Come Here To Me!

Jonathan Swift: unlikely to appear in Fade Street.

Finished the exams (YES!) for a few hours now, and I decided to mark it by picking up a book from the library that I wasn’t actually obliged to read. Post exams, reading is actually a pleasure again. I went with a work from the Civic Trust, as they’re among my favourite Dubliners. I’ve always loved the irony in their offices being located so close to the Wood Quay monstrosity.

They’ve published some excellent studies of individual Dublin streets, looking at the development of the street and the factors that make them unique, with a particular focus on architecture. I ran with the Thomas Street edition,my great-grandmother was from Cornmarket and I’ve long been fascinated by the Liberties.

The information provided on Number 34 Thomas Street was particularly interesting:

The site of Frawleys is also significant, as it was formerly owned by the Quaker, Joseph Fade. Fade established himself in business on the site around 1715, and rapidly became one of the city’s most important bankers, having two streets named after him: Joseph Lane, which has subsequently been demolished and Fade Street, both off South Great George’s Street.

The book noted that Fade had been mentioned in some of the poetry of Jonathan Swift, and a look around revealed one example quite quickly. Within Will Wood’s Petition To The People Of Ireland (1725) there is mention to Fade and another famous Dublin banker of the day.

You will be my thankers,
I’ll make you my bankers,
As good as Ben Burton or Fade
For nothing shall pass
But my pretty brass,
And then you’ll be all of a trade.

Great information on the wealth of Fade comes from the Quaker Records over here, which provide incredible insight regarding Joseph Fade’s will. There is much to be gained from reading these Abstracts of Wills.

Fade, Joseph, Dublin, merchant.
To my sister Elizabeth Willcocks, widow, £100 and silver tankard. To her daughter Elizabeth Huband £50, to her son Thomas Willcocks £50, to her granddaughter Elizabeth Griffits £50. To my niece Elizabeth Dawson with reversion to her son in the event of her death to her husband Benjamin Dawson, my estate and lands in the Co. Wicklow known as the two Brittass, with the sub denomination thereof lately purchased by mew from the Earl of Ross, and residue of plate. To my grandniece Sarah Fade Summers otherwise Dawson interest etc. in lease renewable for ever made to me by Edward late Earl of Meath, of ground and concerns in Dolphins Barn Lane and Marrowbone Lane. To my grand-nephew Benjamin Dawson £500. To my niece Mary Goff £500 and to her son Joseph Goff £500 and to her daughter Hannah Goff and to her son Fade Goff £400 each and to her daughters Mary Goff and Elizabeth Goff £300 each and to her youngest son Jacob Goff £300. Also to Mary Goff my shell punch bowl and ladle ribbed with silver. To my niece Hannah Harris and her children £200.
To my kinsman Shedrack Richardson house he now lives in in Little Butter Lane, Dublin, also £10 and £10 to each of his children. To my kinsman Abraham Fuller, merchant in Cork, £200 and to his father Benjamin Fuller, (my kinsman) of Dublin £10 per annum and to his daughters Elizabeth and Martha Atkinson and his son Benjamin Fuller, daughter Ann Fuller and son Joseph Fuller £50 each. To my kinsman Isaac Ashton of Cavan Street, Dublin, remission of money owing.

To St. Stephens Hospital £200 to endow bed. To Blewcoat Hospital £100. To Anthony Richardson now in above, son of George Richardson, £20 to apprentice him and £30 later. To Abraham Fuller and John Bell, clerks at the Glib Bank £100 each. To my kinsman Joseph Falkiner remission of debt and to his wife Deborah Falkiner £20 and £10 to each of her children. To Richard Richardson of Castle Market, Dublin, butcher, £20. To every child of George Richardson late of Dublin £10. Ann Fuller, daughter of Joseph Fuller of Dublin, and his son Joseph Fuller. To George Moore, public notary and to his mother and sister £50. To Joseph Fade of Dublin, linen draper, £50. To George Barnes, Doon, Queen’s Co., remission of part debt. Ann Barnes “who now lives with me” £15 per annum and furnishings, in recognition of faithful service and of disablement by accident. To my servant Grace Sykes and to her daughter Jane £5 each. To my servants Christopher Hand Gardiner1 and Catherine Dowan £5 each. To tenant Michael Murray remission of rent on holding in Parish of Killester. To Dorothy Mason daughter of John Mason formerly of Timolin £10 and to her sisters Mary Mason £20, Miriam Mason £10. To my friend Gerrard Hassed of Dublin £5 a year. Eleazor Sheldon and Joseph Tomy both of Dublin £5 each. To Mary Peasly daughter of Peter Peasly £10. Residue to John Dawson aforesaid including interest in the Bank at the Glib. Sole executor John Dawson, grandnephew.

So there you go. A paragraph in a book leads you a little bit further, and you truly do learn something every day. One more street explained. Anybody know more on Fade the banker? Take a close look at Fade’s will, and be transported to a time when Dublin bankers were giving money and not taking it!

Thomas Street by Emmeline Henderson is available from the Dublin Civic Trust located at Number 4 Castle Street. Their restored shopfront is one of the visual pleasures of the city.