The Wilson Memorial Window in the Unitarian Church in Saint Stephen’s Green, Dublin (Photograph: Patrick Comerford)
Wilson Family of Temple Street
Joseph Wilson of Philadelphia – Will dated 13th February 1809, was buried at St Mary's 2 May 1809.
He owned considerable property in the City of Philadelphia adjoining the River Delaware and also
owned estates in Armagh. A personal friend and Aid-de-Camp to General George Washington, the first
President of the United States of America during the War of Independence. He was appointed Consul
for the United States in Dublin on the 19th May 1794 by patent signed by George Washington.
1 Thomas Wilson of Temple Street son of the above Joseph and brother of Robert is thought to have
built Westbury in Stillorgan on the site of an older house. He was senior partner in Joseph Wilson, Son,
and Co., General merchants, North Wall and Commercial Buildings, Dublin. He was appointed as US
Consul to Dublin in 1827. Thomas was a member of the Ouzel Galley Society, a trustee of the Royal
Exchange, a director of the National Assurance Company of Ireland, and a governor of Sir Patrick Dun’s
Hospital. He served as a director and Governor of the Bank of Ireland at various times. He was
elected a life member of the Dublin Society. Thomas married firstly Margaret Stevelly only daughter
of Robert Steveley of Great Charles Street at St George's Church on 21.07.1817. Mary died age 26 at
Clifton near Bristol just five years later on 10 Aug 1822, she was buried at St Mary's graveyard and
there is a memorial in St Mary's church. Thomas died on 5.10.1857 age 69 at Westbury and he was also
buried at St Mary's Church. His Will is dated 15th April 1857 and it was reported that he left personal
estate valued at 450K pounds. He was a member of the Strand Street congregation and bequeathed
£2,330 towards building a new church. A site was purchased on St Stephen's Green and the Unitarian
Church built. A memorial window to Thomas Wilson was dedicated on 23 Jun 1918, the work was
carried out by Sarah Purser to a design by A E Child.
1 Joseph Wilson born 07.06.1818 married Anne Phoebe Chomley on 28.08.1850 Santry. Anne
(Nannie) died on 28.03.1854 at Fitzgibbon Street. He married secondly Nina McIntyre Litton
on 07.04.1858 at St George’s Church. Joseph died 27.07.1898 at Clonmore. There is a
memorial in St Brigid's Church.
2 Margaret Wilson born 02.05.1819 married John English on 29.08.1848 at St Brigid’s Church,
Stillorgan.
3 Roseanne Wilson born 21.03.1820 married Thomas Rutherfoord son of William, Mooretown
House, Ardee on 15.12.1858 at St Brigid’s Church, Stillorgan.
4 Robert Wilson, second son born 25.05.1821. He went out to Trinidad to manage the Wilson's
interests in the sugar plantations and married Rose Adelaide Caroline Anderson on
16 Jun 1852 in Trinidad. On their return to Ireland they lived at Thorndale on Temple Road,
Dartry.
1 T C Herbert Wilson born 8 Jul 1862 entered Trinity in 1880 was called to the Irish Bar
in 1887. He married Emily Dunne, daughter of William Dunne at Holy Cross Church
on 3 Aug 1891. Herbert late of 12 Hatch Street died 22 Jan 1927. Their son Cyril
Herbert was called to the bar in 1927 but was better known by his pseudonym J Ashton
Freeman who was a popular broadcaster of nature programmes on RTE radio in the
1950s and 60s.
Thomas secondly married Penelope Sanders, eldest daughter of Captain William Sanders of Sanders Park near
Cove, but their marriage was short lived as Penelope died at Cove on 5 Apr 1826. He married thirdly Susan
Maria Whitestone, youngest daughter of James Whitestone KC at St George's Church on 19.12.1827. Susan
died at London in 1876.
5 Susan Wilson born 24.10.1828.
6 Henry Brooke Wilson born 04.02.1830 died young.
7 Elizabeth Wilson born 20.11.1831.
8 Thomas Wilson born 28.11.1833.
9 Penelope Wilson born 30.01.1835.
10 James Wilson born 14.01.1836.
11 John Wilson born 21.06.1837 at Westbury was a lieutenant in the Regiment of Infantry.
He married Ann Thomasina (Annie Ina) at St Mary Church on 7 Apr 1864. Annie Ina
was the daughter of Edward John Smith of 31 Rutland Square, solicitor.
12 Henry Brooke Wilson born 09.07.1838 at Westbury.
13 Son Wilson born 26.06.1840 at Westbury.
14 Emily Kate Wilson born 03.08.1842. married Richard Cooper Todd, Surgeon 60th Rifles
at Christchurch, Bray on 2 Sep 1863. Richard was the widower of Emma Newland. He
was posted around the continent including Gibraltar and retired in 1879 to Folkestone
in Kent. Richard died there on 7 Dec 1890 aged 66 and Emily died there on 16 Apt 1916.
15 Caroline Wilson born 30.12.1843 married Richard son of Rev Richard FitzGerald of
Ballydonohoe House, Co Limerick on 06.12.1870 at Paddington, London.
2 Robert Wilson
© June Bow & Karen Poff - Sep 2017 updated Jun 2019
Joseph Wilson of Philadelphia – Will dated 13th February 1809, was buried at St Mary's 2 May 1809.
He owned considerable property in the City of Philadelphia adjoining the River Delaware and also
owned estates in Armagh. A personal friend and Aid-de-Camp to General George Washington, the first
President of the United States of America during the War of Independence. He was appointed Consul
for the United States in Dublin on the 19th May 1794 by patent signed by George Washington.
1 Thomas Wilson of Temple Street son of the above Joseph and brother of Robert is thought to have
built Westbury in Stillorgan on the site of an older house. He was senior partner in Joseph Wilson, Son,
and Co., General merchants, North Wall and Commercial Buildings, Dublin. He was appointed as US
Consul to Dublin in 1827. Thomas was a member of the Ouzel Galley Society, a trustee of the Royal
Exchange, a director of the National Assurance Company of Ireland, and a governor of Sir Patrick Dun’s
Hospital. He served as a director and Governor of the Bank of Ireland at various times. He was
elected a life member of the Dublin Society. Thomas married firstly Margaret Stevelly only daughter
of Robert Steveley of Great Charles Street at St George's Church on 21.07.1817. Mary died age 26 at
Clifton near Bristol just five years later on 10 Aug 1822, she was buried at St Mary's graveyard and
there is a memorial in St Mary's church. Thomas died on 5.10.1857 age 69 at Westbury and he was also
buried at St Mary's Church. His Will is dated 15th April 1857 and it was reported that he left personal
estate valued at 450K pounds. He was a member of the Strand Street congregation and bequeathed
£2,330 towards building a new church. A site was purchased on St Stephen's Green and the Unitarian
Church built. A memorial window to Thomas Wilson was dedicated on 23 Jun 1918, the work was
carried out by Sarah Purser to a design by A E Child.
1 Joseph Wilson born 07.06.1818 married Anne Phoebe Chomley on 28.08.1850 Santry. Anne
(Nannie) died on 28.03.1854 at Fitzgibbon Street. He married secondly Nina McIntyre Litton
on 07.04.1858 at St George’s Church. Joseph died 27.07.1898 at Clonmore. There is a
memorial in St Brigid's Church.
2 Margaret Wilson born 02.05.1819 married John English on 29.08.1848 at St Brigid’s Church,
Stillorgan.
3 Roseanne Wilson born 21.03.1820 married Thomas Rutherfoord son of William, Mooretown
House, Ardee on 15.12.1858 at St Brigid’s Church, Stillorgan.
4 Robert Wilson, second son born 25.05.1821. He went out to Trinidad to manage the Wilson's
interests in the sugar plantations and married Rose Adelaide Caroline Anderson on
16 Jun 1852 in Trinidad. On their return to Ireland they lived at Thorndale on Temple Road,
Dartry.
1 T C Herbert Wilson born 8 Jul 1862 entered Trinity in 1880 was called to the Irish Bar
in 1887. He married Emily Dunne, daughter of William Dunne at Holy Cross Church
on 3 Aug 1891. Herbert late of 12 Hatch Street died 22 Jan 1927. Their son Cyril
Herbert was called to the bar in 1927 but was better known by his pseudonym J Ashton
Freeman who was a popular broadcaster of nature programmes on RTE radio in the
1950s and 60s.
Thomas secondly married Penelope Sanders, eldest daughter of Captain William Sanders of Sanders Park near
Cove, but their marriage was short lived as Penelope died at Cove on 5 Apr 1826. He married thirdly Susan
Maria Whitestone, youngest daughter of James Whitestone KC at St George's Church on 19.12.1827. Susan
died at London in 1876.
5 Susan Wilson born 24.10.1828.
6 Henry Brooke Wilson born 04.02.1830 died young.
7 Elizabeth Wilson born 20.11.1831.
8 Thomas Wilson born 28.11.1833.
9 Penelope Wilson born 30.01.1835.
10 James Wilson born 14.01.1836.
11 John Wilson born 21.06.1837 at Westbury was a lieutenant in the Regiment of Infantry.
He married Ann Thomasina (Annie Ina) at St Mary Church on 7 Apr 1864. Annie Ina
was the daughter of Edward John Smith of 31 Rutland Square, solicitor.
12 Henry Brooke Wilson born 09.07.1838 at Westbury.
13 Son Wilson born 26.06.1840 at Westbury.
14 Emily Kate Wilson born 03.08.1842. married Richard Cooper Todd, Surgeon 60th Rifles
at Christchurch, Bray on 2 Sep 1863. Richard was the widower of Emma Newland. He
was posted around the continent including Gibraltar and retired in 1879 to Folkestone
in Kent. Richard died there on 7 Dec 1890 aged 66 and Emily died there on 16 Apt 1916.
15 Caroline Wilson born 30.12.1843 married Richard son of Rev Richard FitzGerald of
Ballydonohoe House, Co Limerick on 06.12.1870 at Paddington, London.
2 Robert Wilson
© June Bow & Karen Poff - Sep 2017 updated Jun 2019