At the back of St Mary’s Church is an impressive
granite memorial with an obelisk on top. It commemorates the Patterson family of
Dungarvan. The monument is signed by the
makers: ‘Farrell & Son Glasnevin’. They
were well-known monumental sculptors in 19th century Dublin. The firm was run by John Farrell and his son
Peter and they were described as ‘Tombstone manufacturers, Marble Merchants and
Sculptors’. John was the brother of the
sculptor Terrence Farrell (1798-1876).
The memorial has white marble panels which contain the
following inscriptions:
Erected to the memory of Edward Patterson A.B., London
University, Eldest son of Edward Patterson, who died on the 27th day of
September 1859 aged 25 years.
In memory of Edward Patterson who died the 15th of May
1856 in the 60th year of his life, his daughter Elizabeth Catherine who died
the 11th November 1852 aged 14 years. His son Michael who died July
1831 aged 2 years. J……. Mary Agnes Patterson died 11 January 1865.
It is striking to note the young ages at which all the
family died.
Who were the Pattersons? Edward the father, was a pawnbroker who had a
house in Blackpool according to Slater’s Directory 1846. In the official Returns relating to
pawnbrokers’ year ending 1844 Edward is noted as having registered as a
pawnbroker on 4 March 1831. He had sold
35,139 ‘Tickets’ and had lent sums amounting to £6,139.6.4
How many children were in the Patterson family? The memorial lists three and in the Letters of
Administration (5 April 1860) for the estate of Edward junior his next of kin
is noted as Rev. Michael Joseph Patterson of Dungarvan. It noted that Edward died (a Bachelor) in
Clonmel and left an estate valued at under £4,000.
