Hearth-money Rolls for Lisbourne Parish and Towne, 1669.

SOME EXTRACTS

FROM THE

RECORDS OF

OLD LISBURN

AND THE

MANOR OF KILLULTAGH.

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Edited by JAMES CARSON.

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XLII.

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HEARTH-MONEY.

(From Encyclopedia Britannica.)

Hearth-money, hearth tax, or chimney-money was a tax imposed on all houses except cottages at a rate of two shillings for every hearth. It was first levied in 1602, but owing to its unpopularity, chiefly caused by the domiciliary visits of the collectors, it was repealed in 1689. The principle of the tax was not new in the history of taxation, for in Anglo-Saxon times the King derived a part of his revenue from a "fumage" or tax of smoke farthings levied on all hearths except those of the poor. It appears also in the hearth-penny; or tax of a penny on every hearth, which as early as the 10th century was paid annually to the Pope, and became popularly known as "Peter's pence."

Belmore's "Two Ulster Manors."

Extract.

An Act of Parliament, Charles II., 1662 -- Imposes a tax of 2s each on every hearth and other place used for firing and stoves within every dwelling and other house and edifice that are or hereafter shall be erected within this Kingdom of Ireland other than such as are in this Act hereinafter excepted. Persons living on alms exempted, and all houses certified by two justices to be not of greater value than 8s upon the full improved rent, and that the persons occupying the same do not have, use, or occupy any lands, or tenements of the value of 8s per acre, or have any lands, tenements, goods, or chattels of the value of £4 in their own possession, or held in trust for them.

Houses having no fixed hearth, with chimneys, chargeable with two hearths.

Hearth-Money Rolls.

1669

The original lists or rolls for County Antrim are in the Record Office, Dublin. A copy is in the possession of the Presbyterian Historical Society, Belfast. From this copy J. W. Kernohan, M.A., extracted the names relating to Lisburn Parish and Town, as here given. Where a number follows a name it indicates the number of hearths, stoves, ovens, &c., taxed. In all other cases there was one hearth only. These rolls are obviously an index to the social status of the inhabitants of the period, the number of hearths taxed indicating the social position or wealth of the individual, Sir George Rawdon heading the list with 39.

It is rather curious that Sir George Rawdon's name appears as occupying the Castle, Lisburn, and not the name of Baron Conway, as there can be no other means of accounting for the 39 hearths than locating them in Baron Conway's Castle, in the Castle Gardens. Sir George Rawdon was the ancestor of the Earls of Moira. He married in 1654 as his second wife Dorothy Conway, sister of the second Viscount Conway. We find Rawdon in 1654 building a house in Lisburn, and this is possibly the house that appears against his name for 3 hearths. He died in 1634, and was buried in Lisburn.

The third Viscount Conway succeeded to the estate in 1665, and died in 1683. He built the Castle at Portmore, on the shores of Lough Neagh, in 1664. It was pulled down in 1761. This was his favourite residence, and was much more splendid and extensive than the Castle at Lisburn. His Lordship spared neither time nor expense in adorning and beautifying it, and the grounds were stocked with ail kinds of rare animals, birds, trees, and shrubs. Sir George Rawdon may therefore have been temporarily in occupation of Lisburn Castle in 1669, thus accounting for his name appearing in the Hearth-money rolls for that year. Indeed, it would appear that after Portmore Castle was built the Lisburn Castle was neglected, and rarely, if at all, occupied by Viscount Conway. We find from "Bonnivert's Journey, 1690," that in that year Lady Mulgrave was in occupation. "There is a great house and good gardens at Lisburn belonging now to my Lady Mulgrave. The house is out of repair." "Bonnivert's Journey," is given in the Ulster Journal of Archæology, vol. 4, 1856. He was a French refugee who followed the fortunes of William III.

It is noticeable, and rather unusual, compared with other districts, the large number of names appearing in the Parish of Lisburn as paying tax on more than one hearth. The inference, of course, is that in 1669 the town of Lisburn, although small, must have had within its bounds a number of people of comparative wealth, and in the immediate neighbourhood, comprising the parish, there must have been, a considerable population in comfortable circumstances. Story, a chaplain in Duke Schomberg's army, writes of it twenty years later, in 1689:-- "One of the prettiest inland towns in the North of Ireland, and one of the most English-like places in the Kingdom."

Unfortunately, the names in the Hearth-money rolls for 1669 are given as a whole fOR "Lisbourne Parish and Towne," no differentiation being made as between the town and country, nor are the names of the townlands included in the parish stated. The parishes of Lisnagarvagh and Blaris were united about the year 1641, the combined parishes forming what is now known as the Parish of Lisburn. This amalgamation causes some uncertainty as to what townlands were included in the 1669 rolls, as up to the present time frequently the two parishes are treated as if they were still distinct.

Referring to a return published by the "Standard" Office, Lisburn, some years ago, of the electoral divisions of the Lisburn Union, it would appear that Lisnagarvey, Old Warren, Tonagh, Knockmore, and part of Lambeg South are described as being in the Parish of Blaris or Lisburn; Ballymullen, Largymore, Broughmore, Gortnacor, Lurganure, Lissue, Blaris, Ballantine, Deneight, Lisnatrunk, Lisnoe, Taghnabrick, Annacloy, Aghnatrisk, Ballykeel-Ednagonnell, Culcavey, Carnbane, Carnreagh, Drumatihugh, Maze, Magherageery, and Ravarnette, or portions of them, in the Parish of Blaris; Magheralave in the Parish of Derriaghy.

On a map of the Hertford Estate dated 1833 the Parish of Lisburn is described as containing the townlands of Broughmore, Lurganure, Lissue, Knockmore, Tonagh, Old Warren, Blaris, Ballentine, Taghnabrick, Largymore, Ballymullen, and Lisnagarvagh, all being included in the Hertford property and in the vicinity of the town. It is a fairly reasonable assumption that these, are the townlands included in the Hearth-money rolls for the Parish and Town of Lisburn for 1669.

Hearth-money Rolls for Lisbourne Parish and Towne, 1669.

A
David Adams	Wid Amas 2
Tho Aldrige	John Anderson
John Abernathy	Alex Arte
Robt Achison 3	Edward Atkins
Adam Andersone	John Armstrong

B
James Browne	Docter Brooks
David Barber	Alex Bann
George Barber	Ffrancis Burich
John Backster	Thomas Branket
James Bodkin	Mr. Broadhead
Wid Bleare	Robert Barrel
Thos Badleir	Wm Browne
David Bingham	Robert Bell
Widd Burton 2	John Barns
Wm Bell	Thos Bridges

C
Wm Cherry	Mr. Cooper 3
Widd Close 5	Derby Coody
Arch Curry	James Chisdell
Thomas Curran	Wid Costly
John Caunell	Wid Clidseell
Autho Coslett 4	Phill Caine
Chris Coale	Richard Coulson
Marke Coale	Geo Cludrye
James Chaplin	Wm. Connoway
Henry Covert	John Chapman
Murt Cofforee	James Coale 2

D
John Dick 2	Wm Docker
Ffrancis Dicksone	Wid Deale 3
Mr. Davis 3	Josias Dawson
Owin Davis	Geo Doniss
Wm Duffe 2	Henry Dexter
Tho Denman	Robert Dobson 2
Wid Dowdell 3

E
Mr. Ellis 4	Richard Edmonston
Richard Edmonston	Thos Emersone

F
Tho Fflann 2	Tymothy Ffletcher
Thomas Ffarly 2	Edward Ffoster
Wm Ffulsbourne 2	Edward Ffisackerty
Clem Ffibbs	Mathew Ffearne 3
John Ffountaine 2	Lantell Ffell

G
Wid Giffins 2	Wm Goff
Henry Godard 2	Geo Gregstone 3
Jonn Gregstone	Patrick Goffe
Robert Gorden 3	James Gorden 2
Nicholas Giviging	Ffrancis Garner 2
Thomas Granger	Jerene Gresson
Thomas Granger	Patrick Gill
Thomas Galcill

H
Wm. Higinson	Richard Hignat
Tho Haslam 2	Tho Hodskinson 2
John Hart 3	Thomas Hodskinson
Robert Hoberstaffe	Robert Hamelton
John Hameltone	Robert Hendron
Wm Higsson, jr.	Henry Haythorne 2
Wm Hill 8	Arthur Hoole 2
John Heyes	Tho Hayes
Ffrancis Hartly	James Hunter
Wm Heare	Edward Hall
David Hunter 2	Chr Harrison 2
John Hodgin 2	Robt Hoole
Wm Hancock	Henry Horner
Edward Hull	John Hodgsone
James Holles 2	Widd Hollon
Tho Hadskes 3	John Hilsbee

J
Robert Jentleman	Widd Johnston 2
Nicho Jacksonne 2	John Johnstone
Roger Jackson 8	Wid Johnston
Mathew Johnston	Anthony Johnson
Hugh Joanes

K
Law Kenly	Richard Kinge
Henry Kirby 2	Geo Kilburne
John Kennedy	Robert Knox
John Kirke

L
Geo Locker 2	Mr. Levistone
John Lydell	Nicholas Lawrence 2
Robert Linsey	John Landel
Thos Little 2	Adam Leathes 2
Anth Leroy 4	Robert Lucas
Andr Linsey	George Lorymore
Antho Lightfoote	Robert Leacocke
John Lackey

M
Patrick Magee 2	Wid Moore 2
Wm Morrow 2	Mr. Mase 6
Mary Murrow	James Miller
Edward Moore	Ffarrell Magee
Edmund Magee	Wm Morecraft
Wm Moore	Robert Mearns

Mc.
Murt McAunel	Shane McSherry
Brian McMahon	Brian McBrinn
John McCullagh	John McDowell 2
John McFfadin	Neale McAncale
David McAllexander	Henry McCamby 2
John McAnally

N
John Nicksone 4	Henry Nickolsone 3
Wid Nicklesone

O
Hugh O'Kelly 3	Daniel O'Dougherty
Edward Odger 2	Capt Obrey 3
Wid Oges	John O'Tewel
Dainel O'Rogan	Shane O'Sherridan
Shane O'Logan	Daniell O'Delan

P
Robert Porter 2	Wid Porter
Richard Pooley	Morris Pruderick
Richard Plunkett	Daniell Patisone 2
Mathew Parman	George Preston
Robert Pybus

Q
Wid Qale

R
Sir George Rawden 39	Sir Geo Rawden 3
John Robinson	Robert Rogerson 2
Robert Hanson 2	And Reach
Samuel Roberts	Geo Redall
Thomas Redall	John Right
Mrs. Rona 2	Ffrancis Russell
Geo Rogers 5	Thos Rigsive
John Robinson 2	Mr Ramsey
Chr Renisone

S
John Speete 2	Adam Scott
Mr. Smith 3	Wm Swift
Tho Saffley	Wm Steevens 3
Robert Sumerside	John Scott
Wm Sympson	Antho Smith 2
Widd Steenson 2	James Smith
School House	Richard Swinerton
Daniel Stoker	Major Stround 5
John Steephens	Wm Shakeshaft
John Steward	And Steward
Robert Steward	James Stalker 5
Mrs. Sinklear	Robert Stewart
Allex Smithsone	Richard Ard Sands
Wm Sands	Humphrey Sherlick
Thomas Smith	John Smith
Tho Sayston	Thomas ye Sadler

T
Ann Taylor 2	Wm Thomas 3
Wid Taylor	James Tyle
Ffruncis Thomsone	Thomas Tomson
Richard Tomson	Wilfec Townsend 2
Jo Templeton 3	Mrs. Tandey 6
Thomas Taylor	Thos Taylor
George Tomson	Quinton Todd
Edward Townsend	John Tugman
George Townsend	John Twynem

U
Edward Upton	Joseph Underwood

W
Hugh Williams	Henry Williams 2
Robert Wilson	Thomas Willox
Henry Wellin 3	Geo Wimble 5
Thos Williamson	Wid Wilsone
Tho Whitly 2	Mr. Webster 3
Lawrence Whiteside 2	Robert Williams
John Wills 2	John Williamson 2
John Watson 2	Henry Wetherbee 2
John Williams	Anthony Wrightson
Wm Wright	Robt Welsh
Phill Woods	Ralph White
Hugh Wixted	John Watsone
Thomas Watsone	Hugh Wuthnall 2
Tho Watsone

Y
Andrew Younge 2	Alex Young
Robert Younge

(Hillsborough next week.)


(This article was originally published in the Lisburn Standard on 3 August 1917 as part of a series which ran in that paper each week through 1917. The text along with other extracts can be found on my website Eddies Extracts.)