Halpins of Co. Wicklow, Portarlington and Dublin City - Part 2

[BillW]

Kenneth, very interesting theories that deserve to be tested.  Can't say that I know enough one way or another to be constructive but I can think of some cautions.

One, somewhat peripherally, is that the entity known as 'Portarlington School' does not emerge until, I think, Nicholas was probably dead.  There is a reference to its founding as late as the 1830s:  http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:1k2qLxWyMGcJ:sources.nli.ie/Record/PS_UR_095900+%22portarlington+school%22+site:.ie&cd=17&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=au

In Nick's time, we know that Portarlington was a melting pot of schools of all sizes (but likely none of any great size) and that any early knowledge we have of him is as an employed teacher in one or two of them.  It seems that relatively late in his career he may have founded his own school by buying out another school teacher.  Contemporary references refer to him as 'Old Nick'.

According to the Burke's entry for his great great great grandson John Ralph Halpin, besides William Henry, Nick had a daughter Susanna:  "Lineage - Nicholas Halpin, Headmaster of Portarlington Sch., living 1809, m. Anne du Bois, and had issue, with a dau. Susanna, an only son William Henry Halpin ..."  We have cautioned here previously about relying on the accuracy of this entry provided at so many removes from the actual events.  As far as I know, nothing else genealogically is known of Nick.

However, that lack of knowledge leaves plenty of room for your theories, Ken.

But, if it is true that he had an only son William Henry, then the Wicklow Halpins who have been amply demonstrated to have had connections with the Portarlington family possibly stem from a brother of Nicholas.  In which case, if he came from England, his brother did too.  And even if he did come from England, Halpin is an essentially Irish surname meaning that Halpins in England at some point originated in Ireland.

Bill.

[kenneth cooke]

Thanks Bill,
You've given me something to think about, which is what I wanted when I put forward the theory.
Meanwhile, I have just found the following:
Morrice Halpenn b. 17.12.1723, bapt. 29.12.1723 St.James W'minster, parents
Halpenn & Catherine.
Burial of Mrs. Halpen 6.11.1727 Bunhill Fields London, Non-conformist.
There were a number of Halpen/Halpenny entries so they were about in 1500s & 1600s in London.
I know all this is circumstantial, but it gives us a possible scenario to check on.
Ken

[Diane Carruthers]

Hi,

I have some more information to add about Nicholas Halpin. He is listed as a freeholder in Queen's County - January 12, 1768. In the Portarlington directory for 1787 he is listed as: Halpin Nicholas, English Grammer-school. There are no other Halpins listed in Portarlington at that time.

Diane

[kenneth cooke]

Thanks Bill and Diane,
I did not really say that the Halpens of Queens Co. came from England. I meant that perhaps Mark Halpenn, an Irishman, came to England, married twice, then returned to Ireland with his English born children, inc. Nicholas, who later became a teacher and settled in Portarlington. Mark married a third time in Ireland.
I thought that Wm Henry & M. Crosthwaite had at least six children, Rev.Nich. John, Wm. Henry, Fredk.,Victor, Dr. Charles, & Marianne, or have I got it wrong ?
About the name, I'm sure many O'hAlpin and hAlpene became Halpin or Halpenny, but you can't explain the 'f' in Halfpenny that way. We can't prove anything but I believe that Halfpenny was an English name, and came to Ireland later than Mac/O' hAlpin.
Anyway, looks like the Forum has kicked off again.
Regards,
Ken

[Diane Carruthers]

Hi,

Yes William Henry and Marianne had six children.  I have never found any information on Victor other than the entry for Trinity College.

Diane

[BillW]

Now, Diane, 1768 is getting back closer to where we need to be.  If I was near Dublin, I would be in to the archives trying to find where Nicholas held land in 1768 and anything the accompanying documentation might show.  By my back of the envelope calculations, Nick would have been about 33 and, agreeing again with Ken, young William Henry aged about 8.

Any other Halpins in those accounts Diane?  By my most recent delvings, I think we need to be looking for a Robert Halpin somewhere in the 1700s.  It would be wonderful to find him but I fear we would already have noticed him by now.

Bill

Hi,

I have some more information to add about Nicholas Halpin. He is listed as a freeholder in Queen's County - January 12, 1768. In the Portarlington directory for 1787 he is listed as: Halpin Nicholas, English Grammer-school. There are no other Halpins listed in Portarlington at that time.

Diane

[Diane Carruthers]

This may interest you Ken,

In the publication "Votes of the House of Commons, in the first session of the Parliament of Ireland, appointed to meet at Dublin the nineteenth day of May, 1761; ...."

That the committee to whom it was referred, to inquire into the Application of the sum of two thousand Pounds given last session of Parliament to be applied to remove the obstructions in the River Barrow, from the tide-water at St. Mullins to Monasterevan, be revived; and they are to meet next Friday morning.

 A petition of names .....Mark Halpen...more names... inhabitants of the Town and Borough of Maryborough in the Queen's County....

So that places a Mark Halpen in Maryborough in 1761.

Diane

[Diane Carruthers]

In a directory for Wicklow, County of Wicklow in 1787 there are:
Cotter Eaton, malster and builder
Halbert John, currier
Halbert James, currier and leather cutter

There aren't any Halpins listed but they are family names.

 Diane

[kenneth cooke]

Thanks Diane,
So Mark probably died between 1761 and 1786, when Paget was at Ballynamony.
Nicholas was at Portarlington in 1787, and was listed in Q.Co in 1768.
I would repeat Bill's query- where was he in 1768 ? Wouldn't it be great if he turned up in Maryborough. I wonder if we could find out.
Regards
Ken