Purser Family of Rathmines Castle & Lota, Cross Avenue
It is thought that John Purser born circa 1783 married Sarah Smith on 11.07.1808 at Oswestry,
Shropshire and that Sarah died on 25.06.1822 at Donnybrook.
Then John married Sarah Allen born circa 1782 on 10.07.1823 at St Peter's, Dublin. Sarah Allen
Purser, beloved wife of John died 17.02.1855 aged 73 at Rathmines Castle and John Tertius Purser of
the firm of Guinness Brewers died on 05.04.1858 aged 75 years at Rathmines Castle.
1 John Tertius Purser born 25.05.1809 at Rainsford Street, Dublin married Anna Benigna
Fridlezius a Moravian and youngest daughter of Rev J L Fridlezius of Gracehill, Antrim on
10.02.1834. John purchased Rathmines Castle circa 1834. Anna died 26.12.1881 and John
died on 05.04.1893 at Rathmines Castle. They are buried at the Moravian Cemetery at
Whitechurch.
1 John Purser born 24.08.1835 at Rathmines Castle, Professor of Mathematics at
Queens College in Belfast died unmarried on 18.10.1903.
2 Anna Benigna Fridlezius (Nina) Purser only daughter born 1837 married Sir John
Purser Griffith son of Rev Wm Griffith of Holyhead on 08.11.1871 at the Moravian
Church. Anna died on 18.05.1912 and John died at Rathmines Castle on 22.10.1938
aged 90 years. They are buried at the Moravian Cemetery in Whitechurch.
3 Frederick Purser born 1839 Fellow of Trinity College and late of Rathmines Castle
died unmarried on 30.01.1910 at The Private Hospital, Lower Mount Street.
2 Frances Ann Purser eldest daughter born circa 1813 married Thomas Grace Geoghegan MD
born 20.01.1807 on 18.12.1834 at St Peters Church, Dublin. Thomas died on 25.12.1869 at
his residence on Upper Merrion Street and Frances died on 02.12.1883 at Galway School.
1 John Geoghegan born 18.05.1837 Secretary to the Revenue Board of India died at
Leeson Street, Dublin on 02.10.1877 aged 40 years.
2 Henry Thomas Geoghegan born 05.06.1839 graduated Trinity, BA Civil Engineer and
worked for the India Public Works Department. He died 28.05.1920 aged 81 years.
3 Thomas Grace Geoghegan born circa 1841 late of St James gate Brewery died
20.10.1879 at Cecil Street Strand, London.
4 William Purser Geoghegan 4th son born 18.03.1843 Blackrock worked at Guinness
Brewery and married Frances Anne Purser born 28.06.1844 on 06.11.1872 at
Dungarvan. Frances died on 13.10.1890 aged 46 and William married Mary Elizabeth
Stack in March 1893 Tyrone. William died on 11.01.1935 in Kent.
5 Samuel Geoghegan born 11.02.1845 married Mary Sophia born circa 1855. Samuel
a brother of William Purser Geoghegan became Chief Engineer at the Guinness
Brewery. Samuel died 04.09.1928 and Mary Sophia died 1929.
6 Jacob Thomas Geoghegan 6th son born 25.11.1846 a Barrister married Emma Barker
youngest daughter of William Barker MD of Hatch Street on 29.12.1874 at Rostrevor
Church. Jacob died suddenly on 14.12.1918 at the Carrickmines Golf Links.
7 Sarah Frances Geoghegan eldest daughter born circa 1848 of 4 Merrion Street
married Richard Biggs son of Richard W Biggs of Birr on 12.01.1870 at St Anne’s,
Dublin. Richard was the Head Master of Royal School, Portora, Enniskillen and died
by drowning on 23.06.1904 and Sarah died 09.11.1913 and is buried at Deansgrange.
8 Frances Anne Geoghegan born 17.08.1850 died 11.10.1937.
9 Mary Elizabeth Geoghegan born 06.02.1856 died 12.02.1947.
3 Benjamin Purser 2nd son born circa 1815 educated Trinity College. A Miller and Grain
Merchant in Dungarvan, Waterford he married Anne Mallet only daughter of John Mallet of
Capel Street on 03.03.1836 at St Mary's Church, Dublin. Benjamin was insolvent in the 1870's
and moved to America. He died on 14.12.1899 in South Carolina, USA.
1 Sarah Jane Victoria Purser born 24.05.1838 of Byrnes Hill Brewery baptised on
11.07.1838 at St Catherine's.
2 John Mallet Purser eldest son of Benjamin of Byrnes Hill Brewery born 08.11.1839
baptised on 17.12.1839 at St Catherine's graduated Trinity College and worked as a
Consulting Physician. He was Professor of Physiology and Medicine and was the first
man to teach pathology at Trinity. He died a bachelor at his residence Mespil House
on 18.09.1929.
3 Robert Mallet Purser son of Benjamin died in an accident on 22.03.1859 aged 16
years at Portora School in Enniskillen.
4 Frances Anne Purser eldest daughter born 28.06.1844 married William Purser
Geoghegan 4th son of T G Geoghegan MD on 06.11.1872 at Dungarvan.
5 Benjamin Purser born circa 1847 married Ellen Hildebrand, daughter of Henry
Hildebrand on 29 Aug 1872 at Turlough Church.
6 Sarah Henrietta Purser born 22.03.1848 of Dungarvan baptised at St Peters on
01.06.1848. She attended classes at the Dublin Metropolitan School of Art and
joined the Dublin Sketching Club after her father's business failed and he left
for America. Using her social contacts to gain work, she is noted as having said
'I went through the British aristocracy like the measles.' She exhibited regularly
at the RHA and was involved in setting up the Hugh Lane Municipal Gallery, being
instrumental in persuading the Irish government to house the collection in
Charlemont House.
Sarah was a well known artist and a stain glass worker but she was also an astute
business woman, she bought shares in companies such as Guinness's and she
financed An Túr Gloine (The Tower of Glass). She purchased a painting known as
Edith ‘The Bear Woman’, by William Orpen for £35 in 1909. She died unmarried
on 07.08.1943 at Mespil House, Dublin aged 95 years. Mespil was a Georgian
mansion with beautiful plaster ceilings on Mespil Road. Before its demolition two
ceilings were removed and installed in Dublin Castle and a third ceiling was installed
in Áras an Uachtaráin.
7 William Edward Purser son of Benjamin Purser married Elizabeth Geoghegan
daughter of Thomas Grace Geoghegan on 30.11.1875 at St Peters.
4 Sarah Purser younger daughter born circa 1817 married Dr Richard William Biggs on
17.07.1839 at Rathmines Castle. He ran a school at Devizes Wiltshire. Sarah died on
16.09.1857 aged 40 years.
5 William Allen Purser MD born circa 1818 educated Trinity College married Catherine Anne
relict of the late Louis Wite of Woodlands on 10.02.1858 on the Island of Tobago.
6 Joseph Edgerly Purser born circa 1820 educated Trinity College and died at Claremount
Road, Howth on 13.10.1900.
7 Edward Purser 5th son born 16.12.1821 married Anna Jane Mallet daughter of Robert Mallet
of Delville on 20.11.1856 at Glasnevin Church. Edward attended Trinity and was a Civil
Engineer of the Ottoman Railway. Anna Emily died of a fever on 29.09.1884. Edward then
married Amy Lilias Wilson 3rd daughter of Robert Wilson of Thorndale Dublin on 19.10.1886
at the Parish Church Limington. Edward died in Smyrna 26.10.1906 aged 85 years.
8 Samuel Powell Purser Rev youngest son born 27.06.1825 died on 19.11.1860 at Hastings.
©June Bow & Karen Poff – June 2017
It is thought that John Purser born circa 1783 married Sarah Smith on 11.07.1808 at Oswestry,
Shropshire and that Sarah died on 25.06.1822 at Donnybrook.
Then John married Sarah Allen born circa 1782 on 10.07.1823 at St Peter's, Dublin. Sarah Allen
Purser, beloved wife of John died 17.02.1855 aged 73 at Rathmines Castle and John Tertius Purser of
the firm of Guinness Brewers died on 05.04.1858 aged 75 years at Rathmines Castle.
1 John Tertius Purser born 25.05.1809 at Rainsford Street, Dublin married Anna Benigna
Fridlezius a Moravian and youngest daughter of Rev J L Fridlezius of Gracehill, Antrim on
10.02.1834. John purchased Rathmines Castle circa 1834. Anna died 26.12.1881 and John
died on 05.04.1893 at Rathmines Castle. They are buried at the Moravian Cemetery at
Whitechurch.
1 John Purser born 24.08.1835 at Rathmines Castle, Professor of Mathematics at
Queens College in Belfast died unmarried on 18.10.1903.
2 Anna Benigna Fridlezius (Nina) Purser only daughter born 1837 married Sir John
Purser Griffith son of Rev Wm Griffith of Holyhead on 08.11.1871 at the Moravian
Church. Anna died on 18.05.1912 and John died at Rathmines Castle on 22.10.1938
aged 90 years. They are buried at the Moravian Cemetery in Whitechurch.
3 Frederick Purser born 1839 Fellow of Trinity College and late of Rathmines Castle
died unmarried on 30.01.1910 at The Private Hospital, Lower Mount Street.
2 Frances Ann Purser eldest daughter born circa 1813 married Thomas Grace Geoghegan MD
born 20.01.1807 on 18.12.1834 at St Peters Church, Dublin. Thomas died on 25.12.1869 at
his residence on Upper Merrion Street and Frances died on 02.12.1883 at Galway School.
1 John Geoghegan born 18.05.1837 Secretary to the Revenue Board of India died at
Leeson Street, Dublin on 02.10.1877 aged 40 years.
2 Henry Thomas Geoghegan born 05.06.1839 graduated Trinity, BA Civil Engineer and
worked for the India Public Works Department. He died 28.05.1920 aged 81 years.
3 Thomas Grace Geoghegan born circa 1841 late of St James gate Brewery died
20.10.1879 at Cecil Street Strand, London.
4 William Purser Geoghegan 4th son born 18.03.1843 Blackrock worked at Guinness
Brewery and married Frances Anne Purser born 28.06.1844 on 06.11.1872 at
Dungarvan. Frances died on 13.10.1890 aged 46 and William married Mary Elizabeth
Stack in March 1893 Tyrone. William died on 11.01.1935 in Kent.
5 Samuel Geoghegan born 11.02.1845 married Mary Sophia born circa 1855. Samuel
a brother of William Purser Geoghegan became Chief Engineer at the Guinness
Brewery. Samuel died 04.09.1928 and Mary Sophia died 1929.
6 Jacob Thomas Geoghegan 6th son born 25.11.1846 a Barrister married Emma Barker
youngest daughter of William Barker MD of Hatch Street on 29.12.1874 at Rostrevor
Church. Jacob died suddenly on 14.12.1918 at the Carrickmines Golf Links.
7 Sarah Frances Geoghegan eldest daughter born circa 1848 of 4 Merrion Street
married Richard Biggs son of Richard W Biggs of Birr on 12.01.1870 at St Anne’s,
Dublin. Richard was the Head Master of Royal School, Portora, Enniskillen and died
by drowning on 23.06.1904 and Sarah died 09.11.1913 and is buried at Deansgrange.
8 Frances Anne Geoghegan born 17.08.1850 died 11.10.1937.
9 Mary Elizabeth Geoghegan born 06.02.1856 died 12.02.1947.
3 Benjamin Purser 2nd son born circa 1815 educated Trinity College. A Miller and Grain
Merchant in Dungarvan, Waterford he married Anne Mallet only daughter of John Mallet of
Capel Street on 03.03.1836 at St Mary's Church, Dublin. Benjamin was insolvent in the 1870's
and moved to America. He died on 14.12.1899 in South Carolina, USA.
1 Sarah Jane Victoria Purser born 24.05.1838 of Byrnes Hill Brewery baptised on
11.07.1838 at St Catherine's.
2 John Mallet Purser eldest son of Benjamin of Byrnes Hill Brewery born 08.11.1839
baptised on 17.12.1839 at St Catherine's graduated Trinity College and worked as a
Consulting Physician. He was Professor of Physiology and Medicine and was the first
man to teach pathology at Trinity. He died a bachelor at his residence Mespil House
on 18.09.1929.
3 Robert Mallet Purser son of Benjamin died in an accident on 22.03.1859 aged 16
years at Portora School in Enniskillen.
4 Frances Anne Purser eldest daughter born 28.06.1844 married William Purser
Geoghegan 4th son of T G Geoghegan MD on 06.11.1872 at Dungarvan.
5 Benjamin Purser born circa 1847 married Ellen Hildebrand, daughter of Henry
Hildebrand on 29 Aug 1872 at Turlough Church.
6 Sarah Henrietta Purser born 22.03.1848 of Dungarvan baptised at St Peters on
01.06.1848. She attended classes at the Dublin Metropolitan School of Art and
joined the Dublin Sketching Club after her father's business failed and he left
for America. Using her social contacts to gain work, she is noted as having said
'I went through the British aristocracy like the measles.' She exhibited regularly
at the RHA and was involved in setting up the Hugh Lane Municipal Gallery, being
instrumental in persuading the Irish government to house the collection in
Charlemont House.
Sarah was a well known artist and a stain glass worker but she was also an astute
business woman, she bought shares in companies such as Guinness's and she
financed An Túr Gloine (The Tower of Glass). She purchased a painting known as
Edith ‘The Bear Woman’, by William Orpen for £35 in 1909. She died unmarried
on 07.08.1943 at Mespil House, Dublin aged 95 years. Mespil was a Georgian
mansion with beautiful plaster ceilings on Mespil Road. Before its demolition two
ceilings were removed and installed in Dublin Castle and a third ceiling was installed
in Áras an Uachtaráin.
7 William Edward Purser son of Benjamin Purser married Elizabeth Geoghegan
daughter of Thomas Grace Geoghegan on 30.11.1875 at St Peters.
4 Sarah Purser younger daughter born circa 1817 married Dr Richard William Biggs on
17.07.1839 at Rathmines Castle. He ran a school at Devizes Wiltshire. Sarah died on
16.09.1857 aged 40 years.
5 William Allen Purser MD born circa 1818 educated Trinity College married Catherine Anne
relict of the late Louis Wite of Woodlands on 10.02.1858 on the Island of Tobago.
6 Joseph Edgerly Purser born circa 1820 educated Trinity College and died at Claremount
Road, Howth on 13.10.1900.
7 Edward Purser 5th son born 16.12.1821 married Anna Jane Mallet daughter of Robert Mallet
of Delville on 20.11.1856 at Glasnevin Church. Edward attended Trinity and was a Civil
Engineer of the Ottoman Railway. Anna Emily died of a fever on 29.09.1884. Edward then
married Amy Lilias Wilson 3rd daughter of Robert Wilson of Thorndale Dublin on 19.10.1886
at the Parish Church Limington. Edward died in Smyrna 26.10.1906 aged 85 years.
8 Samuel Powell Purser Rev youngest son born 27.06.1825 died on 19.11.1860 at Hastings.
©June Bow & Karen Poff – June 2017