The Brazils of Dublin

Due to the lack of family tradition and the death of all the older members of the family the origins of the Brazil families in Dublin are shrouded in mystery. Fortunately some Brazils were involved in trade or professions and entries relating to them can be found in various trade and street directories.

Rev. Fr. Raymond Maher CSSp (private communication) has extracted Brazil references from directories taken at random every few years. These, supplemented with original research in other directories, are quoted below.

The first reference found by Fr. Maher is in the franchise rolls for 1470 where a Thomas Brasyell is recorded with the occupation of Grammar Master. Fr.Maher suggests that he was in fact employed by St. Patrick's Grammar School which was (and is) attached to St. Patrick's Cathedral.

In the baptismal records of St. John the Evangelist, Dublin, (the area around the now closed Catholic church of St.Michael and John) are recorded the baptisms of Jeane (1651), William (1652), Johne (1655) and Marie (1658) children of Johne Braseil.

In Dublin Street Names Dated and Explained, (published in 1882 and reprinted in 1987 by Carrig Books Ltd.) Rev.C.T.M'Cready says "Brazill-ct (Wine-tavern St.) 17-. From Richard Brazill, plumber, living in 1763 at 12 Winetavern-str. (Hughes's S.John, 135). This is now the entrance to the Corporation yard." It should be noted that M'Cready lists Clanbrassil Bridge (Harolds Cross Bridge on the Grand Canal) as being named in honour of James Hamilton, 2nd Earl of Clanbrassil. Though he doesn't quote Clanbrassil St. this is probably also the derivation of that name. Henry Shaw's "Dublin Pictorial Guide & Directory of 1850" does not list Brazill Court nor is the Corporation yard at Winetavern St. mentioned.

TheInternational Genealogical Index lists three Richard Brazill marriages during the relevant period. St. Andrew's and St. Mark's parishes are in the east of the city but Wine Tavern St. is in St. Audeon's, so there is a probabilty that if the marriages refer to more than one Richard Brazil then the St.Audeon's marriage refers to the Brazil Court Richard.

Richard Brazill Marriage: 24 Sep 1747 St. Andrew, Dublin
Richard Brazill Marriage: 23 Apr 1757 Dublin, St Mark's, Dublin
Richard Brazill Marriage: 14 Feb 1774 Dublin, St Audeon's

Fr.Maher quotes from a trade directory for 1778 when William Brazell, a dry cooper, is listed at 37 Ushers Quay. This is followed in 1790 by listings for Patrick Brazil, silk dyer, at 16 Abbey St. and Michael Brazil, flour and corn factor, at 45 Townsend St.

In 1814 a D.Brazill is recorded at the Irish Silk Warehouse, 11 Parliament St. and P.Brazill, silk dyer, at 13 Mary St. The latter is probably the Patrick listed for 1790.

The Gentleman's and Citizen's Almanack for 1817 records a Patrick Brazill, silk and cotton dyer at 14 South King St., Dublin. In the 1819 issue he is recorded at a second address, 7 Henry St. and during the period 1821-1825 the listing is at 15 Mary St.

There is no further listing of a Brazil until 1833 when the "Post Office Annual Directory" lists a John Brazil, bottle seller, at 26 Liffey St. and a Thomas Brazil, victualler, at 20 Royal Row, Ormond Market. The "Dublin Almanac and General Register" lists four Brazils over the period 1834-6. In addition to John and Thomas we find James, also a victualler, at Royal Row and a Samuel at Rumley Ave., Kingstown. An 1835 directory cited by Fr.Maher only lists John and William as butchers in Royal Row.

In the 1837 issue of "Dublin Almanac and General Register" Samuel has been succeeded at Rumley Ave. by Denis, possibly his son and John has moved next door to 27 Liffey St. By the 1839 issue James has disappeared from Royal Row and in the 1841 issue John is no longer in Liffey St. With the exception of Denis there are no Brazils listed in 1842.

In 1845 Patrick Brazill, silk and woollen dyer, is listed at 48 Watling St. He remained at number 48 until 1846 when he is listed at number 45. In 1853 Patrick is succeeded as rated occupier by Luke. There is no further reference to the business after 1858 when the address is listed as tenements.

In 1850 we find a William Brazil listed at 8 Royal Row.

The 1852 issue still lists Denis Brazell at Rumley Ave. and William in the Ormond Market. New entries are Thomas, a civil engineer, at 12 Holles St. and the secretary of the Catholic Book Society, 33 Essex Quay is John Brazill.

Fr.Maher quotes a listing for a Stephen Dickson Brazill, solicitor, at 1 Clare St. (and also in Limerick) in 1846. This is probably the same Stephen Dickson Brazill, solicitor, son of Thomas Brazill, also a solicitor, who married the widowed Charlotte Lipton, daughter of Francis Walker gentleman on 4th November 1845 in St.Luke's Parish Church in Cork. The "Kings Inns Admission Papers 1607-1867" lists a "Stephen Dickson Brazill, first son of Thomas Brazill, attorney, and Mary Dickson, aged over 16 years, educated Limerick" as being admitted in the Hilary Term, 1833. Thomas is probably the Thomas Brazill listed as an Exchequer attorney in 1803. Stephen's address at the time of the marriage is listed as the Victoria Hotel, Cork.

From the surviving scraps of the 1851 census Fr.Maher quotes Chris Brazell at 9 Bull Lane, Mary Anne Brazil at 74 Pill Lane (now Chancery St.), William Brazil at 7 Flag Lane and Patrick at Watling St.

In 1861 Thomas is still at Hollis St. but the Ormond Market butcher is now George. By 1871 a George and William are again butchers in the market while in 1881 Westland Row has a butchers owned by John and Mrs.Brazil. By that year Thomas, the civil engineer, had moved to Charlemont Mall.

These references only list persons in trade or what would now be considered middle classes. Even today "Thom's Directory" lists large areas under the general heading "small dwellings" with no reference to individual inhabitants. A large number lived in what were described as 'tenaments'. In his introduction to the 1988 reproduction of Henry Shaw's "Dublin Pictorial Guide & Directory of 1850" Kevin B.Knowlan says "The laconic references to 'tenaments' in the lanes and courts of the poorer districts point to the overcrowding and privation which constituted a serious social problem in the city for so long".

Goldenbridge Cemetery, Inchicore has monuments to two Brazil families. Julia Brasil erected a monument to the memory of her husband John (died 5 August 1841, aged 36), his sister Mary (died 22 September 1837, aged 28) and his niece Julia Meehan (died aged 5). Nothing further is known of this family. Denis Brazil from Kingstown erected a memorial to his relatives. (See Simon Brazil, Page

Mr. Kevin O'Sullivan (private communication) has kindly extracted some references from the unindexed Rotunda Hospital records.

12 Oct. 1825: John and Harriet Brazil, clerk of St.Marys RC Parish, a boy.

26 Dec. 1825: William and Sally Brazell, labourer of St. Pauls RC Parish, a girl.

30 Jan. 1828: Terence and Sally Brazell, labourer St.Marks RC Parish, a boy.

28 Jun. 1829: John and Harriet Brazile, dealer of St.Marys RC Parish, a boy.

1832: William and Catherine Brazill (aged 19), butcher, St.Michans Parish, a boy.

1853: Patrick and Martha Brazil aged 30, brass founder of St.Marys RC Parish, a girl.

The Index to Parish Records for St.Pauls Church, Arran Quay, Dublin lists a number of Brazils.

Birth Registers:

1762-1770: Fanny

1783-1804: Thomas

1805-1829: James, Mary, Thomas

1829-1856: Lucy, Marcella, Michael

Marriage Registers:

1805-1836: William

A number of Brazil families are found living in Dublin at the advent of civil registration in 1864. These all appear to be separate and distinct and, with one exception, it has proved impossible to trace them to a common ancestor.

1. The family of John Brazil, a labourer from the north city. This is the only family where a multiple 1864 family has been traced to a common root. These branches are those of Christopher, Edward, James and Michael. Members of the first and last mentioned branches are still in existence in the city but were unaware of their common ancestor. The final identification was only made through the accidental finding of a census reference.

2. The family of John Brazil and Bridget Byrne. John a butcher from Thomas Street., died in 1871 and his widow remarried in 1876. It is possible that the translation of this family to the Kingstown (now Dun Laoghaire) district was consequent on the death of John. Later there appears to have been a removal to the city again as Margaret and Teresa were married from Merrion Sq. It is possible that the John Brazil, butcher, in Westland Row in 1881 is from this family.

3. Family of Patrick Brazil. This is believed to be the Patrick Brazil, silk dyer, who appeared in the 1790 trade directory. The godfather of Esther (granddaughter of Patrick) is listed as Patrick Brassil. It is possible that this is her uncle, suggesting that Luke (son of Patrick) had a brother.

The grave records from Glasnevin show that Luke, (c1829-1899) was buried in a grave the property of Julia Callaghan (1805-1845) who is understood to have been an aunt. Initially it was thought that another occupant of the grave, James Hyland (1777-1862) was her father. It was also thought Patrick Callaghan (1802-1872) (also in the grave) was her husband. However, the death certificate of Anne Callaghan (1829-1866) identifies her as "wife of Patrick Callaghan, publican". It is of course possible that Anne is either a second wife or Julia Callaghan is a sister of Patrick. Elizabeth Mason (1829-1865) also buried there is unidentified.

4. Family of Simon Brazil. This is the family to whom Denis erected the monument in Goldenbridge. The reference to Samuel Brazil at Rumley Row, Kingstown would appear to refer to this family with Samuel being a misprint for Simon.

5. Family of Thomas Brazil and Anne Murphy. Thomas was a gardener at Our Ladys Hospice, Harolds Cross.

6. Family of William Brazil. William was a car-man from Brides Lane, not far from where the Patrick Brazil family lived though there is no indication of a relationship.

In the years after 1864 the number of families increased due to immigration from the country and these families are listed under their counties of origin when the earliest ancestor can be correctly located.

The picture becomes more complicated in the 20th century when many marriages and births occur in Dublin which are impossible to tie into an established family. These are generally due to a country family coming to the city for the relevant event but not settling in the city. In many cases the family has not been identified.

The following are families who cannot be traced to before 1864. In some cases these may be members of the pre-1864 group. The family of John Brassil and Kathleen Byrne is included here though it has not been possible to go back further than John. From the spelling it is possible that this family has country origins.

 7. Family of John Brassil and Kathleen Byrne

 8. Family of James Brazil

 9. Family of John Brazil

10.Family of John Brazil different family

11.Family of John Brazil and Margaret Entwistle

12.Family of John Brazil and Bridget Mullane

13.Family of Joseph Brazil

14.Family of Paul Brazil and Margaret Coyle

Only partial details are available mainly gleaned from birth or marriage records.

15. Family of James Brasil

16. Family of Terence Brasil early 1800s

17. Family of Michael Brassill

18. Family of Denis Brazil early 1800s

19. Family of Denis Brazil early 1800s possibly the same family

20. Family of James Brazil and Margaret Groves

21. Family of John Brazil

22. Family of Martin Brazil

23. Family of Myles Brazil

24. Family of Patrick Brazil

25. Family of Patrick Brazil

26. Family of Richard Brazil

27. Family of Thomas Brazil early 1800s

28. Family of Patrick Brazill and Anne Griffiths

29. Family of Peter Brazzil about 1796 and Mary about 1808

Some further births and marriages have been extracted from the records from 1950 to date but so far these cannot be tied into known families. Some are possibly from country families.

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