Friday, 10 July 2026

William Palmer (1673 - 1739) and his son Benjamin Palmer fl 1712 - 78) - London Sculptors. The Late Roubiliac Type Socle.

 


The 1756 Monument to Arthur O'Keeffe .

In the Cloisters at Westminster Abbey.

Another bust which appears to have the early Roubiliac type socle.

The Monument is inscribed Palmer to the bottom right.

It seems the family home was in Dunbullog(e) in Co. Cork in Ireland (his brother Daniel owned a mill and estate there). 

https://okeefeclan.org/2020/castles/

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. 

He died childless - his will described him as of Bedford Row, London and his wife inherited his mansion and parklands at Bailey Park, Heathfield in Sussex. (now Heathfield Park) Isabella bequeathed all her property to her sister Mary Ann (who later married Arthur's cousin Cornelius O'Keeffe).


Bailey Park was sold in 1766 to Lt Gen. Elliot

 

Arthur was buried in the cloister on 3rd October 1756 and his wife on 5th October 1762 aged 70.













Excerpts from The Marriage, Baptismal, and Burial Registers of the Collegiate Church of the Abbey of St Peter Westminster... - Page 401 Joseph Lemuel Chester · 1876












Page 403 Anstis O'Keeffe in the West Cloister. Mother of  Arthur O'Keeffe





The Will of Arthur O'Keefe.(O'Kyffe) of Bedford Row - PROB-11-826-140. a very short document where he appoints his wife Isabella (d.1762) sole heir and executor.
Isabella left Bailey Park to her sister Mary Ann.



Benjamin Palmer.
Sir William Harpur 
Portland Stone
Bedford