Thunder family of Ashton Park
Henry Thunder married Elinor Savage
5 Aug 1781
Dublin
Henry Thunder served his apprenticeship with John Lawless of High Street and transacted
business for him. He married Elinor (Ellen) Savage on 5 Aug 1781 at SS Michael & John’s Church,
Dublin. He went into business on his own account at 31 Castle Street in 1781 selling rugs and
carpets from all over the world as well as being the agent for Harry Lapham’s of Ireland and his
Wilton carpets. He also sold blankets and quilts. By 1782 he had land in Kilbarrack and by
1793 his address is given at 19 Dame Street, New buildings.
1 Mary Thunder baptised at SS Michael & John’s Church Dublin in 1782.
2 Michael Thunder born circa 1783. He was on the committee for the abolishment of tithes
in 1833. He married Catherine and they lived at Windsor House, Monkstown Avenue.
Catherine died on 7 Sep 1840 aged 46 at Windsor House and was buried at Glasnevin.
Michael put the lease of Windsor house up for sale after the death of his wife and moved
to Ballyseskin House, Wexford. Michael died at 2 Conyngham Road, the home of his son
in law on 13 Oct 1850, late of Ballyseskin House. He is buried at Glasnevin.
1 Elizabeth Thunder eldest daughter born circa 1819 died at Wellfort, Galway on
2 Oct 1866, the home of her sister Kate D’Arcy.
2 Eleanor (Ellen Mary) Thunder second daughter born circa 1820. She married Matthew
Moriarty on 2 Jul 1840. Matthew was a solicitor of Blessington Street, Dublin, and the
son of Christopher Moriarty, a solicitor and Honoria Beytagh. Ellen Mary died a widow
on 21 Dec 1897 at 7 Guillaume Tell, Ghent.
3 Henry Thunder eldest son stood as a repeal candidate for Wexford in 1845.
4 Michael Thunder second son born circa 1829 died at No 11 Cabra Parade died
13 Aug 1853.
5 Kate Agnes Josephine Thunder married Richard D’Arcy of Wellfort Co Galway on
26 Jul 1847.
6 Susan Francis Thunder fourth daughter married Michael Andrew Rorke on 10 Jan 1848
at Talbot Street. Michael was a barrister of Upper Gloucester Street and the youngest
son of Andrew Rorke and Eleanor Sweetman of Tyrrelstown House, Dublin.
7 Mary Anne Frances Thunder fifth daughter married her cousin James Thunder in
October 1848. James was the son of the late Andrew Thunder of Ashton Park,
Monkstown.
8 Andrew Frederick Thunder youngest son born circa 1832. He married Mary Horne on
15 Jul 1861 at the Pro Cathedral, Marlborough Street. Mary was the daughter of the late
Andrew Horne, MD of Ballinasloe. Andrew died 23 May 1880 at St Alban’s Road, SCR.
3 Luke Thunder baptised at SS Michael & John’s Church Dublin in 1785.
4 Andrew Thunder baptised at SS Michael & John’s Church Dublin in 1788. He was a brewer
with Pat & William Ford in Stonybatter and took over their business their deaths. He went into
partnership with his brother Michael in 1808 having taken over the concerns of Smyth & Co at
11 Bow Lane. They were trading at Thunder & Wall of Bow Street by 1812 and were at New
Church Street by 1825. Dublin lore has it that Thundercut Alley was created by Andrew and
Michael Thunder and used as a short cut from Queen Street to Smithfield by employees of
their brewery. However, this is just an urban myth as Thundercut Alley was in existence in
1760 and before that it was known as Thunder Alley as far back as 1730.
Andrew married Eleanor Ging on 11 Oct 1818. Eleanor was the daughter of James Ging of
New Row, South. He purchased Ashton Park, Monkstown circa 1833. He purchased Neville's
Court, Ballycanew in 1837 and gave an interminable rent free lease to the Wesleyan Society
for their chapel. The partnership at New Church Street with Michael Thunder was dissolved
in 1839. In 1847 Andrew stopped production at the brewing plant due to the price of corn.
He died at Ashton Park on 20 Dec 1847. Forty years on from his death and Ashton Park ‘was
still commonly called Thunder’s Alley’. Ellen died 30 Dec 1868 at Middleton Lodge Cork age 73.
1 James Thunder born circa 1819 inherited the brewery in New Church Street on the death
of his father. He married Mary Anne Frances Thunder at Monkstown in 1848. Mary was
his cousin and the fifth daughter of Michael Thunder of Ballyseskin. James died at
Conyngham Road on 8 Nov 1851.
1 Daughter Thunder born August 1849 in Blackrock.
Mary remarried in 1853.
2 Andrew Thunder second son born circa 1824. He inherited the brewery, sold it and
moved to Australia circa 1852 and set up Thunders Brewery in Bendigo. He married
Annie Fitzgerald on 25 May 1862 at the British Embassy, Paris and at the Roman Catholic
Church in Passy. Annie was the eldest daughter of the late Richard Fitzgerald, MP of
Muckridge House, Co Cork. They moved to Melbourne circa 1879. They lived at
Ballycanew, Co Wexford in 1901 and their daughter Eva Seward and grandson were visiting.
Andrew died 25 Nov 1902 at Youghal and was interred in the family vault in Drumcondra.
1 Andrew Gerald Thunder born 1864 in Australia.
2 Eva Mary Thunder born circa 1867 in Australia married William Arthur Seward
in 1890.
3 Ernest Thunder born circa 1870.
3 Ellen Thunder eldest daughter born circa 1826. She married Michael R O’Farrell at
Gresham Terrace Kingstown on 2 Jan 1851. Michael was a barrister of Shannon Park, Co
Limerick.
4 Annie Thunder second daughter born circa 1831. She married Frederick Fitzgerald on
2 Sep 1854 at St Andrew’s Westland Row. Frederick was the son of the late Richard
Fitzgerald of Muckridge House, Co Cork.
5 George Thunder third son born circa 1832 died 14 Feb 1864 at 28 Upper Pembroke
Street, Dublin.
6 Michael Henry Thunder youngest son born circa 1836. He was a captain in the 21st
North British Fusiliers and married Fanny Murphy on 23 Oct at Ringmahon, Blackrock,
Co Cork. Fanny was the youngest daughter of James Murphy, JP, DL of Ringmahon.
Michael died 7 Jul 1880 at Coolnagloose, Co Wexford.
5 Pat Thunder baptised at SS Michael & John’s Church, Dublin in 1789. He was a brewer
and married Margaret Hayden. He was a widower and died as only surviving brother of
Andrew and Michael on 16 Jan 1881 at Haddington Road. He is buried at Glasnevin.
1 William James Thunder baptised at St Andrews in 1834. He was living at 37
Carysfort Avenue, Blackrock and married Mary Kate Dwyer on 12 Jan 1880 at St
Andrew’s, Westland Row. Mary Kate was the daughter of Edmond Dwyer of Sydney,
Australia.
2 Joseph Thunder third son born circa 1837 went to Tasmania to ‘look for gold’ and
found some at Specimen Reef. He married Marianne McGough on 10 Oct 1887
at Emu Bay, Tasmania. Marianne was the eldest daughter of the late Michael
McGeogh of Newry and they had at least five children. Joseph died 11 Jan 1903.
1 Patrick Thunder born 1890 at Emu Bay.
2 Joseph Thunder 2 Jul 1891 at Emu Bay
3 Francis Thunder born 19 Mar 1893 at Emu Bay.
4 Mary Thunder born 1894 at Emu Bay.
5 Margaret Thunder born 1896 at Emu Bay.
3 Francis Peter Thunder born circa 1842. He was living at 10 Vernon Avenue, Clontarf
and married Theodora (Dora) Watson on 2 Jun 1880 at St Agatha’s Church. Dora was
the daughter of the late William Watson. Francis was a bookkeeper and he, his wife
and six children were living at Drumcondra in 1901.
5 Elinor Thunder baptised at SS Michael & John’s Church Dublin in 1791.
© June Bow & Karen Poff - June 2024
Return to Ashton Park page
Henry Thunder married Elinor Savage
5 Aug 1781
Dublin
Henry Thunder served his apprenticeship with John Lawless of High Street and transacted
business for him. He married Elinor (Ellen) Savage on 5 Aug 1781 at SS Michael & John’s Church,
Dublin. He went into business on his own account at 31 Castle Street in 1781 selling rugs and
carpets from all over the world as well as being the agent for Harry Lapham’s of Ireland and his
Wilton carpets. He also sold blankets and quilts. By 1782 he had land in Kilbarrack and by
1793 his address is given at 19 Dame Street, New buildings.
1 Mary Thunder baptised at SS Michael & John’s Church Dublin in 1782.
2 Michael Thunder born circa 1783. He was on the committee for the abolishment of tithes
in 1833. He married Catherine and they lived at Windsor House, Monkstown Avenue.
Catherine died on 7 Sep 1840 aged 46 at Windsor House and was buried at Glasnevin.
Michael put the lease of Windsor house up for sale after the death of his wife and moved
to Ballyseskin House, Wexford. Michael died at 2 Conyngham Road, the home of his son
in law on 13 Oct 1850, late of Ballyseskin House. He is buried at Glasnevin.
1 Elizabeth Thunder eldest daughter born circa 1819 died at Wellfort, Galway on
2 Oct 1866, the home of her sister Kate D’Arcy.
2 Eleanor (Ellen Mary) Thunder second daughter born circa 1820. She married Matthew
Moriarty on 2 Jul 1840. Matthew was a solicitor of Blessington Street, Dublin, and the
son of Christopher Moriarty, a solicitor and Honoria Beytagh. Ellen Mary died a widow
on 21 Dec 1897 at 7 Guillaume Tell, Ghent.
3 Henry Thunder eldest son stood as a repeal candidate for Wexford in 1845.
4 Michael Thunder second son born circa 1829 died at No 11 Cabra Parade died
13 Aug 1853.
5 Kate Agnes Josephine Thunder married Richard D’Arcy of Wellfort Co Galway on
26 Jul 1847.
6 Susan Francis Thunder fourth daughter married Michael Andrew Rorke on 10 Jan 1848
at Talbot Street. Michael was a barrister of Upper Gloucester Street and the youngest
son of Andrew Rorke and Eleanor Sweetman of Tyrrelstown House, Dublin.
7 Mary Anne Frances Thunder fifth daughter married her cousin James Thunder in
October 1848. James was the son of the late Andrew Thunder of Ashton Park,
Monkstown.
8 Andrew Frederick Thunder youngest son born circa 1832. He married Mary Horne on
15 Jul 1861 at the Pro Cathedral, Marlborough Street. Mary was the daughter of the late
Andrew Horne, MD of Ballinasloe. Andrew died 23 May 1880 at St Alban’s Road, SCR.
3 Luke Thunder baptised at SS Michael & John’s Church Dublin in 1785.
4 Andrew Thunder baptised at SS Michael & John’s Church Dublin in 1788. He was a brewer
with Pat & William Ford in Stonybatter and took over their business their deaths. He went into
partnership with his brother Michael in 1808 having taken over the concerns of Smyth & Co at
11 Bow Lane. They were trading at Thunder & Wall of Bow Street by 1812 and were at New
Church Street by 1825. Dublin lore has it that Thundercut Alley was created by Andrew and
Michael Thunder and used as a short cut from Queen Street to Smithfield by employees of
their brewery. However, this is just an urban myth as Thundercut Alley was in existence in
1760 and before that it was known as Thunder Alley as far back as 1730.
Andrew married Eleanor Ging on 11 Oct 1818. Eleanor was the daughter of James Ging of
New Row, South. He purchased Ashton Park, Monkstown circa 1833. He purchased Neville's
Court, Ballycanew in 1837 and gave an interminable rent free lease to the Wesleyan Society
for their chapel. The partnership at New Church Street with Michael Thunder was dissolved
in 1839. In 1847 Andrew stopped production at the brewing plant due to the price of corn.
He died at Ashton Park on 20 Dec 1847. Forty years on from his death and Ashton Park ‘was
still commonly called Thunder’s Alley’. Ellen died 30 Dec 1868 at Middleton Lodge Cork age 73.
1 James Thunder born circa 1819 inherited the brewery in New Church Street on the death
of his father. He married Mary Anne Frances Thunder at Monkstown in 1848. Mary was
his cousin and the fifth daughter of Michael Thunder of Ballyseskin. James died at
Conyngham Road on 8 Nov 1851.
1 Daughter Thunder born August 1849 in Blackrock.
Mary remarried in 1853.
2 Andrew Thunder second son born circa 1824. He inherited the brewery, sold it and
moved to Australia circa 1852 and set up Thunders Brewery in Bendigo. He married
Annie Fitzgerald on 25 May 1862 at the British Embassy, Paris and at the Roman Catholic
Church in Passy. Annie was the eldest daughter of the late Richard Fitzgerald, MP of
Muckridge House, Co Cork. They moved to Melbourne circa 1879. They lived at
Ballycanew, Co Wexford in 1901 and their daughter Eva Seward and grandson were visiting.
Andrew died 25 Nov 1902 at Youghal and was interred in the family vault in Drumcondra.
1 Andrew Gerald Thunder born 1864 in Australia.
2 Eva Mary Thunder born circa 1867 in Australia married William Arthur Seward
in 1890.
3 Ernest Thunder born circa 1870.
3 Ellen Thunder eldest daughter born circa 1826. She married Michael R O’Farrell at
Gresham Terrace Kingstown on 2 Jan 1851. Michael was a barrister of Shannon Park, Co
Limerick.
4 Annie Thunder second daughter born circa 1831. She married Frederick Fitzgerald on
2 Sep 1854 at St Andrew’s Westland Row. Frederick was the son of the late Richard
Fitzgerald of Muckridge House, Co Cork.
5 George Thunder third son born circa 1832 died 14 Feb 1864 at 28 Upper Pembroke
Street, Dublin.
6 Michael Henry Thunder youngest son born circa 1836. He was a captain in the 21st
North British Fusiliers and married Fanny Murphy on 23 Oct at Ringmahon, Blackrock,
Co Cork. Fanny was the youngest daughter of James Murphy, JP, DL of Ringmahon.
Michael died 7 Jul 1880 at Coolnagloose, Co Wexford.
5 Pat Thunder baptised at SS Michael & John’s Church, Dublin in 1789. He was a brewer
and married Margaret Hayden. He was a widower and died as only surviving brother of
Andrew and Michael on 16 Jan 1881 at Haddington Road. He is buried at Glasnevin.
1 William James Thunder baptised at St Andrews in 1834. He was living at 37
Carysfort Avenue, Blackrock and married Mary Kate Dwyer on 12 Jan 1880 at St
Andrew’s, Westland Row. Mary Kate was the daughter of Edmond Dwyer of Sydney,
Australia.
2 Joseph Thunder third son born circa 1837 went to Tasmania to ‘look for gold’ and
found some at Specimen Reef. He married Marianne McGough on 10 Oct 1887
at Emu Bay, Tasmania. Marianne was the eldest daughter of the late Michael
McGeogh of Newry and they had at least five children. Joseph died 11 Jan 1903.
1 Patrick Thunder born 1890 at Emu Bay.
2 Joseph Thunder 2 Jul 1891 at Emu Bay
3 Francis Thunder born 19 Mar 1893 at Emu Bay.
4 Mary Thunder born 1894 at Emu Bay.
5 Margaret Thunder born 1896 at Emu Bay.
3 Francis Peter Thunder born circa 1842. He was living at 10 Vernon Avenue, Clontarf
and married Theodora (Dora) Watson on 2 Jun 1880 at St Agatha’s Church. Dora was
the daughter of the late William Watson. Francis was a bookkeeper and he, his wife
and six children were living at Drumcondra in 1901.
5 Elinor Thunder baptised at SS Michael & John’s Church Dublin in 1791.
© June Bow & Karen Poff - June 2024
Return to Ashton Park page