Annaghmore, Eglish and Grange were contributions to parish histories, the others data for talks to parish societies.
The cont ents of thes e volumes l a belled Armachiana are simply notes for t a lks to local and visitin g societies in search of material relating to it s histor ic a l b a ck ground and an cient monuments . They a re not of any great i mportance but may p rovide a gu i de to studen ts seek in g d a t a on the county g enerally or on their own distri ct s i n particular . TGF Paterson
Armachiana Volume 9
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Armachiana Vol1 (Armagh County MuseumARMCM.28.2014.61)
The Parish of Aghavilly is a modern foundation but it contains within its boundaries seven townlands long associated with a monastic order or great significance in Armagh. Known as the Culdees it was in early days responsible for the maintenance of Divine Service in the Great Church of Armagh, and in particular, the practice of choral worship seems to have been its special function.
-Under those circumstances the Culdees formed a very important constituent in the economy of the church, for besides assisting with the music they engaged in educational work as well. The Culdee Priory of Armagh was situate in that part of the city that we now know
as Castle Street, a thoroughfare deriving from the castle erected there in 1236 for the defence of the city. Its site is well documented. For instance it is shown in a ruinous state on a pictorial map of the city dra'W?l in 1602 and 1s also marked on Rocque • s map of Armagh of 1760 . I t pre-dated the Castle, of course, by many centuries .
We are told in Irish Annals that in the year 919 Maenach a Celi De came across the sea westward to establish law and order in I reland . Reeves, a former Dean ot Armagh and a notable authority on ecclesiastic
history felt that the reference arose through an effort towards bringing the Irish into oontormity with the rules tor Canons, which had been instituted at the Council of A.ix-la-Chapelle in 816. If so then we may presume that the Culdees were functioning in Ireland previous to the year 919 - indeed 1n that year the Annals record the plunder ot the city, by Godfrey, son of Ivor the Dane, from which we learn that he spared the houses ot prayer with the Culdees and the sick. That event took place on the Saturday be!o~e st. Martin's festlval. and was a contrast to the m.any other raids by those ruthless invaders, who from 836 until their power was f'inally broken by Brian Boru in 1014 repeatedly attacked the city and its churches destroying a wealth of manuscript material, carrying off church plate, slaying the clergy and making slaves or the inhabitants. To that e.ra , however, belongs the famous Book of Armagh, a work compiled 1n one oi' the monastic houses ot the city in the year 807 from older anuscripts now lost .
The Culdees of that period seem to have been the ott1o1at1ng clergy or the town churches but by degrees
they grouped themselves particularly around the great Church", a site now covered by the nave ot our lJth century cathedral. Eventually they became the standing ministers of the cathedral itself and ot various country parishes of which later.
?hey ware presided over by a Prior and so far as we are aware numbered about twelve 1nd1Viduals. '?hey had charge of the service, and superintended public worship wich was pr1ncipallf choral. Later wen Armagh acquired more 1mpol"tance it was thought fit to mul.tiply its dig~taries. This must have taken place shortly after the Anglo-Norman invasion ot which presently. A Dean was then created, and a Chancellor, Treasurer and Prebendaries admitted., No Precentor was, however, appointed because that office was already in existence under another name. In actual fact the Prior of the Culdees continued in the exercise ot his old tunctions whilst the community acted as choir, the Prior ranking next to the Dean in the same sequence as the Precentor now holds that dignity. It 1s difficult now to definitely date the change over fr01D the old system, bllt as we know that Marcus, Dean ot Armagh 1s show in
"Calendar ot Documents relating to Ireland.. under date April ~th, ~38, we can accept the office as then in being. In passing I should perhaps state that the seal or a slightly later Dean inscribed 11 + s. IOSEB DECANI ARDMACHANI was found in l8~ within the precincts of the ancient church of st . Brigid of Armagh, and that from ecclesiastical records it is evident that it was in use from 12,6 until 1262.
At the dissolution or the religious houses in Ireland 151+1 the Culdee community was wrongly and indeed unjustly regarded as a monastic establishment, tbcugh in reality its members were nothing more than an a1 endage or the cathedral, possessing their own special endowment and government. The Crown at that time, however, did not siaze or dispose or the Culdee lands, a property consisting of seven townlands (still named the "Seven Towns") the rectorsh1p of a nu::iber of parishes and certain holdings in Al'tllagh city .
A reli c of that period - i t may indeed belong to the )receding century - still survives. It 1s known a s the Antiphonary or SerVice .Book of Armagh Cathedral and shows the choral parts accompanied by _ the ancient
musical notation . It formed part or the Archbishop Ussher collection and containsobits of the Armagh Culdees from 1549 until 1574.
We shall now move to the Plantation period . Commissioners were appointed by King James I to enquire into the state of the Church in Ireland on Sept. 30, 16o5. Upon their return to Dublin from the North they reported "that certain tythes [tithe] of great value intended to support a college of twenty-two vicar chorals of the cathedral of Armagh had been demised by the ~hen Dean without lawful authority - whereupon the Primate was ordered to sequester the tythes and profits or the college and devote them to the maintenance ot some p~or scholars of the Province, at the College of Dublin, so that ministers might be provided. The Culdee lands were , we know, 1n t~e possession of Archbishop Ussher from 160; until 1609 and only brought in twenty . pounds per year . Later they were managed by Dean Maxwell (ancestor of the present Lord Farnham) for a few years and during that period were set apart for the upkeep ot some Vicars Choral .
In 1610 the Privy Council suggested the replacing and re-continuing of the Vicars Choral and, in 1619
King James ordered that the lands belonging to the Prior and Vicars Choral or the Cathedral ot St. Patrick should be leased to the Dean ot Armagh tor the maintenance of a grammar school and a choir of singing ,uen 1n the cathedral, reserving a portion of the property for a courthouse and gaol subsequently built in Market street. For some unexplainable reason that monarch's good intentions came to nought.-
In 1623, however, an order was made stating that nthe Church or Ardmagh had an endowment of Vicars Choral lldlich had lately been discontinued" and commanding that the said Vicars Choral be replaced in the said church and sustained in their endowuent.
That particul.ar proviaion seOU1s to have come to grief also, so in 1625 the year 'or the death or King James, his successor King Charles I claimed the lands on behalf ot himself and the Crown. Fortunately the demand was resisted and an inquisition duly held at which it wns proved that the Church or Armagh was legally entitled to the lands. In 16,6 the matter reached Westminster and on April 7, i627, a charter was issued oontirming the church in possession and
founding the College of King Charles I in the Cathedral Church of Armagh - that body to consist or 11 a Prior and five Vicars 1n Holy Orders to perform Divine Service therein tor ever 0 , naming Edward Burton as Prio~, a title by whicb in a deed of 16~8 he signs as Prior ot the Cathedral Church or Armagh on behalf of the Vicars Choral and Colledians of same 11 '
Two months after the foundation or the College it was discovered that the lands in question had prev1ously been passed to George Kirke, one of his Majesty ' s Grooms of the Bedchamber. It then became necessary to rt1111edy the defective title so a surrender was demanded from both parties. Kirke complied very quickly but the Prior and Vicars Choral held on to the original C"nartar until March 1633. As a result of their firmness of purpose they were re-instated and incorporated anew on May 23, 163~, the later document re-instituting the College under the earlier description, but omitting the office of Prior and extending the number of Vicars Choral to eight - two or them to be in Holy Orders, and adding four choristers and an organist This seems to have brought about the introduction of boys into the choir .
We have no information as to the progress of the re-organized body tor some time afterwards, due to events in the Civil War ot 1641 and the subsequent Cromwellian occupation of Ireland. Following the Restoration in 166o, the profits ot the lands of the "seven towns 0 woold again have been availabJ.e.
Archbishop Lindsay upon his coming to Armagh found the revenues inadequate so he obtained leave in 172~ · to purchase additional lands. This brought in a supplementary income of ~00 per year. Succeeding Arohbishops of Armagh have taken great care of those tvo endowments and the income arising from them is still in use to-day.
I have mentioned the seven towns of the Culdees several times. We are given a 11st ot them in the Chancery Inquisition taken at Armagh March~~, 162;. 'l'h.ey were the townlands of' Cannadisse.
Enoughsegart
Lisvonowe Magherrall
At the date of the inquisition substantial remains of the Priory were still in evidence including the Hall or main building and two enclosed courtyards .
Before the Reformation the Prior and Brethren were responsible for the spiritual needs of the prebends of Mullabraok, Tynan, Loughgall and Ballymore, four ancient parishes in the diocese or Armagh. At that time the Precentorship was attached to Killevy, the Chancellorship to Kilmore and the Treasureship to Creggan. They also held the parish of Derrynoose, some townlands of which in 1841 became part of the perpetual curacy of Aghavilly, the site for church and graveyard having been conveyed by the Vicars Choral of Armagh and consecrated in the following year .
A list of Perpetual Curates and Incumbents of Aghavilly will be found in Leslie's Armagh Clergy and Parishes. It gives a biographical succession or the pastors or the church from 1840 until 1948. Certain particulars are noted - for instance alterations were made in 1868, and Perpetual Curates gave way to Incumbents in 1871. In 1869 the Vicars Choral ot
Armagh gave £100 towards the erection of a glebe house. Registers of Marriages, Baptisms and Deaths are available from the year 181+4 and presumably Vestry Books also . The latter are indeed the best documentary evidence for the foundation and growth of th e parish .
Lislea
Magherarvill
Bryan o Teage
Donnell o Corr
Richard O Bath
Lisbonna
James Johnston
John Manson
Andrew Bridges
Hugh I Ikellam
Andrew Robinson
William Kennedy
Pattr McKee
Thomas Moffett
John Kennedy
Andrew Pennall
Robert Hamilton
Fredrick Ickson
Kennedas
James Sloan
William Murdagh
Robert Harey
John Moffett
No 1ntonaat1on aa to payers of tax
£or townlanda ot Killynure and Aghavilly
Tenants names PA Manor ot Armagh 1n 1714
Aghervilly
James McCrerry p Jas • .Little p
PatrickMcCarehar P Thos. Little p
John McCarehar p George Ardree P
Enagh
Kennedys
JamesGraham :p
Robt. Munary p
John Munary p
Robert Graham p
ThomasMcCommom p
Jas. McCall. p
Saml. Munary p Richard Allen C
Lisbeno
John Dougan R
Robert Reanside P
John Kennedy p
Jas. Rush p
Jas. Tate p Bryan Dougan R
Robert Kennedy p
Art o Mallon R
Robt. Smith p
James Morrison p
Dunkan McFarlan P
Killenure
John Caswell
William Munary p p
WilliamWeatherspoon P
John Houston P
John McConnell P
John Carson p
Lislea
Neale Gormely R
Jas. McElwrath R
Laur Mauffitt p
John Friar p
Edmond Hanratty p
Mahriarvill
John Johnston Sen.
John Johnston Jun.
Matthew Robinson
Thos . Robinson p p C C
John Sloan
Jas. Bigham
Thos. Ardree
Oeo. Johnston p p p p
Jas. Petticreed P
Hugh Colwell p
Andrew Colwell p
John Colwell p
Alex. Colwell p
Aghavilly
Jane Couser
William Couser Sen.
William Couser Jun. Reps. Joseph Couser
James Wright Reps. Thos. Robinson
Catherine McKenna
John McMahon
James Johnston
John Cooke
James Hutcheson
James Hawthorn
Sarah Johnston
Thomas Hawthorn
Robert Keys
James Keys
Joseph Dodd
John McAleavey.
ORI Griffith'ss ValuationON OF 1864
Enagh.
Judith Keenan
David Conlan
Robert Dobbin
Re-v. Edward Thomas
Osborne Kidd
Robert Kennedy
Felix Garvey
Robert Oliver
Mary Jane Smart
Mary McGrath
Alexander Harvey
Alice Martin
Jane Morrison
John Courtney
John Dobbin
Peter Haffy
Thomas Bothwell
Mary McGurgan
Thos. WilliamOliver
Eleanor Jones
Thomas Keyes
William Couser.
Kennedies.
Osborne Kidd
Robert Kennedy
Hugh Fegan
William Quinn
Bridget Brannigan
Mary Hillan
John Kane
Ann Mackey
William Mccrum (l)
John Boland
Hugh Agnew
Adam Briggs
Wm. Fluke
Michael McParland
Thomas Mccann
John Henry
Hugh Conlan
Alexander Boyd
John Hamilton
Robert Clarke
John McKee
Robert Mccrum
John Hamilton,
Robert Minarry
John Cassells
George Kirk
Anne Mackin
Wm. Tolt
Thomas Hamill
WilliamBell
John Bodel
William Lyons
Sarah Gray
Robert Dunafer
James Johnston.
(1) Mccrum had a flax mill.
Killynure. 1864.
Sarah & Mary Donaghy
Arthur O' Neill
Samuel Taggart
Henry Dennis
Felix O'Neill
James Lennon
Thomas & William 011 ver
William Couser, Sen.
Reps. Joseph Couser
John Skillen
William Couser, Jun.
1B6!t,
Lisbanoe.
Osborne Kidd
John Kirkwood
Peter Harty ( l )
Ann Blackenridge
John W. Davidson
Patrick Delany
Rose McGurgan
Leonard Cunningham
Thomas MeGurgan
Andrew Hashop
William Couser
Ellen Hughes
Anne Adams
James Cunningham, Sen.
James Cunningham, Jun.
Andrew Keyes
John Campbell
Robert Dickinson
Robert Mccrum. (l) Kidd had a flour mill .
1861+.
Lislea.
John McCaffrey
John Corr
Peter McAvinchey
Thomas Wynne, Jun.
John O'Neill
James McCluskie
James McHenry
Catherine Thomson
James Muldoon
Patrick Larkin
Thomas McGleenon
James Moore
John Allen
Frances McGurgan
Terence McGurgan
James Johnston
Thomas Kirk
John Gubbey
Felix Connolly.
1864, Magherarville
George Allen
Thomas Keys
John Keys
Mary Merry
Dennis Murphy
Peter Haffy
Patrick Rorke
Patrick Sheridan
Hugh Coyne
Joseph Haffy
Michael Corr, Jun.
Thomas Corr
Joseph Corr
James Johnston
Thomas Corr
Joseph Dodds
Michael Corr, Sen.
Thomas McAlevy
THE SEVEN TOWNS,
The townlands have had sit1ce l83S a standard spelling. In that year the first Ordnance survey of the County 'Was carried out and efforts were made to reduce town.land or place names to a settled form.
For instance Aghavilly which means 11 the field of the ancient tree" appears in 17th century records as Aghavilla, Aghaville Aghervilly, etc., whilst the tow.land that we now know as Enagh is shown as Enoghsegart Bally-anenay. Its meaning is somewhat doubtful. The prefix Enagh suggests a fair or assembly place of some kind, but "saggart" suggests a priest.
In the 17th century we find the following variants for the other five towns -
Kennedies. Ceanannus, Cennadus, etc. 'lbe name may indicate a head abode.
Killynure. Killynyawoyr Killenure, etc. churoh or wood of the yew.
Lislea. Liosllagh, etc. The Grey Fort.
Magheryarvill
Maghayrearnillarnill, Aghercrooill
Magheramll, Mahriaarvill etc.
Plain of the old tree .
Liabanoe. Lisvonoe, .Lisbono Lisbonna etc. Posaibly the fort of the milkor cows .
Annaghmore Introductory.
The parish of Annaghmore was established as a perpetual curacy 19th October, 1854, and is therefore one of the younger parishes of the diocese. It has, however, an ancient pedigree and can claim descent from three parishes whose roots go back into the early days of Christianity in our country. Of that trinity, Clonfeacle is perhaps the most interesting because of its associations with St. Patrick. Various traditions linking it with the Saint survive, the best known legend being concerned with a journey Patrick made that entailed the crossing of the Blackwater wherein he lost a tooth. It was easily recovered - indeed it shone with such brilliance that it was soon retrieved and quickly found a place of honour in the church. Another version attributes the loss of th~ tooth to a fight between Satan and Patrick in which the devil deprived him of a tooth by a blow on the mouth. The two stories · each relate to a tooth, hence the generally accepted meaning of the place-name - the meadow of the tooth. Clonfeacle' s greatest son was the famous St. Jarlath, a contemporary of St. Patrick, later Bishop of Armagh in which office he died in 481, the third in the long list of successors of St. Patrick.
Loughgall and Killyman are also parishes of great antiquity and historic appeal. The former occurs in the Annals of Ulster in the year 802, and the latter incorporates a parish on the Armagh side of Blackwater 1mown in early days as Derrybrochus, and so appearing in the Annals of Ulster in 668, of which only its graveyard exists. Situate in the townland of Mullanakill its site is well known. At the Plantation of Ulster it was recorded as Ballyneskelly and Mullaghnekilly, the latter a close approximation to the present designation which arose in the 18th century. Anglicized it became Church Hill and in that form gave name to a mansion built adjacent to the old burial place by the Verner family in the 18th century.
lfodern History
Following the Elizabethan Wars and the accession of James I the district was planted with British settlers. Annaghmore and Copney, with other lands in the district ' were granted to John Heron and created a manor in 1610 llllder the name of Aghivillan, an estate that included the small proportion of Broughes wherein the ruined church of that name still stood. Heron died in 1616 and was succeeded in the property by his brother, Sir Edward Heron,
who was later joined by a younger brother William Heron who eventually obtained possession of the Manor, selling it to John Dillon of Castle Dilion, Co. Armagh, in 1620. According to Pynnar's Survey of 1619 Heron had by then "built two small bawnes upon the property with pallazados upon them and ditches a.bout them and near unto them had built some houses inhabited by 13 English families who with their tenants were able to make 26 men with arms 11 • Unfortunately by the time the Muster Roll of 1630 was compiled, Heron's tenants had become tenants of John Dillon and it is now impossible to separate the one group from the other. We do know though that in 1612 John Heron gave Annaghmore in fee with other lands to John Hastings and in the same year leased to David Morgan the lands of Copney for the lives of himself and his two children, John and Margaret Morgan. Both the Hastings and the Morgans disappeared during the Civil War of 1641-42, and from a Hearth Tax imposed in 1664 we learn that both townlands were occupied by native householders. The story of the Heron Plantation has its chief interest in the fact that Annaghmore was one of the town.lands in the grant of 1610. Space is not available for a continuation of the story from the acquisition by the Dillons onwards as we wish to deal with three families
more intimately connected with the parish - the Copes, Ensors, and Verners.
On the 8th April, 1858, Mrs. Anna Cope conveyed the necessary land and on 15th July, 1861, the church was consecrated by the Bishop of Kilmore, acting for Archbishop Lord John George Beresford who was · then in illhealth and died twelve months later. Mrs. Cope was keenly interested in the welfare of the tenants on her Loughgall estate, especially as regards education and temperance. She succeeded in closing the Rock Tavern in Loughgall, the last of a number of public houses in that village and substituted a Coffee Tavern instead. She died 4th May, 1867.
The Copes of Loughgall and Drumilly descended from .Anthony Cope of Hanwell in Oxfordshire, member of an old family long resident in that county. He was created a baronet in 1611, and in the same year acquired the manors of Derrycreevy and Drumilly by purchase from Lord Saye and Sele, the original grantee. Carew's Report of that year informs us that a fair castle of freestone and other hard stone was in process of erection, a mansion now in ruins and commonly called Castleraw. It was situate
within the Manor of Derrycreevy in the townland of Ballyrath. It was built by Sir Anthony's third son, Anthony, and was
severely damaged in the Civil War and so far as is known ,ras replaced before 1670 by a house, since demolished, ear the present Loughgall Manor.
Sir Anthony Cope, Bart., died in 1615, leaving issue -
I. William who succeeded to the baronetcy and the English estates.
II. Anthony of Castle Raw who died in 1634, ancestor of the Copes of the Manor in which branch when the English line of the Copes failed in 1851 an heir to the baronetcy was found in the ~ev. William Cope, a direct descendant of Anthony above.
III. Richard of Drumilly on which property there are substantial remains of a bawn erected some time previous to 1619. He was taken prisoner in 1641 with his wife and two sons and was ancestor of the Drumilly Copes.
The Copes were an interesting family and are credited with having introduced the planting of orchards into the Barony of O'Neiland. The cult of the apple was, however, somewhat earlier. In 1155 the chieftain of the Macans, the then ruling sept of O'Neiland died, and from his obituary we learn that he was mourned by the Clan because of the strong drink he made for the tribe from apples grown in his orchards. Between that date and the Plantation of Ulster references a.re scanty but papers regarding that settlement contain clauses enforcing the planting of orchards. We know nothing as to what happened to thn in 1641-42 but there was an ·abundance of them later.
By 1660 it was usual to covenant for the planting of fruit trees in new leases, and by 1682 cider made in the district was being sold at 30/- per hogshead. Later, in 1689-90, O'Neiland cider was much in demand by soldiers of the Williamite army, and must have been a potent drink judging by results at the Battle of the Boyne. Cider apples have been dropped in favour of other varieties - chiefly cooking types and orchards have greatly increased in numbers and acreages.
The Ensor family is more closely linked with the parish, in that it has been allied with it since its foundation and is still r .epresented. They were originally of Warwickshire and can sport a detailed pedigree in the male line going back without breaks to 1563. They were formerly of Willincote and their first association with Ireland arose through the marriage in 1612 of Athlanta O'Neill, daughter of Ferdoragh O'Neill of Toaghy, Co. Armagh, with John Ensor of Willincote.
The Ensors were not, however, amongst the Plantation settlers in this area. Ardress was then held by the Clarkes, a family connected by marriage with the Copes of Lougbgall, the Obins of Portadown, the Blayneys of Castleblayney, the Verners of Church Hill and other local families.
The present head of the family lives at Rollesby Hall, near Norwich. The connection of the Ardress branch with Ireland began in 1754 with the arrival of John Ensor and his brother George in Dublin. Both were capable and celebrated architects and responsible for many elegant houses in that city. John was undoubtedly the more active of the two. He carried out many commissions on the north side of the Liffey, then a fashionable district, but in 1762 Lord Fitzwilliam induced him to cross the river and plan Merrion Square.
Three years later he laid out Gardener's Row - in the meantime he had planned the Rotunda Hospital, the building by which perhaps he is best remembered. He was also the architect of Northland House, -which he designed for Lord Northland, the head of the Knox family of Dungannon, a mansion that now houses the Royal Irish Academy.
It is, however, with John Ensor•s young brother George that we are most interested. He chief work in Dublin, the Church of St. John the Evangelist, was begun about 1766 and was much admired by writers of that period.
Six years earlier he wedded the beautiful Miss Sara Clarke of Ardress, an heiress well-known in Dublin Society. The marriage took place in Clonfeacle on the 11th October , 1760, and some years later the happy couple took up
residence at Ardress. There was a considerable amount of land attached to the property so architecture had to give way to the management of the estate. Following his settlement in County Armagh he renovated the Clarke home, a house constructed about 1664 on the site of the earlier building destroyed in the Civil War of 1641. In the house remodelled by him the most delightful feature now surviving is the drawing-room with its beautifully proportioned doorcases and graceful wall decorations.
The family has been at Ardress for almost two centuries. During that time members served as High Sheriffs and Grand Jurors of the county. The present owner, Captain C. H. Ensor, O.B.E., is a Deputy Lieutenant of the County, and we are glad to see that in one of his sons the old love of architecture has come to life again. It may well be that Thomas Ensor will yet become an even more distinguished architect than the two earlier members of the family that we have mentioned. He has our good wishes and he certainly deserves them.
We must now pass on to the Verners. Bran.ches settled in Counties Down and Antrim and in the lat~er county a Henry Verner is recordei as early as 1653 and James, Henry, Robert, David and John appear in the
Hearth Money Rolls of 1666-1669. When the family reached County Armagh is uncertain. A John Varner of Loughgall parish made his will 24th April, 1684, leaving issue -
I.
II.
Robert of Termacrannon; Will 6th July, 1747· Proved 10th July 1747· left a natural son and daughter and desired to be buried in Loughgall churchyard, in the burial place of his ancestors.
Edward of Eagerlougher; Will 4th May, 1747; Proved 13th July, 1747; in his will mentions his sons John, Robert and Mathias and three daughters.
III.
IV. V.
Mathias then "beyond the sea".
Elinor, wife of William Cooke. Penelope.
John Varner must have been a man of some substance as his will disclosed the fact that money was owing to him by Sir George Acheson, Bart., who died in the following year (ancestor of the Earls of Gosford) and Captain Francis Chambers, member of an old City of Armagh family, one of whom was M.P. for the Borough of Armagh 1661-1664.
The Verners of Church Hill claimed descent from a Henry Verner of Armagh (Will 10th June, 1724, proved 2nd December, 1724) but his relationship to the above John Varner cannot now be determined. Henry Verner above left issue three sons and two daughters. The second son
David lived at Gillis near Armagh (will 28th October, 1747, proved 16th January, 1748) who left a son James, M.P., for the Borough of Dungannon, who had with other issue a fourth son William, born 25th October, 1782, later Lieutenant Colonel 7th Hussars.
Lieut. Col. William Verner served at Corunna, Orthes, Toulouse, and Waterloo, and was created a baronet 23rd July, 1846. He represented County Armagh in Parliament and died 20th January, 1871. His descendant Sir Edward Derrick Verner, 6th and present baronet lives at Church Hill; Worplesdon, Surrey.
ARBQE,
Arboe - the height or hill of the cow.
The district or parish was probably · so called because it was rich pasture land where, in olden times, the cattle of the neighbourhood were often seen grazing. Tradition has, however, a different origin for the derivation. Locally it is said that when the monastery was being built, a miraculous cow appeared out of the lake whose milk was sufficient not only to supply the needs of the workmen but to slake the mortar required for the building. Eventually the fame of the cow was carried to more distant communities and, as a consequence, she was stolen one night. We are told that wherever she was driven she left her footprints and that even the stones on which she stood retained the marks of her feet so the thief was soon detected and the cow brought safely back. At one time indeed certain hoof-indented stones were still to be seen in the neighbourhood but they have now disappeared. After the little abbey was completed the cow returned into the lake and vanished from mortal sight. In passing I should perhaps mention that Arboe was also known in past times as Ballileagh, a word said to mean "the town of the stones", and believed by some people to have some reference to the hoof-impressed boulders that formerly marked the route by which the cow was driven.
Having thus briefly dealt with the folklore of the parish we shall now examine the known . facts. We know, for instance, that St. Coleman founded a small monastic house here about the end of the 7th century and that relics of the . saint were long preserved at Arboe. The monastery figures seldom in the Annals but it was still flourishing in the 12th century when Murchadh O Flaithegan, a paragon of wisdom and instruction, died in his pilgrimage at Ardmacha in 1103. According to the entry he was the herenach or farmer of the monastery lands but it seems likely that he was an ecclesiastic holding in right of his brethern. In the same century in 1166 the monastery was sacked and burned by Rory MaKaug Makillm.ory Omorna.
Following that date there is a gap of almost three centuries before we again find a reference to Arboe and by then it had become a parish, the first rector that we have any record of being Patrick O Kennallas, who was appointed in 1434, from which time onwards the succession is traceable to date. In passing I may mention that Malachy O'Dongaylee was rector in 1535 - in those days the O'Donnelly's were everywhere from Armagh to Omagh, and indeed they are still a prolific and hardy race.
One matter that we have no information on is how the little community fared in the days of the Viking raids • . As to wha.t happened we can only gues.s. It may be that Arboe
was not sufficiently important to · warrant their attention but as Lough Neagh was a centre from which they raided one cannot assume that it escaped their notice. Curiously enough there is no record of a round tower, a feature that generally arose at places which feared Scandinavian domination. There is, however, the sculptured cross, a relic of that particular period and of which later.
The older church at Arboe is the most northern of the two ruined edifices. Its door was in its west gable but
so little remains of its walls that it is now impossible to describe it architecturally. It was a small building with an interior space of roughly 34½ feet by 14 feet 8 inches, and there is now no sign of graves around it. In shape and size the ruins suggest an early structure, and it is difficult to reconcile certain carved stones of 13th century date with . this church though tradition so assigns them. In 1897 the stones were preserved in the garden of Mr. A. Treanor but I am not aware of their present location. The Abbey though very close to the church is in the townland of Sessia, a place name meaning a sixth part or division.
The larger and later building designated 11 the church" 1s 1D Farnsnagh a townland name said to derive from an Irish word meaning a wide roomy place. It is situate in an old and very overcrowded burial ground, and cannot very well have
been the first church erected on that site;judging from what remains it cannot very well be earlier than the 16th century. It was, _how~ver, in use until about 1713, in which year a new church was opened on a more convenient .site. At the same time the east window was removed from the older church and re-erected in the new edifice.
The internal dimensions of the old church are 63 feet by 19 feet. It had a window in the East and West ends and two windows on the South and North, besides a door in the latter side. A Regal Visitation of 1622 mentions this church as then being built but it is more probable that it should read re-built
The graveyard contains some interesting old tombstones and a 11 Pin Well".
The greatest attraction at Arboe is the cross. The great flowering of such sculpture was contemporary with the national struggle against the Vikings. It seems to have arisen not so much at the time the Norse raids began as later when that invasion had taken the form of permanent settlements in certain parts of our island.
The Cross here mµch resembles the West Cross at Monasterboice, the Cross of Donaghmore the Cross of Armagh, and other crosses of the so-called Ulster Group, and may be dated to about the middle of the 10th century, at which time the Abbey of Arboe must have been in a fairly flourishing
coniition. It . seems surprising that in the confusion of the Viking wars that the efforts of Irish artists should have been concentrated on the most lasting of all arts~ that of carving on stone but these crosses are actually proof of the assertion. Sometimes the crosses bear carvings tha~ go to show that the Irish craftsmen or artists of those days embodied in the early Middle Ages a persistent prehistoric tradition - of which later~ a fact that is true of every country, for in none or them did purely Christian art . develop until long after the introduction of Christianity.
These carvings a~e, however, very different to those on the Christianized stone at Kilnasaggart which you have all seen, a relic that must have been inscribed and in position at least as early as the year 714 but out of such simple things grew, no doubt, these later pictorial carvings of scenes from . the Old and New Testament.
We shall now study the carvings - but before we do so I should perhaps tell you that the earliest account of the Arboe Cross that I am aware of occurs in a tract relating to pilgrimages in Ireland published in the year 1727 which states that the peasantry of Arboe made pilgrimages to the cross, holding that it was better to pray before it then in any other place. At that time it was believed locally that the water exactly opposite the cross had great virtue in it for healing man and beast. Pilgrims ;to the cross went round it
upon their knees reciting the appropriate prayers. At the conclusion of the c~remony,which took place at the west side, they arose and bowed reverently. Having completed the pilgrimage they laid a piece of silver on a stone reserved for the purpose - for the use of a family descended from St . Coleman's clerk, a direction said to have been issued by the saint in his own lifetime, a factor that does not, of course, tally with our knowledge of the date of the Cross.
We shall begin our survey of the Cross on the northon that side there are five panels - they represent the following subjects, beginning at the base:
1. The Holy Baptism .
2 . Moses .
3 . The two women disputing before Solomon.
4 . Solomon ordering the child to be cut in two .
5. Considered doubtful by most people but Mr.J.E . Trainor in his gude to Arboe identifies the subject as symbolical of the nails used in the Crucifixion. Professor Kingsley Porter, however, believed it to be a representation of Cuchulain ~he hero of the "Feast of Bricriuu, and assumes that his identify is verified by his attribute, a hound . This he considered an echo of pre-Christian folklore that had found it s way into a 10th century sculpture .
We shall now move to the east side observing the same sequence.
1. Adam and Eve. You all know the old Irish poem in which Eve mourns in these words -
11 Tis I robbed my children of Heaven By rights tis I should have gone to the Cross, There would be no hell,there would be no sorrow, There would be no fear but for me 11 •
2. Abraham offering up Jacob.
3. Daniel in the lions den - but the figures are not suggestive of lions so the identification may be incorrect.
4. The Ark being borne along - but some authorities suggest . the three children in the fiery furnace.
5. The Resurrection.
6. Christ coming to judgement.
Continuing on the south side and in the same order we have -
1. Cain and Abel.
2. David rescuing the lamb.
3. David slaying Goliath.
4. David and Saul under one crown, but maybe the raven feeding St. Anthony and St. Paul.
5. Doubtful but identified by Mr. Treanor as the crest of St. Anthony, the founder of the abbey of Arboe.
We will now conclude our examination by studying the west face of the Cross - taking the panels as before.
1. The Nativity.
2. The Adoration.
3. The driving of the moneychangers from the templebut all are not agreed as identifieation.
4. The triumphal entry.
.
5. Christ taken prisoner.
6. The Crucifixion.
Local Fam,ilie1a,
The Devlin's were the principal family of the parish and seem to have held their lands under the Archbishops of Armagh. The lands once . formed a district called Munterdevlin, in other words the territory of the Devlin's, and are so designated on the . Plantation Maps of 1609.
The 'territory of Arboe or Munterdevlin seems to have consisted of fourteen townlands and one sessiagh, and an Archiepiscopal Rental of 1615 mentions Toel McNeal O Devlin, Rory McNeale O Devlin, and Neale McNeal O Devlin as tenants in the townland of Terry McKean, and Hugh Art Boye O Devlin and ·Bryan O Devlin in Killygonnalan and Endesor respectively. The remaining townlands do not seem to have been then tenanted or, if so, no names are listed. By 1622 three townlands had passed to Christopher Talbot, ditto to Philip Cashford and Andrew Twicken. At the same time four townlands were demised to Worsley Batten, one townland to Christopher Stockdale and one sessiagh to William Harris. Later rentals show that the above families remained in possession of the fourteen townlands in question but we have not time to-day to examine their tenure of the territoryexcept to say that some of them seem to have been bought out by pr. Allen Cooke, the founder of Cookstown.
The O Devlin's continued and were well represented in Hearth Money Rolls of 1666 . Members of the family paid tax in the undernoted townlands
Achycollen (Aghacolumb) .
Patrick O Devlin
Tavanaghmullan (Tamnavally).
James Devlin.
Killymeanah .
Hugh O Devlin
Killogonlon (Killygonlan).
Donald O Devlin
Tirkwallen Trickvallen
Brian O Devlin
Kinkosh (Kinrush).
Hugh Devlin.
Lurginrool (Lurgyroe).
Cully O Devlin.
Killmiscally (Killmascally)
Art O Devlin.
Arachtor.
Pat O Devlin
Buntruan.
Rory O Devlin.
Anahmor Annaghmore
Art O Devlin.
Art O Devlin.
Phelimy O Devlin.
Shane O Devlin .
Henry O Devlin.
Mullaghnihugh (Mullanahoe) •
Art O Devlin
Phelimy O Devlin.
Other native names of that period still resident in the territory and paying Tax were as under -
McDally
McConaatay
McCuigine
McLacan
McFoldoune
McNally
McSloy
McMukyan
O Quinn
McEtaggart
McGlone
0 Kelly
0 Grugan
McPatrick
McKeey
O Lackan.
At that time the family next to the .Devlin's in importance seems to have been the O Canavan•s,a sept settled in several townlands and actually then noted in the townland of Killikenna alias Killycanavan - British householders were then the Leigh's, Gregory's and Stewart's.
At that time there were no Treanor's in Arboe though they were then represented in various parishes in Tyrone. They were an interesting family and we owe our first published guide to Arboe to a member of that old Tyrone sept .
In an effort to discover the date of settlement of the family in Arboe I caneacross many spellings of the name, and for interest sake we will examine some of the ·variations that came under my notice - they are as follows -
MacTreinfir
Maccreanor
Treanor
Traner
McCrenir
MacCranor
Trainor
Traynor
McKreaner
MacCrainor
Trenor
Tranor
I feel sure, however, that you could add considerably to my list. I believe the surname derives from the son of a champion or may more literally be translated "the strong man 11 •
Appendix to Arboe.
H.M . Roll. Co. Tyrone. 1666. Dungannon Barony.
Ardboe Parish. (Arboe).
Drumard.
Hugh McDally and Donall McConatay.
Feyagh (Feagh).
John Leigh.
Gortgill (Gortigal).
William Gregory.
Drumore (Dromore).
Sarah Stewart 2.
Tannaghmore (Tamlaghtmore).
Shan McCuigine, ·Art McGuigine.
Mullaghglass
Owen McLacan, Edmond McFoldoune, Art McNally.
Ballinaguir (Ballymaguire).
Shan McEnally
Carnan.
Cahall O Quine, Henry McEtaggart.
Killinconly Killycolpy
Art McGlone, Murtagh O Kelly.
Ardboe Parish. (Arboe).
Drumard.
Hugh McDally and Donall McConatay.
Feyagh (Feagh).
John Leigh.
Gortgill (Gortigal).
William Gregory.
Drum.ore (Dromore).
Sarah Stewart 2.
Tannaghmore (Tamlaghtmore).
Shan McCuigine, Art McGuigine.
Mullaghglass
Owen McLacan, Edmond McFoldoune, Art McNally.
Ballinaguir (Ballymaguire).
Shan McEnally. Carnan.
Cahall O Quine, Henry McEtaggart.
Killinconly (Killycolpy?)
Art McGlone, Murtagh O Kelly.
Allpendix to Arboe.
H.M . Roll. Co. Tyrone. 1666. Dungannon Barony.
Ardboe Parish. (Arboe).
Drumard.
Hugh McDally and Donall McConatay.
Feyagh (Feagh).
John Leigh.
Gortgill (Gortigal).
William Gregory.
Drumore (Dromore).
Sarah Stewart 2.
Tannaghmore (Tamlaghtmore).
Shan McCuigine, Art McGuigine.
Mullaghglass
Owen McLacan, Edmond McFoldoune, Art McNally.
Ballinaguir (Ballymaguire).
Shan McEnally.
Carnan.
Cahall O Quine, Henry McEtaggart.
Killlnconly (Killycolpy?)
Art McGlone, Murtagh O Kelly.
Appendix to Arboe.
H.M . Roll. Co. Tyrone. 1666. Dungannon Barony.
Ardboe Parish. (Arboe).
Drumard.
Hugh McDally and Donall McConatay.
Feyagh (Feagh) • John Leigh.
Gortgill (Gortigal).
William Gregory.
Drumore (Dromore).
Sarah Stewart 2.
Tannaghmore (Tamlaghtmore).
Shan McCuigine, Art McGuigine.
Mullaghglass
Owen McLacan, Edmond McFoldoune, Art McNally.
Ballinaguir (Ballymaguire).
Shan McEnally. Carnan.
Cahall O Quine, Henry McEtaggart.
Killinconly (Killycolpy?)
Art McGlone, Murtagh O Kelly.
Achycollen (Aghacolumb).
Patrick O Devlin and Art O Devlin.
Tavanaghmullan (Tamnavally ?)
James O Devlin.
Kill.meanah (Killymenagh) •
Patrick O Grugan Donald McCuigan Hugh O Devlin.
Killogonlon (Killygonlan).
Donald O Devlin Phelimy O Devlin.
Tirkwallan (Trickvallen).
Brian O Devlin Shan O Devlin.
Ballymurfy (Ballymurphy).
Hugh McPatrick Shan McPatrick.
Mullaghvtagh (Mullaghwotragh ?)
Patrick O Lacan Rory McSloy.
Mullan Lower and Upper.
Hugh McMukyan Patrick McKeey Donald McMukyan.
Kinkosh (Kinrush).
Hugh O Devlin.
Kinrosh (Kinrush)
Pat O Canuan
Hugh O Canuan
Lurginrooe Lurgyroe
Hugh O Carman Cully O Devlin.
Killikennan (Killycanavan).
Morish O Canuan
Killrniskally (Killmascally).
Cormick O Lackan Art O Devlin.
Buntruan (pt. of Mullan?)
Rory O Devlin.
Arachtor.
Pat O Devlin
Clonetoe (Cluntoe).
Pat O Devlin
Drumany (Drumenny)
Manus McSloy
Lillach (Elagh)
Quen O Neill
Anahmor (Annaghmore) .
Art O Devlin.
Henry O Devlin.
Quen O Devlin
Hugh O Quin
Rory McCuigin
Mullaghnihugh (Mullanahoe ).
Art O Devlin
Phelimy O Devlin. ·
BALLYMOYER,
This parish derives its name from the custodians ot the Book ot Armagh a manuscript cOlllpiled in Armagh city in the year 807 - the 4:tarllest indeed ot our Irish manuscripts that can be dated with absolute certainty. The original surname ot the McMoyers is not now discoverable but there is p~oot that the hereditary keepers of the book and the various o.f'.fsets ot their .f'am111es eYentually becam• so designated - the word "Maor" meaning keeper w1 th the prefix •Mac" denoting " son or• becoming a .f'amil7 designation.
One of the~ instances of the name on record /\ occurs in the Primatial Registers under the year 1367 concerning a debt owed to the then Archbishop by Thomas MacMoer
:Sut to return to the Book of Armagh it was also called the "Canon o! Armagh• and its custodian sometimes termed the keeper of the Cannon•, a fact that may account for tne Cannons, a still surVinng fami1y name 1n that district.
In 1609 the clan MacMoyer and their ancestors were found to have been time without mind the possessors ot the eight town.lands of Ballymoyer holding under the Archbishop of Armagh beaides a house in Armagh city. Shortly artenrards the lands were farmed out by the See ot Armagh and the MacMoyers became tenants under the Fairfax family who were replaced 1n the succeeding century by the Synotts - ot whom later.
!he last MacMoyer to hold the Book ot Armagh was the notorious Florence MacMoyer (one of the witnesses against the Venerable Archbishop Oliver Plunkett) whose autograph occurs in the manuscript# under date 29th June, 1662. The Book ot Armagh was then 1n his possession but sometime previous to the trial of the Archbishop in 1681 it was pawned by MacMoyer who does not seem to have ever been able to redeem it. At anyrate by- 1707 it was 1n possession of Arthur Brownlow of Lurgan (ancestor or the present Lord Lurgan) in whose .f'amil7 it remained until 1853 when it was purchased by the Rev. Wm. Reeves D.D. (later Dean of Armagh and subsequently Bishop ot Down, Connor and Dromore) who afterwards transferred it to Lord .John George Beresford, Archbishop ot Armagh, by whom it was deposited 1n trinity College Library.
Florence MacMoyer the last Keeper ot the Book ot Al'Ulagh died 1n 1713 and was buried in Ballymoyer churchyard where his tombstone bore the simple inscription "Body ot Florence Wyre 'Wilo d7ed Feb., the 12th, 1713•. The grave and stone were subsequently subjected to gross indignities and the broken atone was later removed to Ballymoyer House for preservation but is now aompletely lost. Florence is said to haYe lived 1n Ballintate and a gl.en in that townland was fol'llel"ly known as Glennawyre i'here are no individuals or that name nov 11Yinc 1n Ballymoyer - those who bore the surname according to tradition haYing changed to other appellations tollowing the uecrution or Archbishop Plunkett.
And now for a brief survey ot the Synotts. 1'hey were an old Roman Catholic family of Waterford descent but Tobias Synott the immediate ancestor of the Ballymoyer branch conformed to the Protestant religion and was present at Deny during the memorable siege. His grandson Richard settled at Drumcondragh near Dublin and was Registrar of the Diocese of Armagh and theroby secured a lease of the eight townlands ot Ballymoyer fltom the Archbishop 1n 1693 He died 1n 1727 lea-Ying an eldest son Marcus whose descendants remained at Drumcondragh and a second son Walter (afterwards Sir Walter) who .inherited the Ballymoyer lease.
Sir Walter Synott had, with other issue, two sons Marcus and Walter - the latter settled at Ballintate and the elder brother succeeded his father at Ballymoyer. Whether Sir Walter erected the old Ballymoyer Bouse is uncertain. I.t so he must have buil.t it many years preYious to his first marriage, an event that took plaoe 1n 1770. '.l!he bride was a Miss Jane Seton and she was the mother of three sons.
I . Marcus ot Ballymoyer(b.l77l, d.185'5) who had a son Marcus of Ballymoyer (b.1816, d.1874) 'Who died without issue, whereupon the property- passed to his imcle Mark Seton Synott
Mark Seton(b.1820) who inherited the estate from his nephew and had with other issue a son Mark Seton Synott, a Captain in the ArmaghLight Infantry, who died unmarried in 1901, and vaa suoc.adecl at Ballymoyer by his sister Mary Susanna Synott wife ot Major General Arthur Fitzroy Hart .
General and Mrs Hart assumed tbe additional name and arms ot Synott in 1902 and had (with two daughters) issue two sons, Arthur Henry Seton Hart-Synott and Roland Victor Oke Synott r . Hart-Synott 7oungest sister, Charlotte Synott, married Sir R.C. Hart, v.c., younger brother of {ajor General Arthur Fitzroy Hart.
In ear~ times Ballymoyer seems to have been an appendage or the parish ot Armagh. Its histol'7 is, however, somewhat obscure. The Genaal. 0 Map of Ulster ahuws the church 1n 1609
Whether the l.ater church bu1J.t 1n the reign ot Charles I was on the same s1 te or not is uncertain, though 1 t does indeed seem llk:ely. Ferguson - of whom l.ater - records the ract that the vall.s of the church 1n the old. graveyard ware erected then but that the fine oak roof had never been covered 1n and that it remained 1n that state until all the joists were stolen by the coun'h'y peopl.e. Mtenrards when the church came into use again, circa 1776, roreign fir was used. In its renovated condition it served its purpose until the present church was constmcted 1n 1822 on a site adjacent to its predecessor and dedicated to St. Luke. It was, as you know. enlarged in l.86S, the restoration being carried out 1n the Middle Pointed Style and a chanee.l added 1n memo17 of Marcus Synott 'Who had died ten 7ears earlier.
pariah was one or tour old parishes added or UD1ted to Arma&h 1n the nign or Charle• I, and from then until 177' nau to haY• been worked tram Armagh when SIU'Vi'fing parish
registers give some intol'lllation on matters relating to Ballymoyer ao7er from 1754 onwards until reformed into a sepa.rate parish.
The earliest parish school that we knov of was established in the old Glebe House in 1819 during the pastor.ship of the Honble. and Rev • .John P. Hewitt son of Lord Lifford the then Dean of Armagh. He was at Ballymoyer for .f'oUl' years only but
1n that time he buil.t, by Yoluntary subscriptions and some aid .from the Lord Lieutenant•s school .tand, a Parochial school v1 th apartments for a master. Opened in 1821 the school. was capabl.e of accommodating 150 scholars. The average dail.y attendance then vas, however, 60 to 65, and included Roman Catholics as was usual in those days. From a Report on Irish Education made in l.826 we discover that 1n that year Nicholas and Margaret Matchett were teachers, that the school cost £200 to build and had a roll of 16 pupils or the Established Church and 23 Roman Catholics, or whom 23 were boys and llt females.
In 1816 the Rn. Joshua Ferguson (Perpetual Curate l.8031819) wrote a short account or the parish for Mason's Parochial Survey ot Ireland", rrcm which we learn that two lead mines had been worked here but wre then deserted owing to disuse. Be al•o mentions the old house at Ballymoyer buiJ.t cil"oa 1776 bJ Sir Walter Synott and then in oocupation ot his 10n Marcrus, besides Ballintate l.atel.y built by another son Walter. At that time Lurgana was oecup1ed by Mr. WilliamReid agent ot the Synott estate.
In the parish there were then rew houses without one to four looms or even six and the women and children spun and wound quills whilst the husbands and sons wove excellent linen. they also manutaetured broadcloths• blankets and druggets .tor theil' own use and did a small trade 1n pigs and butter ChiJ.dren 1.~re trained at an eal'ly period to habits ot industry and assisted their paMnts in agneu.J.tu.re and weaving
As regards houses we are told they were neatly thatched and white-washed and the interiors generally clean and informed that the clock had taken the place ot the hour-glass . At that time there was not a single public house in the parish and great care was being taken to prevent illegal distillation
A. few ot the inhabitants spoke Irish but the prevailing language was English stl'ongly marked amongst the Dissenters by a broad Scotch accent. Their appearance on Sundays at their respective places o.t worship was decent and eOllfortable. The dress ot both male and female was !Mf1118ntly manufactured 117 themselves but, alas 9 purchased finery was becoming too pNTalent amongst the youtbf'ul f'emales, and there was a d1spoa1tion 1n the parishioners that made them apply to attornies and magistrates on trifling occasions. They also had a belie.t 1n fairies and lucky and unlucky days.
A great deal. ot hea,h7 lands were then being reclaimed th cost ot nab work aTeraging £20 per acre. Rents were aocor41ng to the qualit1 or the holdings from 2/6 to £1..,.9 . per acre,
and all limestone used in tillage had to be d:rawn trom Armagh and burned in local kilns on turf fires - peat being then plentif'nl in the district. At that time labourers received 1/l per day with diet and 1/8 without. On the Glebe farm the rate was 8d. per day w:t th diet all the year rouod.
In l.816 we are told by the same authority that •neither property nor riches had been allotted to the inhabitants N• A few were in a better state of opulence. A large proportion possessed all. the comforts of life and none were without necessaries. Beggars were to be seen occasionally but they were from other parts of the countey. The peopl.e, we are inro?'llledt were a healthy and hardy race, many of whom attained 80 7ears, whilst instances of 100 years were by no means infrequent.
Second Report Commissioner ot Education 1826. Ballymoyer
Knockavannon Nicholas and Margaret Matchett. Est. Church. Pq. Income £27.13.lt. Good school.. Cost £200. Bliilt by su.bacription aided by Government. 16 &at. Church• 21 Roman Catholic 23 male and ll+ teaale. Master receives £2 fl'Olll Lord Lifford, £l trom Rev. H. Graves. Female School 1+; pUpils.
Tate. Peter Kannon. Roman Catholic. Pa,1. Charges trom. 2/6 to '51'5 per quarter. 20 Roman Catholics. 12 male and 8 female. Held 1n a comf'ortable slated barn.
Lurginagh Joseph McComb. Seceder. Pq £9. l 111serable hovel school house about to be bu.ilt. 1 Est. Church, 21 Presbyterians, Roman Catholics. 18 male and lit female.
Rental OF fHE ARCHBISHOP OF ARMAGH 1615
Manor Ardmagh 1.61.;.
+1mtar 41 Ballemoire
y . !wo balliboes called Lurgenagh and Lishecanal.a Lackan At mr ~per an.
Patrick McIlmoyre flllO balliboes unsetthKNOCKivenan Ivenan andPatk. McGohigan and Aghnecorick At XVI par an,, ho oxen Toell McDonnell . ot tvo years old, tour tatt muttons, eight henns, two tatt hoggs, tour barrels ot oats, xx days work w.1.~h a man and garron.
Cormick McImoyre and Patrick McImoyre his son.
Morria McImoire, Turlo McImoire and Shane McImoire
Patrick McImoyre and Patk. his son.
fw balliboes unsett.l At MII per an.
Two oxen ot two years old, tour tatt amttons, eight henns 1 two f'att hogs, tw barrells of barley, liwo barrels ot oats, xx days work w1 th a man and garron.
To have two sessiaghs called MULLANY and Tremullagh At XVI per an. One ox 1n every year & half, tw tatt muttons .foure hanns, one fatt hogg, two barrels of oats, ten days work with a man and garran.
One balliboe Ballentemple and one sessiagh
1n Ballintate At rn.6a.8cl. per an. oae ox two tatt muttons, toure hens, one tatt hogg, two barrel.ls ot oats, ten days wrk w1 th a man and garran.
1. 2.he Nntal does not discloae the names of these balliboea.
Hearth Money Roll or BaJJ;xmQYOr,
Modem o.s. Spellings in brackets.
Ballintemple Ballintemple
Patte McSharry
Patte
TurlaghMcIlroye Duffe Mooney
Peirce McIlgoy
Torlagh McHoldony
Bryan O Tonner
Murtagh o Tonner
Shane McShirry
Patt roe McShirry
Cavannekill Cavanakill
Phellom McShane
Phellom McKeever
Turlagh McShane
Owen McKeone
Rory McKeone
Patt McKeone
Carrowbatt (Corlatt).
Patte Grome McSharry
Lurgannah Lurgana
Comick McKeene
Connor O Shirrilan
Gillaspick McDonnell
(1'he eight towns ot Ballymoyer
Tatri (Balllntate)
Alexander McDonnell Faghecurk Aughincurk
Neece McParlan
Artt McParlan
.Bryan o Toole
Comack Boy McParlan
Shane Boy McParlan
Owen McParlan
Utlacki ( Outleckan
Alexander McDonnell
Art McKeone
Hugh McCarvillan
Patte O Mulcroone
Knockevan Knockavannon
Roland McDonnell forlagh O Convery
Patte DonnellMcIlgalloghy McIlrullin
Hugh O Maddygan
Donnell O Lamph
Ashe's ACCOUNT OF THE LANDS OJ' THE ABCHBISHOPS OF ARMA.GR IN 1703
Aghincurke Dus contains 26o acres lreisb
PlantacionMeasure Randell McDonnell John O Hughes & Cullogh o Converry 1llho hoe each a Sllall farme House with Barnes, Stables Cov Houses and small gaden Plotts. And under them some Cottiers are Tenants. '.?his is a corce GNaaing Fal"Dle. It l.7es in the IIOUDtains on the road to Dublin. There is ot it about ,o acres of arrable land.
Tate fhis contains 12~ Acres x·reish Planta<don Measure Paule Moore O Neile & under him are Danniell McKenne Danniell Cullen Patrick Magee Phelim Cargett lllbo have each a small 1'a1'1De house with be.mes stables &c &c under them are several.l. cottiers tenants. It is corce arrable pasture land.
Correlett !his contains 121 acres Ireish
Plantacion Measure Owen McParlon is tenant. 1'b.e l.and is like to that next above. There is no house bltt a;L cabb1n tor his bearcl. And it is under come & stock.
Cavankill !rhis contains 381 acres Ire1sh Plantacion Measure James Savage & under b1m Manus Toner Alexander & John McClelan Andrew Macateere & John Muckelroy mo have each a smal.l fume bouse and under them some smell cottiers It J.s corce arrable & pasture land &o.
Outlackan This contains 321 acres Ireiab Plantaoion Measure prGritable land and 91~ acres Ireiah Plantac1on Keasu:re Bogg and Mountain
Thady Galloghy & nnder him are James Donnelle Thady Toner Phelim McOwen who ban each a anall tam bouae &o - l,Qk Galloghe is a Parish priest 8' bia house is bu.1.lt with stone and have s~:Ji, • cottier under them are tenants. nus 1 arrabla & panun land &c. s coroe
1
ACCOUNT OF ?HE LANDS OF '.tHE ARCHBISHOPS OF ARMAGH IN 1703.
ts Acrs. County ot Armagh. s ard ott •
Ballintample 1h1s contains 619 acres Ir~i.sh Plantacion Measure. Mr. Edward Courtney an under him 1'he Lady Atcheson who has the greatest part of 1.t under her own stock. The rest she setts to Florence & Patrick Moyer & Phelim McDonnell who baw each a small tarme house & under them are severall. cottiers. this to'141 land .tomvl.y stood the Parish Church ot which nothing now remains but the ol.d wall.• within which at the east end there grows a luge ash tree. It 1a very good mountain pasture and there 1.s about 80 aores ot it under come & some meadows. Rent P•
,a.6
Knockavannan 1'h1s contains ?lt6 acres Ireish Pl.antacion Measure John Hanlan & under him Randall McDonnell & under him Patrick Kennan Cormuck Moyer and Patrick Jones who have ot them a small tame house &c &c under them some cottier are tenants. The land is like to that aboYe.
177 Lurgenagh 1'h1s contains 1'17 acres Irei.sh Plantacion Measure Randall McDonnell & under hill Henry Glassford William Frisell al.s. Friser & Alexander Donnellson who have eaoh a smal.l house &c. The l.and is like to that above. ill. the above town lands lye together about 8 mil.es tram Armagh and are bounded w1 th Tullevallan1 an West Lisdrumhur South Sir Nicholas Atcheson s Land Eaat and Lol"d Charlemont s Land North _ Jga Ott Ballelackan which is now call.• d Outlackan lackan one Mr. John Ball has taken abou-e "20 acres ot land & added it to ~van his own estate. !his as I was 1.ntormed upon the la upon enquj.ry I .find that he 'Who was to :i ~tear is lonb since dead & I cannot yet meet 8 bet~~2 tat knovs the Meer• s so wll Primate'ss htow lands as to make out Lol"d the oburoh ha! be!: :~•:r2oacres. It is owned and 1ndffd I don•t yet meat~s::~ion ~! Y••~• oan proTa the ahurcb ner 1 &nfDOdJ that gaYe orders to enquire tuJ:tnh posaea91cm. 1 tore quere. •r attar 1 t there-
ASHE• S ACCOUNT OF :ta
1.n11 ~GHLANDs OF nm ARCHBISHOPS o, ... 1B 1703.
• Tennts A.ors. Lease Richard s,nnott Gent.
'1.17
County of Armagh.
Ballintemple 1111,,.,1
6
Plant _; • .,.u.s contains 19 acres Ireish a-.on easure. Mr. Edward Courtney and unde:r him 1'be Lady Atcheson who has the greatest part ot 1t under her own stock. the ;:st she setts to Florence & Patrick Moyer cl: PhelimMcDonnell 'Wb.o han each a small tarme ~se &under them are severall cottiers. On wus to,a land to:rme:rl)' stood the Parish Church o:f 'Which nothing now remains but the old walla within which at the east end there gl'Owes a large ash tree. It is very good mountain pasture and there is about 80 acres ot it under corne & some meadows.
Rent P•
Knockavannan 1'his contains 7't6 aCNs Ireish
Plantacion Measure John Hanlan & under h1Dl Randall McDonnell it under him Patrick Kennan Cormuck Moyer and Patrick Jones 'Who have ot them. a aal1 fame house &c &c under them some cottier are tenants. 1'be land is like to that aboYe.
Lurgenagh
1'h1s contains 17/ aeres Ireish Plantacion Measure Randall McDonnell & under h1a Henry Glassford William Frisell als. Friser & Alexander Donnellson who have each a small house •• The land is like to that above. ill. the above town lands lye together about 8 11111.es ban Armagh and are bounded With Tullyvallan west Lisdrumhur South Sir Nicholas Atcheson s Land East and Lord Charlemont• a Land North.Jkab ott Ballelackan which is now call' d Outlackan rackan one Mr. John Ball has taken abou~ '20 ac:re• QE l.and & added it to Tullivan his own eatate. this as I was intormed upon
upon enquil")r I find tb.f. t he 'Who was to tbis appear is long sinoe dead & I cannot yet aeet with anybody that knows the Meer•s so wll betwixt the 2 town lands as to make out Lord Prillat•• s right to thoH 20 acres. It 1a ome4 the ohuroh has been out ot possession many yeara and indeed I don't 7et aeatt with aDYlod7 that oan pron the aburoh ner in - I gaYe o:rders to enquire f'u.l'ther attar it thereton quere.
Manor of Armagh1713
Corlett
Richard Synott, Bsq.,, chiet tenant.
Under tenant, Wa. Carga
Cavanakilly
Richard Synott, Esq., chief" tenant.
Under tenants,
William Quin R. WilliamDucky P.
PatrickMcQuoen R. John Paddy P.
JamesMcCoen R. JamesMoyar R . Moyar .
PatrickMcParlandR. Bryan O'Loe Loe R.
Charles Morris a. Owen Conegan B.
Knockavanan
Art O'Loo Neale McKee
John McCabe Edmond O'Quin
Richard Synott, Esq chief' tenant.
Under tenants•
PatrickMcCanna ll. Daniel McQuoen R. PatrickCoonegan ll. Manus Mccanna It. Edmond McCanna R. Denis Corley R. Teigue McCanna a. Alex McQuoen R. Laughlin McCanna .a. Bryan o Tonner R. Bryan .McRorey R.
Lurginagh su.ppoNd to be Lisdrumard 1n rontal.
Richard Synott gent, cbiet t~nant.
Under tenantsa
John Frizell
WilliamFrizell p • HughPatterson P• WR. McHaghie p. Samuel1. Weyer P. J as. Weyer a. R.
ltENUL OF m& .-&CB.J:lisaop OF ABM.&.Ga, 1713.
IIAPE et ltntrh l,Z\]1
Corlett
Richard Synott Bsq., chief tenant.
Under tenant, 111a. Carga
Cananakilly
Richard Synott, Eaq., chief tenant.
Under tenants,
William Quin R. Wm. Dllclq P. Art O'Loo R.
Patk. McQuoen ll. John Padq P. Beale McKee a. Jas. McCoen R. Jas,. Morar R. John McCabe R. Patk. McParland 11.. Bryan O•Loe a. Edmond o•Qu1n R., Chal'les Morris a. Own Conegan R.
Ilichard Synott, Baq,., chief tenant.
Under tenants,
Patk. Mc:Canna a. 1>an1el McQuoen B. Patk. Coonegan ll. Manus Mccanna R. F.dmond McCsnna B. Denis Corl.e7 R. !eigue McCanna a. Al.ex MeQaoen B. I.auchl1n KoCanna a. Bryan o %onner :a. Bryan .MoRorq R.
LUROIBAGB suppoN4 to be Liadrumai-d in rental.
RichJad s,nott, gent, chief t~nant.
Under tenants•
John J'r1•ll • Frisell p. Hu. Patterson P. w.. Hollaghie p. Samu.el We7er P. J aa. Weyer R. R•
Rental OF THE ARCHBISHOP OF ARMAGH; 1713.
Richard Synnott, Eaq., chief tenant.
Under tenants:
Philem McAnally a. Tiegue O Tonner a. Patk. O Murchian ll. Loughlin Hanretty R. Neall o O'MuckianR. Rodger O O'MurchianR. PatrickBrangan R. Torlagh o Brian R. John Palmer C.
,w.i (1.n rent l"Oll Ballintate).
RJ.chard Synott, Esq., chie.t tenant.
Under tanantsi
Daniel O O'Cullen
PhelimMcGee
Art McQuort
Art Carragh B. Bryan o O'Lederana. Roger Kennedy R. R. JamesMcCampbell .a. Bryan O O'LederanR. a. DanielMcGee R. Daniel McKinny R. a. Demod Mclvane B. PatrickMcGee · R. John Cranton P .
Aghencorke
Richard Synott, .lsq., chief tenant.
Under tenants•
John Hughes
Cullow Conway R. OwenMcSberry R. Hugh McSherry a. oven O'Connery a. a.
Lismackin supposed to be the same with Ballintemple
Richard Synott, sq., chief tenant. In this land atanda t e old church ot Ballymoyer
John O'Neill, Patrick McShane, Patrick Tonner Bryan Tonner t nantsa
R. ocker McGonmy R. Patricko Donn Donnelly a. R. Turlough O O'Sheall a. h O O'Neill R. n. Ph PhellomyDonnelly R. P PatrickTonner a. ' Tiegue o Carran a•
HART-SYNNOT OF BALLYMOYER.
The late Maj. Gen. Arthur Fitzroy Hart-Synnot, c.B., c.M.G., or Ballymoyer Co. Armagh, J.P ., b. 4 May, 18~4; m. 22 Dec. 1868, Mary Susanna, now of Ballymoyer, eldest dau. of Mark Seton Synnot of Ballymoyer D.L., and sister and co-heir or Mark Seton Synnot, of Ballymoyer, J.P., and d. 29 April, 1910, leaving issue,
1. Arthur Henry Seton, D.s.o., Major E. Surrey Regt., b. 19 July 1870.
2. Ronald Vic!or Okes, D.s.o., B.Sc. Lond., Lieut. E. Surrey Regt. (retired l90ltJ, b. 24 July, 1879.
l.. Beatrice May.
2. Horatia Annette Blanche.
Maj. Gen. and Mrs. Hart assumed by Royal Licence, l.7 Feb. 1902, the surname of Synnot in addition to and arter that or Hart, and the arms of Synnot quarterly with the arms of Hart. Maj. Gen. Hart Synnot was educated at Cheltenham College, Royal Military College Sandhurst, and Staff College; appointed an Ensign in the 31st Regt., 23 Dec. 18641 Lieut. 29 May, l86z1 Capt. 13 June, 1874· Brevet Major 29 Nov. lu79· Major l July,_ 1881; Brevet Lieut.-Col. 18 Nov. 1882• Col. la Nov. 1886, Major. Gen. Commanding 1st Brigade Aldershot1897-99, and 5th Brigade, &c., South Africa Field Force 1899-1902; commanded the 1st Bat~. East Surrey Regt. 1891-5. He received the 4th class of the Order of Osmanieh for his services in Egypt in 1882, was made a Companion or the Bath 1889, and of the St. Michael and St. George 1900.
LINEAGE (ot Synnot). Tobias Synnot, of Co. Londonderey, gent., was brought up a Protestant, and was in Londonderry during its celebrated siege. His eldest son,
Thomas Synnot
Town Major of the city or Dublin and Capt. 1n Luoas' s Regt. of lii'oot 17ll, whose will, dated 10 March, 1724, was proved 5 July, 1726, d. May, 1725, and left a son and heir,
Richard Synnot, of Drumcondragh, Registrar of the Diocese ot Armagh, whose will dated 28 March, 1727, was proved May, 1727. He m. April, 1t94, J8l1:\ dau. of Edward Bloxham, gent. of Dublin, and had (with a dau. Anne, m. St. John) a son,
Hart-Synnot OF Ballymoyer
Mark Synnot, or Drumcondragh, bapt. 8 May, 1696; d. 19 lov. 17~. He m. lst 1 Euphemia dau. or - Rivers; and 2ndly 16 Sept. 1769, Anne, dau. or Walter Nugent, ot Carpenterstown, Co. Westmeath, by whom he had issue,
1. Mark, of Drumcondra.gh, m. 28 Feb . 1777, Susanna, dau. or James Nugent, of Carpenterstown Co. Westmeath, co-heir and eventually sole heir, or her only trother John Nugent, and by her (who d. 29 March, 1778) had issue, an only son, Mark, his heir. Mr. Synnot served the office ot High Sheriff of Westmeath 1789, and dying March, 1789, was s. by his only son,
Mark Synnot, of Monasteroris House, King's Co.~ b. 20 Dec. 1777; m. June 1807, Mary, dau. of Robert Wilson of Monasteroris, and by her (who d. l~ Feb. l.841) had s . .. '
(1) John, d. unm. at Madeira, 27 Feb. 1839.
(2) Richard, d. unm.. 17 Feb. 1841, when the male line of the elder branch of Synnot became extinct, and the estates devolved upon the daus. as co-heirs-at-la-t..
(l) Susanna, d. unm. 11 March, 1842.
(2) Maria, m. l+ Aug. 1842, George Woods Maunsell, 2nd son or Richard Maunsell., of Oakly Park, Co . Kildare, and has issue (see Maunsell o:r Oakly Park).
(3) Anne Jane, m. 24" Aug. 1843, Mark Seton Synnot, l.ate of Ballymoyer, and d. 14 Nov. 1898i leaving issue.
(~) Charlotte Augusta, m. 10 Dec. Sito, Charles Cottingham, only son or James Johnstone, of Drum, Co . Monaghan, and left issue, Charles Synnot Johnstone, 7th Dragoon Guards, d. at Melbourne, Victoria, March, 1878.
Florence, m.
Mrs . Johnstone d. at Teneriffe 16 Nov . 1853, and Mr . Johnstone at Baden-Baden, July 1870.
Mr . Synnot d. at Grove House, Clapham, 7 June, 1838 .
2 . Walter (Sir), of whom presently.
1 . Mary m. 1766, William Smyth or Drumcree, Co. Westmeath, and by him (who d. May, 1827) had issue .
HART-SYNNOT OF BALLYMOYER.
The 2nd son, ~ir Walter Synnot Knt. or Ballymoyer High Sheriff co. Ar a;., 1783, m. 1st, 770 1 Jane dau. of John Seton, of Camberwell ul ~ , representative or Seton of Parbroath, and sis~er of John Seton, or NewYork, and by her (wo d. 1803) had issue, 1. Marcus, his heir.
2 . 'Walter, of Ballintate, Co. Armagh Capt . 66th Regt., •• 1st, Catherine, dau. of Henry Smith, ot Beabeg, near Drogheda, and by her had an only son,
1. Walter, b. 12 March, 1807 . Hem. 2ndlyt Elizabeth, dau. of George Houston, and by her {who a. 183~) had issue ,
2 . Roberti m. 1 July, 1846, Catherine, eldest dau. or - Bal Ballintine d. 1871, leaving issue .
3. George, of Fernside, Geelong, m. 12 Dec . 1844, Catherine Holmes, 2nd dau. of Joseph Mathe!t of MaytoneHouse, Co . Armagh, and d. 1 Julfl .w71, leaving issue by her, who d. 13 Feb . 188,
(1) Walter Seton, b. 2lt May, 1847· m. 23 March, 1872, Lucy Emily Nixon, dau, or wi1 11am Lucas 1 and has a dau. Anna Lucas, b. lo March1... 1873, m. ~O Feb. 19081 Lieut . Col. Sir George Charles Trhomas Steward, K.B . E., c.M.G., who d. 10 May, 1920.
(2) George Nugent, b. 29 Oct. 18~9 .
(l) Mary Jane Cumberland, m. 10 Jan. 1862, David Boswell Reid, and d. It- Jan. 187lt, leaving issue .
(2) Catherine m. 26 Aug. 1873, Travers Adamson, B.L., son of Travers Adamson, of Carn Park Co. Westmeath, and by him (who d. 1t- April, 189·1), had issue, three daus . Mary Synnot Travers, Catherine Fanny Travers, and Janet Adelaide Travers.
4. Marcus, d.s.p . ;. Albert Erasmus, d. Dec. 1859, s.p .
6 . Monckton, m. and had issue . 7.w1111am, d.s. p.
H.ART-SYNNO? OF BALLYMOYER.
8. Nugent.
l.. Jane, lll. Thomas Manifold, and had issue.
2. Mary Anne, m. ll Fab. 1857, Rev. Montagu Williams.
3. Catherine, m. - Cobham.
Capt. Synnot m. 31"dl.y, 8 April, l836t Mary Jane, youngest dau. o! Joseph Mather of Maytone House, Co. Armagh, Dy whom ("lho m. 2ndly, Charles MacArthur 2nd son of Hannibal Hawkins MacArthur, M.P.) he had no ssua. He d. 1850.
Sir Walter m. 2ndly_, 10 Aug. 1804, Ann Elizabeth, dau. o:f Rev. Robert Martin-, and nad by her a dau., Elizabeth, wii'e of Rev. Fitzgibbon Stewart, and a son,
3. Richard Walter m. 12 April, J.836, Henrietta, dau. or Henry Thornton, ot Battersea Rise (who d. 1853), and d. 20 April, l8ltl, leaving a son, Robert Harry Inglis, M.A., Ch. Ch. Oxford, 1803, m. Mary, dau. ot - Preston, and d. 12 April, 1872, s.p. and a dau., Henrietta Louisa.
The son and heir,
Marcus Synnot, ot Ballymoyer J.P., served as High Sheriff, Co. Armagh.1 1830, o. 21 J'une, 177, m. 29 June, 181.lt, Jane, dau.. of Thomas Gilson, of 'Wood Lodge, Co. Lincoln, and by her had issue,
1. Marcus his heir.
2. Mark Seton, of Ballymoyer, heir to his brother.
3. Parker George, b. 1824; m. 9 Oct. 1856, Georgiana fhorpe, eldest dau. of William Verrall, of The Manor House, Lewes, Sussex, and had issue,
l. Marcus, b. 22 Jan. 1858.
2. William George.
i. Georgiana Constance, d. 1870.
2. Jane Seton, m. 1887, Rev. James Madden Ford,B.A.
2 . Maria Eliza, m. Sept. l8lt-8, R~v. Alexander Rowley Miller Rector of Lissan, Co. Tyrone, and has issue; he d. 1877.
3. Agnes Jane, m. 17 ~u.ly, 1851, Rev. Francis Crawford, Rector of Derryloran, Co. Tyrone, and has issue.
4. Barbara Cecilia, m. 22 Sept. 1869, George Crawhall, of The Priory, Nun-Monkton, co. York.
5. Juliana Hewitt.
Hr. Synnot d. 3 Feb. 1855, and was s. by his eldest son, Marcus ~ot of Ballymoyer House, J . P. and D.L., High Sheri.1'.'f, 1856, b. 19 Feb. 1813; m. 28 Feb. ls>+lt-, Ann, eldest dau. of William Parker, of Hanthorpe House, Co. Lincoln, and d.s.p . 8 Oct. 1874, when the estates devolved on his brother, Mark Seton Synnot1 of Ballymoyer, Co. Armagh~,J.P., D.L ., High Sheriff 1876, b. jl July 1820; m. 21+ Aug. 1Ult3, Anne Jane , 2nd dau. and co-heir or Mark ~ot, or Monasteroris Housel King ' s Co•.t and Grove House, Clapham, Surrey, and by her (who d. 4 Nov . 18%) had issue,
1. Mark Seton late of Ballymoyer.
1. Mary Susanna, now of Ballymoyer .
2 . Rosalie Jana .
3. Eva Charlotte m. 22 Jan. 1875, Capt. Corbet Smith, l.st Royal Dragoons, of WalcotHouse, Lutterworth Co. Leicester, and has issue, Ada Emily Corbet.
4. Cecilia Agnes, d. 20 April, 1928.
5. Charlotte Augusta, m. 6 Aug . 1872, Major-Gen. Sir Reginald Clare Hart, v.c.i K.C.B., K.c . v. o., R. E., 2nd son or Lieut.-Gen. Henry George llarv, and has issue (see Hart lineage, Burke ' s Landed Gentry, l.912).
6. Ada Maria.
7. Annette Beatrice, d. an infant .
Hr . Synnot d. 1890, when he was s. by his only son,
HARX-SINNOT OF BAI,I,YMOYER,
Mark Seton Synnot o! Ballymoyer, Co. Armagh, ~.P., fol'lllerly Capt. Armagh Light Infantry, b. 181t7, and d. umn. 16 Aug. 1901, 'When he was s. by his eld~st sister.
Arms (H. Coll.) - Quarterly 1st and !+th arg., three swans in pale sa; ducally iorged or, on a canton gu. a sword 1n pale ppr. (Syn.not); 2nd and 3rd sa., a chevron or between two stags' heads cabosheC:. in ohie! or the last and three swords one in pale surmounted by two 1n saltire points downwards in base ppr. pommels and hilts gold (Hart).
Crest. 1. Synnot: A swan issuant, wings expanded se.., dueall.7 crowed or, and vulned in the breast with an arrow gol4, .teathet"ed a:rg.
2. Hartt A stag• s head between two antlers all ppr.
Mottoes. Synnot: Sine macuJ.a.
~- Ballymoyer, Co. Armagh.
Burke's Landed Gentry of Ireland, 1912).
Hart: Caler atquo ~idells.
CALEDON,
The story o f Caledon is s o linked with the ancient territory of Minterburn that we cannot discuss the one without some slight reference to the other . We shall, therefore, begin with Minterburn.
Minterburn as a place name is of great antiquity and its history begins with the destruction of Emain Macha, the old assembly or crowning site of the kings of Ulster . Much of that great earthen-ringed enclosure still remains and is, I am sure, familiar to most of you, lying as it does about two miles west of Armagh on the main Caledon-Armagh road . It was thrown up about the year 350 B. C. and for a+most seven centuries was the centre of power , law and learning for ~01 ., ,/ the northern province . In the year 332'the.1.ancient seat of the Ultonian kings was captured by the three Collas, and Fergus the last Ulster king to reside at Emain Macha was killed .
In the battle Men Colla was also killed but left descendants who acquired Cremorne in Co . Monaghan. He was, however, survived by his two brothers, Uais, ancestor of the MacDonalds, McAllisters and MacDugalds of Scotland, and Collada-Crich to whom fell the district of Oirgiall . Fourth in descent from the latter caine O O'Bruinco~monly called Brian ' after whom Hy-Bruin is named . Brian was known as Brian of Archoill and to him fell the inheritance of the territory of
Hy - bruin (or birn) meaning the lands of Brian of Archoill and his people . Hy bruin of Archoill was a difficult name for ordinary use and soon developed into Muntir-Birn, now softened into Minterburn .
Minterburn, curiously enough, nearly correspmnds to the ancient parish of Aghalow from which derives the present parish of Caledon . The old Church of Aghalow was situate between Aughnacloy and Ballygawley and thus was rather inconvenient for the parishioners near Caledon. As a consequence they petitioned the Most Rev . Michael Boyle, D. D. (Archbishop of Armagh 1678-1702) stating they were unable to attend their parish church not only because of its great distance from them , but owing to the great woods which intervened and the frequent overflowings of the Blackwater . His Grace sympathizing with their wishes recommended to the Privy Council that the lower part of Aghalow parish should be united to Carnteel and that a new church should be erected at Caledon as requested , for which a site was given by John Hamilton the then owner of the Caledon estate . On the 27 October , 1682 , an Orde r of Council was made and the building of the new church commenced , but the troubles at the close of the reign of Charles II and that of James II delayed its execution. An Armagh Visitation 0f 1693 informs us that 11 the Church of Aghalow at Kinard (Caledon) was new built before the late wars, but the roof of shingles burnt bf the garrison of Charlemont , the walls being good and s tanding, and now order is taken for putting on a new roof and
1 1 that be done Divine Service is performed in Captain Hamilton's house at Kinard 11 • From the minutes of Vestryrtun ately they survive from 1691 - we learn that the church sin use again in 1698 . The parishioners were somewhat pov e rished by what they had endured so the internal r n ishings were not completed until some years later, and the lfry proposed in 1712 was not built until about 1730 .
About half - a-century later the parishioners had so creased in numbers that it was decided to erect a new church . is was constructed between the years 1769 and 1782 , and in 178 tower was built at the west end . In 1815 a new roof of slate d copper replaced the shingles - it was, however , destroyed 1830 by a great storm in which the copper sheeting of the fl~ rtion of the roof was also carried away . In November of that rl.,e,r. ar the Ear l of Caledon offered to pay for lead roofing in I\ ace of copper and to be responsible for workmen ' s expenses . that same generous patron the church is indebted for its aceful spire said to have been designed by the celebrated sh during his additions to Caledon Hill .
There are three families asso c iated with Caledon of whom must speak (even if somewhat briefly) - the O O'Neills, e Hamiltons and the Alexanders .
The O O'Neillsfigure so largely in the history of Ulster ~tit would be impossible to discuss them as a whole so we Jt con fi ne ourselves to the O Neills of Kenard otherwise
appear in records until the Civil War of 1641 in which Sir Phelim O Neill, the then o~mer, was deeply implicated . He obtained custody of Lord Charlemont by abusing that gentlema: hospitality and in February 1642/43 removed his prisoner to Kenard where he was murdered by some of Sir Pehlim's followe who are believed to have acted without his approval or knowledge .
Sir Phelim at the time of the Civil War had many Englis tenants to whom he had leased lands finding them financially more solvent than his Irish tenants . That, however, did not save them from disaster, but Sir Phelim 1 s mother Catherine ·Hovenden sheltered 24 English and Scots in her own house and at grave risk to herself .
Sir Phelim was , as you know, at the Battle of Benburb j 1646 and there saw Monro 1 s army destroyed by General Owen Re O Neill . Six years later he was captured on an island on · Roughan Lake near Stewartstown and following a trial in Dub: was executed . He estate was , of course, confiscated but a had been heavily mortgaged it was not immediately available distribution . Eventually most of the lands passed to the Hamilton family whose links with Caledon we shall now deal Tne claims against Sir Phelim 1 s estate being greater than t amounts covered by the mortgages, the Caledon portion in l~ acquired by Captain William Hamilton, an officer in Cromwell
Hill in the form of a chair on which are carved the initials 11 W.H. 11 and 11 1671 11 • He died in 1674 .
The Hamiltons intermarried with the Lowrys from which family the present Lord Belmore descends. John Hamilton of a later generation was M. P . for Dungannon 1692 and 1695, and for Augher in 1703 . He died in 1713 leaving a son who died young · and a daughter Margaret who thus became a considerable heiress and married as his second wife John, 5th Earl of Orrery, afterwards Earl of Cork who through the extravagance of his father was certainly in needy circumstances . According to the Gentleman • s Magazine of 1738 Miss Hamilton was possessed 11 of one of the largest fortunes in Europe 11 , an announcement that must have been useful as regards Lord Orrery 1 s creditors though much exaggerated .
In the 11 orrery Papers 11 (two volumes) edited by the Countess of Cork and Orrery in 1903 there are many letters from both Lord and Lady Orrery relative to Caledon and the people of the district, written during the ·years 1738 to 1750, a few of which I shall now read to you . I think you will probably find them of interest - they were written almost two centuries ago .
On the death of the 4th Earl of Orrery in 1753 Lord Orrery succeeded to the Earldom of Cork also , so Margaret Hamilton thus became Countess of Cork and Orrery . She did not, however, live long to enjoy the double honour, dying in 1758 . Lord Dungarvan ~, the Earl of Cork and Orrery • s son by his first wife died in 1762 and Lord Cork and Orrery in the same year . The
pro J ert. then passed to his third, but only son by Margaret Hami lton, who through his extravagance and dissipation was compelled to sell his maternal inheritance . The property was first offered to the Stronge family for £70 , 000 and to Armar Lowry-Corry later Earl of Belmore for £90 , 000 . It is said to have been eventually sold to James Alexander for £100 , 000 in 1775 . James Alexander was the third son of Nathaniel Alexander of Gunsland, a family earlier linked with Counties Donegal and Derry . Born in 1730 he filled several offices in the old East India Company ' s service and thereby became a very wealthy man . His ·purchase of Caledon brought a new prosperity to an impoverished estate . Fifteen years later , in 1790 , he was elevated to the peerage as Baron Caledon, and in 1797 was advanced to the dignity of Viscount Caledon . Created Earl of Caledon in 1801 , he died the following year and was succeeded by his ~on Du Pre Alexander, 2nd Earl of Caledon . When the Cape of Good Hope was ceded to Britain he became its first Governor , an appointment which he held from 1801 until 1811 , an association which resulted in the town of Caledon in South Africa being so named in his honour . He is also commemorated by a memorial in Caledon demesne erected after his death in 1839 . He married a daughter of the Earl of Hardwick , a forme r Vi cero y or Ireland , by whom the Tyttenhange r estat e c ame into the family , a property of which an int e r est ing ac co~nt was published in 1895 by the late Lady J a n e Van Koughnet , formerly Lady Jan~ Alexande r and aunt of the present Earl of Caledon .
The Alexander family is so well known to most ·of you that it seems almost unnecessary for me to remind you that the Alexander baronets of Dublin, the Rev . . NathanielAlexander, D. D. , a former Bishop of Meath, and the Rev. William Alexandercander, D.D., Archbishop of Armagh, were all of the same stoc~ and that the most notable living representative is, of course, Field Marshall Viscount Alexander, the ~re test of the many dist nguished soldiers of the late war and a recent Govern r of Canada.
Derrynoose
Shown as Derinisse in Papal taxation ot 1302-06.
DelJ)ite the tact that it is an ancient pariah hi1torioal evidences are
In 1~30 Archbishop Swayne tried to entoroe a better stipend tor the Prior ot the Culdees as no vicar was villin1 to aecept the parish on the then existinc terms.
At tne ot the monastic houses the advowson ot the Culdee Priory was granted to the See of Armagh on or betore 163lt. Accordinc to the Recal Visitation ot 1622 the rector was then resident, the church built and a parsonage erected upon the glebe lands. That, ot course, refers to the Listrakelt church site. 'fbe value ot the parish at that period 1881118 to have been about £:10 pet' anDUlll.
In 1612 the lands ot the terr1to17 ot Derrynoose were allowed to the Dean ot Arma1h and his successors tor enr with pe1'llis1ion to create a manor, courts baron, etc.
In 1635 Tynan and Derrynoose were united tor one turn only, but on lltth Sept•ber, 1682, they were penaanentl7 linked as one parish under the name of !ynan. That pha•• lasted until 1709, when an Act ot Parliament vaa pa1aed d18Wlit1nr th• troa 28th Sept•ber ot that 7ear and authorinnr the 'bu1ldin1 ot a ohuroh for
Derrynoose. This had previously been mooted at a Visitation or 1701 at which endeavours were ma4e to induce the parishioners to build a new church and provide £30 per year tor a curate.
Soon atter the Act ot 1709 a church was built in Madden townland since called Madden church and sometimes Madden parish. The church and churchyard were oonsecrate4 1n 1713.
Madden Church was rebuilt in 1812, renovated in 1837, and qain repaired durinc the rector1h1p ot Archdeacon Irwin, father ot the present Bishop ot Connor.
Arrancement1 were made with Trinity College Dublin to obtain lands in Madden in 1661 tor a glebe tor Derrynoose, and turin1 the rectorship of the Rev. Chas. Este (1726-30) torast trees ware plan,ed in a recuJ.ar manner in the 1l•b• at Madden. Bis successor, the Rev. Wm.
Ussher (17]0-!t-3) lived 1n Armqh but kept a curate Ha ••••, however, to have blrl.lt a parsonaca house or rectory tor 1n 1738 be acquired a certitioate tor ao1t1. The rectory was then worth £520 per annum.
The present rectory vaa planned by the Rev. Nathaniel 811th (1812-1823). To obtain a 100d site he diverted an old roa4 that now part ot the reotol'J' baok avenue. He does not, howner, seem to haT• eTer reached the stac• ot bu1ld1q. Indeed tb• present rectory was not coapleted
until 1835'. It was erected by the Rev. James Jones (1821181+0). At that time the clebe lands consisted ot some ~60 aores. At the Disestablishment of the Irish Church it was purohased w1th 53 acres tor £1,;66. In Mr. Jones's time the rectory was worth about £830 per annum.
The Rev. Nathaniel Smith, aocordinc to tradition, was in financial difficulties when he died in 1823, and his friends reared his body micht be seized. As a result he was buried at nicht in the aisle ot Madden Church and the funeral party commandeered a tombstone from. the churchyard to place above his grave with the name ot 11 Mary Jones" upon it. Acoordin1 to local le1end his ghost walked because "he had a lie upon his chest", became a nuisance to people of the district and was f'inally laid by the Roman Catholic parish priest 1n a horse hold on the roadside convenient to the rectory
Lisglynn
An ancient single ringed earthen fort ot soma historical interest, square in ahap• 1n the interior. Believed to have bNn :remodelled by Brian Oge MacMahon wo entered into rebellion with Sir Cahir O'Dougherty and at Lisglyn on 15'th September, 1608, and was latel' slain at Cargagh Hugh (now Curryhughes [Carryhugh] a tev miles distant.
LI Listrakelt <Zb• fort 0t tba ooueeeJm1n$)
Contains site ot the ancient parish church of Derrynoose a parish mentioned in a Papal taxation ot 1302-1306 and earlier still an appendage of the ancient Culdee Abbey ot Armagh The ruined church now repreaenta4 by portions of walls on the north and aouth sides seems to be the ed1tioa mentioned, as ttnov built" in the . Reial V11itation of 1622. The outline ot the whole buildiq ta easily traceable. It seems to haYe been a plain oblon1 erection about 60 feet by 26 feet wide with walls 2 feet 8 inches thick built 1n a very rude style ot architecture. :No window oaaincs or doorways remain from wbiob clues mi1ht be obtained towards more definite dat1nc.
1'he parish tor a period was united to Tynan but was dilUDited a,ain in 1709 when a new ohuroh was built in Madden tovnland and oonaecrate4 in 1713. It, 1n turn, waa re'blnlt in 181a, repaired in 1837 and a1&1n renovated durina the in~benoy ot the late Archdeaoon Irwin, .father ot Archdeacon Irwin a later rector of Derrynoose and now Bllhop ot Connor.
(1) 1703. Listrakelt Parish Church unroofed and uncovered and ••me• pertomed at Mr. Stewart• hou1e 1n Roughan Ashe's Survey ot the ot the Archbilhopric 1n 1703).
'l'he old graveyard in Liatrakelt is vested in the Rural District Council and 11 d1srraoetully kept. There a:re tOllbstones but none earlier than 1710.
l•perten tort in this townland.
Killyfaddy
The Dane• s Cast. The best preael'Vlld portion ot this travelllnc earthwork 11 to be tound on the f'arm ot Mr. George Cunningham. There is a much less pertect line on an adjo1ninl farm beloncinc to Mr. Gray
When Mr. Cunningham was a younc man a eap was made across the trench and rampart1n one ot his fields, in the construotion ot which a number ot very old glass beads were found. Unfortunately th91 were strung and worn •o sahool by one ot the children of the house, with the result that eYentuall.J every single one was lost.
In 1942 I met a Mr. Harry Price on the north side ot the cast who informed me that at the north end of hil dwelling place there was a reputed castle site said to have been the residence of a Laird or Lord Stevenson. Be alao mentioned that in the same field there was a depression, known as the Fish Ponds, and on the opposite side ot the road from his house a field known as the graveyard field
Lisglyn Fort fort of the Glen or Valley
This specimen ot a single-rineed. fort has been squared in tbe inner r1n1 at some later date - probably early in the seventeenth oantu.ey by Brian Oge MacMahon who entered into rebellion with Sir Cahir O'Dogherty and others here on the 1;th Sept8lllber, 1608, and was shortly atterwards slain at CurryhughesHughes[Carryhugh] not tar distant.
This fort contains a souterrain but nobody now know• the actual entrance. It was closed about a century aao because some sheep were drowned in it. The only account we have or it describes it as a stone vault. It was written in 1848 at which time the souterrain was no loncer open.
A couple or tield len1th1 distant you will see a tree-covered mound called "the Doonan Local tradition says a great battle was fought hara in the old days and that some ot the slain were buried under it. The tovnl.and. name ot Tamlaghthowever. suggets a different or1c1n.
Drumeland
The Blest Well". A.11001atetl with St. Mochua a place ot pUcrimac• in pa1t day1. Custom lapsed 1n the nineteenth century but has been recently revived. Modern shrine ereoted over the well and interes,inc old smith-made gate replaced by modern villa type gate. Old corapletel7 destroyed.
A wishing or cursing stone that brought good or ill luck aocording ,o the method ot turninc, was throU&h the intervention ot the ohuroh remo'l'ed and secretly buried
Eglish Parish all
As a religious foundation Eglish Parish ranks amongst the oldest in the county. It is indeed linked up with St. Patrick himself, for it was his disapproval of a simplQ love-affair that caused the first Church to be built. That was over fifteen hundred years ago, but the Parish bas a still earlier history and one that giyes it a unique position as regards Ulster Parishes within its bounds is "Navan Rath 11 , the ancient seat of the kings of Ulster. In constant u:se from about the year 350 B. C., until the year 332 A.D~.; this old as-sem:bly,;,.place was the centre of power, 1-aw and learning for all the fair lands of the Province. Thirty-five kings reignEtd there in succession ere it f-ell Upon evil days:•·, There vat~:wi tnessed the tragedy of Deirdre . a:o.d a hundred other t xagedies besides. On its grassy slopes Cuchullain excelled in manly arts, and locally the story ·1s sti·11 told of ho.·tf he .carr-ied up the hill each daY. a bull calf and as tlje' calf grew so his strength increased, until at last he catriEl'd the full-grown bull to the summit; From there fllso evolved the epics tbat make 11 the Tain 11 the greatest cycle of Irish stor.y.;,telling. Navan Rath however is not the eceir1.-iest monument in the f ' .Parish. The Ballybrolly cairn commonly called the "Druid's Circle must pl'e-date it :by p~rhaps- a thousand years. We
know that similar and maybe even earlier types of such monuments have been destroyed within the last century.
Eglish is a fine old parish . Oi'iginally it- was known as Clanawle (Cliaun-dubaill - the meadow of the Dabhall or Blackwater), a titie now almost forgotten, though the name is still preserved in the form of Glenaul, as a Poor-Law Electoral Division and as an appell,ation fol' a mansion built by a m.e:nber of the Johnston family about a century ago.
Founded in the middle of the · fifth 6entury, it owes its origin to Encnait a daughter of Daire, the th,en chieftain of the district, wh·a- :bad hi-s residence upon the hill on which now stands the . Cathe·dral, Cl_lui eh of St . Patrick of Armagh, and - rroin whom the sa;iriti obtained sites fo.r his first and second churches in tl:ia t ·ancient city:. She was one of Patrick's earlieft· 1:Cl ·c~ :c;9t1v-erts, but ·alas she fell in love with his f8:Y.01irife dis~i:ple, the swaet voiced St. Benen, later Patrick•s successor in. the See of Armagh . Such weakness could not be tolerai;ed, so she was gently but fir.nl:y dissuaded from the attachinen t, and induced to enter upon a life of r'elig;[ous devotion. At h_er -death she was buried in the parish , and for long, long centur-ies her festival was kept each 8th of January.
Of the first church of Clanawle · Or Eglish, as we flow know it, there is no trace. In Eglish old graveyard th~re ·1s a greap heap of earth known as Toal' s mound -which is
said to consist of soil and bones brought from Laraghshankill over a century ago when that ancient cemetery was finally obliterated. Laraghshankill seems to have been the site of a chapel in the old Grange of. Tullysaran, of which later. The site at Eglish 'llay not be the lo-cation of the first church of Clanawle. there was, however, a church in Eglish before the bUil9-ing now in ruins was erectQd, but we have no informa'tio:b. as to its date. Two sculptured cross-heads still· su:rtlv-frig in its burial ground suggest a respe.ctable antiquity quite in- keeping with its claim to be the actual :Sit¥-ati0n ,oft the very early church o_:f Glanawle.
Locally there is a tradition that the west gable of the pre sent ruined church Eglish is waiting to fall upon a Donnelly As t'fi~;t pa--rt1rcular church was not built until 1720 the story probably has associations with a Donnelly o:f Ballydonnelly who rionftjrmed to ·ti::ie Established Church about that time. ~he o-ld graveyard in which it stands is a'bq-µt, "to be" :i':lo-sed as 1:regar-ds burials. When I 'i"isi ted it last yea:r I learned that Mrs. Elizabeth Allen ot Aghatara had celebrated her 102nd birthday in $eptember and would be the last pe:tson ·to be interred within the churchyard provided she d~des to qui;t this. world for a Detter.
A holy well lies at the base of the hill on the west of the graveyard of Old Eglish. Jos eph Donnelly wno died in 1918, aged about 90 years, remembered it surrounded by high thorns to which rags were attached. Unfortunately i~ is now filled in and no traditions remain as to the date of pilgrimage or the saint ,with whom it was associated.
We have occasional references to tbe parish in the medieval Registers of the .Archbishops of Armagh , preserved in the Armagh Library. One rather interesting item in that collection is a lBtter from Donald Oneyll, King of the Irish of Ultonia, Gormlith daughter of Odopnill Queen, and John Oneyll th.eir first born Son't pro111ising to restore without delay all lands to ·the church of Armagh of which it had been d~rspoiled, especially the lands of Clondawyll. 11
The abov~ Donald died in 1325 and Gormlaith his wife in 1353. His wife; of whom the Annals of the four Masters say "no woman in her time was more distinguished for virtue and good fame" was buried at the Franciscan Friary in Armagh Donald was probably buried in the Regal Plot at Armagh Catbedral or possibly at Lough Laoghaire on the Tyrons-Fel'lllanagh border, where his death took piace . Armagh, like Clanawle, formed paxt of the mensal lands ot the A.l'c:hbisbops_, -~ in the Regal Visitationtation ot J.622
the tenants in both parishes are set out in detail. Primate, s Rentals of later date give simil.ar lists and contain names that survive in the parish to the present day. wa know that the parish was appropriate to the Deanery of Armagh in 1699, and that rectors were appointed to it as late as 1635, ~der its old name o? Clanawle; but the state of the Parish Church at even so late a pe,r:iod as that, is a matter about which we have but slight lmowledge . It is not mentioned in the "Depositions of 1641 11 , though most of the other County Armagh churches figure therein. Until quite recent times it has been linked up with the parish of Armagh, the rector of which received the parish tithes directly up to 1833, when they were commuted for an annual sum.
In 1720 the church was rebuilt, and on August 5th of the same year consecrated as a chapel of Ease to Armagh . It was a smallish building, roughly 58 f'eet long by 28 feat wide, with a small belfry on the gable . In 1767 it was repaired, but some thirty years iater it again began to need attention, so a new church was thougl;lt to b~ essential, and was The eventually erected. on tha pre sent Site o:r whi-ch ancient burial-pl.ace surrounding trf.~- :-oiil church later. contains t;ro interesting cross-heads, the shafts and bases of which are now lost. rn,,.,.. imi i ~_-:;._ ,uh,y are very s lar to the "Well Cross" ;1.u Tynan Abbey Demesne . pe tour compartments betwee~
arms of the crosses are not pierced, as is more usual, but counter sunk instead. The oldest stone now visible in the churchyard is dated 1717. Eglish, which signifias "Church", is borrowed as a name for the modern parish from the townland in 'Which the ruined church and graveyard are situate.
In i778 the glebe house was built on a glebe of 64 acres,- granted to Lord Rokeby (better known possibly as Primate Robinson) by Joseph Johnston Esq. of Knappagh, for the use of the pari.sh. Perpetural Curate".
The Rev. John Young was than This old house is said tb have been built for the · very small sum of £184.1-2s. 3d. At the Di·sestapli"shmeht it was purchased for the :pal".i"s1:r and remained in use as the rectory until its disposal bt, ·sale in recent years.
Mr. Joseph Johnston to wJ:iolli the parish owed j_ts - first glebe house of -which we ba~e any record, died in the year in which it was built. H.e was the -grandson of the Rev. James Johnston, o-f Tremont, Co. -Down, and son of James Johnston, of Knappagh, the i'ir-st member of the fam.1.ly ifo. settle in County Armagh. He married in 1756 Anne daughter or Joshua McGeough Esq., of Drumsill an -- tld loc:al fam:tly ~ow represented. by the McGeough Bond o.f .The Argory His son James High Sheriff of the Courity in 1790) was al;), active supporter of Eglish parish and 1-artely respon si blf. -for the
building of the present church. He died in 1823, leaving an eldest son James (High Sheriff in 1824) who died in l838, and a younger son Joseph, of Glenaule, who presented the paxisb with a flagon and paten :in 1830, and died in 1847. Mary Johnston, sister of. James and Joseph, married George Robinson, Esq., B.• L., of Armagh to which family the Tremont est'ate later passed. The Terris family (now rap-re sented by Major P .-- Terris) inherited Knappagh .from James Johnston• s widow, -whose daughter married secondly a member o.f that family ..,
Previou·s to the : building of this b.ouse, the minister in charge of' the parish -bad -tro live in lodgings, a fact. evidently disapprov-ed -o.f by Archbishop Robinson who .was la:rgely instri:unentcll i]?. p:-~o:ru'in.g a settled r·esid.ence . The Archbishop was- the founder of the ArmaghLibrary, justly famous f'o:f it's mariy 'tre~su.ras, a'1id of the Armagh Observatory bfrsi.das ~y 01.tu:rahes, Jnc.ludfng those of Lisnadill, Newtowtihamiltonton old Grange and Camlough, in Co . Armagh; as weµ as ~'tl:ler s ~~i:h idir:t'ererrt par-ts ·of the di-oease. He also built tbe Palace, and :\.ra.$ ·responsible f"or the founding ot the County Infirmary He . was created Baron Rokeby of Armagh the p,:teceding year,; and thirteen Years earl1itt he was translated from .KiJ'.\iare to Armagh . He died in 1794 and is buried in the crypt of Armagh Ca t bedral. ~1'a ~-:-~~st of him in the .__.- south ai&I;E! by th • .f'amous sculptor Nollekens .
The present church was built in 1821 on a site given by the Most Reverend William Stuart, D . D . ( 5th son of tbe Earl of Bute and Archbishop of Armagh from 1800 until bis death in 1822), and James Johnston ; Esq . , of Knappagh Archbishop Stuart is commemorated ·in Armagh Cathedra·1 by a very beautiful statue by Chantry, and James Johnston in Eglisb Church by a memorial tablet:.
The Church was consecrated · on the 25'tb September; 1823, by the Right Reverend William Bissett, D.D . , Lord Bish-op of Raphoe (to which 'dignity he had been elevated f1'om the Chancellorship p~ Ai'ma~h in 182~); ·acting for the then Primate, Lo:rd John George Beresford {j-rd son o:f the Marques of Waterford Archbishop of Armagh 1B2f{..:;l-f!62 .
It cost £1; 790 •.16.s. :2.it.:,, ... wbich -~532 . Os. 9d. was s~bscribed by tbe "~a:¥1.elf, '-eh€! if emaind"0 -r being made up by a loan of £923.ls . 5th.;: ~'i";itoin tbe Board o.f First Fruits . and a donation - of £-312 . 1-s . ld. from: the Primate and" a sum of £23 . 8s . 8d . received f:rom the sale of material from the old church .
The oldest church plate is -a silver chalice and paten presented 1n 1721 by the Very Rev.. Peter Drelincourt D .D. Dr . Drelincourt was then Dean of Armagh, and died in the tollow:tng year . 'lhare i. s a be·aut.iful. t · s statueby the famous sculptor Rysbrack to th~ Dean ' s tQ.emory in Armagh cathedral His widow founded t~ Drelincourt School at Armagh in 1732,,
Primrose Hill derives ;its name from
and his daughter, Lady Primrose who died in 1775', left a sum of money that was utilized for the city of Armagh's first water supply. this lady•
The parish also possesses a plated flagon and paten presented by Joseph Johnston, Esq., in 1830, and two alm ·sdishes given by the SUnday School Teachers and Scholars in 1887.
Baptismal, Marriage and burial registers and Vestry Books of the parish survive f:rom the year 1803, but those
Luckily Eglish was not . one of thos€i 'p ar£sh-t1.s· :{;bat · sent its recor·ds up to Dublin i'ollo\\d..ng the disestablishment o.f the . Ifish Church ir:i 1871, so it· ~-s._j;:f:;f-J .holds all the reco rds· it possess~d at that eveinfual period, whereas many of the registers and vestry books the other ·Couht·y Armagh parishes pe.ri·shed i°rt the burning of the Four Courts in tbe troubles of 1922,
The registers that remain are ·vary valuable .f'rom the genealogical point of v:lew, showing as they do the successive generations of the parishioners; but from tl;l.e social history aspect they are not nearly ·so interesting as the Vestry booKs . Up t-0 about a hundred years ago each parish· was responsible for the Within . 1t·s ~~~~:-lish being _,.. repair of the roa<ls well supplied wi:th-
"highways great and small 11 , the parish presentments occupy a large amount of space . Churchwardens and Vestrymen of the present day may find their offices irksome at tim~s, but their duties are light in comparison with tho·se carried out by tbeir forefathers, who were tbe authority under which the roads of the district were maintaJ.n~d, and also liable for provision for the poor and the care of foundling children . To p.roVide for ·thos°e purposes·, as -well as othersmore strictly ecclesiastical in -charact.91', the law all.owed pirlsh vestries to levy "ces-s- 0 on all inhabitants irrespective of their religi-oil . rei.ponsibi1ities arid, of cou.r-sa, g.:treater powers • . Their warrants enabied them t.-6 enforce collectment of the assessments ments ' laid on by t,tfe-'. vestry and to seize the goods of thos:e who re.fused 'f;o p~ . Nee'<iless to say,- churchwardens of those earlier· -days· were sometimes i:-oughly handlad. by parishioners, 'Who disagreed about parish charges, ou t , of cour s e , the -misguided persons who· dared to ·a.o !:fo were fs ·w, we may be sure, for the penal-:ties foi• such conduct were drastic indeed .
The scale ~t:_ fQ__ as ·¼tiifl by th ·· h t · .P E3 par1 s o road workers in th e Year 1823may be 0~ ihter e st for comparative purposes . 4 man w.1. th a horse ~d cart capable o.f drawing a load of 12 cwts . received ~. par day- , whilst a man w:t th a hoz:.se
and cart only capable of pulling 7 cwts. was paid lOd . per day less. At the same time labourers were in receipt of lOd. per day .
Besides looking after church a.ffairs and roads, there were endless other matters. During the great war wi·th France, for instance, the Milita:ty Ballot Act was put into force in -order to secure men for the Militia Each parish was by law compelled to supply an agreed number . In some parishes there were ballots, but as far · as Eglish was concerned it levied a rate .- of £6 ~per man :for the requi.red number, and · so yaid fo-i' i3ubsYitutes (as was allowed), 1·nstead or balloting foi a~tual men : from th e parish . Then there were the foundlings of deserted childrena pathati-c feature of thoS:'1 dEtYS .; .and of ,which we may have many instances in the Vestry Book c,:f. i803 .. 1826. They were usually sent up to :th·e foundling Hospital in Dublin . Vestry accounts contain such item_s as ttto_,.burying a foundling "paid Betty Bo'S7d who sut.t.efed great ha:rdship in t-ak:lng care of a deserted child The expenses of sending such children to Dublin are set out at £1 . 2s . 9d~ per head .
The poor were than a charge on the ·parish . The churchwardens ·and vestries of those days we're re.sponsible Within their oWtj. d'i.stricts -for most o-f the
The Road Vestries give many details of general intere st • Old almost forgotten fords and now extinct place-names appear. Vestry accounts are equally rich in information. Fro~ them we learn that the old chUI"ch of Eglish was limewashed and that the interior was treated .in a similar !Ilanner. A.s a matter of fact, we also get entries Ufor the washing of the Chur-ch after white washing From the same sour·ce we learn tha"t t:he old church was continually wanting repaii'. It was s-iate·d, and tllere are references to a slat er at }/}d. per day quite f""reqtlentJ.y; but a schoolroom and stable that weI'e built in 1806 were thatched by a thatcher who spent 14 days on tlie work and was p.aid 2/2.d. per day ... The vreather in those daYs must have been more severe to-o than at present·, as we find entries such as 11 a pickaxe for the chu.rd3.yard in f'rost 11~
In conclusion 1 )lbu.ld. like to again revert .for a f'ew minutes to the Grange of Tullysaran From an Inquisition made in 1609 regarding the lands of the Abbey of' St. Peter and St. Paul of· Arlnagh _ we learn that at the period of the dissolution of the religio"us houses in Ir•al,and, that the Abbey was seized of the Grange -of Tullysaran of 'Which Laraghshankill formed part. We must, there.fore, assume that a chapel was situate in that part of the ~onastic Grange, and at the time of the suppression of' the reli~'tr~: orders it was of all~ standing, being then known as Shankill or the old .church.
You are all aware that the lands of the Abbey of St. Peter and Paul passed to Sir Toby Caulfeild in the closing days of the reign of Queen Elizabeth. Sir Toby was a soldier in hel' service and acquired estates in various northe~n. counties, but chiefly in Armagh and Tyrone. By a strange coincidence a Catholic Chapel was bui·lt, :probably in the last . half of _ the 18th century, in Tullysaran a to-wnland that gave name to the Grange of the Abbey o:f St. Peter and St. Paul, of wh±cl'i Laraghshankill was the site of the early church ai.re-ady i&en tioned, We cannot give a~-definite date - for its ,ereciti on, but ; i t ha-s been stat~clin Coleman I s edition o.f Stuart'ss .Armagh:, that before the build..;. ing of S-t. Malachy's Chapel ±n Armagh, that it served· the Catholic pop.ulatio.tr o:f the city. That wotild piace it as having be:en :in· exist.encie .before 1752 - which I thi.nk :· is much too -earl.y. The --same autn.or.fty asserts that Tullysaran was twice burn(;ld :l.J'y the Orangemen but loctal tradition only records one such burning; arid f'o:r tb:at ~er:e- is definite documentary evidence •
.According to siir'iiving ft>iit stories the first chapel at Tullysaran was .small · mud.;.waJ.led and thatched~ and three ' people are named as being retsponsible for its destructiob. They are said to ha\re been 111rembers of the Knappagh Yeomanry ' ' a company raised by .James Johnston in 1796, A-.a.ccoun t s of the burning of the ~ - appear in the Charlemont Manuscripts
and tbe 0 Northern Star 11 • The outrage -took place in July 1797, and the Charlamont Papers contain a letter sajing that Tullysaran Chapel had been burned and a man's stack set on fire at Tullygoonigan. The Press account, l;J.owever, does not accuse aitber the Orangemen or Johnston s Yeomanry wich is significant for _ the Nor ·thern ata.r was extremely nationalistic in outlo~k~ It seems more p'fiobable that the three ruffiaris conce.rned were Peep of Day Boys. There had .indeed been . trouble in the dis tr1ct j;rre.vioti.sly in 1788 between the Benburb Volunteers .and: Defenders
Wt to return to }he probable jietiod for the buildingof Tullysaran Chapel. It is not shown oi::l Rocque is Map for the county so it eann{lt hav-e be:er1 in existence i:h 1760 . It was, however, in b;~ti,g "ln 1797 arid following ~he burning in that year was repla.~~~ by a .stone chapel on a si ta granted by Lord Charlemont. That-, we may assume, was the church taken down some y€ai's ago when a new edifice was erected in Artasooley. According t 'o ·the maps oi' J835 the pl.® was T shaped, a .form of building ilo-w fa.st disaPJHfa.ri:o:g. The new chapel, al.-a-~; is out _side the area of' the old Grange of Tullysaran but it i.s si tad in a townland forme:riy belonging to the See o:t Armagh It ' is indeed a hands01ne church and a ple~sant e~ple of modern architecture.
SQHE TOWNLANDS OF THE PARISH AND DISTRICT
Aughafin. Killylea
Poll Tax of 1660. 6 Irish.
Hearth Money Rolls 1664
Torlagh O Hamill
Sharie O Hamill
Shane O Hamill
Ballaghy
Hearth Money Rolls 1664
Nicholas Saver
Andrew Boyle
John McGeough
Corn Mill O. S. Maps of 1835 .
Ballybrolly.
Poll Tax 1..660. 10 British and l Irish.
Hearth Money Rolls 1664 . -
Widow White side
Robert Cochran
John McGell
William Wooderstown
Owen McIlmurray .
Ballydoo
Poll Tax 1660
Hearth Money Rolls 1664.-
David Sloan
William Wil.son
Stephen Oliver
William Oliver f·
Ballymartrim Etra . J J: )_
Hearth Money Rolls 1664 . J -)' }
Ballymartrim Otra }
Bally scandal.
Hearth Money Rolls i6bft .
Neale McGilernew
Lauglin McGilernew
Bryan Caragh · · ·
Henry McCarney
William Poole ·William Fflocker .
school was in Ballymartrim Otra O.S. l8}5'..
Bracknagh
Poll Tax 1660 . 8 Ir ish .
Hearth Money Roll 1664 .
William Kelly .
Cloghfin
Poll Tax 1660 . 6 Irish .
Creeveroe .
Poll Tax 1660 . Nathaniel Sacheverall, g ent ., living in this townland with 5 British tenants .
Hearth Money Rolls 1664 .
Nathaniel Sacheverall John White.
School house O.S. map s of 1835 . -
. . .
Cullentragh •
Hearth Money Rolls 1664.
Cullentragh and Tonnagh.
Torlagh O Hagan
Dermot O Murygan
Bryan O Dewlin
Edmond Carragh
Daniel McCuigg
Bryan McGloan
Bryan Cargagh
School house o. S. Map 1835.
Drum bee.
Poll Tax 1660 . Drumbee and Ballymartins
Samuel Powell, Esq ., 10 British and 10 Irish.
Hearth Money Rolls 1664.
John Bond .
Drumrusk
. Birthplace of Sir Isaac Wilson, M.D. Born 1757; died 1844 . Physician to Her Maj esty Queen Victoria.
DrumsallanLower .
Two fort sites O. S . maps of 1835 -
Drumsallan.
Hearth Money Rolls 1664 .
Connor O Ffyn .
Pattr. 0 ffyn .
Owen McKenna
Shane McGarrell
Shane O Doole
Hugh McQuorte
Hugh McConnell
Edenderry .
F oll Tax 1660 . 9 I rish .
Hearth Money Roll s 1664 .
Cahir O Connor
Con O Connor
Owen O Donnelly .
School house 0 . S. Map s of 1835 .
Eglish
Hearth Money Roll 1664 .
Henry O Mellan
Cabille O Neill
Cormicke O Murphy
Pattr. 0 Byrne
School house O. S . Maps of 1835 .
Killymaddy
Hearth Money Roll 1664 . Kilcarn and Killymaddy .
Murtagh McKee
Pattr . O Sharry
Shane O Sharry
Morris O Haghy
Edmond O Sharry
Thomas Christell
Bryan O Conally
Killyquin
· Kilmatroy_.
Shane O Henry 95 a . 1 r . 10 P •
Knappagh
Pound show on Rocque r s map of ·1760,.
Knockagraffy (Killylea) .
21+ a . 3 r . 6 p~ O.S. map of 1835 .
Laraghshankill
Poll Tax 1660. Groupsd with Eglish and Logan 27 I:r,iish .
H... HearthMoney_ Roll 1661+ . Mullintur and Laraghshankill.
Art McKee
Pattr. McReady
Pattr McKee
Culloww~ ~1 McQuade
Bryan McGleenan
Patrick McKee
Bryan O'Neile
Lisnafeedy
Hearth Money Roll 1664.
James O Roirke
Owen O Hammill
Pattr. O Mellan
Eneas O Tonner
Torlagh McFarland.
Lisnafeedy rod Drumcrosse (Drumrusk)
Earthen ringed fort shown on 0. S. Maps of 1835.
MaydownMaydown.
This towland formerly belonged to Edward May, 2nd son of Sir Thomas May of Mayfield in Sussex.
Edward May married Margaret, daughter of Arthur Donnelly of Ballydonnelly, Co. Tyrone, and dying 8 March, 1640-41 left issue -
1. Thomas, M.P. for Gowran who died 11 March 1640-41 .
2 . Humphrey M.P. for Johnstown.
3 . Edward of Grace Dieu, C6. Waterford , M.P . - for that county who had w;i.th other issue a son James, M.P. for Co. Waterford, father ( with other issue.) of James of Mayfield, Co. Waterford created a baronet June 30, 1763 . '
The townland was in possession of th e Cope family from at least 1738 .
Mullaghatinny
Now better known as Elm Park .
Mullantur
Mullyloughran i; han .
Hearth Money Roll 1664 .
Cullowe McKee
Owen Boy McKee
Bryan O Ffynegan
Navan .
Poll Tax 1660 . 4 British .
Hearth Money Rolls 1664 .
John Pringle
Edward Knight
Christopher Johnston
Tamlaght (Killylea.) •
Hearth Money Roll 1664.
Daniel O Quine
Teagge O Hagan
Thomas Ackly
Corn Mill o. Maps of 1835.
Terraskane
Poll Tax 1660. Edmond Oge McVagh, gent., 8 Irish.
Hearth Money ~9lls 1664. ~,;'
Torlaghag h O O'Kellaghan
Donnell O Donnelly
Donagh McCurran
Pattr. -0 O'HughJames McCay ··::=" .
Cormick McCarry
School house shown on o. ~- Maps of 1835.
Tirgarriff Tirgarriff :i~?~;_, ,1m, return.
A s~,a:k~ ~~~~#d .:, ~.f 27 a.· 2 r. 19 p.
Tray
Poll Tax 1660 . 20 Irish .
The King's Stables .
Tullymore Agowan ) ) ) ) )
Tullymore Etra ) ) ) )
Tullymore Otra. )
Hearth Money Roll 1661+ .
Shane O Gallchull
Edmond O Teige
Phellem O Donnelly
Tullyneagh .
31 a. 3 r. 34 p.
Tullysaran.
P oll Tax 1660. John Young, gent.
Hearth Money Roll 1661+ .
Hugh Gibson
John Gibson
Chapel shown on O.S. Maps of 1835 . 5' British .
Tullysaran
The Olivers owned Tullysaran under Lord Charlemont. (1) They were a liberal broadminded family a nd gave a plot of ground on wh ich to erect a chapel for Divine Service. It was mud-walled-, small and thatched and . was wilfully burned about the year 1809.( 2 ) The names of three of the people responsible have survived, McDowell, Manly and Wallace. ( 3 )
Later a stone chapel was built but as the Olivers had only a temporary lease they could not do anything. Lord Charlemont was difficult of approach and Verner his agent refused to grant a lease for the purpose. not know what to do. The people did
About that time Lady Charlemont took ill She was after her confinement and the baby had died. She was very ·111 and grew worse: One of her servants told her of a man -whom she knew who had taken several other ladies safely out of like troubles. Lord Charlemont eventually heard the story and ordered that a carriage with the fastest horses be sent for th e man . The man was a handy man in blood-letting and other things ' and was looked upon as a medical man . He went to Lady Charlemont and took his lances - with him . Her breast had to be opened for the trouble was clotted milk. She was put upon a diet _and he attended her daily . When . she was well he want
but Lord c_harlemont drove ffflf-'
to see him one day with a handful of gold . He would not accept it and it was then Lord Charlemont learned for the first time that the man was a tenant on his own estate. When Lord Charlemont h eard that he said I will direct that a lar g er farm be given to you or your son. But the man said I want nothing for myself but I want ground for our dead and a place for Divine Worship and your agent has refused it . When Lord Charlemont heard that he said I will giv e you the ground and you can do what you like with it. So he gave him a lease of half-an-acre and in his o'W'D name and that man was my grandfather , Daniel Conroy of Cloghfin . ( 5) Terence Macarten car ten, Ballymaculley, August 1943.
Tullysaran
1 . That the Olivers held Tullysaran can be proved from documents in the Registry of Deeds, Dublin. The leasing of the townland by successive Earls of Charlemont to various members of that family from 1761 until 1807 is recorded there. That fact verifies Mr. McCarten 's statement in paragraph two about the lease being temporary. of 1760. Chapel not marked on Rocque 's map
2. The chapel was burned in the year 1797-~
J . There is a tradi ti_on that the chapel was destroyed by "Johnston's Yeomen". My informant Major Paul Terris of Knappagh. It may be that the three person s mentioned were members of the mounted corps of Yeomanry raised by James Johnston of Knappagh in 1796 and known as the Armagh Neighbourhood Cavalry. Mr. Johnston had earlier raised a company of Irish Volunteers on his property, possibly in 1789, the Colour at which was later preserved at Tremont, Co. Dowri, until the disastrous fire there some years ago. It does not seem probable that any sueh outrage could have been
K But Coleman's abridged edition of Stuart's 11Armagh11 pu?lished in 1900, says_that the Chapel was burned .:t.lr.!;i..c_e by the Orangemen J.U...:t.b&._l.as.t centm and states tha t _before St. Malachy' s was built Tullysaran sar n d as parish -.abliU'-ch of Armagh l ! a se-rve
carried out whilst he was in command even in the days of th e Yeomanry a11d it will be noted that the Press account of the burning does not make any such suggestion . Th e Northern Star being extremely Nationalist in outlook wo uld, I think, have been delighted to have attributed th e burning to a Yeomanry Corps . The fact that it did not do so is significant. aged 63 years . Mr . Johnston died in 1823
4. Lady Charlemont ' s illness may be dated circa 1809 . She was the wife of Francis Willi°am Caulfeild, 2nd Earl of Charlemont, and according to Burke's Peerage t h eir youngest child , Lady Emily Caulfeild, was born in 1808 and died 1829. It seems probable that the baby mentioned as being dead when the incident took place was the last birth in the family. In that case it might be dated circa 1809-1810. Having died almost immediately after birth the child would not rank for insertion in books of reference such as Burke, Debrett, etc .
The Lord Charlemont of the story was the elder son of James Molyneux Caulfeild, 8th Baron and 4th Viscount Cbarlemont who was created Earl of Charlemont in 1763, and died in 1799, The younger son the Honble . Henry Caulfeild was M.P. for County Ar:nagh in five successive Parliaments. He resided at Hockley Lodge. He was
born in 177c; and died 1862 leaving a son James Molyneux caulfeild for whom see below.
Francis William Caulfeild, the 2nd Earl was born in 1775- He served as M.P. for County Armagh in 1798.;.99 and bad issue (1) James, Viscount Caulfeild (b. 1803, d. 1823), (II) William (b. 1805, d . 1807); Maria (b. 1807, d. 1823), and Ellily (b. 1808, d. 1829). He died in 186 3 without ~rviving issue whereupon the Earldom passed to his nephew James Molyneux Caulfeild, M.P. for County Armagh, 3rd and last Earl who died without issue in 1892. The Earldom then became extinct but the Viscounty passed to a junior branch and thus continues.
5. The lease does not seem to have been registered. Cloghfin was also Charlemont property and had formerly belonged to the Abbey of St . Peter and St. Paul of Armagh. It formed part of the Grange of Tullysaran, the grange chapel of which > see~s to have been situate in Laraghshankill.
The lands of the Abbey of St. Peter and St . Paul passed to the Caulfeilds in the closing days of the reign of Elizabeth I. Sir Toby Caulfeild the founder of the fanD;lY fortunes was an officer in her service.
In Eglish old churchyard there is a mound called Toal' s Mound said to consist of soil and bones brought from Laraghshankill shankill over a century ago when the graveyard there was t1na11y obliterated. Another tradition in old Eglis~
concerns the gable of the present ruined church. Locally it is said that it is waiting to fall upon a Donnelly. As the ruined church was not built until 1720 the story probably refers to one of the O Donnelly's of Ballydonnely who conformed to the Established Church about that time. A new church was erected at Drumsollen in 1821 and the old graveyard at Eglish is to be closed following the death and burial of Mrs. Elizabeth Allen of Aghatara who celebrated her 102nd birthday in September last. Eglish must not be confused with the Grange of Tullysaran - it represents the very ancient parish of Clanawle and is linked with Encnait whose father Daire gave Patrick sites for two churches in Armagh. A Holy Well possibly associated with the lady in question lay at tbe base -of the hill on the west of the graveyard. Joseph Donelly -who died in 1918 aged about 90 years remembered it surrounded by high thorns to which rags were attached. Unfortunately it is now filled in and no tradition remains as to the date on which pilgrimages took place or the name of the saint with which it was associated. Two sculptured cross-heads still surviving in the burial ground suggest a respectable antiquity quite in keeping with its claim to be the site of thia old Piarish church of Cla.nawle.
Burning of Tullysaran Chapel.
One hundred guineas awaI..d
Whereas on Tuesday morning the 7th inst . the Roman Catholic Chapel of Tullysaron in the parish of Armagh was discov e red to be on fire and was in a short time entirely consumed. And whereas there is every reason to believe that the said Chapel was wilfully and maliciously set . on fire by so':lle person or persons unknown .
Now, we the under signed inhabitants of Armagh and its vicinity holding in abhorrence the detestable proceedings of this nature, which have so long disgraced some parts of this county , we do promise to pay the su::n of one hundred guineas in proportion tq . the sum annexed to our respective names as a reward to the person or persons, -who shall, in six calendar months, from this date discover and prosecute to conviction the perpetrators of the above atrocious crime .
When t .1e parish priest of Ballykilbeg was collecting for the cost of building a new chapel he called on the yell-known Orange leader, Mr. Johnson, and solicited a subscription. Mr . Johnson received him with much cordiality but explained that his position as Grand Master would not per:ni.t of his subscribing to the building of a Roman Catholic Chapel without giving scandal to his fellow Orangemen. Of course, the priest understood and they parted very good friends . Some weeks later Mr . Johnson happened to meet his friend the priest out walking one afternoon . They stopped for a chat, and before they parted Mr . Johnson said to the priest 11 I was thinking over that matter since I saw you, father , and although I am still convinced tha t my position in the Order debars me from subscribing to the co s t of building a new chapel, at the same time I see no reason why I might not contribute towards the cost of pulling dow.n an old one 11 • And b e gave the priest a handsome cheque .
Eglish CO. TYRONE
fhe very ancient parish was joined to Clonfeacle in 1674 in t e reign of Charles II, but in so far as the native population was con.cerned the old site remained the place of burial do\lJil the centuries, and in the 18th century became again the location of a church .
As regards the Church of Ireland the situation is somewhat different. In 1819 thirty-eight townlands were taken from Clonfeacle - lands which in earlier days formed part of the old parish of Eglish. These were grouped under a district parish and named Derrygotrevy. Three years before a Church has been erected, a plain building with a square tower which we shall see as we continue towards Dungannon .
At Eglish the crowded and very high graveyard suggests long usage as a place of burial and I never pass it without feeling that it should contain some memorial to Arthur 0 O'Neill,the celebrated harper . It is true that we do not know the exact spot in which he lies but the memorial could at least say that he rests within the little cemetery.
0 O'Neillwas one of the most notable harpists of the 18th century . He was born near here in the year 1728 and died at Maydown , Co . Armagh , in 1816 , aged 88 years . He came ot good O O'Neillstock and was much more a man of the
world tha . of his contemporaries, and indeed a superb performer on the harp. In his day he travelled all over Ireland and was a welcome guest in the mansions of the nobility and gentry and equally at home among the less well-to-do of the community, especially at weddings.
He had many friends in County Armagh. Patrick Lyndon of the Fews, one of the county ' s finest harpers, was one of his oldest links - of which later. He played at Fairlawn, now Tynan Abbey, at Alexander Stewart's of Acton where he first met Bunting, at Mount Irwin, at Father O Neill ' s of Ballymacnab, at Dr . Hamilton ' s later Armagh Observatory ' s first Director, and, of course, dozens of other places of which we have no note.
He came into spacial prominence when Edward Bunting of Armagh , the great colkector of Irish Airs, and his friends arranged a gathering of harpist in Belfast in 1792 . Bunting , as you all know , was born in the city of Armagh in 1773 and died.in 1843 . Ha and O Neill were great friends and indeed O Neill ' s appreciation of Bunting ' s effort to preserve the ancient music of the country 1 s most pleasant readin_g . • 0 O'Neillattended the Harp Festival in Belfast. He 1tas then returning from the south and on his way paid a 'Visit to Lyndon of the Fews who was in a somewhat barrassed condition , and without suitable clothing for
aaldJlg an appearance at a public function. 0 O'Neillwith his usual enerosity shared the contents of his wardrobe v1th Lyndon, besides providing him with some cash, confid~tly expecting that he would follow on the appointed date. Alas! for good intentions. Lyndon, having suitable attire for showing himself to his friends and some money .for his pocket, began a tour of all the houses of call in the Fews and s-0 enjoyed himself that he never reached Belf'ast at all, whi ch ~s a pity for one of his pu.pils, Paddy Quinn of Portadown, found favour with the judges and was indeed a credit to his teacher. In passing I may mention that William Carr 0£ Armagh, aged 15' years, was the youngest performer present - but unfortunately we know nothing fuxther about him. · Quinn who was born in 1745, died in 1812 .
O Neill was a bit of a beau as far as dress was concerned, and his best coats were adorned with silver buttons as large as half-crowns, bearing his initials and the O O'Neillcrest. He became Preceptor to the Belfast Harp Society on its formation on St . Patrick ' s Day 1808, and on bis retirement from that post received_ an annuity of £30 per &nllum trom the Society . His harp has been preserved and 1s nov 1n the Belfast Museum and we have a portrait in Armagh: . An autobiography exists but I have only discussed such as e ot Armagh interest , although this gives much info:qi«tion 8 t i travels aDd friends.
At one of the earlier meetings of this study group it was suggested tha t soma attention should be devoted to folk tradition in the parish of A.rmi:1gh, so I propo se to discuss the possibilities of the collection of such material . Personally I am more interested in the purely historical side than in the realm of tradition. The lore of the countryside has, however, its value but unfortunately the present trend of life and its many amenities has practically put an end to= the little gatherings in country houses at "1hich such matters were debated and old stories re-told of happariings in such areas - tales dealing with customs, festivals, p·ast events, etc. Such narratives must, of course, be examined critically. T~adition cannot always be accepted as correct, but it mostly contains a core 0£ fact. I can perhaps best illustrate that pOint by a story told to me in 1943 coricerning Tullysaran Chapel. I shall read it and we shall then examine it carefru.1y by -checking it against available documentary and printed evidence.
Grange as a pariah only dates back to 1772. Pnnous to that year it fol'llled part ot the large and wnd.eldl.T parish ot Armagh, a district that then also 1Doluded the pNHnt parishes ot Lisnadill, Eglish and Ballymoyer
The site tor the church was given bJ" the Right Honble. ·Sir Capel Molyneux, Bart., M.P. ot Castle dillon, eo. Aru.gh, tather ot the lt-th and 5th baronets, builder 1n 1782 ot the Volunteer Obelisk, a wall-known local landwuk, and ••'ber ot a .family ot whom I hope to apeak aore 1'ull.J' later.
BJ 1773 the ohuroh was oompleted and serTed tirat as a chapel of ease to Armagh. In 1776, however, 1 t bee... a Perpetual cuarcy under the charge ot the Rn. Thomas English a tormer Vicar-Choral ot Armagh Cathedral., vbo nl11ned in 1780 tor Charlestown, Co. Louth. Lists ot Perpetual Curates fl'Olll then onwards suniT•• It
WOUl4 be 1.Jdereating to diacuas the auooeas1on 11st 1n dda1l IMt tha' pal'fi1811lar atuq must w.111 a tuture oppoff1111117.
Culoul.J enough the ohUl'cm and graveyard ven not IOIINua,e4 1111,u 11821 ._ yea toll.ov1ng the trect10ll of Ille glebehouse hl1old.na '1le kild1ng ot the emu-a • el4 •-- vu .-.nee Nn1'1ng 1n the aen and
vaaen ot the •ncn1ation ooapying separate 1ide1 ot tile etmroh. In 1823 a gallery was added by the Jlol.ynnX taaily1 the chUl"ah being tllrther enlarged in 18lt3 and again renonted in 1,0$.
!he anhiteot who designed the church was the oelebnte4 ThomasCooley to whose plans the palace was lNllt in 11701 the Public Library in 1171, and the Royal School in 1773.
Parish register ~• ooaplete tram 1780 to the preNllt, an4 .... 1l1ghtl7 earlier NOONS relating lo 1Jlbald.tant1 ot the townlan41 that nov tom Grange parish an pNNne4 in the Register• of ArmaghP&l"iab.parish !hi•
11 a _,ter tor oongratalaU.on. as UJl7 parishes negl.ected
proY14e tor reoords and as a realt were torce4 tuoqh disestablishment ot tile Irish Church to send their n1i1t•r• to Da.Wn when they per1.ahe4 in the buld.na ot -e four courts in 1922.
GnD&• Puim 1 •• no doubt you ue all aware, 1• so • 11-4 fJIOII -• naa1'e:r ot tovnl•nd• within 1 ta taaa, 0"'1pneJJ7 tone4 porUou ot the crane•• ot the et St.Peteran4 a,. Paul ot Aaqh - aoat ot the •t -.-.
In the :reign ot Elizabeth the First, Sir Toby Caulfeild [Caulfield] - founder ot the tamil7 fortunes of the long l1n8 ot Barons, Earls and Viscounts Charlemont - secured the vast lands ot the Abbey ot st. Peter and st. Paul as a reval"d tor his services to the Queen, but by the time of the erection ot Grange Church the townland we now know
•• Salter'ss Grange had become Molyneux property. What its earlier name was is not clear but it undoubtecUy deriYed its present appellation .trom John Salterston who appears on the Muster Roll ot 1630 as a tenant under John Dillon. At aD71"&te the townl.and appears in the Poll Tax of 166o as Saltenser'ss Grange, a doCWllent wherein we also find Blundel'ss Grange, a name that probably arose in •1111l.ar taahion.
A tev other townlands besides Salters Grange were inoorporated in Dillon s grant ot 1610. It time pel'llits I ahall haYe some obsenations to make on tb.at 111-tatad t~ and on the Copes who also held lands in the J)U'iabt ba.t w aball nov bnetl.T discuss antiquitiea within its
Ordnance Survey mapslhov pNhlatorio earthworks . ot the '1i,e o011110nl7 4edgnate4 as tod1 in a number ot '°1ml.ud1. Aghanroe Blundel's Grange Lisdonwilly.
Grennan Tullyardand Knockaconneytor inatanoe, have
noh earthworks and in Tullyardyou have a apeoiaen. ot llhioh the centN onl.7 Nllaina, the trench and outer ramp&n being de1tro7ed oirca 183~• fhe same town.land contains the North Meridian Marks, tamiliar ol»Jeots in. the local landaoape tomerl7 in use by the Armagh Observatorybut now out ot date. In paasing it lll&7 be ot intere 1t to ll8Dt1on that Tullyard Fort is linked tradit1onall¥ vith a st. Cretan. ho saints ot that name appear in .Annal.s under the years 638 and 6'8.
Other townlands ot speoial appeal are -
Carganumuck- site ot chambered grave and of pits dug 'b7 the native troops to trap th• English Horse at tile Yellow Ford 1n. 1598
Moneycree ot the ancient ohvch of Kiloter
Mullynure ot a famous Armagh Abbey, oh1et"l7 know aa Bishop'ss Court, pre suaabl.7 beoauae it was sometimes uaecl by the Archbishops as• residence. Little is knoWll ot i ta h1atoZ7 be70Dd the tut that it was destroye4 by fire oiraa 1371 and was not rebailt. It has alao been 14eatit1ec1 as the 'bllrial place ot Deirdre vhoae miatortun.1 ton the aub~eot ot one ot the aa44eat ot ov old Irilb. aa1aa.
-I'
Drummondmore With a souterrain consistiDI ot two ohambers linked v1 th ••oh other bf a pa1saa• ot 36 teat long besides sites or two forts
file pariah 11, ot course, ot g:reat 1ntere1t to h11torians because ot the tact that the Battle ot the Yellow Ford was fought within its confines 1n the reign ot the tirst Elizabeth In the action the Queen• s were sound.17 beaten and the survivors dispersed. It vas a celebrated Irish notory and is illustrated by exoellent doamaentation 1n State Papers ot the period as well as by folk tradition 1n the parish of Gra!lge vhioh alao has 1 ta links vith the battle fought
ai Benburb 1n with eqaal.lT disastrous rellUlts to British &lll8e
%radition writied by taot states that the first newspaperprinted 1n bush vaa puJtllshed in 176't b7
William Dickie ••'ber ot a t-117 ot that name vbo wre tenant, of Grange UD4el' Molyneux :tl'OII at least 1678. WilliamDickie idle printer was made a freemanot Aaqb in l?ltO an4 had a printing press 1n the o1t7 a1; tlaat date • vll1ab Nllln4a that at least one Sovereign ot Anlalll a., lla.1'1ed 1D Grange churchyard
Thomas1a•1a1nMacanin quenlon t1rat ••ned a1 Sovereign ot the ol ., ANqb ln 1759 and was acain Sovereign
11.x U.e1 betwen that date and 1777, trom vhioh year he Nl'ftd oontimousq until 179lt-, the year betore his death. He was a cadet ot the Sept ot the Macan who in the 17th century occupied a large tract ot O ONeilland the date ot their settlement in the county is uncertain but Irish Annals record the death 1n llS'S' or Macan Lord ot Cinel Aenghusa, from which date onwards references are plentit'ul.. Arthur Jacob Macan, youngest son ot the Sovereignot Armagh, was the tounder ot the Macan Asylum for the Blind, an institution still 1n being.
The lands that compnse the p&nah were mo1tl7 vast• 1n the open1ng dqs ot the 17th century. Some progress vaa ude in the years between 1610 and 161t-1. Fa1'111ng 1n the Bnclllh and Scotch ta8h1on oanie into beinc, but all that vas aoocapllahed was destroyed 1n the Civil War ot the lalter 1eu. Farms lq derellot and deserted dUl'ing the 1eu1 between that da,e and the Cromwellian 00011pa,1011.t
bllt the restoration ot 1660 In-ought a more stable settleaent. 7an1 acaln becan to pl'Oduce orop1, fields were enoloaect bJ' tenoe1 and fruit tree, plan.'94. Dlat hapPJ' nate ot attai:rs va.1 1 hovner, qain broken tor a short tille in the vu beheen 1 ... , and W,Jl1ua ba.t from 1690 Olllfal'da DO fmotbel' ll'OuJtl• I haft U'i••n.
Muster Roll tor 1630. Castledillon Estate.
Muster Roll of Manor or Armagh 1630.
Muster Roll of 1630.- Cope Estate.
Muster Roll ot 1630. Charlemont Estate.
castle Dillon Tenants 1631,
William Pearson.
Nicholas Huffe
Elizabeth Atkins.
Richard Taylor.
Henry Newberry.
William Hutchinson.
Robert Millington.
Michael Ob1ns.
William Mutly.
Henry Chamberlain. Thomas Cross.
Henry Grace.
Hugh Cross.
John Wilson. WilliamPringle
Michael Stones.
Anthony Dillon.
Erasmus Dillon.
Richard Stubbs, Anne Carrington.
George Mason.
Robert Roe.
Richard Roe.
Nathaniel Dillon.
John Galtinson
Samuel Bates.
Edmond Brooke, Thomas Dawson.
Aghanore - the golden ford.
lot shown in Poll Tax ot 1660.
Hearth Money Roll 1664
WilliamWilson.
Allistragh
Poll tax 166o1
2 Bn&liah and 8 Irish tuailies.
Hearth Money Roll ot l66lt1
Alexander McDowell
Roger Stitcher
James Study
Manor ot Armagh 1714
Alexander Orr
Widow Read. Widow Byrne
Chief tenant John Maxwell of Anagh.
Under unanta1
John. McConwell
JamesBigar [Bigger]
Alex. Lyle
John. Sloan Robert Ramsey John Kirk
All presbyterians
Annaclare - Harlh ot the olera. Castle Dillon Estate.
Poll Tax ot 16601
It Inglish taailiea.
Ke&nh Honey Roll 166\u
Donnagh o O'Brannigan. Patrick O O'Brannigan
Annacramp - ot the wild 1arU.o.
Poll Tu: ot 16'oa
8 Sngl1sh and 2 Irish families.
Bo\ llhovn Hearth Money Roll 1661t-.
Annacrampchapel and the Copes
Cope Bstate.
Annahagh - marsh ot the horses. CharlemontEstate.
lot shown Poll fax ot 1660 or Hearth MoneyRoll o~ 1661t-.
Ardrea - the grey hill.
Bot shown Poll Tax 166o.
Heanh Honey Roll or 16641
James Johnston
Bryan O O'Dailly l
Philip O Dailly
Cope Estate.
Aughnacloy - the •tomy ford or ford ot the stone.
Charleaont Estate.
Kot abovn Poll fax 16'o.
HearthJlomy Boll ot 1661t-1
Widow NathanielStansby.Stansby.
Ballybrannon -O Brannon• s Town.
Poll Tax ot 16601
6 Irish families.
Hearth Money Roll of 16641
Art McKeone
Owen McLyndalle Pat. McGurrigan.
Charlemont Estate.
Ballygasson - the Boys town.
Poll Tax of 1660:
6 English families.
Not shown Hearth Money Roll of 1664.
Manor of Armagh 17141
Chief tenants Nicholas Averell Merchant of Armagh. Under tanants
Darby McConnell, Church.
John McCrory RC
John McCarran, Senior, R.C
John McCarran, Junior, R.c.
Owen McCarran.
Ballyknick - the hill tow. Cope Estate~
Poll !u: ot 16601
12 Bnclillh t8111.l1es.
Jlearlh Money Roll 1661t-1
RobertWallwood
Robert Ball
John Bowlin (Boland . Henry Robinson. (pl'Onoun.oed Bolan
Ballymackilmurry McGilmurry fovn.
Poll Tu: ot 166o1 lit- Bngl1sh.
Hearth Non17 Roll 1661t1
Alexander Armstrong
Manor ot Azlulh 17llt-1 Ringan Amstrong.
Chiet tenant I Nicholas Averell ot Armagh, Merchant
Under tenant.as
James McDonnell
Robert Holmes
John Holmes
JamesLappan a.a. ,. ,. R.C.
John Andrew Henry Pagan John starr P. ,. ,.
Carricktroddan - roclq land ot the Troddan.
Bot shown Poll fax ot 1660, or Hearth HoDff. Rolls ot 1661+-.
( a naall townland ot 24a. l r. 36 p.)
Cabragh - bad land.
lot shown Poll fax ot 1660.
Haanh Honey Roll ot 16641
Owen McGribben Cormock o O'Daily [Daly]
Manor ot A:rmagh 171.lt-1
Edward Harrison.
Killvorey OUghtra alias Bally McElmurry oughtra, now Cabragh
Chier tenants Mr. Nicholas Averell
Under tenamaa
John Dickie P.
Daniel Lappan R.c.
NicholasMcelmurry R•C•
John Lappan ReC•
Patrick TumaltyB.a.
Owen Calughan R.c.
Tiege McQuade R.c.
Moses Starr
Alex. Prentice
James McMullen .
Bryan McMahon
Manus Gribben
JamesMannahon
Carganamuck - th• roOT land. ot the sv1ne ol" posaibl.7 the od.m ot the sv1ne - loo~ p:ronounced Carnamuck •
lot shown on .Hearth Mone7 Rolls ot 1661. or Manor ot Armagh1714 · ·.
Carrickaloughran
•ot sbovn Poll Tax ot 1660, Heanh Mone7 Roll 1661t, or llanor ot Armagh 11llt-•
Drummond Beg - the ridge or long hill. Chulemont Estate.
Poll fax ot 1'601
Iriah taailies.
Beanh Money Bou 16'Jt.1
Phelim O O'Donnelly
Shane O O'Hammegan [Halligan]
Bryan O B Brannigan
Drummond More - the long ridge. Charlemont Estate.
Poll fax of 16601
7 English and 2 Irish families.
Hearth Money Roll 1661.1
Francis Leland John Johnston John Forsith.
Drumogher - the ridge of the plain. Castle Dillon estate.
Poll Tax ot 16601
8 Irish Eamilles.
Hearth Money Rolls 166lt-1
WilliamWillson John Carr.
Drumsill - the ridge Qf the sallows.
Pol.l Xu: 16601
10 English and 3 Irish families.
Hearth Money Roll 16641
William McGeough
John Irwin John Dulap
Manor or Armagh 17llt-1
Donnell McMulyn John Orr
Chief tenant I John Maxwell. Under tenantss
Joshua Geough P.
James Davidson P.
James McKnite P.
Grange.
Poll Tu or 1660.
Hearth MoneT Roll 1661+-1
John Oates Torlagh O O'Neill
Grange Blundell or Blundel's Grange. Charlemont Estate .
Not shown Poll Tax 1660.
Hearth Money Roll 166lt - shown as "Blinder Grange" .
John Sanderson William Young .
Grangemore Charlemont Estate.
Poll Tax ot 16601
11 English and 12 Irish families.
Hearth Money Roll 16641
James Graham Pat. Coulter
Gilbert Martin
Allen Simpson
WilliamSloan Pat. Maxwell.
ThomasMcIlvean
Andrew Martyn
Greenan - a summer fort .
Poll Tax 16601
12 Irish tanants.
Hearth Money Rolls 1664:
William Rutland
Henry McEtee
Pat. McEtee
Cope Estate.
Cormack McEtee
Laughlin O Conellan
Killylln -O Lynn ' s Wood.
Poll Tax or 16601
Irish tandlies.
Hearth Money Roll 166~1
William Mitchell
Edmond O Donelly
Manor or Armagh l71ltt
William Richey
Chief' tenant I John Maxwell.
Under tenants •
Thomas Sloan P .
James Wagh P.
Hugh Marshall P.
Kilmachugh- McHugh I s Wood. Charlnont Estate.
Poll Tax ot 166o.
Hearth Money- Roll 16641
John Miller. WilliamLeland. Thomas Angel.
Knockaconey - hill ot the firewood or rabbits.
lfot shown Poll '.rax 1660.
Hearth Kone7 Roll 16611-1
Edward AlexanderArmstrong.Armstrong.
Manor ot Armagh 171lt1
Chiet tenants John Maxwell. Under tenants,
Henry McCoddan a.a. Hugh McCoddan R.c.
Edmund MaCarran R.c. Hugh Mulhallan [Mulholland?] R.C.
Lisdonwilly - Donnelly's Fort.
Poll Tax 1660:
It- Bnglish and 10 Irish families.
Hearth Money Roll 1664-1
John McComb
Manor of Armagh 171>+. Symon Wright
Part of BallymcElorre
' Chief tenants Nicholas Averell. Under tenantsa
James McComb Art McCannell Andrew Heyle P. R.C. J>
Andrew Hamilton P. David Williamson P.
Moneycree - Bog ot the boundary.
Bot shown Poll Tax of 166o, Hearth MoDa7 Roll 1661t, or Manor of Armagh l7llt-.
Mullynure - the hill of yew.
Not shown Poll Tax 1660.
Hearth Money Roll 16641
William Sloan
William Mehan
Thomas Lord Andrew Laughlin
Manor ot Armaghr
Chief tenantr Nicholas Averell.
Under tenants,
John Hunter
WilliamMcCracken
John Humphrey
John McCracken
William Murry [Murray]
John Stewart John Clarke
AJ.J. Presbyter1ans .
Salter's Grange . Castle Dillon Estate.
John Salterston, Dillon Estate, Muster Roll 1630 .
Saltarston's Grange, Cromwellian Inquisition of 16;7 .
feerau - the district of the fort.
Poll Tax 16601
20 Irish.
Hearth Money Rolls 16'1.1
George Whittington
Pheilm O Conry [Conroy]
Bryan [Brian] McCarran
Manor ot Armagh 17llt1
Toole o Dally [Daly]
Owen McCarran
David Woorke
Chief tenant, John Maxwell.
Under Tenant I Thomas Bond a.
f1rcane • rough district.
Poll rax 16601
Hearth Honey Rolls 166lt)
Manor ot A1"llagh 17llta not shown
Chief ,anant I John Maxwell.
Under tenant at
Daniel O Cullen
PhelimRice
JamesRice
Knocker McCann
Edmond Brannigan
JamesMcBride
John Fforte
Tullyard
Not shown Poll Tax ot 1660, or Hearth Mone7 Roll 1661+.
Manor ot Armagh 1711+1
Chief tenant, Nioholas Averell.
Under Tenants s
WilliamHobbs Q Manus Gribben
Pat . McElmurry R.c. PhelimHaygan [Hagan]
John Mass c. Laurence Murry [Murray]
William Mass P. .Tames Wilson
Thomas Wilson c. William Elwood
John Lindsey P. Robert Elwood
John Ridley c. Thomas Connelly
Nicholas Warring R.C.
Tullygarran - Saran's s Hill.
Poll Tax 1660 - l+ Irillh.
Hearth Money Roll 166~1
Art McSherry
William Murray Thomas Little.
Manor of Armaglu
Chief Tenant: Arthur Powell.
Under tenantss
Patrick Carvallan
Hugh McKernan
Conn O Lennan [Lennon]
Art O Sally
Art McKernan
Pat McKee
all Roman Catholics.
Tullygoonigan - o Donnigan• s Hill.
Poll Tax ot 16601
6 :Inglish.
Hearth Money Roll 166lt1
William Harrison Laughlin O O'Hugh.
Manor of Armagh 171~•
Chier tenants John Maxwell. Under tenants s
Robert Hayes P.
Patrick McLaughlin R.c.
Tur McGurk R.c.
Henry Robinson P.
Caster Renison P.
Robert Dyke P.
William Renison P.
KILMORE AND DISTRICT .
Kilmore AND DISTRICT,
Tradition asserts that Patrick visited Kilmore on his way to Armagh in the ~ear 444 A.D., but there is proof that the saint approached Armagh from the south-west. we must, therefore, assume that Patrick•; excursion to Kilmore was of later date, possibly contemporary with the foundation of a church at Mahon, near Portadown, where he converted a well of pagan origin to Christian usage. That church, of course, has long since disappeared, but the spring, coDDllonly calle~ Patrick's Well, remained a place of pilgrimage to : rece:r;it times, and is still in existence. It . has been said that Kilmore was in being before Armagh; that as -an ecclesiastical centre it dates back to the year 422 ·and was the first church erected in Ireland. It is quite true that Christianity had penetrated to Ireland before the days of St. Patri.ck, but the story of Kilmore•s foundation by St. Mochta in that year and its dedication to st. Aidan does not carry conviction. We must, therefore, suppose an establishment subsequent to Armagh rather than before, a theory borne out by the fact that the earliest entry in Irish Annals relating to the death of an Abbot of Kilmore occurs in 745. From that time onwards its history can be traced in dateable sequence to the present day. The little monastic settlement suffered frequently
in tribal warfare and was one of the c t Arm oun Y agh religious establishments raided by the Vikings who seem to have reached the parish in the year 872, considerably later than their arrival in Armagh city where they ravaged its churches ' abbeys, and schools, many times in that and the succeeding ·century.
To the period of the Vikings belclng the round towers, still familiar land-marks in many parts of Ireland. The Annals do not, however, indicate such a structure at Kilmore, even in 1150 when we have a detailed description of the burning of Cill-Mor Ua Niallain with its oratory. This I mention particularly because locally it is believed that the tower of the present church is built around an ancient I Round Tower, a supposition unsupported by observation or historical fact.
The parish is undoubtedly ancient and was monastic in origin. Lists of its abbots begin in 745 and records of vicars and rectors are available from 1367 to date. It is .. indeed one of the best documented parishes in the county, but . time does not permit me to deal with its story in detail. It was early linked with Armagh, the rectorship being vested in the Dean and vicarship in the Chancellor, two dignitaries ot Armagh cathedral In 1627 the parish was attached to the Chancellorship and rectors of Kilmore were Chancellors
-,3,of Armagh by virtue of their offi·ce t· 8 un 11 l 71, but following the Disestablishment that practice was · discontinued . The story of the parish from the coming of the Anglo-Normans in the late 12th century down to the Reformation and from then until the Plantation of Ulster cannot be studied in the time at our disposal . Like other early ecclesiastical establishments it had its Holy Well, probably dedicated to St. Aidan, but according to the Ordnance Survey Placename books of 1835 then linked with a St. Kryne na gort
The present church is believed to occupy the old site . At anyrate a church is shown on the Plantation Maps of 1609, and in 1622 a new church was built. It does not seem to have suffered to any great extent in the Civil War of 1641-42 and did not require rebuilding until 1814 , at which time the old church was all taken down with the exception of the tower, a massive erection with walls nine feet thick, enclosing a spiral staircase leading to the belfry. In 1825 a handsome octagonal copper spire was added that greatly enhanced the charm of the church. It was visible for miles and a most pleasing feature in the landscape. A new chancel was built in 1876 and further improvements have been carried out since. In passing I should perhaps mention that though the church escaped destruction in 1641-1+2, the rector and a
number of his parishioners lost their lives in that tragic period. Shortly afterwards Cromwe111· an ld" · soldiers arrived in the parish and on an eminence on the road from Stonebridge to Ballintaggart that famous - or infamous_ Commander is still commemorated by "Oliver's Hill". Cromwell was appointed Commander General in Ireland in 1649, and in 1657 he authorized a Commission to study the working and incomes ~f t~e parishes in County Armagh, a body whose findings are of interest from the parish point of view. It was then decided that the church should be removed from its site at Kilmore to Leggacorry (now Richhill) as it was I felt that such a change would be more convenient for the parishioners . At the same time it was suggested that Leggacorry was a fit place for a school and that a certain Robert Smyth be schoolmaster in that town for the parish of Kilmore . Three years later the Restoration came into being and Cromwell ' s plans forth~ uniting and dividing of county parishes came to nought and so Kilmore still stands proudly on the hill-top site that it has occupied for roughly 1500 years .
The oldest monument in the church preserves the memory of the Very Rev . George Mackeson, a former Dean of Armagh, who died in 1635 - a link with the days when the rectorship of Kilmore and the Deanery of Armagh were held ~ointly. The most interesting , however, from the historical poiht of view is that erected to the Rev . George Walker, D. D.,
a former rector who died in 1677, f th a er of the celebrated Walker of Derry fame . No monument marks the burial-place of Dorothy Monroe, wife of William Richardson of Richhill ' famous in her day as one of the most beautiful women in Irelando Her carriage drawn by six magnificent grey horses with outriders was a familiar sight here though she was equally attentive to services in Armagh cathedral. She died in 1793 and reposes in the Richardson vault.
The churchyard contains no memorials of earlier date than 1707 . One of the more interesting stones indicates the resting place of certain members of the Hampton family who descend from a brother of Christopher Hampton, Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland (1613-1624) with whom the title of Primate· became a Christian name. Kilmore as a parish was at one time of great extent comprising the present parishes of Mullavilly (formed in \(b~<i, 1755), Ricbhill (1837) , Dobbin (1860) , and Diamond (1867) .
In the days of the birth of Quakerism the parish was a stronghold of those ideals . A Meeting House was built at Ballyhagan in 1654 and a cemetery later acquired in the townland of Money where burials still take place . They were, and still are , a fine body of people but were formerly very troublesome to the rectors of Kilmore over tythes tithes and scriptural interpretations . Their term for the c'hurch was •the steeple house a reference to the tower with which it
was adorned . Such ~mbellisbments were displeasing to Quaker principles then more intolerant than now .
The parish lies chiefly 1·n o•N . 1 ei land Barony, a name designating a territory deriving from the ua Niallains a ' sept or tribe of pre-Christian days . It also contained certain townlands in Orior, now included in Mullavilly parish .
The greater part of the parish excepting for some townlands belonging to the See of Armagh passed to the Sacheverall family in 1610 . Other townlands were included in the Cope and Bouchier Manors . Lists of the tenants on those lands who were capable of bearing arms in 1630 have been preserved as also depositions made by settlers in the parish in the Civil War of 1641-42, as well as a Hearth Money Roll for 1664 giving the names of all the Kilmore householder~ paying tax in that year .
I should perhaps mention that Francis Sacheverall, the grantee of 1610 , left two sons Francis and Henry, the latter becoming the own.er of Ballintaggart , whilst Francis, the elder ·son inherited the major portion of the estate, from ' . whom it passed to his daughter , Anne Sacheverall, who married Edward Richardson in 16~ , hence the Richardsons of Richhill . The present Richhill Castle was built by Anne Sacheverall and her husband , Edward Richardson, about the year 166, . He was then a Member of Parliament for the County Armagh and
served as High Sheriff of the county in 1655, 1656, and 1665 . The Richardson family is now represented by a junior branch that settled in County Fermanagh over two centuries ago .
I would like to examine also the history of Presbyterianism ianism, and Methodism in the parish, to spend some time on a survey of the plight of the native Roman Catholic families following the Reformation, and of events here from Elizabeth~ to James II and William III, but that would keep me talking all night so we must leave those subjects for a future meeting .
I shall now deal as briefly as possible with what we may call the ancient monuments of the parish. The most important in point of date is a pre-historic burial-place in the to,mland of Ballintaggart , a relic carrying the story of human occupation and settlement in Kilmore parish back to about 1500 B. c . Locally it is known as the Giant's Grave and consists of four chambers entered from a forecourt . It is now stripped of its covering slabs and the mass of small stones in which it was once embedded has been removed for building purposes, possibly in the 17th century .
I have already mentioned that Ballintaggart was the seat of Henry Sacheverall, the younger son of Francis Sacheverall, the original grantee of the Manors of Mullalelish and Leggacorry . In 1711 it was leased by the
then Henry Sacheverall to the Boltons - but it had previously been held by the Sheltons and later by the Blacks, Todds, Bredons, etc. Locally there is a tradition that the famous Dean Swift stayed there . It may well be so as the Boltons were his kinsfolk. At anyrate a story is still told about Swift whilst a guest at Ballintaggart House being invited to preach in Kilmore . Upon arrival at the church he robed in the vestry and waited for the bell to indicate when he should proceed to the Chancel. The signal was not given in what the Dean considered to be the due time so he betook himself to the tower and accosted the bell-ringer. To the impatient Dean's enquiries that worthy' s reply was - "the Richardson carriage has not yet reached the top of Annahill The Dean in a rage retorted"If the bell of Kilmore is to hang on the wheels of the Richardson carriage I shan't preach here. Let him do it himsel£ 0 • And off he went to Ballintaggart. History is silent as to who preached that Sunday but we can be sure the Richardson carriage went home by Ballintaggart on that occasion. The house was then considerably larger, and the planting and lay-out of the grounds around the present mansion show signs of earlier influence that may well date to the reign of William and Mary, or the opening years of the 18th centurr • .After the Bolton occupation the place vaa tor a time known as "Bolton's Folly". ~e townland
also contains one of the older Presbyterian congregations of the county, established about 1697, whose first minister, the Rev . Alexander Bruce, was a descendant of King David Bruce of Scotland .
In pursuit of antiquities we had better perha p s take the parish in its older and larger content, and study the townlands with which we are concerned in alphabetical sequence .
Ahorey . Presbyterian Meeting House circa 1790 . The Mill Town.
Annaghugh . An earthen-ringed fort . Bal l yknock. Partly destroyed fort .
Ballylenny. Fort site .
Bott l e Hill . Old name Redimore als Battle Hill . Also known as Kedymore . Der~ves ?hange of name from fights.in Cromwellian times .
Castle Raw, Old name Ballyrath, _and P~?bably so-called from adjoining for~ in Annahugh Castle built by Anthony Cope about 1611 Ancestor f the Cope's of Loughgall . Deserted 0 following the Civil War of 1641-42, at which time it was badly damaged .
Roman Catholic Chapel built in the Drumnahuncheon early 19 th century at some date before Grange
Stonebridge Rocque's Map of 1760 and Ordnance Survey 1835 .
Lower and Upper . Formerly belonging to the Abbey of Newry . d th w·nter Site of the Battle of Diamond an e i
family • th C es The Bagenalls, the Needhams , e op •
-J.0'-
Lissheffield. Partly destroyed fort. Ancient apple-tree on Mr . Johnston's farm.
Liskeborough, Lisavague
Mulladry,
Richhill,
Rockmacreany, Shewis.
Tampaghmore, Tamnaghvalton
Tullymore
Fine Fort .
Fort Site.
Fort site.
Site of Castle erected by Francis Sacheverall before 1619 . Capture in Civil War of 1641-42 and destructions some years later.
Presbyterian Meeting House (1780) Quaker (1793), and Independent (1799).
Two fine forts.
Fort.
Fort.
Fort.
Roman Catholic Chapel erected in 1717. Rebuilt 1824.
Fort called Faughart in which certain Defenders killed at the Battle of the Diamond were buried.
Kilmore as a townland is not shown on Maps o:f 1609. Church then appears in Mony McMoriety.
Kil.more Parish in 1652-60.
Kilmore Pari§A in 1659-60.
Hearth Money Roll 1664. - Parish or KiHmore.
Hearth Money Ro11 166~
( .. ... .. ) ii
George Walker illegible
Amos Dickson
Shane o Rawe
( .•.•. sh) +
Thomas Willson
Walter Shennett
Vencett Higins
Mollelitra
Cortreeny
Luskoburrogh
ffrancis Battson
Richard Boyle
John Pearson
James Carr
John Craige
John Lambert
Cristopher Armstrong
Thomas Burre 11
Robert Gardner
Anthony Ballard
Robert Crapton
John Restrige
Walter fforsayth
Robert Moorehead
o
James Durham
Hearth Money Roll 1664.
Place Names Kilm --- -ore Parish~ o,s, Place Name Books D • t ----- eriva ions,
Ahory
Annahoe .
Annahugh
Annareagh
Ballintaggart
Ballybreagh
Ballyhagan
Ballyknock
Ballylisk
Ballyloughan
Ballynahinch
Ballytrue
Ballywilly
Bottlehill .
Brackagh
Castleraw als
Ballyrath
Cavan
Cloghan
Clanroot
Corcreevy
Cordrain
Cornascreeb
Creenagh
Boundary Ford .
Ford of the Cow .
Hugh ' s marsh or meadow .
Grey Marsh.
Town of the Priest .
Town of the Wolves .
0 1 Hagan 1 s town.
Town of the hill .
Town of the lazyman.
Town of the little lake.
Town of the island .
Town of the stream .
Town of the summit .
Speckled land .
Town of the rath .
A round hill.
Stoney ford .
Lawn or meadow (Ruata)
Round hill of the bush or tree .
Hill of the strong men.
Round hill of the race-track or furrow .
Withered land .
Crewcat
Derryhale
Derryloughan
Drumard (Jones)
Dromard (Primate)
Drumnahunchin
Kilmacanty
Kilmore
Kincon
Lissheffield
Liskyborough
Lisnavague
Lurgancot
Maynooth
Money
Mulladry
Mullahead
Mullalelish
Mullaletragh
Mullavilly
Richhill or Legacorry .
Rockmacreeny
Shewis
Tannaghmore
Tamnaghvelton
Branchy place of the cats.
Derry or oakwood?
Wide or broad oakwood .
High ridge .
High ridge .
Ridge of the ash .
McCanty 1 s wood .
The great or big chUPch.
Head or hill of the mound.
Meaning uncertain.
Meaning uncertain.
Fort of the whey .
Hill of the cats .
Plain of Nuhhat .
A shrubbery
Summit of the Druid
Meaning uncertain
Hill-top of the fort .
Hill of the letter .
Hill of the ancient tree .
Hollow of the cauldron
McCreeny's rock .
Meaning uncertain.
Great field .
May field .
Tullygarden
Tullymore
Unshinagh
Hill of the garden?
Great hill.
Land abounding in ash.
~eport of the schools in the Parish of Kilmore
Diocese and County of Armagh .
(1) School at the village of Kilmore -
Number of pupils on Sundays 122 do. during the remainder of week 86
Enoluments - Profits of tuition and £7 per annum given by the incumbent to the master and his wife for instructing 18 girls in reading, sewing amd mantua making in addition to the number of scholars reported above. Also £2 per annum from the incumbent for teaching gratis on Sundays .
The school house built in the year 1823 .
No class lists or other documents preserved previously to the year 1823 .
(~) School at Bottle Hill established in the year 1823 .
Number of pupils on Sundays 336 do . during the remainder of week 76
&noluments - The profits of tuition and £2 per annum given by the incumbent for teaching on Sundays gratis .
(3) Rich Hill school established in the year 1820 .
Number of pupils in the year 1820 - 153 do . in 1821 167 do. in 1822 - 18 3 do . in 1823 - 200
Sunday School in 1823 - 210
The above is both a male and female school held in separate apartments
, 0~1
• nts - £30 to the master and £30 to the mistress from' ' · t Jte of the late Erasmus Smith Esqre . and an acre of r b . nu granted by the late Mr . Richardson of Rich Hill --~ r annum for teaching on Sundays gratis .
() School at Tullamore •
. umber of pupils on Sundays 107 do . during the remainder of the week 58
Emoluments - profits of tuition and £2 per annum for teaching on Sundays gratis paid by the incumbent .
(5) School at Mullavilly established in the year 1818 .
Number of pupils during the week
In the year 1818 1819 1820 1821 1822 1823
Sunday Scholars in 1823
This school consists of two separate apartments for males and females .
&noluments - To the master £30 and to the mistress £20 per an: from the estate of the late Erasmus Smith, Esqre . besides an acre of arable land to the master with the exception of a small garden belonging to the mistress . Also £2 per an : from the incumbent for teaching on Sundays gratis .
(6) Brackay School .
Number of pupils on Sundays in the year 1823 do . during the week
JSl!oluments - Profits of tuition and £2 per annum from the incumbent for teaching on Sundays gratis . ·
?here are no records or class lists of this school Previous to the year 1823 .
\ Ballyloghin School - established in the year 1823 .
iJ. on Sundays u e week (with the probability of a large increase) - 136 - 41+
~ 0 :ume ts £8 per annum granted by Miss Richardson of Richhill and £2 per an : from the incumbent for teaching on sundays gratis.
(v) Dobbin Bridge School established in the year 1823 .
umber of pupils on Sundays do. during the week - 50 - 30
Emoluments - The profits of tuition and £2 per~annum from the incumbent for teaching on Sundays gratis .
( 9) Derryhale School .
Number of pupils on Sundays do. during the week - 79 - 39
~oluments - The profits of tuition and £2 per annum from the incumbent for teaching on Sundays gratis .
(101 Lisavague School - established in the year 1823 .
• ber of pupils on Sundays o. urinu the week - 100 - 16
t - Profits of tuition and £2 pe r annum from the t or teaching on Sundays gratis .
Vinecash u bc1ool established in the year 1823 .
'Jn Sundays the week - 60 - 40
, tuition and £2 per annum given by the , on Sundays gratis .
(l~ Mullahead school established in the year 1823 .
ber of pupils on Sundays - 162 do . during the remainder of the week - 13
&noluments - Profits of tuition and £2 per annum from the incumbent for teaching on Sundays gratis .
N. B . The rates of tuition in the parish of Kilmore arefor reading ten shillings per annum - for writing and arithmetic one pound per annum .
April 3rd , 1824 .
Tottl
Edward CHICHESTER
Rector of the parish of Kilmore .
1n6
Number of SUnday Scholars in the parish of Kilmore 920 do . of daily scholars
KILLYLEA - PARISH HISTORY .
Killylea is, of course, a modern parish as regards date of foundation . It derives , however, from three ecclesiastical centres of respectable antiquity - Armagh founded in the mid-fifth century by St . Patrick himself, and Tynan and Derrynoose both ancient parishes, the latter linked with a St . Mochua who died i~ the year 564.
The story of the establishment of Killylea as a parish begins in 1829 . In September of that year a meeting was held under the Chairmanship of the then Earl of Caledon to determine the lay-out of the new parish . Lord Caledon was the 2nd Earl and when the Cape of Good Hope was ceded to Great Britain, he became its first Governor, holding that office from 1806 until 1811 , and in whose honour the town of Caledon in South Africa is named . He died in 1839 and a lofty monument in Caledon Hill Demesne perpetuates his memory~
Lord Caledon,with certain other gentlemen in the neighbourhood, was convinced that a church should be erected in or near the village of Killylea, and it was thought that as there were more than fifty families of the Established Church 1n the townland of Killylea alone, and many others in the surrounding districts who had to travel long distances to their respective churches, that the Primate (Archbishop
Lord John George Beresford) should be requested to consider the formation of a new parish . The Archbishop gave the project his blessing . A subscription list was opened towards the Building Fund and contributions of £100 each were received from Lord Caledon, the Maxwell family, the Close family, and Trinity College, Dublin , besides sums of £50 each from the Lord Primate , Lord Lifford, then Dean and Rector of Armagh, the Rev . J . E. Jackson, Rector of Tynan, and the Rev. J. Jones, Rector of Derrynoose . The Board of First Fruits gave £900 and a number of smaller donations brought the total up to £1 , 540 . Later a further sum of ~63 was also raised .
The Primate then issued an order for holding a Vestry Meeting . This was read in Tynan Church on Sunday morning, the 14th February , 1830 , and copies affixed on the doors of Tynan Church, Killylea Courthouse and Lislooney Meeting House on the same day, stating that a Vestry Meeting would be held in the Killylea Courthouse on the 25th February .
The Vestry duly met and were advised that it had been decided to take the following ' townlands from the three parishes of Tynan , Derrynoose and Armagh .
Lisnadill - Lisdrummard , Knockgaphy, Tyrearly and Ballycoffey .
Eglish - Aughrafin and Tamlet .
Lisnadill and Eglish were then Perpetual Curacies of Armagh, and Armagh Parish thus became responsible with Tynan and Derrynoose for nominations in turn to the newly formed perpetual Curacy of Killylea, at the same time contributing £22, £30 and £23 annually .
Two years later the church was completed, and on 14th April , 1832, it was dedicated and consecrated by Dr . James Saurin, Bishop of Dromore, acting for Archbishop Lord John George Beresford . The site for the church and churchyard was gifted by Trinity College on the 5th June, 1830 . In passing I may mention that when Dr. Saurin died in 1842 the Bishopric of Dromore was united with Down and Connor.
Killylea's subsequent history can readily be traced through the Parish Vestry Books. I have not, however, had access to them but I know they are available from 1829 . Killylea is fortunate in that it has documentary evidence for alterations , renovations, and general parochial matters from its inception to the present.
We know, of course, that the church was enlarged and improved by a memorial chancel erected in 1874 by the late Mr . H.B . Armstrong, B. L., and that during the incumbency of the Rev . Thomas Ellis, Perpetual Curate 1858-1888, a Glebe House was built • • ,_. "'16',IJ/lllfll towards m.ich Mr . Ellis I hiaselr gave a subscription of £500 . The then pastor was a lllan ot considerable wealth with an estate in Co . Limerick bequeathed to him by his father on condition that he should
reside thereon six months in each year. I have no information upon how that affected the parish - presumably he employed a curate.
The "Beresford Correspondence" in Armagh Public Library contains some Killylea miscellanea, chiefly for the period from 1856 (the year in which Mr. W.J . Armstrong presented a clock for the tower) down to 1880. From them we know that a school was built in the village in 1818 , that its site had been granted free by the proprietors - and later repaired at an expense of £70, of which £30 had been contributed by Trinity College and the remainder by the incumbent. We also learn that the school was receiving an annual income of £15 from the A.P.C.K., £12 from the proprietors and £7 from fees, the pupils on the roll numbering 140. We are also informed that in 1832 the parish consisted of 323 families, making a total of 1,048 parishioners.
A letter from the Rev. William McClean, Rector of Tynan, dated 15th March, 1856, survives objecting to the cutting of trees in the churchyard, a matter that brought down the wrath of the Primate on the Rev. J.C. Mccausland who had been Perpetual Curate since 1834. At that date there was no Glebe House, consequently Mr. Mccausland was compelled to live 111 Armagh. The Primate, however, insisted that he should live Vi.thin his benefice and allow no more trees to be cut. ,_, 1ear1 later Mr. Mccausland resigned and the Rev. Thomas 1111,, whom I have already apoken of as the builder of the
Gle be House , took over . According to a letter of October 18 58 he was to live in Caledon for 18 months until a Glebe House could be contrived - from which we may assume that the house in use recently as a rectory was built in 1859 . In the same month Mr . W . J. Armstrong, then living at Mount Irwin, mentions the proposed Glebe House, and the Primate in reply queries whether Mr . Armstrong would give land and build a rectory, whereupon Mr . Armstrong offered 5 acres in perpetuity at 30/- per acre - another item in a like letter refers to the removing of the Parish Clerk for marrying his deceased wife's sister in 1857 . In the same year the parishioners presented a memorial to the Archbishop asking that the master and mistress appointed to Killylea by the Perpetual Curate should be allowed to open the school. Mr . McClean of Tynan seems to have been protesting but for what reason we are not told . A further letter from Mr . McCausland's successor in the parish, dated August 16th, 1860, suggests that the old school was still in existence and states that Mr . Armstrong was willing to repair it and place it under the National Board of Education. if a new school could not be built . Mr . Ellis, however, objected to the National Board and wished to have a new school with a re sidence attached . Plans were sent to the Primate and Mr . Ellis estimated the cost at £4-00 , stating that Mr . Armstrong had agreed to give a subscription ot £1.00 towards the building and advising that the old school lbouJ.d be given to him in exchange if he would advance another
£,O towards the new one . Trinity College, £25 from from the parishioners . Other assistance included £50 from s· J ir ames Stronge and about £25 Mr . Ellis,having spent £400 on renovations to the Glebe House and £4o on the church, did not feel that he could contribute to the school . In passing I would like to say that I feel that the present Killylea school is most pleasing and the wonderful views across to the Armagh and Tyrone hills make it one of the most attractive schools in the county . We shall now return to the church. In the period 18621867 it was necessary to raise a considerable sum of money for renovations, building of the Glebe House, etc . An amount of £3 , 216 was required and raised, and from the accounts we discover that the Glebe House cost £1,450, Church restoration £1,100 and the erection of two school houses with residences for masters and repair of a third school £666 . The chief subscribers to above works were Archbishop 1·n l862, and had some short time Lord John Beresford who died previously subscribed £350 , Mr . W . J . Armstrong £69°, Ecclesiastical Commissioners £350 , Lieut. Col . Cross £ 291 , £1 6o Mr St John Blacker Col . Close £202 , Trinity College , • • £88 and Sir James Strong £72 . SUpp lied by a harmonium, earlier Music at that time was the 1862-67 improvements it had been a barrel organ, but ;,, ' r1sed a new organ specially chosen for the church by
In 1870 the Church of Ireland was disestablished and it became necessary to provide an income for the incumbent. Mr . W.J. Armstrong made a gift of £1 , 000 towards that particular object, his son Mr.H.a. Armstrong £200, Mr . st . John Blacker Douglas £400 and Col . Cross £200 .
More improvements were carried out in 1890; in 1896 repairs were made to the tower and walls, and in 1916 new heating apparatus replaced the system installed through the generosity of 1-fr. H. B. Armstrong in 1874 .
I need not continue the story of the church, and I cannot go into the early history of the district or deal with the place-names of the parish . Time does not permit. I would, however, like to remind you that in the reign of Elizabeth the First the chief landowners in this territory were the 0 O'Neillsand the church but that following the Plantation of ON~ t~c-~ f<>'f-e.1.~a Ulster thep, :iw. Ecclesiastical property, with the exception of Abbey lands, remained in the possession of the See of Armagh . In Tynan and Derrynoose parishes and
What is now the parish of Killylea, Trinity College was granted about 17,35lt acres - with a further 4, 475 acres in another Part of the county _ besides which Fermanagh supplied 10 , 583 acres and Donegal no less than 63 , 252 - a contribution to Trinity's upkeep that is now I fear forgotten. It seems a Pity, however that Elizabeth the First•s plan for universities ' at Armagh and Limerick should have miscarried. If the scheme n 1 been put into operation Armagh would, no doubt, in the
re :~ of James I have captured some 96,684 northern acres to pl&Y about with and would have again become a university town .
Trinity'ss Royal grants under James I were farmed out by the College and thus their very considerable lands in the old parishes of Derrynoose and Tynan came into the hands of the Maxwells, an old Scottish family of whom the Rev . Robert Maxwell was Dean of Armagh from 1610 until his death in 1622 .
Dean Maxwell left three sons, the Rev . Robert Maxwell of whom presently; Henry, ancestor of the Maxwells of Finnebrouge, Co . Down; and James Maxwell of Mullaghtinny , now better known as Elm Park, who left two daughters, of whom the youngest Margaret Maxwell married, firstly , Sir Robert Maxwell by whom she had no issue, and secondly , Capt . Butler of the famous Ormonde family by whom she had a daughter , Catherine, who married the Rev . Samuel Close, Rector of Donaghenry in the year 1721, by whom she had a son Maxwell Close to whom his grandmother, Lady Maxwell, bequeathed Elm Park. The property remained with the Close family until after the marriage of Grace Close (sister of Sir Barry Close , Bart . ) in 1767 to the Rev . St . John Blacker, Rector of I Moira . At a later date the Rev . Samuel Blacker married as his second wif e, Elizabeth , daughter of Thomas Douglass of Grace Hall, - hence the Blacker-Douglass •s of Elm Park.
The Dean ' s eldest son Robert was, however, the builder or Elm Park _ the date stone inscribed 11 Robert Maxwell 1626 11 . remains incorpora ted in the present house with a further •tone recording that the house erected in 1626 was rebuilt in 1803 . Robert Maxwell entered the church and was Rector
of Tynan from 16 2 5 until 1661. He was elevated to the Bishopric of Kilmore in 1643 and to Elphin and Ardagh in 1661. With those dignities he managed to hold on to Tynan until 1661 and to the rectories of Derrynoose and Clonoe from 1634 until 1666 . He died in 1672 leaving issue_
1. John of Farnham, Co . Cavan, which he built in 1713.
2 . James of Fellows Hall whi eh he built in 1664.
3. The Rev . Henry of College Hall, Rector of Tynan 1668-1709 who like his father suffered much hardship ln the Civil War of 1641. He died at College Hall in 1709 and was the ancestor of the Earls and Barons Farnham. He was succeeded in the rectorship of Tynan in 1709 by his eldest son, the Rev . James Maxwell, who was born at College Hall circa 1666 and died 1737 . His successor at Tynan was the Rev . John Stronge, Rector from 1737 until 1738 ( who married Eleanor Manson of Fairview now Tynan Abbey) whose second son Matthew Stronge Mayor of Liverpool was the father of the Rev. Sir James Stronge created a baronet in 18031 who married Helen Tew, daughter of John Tew, Mayor Dublin, by his wife Margaret, daughter of Robert Maxwell of Fellows Hall and niece of the 1st Lord Farnham . College Hall seems to have been in a decayed state about 1848 and was taken down some years later during the construction of the railway line from Armagh to Monaghan.
4. William Maxwell of Falkland, Co . Monaghan, High Sheriff of that county in 1091, who married Anne daughter of the Rev . George Walker, D. D. , Chancellor of Armagh and sister of the celebrated Rev. George Walker of Derry fame .
The Bishop left five daughters also but our interest lies in his second son James of Fellows Hall . An armorial and inscribed stone preserved there states that the house Vas built by James Maxwell and Elizabeth his wife in 1664 . ••cond stone states "the house that was built on this
cround by James Maxwell in the year 1661+, being burned in 1752 was rebuilt by Robert Maxwell and Grace his wife in 1762 under the inspection of their son John". A further inscribed stone gives the information that the present house was built by John Maxwell in 1802 . It is evident, however, from the interior that what happened then must have been rebuilding or reconstruction.
In the burning of 1752 everything in the housepictures, furniture, china, glass , etc. - was lost and one of the children was burned to death.
I am not quite sure as to the date of the death of the last Maxwell to liv e in Fellows Hall . I do know, however, that in 1839 Thomas Knox Armstrong was residing there . It is indeed a pleasing fact that his grand-nephew, Mr . J . R.B . Armstrong, should now represent him there .
After Mr . Knox Armstrong 's death in 1840 Fellows Hall was occupied by Lieut . Col . George Augustus McClintock, son of John McClintock of Drumcar, Co. Louth, who in 1850 married Catherine Caroline Brownlow Stronge, daughter of Sir James Matthew Stronge, 2nd Bart. of Tynan Abbey.
The McClintocks were an old Donegal family with branches at Rathvinden , Co. Carlow, Blessington, Co . Wicklow, Seskinore, co. Tyrone, etc. Locally the family is, I am sure, best remembered by Miss Isa McClintock, an outstanding figure in the hunting world.
Several members of the family were of interest . we can, however, only spare time to mention two . l . Vice-Admiral Sir Leopold McClintock who entered the Navy in 183l)at which time Killylea Church was only one year in existence . Sir Leopold went to the Artie regions in 1848 and 1852 . Effected improvements in the methods of travelling on ice . Commanded the 11 Fox" in search of Sir John Franklin, bringing back evidence of his fate . Knighted 1860 he had the Freedom of London and many University degrees conferred upon him. Vice-Admiral 1877 . K. C. B.1891. Died 1907 .
2 . Francis Joseph De Poer McClintock, Vicar of Drumcar 1886-1924 . Dean of Armagh 1898 until his death in 1924. Son of Major Henry Stanley of Kilwarlin House, Co . Down, brothe r of John McClintock of Drumcar, Co . Louth, who in 1868 was created Lord Rathdonnell .
By a strange coincidence three of the chief families of the district descend from Margaret Maxwell, (daughter of Capt . Robert Maxwell of Fellows Hall, son of the Rev . Henry Maxwell of College Hall, brother of the first Lord Farnham who married Alderman John Tew , Lord Mayor of Dublin, son of David Tew, Lord Mayor of Dublin 1752 . By that marriage John Tew had with other issue -
1. Margaret who in 1784 married the Rev . William Jones Armstrong of Termonfeckin, Co . Louth , father of William Jones Armstrong, D. L. , J . P ., of Killylea and Thomas Knox
Armstrong who lived at Fellows Hall, circa 1839 . Mr . William Jones Armstrong was, as you all lmow, the father of the late
Right Honble . Henry Bruce Armstrong , B. L. of Dean's Hill, Co . Armagh, a former Lieutenant for Co . Armagh, and father of Mr . J . R . B. Armstrong, now of Fellows Hall, and of Col.
Christopher Armstrong , M. P . and grandfather of Capt . Michael Armstrong, D. L . of Dean ' s Hill , Armagh .
2 . Helen Tew who married in 1785 the Rev. James Strenge of Tynan , created a baronet in 1803, ancestor of the Right Honble . Sir Norman Strange, M . P . , Speaker of the Northern Ireland House of Commons .
Sure Killylea •s the little dandy,
But if ye drink in Tynan
It's there they'd pick yer pockets handy .
Killyleafor drinking tay
An' Tynan it 's the dandy
But Cavanapole' s the dirty hole
An' College Hall can bate them all When it comes till drinkin' brandy.
In such rhymes place names can be transposedKillylea might be where 11 they pick your pockets handy 11 or even "a dirty hole" "that could bate them all when it came till drinkin' brandy".
It wus not the man from Caledon
It wus not the man from Middleto'n
But it wus the man from Killylea Put whiskey in me tay .
The addition of whiskey to tea was considered true hospitality when dispensed to special friends. Nowadays the whiskey has been transferred to coffee and in Dublin is known as "Irish Coffee" and costs at least 3/6d . per cup .
APPENDIX I~
David Tew, Lord Mayor of Dublin in 1754
iAlderman John Tew Lord Mayor of Dublin = Margaret Maxwell, daughter of Capt. Robert Maxwell of Fellows Hall son of the Rev . Henry Maxwell of College Hall, brother of John Maxwell, first Baron Farnham.
178
Margaret Tew = The Rev . William Jones Armstrong of Termonfechin, Co . Louth, grand- father of the late Henry Bruce Armstrong B.L . , formerly His Majesty's Lieutenant for Co . Armagh .
1785
Helen Tew= The Rev.James Stronge of Tynan, created a baronet in 1803, ancestor of the Right Honble. Sir Norman Stronge Bart • , M • P • 1 _ Speaker of uie Northern Ireland House of Commons.
The Barony of Farnham was created in 1756 . Robert Maxwell, the second Baron Farnham was created a Viscount in 1761 and advanced to an Earldom in 1763. He died in 1779 whereupon the honours conferred upon himself became extinct and the barony devolved Upon his brother~ Barry Maxwell 3rd Baron Maxwell, who obtained a Viscounty in 1"!80, and an Ear dom in 1785. He was succeeded by his son James John Maxwell, 2nd Earl of Farnham . He died 1823 without issue whereupon his personal honours became extinct and the barony rev~rted to his kinsman, John Maxwell, 5th Baron Farnham.
Dean Robert Maxwell 1610-1622 debarred himself from further rvancement in the church by preventing Archbishop Henry Ussher l'Oll 118k:lng a fee farm grant of the See Lands of Armagh at ~:°O per year for ever to a dependant of the Duke of Buckingham
f:reaent heir Barry Owen Somerset Maxwell , b . 1931, grandson of .. te Lord Farnham (Father killed in World War II). Royal toent, 12th in descent from Henry VII.)
APPENDIX II I
Lord Rathdonnell .
The McClintocks we 7e an old Donegal family who settled at Drumcar, Co. Louth, in the early 18th century. John McClintock of Drumcar, MP fo 7 Athlone 1823 and for Louth 1831 , was born in 1770 and married firstly, in 1797 Jane only daughter of William Bunbury and had issue - '
1. John of Drumcar created Baron Rathdonnell in 1868.
2. William Bunbury McClintock Bunbury.*
Mr. McClintock married secondly in 1805 Lady Elizabeth third daughter of ·William Power Trench, 1st Earl of Clancarty and had further issue - '
3. Fredrick William.
I+ . Charles Alex.
5 . Robert le Poer.
6. Major Henry Stanley McClintock, agent to the Marquess of Downshire .
7. George Augustus of Fellows Hall, Lieut . Col . Sligo Rifles, born 1822, who married in 1850 Catherine Caroline Brownlow, daughter of Sir James Matthew Strange, 2nd Bart ., for whose issue see McClintock of Rathvinden.
John McClintock,lst Baron Rathdonnell was created Baron Rathdonnell in 1868 (with limitations to his heirs male which failing to the heirs of his brother, Capt. Wm . B. McClintockBunbury, R.N., M.P.) who died without issue in 1879, whereupon he was succeeded by his nephew, Thomas Kane McClintock-Bunbury llho succeeded as 2nd Baron Rathdonnell, ancestor of the presen~ peer.
• William Bunbury McClintock Bunbury McClintock, Capt . R. N., M.P • for Carlow who assumed the name and arms Bunbury in addition to those of McClintock in 181+6 upon succeeding to estate of his maternal uncle. He married in 181+2 Pauline Caroline Diana Mary, daughter of Sir James Matthew Stronge 2nd Bart .
APP.tmDrx rn,
The Irwins of Mount Irwin share a similar kinship with the Stronge family in that they also descend from the Mansons of Fairview, by the marriage of William Irwin of Mount Irwin with Sarah, daughter of James Manson, and are indeed further connected through the marriage of Catherine Caroline Brownlow Strange, daughter of Sir James Matthew Stronge, Bart . , to Lieut. Col. G. A. McClintock of Fellows Hall, whose daughter Constance Harriet McClintock married Henry Crossle Irwin in 1881 .
Keady Parish MiscellaJJea.
A century and a half ago the parish was responsible tor manY matters that now concern the County and Rural District Councils, etc., Health and Welfare, etc.
In those days the Vestry was responsible tor the care of roads in the districts and the pronsion of help tor the Parish Constable who was ably assisted by the Churchwardens, overseers of highway Overseers of Poor, Overseers of Public Houses and other parqohial officers such as Officers ot Health.
In the early days of the 19th century there was much di stress amongst the poor of the par1 sh and a certain amount ot moral laxity, resulting in babies being deserted known as foundlings Such children were either cared tor lo0ali7 or sent to a touncllinc home in Dublin. As it was impossible in some cases to trace the parents they were sometimes given the name ot the parish as a surname - for instance, in 1807, 8 foundling was baptized Mary Keady, and in 1816 another unfortunate child was for the same reason christened James Keady
At that time beggars were plent11'ul. - some real objects ot charity but many just able-bodied frauds, a state ot atta1r1 that broucht about the introduotion ot badges tor beggars Poor· luat vhen badges were t1rst issued in lteady I do not
imov, probably not tor 1011e time atter th• parish ot Keady va• 1eTered rrom Derrynoose. At anyrate the first notice ot the introduction ot "Poor Badges" here of which I have &DJ record was in 1618 when one hundred badges were purchased, and two parishioners .fJ'011 each townland appointed to recommens such poor as were ellcible. The badge• vere vorn on a cord round the neck and poor caucbt begcin, in parishes other than their own were liable to severe punishment, beside• running the chance ot bainr placed 1n tba stocks as well.
Seven years later, in 1825, there is a record or the use o! the church bell to awake parishioners at 6 a.m. and acain at 9 p.m. to warn them that they mi&ht rest trm their labours - somewhat ot a contrast to the present times vben people only toil five short workine days per week, and without modern transport mirht re.tuse to work at all. Schools were then small.er and 1enarall.J more oonftllientlJ 11te<1, children had no d1tt1aultJ in valld.nr a tav mile• and 1n the w.1.ntar micht have bean seen traapinc alon, vith a turf under each arm - their contribution to the beatinl ot the whiob me that turt tires in tbo1e days were orten alive tor
The two ireat 1port1 in Keady then were cock fighting• 1011evhat cruel pastime - and a form ot tootball played between riTal tr011 dittarent a game
played across the fields and endinc in the tovnland ot the defeated pla,er1. There were rules tor the came but they were not always obeyed and such amusements tJtequently ended in tree tichts, a diversion that Keady people vere 11t.1ch addicted to.
Keady boasted a corps ot Volunteer, raised in 1780 sbortly attar the formation ot the parish, at a period when Britain was involved in war with America and Ireland threatened with invasion The Keady company was c01111anded by James Black ot Derrynoose and aonlisted ot about twen'7 creditable young men, tenants and tenants• son• under Lord Farnham. An Irish Volunteer meeting was held in Keady in 1782 at which Captain Black was expelled tor acceptinl a commission in a Fencibleregiment Be wa1 succeeded 1n the command bJ Mr. Samuel Cuming local acent to Lord Farnham and seneschal or the Manor. The company was very active in the trouble• between the Peep of day boys and Defenders and in 1789 it was one ot the many Volunteer companies to celebrate the recoveryot the king !hi• they did by 1llua1nat1on1, a parade and bonfire. In 1792 the Irish Volunteer• were disbanded and in 1796 a Yeomanry known as the Keady Cavalry, was formed under Viscount Caulfeild later Earl of Charlemont and ot which tbe Junior officers were cadet, ot the Holmes
Simpson Neville and Mathews families. to have ceased to !unction before 1820. It seems, however,
In the parish there are hills still remembered as shilling Hills reminder ot the days when machinery tor grinding corn wa• some'What 1mpertect, a time when it wa• austomary attar the tir at grinding to take the bruiaed grain to auoh hill• on windy days tor cleanin1 and ~ervard• back to the mill tor re-p-1nd1n1.
Ploughing was done by wooden ploughs some ot ldlicb were still in use titty years ac.o, and it was not unusual to see bullocks used tor draft purposes.
Fairs were then places ot amusement as well as business and broken heads and black eyes the order ot the day. Smith cives a vivid pen-pictu!'e ot a ~ady street ticht in his 11 1 Island of Skye".
Patrons with games · and dancing ev.r7 summer were tol'llerly held at Drumbunion. Such festivals attord tac111t1es tor match making and were wel.l. patronised.
81.aaU.ar festival• known as Bilberry Sunday [blayberry sunday] are still kept on Carrickatuke and Mullyash
Hours could be apent on past events in the parish bu.t we muat al.so spare a U ttle time to Armaghbrague so 11 • •hall now bop aero•• the hills to that healthy and P1o"1reaque countryside.
Keady
From Keady to Castleblaney we shall travel at times on the line ot an ancient traak or road by ltliob the three Colla• penetrated in 332 A.D. in the !1c}lt that ended EmainMacha' 11 career as the or orovninc place or the kine• ot Ulster. The deci11n battle was tought at Carnagh but time will not allow u1 to explore the reputed site or the attray. There 11 a cairn site Just betore we reach the Free State Customs Post.
Keady (A flat topped hill
Owes its or1c1n to havinc been advantaceously 11 tuated on the Callan which issues from Clay Lough about a mile and a halt south-west ot the town which with its numer 0u1 talls attracted a croup or persons interested in the linen trade llho formed a larce bleaching establishment heN in 1750.
At Dundrum in 1826 a very large mill was erected in which it was first attempted to make linen from mill- spun yarn, and there the manufacture ot tine linen was tirst introduced into the district.
Flax spinning mills were erected about the same time at New Holland and Darkley another tor sheeting at Dundrum and bleach green at Annvale Greenmount, Dundrum, Balleer Milviev, Darkley and Linenvale where about 23;,000 pieces ot linen were annuall7 tinisbed. Some time pren.ous the three lakes or Clay, Aughnagurgan and Tullynawood were dammed up to ensure a proper supply ot water. In Har ah 1822 the Clay Lake rampart way as the result ot a aloud burst and a hue• volume ot water poured down dealing death and de1truotion in i ts cour se , oarryinc away trees, mill wheels linen, cattle, poultry, etc., fortunately only two human live• were lo1t.
Barly in the 19th century a lead mine was opened and wroucbt tor a tev years by the Mining Company of Ireland. ror 1ome reason the vanture was not a success nor was a .. oond attempt about lSltO any more luoky. There is a yer, v1 vid deaoription ot mi.nine operations here in Alexander Smith's "Summer in Skye", written in 1865 vhicb 1111 - "The little town of Keady sparkled in the sun backed by a range of smelting furnaces the flames fanned by the sunlight, makinc a restless mimer in the air and blotting out eyeeythinc beyond". Mines were also opened at Drumeland and Curryhughes [Carryhugh]
As a parish Keady is not of any creat antiquity tr011 the point ot the churches. Originally 1 t formed part of Derrynoose parish and not until 1773 was any att•pt made to IUpply the growinc tovn with settled places ot vorsh1pthe Roman Catholic Churoh indeed was not built until 1780.
In 1798 many houses were burned and local tradition still tells the story of Lord Blayney marching over tbe
Man of War Hill with "horse toot and artillery and ot a f1eroe fight in the Market Square when the revolutionaries armedwith spades scythes and iron bars wrenched from tbe 014 Market House faced the local Yeomanry Corps and almost gained the day
In passing I may mention that it was in front ot that Market House that the old stocks were erected and there they remained until early in the followinc century wtien a famous local poll t1c1an, '#ho had been confined in them, was liberated by his friends whereupon they were •ashed to tracments and never replaced.
