The Turpin Family of Tullamore, Co. Offaly

By Robert W. Brown

The first traceable member of the family is the Rev. Thomas Turpin, who was b.c. 1580 and obtained his B.A. from St Alban's Hall, Oxford on 22 Oct. 1602: his ancestry is unknown and there is no information on his career until he is mentioned as Rector of Clonleigh, Co. Donegal in Bishop Downham's Visitation of 1622. This Visitation describes him as "an honest man and a good preacher and given to hospitality," and says he was resident in the town of Lifford, not having a house or glebe within the parish. The old church at Lifford had been destroyed in the reign of Edward VI and when the Manor of Clonleigh was granter to Sir Richard Hansard in 1611-12 there was then no parish church. Sir Richard died in October 1619 and in 1622 the Bishop observed that a new church was to be built by his excutors. Thomas Turpin also held the adjoining benefice of Donaghmore and the prebendary of Aghadoey, all in the Diocese of Derry. He died in 1627, leaving issue by his wife Margaret, in addition to 3 daus.,

i. Thomas, of New St.,Dublin, merchant, who was mentioned as proprietor of estates at Donard, Co. Wicklow in 1665, in Co. Dublin in 1668 and also of property at Conmel, Co Tipperary. He d. 1670, having m. 1665 Mary, dau. Of Rev. Richard Adams, and left issue 2 sons and a dau. For his descentants see Burke's Landed Gentry of Ireland (1958).

ii. William, of whom presently.

iii. Joseph, of Dublin, b.1627, d.s.p. 1721, m. 1680 Ruth Smith.

The second son,
      WILIAM TURPIN, of St John's parish, Dublin, m. Jane-(bur. 8 Jan. 1673), and had, issue,

i. William, of whom presently.

ii. Margarert, b. c. 1671, m. 24 March 1691 (St Andrew's) John Buckley

iii. Jane, b. c. 1671.

The only known son,
      WILLIAM TURPIN, of Kevin St., Dublin, hosier, churchwarden of St Bride's 1731-4, will dat. 27 June 1739, proved Prerog. 20 Feb. 1739-40, m. 8 May1711 (St Caterine's) Elizabeth Tomlinson (vines 1739), and had issue,

i. Martha, apt. 18 May 1718 (St Peter's), m. ante 1747 Thomas Katherine.

ii. Thomas, of whom presently.

iii. Elizabeth, bapt. 6 ,May 1722 (St Peter's), m. ante 1739 Bryan.

iv. William, bapt. 31 May 1724 (St Peter's), bur. (St Peter's)6 Jan. 1741-2.

v. Mary,m. ante 1739- Fox.

vi. Susanna, m. 14 April 1738 (St Bride's) Rev . Richard Bayley.

The eldest son,
      THOMAS TURPIN of Dublin, hosier, and later of 15 Aungier St.,china merchant, bapt. 16 May 1720 (St Peter's), will dat. 7 June 1777, proved Prerog. Sept. 1778, m.lstly 13 April 1744 (St Bride's) Mary, dau. Of Peter Bayley, of golden house, Dublin, and 2 Idly 1770 Susanna Brunei, Adman. Dublin 1794. He left issue 3 sons, the 3rd, presumably, by his 2nd wife,

i. Rev. Peter, of whom presently.

ii. William, of Dublin, gent, m. (set. Dat. June 1778) Eleanor Scott, widow of Isaac Middleton of Dubin, grocer.

iii. Thomas, m. 1804 Harriet Tully.

The eldest son,
      The Rev. PETER TURPIN, matric. T.C.D. 2 Feb. 1761, B.A. Vern. 1765, M.A. Aest. 1781, ordained deacon 27 April 1766 at St Luke's, Dublin, by the bishop of Killaloe, celebrated marriages in St Andrew's 1772 and St Anne's 1783. It is apparent he became tutor to Charles William, son of John Bury of Shannon Grove, Co. Limerick, whose matriculation at T.C.D. in Oct. 1781 shows he was educated by Mr Turpin. Charles Bury was largely responsible for the development of Tullamore, King's Co., and was created Baron Tullamore in 1797 and Earl of Charleville in 1800. Peter Turpin seemingly became private chaplain to the Bury family; in 1785 Charles Bury granted him at least four annuities of £100 secured on certain rents, one of which was later converted into an annuity for the life of his wife. 1790 Bury leased him the estate of Broodville at £61 p.a., consisting of the house and 175 acres, which is now part of the Tullamore golf course, the house having been destroyed. The Rev. Peter m. 19 Jan. 1790 Henrietta eldest dau. of the Rev. Philip Homan of Surock, Co Westmeath, by his wife Mary Anne dau. of Rev. George Thomas of Rathfarm, Co Dublin: legal documents at this time describe the Rev. Peter as of Killboy, Co. Tipperary. Killboy was the seat of the Prittie family, and Charles Bury's mother had married secondly Henry Prittie, later Lord Dunally, so it is possible Tuplin had been chaplain to the Prittes and tutor to young Charles Bury. It is clear from Bury letters that Peter Turplin acted as agent to Lord Charleville and was also a personal friend; there is mention of Charleville guests staying at Brookville with the Turpins, and to Peter Turpin's severe gout preventing him completing the accounts. The letters slso contain greetings to be passed on to the Turpins and condolences to Lord Charleville on the loss of his old friend when Peter died in Dec. 1809. His will remained unproved until 1825. He had issue,

i. Rev. Charles Bury, b. 10 Dec. 1791, matric. T.C. D. Oct. 1808, B. A. 1814, M.A. 1822, curate of Lynally 1824 and incumbent of Rahan, d. unm. 1847 and his interest in certain property was left to his brother Thomas's children.

ii. Philip, b. 5 Dec.1792, Lieut. and Quartermaster 16th Light Dragoons, on half -pay from 1814; he lived at Tullamore, and in 1824 was on the management board of the prisons in the county. He d. 3 Aug. 1838, three weeks after being shot in a duel with Lieut. Bayley on 19 July, the affair being described in the Freeman's Journal of 23rd as "a dispute followed by blows arose the previous evening between the two gentlemen and a meeting was proposed for the next morning, but Mr Bailey not having pistols on which he could depend went to Kildare for a case and arriving in Tullamore at 6 o' clock in the evening sent Captain Flood to arrange a meeting for the next morning. Mr Turpin requested it might tade place that evening. The gentlemen with their seconds proceeded about half a mile from the town where after exchanging one shot, Mr Turpin was dangerously wounded in the hip, the ball passing out at the opposite hip. Mr Bailey and both seconds have been arrested."

iii. Walter Tully, b. 20 Nov. 1793, d. 11 Dec. 1793.

iv. Mary Ann, b. 14 Nov. 1794, m. as his 2nd wife Rev. George Leslie Gresson, Vicar of Ardnurcher, Co. Meath, but d.s. p.

v. Henrietta, b. 5 Dec. 1795.

vi. Martha, b. 17, m. 1827 Marlborough Parsons Berry, Barrack Master at Tullamore 1824-39, and had 3 sons and a dua.

vii. Catherine, b. 12 Oct. 1799, d. 28 April 1808.

viii. Thomas Dawson, of whom presently.

ix. Rev. William Peter, b. 17 March 1804, matric. T.C.D. 1820, B.A. 1825,M.A. 1832, vicar of Ballycommon, Co. Kildare 1829-53 and perpetual curate of Clara 1853-62; from 1830 onwards he also kept a school, which Lord Charleville visited in 1830, noting that "He has a school and is highly spoken of."He m. Emily (1818-58),dau.of William Crow, and grand-dau. of Edward Crow of Tullamore, and had issue 4 sons, and 4 daus., of whom the following details are known,

1. Capt. William Homan, b. 1848, commissioned 1st East Surrey Regt. 1859, Capt. 1881, retired 1889, lived at Beach Road, South sea, Hants, and d. 1917, his will being proved in April. This left legacies to his brother in Canada and his sisters in Ireland, and his share of property at Shandarry, Portarlington, Queen's Co. to his Sisters. There were charitable bequests to various Societies "but not to any Society for the so called conversion of the other people.

2. Charles C., in 1917 a farmer near Brandon, Manitoba, Canada. He married and had issue.

3. Isabella, of Carlton Terrace, Bray, Co Wicklow, d. unm. 1921.

4. Emily Martha, lived with her sister, d. unm. 1922.

The 4th son,
      THOMAS DAWSON TURPIN, b. 8 Jan. 1802, matric. T.C.D. 1820, but no degree recorded; m. c. 1832 Charlotte Alicia, dau. of the Rev. Launcelot King Conyngham, Rector of Ratoath, Co. Meath, by his wife Leticia, dau. of Archibald Richardson of Dublin, surgeon. They lived at Killeen House, outside Tullamore and later at Middleton, near Dublin. He and his wife d. c. 1843, having had issue.

i. Rev. Walter Thomas, b. 1834 at Middleton, educ. At Elphin School, matric. T.C.D. 1 July 1852, B.A. 1857, M.A.1863, curate of Lynally 1859, and of Tullamore 1860-2, Chaplain to Tullamore Prison, from whence he contracted a serious fever. In 1862 he became Missionary of the Irish Church Missions in Dublin, and then chaplain of the Albert Chapel (Molyneux Church) 1863-4. He later left the Church of Ireland and became associated with the Plymouth Brethren movement in which he became Prominent; he wrote extensively, edited a number of monthly magazines and lived at Tunbridge Wells. After some twenty years he left the Brethren founded Emmanuel Chapel, Eastbourne (Church of England), of which he remained minister for some Years. He d. 20 Dec. 1914 and was bur. In Eastbourne cemetry. He m. 1stly 15 Feb. 1858 (Kildare, Tullamore) Margaret (d.4 Sept 1863 at Booterstown, Co. Dublin), eldest dau. of George Peirce, M.D., F.R.C.S.I., Superintendent of the King's Co. Infirmary, and had issue,

1. Georgina Ellen (1859-1943), m. Benjamin Glenny and had a dau. who d. in infancy.

2. Elizabeth Charlotte (1862-1944),m. Arthur J. H. Brown, of Bexhill, schoolmaster,

3. Margaret Alicia (1863-1950), m. William Penson.

He m. 2ndly 28 Oct. 1864 Ellen Wade, dau. of Thomas T. Thompson, of Lesson St., Dublin, and had further issue,

4. Walter, d. 1954, m. Sophia Talbot, d. 1960.

5. Ann, d. 194-.

6. Mary, d. 194-.

7. Meliora Conyngham, d. 1967.

ii. Rev. William Homan, b. 1835, educ. at the Phoenix Park Grammar School and the London Orphan School at Clapton, indentured to a wholesale export firm in London until he was 21; during this he attended St John's church, Bedford Row and through the Sunday School teacher, becoming interested in missionary work and through the influence of his uncle, the Rev. William Turpin, he accepted by the S.P.G.as a lay worker for the Diocese of Grahamstown, South Africa. After a period at St Mark's Million he was appointed to St Philip's Mission, Grahamstown, was ordained deacon in 1859 and priest in 1864; he became travelling chaplain to the Bishop and in 1899 was appointed Inspector of Missions and was responsible for organizing the establishment of several missions. He became a canon of St George's Cathedral, Grahamstown, in 1903 and Archdeacon of Cradock in 1911. He was chaplain of the Mental Hospital, the Prince Albert Infirmary and the prison, and d. 30 Nov. 1920. He m. Aug. 1858 Eleanor, dau. of William Gray, one of the 1820 settlers, who framed in the Bathurst district until he was killed leading his men against rebel Hottentots, and had issue,

1. William Conyingham, a chemist, m. Madiline de Toit, and had issue,

(a)William Homan, solicitor;
(b) Andrew F., solictior;
(c) Russel L., a businessman and
(d)Ferdone W., chemist.

2. Walter Launcelot farmer, m. Amy Soloman.

3. George Worthubgton Emma Warren, and had a son, Dr Worthy Turpin.

4. Charles Harrison, chemist, m.Hannah Lynech.

5. Robert Grey, m. Lily Banks.

6. John Launcelot, d. in infancy.

7. Rev. Julian James, B.A. Keble Collage, Oxford, 1898, M.A.1900; M.A.University of Good Hope 1902, curate of Orpington 1897-99, St Peter's Thamet 1899-1900, Ramsgate 1900-02, acting chaplain to the Forces in South Africa 1901-2, Rector Of Dordrecht 1901-03, Vicar of Honeyngham Warn 1903-06, Rector of Mamhead, Exeter 1906. He m. 1901 Emily, dau. of Charles Bryant of Highbury, and had issue,

(a) Clifford Julian 1903-62;
(b) Bernard, d. inf.;
(c) Cedric Conyngham, 1909-75;
(d)Patrick George, Major- General, see Who's Who's, 1977;
(e)Micheal Richards 1917-36, and 3 daus.

8. Clifford, b. 1876, served in the Imperial Light Horse during the Natal campain in the Boer War, taking part in the operations previous to and during the siege of Ladysmith; he also fought at Biggersbrug and assisted in the relief of Mafeking and in the subsequent operations around Pretoria and Barberton. During The battle of Elandalaagte he carried his wounded Colonel to safety and led the subsequent assault on the Boer position, for which he was promoted to the rank of sergeant and mentioned in despatches. He obtained a commission in Marshall's Horse but was killed during an action at Oorlog's Vlei in 1902 when the odds were 250 against the 20 men of Marshall's Horse. He was unm.

9. Mary Floreman, m. the Rev. Arthur Hearthcote, grandson of Sir William Heathcote, 5th Bart., and had 2 daus.

10. Edith Eleanor, m. Reginald Lishman

11. Grace Matilda, m.William Cowling.

iii. Charles Conyngham, a magistrarte of the Falkland Islands.

iv. Rev. Philip Alexander, ordained deacon in 1887 by the Bishop of Zululand, priest 1889 by the Bishop of Maritzbury (Natal), served as missionary at Isandhlwana, Zululand 1888-9 assistant curate in the parishes of Umhlatuzana and Isipingo (on the outskirts of Durban) 1889-91; from 1891 he was priest in charge of the parish of St Luke, Umzimkilwana, one of the remote parishes in the diocese, being about 100 miles from Durban near Harding, and a Zulu-speaking parish. He d. 1912, and the Synod Report that year paid tribute to "one of the oldest mission priests who had a thorough knowledge of the language and habits of those amongst whom he discharged, often in ill health, his lonely and in some respects unusually difficult duties." He m. Annie Clocti, and had at least two children, John William and Emily.

v. Robert Harrison, naval officer, killed by a fall from the mast of his ship.

vi. Hebrietta Elizabeth, who was mentally retarded and lived in the care of a family in Ireland.

vii. Matilda Janet, m. Dr Justain Lever of Tasmania.

               *********************************

The following entries are taken from a paper, formerly in the possession of the Rev. F. Willoughby Berry, and now in the Irish Genealogical Research Society.

1790. Jan 19th
Peter Turpin of Brookville in the King's Co. was married in Rathfarnham to miss Henrietta Homan, eldest daughter of the Rev. Philip Homan of Surock, Co. Westmeath.

1791. Dec. 10th
3 o'clock in the morning. Charles Bury Turpin was born and baptised a few days after. Chas. William Bury Esq, Rev. Philip Homan & Mrs Homan being his sponsors.

1792. Dec. 5th
9 o'clock in the morning. Philip Turpin was born and baptised a few days after. His sponsors were Philip Homan, Thomas Berry Esq, of English Castle and Miss Elizabeth Homan.

1793. Nov. 20th
10 o'clock in the morning. Walter Tully Turpin was born and baptised a few days after. His sponsors were Rev. Walter Thomas of Barn Hill Co. Donegal, Ross Tully Esq of Athone.

1793. Dec. 11th
He died on 11th of this year at half past 9 o'clock at home and was interred at Linally.

1794.Nov.14th
Half Past 4. Mary Ann Turpin was born at Brookville and baptised there. Her sponsors were Rev. Walter Thomas and Ross Tully Eqs, Mrs.Mary Homan, Mrs. Mary Champagne.

1795. Dec. 25th
Henrietta Turpin born at Brookville and baptised there, her sponsors being Rev. William Waller, Barrow Lodge, Atlone, John Berry Esq, North Ann Street, Dublin, Mrs Martha Thomas of Barn Hill and Mrs Berry of English Castle.

1797. Apr. 17th
E-Mon. 7 o'clock. Martha Turpin born at Brookville and baptised there, her sponsors Mrs Martha Thomas of Barn Hill, Mrs Mary Obins her sister of Bath.

1799. Oct 12th
At 3 o'clock. Catherine Turpin was born at Brookville and Baptised Wed. 30th Sponsors Mrs Bowens of Bowens and Mrs Berry.

1802. Jan. 8th
At 7 o'clock, a.m., Thomas was born at Brookville and baptised on Sunday, Jan. 24th by the name Thomas Dawson Turpin. His sponsors were Lady Visc. Charleville, Mr. & Mrs Thomas Berry of Hume Street, Dublin.

1804 Feb. 23rd
At 5 o'clock in the morning. William Peter Turpin was born at Brookville and baptised on Sat. 17th March, John Berry Esq of North Street and Edward Crow, Miss Elizabeth Crow being his sponsors.

1808. Apr. 28th
Catherine Turpin departed this life at a few minutes after 2 o'clock after a long illness which she bore with great patience and resignation.

Source: Irish Ancestor, xvi, no. 1 (1984).

Back to List

Site Hosted by Dotser

Families - Family Crests - Surnames - Guides and Sources