Shanks of Charleton, Roebuck
James Shanks married Mary Barr
born circa 1846 17 April 1866 born circa 1846
Co Antrim Belfast Co Antrim
died 17 Dec 1926 died 24 Sep 1918
Charlton, Cowper Rd Hazelwood, Dundrum
James Shanks born circa 1846 in Co Antrim, son of Hugh Shanks, a flax dresser. James was an office
clerk and married Mary Barr at Shankill Presbyterian Church, Belfast on 17 Apr 1866. Mary was the
daughter of David Barr, an accountant. James established a mineral company at 54 to 56 Townsend
Street, Dublin circa 1867. He was Protestant Nationalist in favour of Home Rule and a campaigner for
Parnell. He was elected town councillor for the Trinity ward in 1883, deputy chairman of the Public
Health Committee in 1888, High Sheriff in 1891 and Lord Mayor of Dublin in 1893. The unveiling of the
Father Mathew statue sculpted Mary Redmond was one of his first public duties. Top sellers for the
company in 1892 were Shanks Hop bitters and Shanks Orange Champagne. He was a JP for County
Dublin and managing director of James Shanks and Co Ltd. He was a major shareholder, managing
director and licensee of the Grand International Hotel at Bray. The licence was transferred to Frank
Bethell in 1904. He was CEO of the International exhibition at Herbert Park in 1907. The company
became Walter Brights Ltd circa 1909 and a winding up the business of J Shanks and Co was issued in
1910. The couple had 12 children of whom 8 were still living in 1911. Mary died at Hazelwood,
Dundrum on 24 Sep 1918 and was buried at Mount Jerome.
1 Arthur Barr Shanks born 28 Dec 1867 at 2 Hopeton Street, Belfast married Annie Mary Belliss
at the Oratory in Kensington on 14 Feb 1898.
2 Rosalie Shanks born 29 Feb 1869 at 42 Great Brunswick Street, Dublin was unmarried and the
office manager of a mineral water factory in 1911.
3 Hugh Edward Shanks born 11 Mar 1870 at 42 Great Brunswick Street died an infant.
4 William Kirker Shanks born 9 Feb 1871 at 42 Great Brunswick Street married Alice Margaret
Tristram at St Bartholomew’s Church on 2 Jan 1898. Alice was the daughter of John William
Tristram. William was a publisher.
5 James Alfred Shanks born 9 Feb 1873 at Charleston Avenue, Rathmines was a commission agent
in 1901. James married Bridget Murphy at Aughrim Street Church on 22 Nov 1922. James, an
accountant died 24 Sep 1944 at Brunswick Street and was buried at Mount Jerome with his
parents.
1 Mary Shanks
6 David Shanks born 7 Apr 1874 in Dublin.
7 Walter Shanks born 14 Aug 1875 in Dublin was a witness at his brother’s wedding in 1898.
8 Charles Shanks born 28 Jul 1876 at 29 Strand Road, Sandymount was a manager at Shanks &
Co in 1901. Charles moved to America and died in Los Angeles in 1952.
9 Victor Kirker Shanks 6 Jan 1878 at 29 Strand Road, Sandymount moved to Australia and died in
1930.
10 Mary Olive Shanks born 10 Jun 1879 at 29 Strand Road, Sandymount.
James secondly married Margaret Richards Robson on 29 Apr 1919 at the Registrars Office, Dublin. He
was a member of the Dublin Mineral Water Manufacturers’ Association and was president of the Dublin
Chamber of Commerce in 1923. James died 12 Dec 1926 at Charlton Cowper Road. He was survived by
his widow, four sons and two daughters.
© June Bow & Karen Poff – April 2022
James Shanks married Mary Barr
born circa 1846 17 April 1866 born circa 1846
Co Antrim Belfast Co Antrim
died 17 Dec 1926 died 24 Sep 1918
Charlton, Cowper Rd Hazelwood, Dundrum
James Shanks born circa 1846 in Co Antrim, son of Hugh Shanks, a flax dresser. James was an office
clerk and married Mary Barr at Shankill Presbyterian Church, Belfast on 17 Apr 1866. Mary was the
daughter of David Barr, an accountant. James established a mineral company at 54 to 56 Townsend
Street, Dublin circa 1867. He was Protestant Nationalist in favour of Home Rule and a campaigner for
Parnell. He was elected town councillor for the Trinity ward in 1883, deputy chairman of the Public
Health Committee in 1888, High Sheriff in 1891 and Lord Mayor of Dublin in 1893. The unveiling of the
Father Mathew statue sculpted Mary Redmond was one of his first public duties. Top sellers for the
company in 1892 were Shanks Hop bitters and Shanks Orange Champagne. He was a JP for County
Dublin and managing director of James Shanks and Co Ltd. He was a major shareholder, managing
director and licensee of the Grand International Hotel at Bray. The licence was transferred to Frank
Bethell in 1904. He was CEO of the International exhibition at Herbert Park in 1907. The company
became Walter Brights Ltd circa 1909 and a winding up the business of J Shanks and Co was issued in
1910. The couple had 12 children of whom 8 were still living in 1911. Mary died at Hazelwood,
Dundrum on 24 Sep 1918 and was buried at Mount Jerome.
1 Arthur Barr Shanks born 28 Dec 1867 at 2 Hopeton Street, Belfast married Annie Mary Belliss
at the Oratory in Kensington on 14 Feb 1898.
2 Rosalie Shanks born 29 Feb 1869 at 42 Great Brunswick Street, Dublin was unmarried and the
office manager of a mineral water factory in 1911.
3 Hugh Edward Shanks born 11 Mar 1870 at 42 Great Brunswick Street died an infant.
4 William Kirker Shanks born 9 Feb 1871 at 42 Great Brunswick Street married Alice Margaret
Tristram at St Bartholomew’s Church on 2 Jan 1898. Alice was the daughter of John William
Tristram. William was a publisher.
5 James Alfred Shanks born 9 Feb 1873 at Charleston Avenue, Rathmines was a commission agent
in 1901. James married Bridget Murphy at Aughrim Street Church on 22 Nov 1922. James, an
accountant died 24 Sep 1944 at Brunswick Street and was buried at Mount Jerome with his
parents.
1 Mary Shanks
6 David Shanks born 7 Apr 1874 in Dublin.
7 Walter Shanks born 14 Aug 1875 in Dublin was a witness at his brother’s wedding in 1898.
8 Charles Shanks born 28 Jul 1876 at 29 Strand Road, Sandymount was a manager at Shanks &
Co in 1901. Charles moved to America and died in Los Angeles in 1952.
9 Victor Kirker Shanks 6 Jan 1878 at 29 Strand Road, Sandymount moved to Australia and died in
1930.
10 Mary Olive Shanks born 10 Jun 1879 at 29 Strand Road, Sandymount.
James secondly married Margaret Richards Robson on 29 Apr 1919 at the Registrars Office, Dublin. He
was a member of the Dublin Mineral Water Manufacturers’ Association and was president of the Dublin
Chamber of Commerce in 1923. James died 12 Dec 1926 at Charlton Cowper Road. He was survived by
his widow, four sons and two daughters.
© June Bow & Karen Poff – April 2022