By George Solly
I have had a very interesting enquiry from Rory Delany since the last journal, about a memorial to Richard Solly (1771—1803) in St Stephens Unitarian Church, Dublin.
Dear Sir / Madam,
My name is Rory Delany and, in addition to my responsibilities as church treasurer, I am a trustee of St. Stephen’s Green Unitarian Church in Dublin.
A memorial plaque positioned on the south wall of the church entrance stairway is dedicated to the memory of Richard Solly. The wording on the plaque identifies for us that Richard was one of the Dissenting Protestants / Unitarians of Walthamstow, Essex. However we can find no other connection between the Solly family and the Presbyterian / Unitarian church in Dublin, or indeed any connection with Dublin at all. I am sure that there must have been some important connection as the memorial is prominently positioned in the church and it would appear to have been the very first of many memorials installed in the building since the congregation moved to its new premises on St Stephen’s Green in June 1863. (The Solly memorial was installed the following year) There is probably some explanation for the presence of the Solly memorial in the church buried deep in our records but as yet I have been unable to cover any such information. I am wondering if you might have some snippet of information that might throw some light on this mystery.
Thanking you in anticipation
Rory Delany St. Stephen’s Green Unitarian Church, Dublin D02 YP23
| ONE GOD THE FATHER | ONE LORD JESUS CHRIST 1864 IN MEMORIUM Richard Solly Esquire of the Essex Street Congregation London and Isaac his elder brother last Trustee of the Old Presbyterian Meeting House Walthamstowe Essex a record of affection to a Father and Uncle by Frances Fetherson of sympathy with their faith and of fellowship with their eternal hope |
My reply: Dear Mr Delany
I am replying to your email as chair of the Sole Society and distant relative of your query Richard Solly 1771-1803. (We are related through a common ancestor John Solly 1661-1748).
Although Richard was born in Essex to a wealthy and influential branch of the family, he spent time in Ireland because of his wife Frances Flood 1774-1849 heiress of the Flood family estate in Longford ((Slaney Lodge, Co. Wexford). Their daughter Frances Elizabeth (referred to in the memorial) married Sir George Ralph Fetherston (not Fetherson) died Longford.
Here is an extract from the Solly tree:
Richard Solly 20.01.1771-Walthamstow 13.09.1803, m. Frances Flood 1774 Ballynaslaney House Co. Wexford – 30.06.1849 London. m.10.10.1799 St George’s, Hanover Sq.,
1.Frances Elizabeth Solly b.12.09.1800 City of London; m. Sir George Ralph Fetherston MP (1784-1853) 1821 York, d 24.03.1865 Ardagh, Wexford bur 27.03.1865 Ardagh, County Longford. No children
Jane Caroline Solly 03.04.1803-1889 m. Samuel Bradstreet Hore 1791 Harperstown, Co. Wexford -25.11.1851 Dublin.
Richard had another memorial in Worcester Cathedral:
To the most beloved and revered Memory of RICHARD SOLLY of York Place, Portman Square, LONDON Esqr who whilst on a tour of Pleasure with is seized with an Inflammation of the Intestines, which in five Days terminated his Life at Malvern on the 14th September 1803 in the 33rd Year of his Age.
His remains are deposited in a Vault near this Place where also his wretched Widow Intends hers shall be placed when it shall please the God of Mercy and Of Comfort to remove her from her present State of Misery.
The assumption is that as Richard and his brother Isaac were staunch Unitarians from Essex a memorial to him should be placed in a prominent Dublin church, reflective of his daughter’s social standing and Irish residency.
The response from Mr Delaney
Dear Mr Solly,
Thank you so much for your speedy and very informative response to my queries regarding the Solly memorial in St. Stephen’s Green Unitarian Church. I often guide tours around the church and I have always felt a little uncomfortable telling our visitors that I have almost no information for them regarding the very first memorial they encounter as they enter the church. The information you have kindly provided will certainly fill a glaring gap! Thank you also for pointing out my omission of the second t in the Fetherston name. This was a typing error on my part but the error could well have carried onwards into future publications if you hadn’t spotted it.
I intend to write a short article about the memorial for our church magazine, Oscailt (Gaelic for ‘Open’), with a view to having it included in the January or February 2026 edition. I will send a copy to you when it is published.
Once again, many thanks for your response, it was greatly appreciated
Rory Delany n
Frederick Richard Solly-Flood KC JP MA (07.08.1801 Walthamstow-13.05.1888 Gibraltar) was attorney general of Gibraltar. m. Mary S Williamson 1802-1864. Frederick added Flood to the Solly name after his mother Frances Flood, d/o Sir Frederick Flood of County Wexford. They had seven children.
