A Policeman's Ireland
Recollections of Samuel Waters, RIC Edited by Stephen Ball
Cork University Press - 1999
Waters family of White Hall, Blackrock & Woodview, Stillorgan
Samuel Waters married Margaret Helen McNab
born 20 Oct 1846 4 Jan 1872 born circa 1849
died 4 May 1936 Castle Connell died 7 Jun 1926
Woodview Limerick Woodview
Samuel Waters, son of Abraham Waters and Sarah Hardman nee Walker, and grandson of William
Waters of Co Wicklow, both his grandfather and father were with the Irish Constabulary.
Samuel Abraham Walker Waters was born in Dublin Street in Dublin, whilst his father was stationed
at the Phoenix Park. When he was a baby the family moved to Ferbane in Kings County and then to
Carrick on Shannon. They went to Rosses point on holidays. In 1857 he was sent to school in
Edinburgh and stayed with his uncle Sam Waters. He went to work in London for Messrs Drelenvaux
& Bremmer a German shipping broker in Mark Lane aged 15. When he was nearly 18, he moved back
to Ireland to take exams in the hope of joining the constabulary. He married Margaret Helen McNab,
daughter of James McNab at Castle Connell on 4 Jan 1872.
He was accepted into the RIC and his first post was to Grange in Co Sligo. He was a friend of Captain
Charles Wynn, who was son in Law to Sir Robert Gore-Booth and attended séances in Lissadell.
There is a suggestion that he ran up gambling debts and this prompted his being moved to
Ballyvaughan in Co Clare in 1870 where he met his future wife. His next move was to Cookstown
(2 girls born here, Jane and Lucy), they were then moved to Castletown Berehaven in 1874 and 2 more
girls born (Ethel and Maud). When Ethel was four she was sent to Samuel's Uncle Sam in London.
In 1877 Samuel contracted Typhoid fever and in August of the same year he was transferred to
Lisnaskea in Co Fermanagh. He daughter Helen was born and Edith was brought back from London.
Amie was born and they were transferred to Castlepollard in Co Westmeath. He then made three
further transfers, firstly Sligo, then Athlone and then to Armagh, leaving the family behind in Sligo.
At this point he has eight daughters and one son.
A keen cricketer, fisherman and golfer, he also shot and played tennis and croquet. He was
transferred to Kerry where he took lodgings and the rest of the family moved temporarily to Idrone Tce
in Blackrock. He rented Chute Hall in Kerry and the family moved in together. They spent 3 years in Kerry
and it is during this time that Samuel and his wife celebrated their silver wedding anniversary (1897),
and six of his daughters met their future husbands.
They moved to Dublin to a house in Sandymount called Towerville and Arthur was born. He established
a special intelligence department before moving to Park Avenue in Sandymount where Dick and Olive
were born. They had ten daughters and three sons. There was another son born in Castlepollard but he
did not survive. They then moved to White Hall in Blackrock where they resided from 1891 to 1891.
Their three eldest daughters worked in Mrs Kerr's Ladies Hat Shop.
His next transfer was back to Dublin, where they took a house in Clontarf. He received a medal for
his protection duty of Queen Victoria on her visit of 1900. He retired on full pay after with over 40 years’
service on 23rd Oct 1906. They moved to Adelaide Road and then to Skerries, finally settling in
Woodview Stillorgan c1909. Helen died in 1926 aged 77 and Samuel died 4 May 1936 at Woodview
and left nearly 3K in personal estate.
1 Jane Edith Marian (Edith) Walker-Waters born 30 Oct 1872 in Cookstown, Co Tyrone married
Ralph Johnstone (brother of Walter who was married to her sister Nellie).
2 Sarah Lucy Eleanor (Lucy) Walker-Waters born 30 Sep 1873 at Cookstown, Co Tyrone. She
was living at Chutehill when she married Richard Edward Maunsell a Land Agent of
21 Ailesbury Road son of Richard E Maunsell on 5 Aug 1895 at the Parish Church of
Ballymacelligott. Richard died at Shellmartin, Portmarnock on 12 Mar 1929
1 Richard Lucius Dixie Maunsell born 21 April 1900 on Ely Place worked on the Sudan
Railways.
3 Mary Ethel (Ethel) Walker-Waters third daughter, born 12 Feb 1875 married Captain George John
William Noble eldest son of Sir Andrew Noble KCB late of 13th Hussars on 29 Jul 1896 at
St Peter’s, Eaton Square, London. Mary Ethel was sent to London at 16 and was virtually
adopted by George Wyndham and his wife Countess Grosvenor who tried to have her Irish
brogue erased. George Bernard Shaw and Mrs Patrick Campbell knew her well, it is thought
that she was one of the sources for Shaw's Eliza in Pygmalion.
4 Maud Walker-Waters fourth daughter born 17 Apr 1876 Cork of 29 Adelaide Road married Major
Wilfred Spedding Swabey of the Army Service Corps on 23 Nov 1904 at Christ Church, Leeson
Park, Dublin.
5 Helen Gunning (Nellie) Walker-Waters fifth daughter born circa 1877 of Blennerville, Tralee
married Walter Edgeworth Johnstone, Corp 18th Royal Irish Regt, son of Robert Johnstone of
Aldershot on 23 Nov 1897 in the Parish Church, Tralee. The couple had two sons and
two daughters. Walter died in 1936 aged 69 in London.
6 Amie Walker-Waters sixth daughter born 2 Apr 1879 Enniskillen married Mr Hedworth Grogan,
4th Battalion Royal Munster Fusiliers and 64 South Audley Street, London on 5 Nov 1898 at
the Parish Church, Clontarf who died shortly have the marriage and she secondly married John
Nobel (brother to George who was married to her sister Ethel).
7 Florence Elizabeth Waters seventh daughter born 21 Jun 1880 Castlepollard married Captain Claud
E G Hughes 2nd Battalion Cheshire Regiment son of Surgeon Colonel DE Hughes late Indian
Medical Service on 11 Mar 1903 at the Parish Church of St Matthias.
8 Robert (Bertie) Abraham Walker- Waters born circa 1881 in Castlepollard, co Meath
living at Newcastle upon Tyne in 1911 and working as a mechanical engineer.
9 John Waters born 1882 died an infant.
10 Violet Myrtle Walker-Waters eight daughter born circa 1883 married Captain James Cecil Johnston
Adjutant to the 6th Battalion, Princess Victoria’s Royal Irish Fusiliers, eldest and only surviving
son of Robert Edgeworth Johnston of Magheremena Castle at Newcastle upon Tyne in 1903. James
was killed in Gallipoli on 9 Aug 1915. Violet died 1965.
11 Cecile Frances Muriel Walker-Waters, ninth daughter born 16 Jan 1885 at Abbey Street, Armagh
married Hugh Spencer of Impney, Droitwich circa 1st week in June 1907.
12 James Arthur Hill (Arthur) Walker-Waters second son born 6 Oct 1886 at Sandymount was the founder
of 8th South County Scout group in 1911 now known as 3rd Dublin Stillorgan, one of the oldest
scout groups in Ireland. James was a clerk in the office of the Registrar of Petty Session and served
in WW1. He married Rachel Louie Orr daughter of Mark Louis Orr of Ulster Terrace on 21 Sep 1920
at Stillorgan Church. He later became a barrister. James died 6 Jan 1965 and Rachel (Punchie) died
28 Sep 1974 aged 74 and both were buried at Christ Church, Delgany graveyard.
1 Samuel Arthur Wentworth Waters born 2 Jul 1921 at 2 Ulster Terrace, Stillorgan killed in WW2 in
1944.
13 Richard Carr (Dick) Walker-Waters born 2 Apr 1888 at 65 Park Avenue, Sandymount entered Canada
on 22 Jan 1912 to visit his Uncle James McNab.
14 Olive Augusta Newenham Walker-Waters, youngest daughter born 2 Mar 1890 in Sandymount married
Sir Harold Beresford Butler, Fellow of All Souls College, Oxford eldest son of A J Butler on 14 Apr 1910 at
Newcastle on Tyne Cathedral.
© June Bow & Karen Poff - April 2017
Samuel Waters married Margaret Helen McNab
born 20 Oct 1846 4 Jan 1872 born circa 1849
died 4 May 1936 Castle Connell died 7 Jun 1926
Woodview Limerick Woodview
Samuel Waters, son of Abraham Waters and Sarah Hardman nee Walker, and grandson of William
Waters of Co Wicklow, both his grandfather and father were with the Irish Constabulary.
Samuel Abraham Walker Waters was born in Dublin Street in Dublin, whilst his father was stationed
at the Phoenix Park. When he was a baby the family moved to Ferbane in Kings County and then to
Carrick on Shannon. They went to Rosses point on holidays. In 1857 he was sent to school in
Edinburgh and stayed with his uncle Sam Waters. He went to work in London for Messrs Drelenvaux
& Bremmer a German shipping broker in Mark Lane aged 15. When he was nearly 18, he moved back
to Ireland to take exams in the hope of joining the constabulary. He married Margaret Helen McNab,
daughter of James McNab at Castle Connell on 4 Jan 1872.
He was accepted into the RIC and his first post was to Grange in Co Sligo. He was a friend of Captain
Charles Wynn, who was son in Law to Sir Robert Gore-Booth and attended séances in Lissadell.
There is a suggestion that he ran up gambling debts and this prompted his being moved to
Ballyvaughan in Co Clare in 1870 where he met his future wife. His next move was to Cookstown
(2 girls born here, Jane and Lucy), they were then moved to Castletown Berehaven in 1874 and 2 more
girls born (Ethel and Maud). When Ethel was four she was sent to Samuel's Uncle Sam in London.
In 1877 Samuel contracted Typhoid fever and in August of the same year he was transferred to
Lisnaskea in Co Fermanagh. He daughter Helen was born and Edith was brought back from London.
Amie was born and they were transferred to Castlepollard in Co Westmeath. He then made three
further transfers, firstly Sligo, then Athlone and then to Armagh, leaving the family behind in Sligo.
At this point he has eight daughters and one son.
A keen cricketer, fisherman and golfer, he also shot and played tennis and croquet. He was
transferred to Kerry where he took lodgings and the rest of the family moved temporarily to Idrone Tce
in Blackrock. He rented Chute Hall in Kerry and the family moved in together. They spent 3 years in Kerry
and it is during this time that Samuel and his wife celebrated their silver wedding anniversary (1897),
and six of his daughters met their future husbands.
They moved to Dublin to a house in Sandymount called Towerville and Arthur was born. He established
a special intelligence department before moving to Park Avenue in Sandymount where Dick and Olive
were born. They had ten daughters and three sons. There was another son born in Castlepollard but he
did not survive. They then moved to White Hall in Blackrock where they resided from 1891 to 1891.
Their three eldest daughters worked in Mrs Kerr's Ladies Hat Shop.
His next transfer was back to Dublin, where they took a house in Clontarf. He received a medal for
his protection duty of Queen Victoria on her visit of 1900. He retired on full pay after with over 40 years’
service on 23rd Oct 1906. They moved to Adelaide Road and then to Skerries, finally settling in
Woodview Stillorgan c1909. Helen died in 1926 aged 77 and Samuel died 4 May 1936 at Woodview
and left nearly 3K in personal estate.
1 Jane Edith Marian (Edith) Walker-Waters born 30 Oct 1872 in Cookstown, Co Tyrone married
Ralph Johnstone (brother of Walter who was married to her sister Nellie).
2 Sarah Lucy Eleanor (Lucy) Walker-Waters born 30 Sep 1873 at Cookstown, Co Tyrone. She
was living at Chutehill when she married Richard Edward Maunsell a Land Agent of
21 Ailesbury Road son of Richard E Maunsell on 5 Aug 1895 at the Parish Church of
Ballymacelligott. Richard died at Shellmartin, Portmarnock on 12 Mar 1929
1 Richard Lucius Dixie Maunsell born 21 April 1900 on Ely Place worked on the Sudan
Railways.
3 Mary Ethel (Ethel) Walker-Waters third daughter, born 12 Feb 1875 married Captain George John
William Noble eldest son of Sir Andrew Noble KCB late of 13th Hussars on 29 Jul 1896 at
St Peter’s, Eaton Square, London. Mary Ethel was sent to London at 16 and was virtually
adopted by George Wyndham and his wife Countess Grosvenor who tried to have her Irish
brogue erased. George Bernard Shaw and Mrs Patrick Campbell knew her well, it is thought
that she was one of the sources for Shaw's Eliza in Pygmalion.
4 Maud Walker-Waters fourth daughter born 17 Apr 1876 Cork of 29 Adelaide Road married Major
Wilfred Spedding Swabey of the Army Service Corps on 23 Nov 1904 at Christ Church, Leeson
Park, Dublin.
5 Helen Gunning (Nellie) Walker-Waters fifth daughter born circa 1877 of Blennerville, Tralee
married Walter Edgeworth Johnstone, Corp 18th Royal Irish Regt, son of Robert Johnstone of
Aldershot on 23 Nov 1897 in the Parish Church, Tralee. The couple had two sons and
two daughters. Walter died in 1936 aged 69 in London.
6 Amie Walker-Waters sixth daughter born 2 Apr 1879 Enniskillen married Mr Hedworth Grogan,
4th Battalion Royal Munster Fusiliers and 64 South Audley Street, London on 5 Nov 1898 at
the Parish Church, Clontarf who died shortly have the marriage and she secondly married John
Nobel (brother to George who was married to her sister Ethel).
7 Florence Elizabeth Waters seventh daughter born 21 Jun 1880 Castlepollard married Captain Claud
E G Hughes 2nd Battalion Cheshire Regiment son of Surgeon Colonel DE Hughes late Indian
Medical Service on 11 Mar 1903 at the Parish Church of St Matthias.
8 Robert (Bertie) Abraham Walker- Waters born circa 1881 in Castlepollard, co Meath
living at Newcastle upon Tyne in 1911 and working as a mechanical engineer.
9 John Waters born 1882 died an infant.
10 Violet Myrtle Walker-Waters eight daughter born circa 1883 married Captain James Cecil Johnston
Adjutant to the 6th Battalion, Princess Victoria’s Royal Irish Fusiliers, eldest and only surviving
son of Robert Edgeworth Johnston of Magheremena Castle at Newcastle upon Tyne in 1903. James
was killed in Gallipoli on 9 Aug 1915. Violet died 1965.
11 Cecile Frances Muriel Walker-Waters, ninth daughter born 16 Jan 1885 at Abbey Street, Armagh
married Hugh Spencer of Impney, Droitwich circa 1st week in June 1907.
12 James Arthur Hill (Arthur) Walker-Waters second son born 6 Oct 1886 at Sandymount was the founder
of 8th South County Scout group in 1911 now known as 3rd Dublin Stillorgan, one of the oldest
scout groups in Ireland. James was a clerk in the office of the Registrar of Petty Session and served
in WW1. He married Rachel Louie Orr daughter of Mark Louis Orr of Ulster Terrace on 21 Sep 1920
at Stillorgan Church. He later became a barrister. James died 6 Jan 1965 and Rachel (Punchie) died
28 Sep 1974 aged 74 and both were buried at Christ Church, Delgany graveyard.
1 Samuel Arthur Wentworth Waters born 2 Jul 1921 at 2 Ulster Terrace, Stillorgan killed in WW2 in
1944.
13 Richard Carr (Dick) Walker-Waters born 2 Apr 1888 at 65 Park Avenue, Sandymount entered Canada
on 22 Jan 1912 to visit his Uncle James McNab.
14 Olive Augusta Newenham Walker-Waters, youngest daughter born 2 Mar 1890 in Sandymount married
Sir Harold Beresford Butler, Fellow of All Souls College, Oxford eldest son of A J Butler on 14 Apr 1910 at
Newcastle on Tyne Cathedral.
© June Bow & Karen Poff - April 2017