The Brewery D'Arcys [Gen-048]

[Full chapter title is The Brewery D'Arcys - descendants of John D'Arcy, Lord Mayor of Dublin, 1852]

The "Brewery" D'Arcys were a prominent Roman Catholic family in Dublin in the nineteenth century and were the owners of the Hibernian Anchor Brewery, Usher Street and Bridgefoot St., Dublin.

The brewery was a very large concern and is the subject of an article in a book entitled "Noted Breweries of Great Britain and Ireland'. The site occupied area of approximately seven acres and 300 persons were employed. One of the coppers in the brewery was capable of holding 1,300 barrels and at the time of its construction was said to be the
largest in the world. D'Arcy's stout was principally sold in Ireland (mainly in Belfast) but there was a trade with England and the colonies in matured stout. The manager of the brewery was Mr. Henry Evens and Mr. H.A. Borham was the head brewer.

Mr, John D'Arcy who later became Lord Mayor of Dublin purchased the brewery in 1818 (Deed dated 21st June, 1821 was registered in the Public Record Office, Dublin on 4th August, 1821. P.R.O. Reference No. 764-462-518797.) The vendors were John Dominick Byrne of Dublin, John Byrne of Buckingham Street, Dublin, brewer, and James McNulty of South Earl Street, brewer. The price was £30,000: £10,060 deposit and a mortgage of £20,000, repayable in four instalments of £5,800 each (P.R.O. Mortgage deed Reference No. 764-463-51879). The mortgage was discharged on 10th September, 1830 (Certificate No. 3160). A previous occupant of the brewery was a John Ormston.

In the deeds mentioned John D'Arcy, the purchaser, is described as a brewer and his address is given as Usher Street. The deeds do not contain any information of genealogical value regarding John D'Arcy.

On John D'Arcy's death ownership of the brewery passed to his son Matthew Peter D'Arcy. After Matthew's death the business seems to have deteriorated. The site was eventually purchased by the Dublin Corporation for housing purposes. The abstract of title prepared in connection with the purchase of the site is lodged in the Dublin Corporation (Packet No. 262727 A1 - Packet 3,.llanuscript Room) and contains information regarding the wills of both John and Matthew D'Arcy.

At present (1984) nothing is known regarding John D'Arcy prior to his purchase of the Anchor Brewery. In the article entitled "The Brewer and the Bishops" the suggestion is made that he might be a connection of Jane D'Arcy who married Matthew Talbot of Castle Talbot in Co. Wexford. In Sir A. Vicars' "Index to the Prerogative Wills of Ireland, 1536 - 1810" there is mention of a Maurice Howlin D'Arcy of Coolcul, Co. Wexford, Esq. (1793) and of an Elinor Howlin D'Arcy of Ballinshown, Co. Wexford, widow. However, there is no evidence to suggest that John D'Arcy was connected with either of these.

What is clear is that John D'Arcy's financial position was very good in 1818 when he purchased the Anchor Brewery. He was only 31 years of age at the time yet he was able to put down a deposit of £10,000 and satisfy the vendors that he could re-pay a mortgage of £20,000,- in 1818 these were very large sums of money. Furthermore, after his acquisition of the brewery a lot of money was spent on improvements: All this would seem to indicate that John D'Arcy came from a very well-to-do family, possibly one with large estates and a correspondingly large rent roll, or that he was related to such a family and inherited substantial property. A book entitled "Complete pedigrees of the English and Irish branches of the D'Arcy family", published London, 1901, may provide a clue but so far it has not been possible to locate a copy.

The reports in the "Freeman's Journal" regarding the funerals of John D'Arcy (published 2nd March, 1864) and Matthew P. D'Arcy (December 3rd, 1889) include long lists of those who attended. It is surprising that, apart from the immediate family, no D'Arcy is mentioned. Perhaps the D'Arcy relatives (if any) were too old to travel, or the distances were too great, or the weather was too inclement (the winters were a lot more severe then then now), or maybe some did attend and were simply not recognised by the reporters.

Sir Bernard Burke, Ulster King at Arms, is listed as having attended the funeral of Matthew D'Arcy but there is no mention of his having attended the funeral of Matthew's father, John. One of the duties of the Ulster King of Arms was to attend the funerals of persons whose pedigrees were recorded in his office. However, as Sir Bernard did not apparently attend John D'Arcy‘s funeral, he may have been present at Matthew's funeral purely in a personal capacity.

The Freeman's Journal of 2nd August, 1851, 2nd December, 1851 and 2nd January, 1852, contain reports on the nomination, election and inauguration of John D'Arcy as Lord Mayor of Dublin. In nominating him as Lord Mayor in August, 1851, Sir Timothy O'Brien, Bart. said

.. by honourable industry and successful enterprise he had been enabled to make a fortune which placed him in a position perfectly independent...

Unfortunately, the newspaper reports do not contain any information which might help to trace John D'Arcy's parents or connections. However, the report of the 2nd January, 1852, does mention that amongst the non-corporate visitors who attended the inauguration were M. D'Arcy (this was probably Morgan D'Arcy as Matthew Peter, John's son, is mentioned earlier in the report)... John Bagot ... A. Bagot ... W. Aylmer... T.L. Synnot ... In this connection it may be of interest to note that the second wife of John D'Arcy of Kiltullagh and Clifden Castle was Louisa Bagot Sneyd.

One of the main sources of information regarding the family of John D'Arcy, the brewer, is the list of burials in the family vault No. 65 in the O'Connell Circle, Glasnevin Cemetery, Dublin. (See later).

The information at present to hand regarding John D'Arcy and his family is set out in the following paragraphs.

Honoria D'Arcy (1797 - 11th February, 1885) married John Redmond of 33, Rathmines Road, Dublin.

Morgan Matthew D'Arcy, "Elleville", Raglan Road, Dublin. Thom's Directory of 1865 describes him as a Commission Agent and agent to Wigans & Cosier, hop merchants, 18, Cope St.. Residence is stated to be 2, Regina Terrace, Raglan Road. In Thom's of 1885 he is described as a merchant and the addresses given are 13, Raglan Road, 45, Fleet Street and Leeson Street. He died on 23rd June, 1878 at the Langham Hotel, Portland Place, London. (P.R.O., Dublin, Wills Index 1878). Morgan D'Arcy was amongst the chief mourners at the funeral of John D'Arcy, the brewer, in 1864. He was probably his brother.

Juliana D'Arcy, "Elleville", Raglan Road, widow, died 2nd April,1889. Will proved by Matthew John D'Arcy, same address, sole executor. Apparently, Juliana was Morgen's wife and Matthew John's mother.

Matthew J. D'Arcy, described as a cousin in the newspaper report, attended the funeral of Matthew Peter D'Arcy. Apparently he was a son of Morgen Matthew and Juliana D'Arcy. In Thom's Directories for 1879, 1880 and 1885, a Matthew J. D'Arcy is listed for 18, Cope Street and "Elleville", Raglan Road. In Thom's 1890 a Mathew D'Arcy is listed for 11, Dawson St., Dublin.

John D'Arcy (1787 - 25th-February, 1864) married Eliza (1797 - 1862), regarding whom no information is at present available. Their children were:

• Matthew Peter (See later)
• Jane (1822 - 1854). Spinster. Died 7th May, 1854 at Raheny.
• Elizabeth (1833 - 1850). Died April, 1850 at Raheny, presumably a spinster.
• Mary married William Joseph Power, 8, Elgin Road, Dublin. He was one of three persons who proved the will of Morgan Matthew D'Arcy. (The other two were John Redmond, 33, Rathmines Road and Thomas Fitzgerald, 22, Fitzwilliam Place, Dublin).

In the article "The Brewer and the Bishops" the possibility of a connection between John D'Arcy and Jane D'Arcy Talbot is mentioned: it may be significant that John D'Arcy's eldest daughter was named Jane and that his wife, Eliza, had to await the arrival of another daughter to have one named after her.

Matthew Peter D'Arcy (21st June, 1821 - 28th November, 1889) married firstly in 1853 Emma Knaresborough (1832 - 1858), daughter of William Knareshorough of Inch House, Co. Kilkenny. Their children were:

• John (1855 - 1874).
• William Matthew ( 1856 - 7th August, 1896), 43 Raglan Road, and Clonallin House, Bray, Co. Wicklow. He married Ellen and had daughter, also named Ellen. Probate of William's will (Effects - £28,873) was granted to James F. D'Arcy, 98, Lr. Baggot Street, Dublin.
• James Frederick (1858 - March, 1918)

Matthew Peter married secondly, in 1860, Christina Mary Daly (1833 - 
April, 1898) daughter of James Daly of Castle Daly, Co. Galway. Their children were:

• Matthew Stephen, mentioned as one of Matthew Peter's sons in the Freeman's Journal report, dated 3rd December, 1889, of Matthew Peter's funeral.
• Peter (1861 - August, 1864).
• Emma Theresa (1864 - September, 1936)
• Christina was alive in 1889 when her father died.
• Pauline Nora died in 1871, aged three months.
• Mary was alive in 1889 when her father died.
• Elizabeth M., married ... Usher and lived at "Meerborne', St. Margaret's Road, Torquay, Devon.
• Margaret M. married Thomas Fitzgerald of 22, Fitzwilliam Place, Dublin. Margaret was born on 17th April, 1861 and was baptised at St. Andrew's R.C. Church, Westland Row, Dublin.

The names of the children are not necessarily in chronological order. Another child of Matthew Peter and Christina Daly was John Joseph Patrick who died in 1877, aged 15 months.

It will be noted that some of Matthew Peter's children were not interred in the family vault. This is not surprising in the case of the girls who married — Elizabeth and Margaret. It is not known if Christina and Mary married but if they did not one would expect them to have been interred in the family vault if they died in Dublin or within easy travelling distance of the city. The most likely explanation is that they married.

"Modern English Biography, Vol. 5 " by Boase (Bookcase No, 25 in Reading Room of National Library, Dublin) has the following entry regarding Matthew Peter D'Arcy.

D'Arcy, Matthew Peter (only son of John D'Arcy, brewer, Lord Mayor of Dublin, 1852, died 1864). Born 21st June, 1821, Educated Trinity College, Dublin. B.A. 1844. M.A. 1847. Proprietor of Anchor Brewery, Dublin, 1864 to death. M.R.I.A. 13th April, 1846. P.R.5. Dublin. Member of Parliament for Wexford, 24th November, 1868 to 26th January, 1874. Sheriff of Dublin, 1872. Shot himself with revolver at Kilcroney, Bray, near Dublin, 28th November, 1889. Verdict: temporary insanity. See A. Barnard's "Noted Breweries) 1889, ii 373-382. "London Illustrated News" of 14th December, 1889, page 766.

The "London Illustrated News" of 14th December, 1889 reports

Matthew Peter D'Arcy, M.A. of Kilcroney, Bray in the County of Wicklow, J.P. and Deputy Lieutenent, whose melancholy death on Wednesday, November 27th caused such a deep impression ... His funeral was attended to Glasnevin by vast numbers, so great was the popular feeling. Mr. D'Arcy was born in 1821 ... He was twice married, first in 1853 to Emma, daughter of William Knaresborough of Inch House in the Co. of Kilkenny, and secondly, to Christina, daughter of Mr. James Daly of Castle Daly in the Co. of Galway.

The following is an extract from the Index to Wills and Administrations for the year 1890 in the Public Record Office, Dublin.

D'Arcy, Matthew Peter. Effects £129,444 1s. 5p. The Will and one Codicil of Matt. P. D'Arcy, late of Usher St., Dublin, brewer, who died 28th November, 1889 at Kilcroney, Bray, Co. Wicklow. Will proved by James F. D'Arcy of Usher St., Dublin, brewer, one of the executors,

Sir A. Vicars' Index to the Prerogative Wills of Ireland 1536 - 1810 (National Library of Ireland Reference Ir 9293 V2) lists a Mathew D'Arcy of Tuam, Co. Galway for the year 1792. In view of the rarity of the Christian name "Matthew" amongst the D'Arcys, it is possible that this D'Arcy was a connection of the "Brewery" D'Arcys.

In the Griffith Valuation of 1853 for the parish of Ardcavan, Barony of Shelmaliere East, County Wexford, one of the landlords mentioned is a Hamilton K.G. Morgan. As the "Brewery" D'Arcys had estates in County Wexford and as one of these D'Arcys was named Morgan D'Arcy, there may have been some connection between the two families.

Burials in Vault 65, O'Connell Circle, Glasnevin Cemetery, Dublin.

Note: William M. D'Arcy's addresses were 43 Raglan Road, Dublin and Clonallin House, Bray, Co. Wicklow.

Abstract of Title tracing the devolution of Title to Vendors from John D'Arcy, deceased.

(The property concerned is the Anchor Brewery, Usher St., Dublin)

The Abstract of Title is filed in the Dublin Corporation Manuscript Room. The reference is Packet No. 262727A 1 - Pkt. 3.

The following persons are mentioned in the abstracts from the Will of John D'Arcy, senior, brewer and sometime Lord Mayor of Dublin:

David Coffey who apparently held the premises in trust for William Mathew D'Arcy and James Frederick D'Arcy, grandsons of John D'Arcy, senior.
Matthew Peter D'Arcy, son of John D'Arcy, and John D'Arcy, the younger, who had died. He was a son of Matthew Peter.
William and Lettice Usher who apparently owned ground rents payable on the brewery premises.
Mary D'Arcy, daughter of John D'Arcy, senior.
Honoria Redmond, sister of John D'Arcy, senior. She died 11th February, 1885.
A person not named in the Abstract was recipient of "a further pecuniary bequest."
Thomas Laffan Kelly and Charles Kernan, together with Matthew Peter D'Arcy, were named as executors and trustees of John D'Arcy's Will. (A Thomas Laphan Kelly, J.P. attended the funeral of John D'Arcy, senior, as did a James Kernan.)

The Will of Matthew Peter D'Arcy, son of John D'Arcy, mentions: .... certain estates in the Counties of Wexford and Wicklow and his house 40, Merrion Square.... various trusts in favour of his wife, his daughters, his son, Mathew Stephen D'Arcy, and Mathew Stephen's sons William Mathew (in Will called William) and James Frederick D'Arcy (in Will called James D'Arcy) ...

The Rt. Hon. William F. Cogan and John Byrne Power were appointed Trustees and Henry Evans and William P. McAvoy were appointed executors of the Will. (The Henry Evans mentioned was probably the Manager of the Anchor Brewery.)

A codicil of 23rd March, 1889, recites that Henry Evans had died and that he was replaced by James D'Arcy. Matthew Peter D'Arcy died 28th November, 1889. William Henry Forde Cogan withdrew as Trustee.

Following Matthew Peter's death certain questions arising under his Will became "the subject matter of amicable legislation between the beneficiaries for the purpose of having the questions settled." The plaintiffs, in their capacity as trustees, were James Frederick D'Arcy and John Byrne Power. The "defendants" were: William D'Arcy, Emma D'Arcy, Christina D'Arcy, the younger, Matthew Stephen D'Arcy, Christina D'Arcy, the elder, Mary D'Arcy, Elizabeth Ussher [sic], William P. McEvoy, Margaret Fitzgerald, Alfred John Blunt, George Saunderson Lynch, Charles Kernan, Helen Stewart,  Edward Plunkett Burke. (Presumably these were the beneficiaries under the Will).

On the marriage of Matthew Peter D'Arcy to Miss [Editor, 2025: text missing in the 1984 original, perhaps also in the original abstract. Presumably Emma Knaresborough is meant] a settlement, dated 10th September, 1853, was entered into.

Mrs. Emma D'Arcy (formerly Knaresborough) died and was survived by her husband Matthew Peter D'Arcy and three children: John, the younger (who died subsequently), William Matthew and James Frederick.

In the year 1860, Matthew Peter remarried with Christina Daly and on the 21st June of that year a marriage settlement was entered into, made between John D'Arcy, senior, of the first part, Matthew Peter D'Arcy of the second part, James D'Arcy and Christina D'Arcy, third part and Peter H. Daly and Charles Kernan, fourth part.

At the time of Matthew Peter's death "he was also entitled to certain extensive property in County Wexford and at Bray and other properties and that by his marriage with Miss Daly he had the following children viz. Margaret M., Christina, Emma, Stephen, Mary and Elizabeth D'Arcy and that Margaret had become Mrs. Fitzgerald and Elizabeth had become Mrs. Usher and that on the marriage of Margaret a settlement had been executed whereof a certain Henry Evans and William P. McEvoy were the trustees.

In his Will, dated 22nd June, 1896 (probate granted 3rd November, 1896) William Matthew D'Arcy mentions his wife, Ellen, and his daughter, also named Ellen. William M. D'Arcy died on 7th August, 1896.

(End of material from abstract)

Freeman's Journal, Dublin.
9th January, 1819 - 16th April, 1919.

Items noticed during search for an announcement of the wedding of Honoria D'Arcy and John Redmond. It was hoped that the announcement would provide information regarding the parentage of Honoria D'Arcy, sister of John D'Arcy, the brewer. The date of the wedding is not known (1984).

(End)