The D'Olier Family of Dublin.The D’Oliers’ of Dublin has always been a family that has confused me, and I suspect others, as many appear to have the notion that the name relates to just one or two silversmiths.
Isaac Olier (1) was a Huguenot who had fled France for Holland following the Revocation of the Edict of Nantes in 1685. He was described as a ‘Merchant’ and may well have been a jeweller or a dealer in precious metals. He appears to have found immediate favour with the Court of William of Orange who had wisely welcomed the Huguenot refugees and was made a Freeman of the City of Amsterdam on the 21st May 1686. It was probably at this point in time that he added the ‘D’ to his name to denote his French origins. Isaac D’Olier (1) then accompanied William’s entourage to England following their invitation to William to take the throne in 1688.
Isaac D’Olier (1) made Dublin his final destination, settling under an
‘Act for Encouraging Protestant Strangers to Settle in Ireland’, where he was probably granted land and on the 21st October 1697 he was made a Freeman of the City of Dublin.
In 1721 Isaac (1) apprenticed his son Isaac (2) to John Williamson. Williamson appears to have been running a thriving business at this time, as Isaac (2) was the fifth apprentice that he had taken on in the last four years (Roger Finch 1717, Richard Eaton 1719, David Homan 1719 and Henry Cope 1720) . Isaac (2) is almost certainly the
‘Isaac Doloares’ who is noted as paying Quarter Brother dues in 1728 to the Dublin Goldsmiths Company prior to him becoming a Freeman in 1731, the same year he appears to have set up in business for himself and sent his first pieces for assay. His workshop was known as the ‘Bear and Hammer’ at Cork Hill.
Isaac D’Olier (2) was appointed Third Warden of the Dublin Goldsmiths Company in 1739, Second Warden in 1740, First Warden in 1741 and Master in 1752, serving along side Isaac (2) was his former fellow apprentice Richard Eaton as Second Warden. Isaac (2) was elected to the Common City Council of Dublin in 1755. He was a regular worshipper at St Werburgh’s Church where he is noted as having his own pew (No.42) and became Churchwarden there in 1751. (Incidentally, Robert Calderwood is noted as having his own pew, at this same church in 1759 (No.75).
In 1747 Isaac (2) apprenticed his son Isaac (3) to Robert Billing, a Jeweller who had been Master of the Dublin Goldsmiths Company in 1742. Upon the completion of the apprenticeship in 1754, Isaac (3) joined his father, at new premises at 87, Dame Street, the business was now to be known as ‘Isaac D’Olier & Son’, a partnership that was to last until 1767.
In 1767 it appears that Isaac (2) has retired and the business is now headed by, perhaps, the most famous member of the D’Olier family, Isaac’s (3) brother, Jeremiah. Jeremiah was born in 1747 and was granted his Freedom in 1770.
In 1769 Jeremiah was joined by another brother, Richard, in a partnership that was to last until 1780. Richard D’Olier had been apprenticed to his father, Isaac (2) in 1753. He left the business in 1780 to set up on his own account at 8, Parliament Street as a Jeweller and Goldsmith. He was still noted as working in Street Directories in 1784.
Below is a link to a billhead of Richard & Jeremiah D'Olier:
http://www.britishmuseum.org/research/s ... _id=390313Isaac D’Olier (2) died in 1779.
In the meantime Jeremiah D’Olier went from strength to strength. He was elected Master of the Dublin Goldsmiths Company in 1781, elected to the Common City Council of Dublin in 1782, appointed High Sheriff of Dublin in 1788 and Sheriff’s Peer in 1790 and sat on the Commission for Wide Streets.
In 1783, Jeremiah D’Olier was one of fifteen Founder Directors, and later Governor of the Bank of Ireland.
He appears to have left the trade around about the turn of the Century to concentrate on the banking business. We can be sure he had ceased silversmithing by April 1804 at the very latest as when questioned by a committee from the House of Lords investigating the state of the coinage in Ireland, he was asked “Are you a merchant there?” Jeremiah’s response was “ I
was in the bullion business in Ireland”. In 1796 he did however produce one of his finest pieces when he created the new chain for the office of Lord Mayor of Dublin.
Jeremiah D’Olier is honoured in Dublin by the naming of D’Olier Street, one of the principal streets in the city.
Jeremiah D’Olier died in 1817 and is buried at the Donnybrook Church graveyard where he was Churchwarden in 1778 and 1779. The inscription on his tomb reads:
" Beneath this stone are deposited the bodies of Jeremiah D'Olier of Collegnes, Booterstown, buried 20th October, 1817, aged 72 years; Jane D'Olier, his wife, aged 69 years; Elizabeth D'Olier, Eliza D'Olier, and Emily D'Olier, their children."The Apprentices of Isaac D’Olier (2).George Lehunt. Son of George Lehunt of Cashel. Indentured 1732.
William Teat. Co. Wicklow. Indentured 1736.
Matthew Sleater. Son of Matthew Sleater of Dublin, Bricklayer. Indentured 1741.
Edmond Milne. Son of Thomas Milne of Co. Meath, Yeoman, Deceased. Indentured 1744.
Isaac Parker. Son of Paul Parker of Dublin, Merchant. Indentured 1748.
Richard D’Olier. Son of Isaac D’Olier (2) Goldsmith. Indentured 1753.
William Keen. Son of Edward Keen. Indentured 1753.


The early mark of Isaac D'Olier (2).


Probably the mark in use for 'Isaac D'Olier & Son' (2 & 3) period. Note the distinctive curve to right hand of the mark. This version with a pellet.

Very likely the work of father and son.
Trev.