Isabella Pollexfen (Irish painter) 1849 - 1938
Egyptian Mother and Child, 1880
oil on board
Pollexfen of Sligo
William Pollexfen married Elizabeth Louisa Middleton
born circa 1811 circa 1837 born circa 1819
Devon
died 12 Nov 1892 died 2 Oct 1892
Rathedmond House Rathedmond House
Sligo Sligo
William Pollexfen born circa 1811 in Devon married his second cousin Elizabeth Louisa
Middleton circa 1837 in Sligo. Elizabeth Louisa was the daughter of William Middleton, a
miller of Union Place who died in 1832, and Elizabeth Pollexfen (died 1853). With his
brother in law William Middleton, he formed Middleton & Pollexfen, shipping and milling
of Quay Street, Sligo. They originated a line of steamers between Sligo and Liverpool
which became the Sligo Steam Navigation Company. They lived at Merville House, Sligo
and had at least eleven children. In 1867 William was onboard The Rose, a paddle
steamer when it crashed into rocks close to Wheaten Rocks, Sligo but he, and most of the
crew and passengers were saved. The partnership bought mills at Avena, Ballisodare,
Collooney and Sligo and also numerous land sites around Sligo including the racecourse
at Rosses Point. The partnership was dissolved on the death of William Middleton in 1883.
The properties were put up for sale and were purchased by William Pollexfen. Elizabeth
died 2 Oct 1892 at Rathedmond and was buried at St John’s graveyard. Her executor was
her husband who died just a month after her on 12 Nov 1892 and who is buried with her.
Their estates were administered by their son George and their son in law, Arthur Jackson.
1 Charles William Pollexfen born circa 1838 was a corn merchant/shipping merchant
and married Jane Thomas in 1875. They lived in Liscard, Birkenhead, Cheshire and
Charles died in 1923 at Birkenhead.
1 George Thomas Pollexfen born circa 1887 at Hooton, Cheshire.
2 George Thomas Pollexfen born circa 1839 in Sligo. He was partner is W & GT
Pollexfen and ran the flour mills at Avena, Borrisodare. He was a JP and High sheriff
and followed the hunt. He died 26 Sep 1910 at Thornhill, Sligo. He left 47K in
person estate which was divided 9 ways between his siblings and their children.
3 Susan Mary born 13 Jul 1841 married John Butler Yeats on 10 Sep 1863.
4 Elizabeth Anne Pollexfen second daughter married to Rev Alexander Barrington
Orr of Brooklawn, Mount Merrion Avenue on 13 Aug 1874 at St John’s Church, Sligo.
5 William Middleton Pollexfen third son born circa 1845 shattered his hand in a fire
arms accident in 1864. He died 25 Feb 1913 in Northampton.
6 John Anthony Pollexfen third son born circa 1846 joined the merchant navy and
travelled the world. He was a master mariner and master of the screw steamer
Glasgow. He married Mary Jane Gorman on 12 Oct 1871. Mary Jane was the
daughter of Thomas Gorman of Markland House, Bootle. They had at least five
children and the family were living in Great Crosby, West Derby in 1891. John died
27 Jan 1900 in Liverpool. Mary Jane died in 1918 at Chelsea.
1 Mary Isabel Pollexfen baptised 7 Dec 1873 at Walton on the Hill in Lancashire.
2 Dorothy Claire Pollexfen born 1 Jan 1884 at Ormskirk, a published author and
mystery writer (Claire D Pollexfen) married Herbert Cooper.
7 Isabella Pollexfen born circa 1849 studied at the Lequien studio in Paris. She married
the artist John Varley on 25 Oct 1876. John was the son of Robert Fleetwood Varley,
an artist. Isabella was an artist in her own right, she had an interest in the occult and
was a founding member of The Theosophical Society. Her husband John was known
as ‘Varley the younger’ or ‘Egyptian Varley’. John died 20 May 1833 at Cheltenham.
Isabella as last surviving child died on 7 Jun 1938 aged 79 at St George’s Road,
Cheltenham.
8 Frederick Henry Pollexfen born circa 1852 was a coal merchant, shipping agent and
notary public. He was living at Merville and married Henrietta Alma Johnstone on
22 Mar 1881 at St Peters, Dublin. They had at least eight children and divorced in 1899.
Frederick was a jockey and a keen sailor, one of his yachts was called Wasp. He was
secretary of the National Investment Trust Corporation Company. He was living Hornsey,
Edmonton in 1901.
1 William Johnstone Pollexfen was born circa 1884 in Sligo and died in 1906. His
mother Henrietta Bennison was his executor.
2 Ruth Johnstone Pollexfen eldest daughter born 27 Sep 1885 in Limerick. She
served as an apprentice to Lily in the embroidery section of Dun Emer. Her Aunt
Lily Yeats was her guardian and she was later an instructress. She was living at
Churchtown when she married Charles Edward Lane Poole of Sierra Leones on
20 Jul 1911 at the chapel of St Columba’s College. Charles was the son
of archaeologist Stanley Lane Poole. WB, Lily and Elizabeth Yeats were their
witnesses. She moved to Australia in 1920 and was a well known and
accomplished furniture and interior designer.
3 Hilda Eccles Johnstone Pollexfen youngest daughter 18 Jan 1894 at Weston Cottage,
Limerick. She married Rev Charles Lloyd Graham at Taney Church on 10 Jan 1923.
She was resident at Gurteen Dhas, Churchtown and Jack Yeats was one of the
witnesses.
9 Alfred Edward Pollexfen youngest son born circa 1854 in Sligo. He was a clerk in fertilizers
and a Steamship Co Director. He died unmarried on 15 Aug 1916 at Waterloo House, Bray.
10 Agnes Middleton Pollexfen fourth daughter born circa 1855 married Robert Gorman on
21 Nov 1878. Robert was the third son or the late Henry Gorman of Wine Street Sligo.
They had four children.
11 Alice J Pollexfen born circa 1857 married Arthur Jackson on 13 Jul 1872 at St John’s Sligo.
Arthur was the son of Henry Jackson of Belfast. They lived at Lisroyan House, Sligo and
Arthur was a DL and a director of Alfred Jackson & Co, Coal Importers. He was a member
of the Free State Senate from 1922 to 1928. Alice died 17 Mar 1932 and Arthur died in
1938 aged 82. He was survived by one son and three daughters.
© June Bow & Karen Poff - March 2024
Return to Dun Emer page
William Pollexfen married Elizabeth Louisa Middleton
born circa 1811 circa 1837 born circa 1819
Devon
died 12 Nov 1892 died 2 Oct 1892
Rathedmond House Rathedmond House
Sligo Sligo
William Pollexfen born circa 1811 in Devon married his second cousin Elizabeth Louisa
Middleton circa 1837 in Sligo. Elizabeth Louisa was the daughter of William Middleton, a
miller of Union Place who died in 1832, and Elizabeth Pollexfen (died 1853). With his
brother in law William Middleton, he formed Middleton & Pollexfen, shipping and milling
of Quay Street, Sligo. They originated a line of steamers between Sligo and Liverpool
which became the Sligo Steam Navigation Company. They lived at Merville House, Sligo
and had at least eleven children. In 1867 William was onboard The Rose, a paddle
steamer when it crashed into rocks close to Wheaten Rocks, Sligo but he, and most of the
crew and passengers were saved. The partnership bought mills at Avena, Ballisodare,
Collooney and Sligo and also numerous land sites around Sligo including the racecourse
at Rosses Point. The partnership was dissolved on the death of William Middleton in 1883.
The properties were put up for sale and were purchased by William Pollexfen. Elizabeth
died 2 Oct 1892 at Rathedmond and was buried at St John’s graveyard. Her executor was
her husband who died just a month after her on 12 Nov 1892 and who is buried with her.
Their estates were administered by their son George and their son in law, Arthur Jackson.
1 Charles William Pollexfen born circa 1838 was a corn merchant/shipping merchant
and married Jane Thomas in 1875. They lived in Liscard, Birkenhead, Cheshire and
Charles died in 1923 at Birkenhead.
1 George Thomas Pollexfen born circa 1887 at Hooton, Cheshire.
2 George Thomas Pollexfen born circa 1839 in Sligo. He was partner is W & GT
Pollexfen and ran the flour mills at Avena, Borrisodare. He was a JP and High sheriff
and followed the hunt. He died 26 Sep 1910 at Thornhill, Sligo. He left 47K in
person estate which was divided 9 ways between his siblings and their children.
3 Susan Mary born 13 Jul 1841 married John Butler Yeats on 10 Sep 1863.
4 Elizabeth Anne Pollexfen second daughter married to Rev Alexander Barrington
Orr of Brooklawn, Mount Merrion Avenue on 13 Aug 1874 at St John’s Church, Sligo.
5 William Middleton Pollexfen third son born circa 1845 shattered his hand in a fire
arms accident in 1864. He died 25 Feb 1913 in Northampton.
6 John Anthony Pollexfen third son born circa 1846 joined the merchant navy and
travelled the world. He was a master mariner and master of the screw steamer
Glasgow. He married Mary Jane Gorman on 12 Oct 1871. Mary Jane was the
daughter of Thomas Gorman of Markland House, Bootle. They had at least five
children and the family were living in Great Crosby, West Derby in 1891. John died
27 Jan 1900 in Liverpool. Mary Jane died in 1918 at Chelsea.
1 Mary Isabel Pollexfen baptised 7 Dec 1873 at Walton on the Hill in Lancashire.
2 Dorothy Claire Pollexfen born 1 Jan 1884 at Ormskirk, a published author and
mystery writer (Claire D Pollexfen) married Herbert Cooper.
7 Isabella Pollexfen born circa 1849 studied at the Lequien studio in Paris. She married
the artist John Varley on 25 Oct 1876. John was the son of Robert Fleetwood Varley,
an artist. Isabella was an artist in her own right, she had an interest in the occult and
was a founding member of The Theosophical Society. Her husband John was known
as ‘Varley the younger’ or ‘Egyptian Varley’. John died 20 May 1833 at Cheltenham.
Isabella as last surviving child died on 7 Jun 1938 aged 79 at St George’s Road,
Cheltenham.
8 Frederick Henry Pollexfen born circa 1852 was a coal merchant, shipping agent and
notary public. He was living at Merville and married Henrietta Alma Johnstone on
22 Mar 1881 at St Peters, Dublin. They had at least eight children and divorced in 1899.
Frederick was a jockey and a keen sailor, one of his yachts was called Wasp. He was
secretary of the National Investment Trust Corporation Company. He was living Hornsey,
Edmonton in 1901.
1 William Johnstone Pollexfen was born circa 1884 in Sligo and died in 1906. His
mother Henrietta Bennison was his executor.
2 Ruth Johnstone Pollexfen eldest daughter born 27 Sep 1885 in Limerick. She
served as an apprentice to Lily in the embroidery section of Dun Emer. Her Aunt
Lily Yeats was her guardian and she was later an instructress. She was living at
Churchtown when she married Charles Edward Lane Poole of Sierra Leones on
20 Jul 1911 at the chapel of St Columba’s College. Charles was the son
of archaeologist Stanley Lane Poole. WB, Lily and Elizabeth Yeats were their
witnesses. She moved to Australia in 1920 and was a well known and
accomplished furniture and interior designer.
3 Hilda Eccles Johnstone Pollexfen youngest daughter 18 Jan 1894 at Weston Cottage,
Limerick. She married Rev Charles Lloyd Graham at Taney Church on 10 Jan 1923.
She was resident at Gurteen Dhas, Churchtown and Jack Yeats was one of the
witnesses.
9 Alfred Edward Pollexfen youngest son born circa 1854 in Sligo. He was a clerk in fertilizers
and a Steamship Co Director. He died unmarried on 15 Aug 1916 at Waterloo House, Bray.
10 Agnes Middleton Pollexfen fourth daughter born circa 1855 married Robert Gorman on
21 Nov 1878. Robert was the third son or the late Henry Gorman of Wine Street Sligo.
They had four children.
11 Alice J Pollexfen born circa 1857 married Arthur Jackson on 13 Jul 1872 at St John’s Sligo.
Arthur was the son of Henry Jackson of Belfast. They lived at Lisroyan House, Sligo and
Arthur was a DL and a director of Alfred Jackson & Co, Coal Importers. He was a member
of the Free State Senate from 1922 to 1928. Alice died 17 Mar 1932 and Arthur died in
1938 aged 82. He was survived by one son and three daughters.
© June Bow & Karen Poff - March 2024
Return to Dun Emer page