Big usher auction in julianstown

The auction is on behalf of the representatives of Mary Smyth, deceased. An item of local interest is a Parian figure of an angel with provenance in Killeen Castle.

Furniture includes a Victorian mahogany dining table which extends to 12' long and a set of 12 Victorian mahogany dining chairs. There is also a rare pair of Dieppe carved bone Napoleonic prisoner of war mirrors. There are 500 lots in the auction.

A history of Smithstown House, by John McCullen

The Hamlen family are associated with the dwelling and townland since at least 1542 during the reign of Henry VIII of England. Thomas, a get, is listed at Smythstown in 1550. William was Vicar of St.Peter's in Drogheda, and Robert is of Gracedieu, a gent.

John Hameln succeeded and was appointed a Commissioner of Musters in Co Meath with Lord Dunsany, Gormanston and others 'to assess and array the numbers of horse and foot to be supplied in the Queen's service'. (1572). His will made in Oct 13th 1561 lists as trustees James Dowdalle of Knock, William Hamelin of Drogheda. Thomas Bath Fitzgeorge of Drogheda, and John Barnhard of Nynch, Yeoman. Another will was made in May 1589 and he died 12 Nov of that year. Thomas succeeded, his son, aged 23 and married at that time. Substantial lands at Smithstown, Ballemadd, Pellestowne, Sevitsland, Midenstowne, Duleeke, Corballies and Garballagh were held from John Bellew as from the Manor of Duleek, while the lands of Gillenstowne were held in capite, by Knights service.

In 1619, an Inquisition of James 1 , taken at Trim, John Hamelinge is listed with these lands, including 180 acres in Smithstowne and 60 acres in Julianstown. The Civil Survey of 1654 which refers to the base year of 1640 has the proprietor of Smithstown as William Hamlin, papist, holding 'one third part of a 'plowland', 306 acres - arable 240, meadow 6 and pasture 60. The Down Survey describes a 'fair, stone house in good repair' in Smithstown.

Richard O'Callaghan is listed as early as 1804 in Smithstown under a detailed survey of tree planting by Tenants in the first fifty years of the 1800's. He planted 2298 trees, 37 percent of which were coniferous, the rest broad-leaved. This would suggest that many of the trees currently on the lands are over 200 years old. O'Callaghan's are listed as owners in McCabes History of Drogheda and Lewis's Topographical Dictionary of Ireland, both of which are pre 1837.

Sometime in the second half of the 19th century the Osborne family arrive in Smithstown - Francis C Osborne is living there in 1886 as a J.P. and the family remain until after the death of Geoffrey William, aged 26, in June 1918, and RAF pilot in France. He was the youngest son . Francis and Annie Osborne also had a residence at 82, Vincent Square, Westminster, London. The very fine plaster work and Victorian part of the house dates from this period during F.C's ownership. He was locally known as the 'Bowsy' Osborne

At least two Osbornes died in the 1914-1918 War , and after this both Rosnaree House and Smithstown were sold in the 1920's. Richard Drew from Julianstown House who was very successful in property briefly owned Smithstown before James Smith purchased the house and lands in the 1920's He was the Captain of the Louth Senior Football Team in 1912, who defeated Antrim in the Final. Smiths have lived at Smithstown since the 1920's. Jim and his wife Clare had three daughters - Frances, Mary and Ita. He was killed in a road accident in November 1951. Ita married a Fegan and died in 1952, Clare died in March 1975 and Frances passed away in 2009. Mary Smith, the last owner, died in 2014.

The coat of arms at the apex of the south facing part of the house in Latin transcribes as follows: ' Be thou an open door closed to no honest person.' 1577.