The Old Platoon

One of the Old Platoon by Will Dyson

Soft the night on the bleak field's face
     And under the lonely moon,
The white cross marks your resting-place,
     Mate of the old platoon.

Hazards many we both have shared,
     Enduring as men endure--
"With faith and fire all risks we dared,
     Knowing the end was sure.

"The cause is worthy," you often said--
     You said: "We're out to win,"
As we looked to the great new day ahead
     That ushered Freedom in.

There's a weapon less on the rifle-rack,
     And gone from the parapet,
Still you guide us now on the cobbled track,
     The mate we can't forget.

To the hour ahead our way we wend,
     Let it come late or soon,
We know you're with us to the end,
     Mate of the old platoon.



This poem was written by Rifleman Patrick MacGill and was printed in the Lisburn Standard on 25 October 1918. The text along with other extracts can be found on my website Eddies Extracts.)


 

Lewis's Topographical Dictionary of Ireland -- 1837 (pt2)

SOME EXTRACTS
FROM THE
RECORDS OF
OLD LISBURN
AND THE
MANOR OF KILLULTAGH.

-- -- -- --
 Edited by JAMES CARSON. 
-- -- -- --

CVI.

-- -- -- --


Lewis's Topographical Dictionary of Ireland -- 1837.

(Continued.)

By the charter of Charles II. conferring the elective franchise, the inhabitants not being a body corporate, and consequently having no municipal officer, the seneschal of the manor of Kilultagh was appointed returning officer for the borough; and the right of election was vested in the inhabitants generally, every potwalloper being entitled to vote; but by an Act of the 35th of Geo. III., cap. 29, it was restricted to the £5 householders, of whom, previously to the late Act for amending the representation, there were only 1411, and of these only 81 were qualified to vote. By the 2nd of William IV., cap. 88, the right of election was confirmed in the £5 householders; and the boundary of the borough, which was very indistinct, was enlarged and clearly defined, and now comprises an area of 1,325 acres, the limits of which are thus minutely described:--

The several Townlands of Lisnagarvy, Tonagh, and Old Warren, in the parish of Blaris; also that portion of the townland of Lambeg that lies to the west of the River Lagan, and is bounded as follows: namely, on the south and west by the townland of Lisnagervy, on the north between the Belsize Road and the old Belfast Road by a small stream which is the boundary of the townland of Maghreleave, and on the east by the the old Belfast Road from the point where the same crosses the above-mentioned small stream to the point where it is met by the Lower Road near Lambeg Glebe; then along the said Lower Road to the point where the same is met by "Wheeler's Ditch;" thence along Wheeler's Ditch to the River Lagan.

Also the space contained between the River Lagan and the following boundry; (that is to say,)

From the bridge along the Drumbo Road for about five hundred yards to the point at which the same is met by another road coming out of the suburb thence, eastward, along a ditch, on the north side of which fir trees are planted for about two hundred and sixty yards, to the point at which the said ditch, meets a lane running to the river; thence along that lane to the river.

Also the small island on the River Lagan in which are situated the Vitriol Works.

Also that portion of the townland of Knockmore which has hitherto formed a part of the borough.

The number of voters registered up to March 1st, 1836, was 134; the seneschal is still the returning officer. Manorial courts are held by the seneschal every third Wednesday, at which debts to the amount of 40s are recoverable; and there is a court of record, with jurisdiction to the amount of £20 late currency. Courts leet are also held twice in the year, when a leet grand jury is sworn, by whom a petty constable is appointed for each of the 17 constablewicks into which the manor is divided; presentments for payment of salaries, repairs of roads, and other works are made; and all the municipal functions of the borough are exercised. Petty sessions are also held in the town every Tuesday; and here is a station of the constabulary police. A large, and handsome edifice now used as the courthouse of the manor, and for holding the petty sessions and other public meetings, was originally built and supported by Government as a chapel for the Huguenot emigrants, whose descendants having attached themselves to the Established Church, the minister's stipend has been discontinued, and the building appropriated to the above purposes. The manor gaol of the borough, under the custody of the marshal of the manor court, has, since the 7th of George IV., been disused as a place of confinement, and is now used as a place of custody for goods attached by the court till bailed.

The parish, which is also called Blaris, comprises, according to the Ordnance survey, 10,697 statute acres, of which 2,827¼ are in the barony of Upper Massareene, county of Antrim, and 3,064 in Upper Castlereagh, and 4,805¾ in Lower Iveagh, county of Down. The lands are very fertile, and the system of agriculture is highly improved; for the last twenty years, wheat has been the staple crop, and oats, formerly the principal produce, are now grown only for the sake of the due rotation of crops. The Maze racecourse is in this parish. The surrounding scenery is enlivened by numerous gentlemen's seats, among which are Ballymacash, the residence of Edw. Johnson, Esq.; Brookhill, of James Watson, Esq.; Larchfield, of Wm. Mussenden, Esq.; Lambeg House, of Robert Williamson, Esq.; Seymour Hill, of Wm. Charley, Esq.; Chrome Hill, of Richard Niven, Esq.; Ingram Lodge, of J. Richardson, Esq.; Suffolk, of the late J. M'Cance, Esq.; and Colin, of Matthew Roberts, Esq.; besides many other, elegant houses near the town. The living is a rectory, in the diocese of Connor, and in the patronage of the Marquess of Hertford. The tithes amount to £700; there is a glebe-house but no glebe attached to the living. The church is a spacious and handsome building, with a tower, to which an octagonal spire was added in 1807, at the expense of the late Marquess of Hertford; a fine organ has been presented to it by the present Marquess; and in its improvement considerable sums have been expended, including a recent grant of £256 from the Ecclesiastical Commissioners. It contains a handsome monument to Lieut. Dobbs, a native of the town, who was killed in an engagement with Paul Jones off this coast; and an elegant monument has recently been erected at the expense of the bishop and clergy of the diocese to the memory of the celebrated Dr. Jeremy Taylor, Bishop of Down and Connor, who died here in 1667, and was buried in a vault in the church of Dromore, which he had built. In the churchyard are several monuments to many of the Huguenots who settled here under the patronage of William III. and Queen Anne. It is the cathedral church of the united dioceses of Down and Connor; the visitations are held in it, and all the business belonging to the see transacted in the town. There are no chapels of ease within the pariah, but divine service is performed in the schoolhouses of Newport, Mace, and Broomhedge, in rotation. In the R.C. divisions the parish is the head of a union or district, also called Blaris, comprising the parishes of Lisburn and Hillsborough, in each of which is a chapel. There is a meeting-house for Presbyterians of the Synod of Ulster, of the first class, also two for Wesleyan Methodists, and one for the Society of Friends.

To the north of the town is the Ulster Provincial School for the Society of Friends, founded in 1794 by Mr. John Handcock, who bequeathed a sum of money for the erection of the premises; 50 children, who are eligible at eight years of age and remain till fourteen, are awarded, clothed, educated, and apprenticed; each scholar pays £3 12s per annum, and the remainder of the expense, which averages about £14 per annum each, is defrayed by contributions from the Society. A free school for boys was founded in 1810, and aided by the Association for Discountenancing Vice; and there is a similar school for girls, built and supported by subscription: the late George Whitla, Esq., bequeathed £100 to each, the interest of which is applied in procuring clothing for some of the poorest children. There are also two other schools for both sexes, one of which is aided by the same Society, and the other is supported by subscription. An infants' school, also supported by subscription, was established in 1832, and a building was erected for its use at an expense of £120, towards defraying which the Marquess of Hertford contributed £50. The number of boys on the books of these schools is about 400, and of girls 300; and in the private pay schools are about 360 boys and 245 girls. An almshouse for eight poor women was founded under the will of Mr. Williams, in 1826; and six almshouses, for as many poor widows, were also founded by a member of the Trail family, and are now wholly supported by William Trail, Esq.; they were rebuilt on a more convenient site in 1830, at the expense of the Marquess of Hertford. The several charitable bequests amount in the aggregate to £2,750, invested in Government securities; the interest of which sum is distributed in winter among the poor, according to the wills of the respective donors. A Humane Society for the restoration of suspended animation has been established here; and in an airy part of the town is situated the County Infirmary, supported equally by subscriptions and grand jury presentments. On the White Mountain, about two miles to the north of the town, are the ruins of Castle Robin, erected by Sir Robert Norton in the reign of Elizabeth; the walls now remaining are 84 feet long, 36 feet wide, and 40 feet high, and near them is a large mount. Among the distinguished individuals, born here may he noticed Dr. Edw. Smith, Bishop of Down and Connor, in 1665. Lisburn confers the titles of Earl and Viscount on the family of Vaughan.

(New week: Railway Street Church.)



(This article was originally published in the Lisburn Standard on 25 October 1918 as part of a series which ran in that paper each week for several years. The text along with other extracts can be found on my website Eddies Extracts.)

 

Lewis's Topographical Dictionary of Ireland -- 1837.

SOME EXTRACTS
FROM THE
RECORDS OF
OLD LISBURN
AND THE
MANOR OF KILLULTAGH.

-- -- -- --

Edited by JAMES CARSON.

-- -- -- --

CV.

-- -- -- --

Lewis's Topographical Dictionary of Ireland -- 1837.

Lisburn, an unincorporated borough, market town, and parish, partly in the barony of Upper Massareene, county of Antrim, and partly in the barony of Upper Castlereagh, but chiefly in that of Lower Iveagh, county of Down, and province of Ulster, 6 miles (S.W. by S.) from Belfast, and 73 (N.) from Dublin; containing 13,249 inhabitants, of which number 5,218 are in the borough, 5,941 in that part of the parish which is in the county of Down, and 2,090 in that which is in the county of Antrim. This place was, in the reign of James I. and long after, called Lisnegarvey; and though now a populous and flourishing town, it was at that time a very inconsiderable village. Its rapid increase in population and importance may be attributed to Edward, Viscount Conway, to whom, in 1627, Charles I. granted the remainder of the manor of Kiltultagh (a portion of which had been previously given by James I. to his ancestor, Sir Fulk Conway), who, on obtaining possession of this grant, built a castle here, which became the head of the manor. The same grant conferred the privileges of courts leet and baron, view of frank pledge, manorial courts for debts not exceeding £2, a court of record every three weeks for sums not exceeding £20, a weekly market, and two annual fairs. Soon after the erection of the castle, some English and Welsh families were induced by the proprietor to settle here, and a town consisting of more than fifty houses soon arose. On the breaking out of the war in 1641, a body of 1,000 men assembled and preserved the town for some time from the attempts of the insurgents, and held their detached parties in check; but on the 28th November in that year, the garrison consisting only of five newly-raised companies and Lord Conway's troop of horse, the insurgent army commanded by Sir Phelim O'Nial, Sir Conn Magennis, and General Plunket, on their march to Carrickfergus, advanced to attack the town. Sir Arthur Tyringham, however, arriving with a small reinforcement, and being aided by Sir George Rawdon, repulsed the columns of the enemy as they successively advanced to the assault, and by a galling fire from the streets committed great slaughter among them. At nightfall further reinforcements arrived from Carrickfergus and Belfast; and the insurgents despairing of success, set fire to the town, which in a few hours was reduced to ashes; a sanguinary conflict being maintained in the burning town till nearly midnight, when the insurgents were finally put to flight, leaving behind them a number of slain equal to three times the entire number of the garrison, of whom only from 20 to 30 were killed. In 1644 General Monroe made an attempt to obtain possession of the town, but was frustrated by the vigilance and resolution of the garrison; and on the 6th of December, 1648, that general, with the Scottish forces under his command, was signally defeated on the plains of "Lisnegarvey" by Col. Venables and Sir Charles Coote, two of Cromwell's commanders, to the former of whom the castle was surrendered in 1650. On the landing of the Duke of Schomberg, near Bangor, in 1689, a considerable body of forces in the interest of James II. assembled at this place, but afterwards abandoned it without any attempt for its defence, and William III. passed through the town shortly before the battle of the Boyne. Charles II., to reward the fidelity of the inhabitants to his father and to himself, had erected the church of Lisburn into a cathedral for the united dioceses of Down and Connor, and had granted the townsmen the privilege of sending two representatives to the Irish Parliament; but what more especially contributed to the improvement and commercial importance of the town was the settlement here, after the revocation of the edict of Nantz, of many Huguenot families, who introduced the manufacture of linen, and brought with them improved machinery from Holland. The skill and industry of these new settlers were liberally encouraged by the Government, which granted large sums of money for the erection of suitable buildings for carrying on the manufactures, etc., and, by giving an example to others engaged in the same trade, soon raised the quality of the manufactures to a degree of excellence previously unknown. In 1707 the town and castle were burned to the ground; the latter has never been rebuilt, but the present town soon arose from the ruins of the former, and gradually increased in extent; it has been greatly improved at various times, and especially within the last few years by the spirited exertions of the agent of the Marquess of Hertford, who is owner in fee of the whole town, and of a considerable part of the surrounding country; and it is now one of the handsomest inland towns in the province of Ulster.

The town is situated on the north-western bank of the river Lagan, which separates the counties of Antrim and Down, and on the high road from Dublin to Belfast. It consists principally of one long irregular line of street, extending nearly from east to west, from which several smaller streets branch off; and contains, according to the last census, 992 houses, of which 675 are roofed with slate, and the remainder with thatch; all the houses in the principal streets are well built; and amply supplied with excellent water conveyed by pipes from works in the neighbourhood. The great terrace of the castle, which is still remaining, has been made an agreeable promenade; it is sheltered from the north by Castle Street, and is kept in the best order at the expense of Marquess of Hertford. On the opposite side of the river is a small suburb, not included in the ancient limits of the borough, but within the parish and the new electoral boundaries. A new line of road has been made at a great expense at the entrance from Dublin on the southwest, and also at the entrance from Belfast and Armagh, by which the town has been much improved. The manufacture of linens and cambrics, which are sold in their brown state every market day at the linen-hall, a neat and commodious building erected for the purpose, is still carried on to a considerable extent, and maintains its high reputation for the superior quality of these articles; and the diapers and damasks of this place have long been distinguished for their unrivalled beauty of pattern and fineness of texture. On a small island in the river Lagan are extensive chymical works for the preparation of acids, chlorides, etc., for the supply of the several bleachyards, of which some of the largest in the kingdom are adjacent to the town, the principal being at Lambeg, Colin, Seymour Hill, Suffolk, and Chrome Hill, where 189,000 pieces are annually bleached and finished, principally for the London market. There are also extensive establishments for the printing, bleaching, and dyeing of muslins; and near the town are an extensive thread manufactory and a large flour-mill. The trade is much facilitated by the Lagan navigation between Lough Neagh and Belfast, which joins the river Lagan a little above the town, by which, with the aid of several collateral cuts, the navigation is continued to Belfast. The market is on Tuesday, and is the largest and best in this part of the country for every description of provisions; it is also much frequented on account of the quantities of linen and other articles which, in addition to its supply of provisions, are brought for sale; there is a cattle market on the same day. The fairs are annually held on July 21st and October 5th, and are chiefly for horses, cattle, sheep, lambs, and pigs, of which the supply is very large. The markethouse is a handsome building surmounted by a cupola, and, in addition to the accommodation it affords to the market, contains a suite of assembly-rooms. There are also very extensive shambles, corn stores, sheds, and weigh-houses, erected by the proprietor of the town, and well-enclosed market-places for cattle, sheep, and pigs.

(To be Continued.)




(This article was originally published in the Lisburn Standard on 18 October 1918 as part of a series which ran in that paper each week for several years. The text along with other extracts can be found on my website Eddies Extracts.)

Kinnegar - A Poem of True Love?

Rowing Boat by Alistair Stockman

Here's another poem from the small brown envelope...

On Carrick shore ah stud an' stud,
An' luked across at Holywud.
An' luked and luked an' there wuz her,
A wavin' from the Kinnegar.

Ah cudn't thole at all, at all,
White suds wuz batin' Carrick wall.
But wind an' waves ah'd be to dare
To reach my love on Kinnegar.

The breakers ris as high - as high,
The scrakin' wind got worse forby,
But thonder wus me guidin' star
A wavin' from the Kinnegar.

Ah tuk me boat an' rowed an' rowed,
Across Knockfergus Bay she goed.
Nor wind nor wave cud Houl me far,
From her that waved on Kinnegar.

Ay, many years has went an' went,
An' now ah'm oul an' gray an' bent,
An' married till a wumman - her
That waved me till the Kinnegar.

An' whiles ah stan an' stare an' stare,
An' mind thon day in Carrick - there.
An' wish ah had bin drowned afar
Afore ah reached the Kinnegar.

(Reprinted from 'The Roamer,' a column published in the Belfast News Letter, date unknown)

Historical Notices of Old Belfast and its Vicinity (pt2)

SOME EXTRACTS
FROM THE
RECORDS OF
OLD LISBURN
AND THE
MANOR OF KILLULTAGH.

-- -- -- --

Edited by JAMES CARSON.

-- -- -- --

CIV.

-- -- -- --

HISTORICAL NOTICES OF OLD BELFAST AND ITS VICINITY,

By R. M. Young -- 1896.

SIR GEORGE RAWDON.

By W. Pinkerton, F.S.A.

Sir George Rawdon was the only son of Francis Rawdon, and was born at Rawdon, near Leeds. Early in life he became secretary to Edward Lord Conway, principal Secretary of State, and by him he was employed as an agent on his Irish estates. In 1639 he was member of Parliament for the town of Belfast, and in November, 1641; being major of Lord Conway's regiment of horse, he successfully defended the town of Lisnegarvey, or Lisburn, against Phelim O'Neill and 8,000 Irish rebels. After serving with distinction during the war of the Rebellion, when Ireland was completely subdued by the Parliament, he took office under it as one of the Commissioners of Revenue of Ulster, and in that capacity he was exceedingly useful in reducing, as far as he could, the Parliamentary Composition imposed upon Lord Conway's estate.

A great number of very interesting letters of his to Lord Conway are in the Record Office. After Cromwell died he prudently turned towards the rising sun of the Restoration, and in 1660 he was appointed one of the Commissioners for executing His Majesty's Declaration for the Settlement of Ireland. In 1665 he was created a baronet of England, under the title of Moira, in the County of Down. Not a syllable of his service to the usurpers is hinted in the accurate peerage book of Lodge, but it says that "as he had the strongest disposition to be as useful as possible to his country, so he had an ample fortune which enabled him to show it, whereby he gained the greatest respect and esteem."

He does not seem to have been so lucky under the Protectorate as his brother Commissioner, Colonel Hill; though he performed his duty well and ably, he does not appear to have received any more than the mere salary of his office. But at the Restoration he received many grants under the different Acts of Settlement, in the counties of Down, Dublin, Louth, and Meath; and for the sum of £200 he was allowed to pass patent of 2,078 acres in the barony of Upper Iveagh, in the County of Down. It is thus set forth in the patent of date 1681: "King James I., out of his great desire and care to plant the province of Ulster, was graciously pleased, in the eighth year of his reign, to grant letters patent, under the great seal of Ireland, for the passing of all the lands lying within the country, then commonly known by the name of Iveagh, and for the dividing, settling, and planting thereof, to several freeholders of the Irish nation, in hopes the said lands might thereby be manured, and better inhabited; and did, among other grants, pass by letters patent, bearing date the same year, fourteen sessioughs, or half towns, within the territory of Moira, in the country of Iveagh, to Murtagh Mac-Terlagh O'Lavery of Moira; but notwithstanding that he and his grandson, Hugh O'Lavery, enjoyed the same, yet neither of them made any considerable plantation thereupon; and in 1639, Hugh conveyed a great part thereof to several persons, and in 1641 forfeited the rest by rebellion, which, by the commissioners of claims for satisfaction of arrears to pay to officers and soldiers, were sold (as above) to Sir George Rawdon; being a person that had performed very loyal and acceptable services to the crown, and had bestowed much costs and pains to improve and plant the said lands, had built a market town thereupon at Moira, which was inhabited with conformable Protestants, and having been decreed to, and purchased many other lands, they were erected, at his suit, into the manor of Moira, where he had obtained a licence, in 1669, to hold a Thursday market, and four yearly fairs on the Thursdays in Easter week, after 24th of June, after the 1st of August, and after the 29th of September. -- And whereas he has purchased divers towns and lands in the territory of Kinelearty, within the said county, and for that some of these lands were mountainous, and others much encumbered with rocks, underwoods, and begs, whereby the Irish in the rebellion, and thieves and tories, did in former times frequently harbour there; and that of late, those lands, by his care and cost, were become well inhabited and planted, he having built two mills there, put the parish church in repair, erected a considerable town, and in the middle thereof had set out a large market place, which was paved, and made fit for market and fairs to be held there, and which new-built town was situate in the very centre of the county; the king therefore created the premises into the manor of Kinelearty, with a demesne of one thousand acres -- liberty to empark the like quantity; to keep courts, appoint seneschals, hold a Thursday market, and two fairs at the town of Ballinahinch on first February and twenty-ninth of June, to continue three days each, and many other privileges."

He died in the eightieth year of his age, in August, 1684, and was buried with great magnificence at Lisburn. Sir John Rawdon, the fourth baronet, and great grandson of Sir George, was in 1750 advanced to the peerage by the style and title of Baron Rawdon of Moira; and he was further advanced to the dignity of Earl of Moira in 1762.

In the print room of the British Museum is a small engraving of Sir George Rawdon, with the following inscription:-- "The true and lively pourtraiture of that valiant man and worthy patriot and captaine, Sir George Rawdon, knight and barronet."

-- -- -- -- -- -- --

EXTRACTS OF LETTERS OF GEORGE RAWDON, 1666.

George Rawdon, writing to Lord Conway from Dublin, 12 May, 1666:--

"Another sad fate is befallen in the North. I believe the one half of the cattle in Antrim and Down are dead of the murrain; corn double the price it was a month past, and no milk."

The same, 18 of May. All in the way of beggary. Murrain; no trade, etc.

He writes-- "I had letters today from my wife, who is well, with all the children. The great race at Lambeg for the plate was run the last week by the Earl of Donegall's Barb, Will Hall's Blink, and Major Richardson's Wingfield, who came first and the Barb next and Blink last; the Lo. Massareene was there, but did not put in his horse Tangier."

The same, 1 June, Lisburn.

"I gave your Lordship notice in my last of the great mutiny, or rather rebellion of the garrison at Carrickfergus, which my Lord Lieutenant apprehended to be of such dangerous example that he on the sudden took a resolution to come himself in person to reduce the mutineers, and shipped away 400 of the Royal Regiment with the Earl of Arran and Sir Wm. Flower, which had so quick a passage by sea that they were at Carrickfergus before his Grace reached Hillsborough by land. He came the first night to Dundalk, and on Sunday evening last to Hillsborough, being his second day. As we were ready for church, Will Hill, who rode all night, came to me and told me the news; so I made what preparation I could in 3 hours' time, and met his Grace at Dromore with full 200 horse of our neighbours, which were many of them well mounted, and being orderly drawn up made a great show, and were very much spoken of by the company, and his Grace has since often mentioned them, and asked me if they were Killulta men."

-- -- -- -- -- -- --

AN ANXIOUS NIGHT AT LISBURN.

(From Benn's History of Belfast.)

Writing from Belfast 15 March, 1772, Major Murray says:--

I likeways received a tetter from the Bishop of Down and Connor and the Magistrates of Lisburn, requesting that a party should be sent there immediate for the preservation of that town, as they expected the Hearts of Steel this night. I sent all the men of our regiment that I could, so that only one company of the 53rd remains in this town.

-- -- -- -- -- -- --

Origin and Characteristics of the People in the Counties of Down and Antrim is the title of a pamplet of some twelve pages by A. Hume, LL.D., 1874. An extract from the Ulster Journal of Archæology which appeared in article 89 is by the same author, and covered much the same ground.

-- -- -- -- -- -- --

Henry Bell, The Grove Cottage, Lambeg, published in 1653 a little volume of thirty pages on Ram's Island and vicinity. It contains a few poems and notes, and the music of the old Irish air "Bonny Portmore."

-- -- -- -- -- -- --

Pilson's History of Belfast and Annals of the County Antrim, 1846, embraces numerous references to Lisburn and vicinity.

-- -- -- -- -- -- --

The Book of Antrim, by G. H. Bassett, 1888, runs to over 400 pages, and is a Manual and Directory for Merchants, Professional Men, Farmers, and Sportsmen. Thirty-six pages are devoted to Lisburn, including a directory of the inhabitants, an historical sketch, and an account of the foundation and history of Wm. Barbour & Sons, Robert Stewart & Sons, Island Spinning Co., and J. N. Richardson, Sons & Owden.

(Next week: Lewis's Topographical Dictionary.)



(This article was originally published in the Lisburn Standard on 11 October 1918 as part of a series which ran in that paper each week for several years. The text along with other extracts can be found on my website Eddies Extracts.)

Historical Notices of Old Belfast and its Vicinity

SOME EXTRACTS
FROM THE
RECORDS OF
OLD LISBURN
AND THE
MANOR OF KILLULTAGH.

-- -- -- --

Edited by JAMES CARSON.

-- -- -- --

CIII.

-- -- -- --

HISTORICAL NOTICES OF OLD BELFAST AND ITS VICINITY,

By R. M. Young -- 1896.

This volume of almost 300 pages is valuable on account of the large amount of original matter it contains in the form of extracts from old manuscripts, letters, state papers, etc. Monro's raid on Newry, 1643, is given, and frequent reference is made to warlike incursions and excursions in the neighbourhood of Lisnagarvey and Killultagh. Monro commanded the Scottish forces in Ireland for the King.

The 26 September, 1643, was appointed for the meeting of all the forces at Lisnagarvey. This was in preparation for the raid on Newry. The following year Lisnagarvey would appear to have been occupied by the forces of the Parliament, and Monroe was denied admittance. He marched from Belfast and made an attempt to capture the town of Lisnagarvey, but finding that garrison on its guard, he demanded a conference with Lieut.Colonel Jones, then commanding there. Being firmly refused admittance except by main force, he first blustered about his authority from England, then threatened to seize all their cattle; but at last, cooling down, his satirically wished the garrison joy of their determination and marched back to Belfast.

JOURNEY TO YE NORTH, 1708,

By Dr. Thomas Molyneux.

We went together towards Lisburn. About 2 or 3 miles from Lurgan is a village called Maherlin, were liveth the Bp. of Dromore. Here I stoped to a visit to my old tutor, Mr. Redmond, who lives with his Uncle Cuppaidge, Minister of the Place. From hence I followed 'em, and passed by Moyragh, a fine seat belonging to Sir Arthur Royden's Family, Leaving Warrenston and Hillsborough to the Right, taro' the fine Improved County of Down, which, with Ardmagh, are the finest Counties in the North, to Lisburn. Here we designed to have waited on the Bp. of Down, who lives within a small mile to the Town; but he being not at home, we spent our time in viewing the Miserable Ruines of the late fire which happened here, and not a house in the Town Escaped. If the story of the Phœnix be ever true, sure 'tis in this Town. For here you see one of the beautifullest Towns perhaps in the 3 kingdoms -- all Brick houses, slated, of one highness, all new, and almost finished, rising from the most terrible Rubish that can be Imagined. When I stood in the Church Yard, I thought I never had seen so dreadful Scene before, all around me the church burnt to the Ground, The tombstones all cracked with the fire, Vast Trees that stood round the Church Yard Burnt to Trunks. Lord Conway (to whom this town belongs) -- his House, tho' at a distance from all the rest in the Town, burnt to Ashes and all his Gardens in the same condition, with the Trees in the Church Yard. 'Tis scarcely conceivable such dismall Effects should arise from so small cause and in so short a time as they relate. Only Some Turf Ashes thrown on a Dunghill, which a brisk wind blowing towards the Town Raised and threw on the Shingles of the next house, which, being like Spunk, by a long Drought of Weather which had then happened, took fire, and the Wind continuing what it had begun, the whole Town, and half an hour, was irrevocably in Flames, insomuch that this accident happening whilst they were at Church on a Sunday morning, buy 4 the fire was extinguished, And not a house and a few of their Goods Remained on being. Its Rise is likely to be as sudden as its fall. Lord Conway has renewed all the Leases, for a year or two, Rent free; gives them as much Wood as they please to cut of his own Woods, which are near, and obliges them to build Regular, so that of the story of the Phœnix can ever be true, sure 'tis in this Town. This Town was formerly the greatest Linnen manufactory of the North before the Fire; now much removed to Lurgan and other adjacent places. However, I do not doubt but when 'tis quite rebuilt, 'twil be rather in a more thriving condition before. From hence we went on seven miles to Belfast, thro' a Countrey, all the way from Ardmagh, Extreamly pleasant, well Improved, and Inhabited by English.

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DIARY OF COLONEL THOMAS BELLINGHAM, WHEN AT BELFAST, JUNE, 1690.

May 31st.

Some rain. I came to Lisburn. Waited on Major-General Kirk. Was with Duke Schomberg, who was very obliging. I dined with the Earl of Meath, and came to Jo Whites.

June 1st.

Much rain. I went to Magheralin. Heard Mr. Cubbidge preach. Dined at his house with the Colonel of the Brandenburgh Regiment, and was after, with Major Williams and Captain Brereton, at Mrs. Kelly's. Lord Drogheda passed by.

June 2nd.

Several showers. Some Quakers came to see me. I walked in the afternoon to Moira. Saw Sir Arthur Rawden's house, and walked with Captain Ross to the Conservatory. The house and much of the ground are well preserved.

June 3rd.

A fair day. I went to the mill. In the afternoon I went to Dromore, and was treated by Captain Brereton.

June 4th.

A fair morning. Some showers in the afternoon. I went to Lisburn, waited on M. G. Kirk, delivered him his letter, dined with Mr. Aleway, and was with the Duke. Some French horse came in.

July 9th.

A fair day. I went to Lisburn, but the Duke was gone to Belfast, thinking to meet the King, but returned. I came with Captain Powell, and stayed some time with Mr. Moore at Hillsborough, which is preparing for the Kings reception. At night there were several bonfires, believing the King had landed, but it was a false alarm. Several regiments are on their march South, General Douglas commanding.

June 12th.

Very hot. They went to Moira. Saw Jewell's regiment of horse, which is a very good one, but the Danish Regiment of Guards is the best I ever saw. They wear an orange-coloured uniform faced with crimson velvet.

June 20th.

Very great showers. I went to Hillsborough. Saw the King and drank of his wine. I was with Lord Meath and Mr. Aleway at their tent, and brought Hunter the Quaker's wife behind me home.

(Next week: Sir George Rawdon.)



(This article was originally published in the Lisburn Standard on 4 October 1918 as part of a series which ran in that paper each week for several years. The text along with other extracts can be found on my website Eddies Extracts.)