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

[BillW]

Thanks Julia.  I knew all of this but I hope others are interested.  The latter part was compiled by author Turtle Bunbury who has been very interested in the Halpins and been a considerable supporter.  There is one mistake at the end, which I have advised to Turtle but he has not yet amended.  The man he refers to as George Halpin III was a son of George Halpin junior.  He was not born in Tinryland, Carlow, but his wife Annie Watters was.  He was born in Dublin.  They were my mother's grandparents.

There was also another slight error in Bunbury's account, in the 4th part of Julia's contribution.  The name Osborne should be Oswald and therefore his full name was William Oswald Halpin.  This was in tribute to William's uncle Oswald Halpin who died unmarried in India.

As Ray tells us, during the Troubles the Halpins were viewed as one of the class of landlords over the poor classes of Dublin and much of their property was attacked and the family hounded.  This property was all developed by George Halpin senior.  You can see from the above life that he was an extraordinarily energetic achiever and, in his lifetime, was valued and well paid.  As a builder he employed his income in property development, a fruit of his industry.  In the 1930s, I seem to recall, the estate was finally wound up and my grandmother received a distribution of about £90.

Bill. 

[Bigbird68]

In reply to BillW’s post 121:

Re: Children of Captain William Halpin (Paymaster in the First Dragoons, King’s German Legion,
1807-1816 (went on to British Army half pay 25 June 1816)

1.

Five sons now known, Richard b 1799, William b 1801 Limerick, John b 1805, George b 1807 Tullamore, Robert Crawford b 1816 Antwerp
Two daughters identified to date: Anna b 1808 Wicklow, Sophia b 1811 Wicklow
The only descendent to be married and have children appears to be Robert.

In the Archives of the East India Company, Applications for Cadetships are recorded for:
William Halpin L/MIL/9/143 Folio 371-74; John Halpin L/MIL/9/162 Folio 138-41, George Halpin
L/MIL/9/162 Folio 373-75, and for an Oswald Halpin L/MIL/9/163 Folio 281-83 [British Library
references; these records are on LDS Films 1951860 and 1951890].

Oswald Halpin died in 1834 as a Lieutenant in the 7th Regiment Native Infantry. Was he another son?

There is also data on the family from records of the Madras Military Fund in the National Archives, established in 1808 and providing pensions for officers’ dependents. From these records [NA references]:

HALPIN, William 1801-1865  IOR/L/AG/23/10/1 no.1826  [n.d.]
Contents:
Madras Army, b 4 Aug 1801, d 25 Apr 1865
Retired 31 Jul 1861

HALPIN, John 1805-1848  IOR/L/AG/23/10/1 no.2392  [n.d.]
Contents:
Madras Army, b 3 Jul 1805, d 30 Nov 1848

HALPIN, George 1807-1891  IOR/L/AG/23/10/1 no.2394  [n.d.]
Contents:
Madras Army, b 3 Oct 1807, d 22 Nov 1891
Retired 31 Dec 1861

None of these officers appear to have been married or have dependents.. We now have dates of birth and death for each. Note John died 1848 and that Richard was in the British Army, not the Madras Army of the EIC.

I have previously detailed much of the service of William, George and Robert and will send separate posts with the details I have of Richard and John.

It is clear from the records we have that Richard Halpin's father was Captain William Halpin formerly of the First Dragoons, KGL and the father of William, George, Robert etc. From Richard Halpin’s death records in 1839 / 1840 William Halpin was living in Dublin in Castle Forbes and was also living in Dublin in 1821 (Cadetship applications). It would be good to know what he did in Dublin after leaving the Army - presumably he had some official post of some sort? In 1840 he was about 63 years old so presumably retired.
From English Census returns he was not in England in 1851 so presumably still in Dublin but was in London in Bayswater in 1861 - maybe he came to London with his unmarried daughters in 1852-1860, possibly after his wife Eliza died?

Shaw's Dublin City Directory for 1850 [ http://www.dublin1850.com/dublin1850/ ] list several Halpins but not William. Edward George Carolin was living in Castle Forbes in Sheriff Street in 1850 and the Carolins are noted there in other records. Castleforbes is now the name of a street in North Wall,
Dublin, but did not exist in the 1851 Dublin Street Directory (see Irish Origins).
There is a good description of North Wall, Dublin on
http://www.chaptersofdublin.com/books/NorthDub/cosgrave12.html ; Castle Forbes itself apparently is an old house, built in 1729 in Upper Sheriff Street, still in existence, interestingly near the docks and also near a prison which housed French prisoners of war from the Napoleonic War.

I will also post separately on the family of Robert Crawford Halpin.

Ronald

[Bigbird68]


Re: Children of Captain William Halpin (Paymaster in the First Dragoons, King’s German Legion, 1807-1816)

2.

Richard Halpin:

b 1799 [Note: from History of the King's German Legion, born 1799 which agrees with the Trinity College records]

London Gazette 22 July 1815: to be Cornets:  -- Halpin, Gent, vice Kircher, 8 July 1815, King's German Legion, 1st Regiment of Light Dragoons
In History of the King's German Legion, First Dragoons, 118 Richard Halpin 9th - 22nd July 1815 Cornet
First Dragoons, King's German Legion disbanded in Hanover on 24 February 1816, officers not entering Hanoverian Army went on to half pay. Richard Halpin went on to half pay on 25 April 1816 (1824 Army List).

Richard Halpin enters Trinity College Dublin 1818; BA 1822

1826 Army List: 98th Regiment of Foot: Ensigns include R. Halpin cor. D. 8 July 15 [cor = cornet; d = detached, i.e not serving with the Regiment]

To be Lieutenants without purchase: 26th April 1828 From 98th Regiment of Foot (Prince of Wales's) Ensign Richard Halpin to 49th Foot (Princess Charlotte of Wales's or Hertfordshire) [Note: 49th Foot embarked for foreign service 1821; China Expedition; in 1839 serving in Bengal]
13th September 1833: 49th Foot, Lieutenant Richard Halpin to be Captain by purchase vice Morris.

[Richard, as the eldest son must have had money since he could purchase a commission; the other brothers all went into the Madras Army in which the purchase or sale of commissions was forbidden and promotion was by merit].

Army List 1839: 49th Foot Captains include:  Richard Halpin, Ensign 8 July 1815, Lieutenant 26 April 1828, Captain (by purchase) 13 September 1833; 15 years' service on full pay, 9 1/12 years' service on half pay.

From Inscription on tomb at Dinapore, Bengal, "departed this life March 21st 1839, aged 38 years". Probate granted to father William Halpin of Castle Forbes, North Wall, Dublin. Record is from 1840 East India Register, states he was a bachelor and refers to £300, Pts.

I agree Bill, he was a little old to be a cornet at 26 but there was a great deal of unemployment among both Army and Navy officers (and men) after the Napoleonic War; he was probably had influence to obtain a full pay post and note he was on detached duty from the 98th.

Ronald

[Bigbird68]

Re: Children of Captain William Halpin (Paymaster in the First Dragoons, King’s German Legion, 1807-1816

3.

John Halpin:

From records detailed before, John was born on 3rd July 1805, was a cadet in the EIC, served in the Madras Army and died on 30th November 1848.

From the Anglo-Celt, published in Cavan, February 9, 1849

DEATH OF CAPTAIN JOHN HALPIN. - It is with no ordinary regret we announce the decease, at Berhampore, on the 20th November, of Captain John HALPIN, of the 33rd regiment, and Assistant-Surveyor-General of the Ganjam district.
Chronic dysentery, brought on by exposure in the performance of his professional duties in a jungly country, was the cause of this much-lamented officer's decease; and, truly may we say it, that in Captain John Halpin the Madras army has lost one of its brightest ornaments, as a man of science,
an eminent Orientalist, and a first-rate surveyor. The Ganjam Survey Department, which is now under charge of Mr. HOWARD, Deputy-assistant Surveyor, left Barhampore on the 27th ult., to pursue its duties. - United Service Gazette.

Note: this 33rd regiment does not refer to the British Army (John Halpin is not listed in any British Army List but to the 33rd Regiment of Madras Native Infantry (from 1824).

Ronald

[BillW]

Thanks Ronald.  An excellent bringing-together of this family.  A few brief comments.

Oswald Halpin was a son of George Halpin senior.  That he took the same East India Company cadetship route as the sons of William Halpin reinforces the likelihood of family connection.  Unlike the others, however, he served with the Bombay Native Light Infantry, not Madras.

Castle Forbes in Sheriff Street where William Halpin was in 1839/40 is barely one block away from where George Halpin senior was living at the same time.  Around that time George was a significant property developer in this very area.

I refer you to my reply #24 in this series.  I had managed to obtain one of the LDS films you refer to that contained the cadetship application of William (I have the other film on order).  Note that this cadetship procedure cost £180 in passage money (presumably plus uniforms, etc.)  This was also undertaken for sons John and George.  Adding to the cost of Richard getting his commission, I believe it was their father William who outlaid a considerable investment in his sons' military careers.

Note from the above that William produces evidence that he was baptised in Wicklow Town on 4 August 1801.

It is good that you have been able to combine our knowledge of John being the son of William Halpin with the information  previously canvassed by Ray about the John Halpin who was the noted Orientalist.

Finally, as we have both noted, Richard's military career was with the regular British Army.  I have army officers in another branch of my family and obtaining their records from the National Archives completely opened up my knowledge about them.  The army kept complete and detailed records about their career, marriage, family, etc.  If you possibly had the chance to look up Richard's army records from TNA at Kew, this could throw even more light on this family.

Bill

[BillW]

DEEDS Index:  James Halpin, distiller.  Mortage Vol.469, Pg. 206, #299421  Yr. 1793 Mo. 06 Day 26  (Thanks to researcher Annette Code) 

According to his gravestone inscription, James Halpin, innkeeper of Wicklow Town, was aged 69 when he died in 1847, indicating birth in or before 1778.  But even if he were older when he died, he would have been young both to be a distiller and to undertake a mortgage in 1793.

Can this mortgage still be inspected, for more info?

I reported about a week ago from Wilson’s 1801 Dublin directory:  Halpins and Hannon, distillers, Petticoat Lane.  Is this likely to include the same James Halpin?

Bill

[BillW]

Wicklow County marriages.

JOHN HALPIN, father Alexander Halpin, to Lucy Susan Saunders, father Michael Saunders, 27 Nov 1851, Rathdrum (district) FHL film 101330

RICHARD HALPIN, 25, father James Halpin, to Sarah Gregg, 22, father Edward Henry Gregg, 24 Aug 1852, Rathdrum (district) film 101340

EATON COTTER HALPIN, father James Halpin, to Elizabeth Jones, father Owen Jones, 17 Mar 1852, Killiskey, film 101340

THOMAS HALPIN, father James Halpin, to Mary Ann Dillan, father Thomas Buckly, 18 Apr 1854, Powerscourt, film 101360

(Thanks to researcher Annette Code, sourced from Vital Records Index)

[tompion]

Found this at an antiquarian book site:

A Disclosure Connected With the Late State Prosecutions in Ireland ; With a Narrative of Seven Months Imprisonment Under the Habeas Corpus Suspension Act.

Halpin ( Thomas Matthew ) Secretary of the Irish Confederation.:
Bookseller: Gresham Books (Somerset, United Kingdom)
Book Description: Dublin : Published by the Author. 1849., 1849. 1st edition. 8vo.48pp

Brian

[Bigbird68]

Family of Robert Crawford Halpin

[Reverend Robert C Halpin, Chaplain to the Forces etc.]

Details of Robert C Halpin have been posted by me and others previously; [son of Captain William Halpin, formerly Paymaster to First Dragoons, King’s German Legion; born about 1821 Antwerp, Belgium while father serving there with KGL; died 1889, Belsize Square, Hampstead, London].

Married Eleanor Wallace 18 November 1847, Swords, Dublin (IGI) [Eleanor Wallace, b ca 1825, Co. Down, Ireland, father Robert Wallace; died 1903, Belsize Square, Hampstead, London]

Not known where Robert or Eleanor were buried.

Known children:

     1.   George William Halpin, b 1850 Ireland, Civil Engineer; married Kate Wemyss 6th December1876, St Paul’s Chapel, York Place, Edinburgh; 1881 census living with wife in Duddingstone, Edinburgh (with one servant).

   died 5 July 1922 Buenos Aires, Argentina, “aged 73" (Ray Halpin).

          [Comment: this is the Halpin I was originally searching for, but have no other information on him or on Kate or any descendants].

     2.   Eleanor Sophie Halpin, b 1853 Dublin; married Robert Halket Halkett, 25th July1882, St Peter’s, Belsize Park, Hampstead, London; died 1921 Hampstead “aged 69".

            Robert Halket Halkett was born in 1851 in Bridgend, Glamorgan as Robert Halket Smith (father Thomas George Smith, a bank manager, and Jessie Halkett; Thomas George Smith, Esq. and Miss Jessie Halkett married in Edinburgh in September 1847; Jessie was daughter of Samuel Halkett, Esq., a merchant, and I imagine Robert changed his surname as part of an inheritance). Robert was a bank manager.

   Known children: see next post (Halkett)

   Robert Halkett died in 1896 aged 43, in Eastry, Kent.
   Eleanor Sophie Halkett died in 1921 in Hampstead, “aged 69".


     3.   Eliza Halpin, b 1856 Dublin; unmarried in 1891 when living with mother and brother in Hampstead; no records thereafter (?married in Ireland).

     4.   Arthur F Halpin, b 4 May 1862 Dublin
            1881 and 1882 3rd Officer (Mate) on SS Devonshire on runs to Sydney, Australia; On the 1881 census he is in Kent, described as a sailor; in 1891 living with mother and sister in Hampstead, described as Navigating Officer, HMTS Monarch [in 1891 HMTS Monarch laid the first GPO submarine telephone cable between Dover, England and Sangatte, France, enabling the first international telephone call between Paris and London].

   There is no confirmed further data on Arthur but there was a Lieutenant Arthur Halpin in the 16th Middlesex Volunteers (London Irish) to 1887, to which the Rev. Robert C Halpin was Chaplain, also to 1887; there is a Major Arthur F Halpin on passenger lists to and from America in 1896 and Arthur F Halpins in America (New York and the Philippines) in 1900, 1910 and 1920 Census records but I am not convinced these are the same.

     5.   Henry E B Halpin, b 1864 Dublin
             Married Maude Mary Tremellan in Machynlleth, Wales in 1904 [Maude was born in1865 in Islington, London, daughter of a solicitor, and was at private school in Hampstead in1881 (where Henry was also at school and no doubt they met socially); in 1891 she was living alone, with one servant, in a cottage in Machynlleth, “living on own means”, so was of independent wealth at that time. Henry must have pursued her there!
 Henry Halpin died in 1929 in East Preston Sussex, England and Maude also died there in 1930. There is no evidence for children.

This summarises the data on this family. The only one with known children was Eleanor Sophie Halkett (Halpin) but there is no evidence these offspring were ever married. Given that none of the other known children of Captain William Halpin were married, his Halpin line may have died out (except just possibly for Eliza and George William??).