Sanchia Pielou

Concert harp and clarsach

1915 – 1993

Born in Ireland she was an advanced harp student of Caroline Townsend (1859-1951) in Dublin.

Caroline Mary Townshend (5C08)
Date of Birth: 31 Jul 1859
Date of Death: dunm 15 May 1951
Generation: 7th
Residence: Castletownshend, Shorecliffe and Dublin
Father: Charles Uniacke Townshend [5C00]
Mother: Tottenham, Anna Maria Sarah
Spouse: Unmarried
Issue: None
See Also: Table VC ; Scrapbook ; Lineage ; Ancestors’ Tree ; Descendents’ Tree
Notes for Caroline Mary Townshend (Carrie)

Carrie, as she was known. was born in Dublin and baptized at St Peter’s Church on 14 September 1859. She received an inheritance of £3,500 pounds on the death of her father in 1907.

Nothing was known about Carrie until 2018, when Angela Frewen (1) of Warsaw, Poland, researched her life and discovered a lady of amazing talent who left a legacy that will live forever. These notes serve only to paraphrase details of her life which are contained in a paper written by Angela, which is reproduced in Carrie’s ‘Scrapbook’.

Carrie was intensely musical and described by those who knew her as an accomplished pianist and singer; her particular interest lay in singing Irish songs and accompanying herself on the Irish harp.

In 1912 Carrie was living in Castletownshend teaching Irish to anyone willing to learn; she herself probably learned Erse through the Gaelic League, which was founded in Cork in 1897. In or around 1914 she moved to Shorecliffe,(2) Leap, Glandore, Co Cork, where in 1919 she hosted an Irish summer school, which was in fact a cover for an Irish Volunteers training camp. The men were housed in the gate lodge and in tents on the front lawn. The Royal Irish Constabulary (RIC) received a tip off and raided the house one night, finding revolvers and rifles hidden in the bushes in the garden. The 1926 Cork street directory shows Carrie as still living in Shorecliffe.

When Carrie learned the Irish harp is not known, but in the 1930s she moved to Dublin and began to teach pupils who would go on to make harping history, not only in Ireland but on the world stage. Such was her renown that she presented a cup for the singing of two songs in Irish, to one’s own accompaniment on the Irish harp at the Feis Ceoil music competition in Dublin.

Carrie died in Dublin. She suffered a major stroke which left her paralysed down one side and died within the week at Coolock House, a private nursing home. The executor of Caroline’s will was Mildred E Townshend [5C11].

(1). Angela Frewen is descended from Captain Thomas Frewen, one of three Frewen brothers who went to Ireland with Cromwell. Originally they came from Sussex where their father was a Puritan clergyman and author of many anti-Catholic works. Of the three brothers who came to Ireland, one was killed at the Siege of Kilkenny, one died of the plague at the Siege of Limerick and the third, Thomas Frewen, settled in Castleconnell, Limerick. There are still some Frewens farming what remains of the original lands at Castleconnell.

(2). One time home of John Henry Townsend [238], Richard Arthur Herbert Townsend [259] and Maurice FitzGerald Townshend [263].

gwendolyn mason teacher in london

tommy tore lung running for a bus then got tb

nephew Michael Ashdown sister married maurice ashdown wellington

named after heroine in book mother reading

took a painting of sanchia in irish costume, and small harp

Grainne 10 years younger Grainne’s duaghter caitriona yeats

She became one of the founding members and principal harpist of the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra from 1935 and a strong influence on harp playing in her adopted country.

Sanchia Florence Leslie Pielou

MACEY
SANCHIA FLORENC
78
GILLESPIE
1993
607/ 656
Glasgow, Martha St

Sanchia-visits-Ireland

A teacher of concert and Celtic harp at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama for most of her career, she was made a Fellow of the Academy, coaching a large number of classical and traditional musicians.

In July 1939 Sanchia married BBC announcer Thomas Peter Dawson (1914

Thomas was the son of Captain and Mrs T . P . Dawson , 3 Kilmaurs Terrace , Edinburgh, and Sanchia twin daughter of Mr and Mrs P . Leslie Pielou , 17 Sandford Road , Dublin

Tom died on 15 June 1943 at 3 Kilmaurs Terrace, Edinburgh, of
Pulmonary Tuberculosis

She subsequently married Norman Grant Macey on
15 Apr 1950 at Hillhead Register Office,

Sanchia Florence Lougheed Pielou(1915–1993)
Oct 1993

Then? She married Nathan Grant Macey in 1950 (died 1982 age 79)

Sanchia-with-husband-Norman

She played regularly with the Reid Orchestra, and featured in a large number of radio broadcasts of all types.

Sanchia was a champion of new music for harp and contributed to several premiere performances including Eddie McGuire’s 1975 McEwen Memorial Bequest Commission Liberation playing alongside David Nicholson (flute, piccolo) and James Durrant (viola).

As a session musician she featured in a number of gramophone recordings including those of Sydney McEwan and Duncan MacRae in arrangements by Francis Collinson.

Skye Fisher’s Song

From a test pressing of a 78 rpm record (Columbia (CA 20930-1), hosted at the Internet Archive.

She played harp and clarsach in Thomas Wilson’s score for the 1984 BBC Radio 4 dramatisation of George Mackay Brown’s The Voyage of St Brandon.

She contributed to the post-war activities of the Dunedin Association and worked on occasion with Héloïse Russell Fergusson.

She contributed to the progress of the revival of the clarsach in Scotland and she was in contact with its main protagonists while still in Dublin as confirmed by the signed copy of published music presented by its arranger Hilda M. Campbell of Airds on a visit there in July 1934. at Celtic Congress?

She contributed to the musical development of many in the world of Scottish traditional music including harpists Rhona Mackay, Eddie McGuire, Savourna Stevenson, Judith Peacock Cummings, Corrina Hewat, William Jackson, Mary Anne Kennedy

There is a record of a marble sculpture titled Sanchia Peilou created by Francis (Frank) Wiles and exhibited in 1926 at the 45th Annual Exhibition of The Belfast Art Society in The Municipal Art Gallery, Botanic Gardens Park, Belfast and at the 97th Exhibition of the Royal Hibernian Academy of Arts, Catalogue of the same year. [Mapping the Practice and Profession of Sculpture in Britain and Ireland 1851-1951, University of Glasgow History of Art and HATII, online database 2011 [http://sculpture.gla.ac.uk/view/object.php?id=msib3_1255679348, accessed 28 Mar 2021]

LOT :67Florence Pielou (1884 – 1959) The Redhaired Model Oil on board, 29 x 29 cm (11.5 x 11.5”) Signed Inscribed artists label verso, giving address 17 Sandford Road, Dublin Exhibited: Royal Hibernian…Estimate EUR : €800.00 – €1,200.00Auction Date : 06-04-2011

DESCRIPTION

Florence Pielou (1884 – 1959) The Redhaired Model Oil on board, 29 x 29 cm (11.5 x 11.5”) Signed Inscribed artists label verso, giving address 17 Sandford Road, Dublin Exhibited: Royal Hibernian Academy, 1951 cat No. 114 Born in Boyle, Co. Roscommon, Florence Gillespie received her first painting lessons from Charles MacIver Grierson, who ran a school at Beltra, Sligo. She later studied under Orpen and was a model for a figure in ”The Fairy Ring”. She later taught art herself at Alexandra College and lived on the Sandford Road in Ranelagh.

https://www.adams.ie/

A renewed attempt to form a section was made in 1912, Pierce Leslie Pielou having been appointed Presidential Agent, but before the required number of lodges could be formed World War I broke out which resulted in a scattering of members until eventually only seven remained. http://www.theosophy.world

Irish Astrological Society

IAS Officers of Council
From the copy of the Constitution we learn that the IAS used to meet every Friday evening at 8pm at 5, Leinster Street, which is a very short walk from the end of South Frederick St., the Theosophical Society in Ireland’s HQ. In 1922, the year of its foundation, the ‘Officers of Council’ were as follows:

President: Cyril Fagan
Vice-Presidents: Pierce L.Pielou, John Larkin, Mrs Dunn (who lived in Belfast
Hon.Secretary: Bernard Kelly
Hon.Treasurer: Mrs J.Allen

The Constitution was considered and approved at a meeting of the provisional Council held on February 15th 1922, and adopted at an Extraordinary General Meeting of the Society held on February 25th 1922 in the premises at 5, Leinster St. It is noticeable that W.B.Yeats is not mentioned as the Patron of the Society, although he is described as such on the copies of the chart ‘blanks’. Underneath a small image of the IAS horoscope in the top left corner of the blank chart it reads ‘Patron: W.B.Yeats’.

Pierce Pielou
Of the Officers of Council named above, I found mention of Pierce Pielou at a genealogical web site. This revealed that he was born in Dublin on September 3 1870, and died in 1962. He was employed by Arthur Guinness, Son & Co., and was “very involved in Dublin musical societies, the Theosophical Society, the Society for Psychical research, the St.John’s Ambulance Service and the Irish Animals’ Protection League.” He was the author of “The Leslies of Tarbert, Co.Kerry and their Forebears” 1935; “What is Man?”, 1952; and “An Old French Family and Its Huguenot Descendants in Ireland” 1944.

Headstones Dublin, Deansgrange South West SEction Part Four Nos. 451-600

Ireland Genealogy Projects Archives http://www.igp-web.com

No. 545

In Loving Memory of ANNIE wife of LESLIE PIELOU 14 may 1911

No. 546 (On same site as Headstone No. 545)

In Loving Memory of our dear mother FLORENCE GILLESPIE PIELOU 13 May 1952

and our dear father PIERCE LESLIE PIELOU 4 December 1962

No. 547

In Loving Memory of GABRIEL HOLMES PIELOU 22 October 1922

His wife FRANCES CROSBIE (LESLIE) PIELOU 17 October 1919

and his sister ELLINOR MARTHA PIELOU 20 May 1920

William Percival Pielou was born on month day 1833, at birth place, to Roger Percival Pilow and Mary Elizabeth Pielou (born Holmes).
Roger was born in 1800, in Wexford, Bantry, Killane, Ireland.
Mary was born on December 8 1805, in Kilkenny, Odagh, Ireland.
William passed away on month day 1882, at age 49 at death place.

William, Percival Pielou was born on month day 1833, at birth place, to Roger, Percival Pilow and Mary, Elizabeth Holmes.
William married Mary, Elizabeth Colman on month day 1860, at age 26.
They had one daughter: Adelaide Eleanor Pielou.
William passed away on month day 1882, at age 49 at death place.

William Percival Pielou was born in 1833, at birth place, to Roger Percival Pielou and Mary Elizabeth Pielou.William had 7 siblings: Gabriel Holmes Pielou, Susan Eliza Pielou and 5 other siblings.William married Mary Elizabeth Pielou.They had 10 children: Mary Elizabeth Alice Louisa Pielou, William Wynne Pielou and 8 other children.William married Kate Pielou.William passed away in 1882, at age 49.

William Percival Pielou was born in 1872, at birth place, to Gabriel Holmes Pielou and Frances Crosbie Pielou (born Leslie).
Gabriel was born in 1836, in Odagh, Kilkenny, Ireland.
Frances was born on August 28 1843, in Tarbert, Kerry, Ireland.
William had 11 siblings: Pierce Leslie Pielou, Elizabeth Jane Pielou and 9 other siblings.

William Percival Pielou was born on month day 1869, at birth place, to Gabriel Holmes Pielou and Frances Crosbie Pielou.
William was baptized at baptism place.
He had 12 siblings: Gabriel John Pielou, Louisa Frances Pielou and 10 other siblings.
William lived in 1869, at address.
He lived in 1869, at address.

William Holmes Pielou was born in 1893, at birth place.
William married Jessie Blanche Pielou in 1916, at age 23 at marriage place.
They had 2 children: Marjorie Pielou and one other child.
William lived at address, Michigan.
He lived in 1935, at address.
He lived in 1940, at address, Michigan.

William Wynne Pielou was born in 1877, at birth place, to William Percival Pielou and Kate Pielou.
William had 9 siblings: Mary Elizabeth Alice Louisa Pielou, Louisa Maude Pielou and 7 other siblings.

William Gabriel Pielou passed away on October 7 1976.He was buried in Brookside Cemetery, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. queens own cameron highlanders gravestone

William Pielou was born in month 1908, at birth place, to Edward Pielou and Barbara Pielou.William had 3 siblings: Leslie Pielou and 2 other siblings.William lived in month 1911, at address.

Susan Eliza Pielou was born in 1845, at birth place, to Roger Percival Pielou and Mary Elizabeth Pielou (born Holmes).
Roger was born circa 1800.
Mary was born on December 8 1805, in Odagh, Kilkenny, Ireland.
Susan had 7 siblings: Mary Jane Pielou, John Pielou and 5 other siblings.
Susan passed away in 1846, at age one.

Susan Margaret Pielou was born in 1885, at birth place, to Gabriel Holmes Pielou and Frances Crosbie Pielou (born Leslie).
Gabriel was born in 1836, in Odagh, Kilkenny, Ireland.
Frances was born on August 28 1843, in Tarbert, Kerry, Ireland.
Susan had 11 siblings: Pierce Leslie Pielou, William Percival Pielou and 9 other siblings.

Susan Margaret Redmond (born Pielou) married Richard Patrick Redmond.
Richard was born on July 7 1876, in Wexford, Wexford, Leinster, Ireland.
They had 9 children: Aidan Vincent Redmond, Frances Mary Redmond and 7 other children.
Susan passed away.

Susan Margaret Redmond was born on monthday 1885, at birth place, to Gabriel Holmes Pielou and Frances Crosbie Pielou.Susan had 12 siblings: William Percival Pielou, Gabriel John Pielou and 10 other siblings.Susan married Richard Patrick Redmond on monthday 1911, at age 26 at marriage place.Susan passed away on monthday 1955, at age 70 at death place.

Susan Eliza Pielou was born in 1845, at birth place, to Roger Percival Pielou and Mary Elizabeth Pielou.Susan had 7 siblings: Gabriel Holmes Pielou, Margaret Pielou and 5 other siblings.Susan passed away in 1846, at age one.

Sanchia

Birth
09 Sep 1915 • Dublin, Ireland
Twin of Leslie / We congratulate Mr and Mrs Pielou upon the birth of twin-daughters. (Irish Citizen, 14 Aug 1915)

1915

(AGE)

Residence
April 1924 • Dublin, Ireland
…with the Mad Hatter (Sheila Williams) whose dancing won rounds of applause. The “Babes in the Wood” (Leslie and Sanchia Pielou) were, course, attended by a flock of robins—fascinating little tots with brown woolly coats and red breasts, headed by t

1924

Residence
May 1924 • Dublin, Ireland
…Pelham Mayne, a Poppy; Miss Josie Jones, a Rainbow; Sanchia and Leslie Pielou, the Babes in the Wood; Tim Preston Ball, Harlequin; John Keller, a Knight of the Bath; Albert McArthur, Rotunda Nurse; L’Estrange (Irish Society, 10 May 1924)

1924

Residence
abt 1935 • Scotland
…one of the founding members of the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra in 1935 & continued playing until 1980. She taught both the concert harp and Celtic harp at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama for most of her career, & was made a fellow

1935

Marriage
Jul 1939
Mr T . P , Dawson—Miss Sanchia Pielou. The marriage arranged between Thomas Peter, son of Captain and Mrs T . P . Dawson , 3 Kilmaurs Terrace , Edinburgh, and Sanchia twin daughter of Mr and Mrs P . Leslie Pielou , 17 Sandford Road , Dublin

Thomas Peter ‘Tom’ Dawson
(1914–1943)

1939

Death of Husband Thomas Peter ‘Tom’ Dawson(1914–1943)
15 June 1943 • 3 Kilmaurs Terrace, Edinburgh, Scotland
1943

View
Residence
Oct 1944 • Scotland
SANCHIA PIELOU (B.B.C. Orchestra Harpist), IN THE New Academy Hall, Dumfries, On Friday, 27th October, at 7.30. The Orchestra with W. M’CALLUM BLAIR, Conductor, and LILIAN GRAHAM, Leader. Programme includes: Overture, Euryanthe (Weber); Symphony No.

1944

Marriage
15 Apr 1950 • Hillhead Register Office, GLASGOW, Scotland
At Hillhead Register Office . GLASGOW , on the 15th April 1950 NORMAN G . MACEY to SANCHIA DAWSON , twin daughter of Mr and Mrs P . L . Pielou , 17 Sandford road, Dublin

Norman Grant Macey
1950

Death of Mother Florence Josephine Gillespie(1884–1952)
13 May 1952
1952

Death of Father Pierce Leslie Pielow(1870–1962)
4 Dec 1962
1962

Residence
1968
1 Source
1968

Death
Oct 1993

Pierce Leslie Pielou Father

Birth
03 Sep 1870 • Dublin North, Ireland
2 Sources
1870

(AGE)

Baptism
North City No 1, The City of Dublin, Ireland
1 Source
Birth of Sister Elizabeth Jane Pielou(1872–1926)
8 Mar 1872 • North City No 1, Dub, Ireland
1872

Birth of Brother Gabriel John Pielou(1873–)
3 Aug 1873 • Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
1873

Birth of Brother Edward Percival Pielou(1875–1941)
31 May 1875 • Dublin, Ireland
1875

Birth of Sister Mary Gabrielle Pielou(1876–1901)
7 Dec 1876 • Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
1876

Birth of Sister Louisa Frances Pielou(1878–1879)
17 May 1878 • Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
1878

Birth of Brother Frederick Holmes Pielou(1879–1952)
4 Dec 1879 • Dublin, Ireland
1879

Death of Sister Louisa Frances Pielou(1878–1879)
1879
1879

Birth of Sister Annie Eleanor Pielou(1884–1969)
abt 1884 • Dublin, Ireland
1884

Birth of Sister Susan Margaret Pielou(1885–)
Mar 1885 • Dublin North, Ireland
1885

Birth of Sister Frances Evelina Pielou(1886–1893)
Sep 1886 • Dublin North, Ireland
1886

Death of Sister Frances Evelina Pielou(1886–1893)
1893
1893

Death of Sister Mary Gabrielle Pielou(1876–1901)
1901
1901

Residence
Jul 1904
CLERK Guinness Brewery

1904

Marriage
23 Aug 1906 • Boyle, Ireland
August 23rd, at Church, by.the, Archdeacon Clarke, Js the Rev. T. Irwin, B.A, Pierse, eldest son Gabriel Holmes Pielou, 76 St. road, Clontarf. Annie, second daughter Gillespie, The Crescent, Boyle.

Annie Gillespie
(1880–1911)

1906

Residence
2 April 1911 • 68 in Tritonville Road (Pembroke East, Dublin), Ireland
Servant / Aged 40 / GENERAL SERVANT, DOMESTIC / Single

1911

Death of Wife Annie Gillespie(1880–1911)
14 May 1911
1911

Marriage
Jun 1913 • Dublin South, Ireland
Florence Josephine Gillespie
(1884–1952)

1913

Marriage
Jun 1913 • Dublin South, Ireland
1 Source
1913

Birth of Daughter Leslie Margaret Crosbie Pielou(1915–)
09 Aug 1915 • Dublin, Ireland
1915

Birth of Daughter Sanchia Florence Lougheed Pielou(1915–1993)
09 Sep 1915 • Dublin, Ireland
1915

Death of Mother Frances Crosbie Pielou Leslie(1843–1919)
17 Oct 1919 • Deansgrange, Ireland
1919

Death of Father Gabriel Holmes Pielou Esq.(1836–1922)
22 Oct 1922 • Dublin North, Ireland
1922

View
Residence
Nov 1926 • Dublin, Ireland
Animals’ Protection League at 214 Parnell St. (Ryder’s Row) was epened yesterday by Mr. Leslie Pielow. it will be known as the St. Francis Dispensary. Mr. Pielow said its erection was the result of the labours of persons belonging to various animal welfare

1926

Death of Sister Elizabeth Jane Pielou(1872–1926)
1926
1926

Residence
1939 • 17 Sandford Road, Ranelagh, Dublin, Ireland
1939

Death of Brother Edward Percival Pielou(1875–1941)
abt 1941 • East Braintree, Manitoba, Canada
1941

Death of Brother Frederick Holmes Pielou(1879–1952)
13 Jan 1952 • Belfast, Antrim, Northern Ireland
1952

Death of Wife Florence Josephine Gillespie(1884–1952)
13 May 1952
1952

Death
4 Dec 1962
1962

Florence Josephine Gillespie Mother

Birth
24 Feb 1884 • Boyle, Ireland
1 Source
1884

(AGE)

Birth of Brother William Edward Gillespie(1885–)
25 Jun 1885
1885

Birth of Brother Thomas Victor Gillespie(1887–1966)
18 Feb 1887
1887

Birth of Brother Alfred Loughead Gillespie(1889–)
28 Jun 1889 • Ireland
1889

Birth of Brother Percy Joseph Gillespie(1891–)
08 Apr 1891 • Boyle, Ireland
1891

Birth of Sister Ruby Adelaide Gillespie(1892–1977)
26 Dec 1892 • Boyle, Co. Roscommon, Ireland
1892

Birth of Sister Lilian Maud Gillespie(1894–1979)
21 Oct 1894 • Boyle, Co. Roscommon, Ireland
1894

Birth of Brother Joseph Cecil Gillespie Dr(1897–1945)
13 Feb 1897 • Boyle, Ireland
1897

Birth of Brother Frederick Charles Gillespie(1899–1973)
01 Jul 1899 • Boyle, Roscommon, Ireland
1899

Birth of Sister Victoria Georgina Gillespie(1900–)
07 Dec 1900
1900

Birth of Brother Robert Dudley Gillespie(1903–)
03 Feb 1903 • Ireland
1903

Birth of Sister Dorothy Shera ‘Dolly’ Gillespie(1904–1952)
25 Oct 1904 • Boyle, Co. Roscommon, Ireland
1904

Residence
May 1908 • 68 Tritonville Road, Sandymount, Dublin, Ireland
…3rd (on merit), Mrs. Leslie Pielow, 68 Tritonvilie road, Sandyroount. Mrs. Pielow having gained second prize at a former meeting was ineligible for the third prize, which accordingly

1908

Death of Sister Annie Gillespie(1880–1911)
14 May 1911
1911

Marriage
Jun 1913 • Dublin South, Ireland
Pierce Leslie Pielow
(1870–1962)

1 Source
1913

Birth of Daughter Leslie Margaret Crosbie Pielou(1915–)
09 Aug 1915 • Dublin, Ireland
1915

Birth of Daughter Sanchia Florence Lougheed Pielou(1915–1993)
09 Sep 1915 • Dublin, Ireland
1915

Death of Mother Margaret Annie Shera(1857–1928)
Sep 1928 • Boyle, Ireland
1928

Death of Father Joseph Gillespie(1854–1930)
Sep 1930 • Boyle, Ireland
1930

Residence
1939 • 17 Sandford Road, Ranelagh, Dublin, Ireland
1939

Death of Brother Joseph Cecil Gillespie Dr(1897–1945)
1 Mar 1945 • Durban, South Africa
1945

Death of Sister Dorothy Shera ‘Dolly’ Gillespie(1904–1952)
1952
1952

Death
13 May 1952
1952