Barbara Verschoyle facts for kids

Barbara Fagan Verschoyle (died January 25, 1837) was an important woman in Dublin, Ireland. She worked as a land agent, helping to manage large estates, and was also a kind person who gave a lot of money and time to help others (a philanthropist).

Barbara Verschoyle's Early Life

Barbara Fagan was born in Dublin, Ireland, in the early 1750s. She was one of eight daughters born to Bryan and Elizabeth Fagan. Her father was a land agent, which meant he managed large areas of land for wealthy families. He worked for the FitzWilliam family in Dublin. He also owned a brewery, a place where beer is made, on Usher's Island.

When her father passed away in 1761, Barbara's mother took over both businesses. She ran them until she died in October 1789. During this time, the FitzWilliam estate, especially around Merrion Street, was growing and developing a lot. In the 1750s, Dublin had many breweries, about 35 of them!

Barbara's Family Life

After her mother's death, Barbara Fagan took charge of the family businesses. By 1796, she was definitely running them. Barbara, who was Catholic, married a Protestant merchant named Richard Verschoyle. He was from the Verschoyle family.

Richard Verschoyle was born in Donore, County Meath, in 1751. His family had Huguenot roots, meaning they were French Protestants who came to Ireland. Richard died in 1827 in Brighton, England. Barbara and Richard did not have any children. They lived in Mount Merrion House on the FitzWilliam estate in Dublin. Barbara continued to work for the estate until her husband's death in 1827.

Barbara's Career as a Land Agent

Barbara Verschoyle worked very closely with Richard FitzWilliam, 7th Viscount FitzWilliam. She managed a very large and valuable estate for him. In 1816, this estate was worth about £14,000 each year and covered over 1,275 acres.

A land agent's job was busy and important. It included:

• Negotiating leases (agreements for people to rent land or property).
• Choosing new tenants (people who would rent from the estate).
• Collecting rent from current tenants.
• Making sure freeholders (people who owned their land outright) had their voting rights.

This role was quite political, especially because Ireland was going through many changes in the late 1700s. Laws like the 1793 relief act and difficult economic times made things tricky. The 1798 rebellion made it very hard to collect rents. Barbara had ideas to change leases to make rent collection easier, but the rebellion and the Acts of Union 1800 (which joined Ireland and Great Britain) made the situation even more difficult.

After the Irish Parliament closed in Dublin in 1801, the city faced economic challenges. However, the FitzWilliam estate continued to grow in value. Barbara was able to convince Viscount FitzWilliam to donate land for a church in Booterstown. The beautiful Italianate church was built in 1812, and Viscount FitzWilliam paid for it.

Barbara also helped turn nearby land into a girls' school. She even gave her own money each year to help run it. In 1826, she oversaw the building of the parish school. When Viscount FitzWilliam died in 1816, the estate went to his heir, George Herbert, 11th Earl of Pembroke. Barbara continued her work as the agent until her husband passed away in 1827. After that, she retired.

Barbara's Legacy and Charity Work

Once Barbara Verschoyle retired, she focused on her charity work. She used money that Viscount FitzWilliam had left her to build a new convent school. She also gave more of her own money to pay for the school's chaplain (a priest who serves the school). Barbara was a patron (a supporter) of the school. She invited the Religious Sisters of Charity to run it. These sisters, who were based in Stanhope Street in Dublin, took over the school in Sandymount in 1831.

Barbara Verschoyle died in Dublin on January 25, 1837. There is a small memorial inside the Church of the Assumption in Booterstown. It remembers her important role in getting the church built.

Images for kids

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  Church of the Assumption Booterstown