BRENNEN FAMILY CHRONICLES

© Christopher Earls Brennen

CHAPTER THREE

THE QUIN AND EAMES FAMILIES

In this chapter we construct the family of Susan Dorothea Quin, the wife of Bernard Brennen.

Sometime between 1871 and 1874, we think Bernard Brennen went to Dublin to attend the Church of Ireland teacher training college in order to qualify himself to become a National School teacher. Though the records of this college in Kildare Street, Dublin, do not begin until 1884, the present archivist at the modern Church of Ireland College of Education at 96 Upper Rathmines, Dublin 6, opined that students in those early days only came up to Dublin for a few months and generally lived in the college. If Bernard did indeed attend the teacher training college at this time it was there and then that he met Susanna Dorothea Quin who trained to be a teacher at that same college. Susanna was born in Dublin about 1854 (according to their 1901 Census return). According to her marriage certificate her father was Edward Quin, an accountant, and, since she was married in the city of Cork, she probably had a family connection in Cork.

  1. James Quin was born in 1806 and married Mary Seymour, also born about 1806 in Cork. James is listed as a servant on the marriage certificate of his son, Edward Quin. James died in 1864 and Mary in 1871 in Cork. The children of James and Mary Quin:
    1. William Robert Quin was born in Dublin about 1835. William died in Dublin in 1900.
    2. Mary Quin was born in Dublin about 1839.
    3. Edward Quin was born about 1833. On Dec.28, 1852, in St.Anne's Parish Church, Dublin, he was married to Dorothea Eames (see Eames family below), who was born on May 27, 1832, in Cork, Ireland. On their marriage certificate they are both listed as of full age and as servants at the same house, namely 8 Upper Merrion Street, Dublin. Edward's father is given as James Quin, also a servant; Dorothea's father is given as James Eames, a smith.

      Marriage certificate of Edward Quin and Dorothea Eames.

      The witnesses are William Olliffe (for the husband) and John Johns (for the wife). In the 1850 Directory of Dublin, the house at 8 Upper Merrion Street is occupied by a Joseph Hunt. Two other servants at 8 Upper Merrion Street, namely William Seymour and Elizabeth Hannan, were married in St. Anne's on Jan.25, 1853; the witnesses were Lombard Hunt and Edward Quin. Edward and Dorothea Quin had a large number of children as listed below. Edward is listed on his daughter, Susan Dorothea Quin's marriage certificate as an accountant. Edward must have died prior to 1901 for in the census of that year Dorothea Quin, born in County Cork, is recorded as a 68-year-old widow and nursetender living at house 3.2 in Charlemont Mall, Fitzwilliam, Dublin. The return also records that Dorothea was born in County Cork. Edward died in 1878 and Dorothea in 1906. The children of Edward and Dorothea Quin:

      1. Susan Quin (Susanna or Susan Dorothea) was born in Bray, Dublin, in 1854 and was christened in the Church of Ireland. She trained to be a National School teacher at the Church of Ireland teacher training college in Kildare Street, Dublin. There she met Bernard Brennen and they were married on Jul.5, 1874 in St. Mary Church in the Parish of St. Mary Shandon in the city of Cork, Ireland. There is also a tenuous family legend that Susanna may have taught school before her marriage, perhaps at the prestigious Bray School for Girls just south of Dublin. Bernard and Susanna returned to Dublin shortly after their marriage and, on May 26, 1875, their first child was born at 14 Lower Wellington Street presumably their residence. On the birth certificate Bernard has listed himself as Macaulay Brennan and Susanna's maiden name is given as Quinn. A Dorotha Quin, nurse, was present at the birth, evidently the sister Dorothea mentioned above who may have moved north with Bernard and Susanna. Shortly thereafter they moved to the north of Ireland; the rest of the story of Bernard and Susan is told in the chapters before and after this.

        1901 Census for the James Quin family.

      2. James Quin
        (Courtesy of David Tattersfield)
        James Quin was born in 1855 and was christened in Ballybrack Church of Ireland. He was married twice. His first wife was Elizabeth Johnston with whom he had all his children. His second wife was Margaret M. Kyle born in County Down about 1870. In the 1901 Census 44-year-old James Quin and his wife 30-year-old Margaret M. Quin are recorded as living in Dublin with their three children listed below, their 13-year-old nephew George Kyle Hickey (born in County Dublin) and a 25-year-old Roman Catholic domestic servant, Christina Nolan, born in Dublin. James is listed as a Civil Servant, Inspector in charge of the General Post Office in Dublin. James died in 1907 and Margaret in 1918. The children of James Quin with his first wife Elizabeth Johnston:
        1. Grace Elizabeth Quin was born about 1876 in the city of Dublin. She married David Carlisle Kyle, born about 1860 in County Antrim, a sorting clerk in the General Post Office in Dublin. In the 1901 Census 41-year-old sorting clerk David Carlisle Kyle and his 24-year-old wife Grace Kyle (born in Dublin city) are listed as living in house 139, South Circular Road (Dolphins Barn)(Merchant's Quay, Dublin) with David's 70-year-old widowed mother Sarah Kyle (born in County Down) and a 17-year-old Roman Catholic servant, Bridget Lynch (born in County Cavan). David must have died before 1911 for in the 1911 Census, 34-year-old widow Grace Elizabeth Kyle is recorded as living in house 1, Gartan Avenue, Glasnevin, Dublin, with her sister Mabel Quin and 5 boarders.
        2. Ernest Samuel Quin was born about 1882 in the city of Dublin. In the 1901 Census he is recorded as an 18-year-old temporary Assistant Postman living with his parents. He had a son Ernest Gordon Quin who was a Senior Fellow of Trinity College, Dublin.
        3. Arthur J. Quin
          (Courtesy of David Tattersfield)
          Arthur J. Quin and his twin brother James were in 1886 in the city of Dublin. In the 1901 Census he is recorded as a 14-year-old schoolboy living with his parents. Arthur married Ethel Smorfit, born in 1887. Arthur served in the military in 1902 at the age of 16. Arthur died on Jan.18, 1942, in York England. Ethel died in 1964. Arthur Quin is the grandfather of David Tattersfield. Arthur and Ethel had two daughters:
          1. Grace Quin was born in York, England, in Jul. 1914. In Jun. 1940, she married George Garwell in Howden, Yorkshire. Grace died in Sep.1977.
          2. ? Quin
        4. Mabel Kathleen Quin was born about 1889 in the city of Dublin. In the 1901 Census she is recorded as a 11-year-old schoolgirl living with her parents. In the 1911 Census, 21-year-old unmarried telephonist Mabel L. Quin is listed as living in house 1, Gartan Avenue, Glasnevin, Dublin, with her sister Grace Elizabeth Kyle and 5 boarders.
      3. Mary Elizabeth Quin was born about 1858 in Dublin. In the 1901 Census 42-year-old unmarried Mary Elizabeth Quin, a dry nurse belonging to the Church of Ireland, is recorded as living with her mother at house 3.2 in Charlemont Mall, Fitzwilliam, Dublin. In the 1911 Census the 53-year-old unmarried Mary Elizabeth Quin is again listed as living in Charlemont Place.
      4. Dorothea Quin was born in 1860 at 39 Cuffe Street, Dublin. In the 1901 Census 38-year-old unmarried Dorothea Quin, a monthly and sick nurse belonging to the Church of Ireland, is recorded as living with her mother at house 3.2 in Charlemont Mall, Fitzwilliam, Dublin. A Dorotha Quin, nurse, was present at the birth of Susan and Bernard's second child, Alfred, in Corlatt, County Fermanagh in 1876; Dorothea may have moved north with Bernard and Susanna at least until after Alfred's birth. In the early 1920s Gertrude Grieve (Bernard and Susan's granddaughter) went to Dublin to attend the same teachers college as her father and visited her mother's two sisters, one of whom she remembers as "Dora" Quin, a nurse. Gertie recalled that Dora and Ethel lived together near Portobello, Dublin, which is consistent with the Charlemont Mall address.
      5. William Robert Quin was born in 1861 at 39 Cuffe Street, Dublin, and presumably died as an infant.
      6. William Quin was born in 1865.
      7. Alicia Emily Quin was born on Jun.23, 1866, in Dublin. In the 1901 Census 27-year-old unmarried Alicia Emily Quin, belonging to the Church of Ireland, is recorded as living with her mother at house 3.2 in Charlemont Mall, Fitzwilliam, Dublin. In the 1911 Census 31-year-old unmarried Alicia Emily Quin is listed as a nurse and servant living in the household of a silversmith John Hunt Weir and his family in Shanganagh near Bray, south of Dublin. In the early 1920s Gertrude Grieve (Bernard and Susan's granddaughter) went to Dublin to attend the same teacher's college as her father and visited her mother's two sisters, one of whom she remembers as "Ethel" Quin who worked in an office. Gertie recalled that Dora and Ethel lived together near Portobello, Dublin, which is consistent with the Charlemont Mall address.
      8. Selina Frances Quin was born in 1867 in Longford.
      9. Edward Quin was born on Oct.17, 1868, in 2 North City, Dublin.
      10. George Charles Quin and Lydia Quin, twins, were born in 1869 and presumably died as infants.
      11. Cornelius Homan Quin was born on Sep.12, 1870, in 2 North City, Dublin.
      12. Charles George Quin (or George Charles Quin) was born on Oct.30, 1872, in Dublin city. He married a woman named Sarah, born about 1872, and they had two children. In 1895 at the time of his son's birth he was a compositor.

        1901 Census for the Sarah Quin family.

        Charles died before the 1901 Census for his wife is listed in the 1901 Census as a 28-year-old widow and French Polisher living at 46/49 Stafford Street, Dublin, with her two children and a 40-year-old married sister MaryAnne Markey, a tailoress. The children of Charles and Sarah Quin:

        1. George Ernest Quin was born on May 13, 1895, at 5 Charlemont Mall, Dublin. He is listed in the 1901 Census as a 5-year-old living at 46/49 Stafford Street, Dublin, with his mother. In the 1911 Census, 15-year-old clerk, George Quin is recorded as living as a boarder in the home of John Whelan in house 155.2, Upper Clanbrassil Street, Merchant's Quay, Dublin. In 1958 a George Ernest Quin died at Templeogue Road, Dublin; he was married to Frances Barrett.
        2. Charlotte Evelyn Quin was born on Apr.7, 1897, at 5 Charlemont Mall, Dublin. She is listed in the 1901 Census as a 4-year-old living at 46/49 Stafford Street, Dublin, with her mother.

    The Eames Family

    1. James Eames was born in Ireland in 1770 and was married in 1802 in Cork to Mary Harman, born in the same year. They had at least four sons:
      1. William Eames was born in Cork, Ireland in 1803.
      2. Robert Eames was born in Cork, Ireland in 1804. He died on Sep.5, 1872, in Londonderry.
      3. James Eames was born in Ireland in 1806 and married Mary Seymour born in Kilpatrick, Cork, in 1806. James and Mary had two sons and three daughters between 1829 and 1842. He is listed as a smith on the marriage certificate of his daughter Dorothy Eames in 1852. James died in Jun. 1900 at the age of 94. The children of James Eames:
        1. Edward Eames was born on Mar.18, 1829, in Cork, Ireland.
        2. Dorothy Eames was born on May 27, 1832, in Cork, Ireland. On Dec.28, 1852, in St.Anne's Parish Church, Dublin, she was married to Edward Quin who was born before 1831. On their marriage certificate they are both listed as of full age and as servants at the same house, namely 8 Upper Merrion Street, Dublin. Edward's father is given as James Quin, also a servant; Dorothea's father is given as James Eames, a smith. The family of Edward and Dorothea Quin is detailed above.
        3. William Robert Eames was born in 1835 in Cork, Ireland. William died in Apr. 1900 in Birkenhead, Cheshire, England at the age of 65.
        4. Mary Eames was born on Mar.7, 1839, in Cork, Ireland. She was a witness in Cork to the marriage of Dorothy's daughter, Susan Dorothea Quin, to Bernard Brennen on Jul.5, 1874. Perhaps Susan was staying in Cork with her aunt, Mary.
        5. Fanny Eames was born on Sep.20, 1842, in Cork, Ireland. She was a witness in Cork to the marriage of Dorothy's daughter, Susan Dorothea Quin, to Bernard Brennen on Jul.5, 1874. Perhaps Susan was staying in Cork with her aunts.
        6. Eliza Eames may have been a sister to Dorothy. On Mar.15, 1859, in St.Nicholas, Cork, Eliza Eames (father: James Eames) was married to William Henry Brown (father: James Brown). William Henry and Eliza Brown had children:
          1. Fanny Brown was born on Aug.19, 1866, in Cork.
        7. Edward Eames may have been a brother to Dorothy. On Aug.16, 1851, in St.Paul's, Cork, Edward Eames (father: James Eames) was married to Ellen Connellon (father: Garrett Connellon).
      4. Ralph Eames was born in Cork, Ireland in 1810.

    Christopher E. Brennen