Marriage of John Dawson Duckett (1) & Sarah Hutchinson Summers – 16th March, 1819

John Dawson Duckett (1) (10th August 1791 – 27^th September 1866), son of William Duckett (2) and Elizabeth Dawson Coates was heir of Duckett’s Grove Georgian country house and brother of William (Dawson) Duckett (1), Russellstown Park.

On 16th March, 1819, John Dawson Duckett (1) and Sarah Hutchinson Summers, daughter of William Hutchinson Esq., from Timoney Park, Co. Tipperary were married in the parish church of St. George’s, Dublin, according to the Rites and Ceremonies of the Church of Ireland by consistorial license by Frederick Bridge, Curate, in the presence of William Hutchinson and William T. Bruton. In the same year, John Dawson Duckett (1) was appointed High Sheriff of County Carlow.

Church register entry of the marriage of John Dawson Duckett (1) of Duckett’s Grove, Esqr., and Sarah Hutchinson Summers Spinster who were married in the parish church of St. George’s, Dublin, according to the Rites and Ceremonies of the Church of Ireland by consistorial license by Frederick Bridge, Curate, in the presence of William Hutchinson and William T. Bruton on 16th March, 1819. This document is from the John Sweeney Collection.

Certificate of registry of marriage of John Dawson Duckett (1) of Duckett’s Grove, Esq., and Sarah Hutchinson Summers who were married in the parish church of St. George’s, Dublin, according to the Rites and Ceremonies of the Church of Ireland by consistorial license by Frederick Bridge, Curate, in the presence of William Hutchinson and William T. Bruton 16th March, 1819. This certified true copy Certificate of Registry of Marriage is from the John Sweeney Collection.

John Dawson Duckett (1) and Sarah Hutchinson Summers had two sons; the eldest, William (Dawson) Duckett (2) – (14^th April 1822 – 22^nd June 1908) was named after his grandfather and he was the last blood heir to Duckett’s Grove. Their second son, John Dawson Duckett (2), named after his father, died on 2^nd June 1841 at Bath, England aged 14 years. They also had three daughters, Eliza Dawson Duckett (Elizabeth) who died on 1^st February 1839 aged 18 years. Their second daughter, Anne Duckett married the wealthy Hardy Eustace of Castlemore in Tullow, Co, Carlow. Their third daughter, Sarah Duckett died in Dublin on March 12^th 1879 aged 53.

Circa 1825, six years after the marriage of John Dawson Duckett (1) and Sarah Hutchinson Summers, Duckett’s Grove Georgian country house was re-designed and extended by British born Architect Thomas A. Cobden at the request of John Dawson Duckett (1) at which stage the Gothic style mantle was added including the profound ornamentation, arches, turrets, crenellations and an octagonal viewing tower to the north. Circa 1845, the Gothic mansion was further extended at the request of John Dawson Duckett (1). This extension was designed by John McDuff Derick Architect from Ballymote, Co. Sligo who added the granite ashlar viewing tower on an octagonal plan to the south, turretts, entrance screens and stable complex to the rear.

Duckett’s Grove front west and south facade showing the re-designed and extended Duckett’s Grove Country House to Gothic Mansion by British born Architect Thomas A. Cobden at the request of John Dawson Duckett (1) circa 1825 at which stage the Gothic style mantle was added including the profound ornamentation, arches, turrets, crenellations and an octagonal viewing tower to the north was added. In 1845, the Gothic mansion was further extended. This extension was designed by J. McDuff Derick Architect from Ballymote, Co. Sligo who added the granite ashlar viewing tower on an octagonal plan to the south, turretts, entrance screens and stable complex to the rear. Photograph from The John Sweeney Collection.

Article by J. Doyle – Founder, Owner and Administrator of DuckettsGrove.ie