Arthur O’Keeffe & family

In the west cloister of Westminster Abbey is a white marble monument and bust to the memory of lawyer Arthur O'Keeffe. It was designed by Benjamin Palmer and erected in the late 1750s. The inscription reads:

Near this place lies the Body of ARTHUR O'KEEFFE Esqr. Lineally descended from the KINGS OF IRELAND, The best of Husbands and the worthiest of Men. Deceit and Guile he knew not: Honesty was an innate principle in him. He is gone to receive the Reward of a Virtuous and well spent Life Died the 26th of September 1756. Near this place lies the Body of ISABELLA the Sincere and Affectionate Wife of ARTHUR O'KEEFFE Esqr. Died the 26th of September 1762.

Below the inscription is an achievement of arms and motto, both now rather worn. However, from a book published in 1823, the coats of arms are given as: quarterly of four: 1. Azure, a lion rampant or, for O'Keeffe, 2. Sable, an armed knight proper, on a grey horse, ground vert, 3. or, a peacock in its pride proper, 4. vert, three lizards in pale or, impaling or a chevron ermine, between three trefoils slipped proper.

The supporters are two lions rampant and the motto Forti et Fideli nihil difficile (To the brave and faithful nothing is difficult).

Life

We know very little about Arthur but it seems his home was in Dunbullog in Co. Cork in Ireland (his brother Daniel owned a mill and estate there). It is possible his father was the Arthur O'Keeffe from Ballymaguirk co. Cork in Ireland who was admitted to Gray's Inn in London in 1682-1683. (The family motto is the same but his coat of arms is different to that mentioned above). Arthur the younger was admitted to Lincoln's Inn in 1738 and Gray's Inn in 1740. The Inns were colleges for lawyers. He married Isabella Casburne, widow, at her house in Piccadilly 4th April 1738 by special licence. The marriage was recorded in the parish register of St James's Church, Westminster. His will described him as of Bedford Row, London and his wife inherited his mansion and parklands at Bailey Park, Heathfield in Sussex. Isabella bequeathed all her property to her sister Mary Ann (who later married Arthur's cousin Cornelius O'Keeffe).

Arthur was buried in the cloister on 3rd October 1756 and his wife on 5th October 1762 aged 70. In a codicil to her will she asks to be buried "as near as possible to my late dearest husband" and asks for an inscription for herself to be added to his monument. Also she says "put my dear love's letters in a bag under my head in my coffin and put mine to him under my feet". Bequests were made to children of her half-brother John Burrell as she had no children by either husband.

Arthur's mother Anstis survived him, being buried in the cloister on 12th November 1763 aged 84. Mary Ann O'Keeffe her daughter administered her estate.

Further reading

King James' Irish Army List