 Mar 1913 at 9:30 at Lisheens, Carrickmines
and baptised on 20 Apr 1913 at Tulllow Church married Geoffrey Richard
Perrin in 1938 at Tullow Church.
4 Grace Mary Orpen born 5 Feb 1870 at Oriel, Stillorgan. She was known as Toohy
and married Thomas Jackson on 28 Apr 1897 at St Brigid's Church, Stillorgan.
Thomas died in 1936 and Grace died 9 Nov 1944, both were buried at St Brigid's,
Stillorgan.
1 Caroline Anne Rothe Jackson born 6 Sep 1898.
2 Grace St George Jackson born 1899.
3 Patience Gertrude Jackson born 1904.
4 Thomas Jackson born 1906.
5 Mary Frances Jackson born 1909.
5 Arthur Herbert Stack Orpen born 27 Jul 1872 at Oriel, Stillorgan. He served as a
lieutenant in the Royal Army Service Corps attached to the Intelligence Corps in
WW1. He was head of a firm of Solicitors Orpen & Sweeny and President of the
Incorporated Law society 1924-25. He was a secretary of the select vestry for fifty
years and a lay representative for the parish of Stillorgan in the Diocesan Synod. A
keen hockey player he was a member of Three Rock Hockey Club. He married Frances
Ellen Murphy the daughter of James Joseph Murphy, 1st Baronet of Altadore who
was a steamship owner and chief partner in Palgrave Murphy & Co and Brigid Jane
Norman on 7 Jan 1926 Holyhead, Anglesea, Wales. Arthur was on the board of the
Royal Bank of Ireland. He died 15 Sep 1953 at Brooklawn, Stradbrook and was buried
at St Brigid's Stillorgan.
His wife Frances Ellen died 27 Apr 1956 and is buried with her parents in Deans
Grange Cemetery. Ellen left an estate valued at 23K and the portrait of her
husband's parents painted by her brother in law Sir William Orpen she bequeathed
to the National Gallery of Ireland.
6 Elizabeth Ida Rebecca Orpen born 29 Mar 1875 at Oriel died 16 Oct 1879 and is
buried at Deansgrange.
7 William Newenham Montague Orpen, KBE, RA, born 26 Nov 1878 at Oriel
Stillorgan was baptised at Stillorgan on 23 Mar 1879. He was an Irish artist who worked
in London and taught at the Metropolitian school in Dublin. He married Grace
Knewstub in 1901. William died 29 Sep 1931 and was buried at Putney.
He was a popular and commercially successful painter of portraits for the well-to-do
in Edwardian society. During WWI, he was an official artist sent by Britain to the
Western Front where he produced drawings/paintings of soldiers, the dead and
prisoners of war.
Twenty years after his death the director of the Tate Gallery, John Knewstub M
Rothenstein, who was a nephew to Orpen by marriage, published 'Modern English
Painters' which included a very negative lengthy piece on Orpen. While appearing
on the surface to be objective, it criticised every aspect of his work and was bitterly
scathing of both his personality and intellect. This had a huge influence on the art
world and for many years Orpen was largely forgotten about. All this changed when
the 1981 biography by Bruce Arnold revived interest in Orpen and was further
consolidated when Dominic Lee, in conjunction with the Stillorgan Chamber of
Commerce, arranged for a sculpture to be commissioned and installed in his
birthplace Stillorgan in 2018.
1 Mary Orpen born 12 Sep 1902 married Denis Hicks Robson on 27 Jul 193
at The Brompton Oratory in Knightsbridge, London. Mary died 1947.
2 Christine Grace Violet Orpen (Kit) born 6 Sep 1906, Mount Salem, Stillorgan
married Barry Seymore Nicoll on 28 Oct 1933.
3 Diana E Orpen born 1914 in Chelsea married Sidney John Olivier on 6 Oct 1945.
With Evelyn St George nee Baker.
4 Vivien St George born 1 Jan 1912 at Celbridge married Alexander F Stanley
Clarke on 7 Mar 1932.
6 Cornelia Susanna Sarah Orpen born c1831 lived at Park Villas, Stillorgan for a number
of years with her sister Elizabeth Ida. She died unmarried on 31 Mar 1916 at The Palace,
Limerick, the residence of her brother Raymond. Her nephew Arthur H S Orpen was her
executor.
7 Emily Georgiana Orpen third daughter married William Cunningham Plunkett Stack,
the son of William Stack at the Cathedral, Calcutta on 26 Nov 1860. Emily died
25 May 1861at Mirzapore, India. William died 26 Nov 1863 at North Great Georges'
Street and was buried at Mount Jerome.
1 Annabella Elizabeth Stack born circa 1861 lived at 2 Park Villas with her aunts and
died at St Patrick's Hospital on 31 Jul 1929 late of 2 Park Villas.
8 Elizabeth Ida Rebecca Orpen, youngest daughter born circa 1832 married John Robert
Blacker, a late Captain in the 18th Royal Irish on 13 Jun 1866 at St George's Church,
Dublin. John died on Christmas day 1869 at Ballynoe House in Queenstown age 38.
Elizabeth died 14 Sep 1901 at 2 Park Villas, Stillorgan. Her nephew, Charles St George
Orpen was her executor. A memorial window was dedicated in her memory at Kilgarvan
Church, Kerry in 1906.
1 Son born 4 Apr 1867 at Mentone, France.
9 Charles William de Erpingham Orpen, fourth son was born 21 Sep 1833. He was
Barrister at Law and appointed District Justice in Jamaica, he died of fever at Montego
Bay shortly afterwards on 10 Oct 1867.
10 William Newenham Morris Orpen, Major 77th Regiment born 31 Jan 1835 died unmarried
on 26 Nov 1870 at Portsmouth.
11 Right Rev Raymond d'Audemar Orpen born 27 Aug 1837 married Sara Lucinda
MacGillicuddy 1 Oct 1857 and had four children. He was a curate at Rathronan and then
Adare before becoming the Incumbent of Tralee. He was Archdeacon of Ardfert until his
ordination as Bishop of Limerick, Ardfert and Aghadoe in 1907.
© June Bow & Karen Poff – October 2018
Richard John Theodore Orpen of North Great Georges Street and Ardtully, Co Kerry. He went on
a grand tour with his brother Charles in 1817/8. He practiced as a solicitor in Dublin and was
President of the Incorporated Law Society from 1860 to 1876 and knighted in 1868. He spent
much of his spare time in his later years tracing the history of the Orpen family. He married
Elizabeth Stack, the daughter of the Rev Richard Stack in 1819.
1 Theodora Elizabaeth Orpen born circa 1824, married the Rev James Going, Vicar of
Kilgarvan on 14 Jan 1851 at St George's Church, Dublin. James died at Violet Hill, Cavan
on 27 Apr 1874 and Theodora died as Rosemount, Blackrock 19 Sep 1880. They had
no children.
2 Mary Orpen married George Hall Stack, a barrister and son of the Rev Thomas Stack of
Omagh on 14 Feb 1846 at St George's Church. Mary died in Omagh Co Tyrone on
28 Mar 1880 and George died in 1887.
1 Cornelia Minnie Stack born circa 1856 married William K Stuart King on 1 Nov 1901
in Bombay.
2 Mary Elizabeth Stack born circa 1856 married William Purser Geoghegan of
Rockfield on 1 Mar 1893 at Castlederg.
3 Emily Grace Caroline Stack born circa 1860 married Montague Brown of Glasgow
on 8 Oct 1884 at Castlederg.
3 Francis FitzRichard Orpen was born 16 Jul 1827, a barrister died unmarried on at
George's Street, Dublin on 25 Jan 1858.
4 Richard Hugh Millerd Orpen born 7 Nov 1829 married Amy Nobel Horwood on
5 Jan 1871. They lived at Monkstown and had eight children. Richard died at Ardtully
on 2 Jan 1907.
5 Arthur Herbert Orpen, M A, born 29 Dec 1830 married Anne St George Caulfeild. Annie
was the daughter of Ven Charles Caulfeild, who is featured on a 1$ commemorative stamp
issued for the 150th Anniversary of the Anglican Diocese of the Bahamas and The Turkes
& Caicos Islands and the establishment of the City of Nassau. In 1861 Queen Victoria
designated the Bahamas a Diocese of the Church of England, and the Archdeacon of the
Bahamas, the Venerable Dr Charles Caulfeild was named the first Bishop of the new
Diocese.
Following the wedding of his daughter Annie to Arthur Herbert Orpen in St George's Church
on the 3 Oct 1861, Archbishop Charles Caulfeild left for his new job as Bishop of Nassau in
the Bahamas in May 1862. He sailed to New York on what was to be the last Cunard paddle
steamer to cross the Atlantic but missed his connection to Nassau and was forced to charter
an American clipper ship named "The wild Pigeon" to complete the journey. Three months
after arriving in Nassau he died of yellow fever along with three of his nieces.
Annie died 9 Mar 1912 and Arthur died 6 Mar 1926 having served on the Vestry of St Brigid's
Church since 1867. Both are buried at Deansgrange.
1 Premature son born 28 Dec 1862 at Monkstown.
2 Richard Francis Caulfeild Orpen, BA, RHA, born 24 Dec 1863 at Oriel, Stillorgan.
He was an architect and the youngest ever president of the Royal
Institute of Architects of Ireland from 1914-1917. He was Architect to
Christchurch in 1910. His work includes the Dublin Dental Hospital in Lincoln
Place and Alexandra College in Earlsfort Tce (since demolished). He is considered to
be "The originator of the bungalow in Ireland and built quite a colony of pretty red
tiled gabled houses in Foxrock" - Irish Builder 27/8/1904. He was a skilled artist,
draughtsman and cartoonist and was able to draw simultaneously with both
hands. He married Violet Caulfeild, the daughter of Robert Caulfeild on
7 Mar 1900. He oversaw the interior remodelling of St Brigid's Church, Stillorgan.
He died 27 Mar 1938 at Coologe in Carrickmines, a house that he had designed for
himself and Violet. Violet died 18 Nov 1955 and they had no children. Richard and
Violet were buried at Deansgrange.
3 Charles St George Orpen born 12 Dec 1864 at Oriel, educated Columba's College,
and MA Trinity married Cerise Maria Darley on 27 Aug 1901 at St Brigid's Church
Stillorgan. Cerise was the daughter of John Henry Darley and Mary Cerise Lees
of Ferney, Stillorgan. Charles was a solicitor in the firm of Darley, Orpen &
McGillycuddy of Kildare Street and was a president of the Incorporated Law Society.
He played Hockey for Three Rock Hockey Club and was capped for Ireland. A keen
golfer, he was president of Foxrock Golf Club in 1935. Cherrie joined the Red
Cross at the outbreak of WW1. She worked over 1300 hours at Cabinteely War
Hospital Supply Depot and over 700 hours at the garrison buffet in Dublin. She
worked many socks & garments for the front using her needlework skills.
Charles died 5 Mar 1939 at Portobello House late of Lisheens, Carrickmines and
left 11K in personal estate. Cerise died Good Friday 7 Apr 1950 at Carrickmines.
Both were buried at Deansgrange.
1 Arthur Frederick St George Orpen was born 19 Mar 1903 at Lisheens,
Carrickmines and baptised on 26 Apr 1903 at Tullow Church. He was a
commander in the Royal Navy and was in charge of a gunship on the Yangtse
when his father died in 1939. Arthur Frederick married Augusta Dorothy
Morris nee Alderson in 1940. He retired 8 Jan 1952.
2 Cerise Mary Orpen was born 27 Mar 1904 at Lisheens, Carrickmines and
baptised 22 May 1904 at Tullow Church married Cyril Brian Denis Parker
on 19 Jul 1932 at Tullow Church.
3 Grace Ann Orpen was born 19 Nov 1905 at Lisheens, Carrickmines and
baptised 14 Jan 1906 at Tullow Church married Philip Somerville-Large.
4 Kathleen Hilda Orpen was born 27 Jan 1910 at Lisheens, Carrickmines and
baptised on 13 Mar 1910 at Tullow Church married Hugh Alexander Delap
in 1933 at Tullow Church.
5 Beatrice Orpen was born 7 Mar 1913 at 9:00 at Lisheens, Carrickmines and
baptised on 20 Apr 1913 at Tulllow Church. She was educated at home with
a governess before attending the French School in Bray and Alexandra College,
Dublin married Chalmers Edward Fitzjohn Trench 5 Jul 1940 at Tullow Church.
She was a member of the ICA but is best known as a landscape painter.
6 Annette Rothe Orpen was born 7 Mar 1913 at 9:30 at Lisheens, Carrickmines
and baptised on 20 Apr 1913 at Tulllow Church married Geoffrey Richard
Perrin in 1938 at Tullow Church.
4 Grace Mary Orpen born 5 Feb 1870 at Oriel, Stillorgan. She was known as Toohy
and married Thomas Jackson on 28 Apr 1897 at St Brigid's Church, Stillorgan.
Thomas died in 1936 and Grace died 9 Nov 1944, both were buried at St Brigid's,
Stillorgan.
1 Caroline Anne Rothe Jackson born 6 Sep 1898.
2 Grace St George Jackson born 1899.
3 Patience Gertrude Jackson born 1904.
4 Thomas Jackson born 1906.
5 Mary Frances Jackson born 1909.
5 Arthur Herbert Stack Orpen born 27 Jul 1872 at Oriel, Stillorgan. He served as a
lieutenant in the Royal Army Service Corps attached to the Intelligence Corps in
WW1. He was head of a firm of Solicitors Orpen & Sweeny and President of the
Incorporated Law society 1924-25. He was a secretary of the select vestry for fifty
years and a lay representative for the parish of Stillorgan in the Diocesan Synod. A
keen hockey player he was a member of Three Rock Hockey Club. He married Frances
Ellen Murphy the daughter of James Joseph Murphy, 1st Baronet of Altadore who
was a steamship owner and chief partner in Palgrave Murphy & Co and Brigid Jane
Norman on 7 Jan 1926 Holyhead, Anglesea, Wales. Arthur was on the board of the
Royal Bank of Ireland. He died 15 Sep 1953 at Brooklawn, Stradbrook and was buried
at St Brigid's Stillorgan.
His wife Frances Ellen died 27 Apr 1956 and is buried with her parents in Deans
Grange Cemetery. Ellen left an estate valued at 23K and the portrait of her
husband's parents painted by her brother in law Sir William Orpen she bequeathed
to the National Gallery of Ireland.
6 Elizabeth Ida Rebecca Orpen born 29 Mar 1875 at Oriel died 16 Oct 1879 and is
buried at Deansgrange.
7 William Newenham Montague Orpen, KBE, RA, born 26 Nov 1878 at Oriel
Stillorgan was baptised at Stillorgan on 23 Mar 1879. He was an Irish artist who worked
in London and taught at the Metropolitian school in Dublin. He married Grace
Knewstub in 1901. William died 29 Sep 1931 and was buried at Putney.
He was a popular and commercially successful painter of portraits for the well-to-do
in Edwardian society. During WWI, he was an official artist sent by Britain to the
Western Front where he produced drawings/paintings of soldiers, the dead and
prisoners of war.
Twenty years after his death the director of the Tate Gallery, John Knewstub M
Rothenstein, who was a nephew to Orpen by marriage, published 'Modern English
Painters' which included a very negative lengthy piece on Orpen. While appearing
on the surface to be objective, it criticised every aspect of his work and was bitterly
scathing of both his personality and intellect. This had a huge influence on the art
world and for many years Orpen was largely forgotten about. All this changed when
the 1981 biography by Bruce Arnold revived interest in Orpen and was further
consolidated when Dominic Lee, in conjunction with the Stillorgan Chamber of
Commerce, arranged for a sculpture to be commissioned and installed in his
birthplace Stillorgan in 2018.
1 Mary Orpen born 12 Sep 1902 married Denis Hicks Robson on 27 Jul 193
at The Brompton Oratory in Knightsbridge, London. Mary died 1947.
2 Christine Grace Violet Orpen (Kit) born 6 Sep 1906, Mount Salem, Stillorgan
married Barry Seymore Nicoll on 28 Oct 1933.
3 Diana E Orpen born 1914 in Chelsea married Sidney John Olivier on 6 Oct 1945.
With Evelyn St George nee Baker.
4 Vivien St George born 1 Jan 1912 at Celbridge married Alexander F Stanley
Clarke on 7 Mar 1932.
6 Cornelia Susanna Sarah Orpen born c1831 lived at Park Villas, Stillorgan for a number
of years with her sister Elizabeth Ida. She died unmarried on 31 Mar 1916 at The Palace,
Limerick, the residence of her brother Raymond. Her nephew Arthur H S Orpen was her
executor.
7 Emily Georgiana Orpen third daughter married William Cunningham Plunkett Stack,
the son of William Stack at the Cathedral, Calcutta on 26 Nov 1860. Emily died
25 May 1861at Mirzapore, India. William died 26 Nov 1863 at North Great Georges'
Street and was buried at Mount Jerome.
1 Annabella Elizabeth Stack born circa 1861 lived at 2 Park Villas with her aunts and
died at St Patrick's Hospital on 31 Jul 1929 late of 2 Park Villas.
8 Elizabeth Ida Rebecca Orpen, youngest daughter born circa 1832 married John Robert
Blacker, a late Captain in the 18th Royal Irish on 13 Jun 1866 at St George's Church,
Dublin. John died on Christmas day 1869 at Ballynoe House in Queenstown age 38.
Elizabeth died 14 Sep 1901 at 2 Park Villas, Stillorgan. Her nephew, Charles St George
Orpen was her executor. A memorial window was dedicated in her memory at Kilgarvan
Church, Kerry in 1906.
1 Son born 4 Apr 1867 at Mentone, France.
9 Charles William de Erpingham Orpen, fourth son was born 21 Sep 1833. He was
Barrister at Law and appointed District Justice in Jamaica, he died of fever at Montego
Bay shortly afterwards on 10 Oct 1867.
10 William Newenham Morris Orpen, Major 77th Regiment born 31 Jan 1835 died unmarried
on 26 Nov 1870 at Portsmouth.
11 Right Rev Raymond d'Audemar Orpen born 27 Aug 1837 married Sara Lucinda
MacGillicuddy 1 Oct 1857 and had four children. He was a curate at Rathronan and then
Adare before becoming the Incumbent of Tralee. He was Archdeacon of Ardfert until his
ordination as Bishop of Limerick, Ardfert and Aghadoe in 1907.
© June Bow & Karen Poff – October 2018