I recently came across the accounts book which had been kept by Rev. John Grogan, Vicar of Balrothery and of Clyde Road, Dublin (2nd September 1816 - 28th December 1899). He kept an assiduous record of his spending from January 1st 1864 until his death in 1889 at 12 Clyde Road - I thought it was an interesting record of late Victorian family life so I went through it with a fine tooth comb, taking notes of whatever caught my eye. I also came across a used chequebook, dated 1913/1914, which had been owned by Rev. John's widow, Lizzie Grogan, and which details payments made by her to other member of the families mentioned below.
I am vaguely related to the Grogans, since they intermarried with both my Courtenay, Pennefather and Ryan ancestors. Rev. John Grogan's sister, Jane Grogan, married William Ryan of Ballymackeogh, Co. Tipperary, whose mother was Anne Pennefather, the daughter of our immediate ancestor Rev. John Pennefather of Newport, Co. Tipperary. Edwin Grogan married one of our Dublin Courtenay family - Edwin Grogan was the son of Rev. William Grogan of Slaney Park, who was the uncle of Rev. John Grogan of Balrothery.
The children of Rev. John Grogan and Elizabeth/Lizzie Bourne were:
1) John Edward Grogan, born 7th February 1852, died 8th October 1871.
2) Lizzie/Elsie Grogan, born on 13th March 1853 - 4th December 1938; she died at 21 Clyde Road.
3) Edward Medlicott Grogan, born 6th April 1856 and died on 20th April 1871.
4) Ellen Fanny Grogan, born 19th June 1857, who married Rev. Arthur Edward Butt and had two daughters, Irene and Olive Butt. Ellen Frances Grogan was never mentioned in her fathers' account book, but she was staying with her widowed mother at Clyde Road in 1901, along with her two twin daughters, Irene and Olive Butt, who had been born in England in about 1896. A third daughter, Agatha Ryder Butt, was born and died on 12th April 1893 in Lukkur, Bombay; she was buried the same day at Sukkur-Scinde, Bombay. The husband of Ellen Frances Grogan, Rev. Arthur Edward Butt, died 30th October 1895. Throughout 1913/1914, Lizzie Grogan sent cheques to both Eileen Butt and Ellen Butt, one of which was for the twins. An Olive Meredyth Butt married in Dublin in 1919.
5) Caroline Jane Grogan, born 9th December 1858 in Kingstown, Co. Dublin, and baptised in Monkstown, Co. Dublin. She married Arthur Gore Ryder, the son of Rev. Arthur Gore Ryder of Christchurch, on 18th December 1888. This daughter was rarely mentioned in her father's accounts book, other than vague references to the Ryders; she was, however, buried alongside her family in Mount Jerome cemetery when she died on 16th July 1935. The Ryder/de Rythre family lived for generations at Riverstown House, Co. Kildare. The elder Arthur Gore Ryder was married to Nina Gertrude McMahon and had, along with Arthur Gore Ryder, a daughter, Nina Beryl Ryder, born in Dublin on 30th November 1874, and another son, Ralph St. George Gore Ryder, born in Dublin on 15th April 1879. There was also the fabulously-named Beresford Burton McMahon Ryder, born in Dublin on 27th May 1877. In 1903, the younger Arthur Gore Ryder who married Caroline Jane Grogan, proved the will of the elderly spinster, Frances Anne Ryder of Riverstown House. She had earlier been the primary beneficiary of the will of Robert Browne of Riverstown House who died there on 9th January 1879. Caroline Jane's husband, Arthur Gore Ryder, died on 17th February 1906; he was late of both 3 Sidmonton Terrace, Bray, Co. Wicklow, and of Riverstown House, Monasterevan, Co. Kildare. They were both living at Sidmonton Terrace in 1901 - Arthur was a civil engineer, deriving income from landed property. He had been born in Carrickmacross, Co. Monaghan - his clerical father had been running a school there at the time. Caroline Jane had been born in Kingstown, Co. Dublin. Later, in 1913/1914, her mother would send her money, but the address was not included in the chequebook stubs.
6) Alice Grogan, born 1st April 1863.
7) Dr. Amelia Gertrude Grogan, born 9th October 1864 and died 1930 at 7 Anson Road, Tufnell Park, Middlesex.
8) George Meredith Grogan, born 29th August 1867 and died 4th July 1942 at Plattenstown, Co. Wicklow.
Rev. John Grogan was married to Elizabeth Bourne who he called Lizzie; an entire section of the accounts book was devoted to Lizzie's allowance which, in 1864, totalled £130. She divided her time between Dublin, probably at the Bourne family home in 30 York Street, and The Glebe House in Balrothery, North Co. Dublin.
A typical entry for his wife, Lizzie, was a list written in 1865. £12 was spent on Lizzie's teeth and on 'mourning' (ie: a wardrobe of black clothing). £24 was allocated to Lizzie at York Street and at Harrogate. He gave his wife £14 to purchase a stitching machine, and money for a trip to London. The childrens' boots cost £2. 15. 0d.
The entry for May 2nd 1870 mentioned another mourning allowance; this was repeated on 28th April 1871 when £10 was allocated for mourning for the couple's oldest son, John Edward Grogan. On 12th October 1871, she bought an astrachan coat and muff for £6.
On December 2nd 1873, £10 was allocated 'for going out of mourning'. Lizzie had to re-invest in mourning clothes again on September 4th and 15th 1874.
In 1880, £5 was paid for a dress for their youngest daughter, Elsie Grogan (aka Lizzie Grogan), to attend the wedding of Anna Ryan of Ballymackeogh. A further £5 was spent the following year in 1881 for Elsie's fare to this wedding. I believe Anna Ryan was the daughter of Jane Grogan and William Ryan of Ballymackeogh. William Ryan was the daughter of William Ryan and Anne Pennefather whose half-brother, Edward Pennefather, was our immediate ancestor.
£10 was paid on October 18th 1882 for clothes when Lizzie's mother, Mrs. Bourne, died. On December 14th 1887, Lizzie needed a further £20 for mourning for her brother-in-law, Rev. Charles James Grogan, Vicar of Dunleckney. On February 19th, £12 was needed for the 'childrens' mourning for poor William Ryan'.
(Notes on Rev. Charles James Grogan: This was the brother of Rev. John Grogan. The Vicar of Dunleckney, he died unmarried on 5th October 1887. He celebrated the wedding of his sister, Jane, to William Ryan, when they married in Paris. The executors of his will were his brother, Rev. John Grogan, and his brother-in-law, William Ryan. He named his heirs as his nieces, Maria, Nina, Sarah and Aileen, who were the daughters of Sir Edward Grogan, his brother. Other beneficiaries were Charles Ryan , Anna Antoinette Ryan, and Jeanette Ryan, all three the children of his sister, Jane. Also the children of his niece, Antoinette Darcy of Hyde Park, Co. Westmeath, who was the daughter of Charles James Grogan's sister, Sarah Grogan. Sarah Grogan had married Anthony John Dopping. Antoinette Dopping was married to George James Darcy. Another beneficiary of Rev. Charles James Grogan was his nephew, Edward Grogan.)
In 1890 £5 was paid for Ryder's trip to Scotland. (Daughter, Caroline Jane, was married to Arthur Gore Ryder.)
Finally, in 1891, Rev. John Grogan noted that his wife, Lizzie, was now in receipt of Gibb's lecagy so she no longer needed to be paid an allowance by her husband. A note the following year read 'I now save Lizzie allowance annually £80 by her not calling on me for it most kindly.' Gibbs legacy amounted to £315 per annum. She was most likely left this money by Fanny Gibbs who died at the Gibbs' family home of 119 Stephens Green, Dublin, on 28th January 1892. A spinster, she was most likely an aunt of Lizzie's, Lizzie being the granddaughter of George Gibbs.
(Notes on the Bourne family: Lizzie Grogan's father was the solicitor, Peter Bourne of 30 York Street; her mother was Ellen Gibbs, the daughter of the lawyer and Deputy Clerk of the Crown, George Gibbs of 35 York Street and of his wife Ellen Carmichael. George Gibbs was noted in 1842 as Deputy Clerk of the Crown for Kildare, Westmeath, Kings and Queens County and Carlow, but was resident at York Street. George Gibbs married Jane Carmichael on 22nd December 1798.
Lizzie's father, Peter Bourne of 30 York Street, died on 7th October 1844, while her mother, Ellen Bourne, née Gibbs, died on 18th September 1882 - Rev. John Grogan mentioned the death of Mrs. Bourne, his mother-in-law, in his accounts book, since he had to pay for mourning clothes for the family. The Bournes were generally noted as being of Taney Hill, Dundrum.
Peter Bourne's father was Walter Bourne of Harcourt Street and of Taney Hill, who had been born in 1766 and who married Eliza Peter, the daughter of Walter Peter, an attorney of Edgecourt, on 5th June 1788. Walter Peter had married another member of the Bourne family, Frances Bourne of St. Patrick's Close, Dublin.
The children of Peter Bourne and Ellen Gibbs of 30 York Street were:
a) Walter Bourne of Monkstown, Co. Dublin, born circa 1826. A civil engineer, he married Anne Ryder in December 1853 - she was the daughter of the Venerable William Ryder. Rev. John Grogan mentioned the Ryder family frequently in his account book, his daughter, Caroline Jane Grogan having married a younger member of the same family.
b) Jane Bourne who married, in 1849, Dr. Charles Frizell of Castle Kevin, Annamoe/Laragh, Co. Wicklow. The Grogan family maintained close contact with the Frizell family also. Dr. Charles Frizell was apparently forced by hostile neighbours to leave Castle Kevin. He died on 20th March 1866 and his will noted that he'd been living at both Leeson Street and Warrington Place in Dublin. His will was proved by his son, Charles Frizell, who was still resident in 1866 at Castle Kevin. This younger man died at Dunluce Rectory, Co. Antrim on 28th June 1892, and the primary beneficiary of his will Rev. Charles William Frizell who was also mentioned in the earlier will of Elizabeth Bourne who died at Mespil Road, Dublin, on 15th September 1876. Charles William Frizell had been born in about 1850 in Dublin to Jane Bourne and to Charles Frizell of Castle Kevin, Annamoe, Co. Wicklow.
c) Elizabeth/Lizzie who married Rev. John Grogan on 2nd October 1850. She died at 21 Clyde Road on 24th July 1921.)
From 1893, Rev. John Grogan's accounts detail the pocket money paid to his three unmarried daughters, Elsie/Lizzie, Alice and Gertrude (Amelia Gertrude). They each received approximately £28 per annum. In February 1894, Alice was in Bournemouth. Elsie and Alice visited Cannes in January, February and March 1897.
The next portion of the accounts book dealt primarily with the education of the eldest son of Rev. John Grogan and Lizzie Bourne, John Edward Grogan, known to the family as Johnnie. Rev . John paid much attention to this firstborn son. Johnnie Grogan was sent away to his first school - Dr. Rice's - on 16th March 1863, which was to cost £12. 12s. 0d. per annum, but the boy was sent home again three weeks later when he came down with whooping cough. On 29th August 1863, he was sent to Dr. John A. Wall of Arlington House, Portarlington, Queens County. Tuition was billed at £47. 5s. 0d. with medicine costing £1. 1s. 0d, and washing costing £0. 6s. 2d.
'John was taken away after Christmas Vacation 1865 from Portarlington School - he was there 2.5 years.' Following this, he was sent on to Dungannon School, Co. Tyrone in February 1866 under the headmaster Rev. F. H. Ringwood.
February 8th 1869 - 'Informed Mr. Ringwood he would be taken away next June to begin his medical studies in Autumn 1869. He left Dungannon School in June 1869 (aged 17.5 years).'
Johnnie Grogan's medical tuition began November 1st 1869. He was to board, lodge and study with Dr. Morgan at 23 Stephens Green, Dublin, for a session of eight months at £100 a session. expenses in December 1869 were - a surgical book for 11s. 6d., dancing at £2. 11s. 6d; mourning in April 1870, plus a velocipede costing £6.10s. £2 was needed for rail fare to Janes (?) on 11th July 1870. Tailoring in February 1870 cost £9. 15s.
'My poor dear child, John Edward, left us for God on 8th October (Sunday) 1871. May God's Will be done - Amen. (He died at 3 minutes past 2o'clock on Sunday morning October 8th 1871.) We were sad and bowed down by the sudden and unexpected death of poor dear Edward M., but this new addition....of our trial has inflicted inexpressible pain upon us all - My poor dear boys - "They were lovely and pleasant in lives, and in their death they were not divided." '
The Rev. John was referring in the previous quote to the earlier death of his younger son, Edward Medlicott Grogan.
Meticulous as ever, he even noted the 'sickness cost' of John Edward's death:
Servants - Butler £3.0.0.
Housemaid (at Dr. Morgan's) - £2.0.0.
Cook - £1.0.0.
At York St: Bessy £1.0.0.
Eliza £0.10.0.
At Stephen's Green: Maria £1.0.0.
Maid £0.7.6.
Harcourt Street: 0.12.0.
Rail Fare - Ryan £2 + Frizell £1.
3 Nurses paid £4 and £5.
Rev Lucas - £14.
Wine £5; Brandy £2; Beef Tea £4; Laundress £1; Champagne and Cakes £2.
Housekeeping at York Street £8.
Extra Rail Expenses up and down £2.
Nicholls' Bill £25. 6s. 6d.
Extra Carriage (Medical Students) £1.
Welsh trip to console the family £27.
Edward Medlicott Grogan's Education:
Edward Medlicott Grogan was sent to Kingstown School, run by Rev. William C. Stacpoole, on 5th February . However, on 6th May 1868...'Edward dropped this quarter from being ill of Rheumatism - he came back ill from school on 17th April 1868 to York Street.' Although he went back to Kingstown School in late August...'Edward had a sharp of Rheumatism, and in bed till the 13th of January 1869.' He returned a second time on 1st April 1869 when he had recovered.
Rev. William C. Stacpoole died on 24th December 1870 and was succeeded by Rev. John W. Chambers.
'Edward Medlicott came home from school on 6th April 1871, his birth day - last time!'
'Dr. Morgan came down to see my poor Edward on 20th April 1871 at Balrothery....My dear child Edward Medlicott died on 20th April 1871 (Thursday) to the great grief of all the family especially to his parents - May God's will be done, Amen, tho' it is a heavy blow...He died about 20 or 15 to 8 o'clock P.M. Thursday April 20th 1871. Dr. Morgan and I came down from Dublin by the mail and called for Dr. McEvoy en route - We could not arrive therefore at Glebe before about 20 or 15 to 9 o'clock (P.M.) for the train is only due 8.18 P.M. at Balrothery....'
The costs of Edward Medlicott Grogan's sickness (and death) were also noted:
Dr. Morgan £5.
Dr. McEvoy £6.
Gifts and Travelling - Ryan £5.
Gifts and Travelling - Frizell £10.
Church £3.
Digges Funeral Bill £34.
Mourning Johnnie £10.
Mourning Liz and Children £20.
Gifts to Children £4. 18. 0.
Porter for men at funeral £0. 19s.
Gifts to servants at Glebe, Balrothery £2. 12. 0.
George Meridyth (Merry) Grogan's Schooling:
Rev. John Grogan's third son, Merry Grogan known formally as George Meredyth Grogan (29th August 1887 - 4th July 1942) was sent to Miss Farrants at Belgrave Villa, Belgrave Square, Monkstown, Co. Dublin, on 14th February 1879. The following year's school expenses included £1.5.0 for a laundress, and 2s. 6d. for a seat in church.
Merry left Miss Farrants at summer vacation 26th June 1880, and was sent on to the Royal School in Armagh under the headmaster Rev. William Moore Morgan, before being sent to Birkenhead School, Shrewsbury Road, near Liverpool, on 30th April 1884. While there, he engaged in dancing lessons, cricket and football. Merry left Birkenhead on 19th February 1886, and did his Preliminary Examination in Dublin on 23rd and 24th of February 1886, although his father didn't note where.
Notes: George Meredyth Grogan, retired Lt. Col. H.M.A., of the 18th Royal Irish Regiment, who had served in both the Boer and the First Workd War, died at Plattenstown, Arklow, Co. Wicklow, on 4th July 1942; his widow was Eva Augusta Ellis, known as Augusta, who he had married in Wicklow on 9th February 1929. She had been born on 25th April 1899 in Lisburn, Co. Antrim, to the Wexford-born land agent, Ernest Francis Leslie Ellis, and his wife, Harriett Eva Ellis. The Ellis family were buried in Inch Church, Co. Wexford. The pulpit commemorates Eva Ellis's grandparents - Augusta Catherine Ellis, widow of Thomas Cupples Ellis of St. Austin's, died 1st November 1899; the memorial was erected by her children, Ernest, Emily and Violet. Thomas Cupples Ellis was born 13th February 1829 and died on 20th August 1885. George Meredyth Grogan was buried there by his widow, Augusta, in 1942, as were her parents, Ernest Francis Leslie Ellis who was born 22nd October 1867 and who died 12th February 1947, and Harriett Eva Ellis, who was born 31st October 1855 and who died 28th July 1948. George Meredyth Grogan's wife remarried following his death; her second husband was Arthur Donel McMurrough, The O'Morchoe, who died 29th August 1966. His two daughters were Patricia and Anne. Arthur Donel McMurrough's first wife was Isabel Hester McMurrough who died on 12th April 1947. His second wife, Eva August Ellis, died 12th April 1974.
In 1931, George Meredyth Grogan and Eva Ellis had a son, Hume Grogan, later Major Hume Grogan of the Irish Guards.
The Girls, Alice, Gertrude and Elsie:
Alice and Gertrude Grogan went to Alstone Court School in Cheltenham, England under the Misses Robinson on 20th January 1880. Along with their lessons, their father paid 2s. for cab hire, 5s. 6d. for concert tickets, 6s. for house shoes, and £1. 1. 0. for meat for breakfast for the two girls. Alice took violin lessons, the violin and strings costing £2.
In 1889, there was a list of the girls' trips - On May 10th, Elsie went to N. Revell, and Eileen (who was Eileen?) went to Bray. In July, Gerty went to N. Revell, Alice went to Maunsell and Elsie went to Scotland.
(Notes on these Revells: On 1st June 1886, Ellen Jane Bourne, the daughter of Walter Bourne, civil engineer, married John Anthony Revell, the son of John Revell of Newcastle House, Newtown Mountkennedy, Co. Wicklow. One of the witnesses was Charles Frizell of Castle Kevin. Walter Bourne was Rev. John Grogan's brother-in-law, as was Charles Frizell who was married to Jane Bourne. Walter Bourne, Jane Frizell and Lizzie Grogan were all siblings. Later in 1914, Ellen Jane Revell was noted as the next-of-kin of George Gibbs Revell. In 1913/1914, Lizzie Grogan wrote several cheques for E. J. Revell. John Anthony Revell died on 27th February 1895 at Newcastle House, and his will was granted to the unmarried Henrietta Mary Anne Revell of 65 Northumberland Road, Dublin. She died in 1911 and her executors were her unmarried Margaret and Isabella Revell. There was also a fourth sister Frances Revell, and all four were living together in Morehampton Road in 1901.)
In 1890 they had more trips - Elsie and Alice went to the Revells in Scotland; Alice also went to Howth, Circus and Clonmel; Merry and Gerty visited Dunluce, Co. Antrim, while Rev. John Grogan also paid for the Ryders' trip to Scotland.
Gertrude/Gerty fulfilled her father's desire to have a doctor in the family, and, in 1889, she attended the College of Surgeons. She also studied the same year at the City of Dublin . Her father bought her a stethoscope in 1889, and gave his daughter £3 on 11th October 1889 as a prize for passing her exams. On 14th November 1889 he also paid £10 for a microscope for his daughter. Her tuition at the College of Surgeons continued the following year, and the proud father gave his daughter a further gift of £3 for getting her A.B. degree. In 1894 he made a note that Gertrude was now studying at the Rotunda; by 1895 she was at the Adelaide Hospital, and he rewarded her with a further £5 on 14th October 1895 for passing another set of exams. (Note: Amelia Gertrude Grogan was the principal doctor in charge of the womens' wing of the Mullingar Lunatic Asylum in 1900, and subsequently moved to England where she worked as a medical officer in a womens' hospital in Brighton. )
In 1891, he noted Alice's violin tuition. A gift was sent to Eileen for keeping Alice during a visit there. Alice also went this year on a visit to Seaton.
In 1891, the youngest daughter, Elsie/Lizzie Grogan, did music lessons. Her father noted her birthday as March 13th. (She was born March 13th 1853 and died at 21 Clyde Road on 4th December 1938). Elsie took a trip to Scotland and to what looks like 'Tankerville'. On 19th September 1891, Lizzie took a trip to visit Rev. Chas. N. Frizell at Rectory, Bushmills, Co. Antrim.
(Note: Rev. Charles N. Frizell was actually Charles WILLIAM Frizell of Dunluce. Charles William Frizell had been born in about 1850 in Dublin to Jane Bourne and to Charles Frizell of Castle Kevin, Annamoe, Co. Wicklow. Jane Bourne was the sister of Elizabeth Bourne who was married to Rev. John Grogan.)
Other information gleaned from Rev. John Grogan's accounts book: He noted that he left Balrothery Parish on 5th August 1887 and resigned his post there on 16th June 1889. In the section of the book devoted to his own life insurance, he noted his own birth day as 28th June 1816.
There was a section devoted to 'George William Grogan's Marriage Trust Money', which was begun on October 15th 1856 when Rev. John Grogan was living at home at Harcourt Street. Rev. George William Grogan was Rev. John Grogan's brother, born in Dublin on 20th March 1819. He married an Englishwoman, Helen Isabel Maria Hall, the daughter of Rev. William Hall of Great Bromley, Essex. The marriage occurred on the day that Rev. John started his marriage trust fund, so presumably the fund was started to put aside money for Rev. George William's children. Rev. John Grogan resigned as trustee in 1876.
Much of the book dealt with the boring finances associated with Balrothery Parish; there also a section dealing with fire insurance paid on a property in Vesey Place, Kingstown.
A section of the book was devoted to the sale of two carriages, a phaeton and a brougham, on July 18th 1888. They had been kept in a coach house on Raglan Road which runs adjacent to Clyde Road.
He detailed the rent paid on the family's home, 12 Clyde Road, which they took on 20th May 1887, at a rent of £100 per annum. The landlord was the builder, Edward Kennedy of 6 Percy Place, Dublin, who would later die on 28th June 1890. His daughters inherited the house - Julia Kennedy was the mother superior of Presentation Convent, St. Joseph's, Lucan, while her older sister was the unmarried Mary Kennedy of 9 Percy Place. When Julia Kennedy died on 15th November 1906, her executors were Christopher and Margaret Rock of 53 Northumberland Road.
Later, Lizzie Grogan moved to 17 Clyde Road, then 21 Clyde Road, and her chequebook showed her paying the rent for No. 21 to a Marion C. Wallace, but no address was provided for this landlady.
A section of the accounts book dealth with an annuity paid at £1 a week from 5th August 1887 to a Mrs. Margaret Nixon of Balrothery village. Rev. John's notes are intriguing: 'This discontinued as long as George Nixon is not in constant work but lives at the family's expense generally. It is not just I should contribute to his support after his conduct in attempting to refuse to surrender the old castle premises to the Rev. Mr. Lombard the Rector so I discontinued April 6th 1888 the Annuity...' On October 13th 1890 George Nixon died, so payment resumed again. Margaret Nixon died on 10th January 1890 and the account was closed forever. Rev. John Grogan gave a further £1 to Maria Nixon to cover the funeral expenses. The 1901 census reveals Maria Nixon working as a house maid for the Grogan family in 17 Clyde Road.
Rev. John Grogan also devoted a portion of his accounts book to money which his brother, Sir Edward Grogan, had transferred to him to manage while he was abroad.
I am vaguely related to the Grogans, since they intermarried with both my Courtenay, Pennefather and Ryan ancestors. Rev. John Grogan's sister, Jane Grogan, married William Ryan of Ballymackeogh, Co. Tipperary, whose mother was Anne Pennefather, the daughter of our immediate ancestor Rev. John Pennefather of Newport, Co. Tipperary. Edwin Grogan married one of our Dublin Courtenay family - Edwin Grogan was the son of Rev. William Grogan of Slaney Park, who was the uncle of Rev. John Grogan of Balrothery.
The children of Rev. John Grogan and Elizabeth/Lizzie Bourne were:
1) John Edward Grogan, born 7th February 1852, died 8th October 1871.
2) Lizzie/Elsie Grogan, born on 13th March 1853 - 4th December 1938; she died at 21 Clyde Road.
3) Edward Medlicott Grogan, born 6th April 1856 and died on 20th April 1871.
4) Ellen Fanny Grogan, born 19th June 1857, who married Rev. Arthur Edward Butt and had two daughters, Irene and Olive Butt. Ellen Frances Grogan was never mentioned in her fathers' account book, but she was staying with her widowed mother at Clyde Road in 1901, along with her two twin daughters, Irene and Olive Butt, who had been born in England in about 1896. A third daughter, Agatha Ryder Butt, was born and died on 12th April 1893 in Lukkur, Bombay; she was buried the same day at Sukkur-Scinde, Bombay. The husband of Ellen Frances Grogan, Rev. Arthur Edward Butt, died 30th October 1895. Throughout 1913/1914, Lizzie Grogan sent cheques to both Eileen Butt and Ellen Butt, one of which was for the twins. An Olive Meredyth Butt married in Dublin in 1919.
5) Caroline Jane Grogan, born 9th December 1858 in Kingstown, Co. Dublin, and baptised in Monkstown, Co. Dublin. She married Arthur Gore Ryder, the son of Rev. Arthur Gore Ryder of Christchurch, on 18th December 1888. This daughter was rarely mentioned in her father's accounts book, other than vague references to the Ryders; she was, however, buried alongside her family in Mount Jerome cemetery when she died on 16th July 1935. The Ryder/de Rythre family lived for generations at Riverstown House, Co. Kildare. The elder Arthur Gore Ryder was married to Nina Gertrude McMahon and had, along with Arthur Gore Ryder, a daughter, Nina Beryl Ryder, born in Dublin on 30th November 1874, and another son, Ralph St. George Gore Ryder, born in Dublin on 15th April 1879. There was also the fabulously-named Beresford Burton McMahon Ryder, born in Dublin on 27th May 1877. In 1903, the younger Arthur Gore Ryder who married Caroline Jane Grogan, proved the will of the elderly spinster, Frances Anne Ryder of Riverstown House. She had earlier been the primary beneficiary of the will of Robert Browne of Riverstown House who died there on 9th January 1879. Caroline Jane's husband, Arthur Gore Ryder, died on 17th February 1906; he was late of both 3 Sidmonton Terrace, Bray, Co. Wicklow, and of Riverstown House, Monasterevan, Co. Kildare. They were both living at Sidmonton Terrace in 1901 - Arthur was a civil engineer, deriving income from landed property. He had been born in Carrickmacross, Co. Monaghan - his clerical father had been running a school there at the time. Caroline Jane had been born in Kingstown, Co. Dublin. Later, in 1913/1914, her mother would send her money, but the address was not included in the chequebook stubs.
6) Alice Grogan, born 1st April 1863.
7) Dr. Amelia Gertrude Grogan, born 9th October 1864 and died 1930 at 7 Anson Road, Tufnell Park, Middlesex.
8) George Meredith Grogan, born 29th August 1867 and died 4th July 1942 at Plattenstown, Co. Wicklow.
Rev. John Grogan was married to Elizabeth Bourne who he called Lizzie; an entire section of the accounts book was devoted to Lizzie's allowance which, in 1864, totalled £130. She divided her time between Dublin, probably at the Bourne family home in 30 York Street, and The Glebe House in Balrothery, North Co. Dublin.
A typical entry for his wife, Lizzie, was a list written in 1865. £12 was spent on Lizzie's teeth and on 'mourning' (ie: a wardrobe of black clothing). £24 was allocated to Lizzie at York Street and at Harrogate. He gave his wife £14 to purchase a stitching machine, and money for a trip to London. The childrens' boots cost £2. 15. 0d.
The entry for May 2nd 1870 mentioned another mourning allowance; this was repeated on 28th April 1871 when £10 was allocated for mourning for the couple's oldest son, John Edward Grogan. On 12th October 1871, she bought an astrachan coat and muff for £6.
On December 2nd 1873, £10 was allocated 'for going out of mourning'. Lizzie had to re-invest in mourning clothes again on September 4th and 15th 1874.
In 1880, £5 was paid for a dress for their youngest daughter, Elsie Grogan (aka Lizzie Grogan), to attend the wedding of Anna Ryan of Ballymackeogh. A further £5 was spent the following year in 1881 for Elsie's fare to this wedding. I believe Anna Ryan was the daughter of Jane Grogan and William Ryan of Ballymackeogh. William Ryan was the daughter of William Ryan and Anne Pennefather whose half-brother, Edward Pennefather, was our immediate ancestor.
£10 was paid on October 18th 1882 for clothes when Lizzie's mother, Mrs. Bourne, died. On December 14th 1887, Lizzie needed a further £20 for mourning for her brother-in-law, Rev. Charles James Grogan, Vicar of Dunleckney. On February 19th, £12 was needed for the 'childrens' mourning for poor William Ryan'.
(Notes on Rev. Charles James Grogan: This was the brother of Rev. John Grogan. The Vicar of Dunleckney, he died unmarried on 5th October 1887. He celebrated the wedding of his sister, Jane, to William Ryan, when they married in Paris. The executors of his will were his brother, Rev. John Grogan, and his brother-in-law, William Ryan. He named his heirs as his nieces, Maria, Nina, Sarah and Aileen, who were the daughters of Sir Edward Grogan, his brother. Other beneficiaries were Charles Ryan , Anna Antoinette Ryan, and Jeanette Ryan, all three the children of his sister, Jane. Also the children of his niece, Antoinette Darcy of Hyde Park, Co. Westmeath, who was the daughter of Charles James Grogan's sister, Sarah Grogan. Sarah Grogan had married Anthony John Dopping. Antoinette Dopping was married to George James Darcy. Another beneficiary of Rev. Charles James Grogan was his nephew, Edward Grogan.)
In 1890 £5 was paid for Ryder's trip to Scotland. (Daughter, Caroline Jane, was married to Arthur Gore Ryder.)
Finally, in 1891, Rev. John Grogan noted that his wife, Lizzie, was now in receipt of Gibb's lecagy so she no longer needed to be paid an allowance by her husband. A note the following year read 'I now save Lizzie allowance annually £80 by her not calling on me for it most kindly.' Gibbs legacy amounted to £315 per annum. She was most likely left this money by Fanny Gibbs who died at the Gibbs' family home of 119 Stephens Green, Dublin, on 28th January 1892. A spinster, she was most likely an aunt of Lizzie's, Lizzie being the granddaughter of George Gibbs.
(Notes on the Bourne family: Lizzie Grogan's father was the solicitor, Peter Bourne of 30 York Street; her mother was Ellen Gibbs, the daughter of the lawyer and Deputy Clerk of the Crown, George Gibbs of 35 York Street and of his wife Ellen Carmichael. George Gibbs was noted in 1842 as Deputy Clerk of the Crown for Kildare, Westmeath, Kings and Queens County and Carlow, but was resident at York Street. George Gibbs married Jane Carmichael on 22nd December 1798.
Lizzie's father, Peter Bourne of 30 York Street, died on 7th October 1844, while her mother, Ellen Bourne, née Gibbs, died on 18th September 1882 - Rev. John Grogan mentioned the death of Mrs. Bourne, his mother-in-law, in his accounts book, since he had to pay for mourning clothes for the family. The Bournes were generally noted as being of Taney Hill, Dundrum.
Peter Bourne's father was Walter Bourne of Harcourt Street and of Taney Hill, who had been born in 1766 and who married Eliza Peter, the daughter of Walter Peter, an attorney of Edgecourt, on 5th June 1788. Walter Peter had married another member of the Bourne family, Frances Bourne of St. Patrick's Close, Dublin.
The children of Peter Bourne and Ellen Gibbs of 30 York Street were:
a) Walter Bourne of Monkstown, Co. Dublin, born circa 1826. A civil engineer, he married Anne Ryder in December 1853 - she was the daughter of the Venerable William Ryder. Rev. John Grogan mentioned the Ryder family frequently in his account book, his daughter, Caroline Jane Grogan having married a younger member of the same family.
b) Jane Bourne who married, in 1849, Dr. Charles Frizell of Castle Kevin, Annamoe/Laragh, Co. Wicklow. The Grogan family maintained close contact with the Frizell family also. Dr. Charles Frizell was apparently forced by hostile neighbours to leave Castle Kevin. He died on 20th March 1866 and his will noted that he'd been living at both Leeson Street and Warrington Place in Dublin. His will was proved by his son, Charles Frizell, who was still resident in 1866 at Castle Kevin. This younger man died at Dunluce Rectory, Co. Antrim on 28th June 1892, and the primary beneficiary of his will Rev. Charles William Frizell who was also mentioned in the earlier will of Elizabeth Bourne who died at Mespil Road, Dublin, on 15th September 1876. Charles William Frizell had been born in about 1850 in Dublin to Jane Bourne and to Charles Frizell of Castle Kevin, Annamoe, Co. Wicklow.
c) Elizabeth/Lizzie who married Rev. John Grogan on 2nd October 1850. She died at 21 Clyde Road on 24th July 1921.)
From 1893, Rev. John Grogan's accounts detail the pocket money paid to his three unmarried daughters, Elsie/Lizzie, Alice and Gertrude (Amelia Gertrude). They each received approximately £28 per annum. In February 1894, Alice was in Bournemouth. Elsie and Alice visited Cannes in January, February and March 1897.
The next portion of the accounts book dealt primarily with the education of the eldest son of Rev. John Grogan and Lizzie Bourne, John Edward Grogan, known to the family as Johnnie. Rev . John paid much attention to this firstborn son. Johnnie Grogan was sent away to his first school - Dr. Rice's - on 16th March 1863, which was to cost £12. 12s. 0d. per annum, but the boy was sent home again three weeks later when he came down with whooping cough. On 29th August 1863, he was sent to Dr. John A. Wall of Arlington House, Portarlington, Queens County. Tuition was billed at £47. 5s. 0d. with medicine costing £1. 1s. 0d, and washing costing £0. 6s. 2d.
'John was taken away after Christmas Vacation 1865 from Portarlington School - he was there 2.5 years.' Following this, he was sent on to Dungannon School, Co. Tyrone in February 1866 under the headmaster Rev. F. H. Ringwood.
February 8th 1869 - 'Informed Mr. Ringwood he would be taken away next June to begin his medical studies in Autumn 1869. He left Dungannon School in June 1869 (aged 17.5 years).'
Johnnie Grogan's medical tuition began November 1st 1869. He was to board, lodge and study with Dr. Morgan at 23 Stephens Green, Dublin, for a session of eight months at £100 a session. expenses in December 1869 were - a surgical book for 11s. 6d., dancing at £2. 11s. 6d; mourning in April 1870, plus a velocipede costing £6.10s. £2 was needed for rail fare to Janes (?) on 11th July 1870. Tailoring in February 1870 cost £9. 15s.
'My poor dear child, John Edward, left us for God on 8th October (Sunday) 1871. May God's Will be done - Amen. (He died at 3 minutes past 2o'clock on Sunday morning October 8th 1871.) We were sad and bowed down by the sudden and unexpected death of poor dear Edward M., but this new addition....of our trial has inflicted inexpressible pain upon us all - My poor dear boys - "They were lovely and pleasant in lives, and in their death they were not divided." '
The Rev. John was referring in the previous quote to the earlier death of his younger son, Edward Medlicott Grogan.
Meticulous as ever, he even noted the 'sickness cost' of John Edward's death:
Servants - Butler £3.0.0.
Housemaid (at Dr. Morgan's) - £2.0.0.
Cook - £1.0.0.
At York St: Bessy £1.0.0.
Eliza £0.10.0.
At Stephen's Green: Maria £1.0.0.
Maid £0.7.6.
Harcourt Street: 0.12.0.
Rail Fare - Ryan £2 + Frizell £1.
3 Nurses paid £4 and £5.
Rev Lucas - £14.
Wine £5; Brandy £2; Beef Tea £4; Laundress £1; Champagne and Cakes £2.
Housekeeping at York Street £8.
Extra Rail Expenses up and down £2.
Nicholls' Bill £25. 6s. 6d.
Extra Carriage (Medical Students) £1.
Welsh trip to console the family £27.
Edward Medlicott Grogan's Education:
Edward Medlicott Grogan was sent to Kingstown School, run by Rev. William C. Stacpoole, on 5th February . However, on 6th May 1868...'Edward dropped this quarter from being ill of Rheumatism - he came back ill from school on 17th April 1868 to York Street.' Although he went back to Kingstown School in late August...'Edward had a sharp of Rheumatism, and in bed till the 13th of January 1869.' He returned a second time on 1st April 1869 when he had recovered.
Rev. William C. Stacpoole died on 24th December 1870 and was succeeded by Rev. John W. Chambers.
'Edward Medlicott came home from school on 6th April 1871, his birth day - last time!'
'Dr. Morgan came down to see my poor Edward on 20th April 1871 at Balrothery....My dear child Edward Medlicott died on 20th April 1871 (Thursday) to the great grief of all the family especially to his parents - May God's will be done, Amen, tho' it is a heavy blow...He died about 20 or 15 to 8 o'clock P.M. Thursday April 20th 1871. Dr. Morgan and I came down from Dublin by the mail and called for Dr. McEvoy en route - We could not arrive therefore at Glebe before about 20 or 15 to 9 o'clock (P.M.) for the train is only due 8.18 P.M. at Balrothery....'
The costs of Edward Medlicott Grogan's sickness (and death) were also noted:
Dr. Morgan £5.
Dr. McEvoy £6.
Gifts and Travelling - Ryan £5.
Gifts and Travelling - Frizell £10.
Church £3.
Digges Funeral Bill £34.
Mourning Johnnie £10.
Mourning Liz and Children £20.
Gifts to Children £4. 18. 0.
Porter for men at funeral £0. 19s.
Gifts to servants at Glebe, Balrothery £2. 12. 0.
George Meridyth (Merry) Grogan's Schooling:
Rev. John Grogan's third son, Merry Grogan known formally as George Meredyth Grogan (29th August 1887 - 4th July 1942) was sent to Miss Farrants at Belgrave Villa, Belgrave Square, Monkstown, Co. Dublin, on 14th February 1879. The following year's school expenses included £1.5.0 for a laundress, and 2s. 6d. for a seat in church.
Merry left Miss Farrants at summer vacation 26th June 1880, and was sent on to the Royal School in Armagh under the headmaster Rev. William Moore Morgan, before being sent to Birkenhead School, Shrewsbury Road, near Liverpool, on 30th April 1884. While there, he engaged in dancing lessons, cricket and football. Merry left Birkenhead on 19th February 1886, and did his Preliminary Examination in Dublin on 23rd and 24th of February 1886, although his father didn't note where.
Notes: George Meredyth Grogan, retired Lt. Col. H.M.A., of the 18th Royal Irish Regiment, who had served in both the Boer and the First Workd War, died at Plattenstown, Arklow, Co. Wicklow, on 4th July 1942; his widow was Eva Augusta Ellis, known as Augusta, who he had married in Wicklow on 9th February 1929. She had been born on 25th April 1899 in Lisburn, Co. Antrim, to the Wexford-born land agent, Ernest Francis Leslie Ellis, and his wife, Harriett Eva Ellis. The Ellis family were buried in Inch Church, Co. Wexford. The pulpit commemorates Eva Ellis's grandparents - Augusta Catherine Ellis, widow of Thomas Cupples Ellis of St. Austin's, died 1st November 1899; the memorial was erected by her children, Ernest, Emily and Violet. Thomas Cupples Ellis was born 13th February 1829 and died on 20th August 1885. George Meredyth Grogan was buried there by his widow, Augusta, in 1942, as were her parents, Ernest Francis Leslie Ellis who was born 22nd October 1867 and who died 12th February 1947, and Harriett Eva Ellis, who was born 31st October 1855 and who died 28th July 1948. George Meredyth Grogan's wife remarried following his death; her second husband was Arthur Donel McMurrough, The O'Morchoe, who died 29th August 1966. His two daughters were Patricia and Anne. Arthur Donel McMurrough's first wife was Isabel Hester McMurrough who died on 12th April 1947. His second wife, Eva August Ellis, died 12th April 1974.
In 1931, George Meredyth Grogan and Eva Ellis had a son, Hume Grogan, later Major Hume Grogan of the Irish Guards.
The Girls, Alice, Gertrude and Elsie:
Alice and Gertrude Grogan went to Alstone Court School in Cheltenham, England under the Misses Robinson on 20th January 1880. Along with their lessons, their father paid 2s. for cab hire, 5s. 6d. for concert tickets, 6s. for house shoes, and £1. 1. 0. for meat for breakfast for the two girls. Alice took violin lessons, the violin and strings costing £2.
In 1889, there was a list of the girls' trips - On May 10th, Elsie went to N. Revell, and Eileen (who was Eileen?) went to Bray. In July, Gerty went to N. Revell, Alice went to Maunsell and Elsie went to Scotland.
(Notes on these Revells: On 1st June 1886, Ellen Jane Bourne, the daughter of Walter Bourne, civil engineer, married John Anthony Revell, the son of John Revell of Newcastle House, Newtown Mountkennedy, Co. Wicklow. One of the witnesses was Charles Frizell of Castle Kevin. Walter Bourne was Rev. John Grogan's brother-in-law, as was Charles Frizell who was married to Jane Bourne. Walter Bourne, Jane Frizell and Lizzie Grogan were all siblings. Later in 1914, Ellen Jane Revell was noted as the next-of-kin of George Gibbs Revell. In 1913/1914, Lizzie Grogan wrote several cheques for E. J. Revell. John Anthony Revell died on 27th February 1895 at Newcastle House, and his will was granted to the unmarried Henrietta Mary Anne Revell of 65 Northumberland Road, Dublin. She died in 1911 and her executors were her unmarried Margaret and Isabella Revell. There was also a fourth sister Frances Revell, and all four were living together in Morehampton Road in 1901.)
In 1890 they had more trips - Elsie and Alice went to the Revells in Scotland; Alice also went to Howth, Circus and Clonmel; Merry and Gerty visited Dunluce, Co. Antrim, while Rev. John Grogan also paid for the Ryders' trip to Scotland.
Gertrude/Gerty fulfilled her father's desire to have a doctor in the family, and, in 1889, she attended the College of Surgeons. She also studied the same year at the City of Dublin . Her father bought her a stethoscope in 1889, and gave his daughter £3 on 11th October 1889 as a prize for passing her exams. On 14th November 1889 he also paid £10 for a microscope for his daughter. Her tuition at the College of Surgeons continued the following year, and the proud father gave his daughter a further gift of £3 for getting her A.B. degree. In 1894 he made a note that Gertrude was now studying at the Rotunda; by 1895 she was at the Adelaide Hospital, and he rewarded her with a further £5 on 14th October 1895 for passing another set of exams. (Note: Amelia Gertrude Grogan was the principal doctor in charge of the womens' wing of the Mullingar Lunatic Asylum in 1900, and subsequently moved to England where she worked as a medical officer in a womens' hospital in Brighton. )
In 1891, he noted Alice's violin tuition. A gift was sent to Eileen for keeping Alice during a visit there. Alice also went this year on a visit to Seaton.
In 1891, the youngest daughter, Elsie/Lizzie Grogan, did music lessons. Her father noted her birthday as March 13th. (She was born March 13th 1853 and died at 21 Clyde Road on 4th December 1938). Elsie took a trip to Scotland and to what looks like 'Tankerville'. On 19th September 1891, Lizzie took a trip to visit Rev. Chas. N. Frizell at Rectory, Bushmills, Co. Antrim.
(Note: Rev. Charles N. Frizell was actually Charles WILLIAM Frizell of Dunluce. Charles William Frizell had been born in about 1850 in Dublin to Jane Bourne and to Charles Frizell of Castle Kevin, Annamoe, Co. Wicklow. Jane Bourne was the sister of Elizabeth Bourne who was married to Rev. John Grogan.)
Other information gleaned from Rev. John Grogan's accounts book: He noted that he left Balrothery Parish on 5th August 1887 and resigned his post there on 16th June 1889. In the section of the book devoted to his own life insurance, he noted his own birth day as 28th June 1816.
There was a section devoted to 'George William Grogan's Marriage Trust Money', which was begun on October 15th 1856 when Rev. John Grogan was living at home at Harcourt Street. Rev. George William Grogan was Rev. John Grogan's brother, born in Dublin on 20th March 1819. He married an Englishwoman, Helen Isabel Maria Hall, the daughter of Rev. William Hall of Great Bromley, Essex. The marriage occurred on the day that Rev. John started his marriage trust fund, so presumably the fund was started to put aside money for Rev. George William's children. Rev. John Grogan resigned as trustee in 1876.
Much of the book dealt with the boring finances associated with Balrothery Parish; there also a section dealing with fire insurance paid on a property in Vesey Place, Kingstown.
A section of the book was devoted to the sale of two carriages, a phaeton and a brougham, on July 18th 1888. They had been kept in a coach house on Raglan Road which runs adjacent to Clyde Road.
He detailed the rent paid on the family's home, 12 Clyde Road, which they took on 20th May 1887, at a rent of £100 per annum. The landlord was the builder, Edward Kennedy of 6 Percy Place, Dublin, who would later die on 28th June 1890. His daughters inherited the house - Julia Kennedy was the mother superior of Presentation Convent, St. Joseph's, Lucan, while her older sister was the unmarried Mary Kennedy of 9 Percy Place. When Julia Kennedy died on 15th November 1906, her executors were Christopher and Margaret Rock of 53 Northumberland Road.
Later, Lizzie Grogan moved to 17 Clyde Road, then 21 Clyde Road, and her chequebook showed her paying the rent for No. 21 to a Marion C. Wallace, but no address was provided for this landlady.
A section of the accounts book dealth with an annuity paid at £1 a week from 5th August 1887 to a Mrs. Margaret Nixon of Balrothery village. Rev. John's notes are intriguing: 'This discontinued as long as George Nixon is not in constant work but lives at the family's expense generally. It is not just I should contribute to his support after his conduct in attempting to refuse to surrender the old castle premises to the Rev. Mr. Lombard the Rector so I discontinued April 6th 1888 the Annuity...' On October 13th 1890 George Nixon died, so payment resumed again. Margaret Nixon died on 10th January 1890 and the account was closed forever. Rev. John Grogan gave a further £1 to Maria Nixon to cover the funeral expenses. The 1901 census reveals Maria Nixon working as a house maid for the Grogan family in 17 Clyde Road.
Rev. John Grogan also devoted a portion of his accounts book to money which his brother, Sir Edward Grogan, had transferred to him to manage while he was abroad.