Charles SMYTH, Artist and Picture Dealer

[johnupatree]

Time for my regular request regarding my gggfather Charles SMYTH, Artist and Picture Dealer, believed to be from Dublin.  His son Frederick was born in 1859 in Dublin(?) and raised in the Wicklow mountains according to family legend. He emigrated to Liverpool in 1881 and from then on is well documented, it is his early life in Ireland that I am missing information on.
I do not know the name of Charles's wife, where they married or where they lived and died.
There is a family connection to John DILLON MP, Frederick was his nephew we believe, although this has yet to verified.
I did make contact with a Brian Dillon-Smyth with regards to the connection, but I have not heard from him in some time now, so if you are out there Brian, please get in touch.
There is no family link to America as far as I am aware, I am adding this to hopefully avoid my in box being clogged up with requests for information regarding links to the US!!
Thanks for taking the time to read this.
John Smyth

[audrey]

I wonder could this be the marriage from BVRI

Charles Smyth to
Arabella Jackson 6/11/1851 at St.Thomas Dublin

H/F John Smyth
W/F Robert Jackson

audrey

[johnupatree]

Hi Audrey,
Thanks for the response, the simple answer is yes it could be, your guess is as good as mine though! Unfortunately I have no information on her name/maiden name or where they married.
I will certainly keep this on record and try and follow it up, if they had a son called Frederick then I am in business.
Very best wishes
John

[kated]

Hi,

Have you checked the Dublin Directories for him? (Have I asked you this before?) Or the small database of some Dublin parish records? This is in the Dublin City Archives and probably elsewhere.

Kate

[johnupatree]

Hi Kate,
I have not found any reference to a Charles SMYTH as either an Artist or Picture Dealer, a few of the same name, but not occupation.
As I don't know where he lived or his wifes name its difficult to know if any of them are him!
John

[Christopher]

Good Morning John,

Have you given consideration to Charles F. Smyth, 7 St Stephen's Green North? http://www.loughman.dna.ie/dublin1850/xdubdir79.html#SmythThis guy has an initial F. and your Charles christened his son Frederick, also the dates look as though they might match. 

I note you refer to a John Dillon MP. Which John Dillon? John Dillon (1851-1927) Nationalist. Elected MP for Tipperary in 1880 or John Blake Dillon (1816-1866) Nationalist. Elected MP for Tipperary 1865. Source 3rd Edition A Dictionary of Irish Biography Edited by Henry Boylan. Pub Gill & MacMillan

Have you approached Dr Linde Lunney, Editorial Secretary, A Dictionary of Irish Biography? The publication is updated on a regular basis. Dr Lunney posts requests for information on most of the genealogical sites and I find she is extremely helpful and I have no doubt she would be interested in your gggrandfather considering the connection with John Dillon MP.

Best Regards, Christopher

[johnupatree]

Hi Christopher,
Thanks for the response, yes I have considered the entry for Charles F Smyth, for exactly the same reasons and also bcause at one time there was a Smyths Auctioneers in the same area.
I will contact Dr Linde Lunney and see where that takes me, thank you, very useful.
My ggfather Frederick was born in 1859, so I always presume he is the nephew of  John Blake Dillon, I may be wrong!
Very best wishes
John

[Christopher]

Thank you for your message John. There is a limit to the research that I can do sitting at home posting messages on the boards. I looked at the Dublin board yesterday as a friend lives near Dublin and suggested we meet sometime for a coffee. I am due a coffee with my cousin who also lives there.

I tend to concentrate on the boards for the old Province of Ulster but feel if I begin to make regular visits to Dublin my genealogical knowledge will improve by leaps and bounds as there is so much information available at various places in that City.

Do you know if Charles Smyth's family have any connections with the north of Ireland? I met a John Smyth (may have been Smith) at a function in the Ballyedmond Castle Hotel, near Rostrevor, Co. Down many years ago. The building is now the private home of a north of Ireland entrepreneur.

Regards, Christopher

[johnupatree]

Hi,
I know very little about Charles, only what is on Frederick's wedding certificate!
I know Frederick was raised in the Wicklow mountains somewhere, but other than that his life in Ireland is a mystery, there has never been any mention of the north, only the south.
I was contacted some time ago by Brian Dillon-Smyth and he offered to send me the details of the family link, but since that time I have not heard from him, my emails and letters have been unanswered. I feel that he holds a key to unlocking the connection beteen the families. I know he is still alive, as he posts to a website!
Thanks again
John