29 Generations from King William 1 to Kenneth Dewhurst

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29 Generations from King William 1 the Conqueror to 

Kenneth Henry Dewhurst    

I regularly share with my friend Ken Dewhurst my latest discoveries with my family history. He has often responded with a "throw away line" that his Grandmother said she had traced their family back to "William the Conqueror and 1066".  The sad thing is that the family threw out all her boxes of research after she died in 1981.

I was intrigued so decided to spend some time researching and I found that there are in fact 29 generations between King William I and Ken. My research has not been extensive but I did achieve my goal to trace the generations back and I have added a few diversions for interest.  Quite an impressive heritage Ken!


                                                                                                                                       

King William 1 the Conqueror (1028-1087), known as Duke of Normandy from 1035 and reigned as the 1^st Norman King of England 1066-1087. 

At the start of 1066 England was ruled by King Edward the Confessor.  By the end of the year a Norman, William the Conqueror was King after defeating Edward’s successor King Harold 11 at the Battle of Hastings.  Many Historians view 1066 as the start of Medieval England.  The Domesday Book was written in 1066.   

King William 1 (1028-1087) married Matilda of Flanders (1031 – 1083) in 1051 and they had at least 9 children including King William 11 (1056-1100) the King of England and King Henry 1 (1068-1135) the King of England.

Generation 1:   
King William 11 (1056-1100) was King of England 1087-1100.  He did not marry.  He died after being struck by an arrow while hunting.  His brother Henry became King of England.

Generation 2:
King Henry 1 of England (1068-1135), known as Henry Beauclerc married Matilda of Scotland (1080-1118) in 1100. 

They had about 4 children including Empress Matilda (1102-1167) and King Henry 1 had lots of illegitimate children.  King Henry 1 had a second marriage in 1121 to Adeliza of Louvian but without issue.

Generation 3: 
Empress Matilda (1102-1167) married 1 - Henry V (1086-1125) in 1114. He was King of Italy 1098-1125, King of Germany 1099-1125, Holy Roman Emperor 1111-1125.

Interesting to note up Empress Matilda’s line from Henry V to Henry IV to Henry 111:     

Henry V’s father was Henry IV (1050-1106).  He was King of Germany 1053-1105, Holy Roman Emperor 1056-1105 and King of Italy 1056-1105.

Henry IV (1050-1106) married 1 - Bertha of Savoy (?-1087) in 1066. They had 3 children including Henry V.  After Bertha of Savoy died in 1087, Henry IV married 2 – Eupraxia of Kiev in 1089 but divorced in 1095. 

Henry IV’s father was Henry 111 (1017-1056). Was King of Germany 1028-1056, King of Italy 1039-1056, King of Burgundy 1039-1056, Holy Roman Emperor 1046-1056.

Henry 111 married 1- Gunhilda of Denmark (?-1038) in 1036.  Henry 111 married 2- Agnes of Poitou (1025-1077) in 1043.  Agnes of Poitou was Queen Consort of Germany 1043-1056 and Empress Consort of Holy Roman Empire 1046-1056.  Henry 111 and Agnes of Poitou had 5 children including Henry IV.

After Henry V’s death in 1125, Matilda married 2 - Geoffrey V Count of Anjou (? - 1151)in 1128.  They had 3 children including King Henry 11.

Generation  4:                                                                                                                                 
King Henry 11 of England (1133-1189) was known as Henry Curtmantle.  He reigned as King Henry 11 1154-1189.

King Henry 11 married Eleanor of Aquitane (1137-1204) in 1152.  They had 10 children including King Richard 1 (1157-1199), and King John (1166-1216).

Generation 5:                
King Richard 1 (1157-1199), also known as King Richard 1 the Lionheart reigned 1189-1199. (He had an illegitimate son, mother not known).   After King Richard 1 the Lionheart died, his brother King John (1166-1216) was crowned.

Generation 6:                                                                                                                                  
King John (1166-1216) also known as John Lackland and became Lord of Ireland 1177-1216 and King of England 1199-1216. Magna Carta was signed on 15 June 1215 between King John and 25 rebellious barons.  It inspired notions of individual liberty in the charters of the English colonies in North America and later the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution.

King John married Isabella FitzRobert, Countess of Gloucester 29 August 1189 in Marlborough Castle, England, but that marriage was annulled in 1199.  He married Isabella, Countess of Angouleme in 1200.  John and Isabella had 8 children including King Henry 111.

Generation 7:                                                               
King Henry 111 (1207-1272) reigned 1216-1272.

He married Eleanor of Provence (1223-1257) in 1235. King Henry was 28 and Eleanor was 12.  They had 5 children 1239-1253, including King Edward 1 of England (17 June 1239-7 July 1307). 

Generation 8:    
King Edward 1 of England (17 June 1239-7 July 1307) was known as Edward Longshanks.  He reigned as King (1272-1307). 

King Edward 1 married Eleanor of Castile (1241-1290).  They had 15 children including King Edward 11 (1284-1327).

Generation 9:  
King Edward 11 of England (1284-1327) was Lord of Ireland. 

King Edward 11 married Princess Isabella of France (1295-1358).  They had 4 children including King Edward 111 (1312-1377).

It is interesting to note that Robert the Bruce (1274-1329) was King of Scots from 1306 until his death in 1329.

The Battle of Bannockburn June 1314 was a Scottish victory against King Edward 11 of England.  Also Berwick in 1318, but King Edward 11 refused to renounce his claim to the overlordship of Scotland.  1320 Robert was declared rightful Monarch of Scotland.  In 1327 the English deposed King Edward 11 in favour of his son King Edward 111 and peace was concluded between Scotland and England with the Treaty of Edinburgh-Northampton, at which King Edward 111 renounced all claims to sovereignty over Scotland.

Generation 10:     
King Edward 111 of England (1312-1377) married Philippa d’ Avesnes, Queen Consort of Hainault (1311-1369). 

They had 9 children including - their first born Edward (15 June 1330-8 June 1376), known as the Black Prince, but he died before his father, King Edward 111, so his son Richard 11 took up the Crown. 

Generation 11:  
King Richard 11 (1376–1400), son of Edward, the Black Prince (1330-1376), was also known as Richard of Bordeaux.  Richard was aged 10 years when he became King of England from 1377 until he was disposed in 1399.  His successor was King Henry IV of England (1367-1413), son of Prince John of Gaunt and Blanche of Lancaster.

Prince John of Gaunt Plantagenet (1340-1399) was the third of 5 sons.

Generation 12:  
It is worth noting that Prince John of Gaunt Plantagenet had 3 marriages and in his down line were many Kings. 

Prince John of Gaunt Plantagenet married 1 - Blanche of Lancaster (1345-1369) in 1359 and they had 7 children including King Henry IV (1367-1413), with King Henry V and King Henry VI in later generations.

King Henry IV (1367-1413) married 1 - Mary de Bohun (1369-1394) 27 July 1380 and they had 7 children including Henry V (1387-1422).  King Henry IV (1367-1413) married 2 – Jeanne d’Evreux (1370-1437) on 7 February 1403.

King Henry V of England (1387-1422) married Princess Catherine De Valois of France (1401-1437) on 2 June 1420. 

They had 1 child King Henry VI (1421-1471).

Prince John of Gaunt Plantagenet married 2 - Constance of Castile (1345-1394) in 1371 and they had 2 children.

We need to follow down the 3rd marriage with Katherine de Roet.

Prince John of Gaunt Plantagenet (6 March 1340-3 Feb 1399), known as Duke of Lancaster married 3 - Katherine (Swynford) de Roet (25 Nov 1350-10 May 1403) in 1396. 

Katherine de Roet had previously married Hugh Swynford and had 3 children.   

Katherine had been the Duke’s lover for many years before their marriage in 1396.  Their descendants were members of the Beaufort family.  The Beaufort surname reflects the castle and manor at Beaufort in France.  The Beaufort children were declared legitimate twice by parliament during the reign of King Richard 11 of England in 1390 and 1397.  Even though they were grandchildren of King Edward 111 and next in line of succession after their father’s legitimate children by his first two wives, the Beauforts were barred from succession to the throne by their half- brother Henry 1V (1367-1413.

Prince John of Gaunt and Katherine had 4 illegitimate children before their marriage in 1396, including John Fairborn De Beaufort (1373-16 March 1410) and Joan de Beaufort (1375-1440). 

We will take a look at John Fairborn De Beaufort as he had King James 1, King James 11 and King James 111 down line to him.

John Fairborn De Beaufort (1373-16 March 1410) was the 1^st of the 4 illegitimate children of John & Katherine. He married Margaret De Holland (1371-1439) 28 Sept 1397 and had 6 children including Joan De Beaufort (1406-1445).

Joan De Beaufort (1406 – 1445) married 1 - King James 1 of Scotland (1394-1437) on 2 February 1424.  They had 8 children including James 11 (1430-1460). King James 1 reigned as King of Scotland (1406-1437).

Joan De Beaufort (1406-1445) married 2 – Sir James (the Black Knight of Lorne) Stewart (1383-1451) in 1437 and had another 3 children.

King James 11, King of Scotland (known as The Fiery Face) married 1- Marie Von Guelders (1432-1463).   They had 6 children including King James 111 (1451-1488).

King James 11 married 2 – Margaret De Denmark (1456-1486).     

King James 111 (1451-1488) married 1 – Cecily Plantagenet (1469-1507) and married 2 – Margaret De Denmark).

It is interesting to follow the next 4 generations down from King James 111.

We have King James IV (1473-1513) who reigned 1488-1513.

And King James V (1512-1542) who reigned 1513-1542.

His daughter Queen Mary of Scots (1542-1587) was just 6 days old when she took the Throne. She reigned 1542-1567 and was beheaded in 1587. In 1567 she abdicated to her son King James VI and I (1566-1625).

King James V1 and I (1566-1625) was known as King James VI when he reigned as King of Scotland from 1567-1625. 

He was known as King James 1 and King of England and Ireland 1603-1625.

This King James I (1566-1625) was responsible for the Authorised King James Bible.

Back to our generations from William the Conqueror to Dewhurst.

Generation 13:  
Joan de Beaufort (1375-13 Nov 1440) married 1 – Robert De Ferrers (1372-1396) 30 Sept 1390 and they had 2 children.

Joan de Beaufort (1375-13 Nov 1440) married 2 - Ralphe de Neville (1364-1425) 29 Nov 1396.  They had 13 children including Edward (Sir) Neville (1417-18 Oct 1476).

Generation  14:   
Edward (Sir) Neville (1412-1476) 3^rd Baron Abergavenny married 1 – Elizabeth (Lady) de Beauchamp (1415-1448) and had 6 children including George Neville (1440-20 Sept 1492). 

Sir Edward Neville married 2 – Catherine Howard (1414-1478) 15 October 1448 and had 1 child, George Neville.

Generation 15:                                                                                                                               George Neville (1440-1492) 4^th Baron Abergavenny  married 1 – Margaret Fenn and No2 - Elizabeth ?.  Between them they had 7 children including George Neville (1469-13 June 1535).  
         

Generation 16:  
George Neville (1469-1535) 5^th Baron Abergavenny had 4 wives – Joan Fitz Alan, Margaret Brent, Mary Stafford, Mary Brooke. They had 10 children between them. 

George Neville and Mary Stafford had Ursula Neville (1522-1575).

Generation 17:   
Ursula Neville (1522-1575) married Sir Warham St Leger (1525-1597). They had 5 sons and 4 daughters. They had Dorothy Jane St.Leger (1586-1650).

Generation 18:    
Dorothy Jane St.Leger (1586-1650) married Col William Kingmill (born 1596). They had Mary Kingsmill (1634-1733).

Generation 19:   
Mary Kingsmill (1634-1733) married Right Rev Ulysses Burgh.  They had 8 children including Thomas (Col MP) de Burgh (1670-10 Dec 1730).

Generation 20:   
Thomas (Col MP) de Burgh (1670-1730) married 1 – Mary Burgh and married 2 – Catherine Burgh. Thomas and Mary had Catherine de Burgh (1724-1797).

Generation 21:   
Catherine de Burgh (1724-1797) married Rev John Alcock and they had John Dormer (Lt Col) Alcock (1750-20 Jan 1797).

Generation 22:  
John Dormer Alcock (1750-1797) married Henrietta Ashe and had Frances Susanna Alcock (1770-1822).

Generation 23:                                                
Frances Susanna Alcock (1770-1822) married Dr John Mongan MD and they had Frances Susanna Mongan (1794-?).

Generation 24:                                                                                                                                Frances Susanna Mongan (1794 - ?) married Rev Thomas Carpenter Carr (1785-1850). They had Sophia Mary Carr (1821-27 Nov 1875).

Generation 25:    
Sophia Mary Carr (1821-1875) married Richard Davies Ireland (27 Oct 1815-11 Jan 1877).  They had 11 children including Edmund Arthur (Ned) Ireland (15 Oct 1859-14 June 1922). 

Generation 26:  
Edmund Arthur Ireland (1859-1922) married Emily Lawton (1863-1947) in 1882.  They had 5 children including Hilda Jane Ireland (1886-1981).

Generation 27:  
Hilda Jane Ireland (1886-1981) married Reginald Benson Harris (1888-1963) in 1911.  They had 2 children - Hilda May Harris (1912-?) and Reginald Harris.

Generation 28:  
Hilda May Harris (1912-16 March 2007) married Henry Dewhurst.  They had 4 children - Kenneth Henry Dewhurst (b 1934), Ian Gilbert Dewhurst, Joan Dewhurst and Helen Dewhurst.

Generation 29:  
Kenneth Henry Dewhurst (born 15 Dec 1934) married Joyce Rogers (3 Oct 32-2 May 2016) on 22 February 1964.  They adopted Robert Kenneth Dewhurst (17 July 1969 - Oct 1995) and Leanne Joy Dewhurst (11 September 1971 – 9 January 2014).

Now for some family photos!

King William 1 of England, the Conqueror (1028-1087)

1st Generation. King William 11 of England (1056-1135).
His brother Henry inherited the Crown. 

2nd Generation. King Henry 1 of England (1068-1135).

3rd Generation. Empress Matilda (1102-1167) married Henry V (1086-1125), King of Italy, Germany
 & Holy Roman Emperor.  Matilda had 3 children including King Henry 11.

4th Generation. King Henry 11 of England (1133-1189)

5th Generation. King Richard 1, Richard the Lionheart (1157-1199)
After Richard died, his brother King John took the Crown.

6th Generation. King John of England (1166-1216).
He signed Magna Carta on 15 June 1215.

7th Generation. King Henry 111 of England (1207-1272)

8th Generation. King Edward 1 of England (1239-1307)

  

9th Generation. King Edward 11 of England (1284-1327)

10th Generation. King Edward 111 of England (1312-1377).
 Known as the Black Prince but died before his father so his son Richard 11 took the Crown.

11th Generation. King Richard 11 (1376-1400).
Richard was 10 when he became King of England.

King Richard 11's successor was King Henry IV (1367-1413).
Son of Prince John of Gaunt (1340-1399), 3rd of  King Richard's 5 sons.

12th Generation. Prince John of Gaunt Plantagent (1340-1399).
 3rd son of King Richard 11.
Married No.3 Katherine de Roet 91350-1403).
Prince John had 3 wives with Kings Henry IV, Henry V and Henry VI descendants.

13th Generation. Joan de Beaufort (1375-1440) married Ralphe de Neville.
Joan de Beaufort's brother John Fairborn de Beaufort (1373-1410)
 had some interesting descendants which included
Kings James 1, James 11 and  James 111 of Scotland.

 James 1 King of Scotland (1394-1437)

James 11 King of Scotland, known as The Fiery Face (1430-1460)

James 111 King of Scotland (1451-1488)

Sir James (the Black Knight of Lorne) Stewart (1383-1451)

Queen Mary of Scots (1542-1587).
Mary was 6 days old when she took the Throne
Her father was King James V (1512-1542).
Mary abdicated to her son King James VI and I.
Mary was beheaded in 1587.

King James VI of Scotland and King James I of England (1566-1625).
Son of Queen Mary of Scots (1542-1587)

Raby Castle, built by John Neville 14th century in County of Durham.
Cecily Neville, mother of Kings Edward IV and Richard III was born at Raby Castle.
Raby Castle was taken into Royal custody 1569.

If you have any comments, corrections or additions to make, please contact the author, Joy Olney by email: joyolney@gmail.com.

10 Generations - William Ireland and Margaret De Courcy to Kenneth Henry Dewhurst

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10 Generations from William Ireland and Margaret De Courcy

 to Kenneth Henry Dewhurst

I soon became intrigued how the Dewhurst, DeCourcy and the Ireland families were related, hence the name of this Blog with its various Posts. 

1.  William Ireland (c1630-1689) married Margaret de Courcy 1667.  Margaret DeCourcy was the daughter of  Henry de Courcy, 1st cousin of Earl of Kinsale. They had a son De Courcy Ireland.

De Courcy Ireland married (1) Anne Trendall (div 1702), married (2) Margaret Blanchfield (died 1706) and married (3) Judith Hawkins.  De Courcy Ireland and Anne Trendall had Richard Ireland Esq.

2.  Richard Ireland Esq (died 1740) married Catherine Lynch and had The Very Rev. William Ireland (1712-13 Jan 1787).

3.  The Very Rev. William Ireland (1712-13 January 1787) married Magdalen Irwin and had Richard Ireland (1747-1816).

4.   Richard Ireland (1747-1816) married Elizabeth Maria Stanley on 20 January 1778.  They had Capt. James Stanley Ireland (1781-1856).

5.   Capt. James Stanley Ireland (1781-1856) married Matilda Louise Davies (1785-1843).  They had 8 children including Richard Davies Ireland (27 Oct 1815-11 Jan 1877).

6.    Richard Davies Ireland QC (1815-1877) married Sophia Mary Carr (1821-27 Nov 1875) 28 July 1840.  They had 11 children including Edmund Arthur (Ned) Ireland (1859-1922).

7.   Edmund Arthur (Ned) Ireland (15 Oct 1859-14 Jun 1922) married Emily Lawton (1863-1947) in 1882.  They had 5 children including Hilda Jane Ireland (1886-1981).

8.   Hilda Jane Ireland (1886-1981) married Reginald Benson Harris.  They had 2 children - Hilda May Harris & Reginald Harris.

9.   Hilda May Harris (1912-16 March 2007) married Henry Heyliger Dewhurst.  They had 4 children, including Kenneth Henry Dewhurst, Ian Gilbert Dewhurst, Joan Dewhurst and Helen Dewhurst.

10.   Kenneth Henry Dewhurst (born 15 Dec 1934) married Joyce Rogers (3 Oct 1932-2 May 2016) on 22 February 1964.   They adopted 2 children including Robert Dewhurst (17 July 69-Oct 1995) and Leanne Joy Dewhurst (11 Sept 71-9 Jan 2014).

                   The above was copied from Elizabeth Rennick's book "A Family Portfolio"                      (with her permission).

Photos

Richard Davies Ireland Q.C. died 11 January 1877.
Sophia Mary Ireland died 27 November 1875.
Buried at St Kilda Cemetery Church of England B97.

Hilda Jane Harris nee Ireland 1886-1981 at Springvale Crematorium.

Reginald Benson Harris 1888-1963 at Springvale Crematorium.

Hilda May Dewhurst nee Harris 1912-2007 at Springvale Crematorium.

Joyce Dewhurst 1932 - 2016 at Lilydale Memorial Park.

Robert Kenneth Dewhurst 1969 -1995 at Lilydale Memorial Park.

Leanne Joy Dewhurst 1972 - 2014 at Lilydale Memorial Park.

If you have any comments, corrections or additions to make, please contact the author, Joy Olney by email: joyolney@gmail.com 

Ireland family by Ros Escott

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Ireland family as recorded by Ros Escott

Our branch of the Ireland family came to Australia from Ireland, where they had lived for generations. The family can be traced back to the 13th Century when they owned the manors of Hutte and Hale, Lancashire.

James Stanley Ireland and Matilda Louise Davies.

Captain James Stanley Ireland (c1781-1856) was the second son of Richard Ireland and Elizabeth Maria Stanley. He served with distinction as an officer in the 87th regiment during Peninsular war (1808-1812); he is believed to be one of six brothers to serve in this war, four of whom lost their lives. After he retired from his military career, he served as a stipendiary magistrate and held other civil offices, including surveyor of Irish ports.

In 1815, James Stanley Ireland married Matilda Louise Davies (1785-1843) in St Peter's (Church of Ireland), Athlone, Co Roscommon. She was the daughter of James Davies, officer and later magistrate of Newcastle, Co Galway, and his wife Catherine Cruise. James Stanley and Matilda had eight children (see below). On 20 February 1843, Matilda Louise Ireland died at Lower Gardiner-street, Dublin. In the 1851 England census, James Stanley Ireland is recorded as a retired stipendary magistrate, living at 13 Montpellier Terrace, Ilfracombe, Devon with his 2 youngest daughters. He died on 02 Mar 1856 at Chateau Hunaudieres, Le Mans, France.

James Stanley Ireland and Matilda Louise née Davies had 8 children, five of whom survived to adulthood.

1. Richard Davies Ireland (1815-1877), my great-great-grandfather (see below for further details) married Sophia Mary Carr (c1821-1875 on 28 Jul 1840 in Dublin, Ireland.

They had 11 children: 

Selina Caroline Ireland (1841-1879).

James Davies Ireland (1842-1883)

Matilda Louisa Ireland (1843-1927)

De Courcy Ireland (1845-1935)

Richard Stanley Ireland (1847-1914)

Thomas Carr Ireland (1848-1887)

Sophia Mary Ireland (1850-1937)

Charles Warburton Ambrose Ireland (1853-1928)

Garnet Augustus Ireland (1855-1857)

Harriet Frances Ireland (1856-1954)

Edmund Arthur Ireland (1859-1922).  

2. Elizabeth Maria Beatrice Ireland (1818-1904), known as Ede married Henri De Braham (c1810-c1870), they may have had 1 child.

3. William Thompson Braham James Stanley Ireland (1819-?) died young.

4. Catherine (Kate) Sophia Geraldine Ireland (1821-1884) married barrister John William Carleton QC on 18 May 1840 in Ballygar Church, Co Roscommon, Ireland; they had 1 child: Andrew O'Brien Carleton.  

5. Matilda S Ireland (1824-?) died young. 

6. Harriet Leonora Frances Ireland (1829-1905) married widower Rev Richard Osborne Tylden (1783-1862) on 06 May 1852 in Brompton, Middlesex, England (in a double wedding with her sister Nannie); they had 2 children:

Catherine Matilda Tylden (1855-1924), married Alfred Henry Carter, they had 1 child.

Richard Tylden (1858-1885), married Margaret Isabel Georgina Carter, they had 2 children.

7. Jane Frances Ireland (1828-1829) died age 8 months.

8. Nanny Olivia de Courcy Ireland (1829-1865) married Edward Manning (c1823-1878) on 06 May 1852 in Brompton, Middlesex, England (in a double wedding with her sister Harriet); they had 6 children:

Edward Stanley Marcellin Manning (1854-1861) died age 7 years in Portland, Victoria, Australia. James Arthur Goble Manning (c1855-1922) married Blanche Eleanor White.

Everard Manning (1858-1861) died age 3 years in Portland, Victoria, Australia.

Reginald Kerr Manning (1861-1910) married Constance Mary Innes Salter; they had 3 children.  Hubert Henry Manning (1864-?) 

Eveline (1865-1865); died age 1 day in Portland, Victoria, Australia.  

Richard Davies Ireland 1815-1877  

Richard Davies Ireland was born on 27 October 1815 in County Galway, the eldest son of James Stanley Ireland and Matilda Louise née Davies. He studied law at Trinity College, Dublin and was called to Irish Bar in November 1838. On 28 July 1840, in Dublin, he married Sophia Mary Carr (1821-1875). She was 19 and he was 25. Sophia Mary and her twin sister Selina Frances were the second and third daughters of the Rev Thomas Carpenter Carr (1785-1850) and Frances Susanna Mongan (1794-?), who had been married on 12 Jan 1812 at St Peter's, Dublin, Ireland by her uncle and guardian, Charles Mongan Warburton, Bishop of Limerick.

Richard Davies Ireland successfully practised law in Ireland was also politically active. He was associated with the Young Ireland Movement, was one of Charles Gavin Duffy's colleagues on the Nation newspaper; he supported Irish Confederation. Then he moved with his family to Lancashire, England for a period in the late 1840s. This was ostensibly to work in Manchester to recoup losses from unfortunate railway speculations, just as the Great Irish Famine (1845 and 1852) was taking its toll. But the move may also have been prompted by the arrest of several of his friends and colleagues after the failed Young Irelander Rebellion in 1848. In 1852 he decided to move with his family to Melbourne, Australia, where there were even more opportunities. He was one of several Trinity College educated lawyers to move to Melbourne at about this time.

Richard, Sophia and their 8 eldest children arrived in Melbourne on 3 January 1853 on the Ben Nevis ex Liverpool. Travelling with them were Sophia's two unmarried sisters Caroline Charlotte Carr (c1816-1901) and Selina Frances Carr (c1821-1902). Her brother Charles Warburton Carr arrived the following year. The gold rushes had placed enormous strain on accommodation in Melbourne, so the Irelands lived for some time in “Canvas Town", a tent city which had been established on the flat land around Emerald Hill, west of St. Kilda Road and south of the Yarra River. This makeshift town was laid out in streets with shops, residences and pubs, all under canvas.

Richard Davies Ireland was admitted to the Victorian Bar in February 1853, a month after he arrived. In July 1854 he served on a committee for welcoming William Smith O'Brien on his visit to Melbourne after O'Brien had been given a conditional pardon and released from custody on Van Diemen's Land. At the festivities, Ireland proposed a toast to the Press - to which he paid a high compliment - which was rather ironic given his later relationship with them. The Eureka Stockade Rebellion on 3 December 1854 prompted Ireland in 1855 to offer his services as defence counsel, pro bono, to Raffaelo Carboni and the others who had been charged with treason. He earned widespread acclaim for his brilliant defence and all of them were acquitted.

Ireland was Victoria's leading criminal lawyer for 20 years - there were few cases of notorious crimes in which he did not appear. He took silk in 1863 as Queen's Counsel, one of the first two QCs appointed in Victoria. He was described as well-read, eloquent, clever and witty; an engaging raconteur, rather than a learned or industrious counsel. His conduct of cases was remarkable mostly for his skills of masterly argument. In some ways he was probably rather like John Mortimer's fictional character Rumpole of the Bailey. He earned an estimated £140,000 in fees but was reputed to have spent or given away four fortunes in his lifetime.

Ireland was also active in politics. He was first elected to the Legislative Assembly in 1857 and later served as Solicitor-General and Attorney-General. At various times in the 1850s and 1860s he was the member for Castlemaine, Maryborough, Villiers and Heytesbury and Kilmore. He had also been an unsuccessful candidate for the constituencies of South Bourke, Belfast, Warrnambool and North Gipps Land. He retired from politics on a pension of £1000 per annum, one of only two former ministers who had met the requirements for this unpopular entitlement before it was repealed.

His personal life reflected his gregarious vivacity and tendency to impulsiveness. He was reputed to have had an affair in 1855 with Henrietta Molesworth, the rather impetuous and flighty wife of Supreme Court Judge Robert Molesworth, who was a neighbour in St Kilda. Ireland's wife, Sophia, had banned the Molesworths from her house, where they had once been frequent visitors. Sophia's brother Charles Warburton Carr had also warned his unmarried older sisters, living with the Irelands, to have nothing to do with Mrs Molesworth. Henrietta Molesworth later sued for divorce on the grounds of cruelty and her husband countersued on the grounds of her adultery with Ireland (and others). The divorce case, in November 1864, was widely reported in the newspapers and full of scandalous details. The jury found no evidence for adultery with Ireland, but found that the conduct of the petitioner (Mrs Molesworth) with Richard Davies Ireland "was unduly familiar for a married woman".

Richard Davies Ireland died at his residence at Balmoral Street, Prahran, Vic, on 11 January 1877. He was 61 years of age. He had been in ill health for some time, with 'softening of the brain and spinal cord' which suggests a stroke and some form of paralysis. He was said to have never recovered from the death of his wife, Sophia, 14 months earlier. He is buried with his wife and young son Garnet in St Kilda Cemetery.  

Richard Davies Ireland & Sophia Mary Carr had 11 children:

1. Selina Caroline Ireland (14 June 1841 in Dublin, Ireland - 8 November 1879 in Victoria, Australia) married William Kearsey Hughes (c1834-1876) in Victoria on 11 November 1862;  they had 5 children who moved to New Zealand, probably to live with one of their aunts after Selina and William both died at a young age.  

Sophie Hughes (1863-1932 NZ) married Herbert Wells Wait (1856-1926) in 1886 in Dunedin, NZ; children unknown.  

Catherine Emily Hughes (1866-1946) married Arthur Wilbraham Dillon Bell in 1887 in Dunedin, NZ; children unknown.  

William Edward De Courcy Hughes (1869-1941) married Elizabeth Susan Eudora de Lambert (c1879-1956) in 1904 in NZ; they had at least 2 children.   

Francis Henry Hughes (1871-1962) married Georgina Mary McLaren (c1874-1914) in 1900 in NZ; children unknown.  

Mary Frances Selina Hughes (1875-1879); died age 4 in Windsor, Vic, Australia. 

2. James Davies Ireland (20 June 1842 in Dublin, Ireland - 10 September 1883) did not marry; he died after being lost in a snowstorm trying to cross from Omeo to Harrietville, Vic, Australia.

"The Alpine Observer reports a narrow escape from being frozen to death in deep snow which was experienced by Mr J. D. Ireland, a son of the late Mr R. D. Ireland. It appears that on Tuesday afternoon last Mr J King, manager of the Italians claim at Cobungra, reported that he had found Mr Ireland in an almost inanimate condition buried in the snow on the Omeo track, about nine miles from Harrietville He attempted to convey Mr Ireland to Harrietville, but was compelled to leave him by the roadside to seek assistance. When Mr King returned with a party he found that, although not an hour had elapsed, the body was almost covered with the falling snow. At first doubts were entertained as to the possibility of restoring vitality. The body was perfectly rigid, and all expression gone from the countenance. In about three hours Mr Ireland recovered. He states that he was desirous of crossing the mountains from Gipps Land to the North Eastern district, and left on the morning of the 20th August. He travelled for four days, the whole time in snow, through the Dargo Plains, the track being so badly blazed that he lost himself, and on Saturday last, the 1st inst., returned to his starting place. He made a fresh start on Monday morning, 3rd inst. When he got well on to the Dargo Plains it began to snow heavily. Rounding Freezeout the snow was chest deep, and he was compelled crawl along on his hands and knees for a considerable distance. Shortly after the snow fell so thick and blew so fiercely into his face that he became confused, and knew not where to look for the shelter that he had been striving to get to. His head got giddy, and he was falling over logs and scrub He ultimately became insensible, and was almost buried in snow." (The Argus Monday 10 September 1883).

"Mr J. D. Ireland, who was lost in the snow last week under circumstances recorded in The Argus of yesterday, has, we learn, since died from the effects of the severe exposure to which he was subjected." (The Argus Tuesday 11 September 1883).

3. Matilda Louisa Ireland (28 November 1843 in Dublin, Ireland - 20 August 1927 in Hawthorn, Victoria), my great-grandmother married Casimir Francis Xavier Rowe (1842-1915) on 22 April 1873 in St Kilda, Victoria. 

They had 7 children: 

Mary (Mol) Sophie Rowe (1873-1955); did not marry, no issue. 

Katherine (Kitty) Augusta Rowe (1875-1926); did not marry, no issue.  

Cecil Frances Rowe (1877-1961); married widower Alfred W Hay (1846-1918), they had 6 children. 

Winifred Matilda Rowe (1879-1961); married Eustace Julian Keogh (1865-1925), they had 10 children.  

Constance Mary Rowe (1881-1973); married Graham Rhind Johnson (1876-1938), they had 12 children. 

Dorothy Selina Rowe (1883-1965) married William Lionel Hay (1878-1965), they had 5 children. Amy Agnes Rowe (1885-1885); died at age 22 days.

4. De Courcy Ireland (27 April 1845 in Dublin, Ireland - 3 November 1935 in Heidelberg, Victoria), known as Coe married (1) Victoria Caroline Louisa Dopping (1844-1887) on 15 December 1868 in Kew, Victoria.

They had 5 children:

Lucie de Courcy Ireland (1869-1965); died in Perth WA, did not marry, no children.

Sophia Mary Ireland (1874-1949); married in 1897 her first cousin Richard Whittaker Ireland (1877-1964); they had 2 children. 

William Richard Ireland (1878-1970); married in 1905 Lucy Beryl O'Farrell (1879-1952); they had no children. 

Jane Ripton Ireland (1880-1970); died in Perth WA, did not marry, no children.

Arthur George Ireland (1882-1936); married in 1918 widow Ethel J Bowden (c1893-1954); she already had 1 child who took his stepfather's surname. married (2) Margaret Elizabeth (Dolly) Carter (1859-1932) in 1889 in Victoria; they had 2 children.

Selena Josephine Ireland (1891-1953); did not marry, no children.  

Lt Col Percy Markham de Courcy Ireland (1893-1976); married Lillian Maud Lascelles (1894-1989); they had 2 children.

5. Richard Stanley Ireland (23 July 1847 in Dublin - 11 November 1914 in Fitzroy, Victoria) married Elizabeth Whittaker (1852-1898) on 23 October 1878 in Victoria. 

They had 5 children: 

Richard Whittaker Ireland (1877-1964) married first cousin Sophia Mary Ireland (1874-1949); they had 2 children.

Sydney Alfred Ireland (1879-1960) married (Alice) May Johnson; they had 2 children. 

Stanley Claude Ireland (1881-1881) died age 2 months.  

(Selina) Mary Elizabeth Ireland (1883-1977) married Charles Reginald Holman (1887-1973), they had 2 children.     

Ela Constance Ireland (1887-1918) did not marry, no children.

6. Thomas Carr Ireland (13 September 1848 in Dublin, Ireland - 14 June 1887 in St Kilda, Victoria); married Madeline Kirkland (c1841-1903) in 1885 in Mont Albert, Vic; no children.

7. Sophia Mary Ireland (5 October 1850 in Liverpool, Lancashire - 25 April 1937 in Dunedin, NZ) married Gerald Dyson Branson (1850-1886) on 22 April 1873 in Victoria.

They are thought to have had 6 children: 

Jane Wilhemina Branson (1876-1850) married Ernest MacDonald in 1913 in New Zealand, children unknown. 

Gerald Charles Francis Branson (1878-1945) married Vivian Florence Parkes in 1917 in Sydney, NSW children unknown.

Lillias Branson (1880-1922) married Harold Coote Low (c.1879-1926) in 1902 in New Zealand; at least 3 children. 

Hilder Branson (1882-?).

Stanley Branson. 

Minnie Branson.   

8. Charles Warburton Ambrose Ireland (6 May 1853 in Dublin, Ireland - 9 February 1928) in Victoria, BC, Canada. Moved to New Zealand and then Canada married Charlotte Eliza Cargill (1850-1931) in 1877 in New Zealand.

They had 3 children: 

De Courcy Cargill Ireland (1877-1957); married (1) Mary Tronson (1882-1938) in 1900 in Canada; they had 9 children; he then married (2) Ellen Bittle in 1942; they had no children.

Kathleen Mary Cargill Ireland (1880-?); married William Gray (c1878-?) in 1914 in Canada; no children    

Enid Madeline Ireland (1883-1974); married Alfred Modesto Sobieralski (1884-1965) in 1914 in Canada; they had 3 children.

9. Garnet Augustus Ireland (May 1855 in St Kilda, Victoria - 27 March 1857 in St Kilda, Victoria); died age 22 months.

10. Harriet Frances Ireland (5 August 1856 in St Kilda, Victoria - April 1954 in New Zealand) married John MacQueen Fraser (1852-1915) in 1878 in New Zealand.

They had 4 children.  

Kathleen Frances Fraser (1879-?) married Reginal Alexander Back (1876-1955) in 1906 in NZ; possibly 3 children.  

Alice Fraser (1880-?).

Thomas Alister Fraser (1883-1965) married Catherine Agatha Whelan in 1936 in NZ; children unknown. 

Nora Fraser (1885-1922) married James Dunlop in 1907 in NZ; at least 2 children.

11. Edmund Arthur Ireland (15 October 1859 in St Kilda, Victoria - 14 June 1922 in Armadale, Victoria); known as Ned married Emily Lucy Lawton (1863-1947) in 1882 in St Kilda, Victoria; they had 5 children:  Lucy Mary Ireland (1882-1928); married John Bee in 1915 in Victoria.

They had 6 children:

Hector Vere Ireland (1884-1966) married Ada Jane Carter (1886-1969) in 1907 in Horsham, Victoria; they had 4 children. 

Hilda Jane Ireland (1886-1981) married Reginald Benson Harris (1888-1963) in 1911 in Horsham, Victoria; they had 2 children.

Nellie Matilda Victoria Ireland (1890-1974) married Alexander Baird Wilson (c1888-1973) in 1913 in Victoria; they had 1 child. 

Edmund Arthur de Courcy Ireland (1893-1969) married Lavinia May Berlyn (1897-1987) in 1916 in Ballarat, Victoria; they had 1 child.  

Thank you Ros for all your helpful research into the Ireland family.

Richard Davies Ireland QC 1815-1877

Kenneth Dewhurst visited his
Great Great Grandfather's grave at St Kilda Cemetery
- Richard Davies Ireland 1815-1877,
also wife Sophia Mary Carr and son Garnet August Ireland

DeCourcy Ireland (1845-1935) - solicitor, cotton planter, member of the first Fijian Parliament 1874.
DeCourcy Ireland married Victoria Caroline Louisa Dopping (1845-1887)

Nearby to Richard Davies Ireland (1815-1877) is
Victoria Caroline Louisa Ireland, nee Dopping (1844-1887)
Wife of De Courcy Ireland (1845-1935)

James Davies Ireland 1842-1883, son of Richard & Sophia Ireland.

Richard Stanley Ireland born 1847.

Harriet Frances Ireland 1856-1954

Sophia Mary Carr, wife of Richard Davies Ireland 1821-1875

Charles Warburton Ambrose Ireland (1853-1928),
son of Richard Davies Ireland & Sophia Mary Carr.

Nannie Olivia De Courcy Ireland, sister of Richard Davies Ireland.
Married Edward Manning.

If you have any corrections, additions or comments to make, please contact the author of this Blog, Joy Olney on joyolney@gmail.com