Coddington Family Members 1607-1993

Children of Dixie Coddington and Anne Coddington of Holm Patrick

• John Coddington d. September 1740
• Nicholas Coddington d. November 1737
• Henry Coddington d. 25 April 1751
• Reverend William Coddington d. September 1767
• Robert Coddington
• Anne Coddington
• Elizabeth Coddington
• Dixie Coddington b. 1693, d. September 1776
• Jane Coddington b. 1700

Henry,son of Dixie Coddington and Anne Coddington, Holm Patrick, lived at Ninch, Julianstown; Tankardstown, Slane and Leytown, Drogheda. Barrister at law. Died unmarried 25 April 1751.

Rev. William Coddington, son of Dixie Coddington and Anne Coddington, Holm Patrick. He became Vicar of Carrickmacross, Co. Monaghan. In 1750 William Coddington, was collated to the Parish of Carrickmacross on the 6th June. He was educated by a Mr. Scott, before he entered T.C.D. on June 24th 1715, aged 17. A B.A. 1719, and M.A. 1722, followed and he was ordained Deacon on the 9th June 1723, and was Priested for the Curacy of Clogher in 1726. He went on to be Vicar of Drumsnatt and Rector of Kilmore 1729-41, and Rector and Vicar of Dromore from1741-50 before coming to Magheross. He married Mary Bellingham, daughter of Henry Bellingham of Castlebellingham. Their son, William, was Mayor of Drogheda in 1775. His son, William senior’s grandson, William, was Rector of Kilmoon.

William died in September 1767 and in his Will made on the 25th August 1767 he asked to be buried beside his late wife Mary. He left the residue of his estate to his son William charging him to pay 10 shillings “to each registered widow of Magheross, Sarah Evans, otherwise Reilly, only excepted.”

Jane Coddington, daughter of Dixie Coddington and Anne Coddington, Holm Patrick, born about 1700, married Ralph Blundell, Dublin, on 15 July 1723 and had children. She died 2^nd August 1762.

Elizabeth Coddington, daughter of Dixie Coddington and Anne Coddington, Holm Patrick, married John Lyster of Rocksavage, co. Roscommon.

Dixie Coddington  was born 1693, died  in Queen Street, Dublin in September 1776. He resided at Athlumney Castle. He was Principal Serjeant of Arms from 1768 to 1776. He married his second cousin, Hannah, daughter of Robert Waller of Allenstown and had two sons and eight daughters. His eldest son, Dixie lived at Boyne Hill and Marlborough Street, Dublin and was Serjeant of Arms. In turn Dixie’s son, also Dixie became Deputy Serjeant of Arms. The second son, Robert, became a lieutenant in the Royal Marines.

Children of Nicholas Coddington and Mary Tenison of Drogheda

• Dixie Coddington d. 1794
• Robert Coddington
• Henry Coddington b. 1728, d. 21 September 1816
• Elizabeth
• Jane
• Frydaysweed
• Mary
• Dorothy
• Frances
• Anne

Robert Coddington was the son of Nicholas Coddington and Mary Tenison. He died in infancy.

Elizabeth baptized 26 November 1725. Married Robert Harte of Harte Grove, Co. Louth.

Jane baptized 19 June 1828. Married Rev. Richard Norris DD, Head Master of the Erasmus School, Drogheda.

Frydaysweed baptized 25 November 1829. Married Thomas L’Estrange of Moystown, King’s County.   

Mary baptized 15 January 1732. Married Gore Ellis of Ballyhaddy, co. Cavan.

Dorothy baptized 17 April 1733. Married Hercules Ellis of Clover Hill, Co. Donegal

Frances married Ven. James Montgomery, archdeacon of Raphoe.

Anne Coddington, died without children.  

Unknown baptized  1 July 1734

Children of Henry Coddington and Elizabeth Blacker

• Henry Coddington d. 1821
• Dixie Coddington
• Thomas Coddington
• Reverend Latham Coddington
• Martha Coddington
• Mary Coddington
• Elizabeth Coddington d. December 1856
• Mary Jane Coddington
• Anna Coddington
• Nicholas Coddington b. 1765, d. 31 August 1837

Henry Coddington, second son of Henry Coddington and Elizabeth Blacker, married Eleanor, daughter of Henry Hamilton, of Browne Hall, Co. Donegal on 14 February 1809. She was born 1 June 1774 and died 8 September 1859. They had children: Henry Hamilton, Isabella, Elizabeth and Eleanor Dorothea. Henry died 1821.

Thomas Coddington died, unmarried. He lived at Mullacrone, Donore, Co. Meath.

Very Rev. Latham Coddington

Latham was son of Henry and Elizabeth Coddington of Oldbridge. Latham was born in Drogheda on the 2nd February, 1771, and lived during his boyhood with his grandmother, from whose house he went to school daily to Dr. Norris, his aunt’s husband. On the 20th December 1788, he matriculated, as a Pensioner, at the University of Dublin, under Mr. Graves as his tutor. The date of his B.A. is not recorded. But he proceeded M.A., at the Spring Commencement, 1810. He was ordained to the Curacy of Ardee, in the Diocese of Armagh. His first preferment was to the sinecure Deanery of Kilfenora, to which he was appointed 16th May, 1796. He exchanged this, however, 1st of June, 1802, for the parish of Raheny, near Dublin, the emoluments of which were estimated at £100 a year. There was no parsonage-house. All through his incumbency here he lived at Oldbridge, whence he went to Raheny for the Sunday services. In 1809 he exchanged Raheny for the Vicarage of Timolin, in the Diocese of Dublin, and in the-patronage of the Archbishop. In the same year, he was collated (14th Nov.), by Archbishop Cleaver — in succession to the Rev. and Hon. James Agar, son of Lord Normanton the former Archbishop — Prebendary of the Corps of Timothan, in the Cathedral of St. Patrick, an office to which was attached neither church nor house, nor endowment, but which gave him “a Stall in the Choir, and a Place and Voice in the Chapter of the said Cathedral Church.” He was, however, admitted at the same time Incumbent of S. Nicholas without the Walls, a benefice which was in the gift of the Dean and Chapter of S. Patrick’s. The house at Timolin required to be practically rebuilt, and he did not go to reside there till 1811. He held the position of Vicar of Timolin until his death. Mary Leadbeater wrote in the Annals of Ballintore “He is a well informed sensible gentleman, his wife is accomplished and handsome, and they have a beautiful group of children.”

Latham Coddington’s signature on a document relating to the parish of Timolin

Timolin Church exterior above and interior below

Saint Mullin’s Church of Ireland church, Timolin was built 1738, renovated, about 1815, with single-bay three-stage sandstone entrance tower added to east and extended, about 1823, comprising single-bay double-height lower chancel to east.

Latham married Anne Florentia, daughter of Colonel John Bellingham of Ardagh, Co. Louth,  in Old Chelsea Church 22 May 1797. She died at Exmouth 20 March 1820 and was buried at Battersea. They had five sons and six daughters. Rev. Coddington died 14 January 1860 and was buried at Timolin.

Rev. Henry Coddington

Henry Coddington, born at Oldbridge, 20th February 1799, the son of Latham Coddington, Rector of Timolin. Henry was admitted to Trinity College, Cambridge in 1816, Coddington graduated BA as Senior Wrangler in 1820. He was in the first class at each of the three annual examinations during the time of his residence as an Under-graduate; and in the third examination his name was marked with peculiar distinction. He was elected a Scholar of the College in 1818, the first time of his being a candidate. When he took the degree of Bachelor of Arts in January 1820, he had the distinguished honour of being at the head of the Mathematical Tripos, and of obtaining the first “Smith’s Prize.” He was elected a Fellow of the College in the October following. He proceeded to an M.A. in 1823 and obtained a fellowship and sub-tutorship in his college. He retired to the college living of Ware in Hertfordshire, and in the discharge of his clerical duties burst a blood-vessel, thereby fatally injuring his health.

Title page of book written by Henry Coddington

Coddington was vicar of Ware, Hertfordshire from 1832 to 1845. Advised to try a southern climate, he travelled abroad, and died at Rome 3 March 1845.  He married a daughter of Dr. Batten, principal of Haileybury College, on the 17th December 1833 and left seven children.

Henry wrote chiefly on optics, in particular An Elementary Treatise on Optics. He also made the Coddington magnifier popular. He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in February 1829.

His name occurs on the first list of members of the British association. He was one of the earliest members of the Royal Astronomical Society, was a fellow of the Royal Geographical Society and Royal Society and sat on the council of the latter body in 1831–2.

Coddington Microscope

What follows was printed from The Gentleman’s Magazine, 1845, vol. 24, p. 90.

“March 3rd. At Rome, the Rev. Henry Coddington, F.R.S., Vicar of Ware-with-Thundridge, Herts., and late Fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge, where he graduated B.A., 1820, as Senior Wrangler, and first Smith’s Prizeman : M.A., 1823. He left England in the Autumn, and proceeded to Italy for the sake of his health. After a few days of increased illness he expired at Rome, to the deep regret, not only of relatives and friends, but of all those who love to contemplate the ornaments of their race. Senior Wrangler at an unusually early age, and a successful competitor for the classical honours of his University, he yet found time to master most of the continental languages, to become an excellent performer on various musical instruments, to be a learned botanist and exquisite draftsman, and to introduce those improvements into the microscope which bear his name. Although in the enjoyment of fame and high office at Trinity College, Cambridge, he thought it his duty to exchange these for the still more important labours of his profession, and accepted the College living of Ware, in Hertfordshire. In the discharge of his functions there, a task rendered painfully anxious by differences of opinion, he, some time back, burst a blood vessel, from which  he  never recovered,  and  his  medical  attendants advised him to shelter himself from our northern winter ;  but the measure proved unavailing.”

Martha Coddington, born 1 October 1766, married Philip Pendleton of Moortown, Co. Meath, on 17 Dec 1788

Mary Coddington  died, unmarried.

Elizabeth Coddington married Edward Winder, Bellview, Dublin,  on 14 April 1798. She died in December 1856.

Mary Jane Coddington married George Lendrum of Jamestown, Co. Fermanagh, son of James Lendrum and Ann Young, on 28 April 1805.

Anna Coddington married Edmond Augustus Waller, son of Richard Waller of Kimmage, Co. Dublin.

Children of Nicholas Coddington and Laetitia Barry

• Major Fitzherbert Nicholas Coddington d. 6 April 1853
• Anna Elizabeth Coddington
• Laetitia Mary Coddington d. 15 October 1879
• John Coddington b. Oct 1797, d. 26 April 1822
• Henry Barry Coddington b. 22 May 1802, d. 23 March 1888
• Joshua William Coddington b. 5 December 1803, d. 1 December 1853

Colonel Fitzherbert Nicholas Coddington

Born 22 May Son of Nicholas and Letitia Coddington of Oldbridge, He attended the Royal School, Armagh and Trinity College. Fitzherbert was commissioned Ensign, 40th Foot, in September 1825. He advanced to Captain in December. In 1841 Fitzherbert married Jane, daughter of  Colonel Trelawney. Hamelin Trewlaney was in charge of a small detachment of artillery men who arranged the transport of Napoleon’s remains from his vault to the port for his return to France in 1840.  Trelawney was appointed governor of St. Helena in 1842 and served until his death in 1846.

Extract from South African Commercial Advertiser newspaper – Wednesday 22 December 1841:

MARRIAGES
“Married on Saturday the 18th inst by Special Licence at St.George’s Church, Cape Town, Cape of Good Hope, by the Rev. George Hough AM, Senior Colonial Chaplain, Fitzherbert Coddington Esquire, Captain HM 40th Regt, third son of the late Nicholas Coddington of Old Bridge House in the County of Meath, Esquire, and nephew of the late Viscount Allen, to Jane La Vallin Trelawny, youngest daughter of the Honorable Col. Trelawny R.A., the newly appointed Governor of St. Helena, and niece of Sir William Trelawny Bart, Lord Lieutenant of the County of Cornwall.

The beautiful young bride, chastely arrayed in spotless white, arrived at Church at 6pm in His Excellency’s State Coach, and was received by a large assemblage of fashionables, among whom we observed His Excellency Sir George and Lady Napier, Sir John Wylde, Chief Justice of the Colony, Lieut-Col. Cloete, D.Q.M. Gen, Col. Lewis, Commandant, &c. The centre aisle of the Church and the Organ Gallery were occupied by elegantly dressed ladies.
After the ceremony the parties retired to the Vestry, where His Excellency Sir George Napier and Sir John Wylde attested the marriage. After dinner, at which a large party met, the happy and accomplished pair left Cape Town for Liesbeek Cottage, to spend a short time at that delightful retreat previous to their embarkation for India. On Monday morning Capt. Coddington and his lovely Bride, accompanied by Col. Trelawny and a train of gay friends, went on board the splendid ship ‘Edinburgh’, which was superbly dressed with flags, the whole presenting the most lively and pleasing spectacle that has been witnessed at the Cape for a considerable period.” The couple had two sons; Fitzherbert Henry R.N., Charles Hamlyn, Colonel of the Militia and a daughter Blanche Martha.

In August 1841 Coddington and his regiment were ordered to India.

Fitzherbert was second in command of the Regiment at the start of the battle of Maharajpoor, 29 December 1843. At this battle he was severely wounded, had a horse shot from under him, and commanded the Regiment after Major Stopford had been wounded. Coddington was mentioned in General Sir Hugh Gough’s despatch (London Gazette 8 March 1844) for the battle: ‘In conformity with the previous instructions, Major-General Valiant, supported by the 3rd cavalry brigade, moved on the right of the enemy’s position at Chonda. During the advance, Major-General Valiant had to take, in succession, three strong intrenched positions, where the enemy defended their guns with frantic desperation; Her Majesty’s 40th regiment losing two successive commanding officers, Major Stopford and Captain Coddington, who fell wounded at the very muzzles of the guns, and capturing four regimental standards. This corps was ably and nobly supported by the 2nd grenadiers, who captured two regimental standards, and by the 16th grenadiers, under Lieutenant-Colonels Hamilton and Maclaren; too much praise cannot be given to these three regiments….. Major-General Valiant has also strongly brought to my notice the conduct of… Captain Coddington…’ Major-General Valiant adds further detail to the action, in a letter written to his son-in-law (published in the Regimental History), from Camp Gwalior, 18 January 1844: ‘I was ordered to attack it, but the moment I commenced my march a tremendous fire opened on us from a battery about one thousand six hundred yards in our front, on the south-east side of Maharajpore [sic], and also the guns from the same side of that village. When I received an order to take them we did so in most gallant style, one after another; but bear in mind that we had to march in the face of guns at all these batteries under a fire, first of large, then of smaller shot as we neared them – Grape, Canister, and Chain. Every battery had at least two battalions of Scindah’s regular troops; in Maharajpore they had seven. Poor Colonel Saunders, secretary to the governor-general, a volunteer, was killed close to me at the last battery I took. The 40th had eight officers wounded, all doing well, and one hundred and seventy-four men killed and wounded; the 16th Native Infantry had one hundred and eighty-four killed and wounded; 2nd Regiment, forty-two killed and wounded; sappers and miners, one killed and one wounded; in all, four hundred and ten killed and wounded. Stopford and Coddington, in command of the 40th, one after another severely wounded.’ Coddington was made Brevet Major for his gallant service at Maharajpoor, in April 1844. He succeeded to a regimental majority at the death of Sir Thomas Valiant in 1845.

Official Despatch for the Battle of Maharajpoor [Maharajpur] (29 December 1843): Her Majesty’s 39th Foot, with their accustomed dash, ably supported by the 56th Regiment Native Infantry, drove the enemy from their guns into the village, bayoneting the gunners at their posts. Here a most sanguinary conflict ensued; the Mahratta troops, after discharging their match-locks, fought sword in hand, with the most determined courage. General Valiant’s brigade, with equal enthusiasm, took Maharajpoor in reverse, and twenty-eight guns were captured by this combined movement; so desperate was the resistance, that very few of the defenders of this very strong position escaped. During these operations, Brigadier Scott was opposed by a body of the enemy’s cavalry on the extreme left, and made some well-executed charges with the 10th Light Cavalry, most ably supported by Captain Grant’s troop of horse artillery and the 4th Lancers, [i.e. 4th Bengal Light Cavalry] capturing some guns and taking two standards, thus threatening the right flank of the enemy. In conformity with previous instructions, Major-General Valiant, supported by the 3rd Cavalry Brigade, moved on the right of the enemy’s position at Chonda. During the advance, Major-General Valiant had to take, in succession, three strong intrenched [sic] positions, where the enemy defended their guns with frantic desperation; Her Majesty’s 40th Regiment losing two successive commanding officers, Major Stopford and Captain Coddington, who fell wounded at the very muzzles of the guns, and capturing four regimental standards. This corps was ably and nobly supported by the 2nd Grenadiers [i.e. 2nd Bengal Native Infantry (Grenadiers)], who captured two regimental standards, and by the 16th Grenadiers [ditto], under Lieutenant-Colonels Hamilton and Maclaren: too much praise cannot be given to these three regiments. 

Fitzherbert retired from the army on 10^th July, 1846 and died at Brighton, 6^th April 1853.

Anna Elizabeth Coddington

Daughter of Nicholas and Letitia Coddington of Oldbridge, Anna Elizabeth Coddington, married, in 1820, John Fitzherbert Ruxton of Ardee House, and Shercock, Co. Louth, and had issue.

Marriage Settlement between John Fitzherbert Ruxton and Anna Elizabeth Coddington.

William Ruxton, the heir to Ardee and Shercock, died in 1821 aged 78. His elder son John married Anne Elizabeth Coddington of Oldbridge, County Meath in 1820. In 1823 he was High Sheriff of Louth and the following year was High Sheriff of Cavan. However, in 1826 he died.

Their grand-daughter, Beatrice Geraldine Ruxton won an Olympic Medal. Beatrice was born at Ardee House in January 1868. She was the youngest of 5 daughters and three sons. Her father was William Ruxton and her mother Caroline Vernon. On 15th July, aged 23, she married Commander Hill Lowe in Old Saint Mary’s Church. He was a serving officer in the Royal Navy. They settled in the West Midlands, England. While Beatrice Hill Lowe had taken up archery while growing up in Ardee, she became a little more serious about it after her marriage. Both her and her husband became members of local archery clubs. She began to win many archery events and by 1906 became one of the more prominent archers in the United Kingdom. At the 1908 Olympics, held in London, she represented the United Kingdom. In 1908 Archery was the only Olympic sport that women could enter as it was the only sport they could remain fully clothed. Beatrice won a Bronze medal that day becoming the first ever Irish woman to win an Olympic medal.

Laetitia Mary Coddington was the daughter of Nicholas Coddington and Laetitia Barry. She died on 15 October 1879 at Oldbridge, unmarried.

John Coddington was born in October 1797. He was the son of Nicholas Coddington and Laetitia Barry. John was educated at the Royal School, Armagh. He died on 26 April 1822 at age 24, unmarried and is buried in Hastings, England.  

Captain Joshua William Coddington

Son of Nicholas and Letitia Coddington of Oldbridge, Captain Joshua William Coddington, R.E., was born at Glenmore, Co. Meath, on the 5th December 1802. Educated at the Royal School, Armagh, under Dr. Carpendale, and at the Royal Military College, Woolwich, he obtained his commission in the Corps of Royal Engineers, 25th April 1826. He was employed for several years on the Ordnance Survey in Ireland, and then on important works of defence on the island of Bermuda.

He returned to England in 1840 and married Agnes, daughter of General Emmett, Royal Engineers in 1840. Major-General Anthony Emmett fought in the Penninsular and American Wars before taking up position as Commanding Engineer at St. Helena’s during the residence of Napoleon on the island and remained there until the prisoner’s death.

Joshua then served at Woolwich and in Scotland, and in 1844 was appointed one of the Inspectors of Railways. In 1847 he retired from the Army and became General Manager of the Caledonian Railway. In 1852 he gave up this appointment and was for some time chiefly engaged as Arbitrator in Investigated cases between Railway Companies. For a short time before his death, he assumed the general direction of the Chester and Shrewsbury Railway. While serving at the Chester and Shrewsbury Railway he was attacked in one ofhis thighs by excruciating pains, which were at first attributed to rheumatism, but on one occasion, having been exposed for some hours in a snowstorm, whilst superintending the replacing of a train, which had run off the line, between Chester and Liverpool, he was obliged, on reaching Chester, to have recourse to medical advice, when it was discovered that there existed adeep-seated disease of the bone, which eventually rendered necessary the amputation of the limb. He only survived the operation for a few hours, and expired on the 1st of December 1853, in his fifty-first year.  He was elected an Associate of the Institution of Civil Engineers in 1845 and served on the Council in 1847.   Captain Coddington was a truly estimable man, beloved and respected by all who knew him, as was testified by the respect and esteem entertained for him by all the Engineers with whom he came into contact. He died 1 December 1853.

Joshua had two sons: Reverend Charles Edward and Edward Fitzherbert.

Chirk Viaduct was one of the ‘great works’ of the Shrewsbury & Chester Railway.

Children of Henry Barry Coddington and Maria Crawford

• Lt-Col John Nicholas Coddington b. 24 June 1828, d. 29 August 1917
• Laetitia Mabella Coddington b. 9 June 1830, d. 25 January 1879
• Maria Anna Coddington b. 13 October 1831, d. 21 October 1891
• William Henry Coddington b. 19 June 1833
• Henry Joshua Coddington b. 13 August 1836, d. 25 September 1866
• Colonel Fitzherbert Coddington b. 22 May 1838, d. 25 April 1889
• Lt-Col Arthur Blaney Coddington b. 20 February 1840, d. 15 December 1888
• Florence Elizabeth Coddington b. 30 April 1842, d. 26 March 1844
• Dixie Latham Coddington b. 23 March 1845, d. 6 January 1897

Laetitia Mabella Coddington

Laetitia Mabella  Coddington, was born on 9 Jun 1830 in Crawfordsburn Co Down, the daughter of Henry-Barry and Maria Coddington. She married 30th September 1857, Robert Fowler, (d. in 1898), of Rahinstown, Co. Meath. She died on 25 Jan 1879, at age 48, in London, Middlesex. Sir John Sharman Fowler, the second son of Robert and Letitia Fowler, joined the Royal Engineers in 1886. Serving on the frontiers of India, South Africa and Ireland Fowler became director of Army Signals. At the outbreak of the First World War, he became Director of Army Signals of the British Expeditionary Force, a position he held throughout the war. By the end of the war Fowler was commanding 70,000 men. Fowler remained in the army after the war, serving as Commander of the British Forces in China until 1925. He died in 1939.

Maria Anna Coddington was born on 13 October 1831. She was the daughter of Henry Barry Coddington and Maria Crawford. She died on 21 October 1891 at age 60, unmarried.

William Henry Coddington

Railway engineer, active in the 1860s. William Coddington was born at Glenmore, on 19 June 1833, the second son of Henry Barry Coddington, of Oldbridge, Co. Meath, and his wife, Maria, eldest daughter of William Sharman Crawford, of Crawfordsburn, Co. Down. In 1863 he designed a new central station and station hotel for Belfast, but although his plans were approved, they were not executed. He was engineer to the Banbridge, Lisburn & Belfast Railway from 1868. He died in Sep 1918, at age 85, in Steyning, Sussex.

Henry Joshua Coddington

Henry Joshua Coddington was the son of Henry-Barry and Maria Coddington born. 31st August 1836 at Glenmore.

Henry joined the East Indies Company and then the Royal Navy, made Lieutenant in 1859 and served during the New Zealand Wars 1860-64. In 1857 William Sharman Crawford wrote to Henry Barry Coddington, telling him that he viewed Coddington’s son with deep sorrow as a result of  the East Indies Company “deplorable mismanagement and .. wicked administration of the affairs of India”. Crawford goes on to say that English rule has become abhorrent to the natives.

A renewal of the disputes over land-titles produced another native outbreak in the North Island of New Zealand early in 1860, the scene of hostilities being the neighbourhood of Taranaki, and the native leader being William King, the chief of the local tribe.

Henry Joshua Coddington was stationed on the ship, Eclipse 4. The “Eclipse” was a 4-gun screw gun vessel, launched at Millwall in 1860. She was of 700 tons, and 200 horse-power. In 1863 the “Eclipse,” commanded firstly by Commander Richard Charles Mayne and secondly by Commander Edmund Robert Fremantle, took part in the second New Zealand War in a squadron of ships under commodore Sir William Wiseman with his broad pennant in “Curacoa.” On June 4th the “Eclipse” co-operated in an attack which was made by the garrison of New Plymouth on the rebel position at the mouth of the Katikara. In October a Naval Brigade of 200 seamen under Commander Mayne landed, captured, occupied, and fortified the town of Merrimi. On November 20th the Naval Brigade of 400 men, under Commodore Sir William Wiseman bombarded and assaulted the town of Rangariri, where the Maoris had strongly entrenched themselves. Four separate assaults were repulsed by the brave defenders, two of which were made by the Naval Brigade under Commander Mayne. On the following day the Maoris surrendered, the British forces having won a costly victory with a loss of 36 killed and 98 wounded. The Naval Brigade losses were 5 killed and 10 wounded, among the latter being Commander Mayne, of the “Eclipse,” who was promoted to captain for his services On June 4th, 1863, the Eclipse 4, screw, Commander Richard Charles Mayne, co-operated in an attack which was made by the garrison of New Plymouth on a rebel position near the mouth of the Katikara. Late in October, General Cameron and Commander Richard Charles Mayne attacked Merimeri, and occupied it with a force which included 250 seamen under Mayne. The place was fortified.

After the abandonment of Merimeri, a strong force of rebels entrenched themselves at Rangariri, a village about twelve miles higher up the river. There, on November 20th, General Cameron, with troops, the four plated gunboats, and a Naval Brigade numbering about 400 men, attacked them. For an hour and a half the position was bombarded, and then, at 4.30 p.m., an assault was ordered. The Maoris soon concentrated themselves in a very formidable redoubt in the centre of their lines, and bloodily repulsed four separate attempts to carry it gallantly led by Commander Mayne and Commander Henry Bourchier Phillimore. The rest were trapped, and, although they kept up a desultory fire during the night, they surrendered unconditionally on the morning of November 21st. The naval casualties were 5 killed and 10 wounded, including Commander Mayne. After Commander Mayne was disabled, Lieut. Henry Joshua Coddington acted until the arrival of Com. Edmund Robert Fremantle.

In January 1864 the “Eclipse” proceeded to Waikato and landed a detachment of men under Lieutenant William Fletcher Boughey to co-operate with the troops. The town of Waikato was captured, and the Maoris were defeated at Rangioawhia, with a considerable loss in killed and prisoners. In April 1864 the “Eclipse” contributed to a Naval Brigade 430 strong, which joined the army under Sir Duncan Cameron. On April 29th the combined forces proceeded to attack a Maori stronghold at Gate Pah. The place was bombarded, and at 4.30 p.m. the Naval Brigade, under Commander Edward Hay, moved forward to the assault and entered the works. Inside the pah the rebels fought with desperation, and the Brigade was obliged to retreat with a heavy loss. The Naval Brigade behaved admirably, and withdrew only when nearly all its leading officers had been shot down.

Rangairi Taken by the British

Henry Joshua died 25 September 1866, Oldbridge, Drogheda, Ireland at age 30 Committed suicide in his room at Oldbridge after being reprimanded by his father for excessive drinking. At an inquest held the following day the Dundalk Democrat reported “Lamentable Suicide at Oldbridge. On this day an inquest was held before Hugh Martin, Esq, on the body of a young gentleman named Henry Joshua Coddington, aged 33 years. Robert Pentland Esq, MD, examined “I knew the deceased; on yesterday 25 inst, about the hour of four o’clock p.m. I was called to attend him on account of an accident that had occurred to him a short time previously; on my arriving at Oldbridge House, where he resided, I found him in a state of utter insensibility. On examination I detected a wound to the brain produced by, in my opinion, a pistol shot. I remained in his room up to the time of his death, which occurred about five o’clock p.m. I am perfectly satisfied that his death originated from the effects of the said wound; it is also my opinion if the wound were inflicted by his own hand, that his mind must be more or less affected as I have known him to be generally both nervous and excitable. The verdict of the jury was that the deceased died from a pistol shot wound inflicted by himself whilst laboring under temporary insanity.

Fitzherbert Coddington

Fitzherbert Coddington, was the son of Henry-Barry and Maria Coddington of Oldbridge, born 22 May 1838. He became a Colonel in the Indian army on the Bengal Staff Corps. He married 20 August 1863 Julia, only daughter of Richard de Valmency and died 25 April 1889 at Winchester leaving a son, Herbert Alphonse, Lieut.Col Royal Irish Fusiliers.

“FOUND DROWNED IN CANAL

An inquest has been held at Twyford, near Winchester, on the body of Colonel Fitzgerbert Coddington of the Bengal Corps formerly in charge of the Punjab Traverse Survey, who was found drowned in the old canal, Winchester. The deceased officer, who was home on leave, sat up all night with his sick daughter, and at 6 o’clock next morning went for a walk. Three hours later his body was found in the stream, near a steep chalk bank which was in a very slippery condition. There were no signs of struggle on the bank, and money and valuables were found on the body. Only a few hours previously he had talked with his daughter’s medical attendant in a perfectly rational manner about his future plans and prospects. The jury returned an open verdict of found drowned”. – Harrow Gazette 4 May 1889

Herbert Adolphe, was born at Masuri, India, on the 19th September 1864, eldest son of Colonel Fitzherbert Coddington, Bengal Staff Corps, and Julia Richard de Valmency. He became a Lieutenant South Yorks Regiment on 6 February 1884 eventually reaching the rank of Major in 1902. .He served throughout the South African War, 1899-1902. held important Staff positions in Natal during the Boer War and received the especial praise of General Buller in his Despatch of 30.3.1900: ‘Captain H.A. Coddington, Royal Irish Fusiliers, Baggage Master, Pietermaritzburg – Has had a very difficult task to carry out. He has shown great energy and considerable power of organisation. I trust his labours may be rewarded He retired from Royal Irish Fusiliers, March, 1904. He was employed under the Chilworth Gunpowder Company in the manufacture of high explosives for the Army and Navy, 1908-12. Recalled to military duty, to a special appointment under the Intelligence Branch of the War Office, and graded as a GSO2, He was mentioned in Despatches thrice, awarded the O.B.E. and promoted Colonel in 1919. He married Bertha Violet Mary Francis Bennett on 25 Feb 1905. He died: Jul 1938 at age 73.

Lt. Colonel Arthur Blaney Coddington

Arthur Blaney Coddington, was the son of Henry-Barry and Maria Coddington of Oldbridge, born 20th February 1840, married on 27 Jun 1872 in Leominster, Herefordshire. Ellen Bertha (Nelly), (d. 17th October 1880), second daughter. of Oswald Bloxsome, of the Grove, Ryde, Isle of Wight, and had issue.  Educated at Cheltenham College and Woolwich Military Academy. He died on 15 December 1888, at age 48, in Mountjoy Barracks, Dublin, Ireland of typhoid. There was an outbreak of typhoid in the Royal Barracks in Dublin at this time.  He was buried on 19 Dec 1888 in Mellifont, Co. Louth. He gained the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel in the Royal Engineers. He was Director of the Ordnance Survey Department of Ireland 1886-88.

Arthur Blaney’s signature on an OS document 1874

Florence Elizabeth Coddington was born on 30 April 1842. She was the daughter of Henry Barry Coddington and Maria Crawford. She died on 26 March 1844 at age 1.

Born at Oldbridge, 23 March 1845, Dixie Latham, son of Henry Barry Coddington and Maria Crawford.  He died on 6 January 1897 at age 51, unmarried. Remembered with a plaque in St. Patrick’s Cathedral. – below,

Children of Lt.-Col. John Nicholas Coddington and Lelia Naper

• Henry Thomas Coddington b. 9 May 1871, d. 23 Jan 1879
• Arthur Francis Coddington b. 8 Nov 1873, d. 12 Jan 1955
• Captain Hubert John Coddington b. 12 Sep 1877, d. 7 Jul 1915

Child of Lt.-Col. John Nicholas Coddington and Constance Margaret Smith

• Audrey Muriel Raymond Coddington d. 21 Aug 1895

Henry Thomas Coddington 1871-1879 – Born 74 Leeson Street, Dublin 9 May 1871. Son of Lt. Colonel John Nicholas Coddington of Oldbridge and Lelia Jane Naper of Loughcrew. Died of typhoid at Loughcrew aged 8 on 23 January 1879.

Audrey Muriel died at midnight 21 August 1895 as the wet nurse could not feed her.

Hubert John Coddington 1877 – 1915

Hubert John Coddington was born on 16 September 1877, son of John Nicholas and Lelia, nee Naper. Educated at Haileybury College, Hertfordshire, England, 1891-95. Hubert first held a commission in the Militia, being gazetted 2nd Lt. into 5th Bn. Leinster Regt. on 11 April 1900. The Gazette dated 4th Jan 1901 shows him moving from the 4th Btn Prince of Wales Leinster Regiment to the Durhams. He was then granted a Regular Commission as 2nd Lt. in the Durham Light Infantry on 5 January 1901. He was seconded, as a 2nd Lt., from the D.L.I. to serve with the Mounted Infantry in South Africa on 6 May 1901. Captain Coddington served in the South African War and took part in the operations in the Transvaal and Orange River Colony in 1901 and 1902. He was a very able officer, and for his services in the South African Warbhe obtained the Queen’s Medal with clasps for Cape Colony/Orange Free State and Transvaal, 1901 and 1902. Promoted to Lt., D.L.I., 26 April 1902. Hubert wounded on 2 Aug 1901 in Leeuwkop. He was appointed Adjutant of 3rd Bn. D.L.I. on 1 January 1913 and promoted to the rank of Capt. effective 1 January 1913 . he was Adjutant of 3rd Bn. 1 January 1913 to 30 April 1915.

 Hubert first landed in France on 17 May 1915. At the end of May 1915, the second battle of Ypres came to an end. On 4^th July the Durham Light battalion with Hubert Coddington, relieved the 1/West Yorkshire Regiment in the front line at La Brique. The position taken over was a sector between View Farm on the right and Algerian Cottage on the left. Casualties during this tour was light but Hubert was killed by a shell on 7 July 1915 near Ypres while serving with the 2nd Battalion Durham Light Infantry. His WW1 medals were sent to his brother Captain A. F. Coddington at Oldbridge. Buried at La Brique Military Cemetery No. 2, Belgium, and remembered on Haileybury College Cloister Wall Memorial, Hertford Heath; stained glass window at Julianstown Church of Ireland church, Great War Memorial at Drogheda and also at Loughcrew Church, Oldcastle.

La Brique Military Cemetery

               Drogheda Great War Memorial           

Children of Arthur Francis Coddington and Dorothie Rhoda Osborne

• Major Dixie Henry Coddington b. 9 Nov 1909, d. 1984
• Daphne Lelia Coddington b. 22 May 1911
• Denise Eileen Coddington b. 21 Jun 1915, d. 3 Jan 1968
• Hubert Geoffrey Coddington b. 8 Jul 1918, d. 10 Nov 1943
• Diana Esther Coddington b. 16 Feb 1920, d. 9 Oct 1971

Daphne Lelia Coddington

Daphne Lelia Coddington was born on 22 May 1911. Daphne Lelia married Maj. Edward Napier Perceval Maxwell 23 April 1934 in Saint Peter’s, Drogheda, Ireland. She  died 2005.

Children

John Edward Spencer Perceval Maxwell born 30 September 1944 married 11 July 1970 Sarah Vanessa Blunden. They had at least one child – Patrick Edward born 1977.

Lelia Margaret Perceval Maxwell born 14 November 1935

Gillian Helena Perceval Maxwell born 22 February 1940

The Drogheda Independent reported on the marriage.  “A very interesting wedding took place in St. Mary’s Protestant Church, Drogheda, on Tuesday, of Mr. Edward Napier Perceval-Maxwell, eldest son of Mr Henry Perceval-Maxwell and the late Mrs Maxwell, Moorehill Tallow, Co. Waterford, and Miss Daphne Lelia Coddington, daughter of Captain and Mrs. Coddington of Oldbridge, Drogheda. The marriage ceremony was performed by the Venerable Archdeacon Brunskill, Rector, St. Mary’s, Drogheda, assisted by the Rev. J. P. Barcroft, Rector of Mellifont, and Rev. J. W. Camier, Tallow. The church was beautifully decorated for the occasion with tulips, daffodils, lilies and other seasonable flowers, and there were over two hundred guests present, including Lady Farnham, Famham Castle, Co. Cavan (a cousin of the bridegroom) and Lord Farnham. The bride, who was given away by her father, Captain Coddington, looked very pretty in a close fitting gown of ivory satin with a long court train which is an heirloom of the Farnham family. She wore orange blossoms and carried  a sheaf of arum lilies. Captain W. Starkie was best man and here were six bridesmaids attired in white with sheafs of tulips and head-dresses to match, and also coloured sashes. The bridesmaids were Misses Denise and Diana Coddington, sisters of the bride, Miss Peggy Prichard, cousin, Miss Beryl Cooper, Miss Heather Boyd, and Miss Ursulla Pomroy. After the ceremony, the bride and bridegroom were driven from the church by Dr. L. V. Hunt in a motor-car, specially decorated.”

Marriage of Daphne

Denise Eileen Coddington

Denise Eileen Coddington was born on 21 June 1915. She married Lt-Col Kenneth, son of George Henry, on 21 October 1944. She died on 3 January 1968 at age 52.  She was with the Auxiliary Territorial Service during the Second World War. She was appointed second sub on 26 March 1943.

Denise Eileen married Lt. Col. Kenneth Ames MBE on 21 October 1944. He was a Lieutenant-Colonel in the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers. They lived at Seafield, Tower Hill, Somerset, England. Denise died 3 January1968.

Children

Geoffrey Kenneth Ames born 17 May 1948

Penelope Anne Ames born 10 December 1945

Judith Stella Ames born 14 July 1953

Hubert Geoffrey John Coddington

Born 8^th July 1918, son of Captain Arthur and Dorothy Coddington, Hubert was educated at Hailesbury College, England and at the Royal Military College, Sandhurst.  Second Lieutenant 26 January 1939 and Lieutenant 1^st January 1941.

Hubert as a boy

Drogheda Independent

He married Yvonne Mary Brittain, daughter of Jack Reginald Brittain, Wraxall, Bristol on 22 September 1942. Their daughter, Susan, was born 14 February 1944 and she married a Mr. Gillette of London. Served in anti-tank platoon. Second Lieutenant Royal Ulster Rifles 21 March 1943. Flight Lieutenant Killed 10 November 1943 age 24 in a flying accident while piloting a Lysander from an Army Co-operation Squadron of the RAF. Commemorated on Runneymeade Memorial panel 119.

Lysander

Diana Esther Coddington

Diana Esther Coddington was born on 16 February 1920.

Diana Esther Coddington married John Ernest Cornwall Lewis-Crosby, who became Secretary of the National Trust of Northern Ireland. He resided at Rowallane, Co. Down in 1976. She died 9 August 1972.

Children

John Cornwall Lewis-Crosby born 29 January 1948

Dianna Gay Lewis-Crosby 28 February 1945, married ? Schmidt, Germany She gave some family photos to Oldbridge

Caroline Merry Lewis-Crosby born 25 May 1946

Joanna Lewis-Crosby born 7 August 1949

Nicola Elizabeth Lewis-Crosby 30 May 1951

Irish Press 14 August 1943

Diana married John Ernest Cornwall, son of Very Rev. Ernest and Hilda Darley, on 12 August 1943. She died on 9 October 1971 at age 51. John died in 1997. She was with Women’s Auxiliary Air Force during the Second World War. John’s father was Very Rev. Ernest Henry Lewis-Crosby who was born Rutland Square, Dublin on 29 December 1864. He was the son of Robert Cornwall and Harriet Crosby.  He held the office of Dean of Christchurch Cathedral, Dublin. He graduated with a Master of Arts (M.A.) He was given the name of Ernest Henry Cornwall at birth. On 30 November 1938 Ernest Henry Cornwall Lewis-Crosby, aged seventy-four, became dean of Christ Church, a post he retained until his death. The preservation and history of Christ Church Cathedral was his lifelong passion: he wrote three books on its history and took great care in its upkeep. Crosby was the oldest serving Church of Ireland minister, earning the title of the ‘grand old man’, and remained active right up to his death, retaining zeal and enthusiasm for his work. He died 18 May 1961 in Dublin, aged ninety-six.

Dean Ernest Lewis Crosbie and his wife Hilde