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John Reilly (1823- 1889)

Northern Standard, Apr 27 1889

Death of Mr John Reilly, solicitor, Monaghan

We announce the death this week of Mr John Reilly, solicitor, Monaghan, who during a long life has lived amongst the people here and by whom he was universally respected and esteemed. Deceased breathed hsi last early on yesterday morning, but his death was not unexpected, and as the great change approached all symptoms of pain disappeared. For years he has patiently endured suffering and although retaining the use of his mental faculties to the last, he has been for a long period very helpless and had to be constantly nursed and looked after. Mr Reilly was originally a man of very robust health, and but for the constitution with which God had blessed him, would have succumbed years ago to the illness which ultimately caused his death.

Thirty years since he was one of the leading solicitors in Monaghan and stood high in his profession. He was always identified with the Conservative party, and as an election agent was recognised by them as an extremely competent and trustworthy man. He was popular with every class, genial in his disposition, charitable and generous to a fault. He never failed to step to the front and support with personal effort, and his money, any enterprise that might be contemplated for the relief and benefit of the destitute and suffering.

He was the eldest son of the late Mr Tom Reilly of Dublin who resigned his professional practice to him in 1844. Deceased was 66 years of age when he died. He leaves behind him seven children, three of whom are settled abroad. Much sympathy is felt for his breaved widow and family. The remains will be removed for internment in the family burying ground on Sunday next.

William McWilliam (1849-1927)

Northern Standard 1927 3rd June

Death of William McWilliam at Comber, Co Down.
Christian gentleman - honourable - Large attendance of the legal profession and of people of all creeds and classes of the town.

Rev Wm Armour of 1st Monaghan Presbyterian Church read from- 1st Cor. 6th Ch.

V(i) “Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unjust, and not before the saints”.

V(ii) “Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? And if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters”.

V(iii) “Know ye not that we shall judge angels? How much more things that pertain to this life?

V(iv) “If then ye have judgements of things pertaining to this life, set them to judge who are least esteemed in the church”.

V(v) “I speak to your shame. Is it so, that there is not one wise man anong you? No, not one that shall be able to judge between his brethren?

& said, "He was not one who talked much about spiritual matters, he had a good deal of that fine reticence which is one of the characteristics of the men of our faith".

Russell McWilliam (1878-1953)

Northern Standard 9th January 1953

Noted Monaghan Solicitor
Death of Mr Russell McWilliam
Eminent Lawyer, Sportsman and Gentleman
On Friday, the second day of January, 1953, Mr Russell McWilliam passed away peacefully at his residence, Holly Lodge, Monaghan

Thus closed the career of one who was an eminent member of the legal profession, a man of high intellectual attainments, a great sportsman and a perfect gentleman.

The announcement did not come unexpectedly for it had been known that mr McWilliam’s health had been impaired since, some years ago, he met with an accident one morning when coming down steps on his way from his home to his office on the North Road. Since then he had been under the care of Dr Marcus Killen but was most of the time able to be about and to attend and superintend at his office.
The news of his death was received with genuine sorrow by the entire community and in particular by the legal profession over a wide area of the country.
Our first duty is to tender to Mrs McWilliam, and his sons, daughter and relatives our very sincere sympathy, an expression in which we feel confident we will be joined by everyone who ever knew deceased.
Mr McWilliam, who was 74 years of age, was born at the North Road, Monaghan. He was the eldest son of Mr William McWilliam, solicitor, who was Clerk of the Crown and Peace for County Monaghan for a great many years. His mother was Miss Hester Morell, daughter of Rev John Harris Morell, Ballybay.
His educational career began at the old Collegiate School, Monaghan, under Headmaster Mr RF Dill and when that renowned teacher became headmaster of the Royal School, Dungannon, young Mr McWilliam followed him to complete his early education.
Returning to Monaghan he became apprenticed to Mr RH Parke, solicitor, who, when Mr McWilliam’s father became Clerk of the Crown and Peace in 1895, had taken over his practice.
After a brilliant course he qualified as solicitor in the Michaelmas term of 1901. He came back to his own home town, joined Mr Parke in his father’s practice and ultimately when Mr Parke died in 1914, took over the entire practice.
As an advocate he had few equals. When he spoke in court, whether before Judges of the High Courts, Judges of the old Quarters Sessions, former Resident Magistrates and Justices of the Peace or in later years before Circuit Court Judges or Justices of the District Courts, he spoke quietly but incisively. His every utterance weighed. Thus he earned and merited the respect and esteem of every judicial tribunal before which he ever appeared.
A great athlete, he figured prominently in the field of sport – hockey, golf, cricket, tennis, fishing, shooting. He was an enthusiast in all, particularly in hockey. On twelve occasions between 1901 and 1908 he was capped on the Irish International Hockey team and on three occasions captained the Irish team in the international games.
He was one of the founder members of Rossmore Golf Club and was a leading player and captain of the club for some years.
Whether in his home, on the field of sport, or in the Courts of Justice, Mr Russell McWilliam was ever and always the perfect gentleman.
In 1910 he married Miss Elsie Henry, daughter of the late Mr James Henry, solicitor, Dublin, and sister (sic, niece) of the late Dr William Henry, Clones. There were three children of the marriage – Mr James McWilliam, solicitor, who succeeds his father in the profession in Monaghan and in Ballybay; Mr Herbert Russell McWilliam, BL, a leading member of the Junior Bar, and Miss Elizabeth McWilliam, Lecturer in Physical Education, Stranmillis Training College, Belfast.
He is also survived by two brothers, Mr William McWilliam, BL, a Resident Magistrate in Northern Ireland and Rev John M McWilliam, Presbyterian Minister, Drumfreshire, Scotland, and one sister, Miss Nan McWilliam, Belfast. Another brother, Mr Herbert McWilliam, solicitor, Ballybay, predeceased him some years ago.
Following the death house and funeral were private.
The remains of the late Mr McWilliam were interred at Coolshannagh cemetery on Sunday.
Services at the home and at the graveside were conducted by Rev CA Morwood Meldrum, Minister of First Monaghan Presbyterian Church.

District Court Tributes
From Justices, Solicitors and Gardai

Before taking his seat on the bench at Monaghan District Court, on Tuesday, District Justice Lavery said;

“I have heard with great regret on my arrival of the death of my old friend, Mr Russell McWilliam. He was a very old friend of mine. When I came to Monaghan – I don’t know how many years ago, but a great many at any rate – he was one of the foremost practitioners and a very able one too. He comes of a very distinguished legal family in this county and his passing is a very sad event. I tender to his widow, sons and the members of his family my sincerest sympathy.”
Mr RH Brett, solicitor, said as senior member of the solicitor’s profession present in court, he would like to be associated with his Honour’s remarks. He had known Mr McWilliam for over 25 years. He was admitted in the year 1901 and became a great example to all the junior solicitors in the town. He was a man of the highest ideals and added lustre to the profession. He was also a very great sportsman. He was a leader in all sporting activities. He was an international hockey player and played twelve times for Ireland and captained the Irish team. He was also a golfer and tennis player. He (Mr Brett) was associated with him in golf and always found him a great sportsman. He was a splendid advocate and for a great many years practiced in that court. He was held in the very highest esteem by all members of the community and all deplored his death very much. He joined in tendering deepest sympathy to his family.
Supt Ryan said on behalf of the Gardaí and on his own behalf he wished to be associated with the expression. They of the police respected and admired Mr McWilliam. They admired the manner in which he conducted his cases and knew that they had to be prepared, as he would find any loophole that might be there. He (Supt) also knew Mr McWilliam for a short time in the field of sport. He was a great sportsman, a great advocate and a great gentleman and they deeply regretted his passing.
Mr Eugene McArdle, Acting Court Clerk, said on his own behalf and on behalf of Mr J Brannigan Court Clerk, he wished to join in the expression of sympathy.

Daniel MacAleese (died Dec 1, 1900)

People's Advocate

Rev James Morell (1773-1831)

Evangelical Witness
On Mr Arnold's departure for America the Rev. James Morell received a call from the congregation in February, 1799, and was ordained in the August following. He was a native of Co. Derry, and went at an early age to Glasgow College. He rode on horseback all the way from Derry to Belfast, accompanied by a servant sent to bring back the horse. He sailed from Belfast, and, after a voyage of five days, arrived at a port in Scotland distant about thirty miles from Glasgow; and as there was no coach or other public conveyance, he was obliged to walk all the way, leaving his luggage to be forwarded by the first carrier who might pass that way. He was a distinguished student, and took prizes in Mathematics and Natural Philosophy. After he was licenced to preach he supplied the congregation of Rosemary-street, Belfast, for some time prior to the late Dr Hanna's settlement there, which took place in 1799.
Mr Morell's father having come under the suspicion of the government, a party of the military searched his house, and the licentiate's degree of A.M. from Glasgow College having been discovered, was held up in triumph by the officer in command, who stated that he had now some proof of a treasonable correspondence, as he had discovered his connection with the French government.
After Mr Morell had received the call from Ballybay, a party in the congregation determined, if possible, to prevent his ordination, and accordingly they locked the doors and gate of the church, and he was obliged to preach in the open air in an adjoining field for nine Sabbaths. The large majority of the congregation adhered to Mr Morell, and, after several ineffectual attempts to get peaceable possession of the church, a memorial, numerously and respectably signed, was addressed by them to the Lord Lieutenant, requesting him to aid them with a military party in regaining the use of the church. His Excellency, having learned that Mr Morell had been ordained by the Presbytery to the pastoral charge of the congregation, enclosed an order to the captain of a troop of dragoons, then quartered in Monaghan, to put the minister into possession of the church. However, before using the power thus placed in his hands, he went on the following Sabbath to the gate of the meeting-house, accompanied by a large number of the members of the congregation, and demanded admittance, but was again refused. The late Mr Alexander Waddell then started on a swift horse for Monaghan, distant about eight miles, and in the course of a few hours a troop of dragoons made their appearance.
The lock of the gate was broken, and the doors of the church forced open, and the opposing party having fled precipitately on the appearance of the military, Mr Morell ascended the pulpit and conducted the services; the officer in command of the military standing on the stairs of the pulpit, and some of the soldiers mounting guard. No further opposition was attempted. The party opposed to Mr Morell's settlement was erected into a separate congregation by the Secession Church, and built a meeting-house a short distance from the old one. The congregation increased greatly under the ministry of Mr Morell, and not withstanding new erections in the neighbourhood, there were 610 families connected with it at the time of his death.
He was a man of sound judgement, distinguished for practical sense, and possessed of great conversational powers. He was emphatically a good preacher, and held in great estimation by his brethern in the ministry. He was Moderator of the Synod of Ulster in 1813, when the important resolution in favour of Catholic Emancipation was adopted by that body. He was a good public speaker, and took an active part in all the debates of the Synod, and his name appears on the great majority of the committees appointed for the transaction of any important business.
At the commencement of the Arian controversy he was inclined to moderate measures, thinking, as he did, that Arianism would soon die out in the Synod; whereas, if the Unitarian ministers were expelled, their system would thereby get a local habitation and a name. After some time, however, he changed his views on this subject, and gave his hearty support to the party who urged a separation. He was the author of the celebrated "Overtures" which compelled the Unitarians to withdraw. As he did not attend the next special meeting of the Synod, the Northern Whig, of Belfast, indignantly asked, "Where was the big father of the 'Overtures' himself? Why did not he attend to usher his ugly bantling into the world?" In all the debates connected with this subject he maintained a calm demeanour. He was remarkable for good temper: his most intimate friends never saw him angry.
His personal appearance was remarkable: he was upwards of six feet high, and at one period of his life he weighed twenty-four stones. He generally paid an annual visit to Dublin, where he had a great many personal friends, and his remarkable size generally attracted attention. On one occasion he and the late Mr McAldin, of Colerain, who was also a large man, had gone into a shop together, and a woman passing by, having observed the latter, said to her companion, "Come here, till we get a look at this big man." While gazing at him, Mr McAldin said, "Wait a minute till my father comes out." Having remained till they got a sight of Mr Morell, one remarked to the other that "they were both a credit to the country that reared them." Mr Morell was obliged to get all his vehicles strongly built, but notwithstanding this he had many a break-down. When going from home, therefore, to any distance, he usually carried a poker and a rope in the "well" of his gig, so that if a shaft gave way, he might have the means of splicing it. When going to Armagh to take part in the ordination of Dr Henry, now President of the Queen's College, Belfast, he slept the previous night at the hospitable mansion of Mr Boyd of Baleer. In the morning of the following day he told Mr Boyd that he would be obliged to him for a seat in his gig to Armagh. His kind host declined to share the gig with him, but told him he might have it to himself. Accordingly Mr Morell set off, but in a short time the gig was sent back with all its springs broken. During the meeting of the Synod of Ulster in Lurgan, in 1829, Mr Morell was the guest of the late Rev. Hamilton Dobbin, the respected minister of that place. When leaving, he forgot a waistcoat. Mr Dobbin, however, preserved it, as a good Catholic would a precious relic, and exhibited it to some of his friends on particular occasions, sometimes buttoning three of them in it together at the same time. Some ill-natured person, indeed, said that the waistcoat had been enlarged by Mr Dobbins special directions, he having employed a tailor to insert a stripe of calico in the back of it. Be this as it may, he retained it for several years, and often enjoyed a hearty laugh at the looks of wonder with which many regarded it.
For several years before his death Mr Morell kept a diary, in which particular reference was made to his religious experience. On every Sabbath evening he recorded the text from which he had preached, and the ministerial duties in which he was engaged during the week; and after reading a portion of Scripture he returned to his own room to ask God's blessing on his past labours, and grace to help him for the time to come. If the weather was fine he generally went to the garden, instead of to his closet, to engage in prayer, and there beneath the shade of a wide-spreading beech tree, he remained often for hours together, pouring out his soul in prayer to God. His health had been gradually declining for a couple of years, and when at length the time of his departure was at hand, he submitted to the stroke with calm and pious resignation. His end was peace. When asked by an early and attached friend and brother, the late Rev. Patrick White, of Bailieboro', what his feelings were in the prospect of death, he answered, "I feel my own unworthiness, but I have unbounded confidence in my Redeemer," He died on the 30th of August, 1831, in the 58th year of his age and the 32nd of his ministry.
After his death, owing to a dispute in the congregation respecting his successor, a new congregation was erected in the town of Ballybay, and his son, the Rev. John H. Morell, was ordained to the pastoral charge of it.

Derry Standard, Friday morning, May 16, 1913

[Sketches of life and character - 6th instalment]
Rev. James Morell, Ballybay, (1799-1831)

The Morells were early residents in Balteagh. In 1740 Robert and James Morell were householders in Ballyquin, [The actual spelling in the original entry is Murril of Bellywhin - PM] a pleasantly situated townland just east of the Roe, three miles out of Limavady, and convenient to the famous Carrick Rocks, where a rent in the mica schists gives vent to the waters of the river, and so prevents a large lake being formed in the Dungiven direction. The family originally came from the ancient province of Champagne, on the extreme North-East of France, on the borders of Flanders.
Connected with the Norman nobility and of a high sounding territorial title, they did not allow coronets and broad acres to stand between them and the worship of God, so restricted in their own country by the events of St. Bartholomew. They moved across the Channel in 1572. In England two of them suffered between the Restoration and the Revolution, a clear indication of the side they were on.
Their Continental residence was so near Lille, the French centre of the great linen industry, it is easy to understand why they were always connected with the production of that fabric. The Limavady district gained greatly by their settlement here. They brought their textile knowledge with them, which both son and daughter inherited from many previous generations. Their light shone around, and their example was followed. In the days of our youth we always admired the blooming orchards adjoining most of the farmhouses in the locality, and in our enthusiastic admiration for the family we ascribe much of it to the early Morells. The Scotch did not take much to fruit growing till after years, when they got comfortable. The Morells were always linked in a business way with the local bleach workers at Carrick and Terrydremon, but in the course of time, when trade became more collected into centres, they preferred to remain on their farms rather than follow it into large and crowded towns. From its foundation the Morells were exemplary members of Drumachose Presbyterian Church. In 1745-55-60 James Morell attended the General Synod as representative elder of the congregation, and in 1815 Robert Morell attended. The former was likely the grandfather and the latter the father of the subject. (This may be where Jack made his mistake.)
James Morell entered the Church under auspicious circumstances. The Rev. James Horner, Dublin, was his cousin, from the fact that Mr. Horner's mother was also a Morell, so the Hasletts, Horners, and Morells were linked together. When a son of Mr. James Morell was a student, Dr. Horner presented him with a Greek Testament, on which was written, "To my young friend and cousin". But to go back, James Morell was licensed by the Presbytery of Route in 1797, and was ordained in then far away Ballybay on Aug. 6th 1799. He was a regular attender at the church courts, and, being a hard worker, he fast gained the confidence of his brethern, for in 1813, when only fourteen years in the ministry, he was chosen as Moderator of the General Synod at its meeting in Cookstown. The business was important, and the sessions of this deliberative body opened on Thursday and Friday mornings at seven o'clock, and on Saturday at 6 am, an hour at which a present day meeting would have a sparse attendance. Amongst local matters that engaged attention was that Magilligan congregation was recognised as a separate charge, and put under the care of the Presbytery of Route. The meeting-house at this place was erected several years previously, and supplied principally by the clergymen of Ballykelly, Drumachose, and Dunboe. At the synod meeting, which met again at Cookstown on the 28th June 1814, Mr. Morell preached from 2nd Kings, x, 16, constituted the meeting with prayer and moved that another Moderator be chosen, when the Rev. George Hay, Derry, was elected.
Mr. Morell died on the 31st Aug., 1831, leaving a wife and family. Rev. John H. Morell ordained in Second Ballybay, 1834, and Rev. Charles L. Morell DD, Dungannon, 1844, were his sons, while the present minister of Second Ballybay is his grandson.
The house in Ballyquin, where he was born about 1773, is still standing in good order, and occupied by a farmer, Mr. Adams. Mr. Henry Morell still worthily represents the family in Terrydremon, an adjoining townland.

[Part of the series "The Lights of the Roe". JHE]

Rev JH Morell (1810-1888)

Northern Standard - Sat., Aug., 11th, 1888.
Ballybay Presbytery - poor attendance due to the death of Rev. JH Morell

The subject of this notice died at his residence, Cumry Lodge, Ballybay, on Sat. morning, 4th Aug, 1888. He was the son of the Rev. James Morell, Presbyterian minister of First Ballybay, who died in 1831. After the death of the Rev. James Morell, the congregation of First Ballybay divided, part remaining in the old church of 1st Ballybay, and the larger part leaving and forming a new congregation with the deceased gentleman for their minister. For some time Rev. John H. Morell preached to his infant congregation in a room or shed; soon, however, a suitable site was obtained and a gracious church erected. Deceased was most indefatigable in collecting for, and superintending the new building. He was one of the largest contributors himself, and never ceased in his efforts till the congregation was free of debt. Under Mr Morell's faithful preaching, regular visitation, and wise management of affairs the congregation steadily increased, till now there is scarcely a vacant pew in the church. About 4 years ago, owing to declining health, Mr Morell sought and obtained leave. Rev. Mr Cowan of Newbliss was delegated to announce Mr. Morell's resignation to the congregation. We remember the Sunday well. There was scarcely a dry eye in the house. Mr Cowan, in the course of his remarks, said that Mr Morell stood eminently high with his brethern of Ballybay Presbytery, and was much appreciated for his great mental ability, extraordinary wisdom, and unassuming manner. He never put himself forward, or even allowed his name to be mentioned, for the high positions in the church which he was eminently qualified to fill. Mr Morell is succeeded in 2nd Ballybay by his son, Rev. James Morell, who was transferred from Rathfriland.
No doubt, like all the suffering sons of humanity, he had his domestic bereavements and public trials, but as a true Christian Minister he surmounted them all. Towards the close of his ministry a large and well-appointed schoolroom and teacher's residence were erected near the church, and both are now free of debt.
The late lamented gentleman has left to his son and successor an excellent Church, a handsome Temperance Hall, and a comfortable teacher's residence, together with a large and flourishing congregation.
It was the writer's privilege to enjoy the friendship of the late Mr Morell for many years. We always found him exceedingly kind and very wise in his suggestions and advice. For some time past his health was declining, and though still able to take regular exercise, yet there were symptoms of occasional weak action of the heart which caused anxiety to his family and friends. On the night before his death, however, he seemed as well as usual, and was very cheerful and in good spirits. In the morning he said he had enjoyed sound sleep, and felt well and able to get up, but as he was sitting up in bed speaking to his attendant he suddenly pressed his hand to his heart, sank back on the pillow and quietly passed away, apparently without a single pang.
"Mark the perfect man and behold the upright, for the end of that man is peace."
Mr Morell reached the ripe age of 77 and was more than 50 years in the Christian Ministry.
When the news of Mr Morell's death spread through the town of Ballybay and adjacent neighbourhood, a perceptible gloom overcast the entire locality. All felt they had forever lost an able and faithful preacher, a regular visitor, a wise counsellor, and a warm friend. Although Saturday was the market day in Ballybay, yet when the news of Mr Morell's death reached the town, almost every householder put up shutters. All denominations united in expressing their regret for the "Prince, and the great man that had fallen in Israel". We believe he died without a solitary enemy, and so far as human judgement is able to form an opinion his life appears to have been perfectly stainless. The Rev John Morell is gone; but he had left in his district memorials of his life and labours, which will remain a lasting record of his work, his wisdom, and his high Christian character.

The funeral.
The late Rev John Morell's funeral took place on Tuesday, and was one of the largest ever seen in the neighbourhood. There were over 60 vehicles consisting of carriages, cars, and croydons, also a large number of single horsemen.
The pall bearers were Rev J Morell, Dr L Morell, and John H Morell, sons; Rev Mr Morehead, Presbyterian Minister, brother-in-law to Rev J Morell; and Wm McWilliam, son-in-law to the deceased; also two nephews to the deceased.

[Present: RC Leslie Esq JP DL. Rev ABR Young, rector, Rev B Duffy PP, Rev WH Horner.]

As the mournful cortege passed from the late Mr Morell's residence to the family burying ground, in the graveyard of 2nd Ballybay, the procession covered over half an English mile of the road. When the funeral reached the town of Ballybay, all the shops had up shutters, and a great many were closed. The coffin, which was a very handsome one, consisting of oak, with brass mountings, was covered with wreaths of flowers. Mr Leslie sent a wreath, as also did Mr Young and others whose names we do not know. When the church was reached the service was conducted by the Rev John G Smyth. The pulpit and surroundings were beautifully draped in deep mourning. It has been arranged that the funeral sermon will be preached on next Lord's day by Rev John Gordon Smyth, the intimate and attached friend of the late lamented Rev John Harris Morell.

Rev CL Morell (1820-1896)

Northern Standard - 25th July 1896.
During his year of office the death of Dr Cooke - the greatest leader and the most eloquent preacher of the Presbyterian Church - occurred. [He is described as an ally of Dr Cooke during the controversy on Arianism.]
*** [This controversy, however, occurred between 1820 and 1829 before he was ordained; Cooke's ally was of course his father, James.]
He preached the funeral oration of his leader and attached friend.
(Belfast News Letter on Dec 22nd 1868)
(HRH Prince of Wales on Dec 19th 1871)

Question of disendowment and disestablishment of the Episcopal and Presbyterian Churches following in with Gladstone's proposal

In politics he was a conservative.
Colonel Knox - Dungannon in Commons 1868.
Mr Thomas Dickson, late MP for Tyrone, is a cousin of Mrs Morell. {In fact I think Dickson's sister was married to Mrs Morell's brother}
CLM recorded his vote for Mr. Corbett and had to be carried to the booth to do so.

Funeral on Wednesday, Chief mourners:
Mr. James Morell (brother)
Rev CL Morell and Mr Henry Morell (sons)
Mr James Browne JP, Right Hon T Dickson and rM Wm McWilliam, Clerk of the Crown, Co. Monaghan

In 1847 he remained at his post in the Workhouse during the fever epidemic although several of the officials died of the disease in question.
In 1859 he threw himself with all his heart into the wonderful work of grace that marked that year.
1861; Was the means of establishing a National School in Dungannon.
1868; Moderator - 'Preserved Order' during the great debate on the question of disestablishing the Irish Episcopalian Church in that Assembly.
Appointed a Commissioner of National Education in 1868, and for many years afterwards he regularly attended weekly meetings of the Education Board in Dublin. He resigned in 1887.
In 1874 Mr Thomas Dickson, a ruling elder, was returned to represent Dungannon in the imperial parliament. This produced strong feeling between different parties - no lasting damage to the congregation.

From (?this) obituary of Charles Lucas Morell
Pasteur Louis Francois Morel, Sieur de Collonges, who, on the 25th May, 1559, was chosen Moderator of the First General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of France, and expelled from the country following the revocation of the Edict of Nantes.
A descendent of Francois Morell suffered martyrdom about the year 1666. All the members of his family were slaughtered, except one child, who let France when grown up, and from whom Dr Morell's family came.
A branch of this family settled in Dungannon (sic) and engaged in the linen trade.
A son of these - Rev J Morell was ordained Minister of Ballybay on the 6th Aug 1699.

*** [This story is somewhat fanciful.]

Dr HR Charles

from the Medical Press and Circular - Feb 18 1874
Obituary: Henry R Charles, MD

At his residence, Cookstown, Co Tyrone, on the 24th November, 1873, died of heart disease, Henry R Charles, MD, M Ch &c, in the sixty-fourth year of his age. Dr Charles was born in the year 1809 in the Moor House, Baltmeane, Co Tyrone. He was one of a family of fourteen sons, four of whom entered the medical profession. When sixteen years of age he commenced his medical studies in the College of Surgeons, Dublin, and completed them in Edinburgh and Glasgow, graduating in the Glasgow University. By the advice of his two eldest brothers who had settled in America as medical practicioners, the subject of our memoir went over to that country, and remained there for nearly seven years. On his return from America, he settled in Cookstown, and here he established a first-class connection, which, after a time extended so much as to require him to take one of his younger brothers into partnership.
During his life in Cookstown, Dr Charles took a lively interest in all the affairs of the town, and under his superintendence, or at his suggestion, many of its most important improvements were effected.
In personal appearance Dr Charles was highly favoured by fortune: he was a fine handsome man, at least six feet two in height, with great length of limb, and broad and massive shoulders. His geniality of disposition gained for him many personal friends; while his large-heartedness and liberality made him loved by all. In him the poor have lost a kind and generous friend; and by none, indeed, is his loss more felt, and by none was it more lamented. And by his own personal friends his death will long be remembered, as a painful severing of ties of the tenderest andmost intimate kind. Many a wet eye followed him to the grave, and many a sore heart now bears witness how closely he had entwined himself in their affections. The feeling of sorrow for his death was general throughout town and county, and as his funeral procession passed through the streets the townspeople paid him their last mark of respect by closing their places of business.
Nor was Dr Charles less esteemed as a physician than he was beloved and respected as a man. His success in his profession speaks volumes for the attention he devoted to his cases, and for the care with which he studied them. He was always a diligent reader of the current medical literature; but since the death, some years ago, of his only son, a young man of great promise, he gave up a large part of his practice. After a long and toilsome life, to be measured not so much by years as by work, he has now gone, as we trust, to his rest. His life's labour was accomplished, and death found him at his post. In our sorrow for his loss we are cheered by the thought that the hopes he cherished of a blessed home beyond the grave have found their bright and happy consummation.
'Mors optima periro lacrimandum suis.'

AK Henry MB MCh ( Hon) FRCSI

British Medical Journal May 5, 1962

Through the death of Professor AK Henry at his home in Howth, Co Dublin on April 6 at the age of 76 the Dublin Medical School has lost a leading anatomist and a pre-eminent figure in the teaching world.
Arnold Kirkpatrick Henry was born in 1886 and received his early education at Trent College in England. He then entered Trinity College, Dublin, graduating MB BCh BAO in 1911. He became a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland in 1914. In the early part of the 1914-18 war Henry served as a surgeon with the Serbian army. His wife, herself a surgeon, accompanied him and acted as his assistant. When that country was overrun by the German armies in 1916 he escaped and returned to Great Britain. For is distinguished services in this field he was later awarded the Order of St Sava by the Serbian Government. He then joined the Royal Army Medical Corps and served for a period in India, later being appointed medicin-majeur in the French Army Medical Service, a post he held from 1917-19. For his services to the French Government he was made Chevalier de la Legion d'Honneur.
On his return from war service he joined the staff of the Richmond Hospital, Dublin, where his surgical reputation was soon established. During this period he was editor of the Irish Journal of Medical Science, a post well suited to his literary talents. In 1925 he went to Egypt as professor of surgery in the University of Cairo. He worked in this post with distinction for 11 years, being decorated by the Egyptian Government for his services. He received the degree of MCh (Honoris Causa) and was made emeritus professor of clinical surgery by the University of Cairo. On his return to England he took up a teaching post in the Postgraduate Medical School at Hammersmith. Later, in 1947, he was appointed professor of anatomy in the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, where he worked with distinction until his retirement in 1959.
Professor Henry was a man of outstanding ability and varied talent. He was a fine writer, a linguist, and a great teacher, who will long be remembered by those who have sat in his classes. He contributed largely to medical literature, more especially in the field of surgical anatomy, in which he had an international reputation. His best known work, Extensile Exposure, dealing with surgical approaches in limb surgery, was published in 1927. It has since gone through three English editions and one edition in Spanish. This is a classic work, the most authoritative work in this particular field and is widely used all over the world. In addition to this he has contributed largely to surgical literature. He was a man of original mind, never hesitating to examine critically old and traditional methods and to discard them if he considered they could be improved upon. The Department of Anatomy at RCSI, where he worked with distinction for 12 years and in which he introduced a number of new and effective teaching techniques, is a monument to the vigour and originality of his methods. In addition to his academic pre-eminence, he was a man of great personal cahrm, beloved by all who knew him. Towards his fellow-workers he showed unfailing courtesy and a consideration for the views of others which made him a delightful colleague.. With the student body he was deservedly popular, and, while not one to suffer fools gladly, he showed a kindly and sympathetic understanding of their problems. He took the liveliest and most practical interest in their activities, and was always ready to devote his energies and leisure to their collective welfare.
His death brings to a close a brilliant and varied career. The academic world, of which he was an ornament, has lost an outstanding teacher and writer. All who had the privilege of knowing him will mourn his loss. Professor Henry is survived by his wife, a son, and a daughter.

Charles Eccles (1813-59)

DEATH OF CHARLES ECCLES, ESQ., J.P, D.L. of ECCLESVILLE, CO TYRONE 1813-1859
(? Source)
It has never been our lot to discharge a more painful duty than to record the death of Charles Eccles, Esq., J. P., D.L., which took place at Ecclesville, on Thursday, the 4th inst., after a lengthened and distressing illness. The announcement some months ago, that he had become prostrated by disease, and that the medical gentlemen attending him entertained no hope of his recovery, was received throughout this county with the deepest regret, and although his was not a case in which the public could be said to have found any grounds for hoping against hope, the report of his death seemed in the end to carry with it the bitterness of a loss to which they bad not yet been reconciled, while it produced in many breasts a sensation to which only the death of some actually beloved one can give rise. We shall not say that Mr. Eccles was esteemed in this neighbourhood—he was more; the word which we have already used is a preferable one—he was beloved, beloved by his family, his friends, his tenantry, by every one who had an opportunity of knowing his worth. Upon the sorrowing circle at Ecclesville, we shall not, as it were in the presence of their dead, rudely enter to dilate upon the tenderness of home-relationships, rather would we simply offer them our respectful sympathy and condolence. Outside that sacred bound however, we may more freely speak and to none of the excellencies in the character of this lamented gentleman would we give mere prominence than the course which he invariably pursued in dealing with his tenants. He respected tenant-right and declared that he would regard himself as a robber were he to infringe upon it; the interest of the tenants in their beneficial improvements he looked upon as property the most sacred, and in the valuation of holdings upon his estate gave express directions not to value improvements, nor fix the rent at such a figure as would restrict the comforts of the tenant. His income he considered ample for all his wants and he often generously observed that by increasing it he could add nothing to his own comfort while he abridged that of his tenants. Wherever, the hand of death left a widow or helpless family upon the Ecclesville property, the rent was certain to be reduced for a longer or shorter period; so that the holding might not fall to a new occupant, and as in money so in political principle. Mr. Eccles was jealous of the independence of his tenantry and thought no greater evil could exist than the exercise of a landlord’s power to coerce the votes and public action of his people. He would reason with his tenants and endeavour to show them that his interests and theirs were identical in matters affecting the public weal, but he would not injure or oppress those who differed from him, nevertheless few, men were more willingly followed by their tenantry by his recognition of them as “independent electors” in the true meaning of the term, by his liberal management of his property, respecting tenant.-right, giving leases to every tenant of good character and industry, and always charging moderate rents he won not only their votes but their hearts, in short the regard in which he was held was almost idolatrous, and partook more of an uncalculating feudal attachment than of the staid, measured feelings of modern times. Mr Eccles’ manner was peculiarly genial and winning, and though retiring and unobtrusive, few had greater influence over those with whom they came in contact; he had, a profound knowledge of men and things, his opinions were matured, carefully reasoned out and settled, no one saw, better the difficulties of a position, or was more fertile in expedients to remove or nullify them. Those who knew him intimately gladly resorted to him for advice and direction, and his sound sense, thorough knowledge of life, and unblemished honour, made him a safe and trusted guide. Of Mr. Eccles as a public man our readers had many opportunities of judging. As a Magistrate, Grand Juror, Governor of the District Asylum, Member of the Board of Superintendence, &c., he was well known in the county, and known everywhere to be admired and respected. Nay it is a remarkable fact that slander which is so generally equipped for an attack either upon the living or dead, does not appear to have even one of its unhallowed shafts to level at his memory. We have heard his character discussed by men of high as well as men of humble standing, by Liberals and Conservatives, we have heard it discussed in the motley crowd, and we gathered from every source the same estimate, found him everywhere described as one of the few men who could be named in the cause of human excellence. But better than all, he turned his thoughts to something still higher and nobler. Not content with mere morality, not content with occupying a high place in the estimation and in the affections of those around him, not content with having within his reach an ample share of the best pleasures of this life, he sought for an earnest of the pleasures of the life to come, he grounded his faith upon the Rock of Ages, and, when his earthly pleasures failed,
“He sent his hopes on high, looked up and reached
His sickle forth, and reaped the fields of heaven,
And plucked the clusters from the vines of God,”
The Eccles family settled in Fintona during the reign of Charles II., and are amongst the oldest and most influential of the county families. They derived their surname from the Barony of Eccles in Dumfriesshire which they held in Scotland. Eighth in descent from John de Eccles, a person of rank, in the reign of Alexander the 3rd, was John Eccles of Kildonan in Ayrshire who lived in the early part of the 17th century and had two sons John and Gilbert the eldest was a distinguished royalist, Gilbert settled in Ireland in the reign of Charles I., and purchased several manors in Tyrone and Fermanagh. He died as appears from his cenotaph in the old church of Fintona, July 26, 1694, at the advanced age of 92, and was succeeded in the Tyrone property by his eldest son Charles Eccles, who was the High-sheriff of Tyrone in 1694 and was great-great-great-grandfather of the gentleman just deceased. The late Mr. Eccles was born 9th April 1813 and married Isabella, daughter of Edward Blake, Esq., of Castlegrove, County Galway, who died in 1859. He served as High-sheriff of Tyrone in 1835 and was a Magistrate and Deputy-Lieutenant of the County. He was on several occasions requested to stand for the representation of the Tyrone but persistently declined the honour. He received the first requisition on this subject shortly after he had attained his majority and had then an offer of support from all the leading gentry of the county; subsequently he was urged by a very influential nobleman to allow himself to be put in nomination and again and again in a similar proposition emanated from different sources, but he preferred having the honour conferred on others to seeking it himself. Had he been induced to come forward there could be as little doubt as to his success, as there would have been to his ability to stand upon the floor of the house, and with polished eloquence and enlightened judgement address himself to any question of the day. Mr. Eccles is succeeded by his eldest son, John Stuart Eccles, Esq., who about twelve months ago attained his majority. On Monday last the day fixed for consigning the mortal remains of the deceased to their resting place, a vast concourse assembled at Ecclesville, to embrace their last opportunity of publicly manifesting their respect for his memory. Carriages arrived every few moments, and the trains from Derry and Enniskillen brought large numbers from the towns 1ong the line. Omagh contributed its quota to the melancholy gathering, and though so many miles distant from Ecclesville nearly all the principal shopkeepers partially closed their places of business, while the peals of the Omagh Church bell further reminded the inhabitants that death had been executing its fatal mission in their county. Amongst those who left this town for the funeral, we may specially mention the staff of the Royal Tyrone Fusiliers, who by the permission of Captain, Ellis attended as a mark of their individual respect, although Mr. Eccles had not in way been connected with their Regiment. At the hour fixed the mournful procession left Ecclesville in the following order:—

Pall Bearers.

Col The Hon. Stuart Knox, M.P. Major A. W. Cole Hamilton, D.L.
Capt. Ynyr H. Burges, Thomas H. Browne, Esq.,D.L.
Wm,. Archdall, Esq., D.L. Coffin Samuel Vesey, Esq., D.L.
J. G. Vesey Porter, Capt. Mervyn Stewart,
Captain George Perry McClintock, D.L., Capt. Thomas Auchinleck., J.P.

Chief Mourners.

John S. Eccles, Esq. Charles B. Eccles, Esq.
Rev. Robert G. Eccles. Sir Richard McCausland,
Dr Henry Thompson. Rev. Mungo Thompson.
The Tenants of the Ecclesville Estate all wearing scarfs and hat bands.
The Ecclesville labourers with hat bands.
The remainder of the procession was made up of men of every class and creed, appearing for the moment to anticipate the time when they themselves would have “shuffled off this mortal coil” and entered side by side into that common inheritance to which they were all hastening.
Amongst those present were —The Very Rev. the Dean of Clonfert; Very Rev, the Dean of Clogher; Rev. R. V. Dixon, D.D., Rev. W. S. Burnside, D.D., Rev. John Grey Porter, Rev. Samuel Alexander. Rev. T. L. Stack, Rev. H. L. St George, Rev. Henry Tottenham, Rev. W. Moutray, Rev. Charles H. Stack, Rev. Charles Maguinness, Rev. J. C. Hudson, Rev. John Flanagan, Rev. George Sidney Smith, jun,, Rev. Charles F Jones, Rev. J Whittaker, Rev. J Rowland Scott, Rev. P Kerr, Rev. .J. M’Groarty Rev. J. Thornhill, Rev. R. Chambers, Rev, John Arnold, Rev. John Smyth, Rev. William Mulloy, F. J. McArdle, Rev. J. Cassidy, Colonel Dawson, Major Francis Ellis, Captain Butler. Captain Corr, Captain R. C. D. Ellis, Capt Knox, Captain Sinclair, Captain J. J. O’F. Carmichael Ferrall, Captain Vesey, Captain L. M. Buchanan, Captain Jenkins Captain R. S. Hamilton; George A. Molony Esq., R.M.; W. Cole Hamilton, Esq., B.M. A. W. H. Heard, Esq., D.L., Nicholas M. Archdall, Esq, D.L. George Scott Mansfield, Esq., J.P. James Crossle, Esq., J.P.; Edward Waller, Esq. J.P,; A. C. Buchanan, Esq., J.P.; George Hall Stack, Esq., J.P.; J W. Ellison Macartney, Esq., High Sheriff of Armagh; Wm. F. Black, Esq., J.P.; James Greer, jun., Esq.; Edward Atthill, Esq., J.P.; A. 0. S. M. McCausland., Esq.; James Mackay, Esq.; George A. Rogers, Esq,; Millar Simpson, Esq.; William Caldwell, Esq.; Mansergh G. Buchanan, Esq., James Campbell, Esq., S.I.; Geo. Vesey Stewart, Richard Tottenham, Esq., J.P.: Dr. Robinson JP.; Dr. West, Dr. Wilson, Dr. Love, Dr. Buchanan, Dr. Trenar, Quarter-master John Core, Robert Buchanan Esq.; John Dickson, Esq.; George Woodhouse Esq.; James Johnston, Esq.; John Dickson, jun. Esq.; Hugh Allen, Esq.; M. Moore, Esq.; Cecil Moore Esq.; T. C. Dickie, Esq.; Whitney Moutray, Esq., J.P.; Henry Moutray, :Esq., J.P.; Finlay Buchanan, Esq.; Charles Richardson, &a., &c.
Only a small portion of those present could gain admittance to the church, and through the anxiety to follow the coffin the doors were literally blocked up by those who were fortunate enough to be near the front of the procession.
The first portion of the burial service was read by the Rev H. Tottenham, assisted by the Rev. John. McGroarty and before leaving the church the Rev Dr Burnside delivered a short but impressive address, he enumerated the payment of a tribute of respect for the departed, the comfort which it brought to the mourners, and the instruction which it was calculated to convey to them and to their sympathizing friends. He alluded in feeling terms to the many claims which the deceased gentleman had upon the respect of all who knew him, to his amiability in every relation of life, and to the bright example which was to be found in his career, whether as a devoted husband, an affectionate father, or an indulgent landlord, and made touching reference to his conversion, and deeply, rooted piety, whereby his affections had been most fully weaned off the things of earth, and through which he was enabled to look upon his approaching dissolution, not as the dreaded appearance of the King of Terrors, but as the appointed and glorious means of opening to him the gates of everlasting bliss. Dr Burnside, in conclusion, called the attention of his hearers to the prayer of the Psalmist, “So teach us to number our days that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom,” and expressed an earnest hope that divinely taught and guided they might, at the final hour, be enabled to say with the deceased, “O grave where is thy victory, O death where is thy sting?”
An appropriate hymn was sung by the choir while the coffin was being removed, and the funeral procession having re-formed, the remains were borne to the ancient burying ground of Donacavey where the coffin was laid in the family vault, and all that remained of this, highly gifted and noble man was, with the deep impressiveness of the concluding portion of the burial service, committed to its kindred earth, in sure and certain hope of a glorious resurrection.[sic]

The Nation & the Irish Felon

Obituaries / The Nation-Irish Felon / Northern Standard-Peoples Advocate / Irish Times / Shipping Advertisments / Belfast Newsletter (linen) / Londonderry Journal / Back to Top

(The focus of these extracts is Thomas Devin Reilly)

The Nation - Oct. 16th - 1847

To the Secretaries of the Irish Council.
"The annual labour of every nation is the fund which originally supplies it with all the necessities and conveniences of life, _ which it annually consumes." _ ADAM SMITH.
"Whether a foreigner could imagine that one-half of the people are starving, in a country which set out such plenty of provisions?" _ George Berkeley.

Gentlemen _ I quote for you the opening sentence of "The Wealth of Nations" _ not that the self-evident truth requires any prop, but because some persons will not believe a spade a spade, unless you go to the trouble of assuring them that Mr. Smith, or some other individual in their opinion competent, has already written and published the fact. (A spade is, therefore, a spade _ and on undoubted authority it appears, that we, the Irish people, have to depend for life during the coming year on the produce of our own labours during the past.
Whatever of that labour has not been expended on "roads" _ and these, whether complete or impassable, cannot, I believe, be eaten, or otherwise consumed _ has been expended on the growth of food.
On the food, therefore, which we by our own labour have raised during the last twelve, we must subsist during the next twelve months.
That we have not only a right to this food for our subsistence, but that we are bound to take care that that right be not interfered with, of foiled in a single instance, I have already shown you. I have, too, laid before you my notions of your duty and mine, and that of every other man in Ireland, in reference to that right. I shall now submit for your consideration a plan by which this people can ensure that right and fulfil that duty to itself.
Its objects are to ensure sustenance to every human being in Ireland during the ensuing year, out of the produce of the labour of the past. To ensure seed and labour for the harvest of 1848, and to make that harvest as productive as it can be made by the foresight of man. To settle the question of landlord and tenant for the present, by giving the landlords who reside in Ireland, and those only, the full value of their rents if possible, or, where that full value cannot be given, as much of it in every instance as can be, without endangering life. To employ in wholesome labour, profitable to the nation, those new-made "paupers" by English law, and to ensure them in return for their labour, wholesome food, life, sustenance, and the free air of Heaven _ I shall add, common manhood, and human respectability.
This can be effected without a breach of any existing law _ without violence, or bloodshed.
It cannot be effected by any central political body now in existence, though it can be aided, and greatly aided, by each and all of them _ by the Irish Council especially. For its success, too, in any one locality, dispatch is requisite. During every day which now passes, more Irish food is forced into foreign markets at a loss to the grower and the nation at large _ landlords and tenant are placed more in enmity _ murder is committed on one side, and eviction and "distress" on the other _ the willing worker is sent in idleness to the soup kitchen, and the hard bondage of beggary, vice, want, and disease, knit more enduringly round the land.
It can, therefore, be effected by local action only _ by placing every county, barony, and parish, on its own powers for its own safety _ by making every haggard, and every field, centres of action, and every man an actor.
Take, then, the parishes, or "Unions," or baronies of Ireland, as you please, as bases of the system. I prefer parishes _ they are the most minute of the divisions I have mentioned, and they are Irish.
Let parish meetings be held of the people _ landlords, tenants, Paupers, and all, of every parish in Ireland. Parishes which will not so meet _ must take the consequences. But let one, even one parish, hold its meeting. That meeting should do this:
First. Appoint three or more men, honest and intelligent, for each townland in that parish.
Second. Appoint a parish jury or twenty others, no more _ none of whom should act as townland officers.
Third. Appoint a treasurer, who should be a farmer unconnected with the townland officers or the parish jury, of acknowledged probity, and, if possible, not encumbered by debt.
The duties of these several persons would be as follows:
DUTIES OF TOWNLAND OFFICERS.
1. To find as nearly as possible the exact produce of each tenant's crop in that townland _ the number (distinguishing ages and sexes, &c.) of his family _ the exact sum which he, by present laws and agreements, owes his landlord _ whether or not his landlord is an absentee _ and how much seed will be necessary and most productive on that farm for next year's crop, regard being had to the wish of the tenant.
2. To find as exactly as possible the number of labourers able to work, rightly belonging to that townland, who now are employed constantly, or who are driven, from want of employment, to the relief kitchen or the poorhouse, with their families (distinguishing age and sex).
3. To find as exactly as possible the number of decrepit and sickly persons in the poorhouse, the hospitals, or out of them, who rightly belong to that townland, distinguishing as best they can those afflicted with chronic or uncontagious, from those afflicted with violent or contagious diseases. [this is not so difficult as it seems _ it means those suffering under fever, dysentery, & c., from the lame, the ulcerous, the blind, the rheumatic, the imbecile, the deformed, &c.]
SECOND. The parish meeting should also appoint a parish jury of twenty-three or more, whose duties would be_
DUTIES OF THE PARISH JURY.
1. To hear the reports of the officers of each townland, on the discharge of their duties.
2. To call each tenant, landlord, or other occupier before them, and state to him the report of the townland officers in his regard, relative to the produce of his crop, and to hear him fully.
3. To decide, by majority of votes, what quantity of his crop is amply sufficient for his subsistence and that of his family till next harvest. Or, if his crop should have failed, or be in any way deficient, to decide by how much it is less than sufficient for himself and his family till that time.
4. To divide the occupiers of each townland into two classes _ those having sufficient or more than sufficient for the sustenance of their families, and those having less than sufficient _ appending to the name of each occupier his surplus or deficit, in their judgment.
5. To compute the gross amount of corn and other food and other produce (flax, hemp &c.) of that parish _ the gross rent of each townland and of the whole parish, due landlords not absentees _ and the gross number of labourers, of the sickly, decrepit, &c., from the reports of each townland.
6. To decide the number of able labourers, as I have stated them, properly, in their judgment, belonging to the whole parish and to each townland, whether in or out of employment. To apportion the labourers among the tenant farmers, landlords, and others capable of giving employment, according to the capacity and necessity of each farmer, and let that farmer employ and feed them _ let him put them to work in the manner most profitable to himself, not put them to idle, and feed them.
7. To decide the number of decrepit and sickly persons unable to labour, properly, in their judgement, chargeable on the whole parish, and on each townland thereof. To allocate these persons, excepting those afflicted by violent or contagious disorders, on the tenant-farmers and others capable of supporting them, according to the capacity of each individual, as nearly as possible by the townland, the capacity being adjudged by the amount of produce which is surplus, in their judgment, over and above the sustenance of the farmer, and his family, and labourers, ascertained, according to 3, 4 and 6.
8. To leave to the responsibility of the parliamentary officials and doctors, who have undertaken to tend them, those unfortunate beings now lying in pest-houses under the hands of the English government, unless their friends are willing to lift and carry them. And for all those who can leave their beds and walk, and for all who can be lifted and carried off by their friends, and for all who may hereafter be stricken by violent or contagious diseases, to build sheds, provide nutriment, attendance, and medicinal aid at the cost of the whole parish.
9. To decide, according to each farmer's necessity and desire, the amount of seed necessary, and the best available for his farm, for next year's crop, to the end that the whole parish may be fully tilled during the ensuing year.
10. The parish jury having apportioned out of the produce of each man's farm, including the landlord's farms, which shall be surplus over the quantity necessary for his subsistence and that of his family, these several proportions:
1st. The quantity necessary for the subsistence of the labourers and their families allocated on him, according to 6.
2nd. The quantity necessary for the subsistence of the sickly and decrepit allocated on him, according to 7.
3rd. The quantity necessary for cropping his farm next spring, according to 9.
Then to collect the surplus remaining in each farmer's possession, and give that surplus in charge to the treasurer nominated by the parish meeting, taking his receipt for the same.
11. To reserve of that surplus sufficient to supply the deficit of farmer's crops, both in sustenance and seed, decided according to 4.
12. To take from the treasurer, payable to them, notes of hand, or what is technically known as "IOU's," for the remainder; and to countersign or endorse each note.
[Each of these notes should represent a certain measure of corn, or a fixed quantity of flax or other produce, and be payable, without interest, on demand, in produce. And each should be endorsed by all into whose hands it may pass. Each note, when paid and discharged by treasurer, to be cancelled, and retained as his security.]
13. To reserve of these sufficient, in their judgment, to provide for the sustenance and care of the sick, according to 8., and to allocate the fund in just proportions among the farmers who can afford their surplus crop to be so charged.
14. To give each of these notes, when called on by landlord or tenant, the full value of each tenant's rent for the past year, to his landlord, when the surplus remaining to that tenant's account in the hands of the treasurer shall be equivalent to that value _ the value being adjudged by the actual money price of produce in the nearest market: it being always provided that the landlord is not an absentee, and that the sum awarded shall be a receipt in full for the past year's rent.
15. To return to each tenant notes equivalent to the residue of produce remaining to his account in the treasurer's hands.
DUTIES OF THE TREASURER.
1. To receive from the parish jury the produce deposited in his hands, and to give a receipt for the same.
2. To countersign the "We O U's" of the parish jury.
3. To discharge these "We O U's" when called on by the bearer.
4 To account on a day before next harvest, to be hereafter fixed at a meeting called by the parish jury, before auditors then to be appointed, for the produce deposited, the produce paid, and the residue remaining in his hands.
The parish meeting should further enact certain regulations, viz.:
1st. That it will be the duty of the townland officers to carry out for each townland, when necessary, the decision of the parish jury.
2nd. If any landlord, tenant, labourer, or "pauper," or other human being entitled to live on this Irish soil, having accepted this system, shall deny the justice of the judgment of the parish jury, in his or her case, then the jury shall select one, not of its members, as an arbitrator, and the aggrieved person shall select another, and these two shall consider ad decide the point in dispute, and their judgment shall be final - or, if they cannot decide, they shall call in a third, whose judgment shall be final.
3rd. If any person shall refuse to accede to this system, or, having acceded to it, shall afterwards refuse to obey its decisions, he or she shall forfeit all benefits arising from it _ that is to say, the labourer so acting shall have no right to any sustenance by it _ the tenant so acting, to the protection it affords _ or the landlord so acting, to the rents accruing to him thereby. Let each make out his claims as best he can _ of course by English law if he likes.
4th. If a tenant shall offer his landlord, through the parish jury, his rent, or as much of it as the jury adjudges, in notes, drawn and payable as above, and the landlord shall accept them in full discharge of this year's rent, then that the landlord can, whenever he pleases, now or in six months hence, convert those notes into produce, from the treasurer's fund, remove the produce, and sell it in whatever market he pleases; but should he refuse to accept the notes when offered, and afterwards call on them, when the price of produce has risen in the market, then only so many notes, or so much produce as is equivalent to his rent at the market price when originally offered, shall be given him.
Other regulations will arise in each case from necessity.
Should all the parishes of a barony or "union" become thus organised, and additional organisation will be necessary, to strengthen the system in each parish, and equalise over the whole barony the necessities of the component parishes. And so of counties, provinces, and finally the nation.
There are innumerable minor details, upon which I will not now enter, but content myself with submitting to the consideration of the Council the general features of the plan. Every day will show more and more the necessity of some such system; and though this may not obtain this year in ten parishes, still if even one act on it, I am satisfied it will ere long be imitated by all.
Of course there are difficulties in the way. You may, you must meet recusant landlords, recusant tenants, and over-officious boards of guardians. But public opinion, public power, roused by the necessities of the time, will check all such.
I have now discharged a duty I owe my country and myself. Whatever deficiencies may be in the plan I have laid down _ whatever difficulties may be in the way of its establishment, it will, if established, fulfill all the promise I have made.
But only for twelve months. For the further security of this nation much more is needed.
I have the honour to be, gentlemen,
Your very obedient, humble servant,
T. Devin Reilly.

The Nation Dec 18th 1847 pg 998
Meeting of the Irish Confederation in the Rotunda
The Coercion Bill
Mr JB Dillon moved resolution; Mr Richard O'Gorman seconded.
Thomas Devin Reilly spoke:
Bill to restrict right to bear arms - supposed to reduce crime - Will have the opposite effect. Let the people arm. Tenant right mentioned.

Dec 4th; Nov 13th; Oct 23rd - Reilly present.
23rd. pg 867
Mr Mitchel introduced a report on the means available for meeting the difficulties of the coming year.
Mr T Devin Reilly seconded.
I have fully stated in another place my opinions relative to food, and poor law and out-door relief elsewhere.
I want to repudiate the notion of the Irish Confederation getting rid of the just responsibility which belongs to it of protecting Irish life during the coming year.
Rest of report I agree with. Essentially keeping food in Ireland.

TDR - resignation letter to Charles Gavin Duffy.
"My object is not self-seeking, neither money, position, nor ambitious views. I was driven by a love I never could restrain for the freedom of my country, & a hate equally irrestrainable of her enemies, & by nothing else. If you needed any proof that these passions rule me still, I could not offer a greater than this letter, written against my interest, against my feelings and hazarding ties of friendship begun so early & continued in a manner kindly & gladsome to both of us through times so varying & perilous. However, let me here acknowledge the many debts of kindness I owe you and which I hope one day or other in some extent to redeem. And let me hope that though our official connection has ceased, out friendship & reciprocal esteem shall not. Mine never can.

2 weeks later a letter. Comment by Mr. Lucas. Tablet - Jan 29th, '48.
Mr. Reilly, we take from his own letter to be a young man drunk with self-conceit, and as fit for a leader as a lighted match is fit company for a powder magazine.

12th Feb 1848 advertisement for the 1st issue of The United Irishman in the Northern Standard
Edited by John Mitchel aided by Thomas Devin Reilly & John Martin

The Sicilian Style, The Nation 12th Feb, 1848 - (pg. 9).

Napoleon "had thrown himself, like THEMISTOCLES," on English "honour" _ and St. Helena. JOACHIM MURAT, in a Calabrian barrack, had said _ "Save my face, aim at my heart _ fire." And an Italian Bourbon, FERDINAND I., stood in Naples, while heralds proclaimed him "King of the United Kingdom of the Two Sicilies.
But there was and is but one Sicily _ one Mediterranean paradise which will not be a province of an "United Kingdom." FERDINAND, however, resolved to make it so. For four years he tried to force the "Union". At last, in 1820, during a "military revolution," "an United Parliament" for Naples and Sicily was, for the first time, convoked.
Palermo rose in arms, and throughout the valley of that "golden shell," from the capes which clasp the bay to the holy mountains far above it, and forests far beyond, rose on shout of "independence." "Our ancient constitution," they cried, "the independence of Sicily under the same king" _ "in short," saith the historian, "a repeal of the Union."
That struggle failed. The insurrection was almost confined to Palermo. A Neapolitan army invaded the city, and the flag of liberty fell; but on it was the divine promise of resurrection _ the holy blood of martyrs.
Since then it has been with Sicily as with every other fertile, beautiful island of an "United Kingdom." A Viceroy, a "Lieutenant-General," presided in the ancient palace of Palermo, over the robbery of Sicily. By the aid of an Austrian army, the last remnant of "constitution," was abolished, and a thing called "government" constituted to suit Sicilians to the interests of Naples. All decrees, laws, tariffs, &c., connected to Sicily were forthwith referred to a section of the Council of States sitting at Naples. The utmost taxation was enforced upon the island, and two-thirds thereof, under the head "surplus revenue," yearly transmitted to "the Treasury of the United Kingdom." The ancient landmarks of the island were destroyed _ new provinces and subdivisions of provinces created. Each subdivision, having to pay its portion to "the United Kingdom," was further taxed for the expenses of its own government _ for law, and police, and pauper expenses. At the same time, numbers of the Sicilian nobles became absentees, and flocking to the Bourbon court, spent their lives and fortunes in lavish prodigality. These left their tenants behind to the mercy of agents, and lawyers, and mortgagees, with directions that the utmost mite should be ground out of them. And the Sicilian peasant, like others we know of, full of natural dignity and independence, impassioned, loving, glorying in music and in song, intensely religious, worshipping the beautiful, whether in the Sicilian sky or the Sicilian face _ became, under such "government," starved, ignorant, imbecile.
And the loveliest island in the Mediterranean Sea, the fertile paradise of central Europe, rich in corn, and wines, and minerals, for which Europe and Africa once stood up in arms _ was tamely farmed out to foreigners. Her manufactures died away _ her sulphur mines were let to English speculators, and the proceeds transferred to the Neapolitan treasury. Nay, her very vineyards passed to English merchants, her golden grain to English distilleries, let upon her soil, to give a feast, or a show, or a harlot to a Bourbon. Her armigere, her rural police, were disbanded, and in their place came drilled soldiery from Naples. Her own sons swelled the Neapolitian armies. Barracks of foreigners studded her mountain tops, and the Viceroy "of that portion of the United Kingdom," seated in quiet in the ancient Panormus, ruled broad Trinacria "peacefully and legally," with a standing army and a police system.
But the famine of '47 came on Europe. Sicily, like every other most fertile island under foreign rule, wasted and pined away. The Sicilians grew corn for Naples _ and starved.
Meantime, from Rome came a voice, "to arms!" It crossed the Appenines, and passed into Calabria. The blood of the Bandieras was avenged. It crossed the Strait of Messina, and half of Sicily rose in local insurrections. Troops were poured into the island _ the Viceroy became a dictator _ a Coercion bill was enacted against the Sicilians.
The Neapolitan minister for Sicilian affairs gave us his reason, that enlightened England had just done the same!
That insurrection, too, was quelled. But not the wrongs or the spirit which excited it _ not the sufferings of the people. The Viceroy, General VIAL, his standing army and his police systems, followed up their coercion as tyrants always do. Palermo is cowed at first. At last, some twenty days ago, a few disjointed riots take place. There a citizen falls _ there a soldier. The spirit of resistance spreads. A journal is started on the minute _ clubs are formed _ men assemble in array; after a bold struggle, the Neapolitans are driven from the city. There is a lull. Then, in the silence of night, a crash is heard, and ball and shell ricochet down the Via Toledo. The citizens bear it well. One glorious woman, MARIA TESTA DI LANA, sons a man's coat over a hero's heart, and heads one detachment. The attacking Neapolitans are driven back, position after position, fort after fort, castle after castle is carried, amid the death groans of five-thousand foreigners, and the "flag of Naples flieth" _ nowhere.
Viceroy VIAL, he of the Coercion Bill, has steamed it back with his police lists to Naples. And "the King of the United Kingdom of the two Sicilies" has now ne'er a Sicily at all.
From the 300 churches of Palermo rise to GOD and ST. ROSALIA thanks for freedom, and anthems for the salvation of the dead. On the bastions, and houses, and palaces are hung the names of the brave who died fighting for their country. And in the viceregal chambers and offices sits a native junta to do its duty if it will.
There will be no famine in Sicily more. The dwellers in Concha d'Oro, on Etna's side, all clustering with flowers, or in the valley where MILTON found his Paradise, "that fair field of Enna," will in future grow their corn and eat it.
There is another "United Kingdom" in the world _ another fertile island still robbed by foreigners, still ruled by a military Viceroy, still cowed in famine under a Coercion Bill. Know ye that land slaves?
Travellers, historians, economists, have compared the beauty, the fertility, the suffering of Sicily with her's. But one thing there is of her to which there is no comparison, no likeness on the earth _ the coward's bombast, "moral force." Traverse the earth, round and round, up and down, from Nova Zembla to the Antarctic Sea, and find, if you can, a second people snivelling in "legal and constitutional operations." That style they call Irish. Brave men eschew it _ curse it _ hate it. "All Italy is agitated." Yet from Cape Passaro to the Simplon Alps no fool gobbles about the "opinion" of unarmed men. "Opinion" is strong in Italy because there are arms to back it. They are arming there because they have opinions, and mean to stand by them. People do not mean that here.
Yes! this Italian revolution is not yet begun. Sicily is so far successful _ Naples has its national guard, armed with fowling-pieces and knives, and stones, and the memory of Massaniello. Calabrio_Lecco, are in insurrection. Throughout the Papal states there is not one unarmed man. Pius rests on his arms. Coercion is active in Lombardy, the sure precursor of insurrection in every land but one. At Brescia, at Milan, in Tuscany the storm is gathering. Charles Albert fears his people, and waits a declaration of war. A Cordon of Austrians gather round the Predmontese frontier, threatening Allesandria and Turin. The Emperor will avenge Ferrara, and will, if he can, restore the Neapolitan despotism he reared. Before another month war may burst on Italy, on the plains of Marengo, or the beach of Naples.
And remember, the echo of the first Austrian shot shall not have died away, ere England must declare war. She has no choice now.
And France, with el-Kader in Toulon, and that young African army hungry for blood, which it will find somewhere _ on the Orleans throne, if nowhere else - will France be still? Will Louis wait till his ally in Vienna is beaten, that single-handed he may war with England? Will he wait till the "constitution" and the people have beheaded his brother-in-law of Naples? With those fine preparations in Brest, those armies creeping stealthily from Paris to the western coast, will King Louis Phillippe of Orleans, the astute, wait till the Duke of Wellington has drilled, and marshalled, and hospitalled into something like men, his dyspeptic and asthmatic mechanics?
And in the event of a French army quartering itself in London fogs, which or very sensible masters think not at all unlikely _ hast thou, stupid Irishman, ever thought what thou shouldst do? You will have a duty to discharge, over which you had better think in time.
Note:
After 1843 the republican theories of the Italian patriot, Guiseppe Mazzini, took strong hold in southern Italy. At the beginning of 1848 Sicily rose in insurrection and forced Ferdinand II to grant a representative constitution to his subjects. This did not satisfy the Sicilians, however, and they declared Ferdinand deposed. In his Neapolitan dominions, Ferdinand, aided by reactionary elements, fought successfully against the revolutionary movement then sweeping through Italy. In September 1848 his forces entered Sicily. In May 1849, Palermo capitulated, and the revolution in the island ended. Ferdinand inflicted his vengeance upon the rebels, and was only checked finally by the intervention of Great Britain.
In 1860 after Northern Italy was freed from the rule of Austria, the Italian nationalist leader, Guiseppe Garibaldi, landed in Sicily with a thousand volunteers and won control of the island. Sicily was then incorporated into the kingdom of Italy in 1861.

The French Fashion, The Nation 4th Mar, 1848 - pg 56-57.

Ten days ago a monarchy of eighteen years, resting on a fortress of leagues, on detached forts of the most elaborate construction, and illimitable resources in ammunition and artillery; with 100,000 armed mercenaries waiting on its nod; with a suborned legislature, and a devotedly unscrupulous press; with telegraphs concentrating in its hand an omnipresent surveillance over 25,000s of men; with railroads ready at its beck, to sweep down vengeance upon every point under its sway, from the alleys of the capital to the remotest frontier; with laws and systems fitted, and more nicely filled to its hand; strong in the prestige, consequent on a rule, upheld by terror, vindicated by goals, by police insurrections, by periodical massacres, by perennial blood; stranger in the aid of that same foreign alliance, which single-handed, beat its entire nation, and conquered its capital _ ten days ago this monarchy held France in its grip of iron, and prepared to smother in the heart of Paris that liberty which was won in July at the graves of 10,000 martyrs.
And a day or two ago some far-seeing telegraph worker, intently gazing from SOUTHAMPTON, made it out, he thinks, in the British Channel, "knocking about between DIEPPE and BOULOGNE". Another gazer after this royalty got a glimpse of it at last, he thinks, jotting along in a cart towards TREPORT, and vanishing then and there from him. Many, indeed, do hold it is at sea, while others strenuously opine it is nowhere _ one thing, however, is plain, it is not where it was.
No, indeed. In Paris, in all France, there is not a vestige of it left _ not a prestige, not a bauble, not a gilded chair _ no, not even a red ribbon, or bit of sovereign toggery of any sort. That outwardly mighty monarchy, resting on stone, and iron, and blood, has fallen miserably and contemptibly. The people it tyrannized over woke on Tuesday last, moved a muscle or two, and fid these 18 years were all a trance _ these forts and grinning guns, and scowling soldiery, and torturing police, and grinding taxes, and infamous laws, were all goblins of the sense, which needed but a ray of sunlight, a waive of the arms, a bold word, to make them vanish forever;- it finds that this government, this hated dynasty, for 18 years lying on its breast, cramping and terrifying it, was a horrid nightmare, and no more, which tumbled off at the first spasm of energy, the first symptom of life, into doubt, obscurity, "the road to Treport," the British Channel, or the Ebon gate of Hell.
And now from the SEINE banks the children of the great nation raise up once more the hymn of European freedom. Vive la Republic! Yes! the only true form of government _ the form which national liberty takes when it belongs to the people, and is not prostituted to a class _ the Republic so worshipped by the United Irishman of old _ the Republic of a thousand memories, for which France has borne Three Revolutions, up-turned five dynasties, covered Europe with a carpet of blood _ for which she underwent Moscow, and was crucified at Waterloo _ for which she has struggled during fifty years, from the Guillotine in the place de Louis XV. to St. Helena _ from St. Helena to July _ from July to this hour _ is won at last. For the will of the people is indomitable. Here this man, LOUIS of ORLEANS, had the strongest tyranny in his hand the world has ever seen. His capital was a huge fortress, wrought by the astute labour of seventeen years, by all the discoveries and inventions which science could attain or money purchase, into a donjon against this very event. During all that time this Republican party, these men who now form the provisional government, have been dogging his steps _ defying him and his law _ stamping their hatred with their blood _ rising victorious from every defeat, and, bleeding and broken, still pushing him to the wall, and daring him to the combat again. He saw his enemies, knew them man by man, and knew that issue was joined. Waiting this issue for weeks, prepared for it, he hurries it, it comes upon him of his own seeking _ and lo! the millionaire King, the wisest tyrant in Europe, not cowardly at all, fought in the nest he feathered and the castle he builded, against a disarmed and unorganised people, for one hour and a half, then flung them the crown without the head, and fled in terror.
And yet this people had not been taught the beauties of peace policies _ no, nor of any "policy" or plan of action at all. They did not know what they were doing, in fact, although it is true they did it. So that evidently some strange revelation can be found in cutting up pavements, some knowledge beyond human ken in bottles broken for cavalry convenience, solving the quaint enigma insoluble to us _ vis, how to free one's country. In truth, these Parisian sans-culottes, mobs, rebels of yesterday, free citizens to-day, believe _ innocently believe _ that the shortest, straightest, surest, and plainest path to liberty is the path of a rifle bullet, or the ray of light passing from the eye placed at the breech, through the sights, over the nail at the muzzle, and on point blank to your enemy's heart; and they have found by practical experience that no rifle ball ever did traverse or diverge into any other road to liberty, or plan of action, or map of policy, with effect.
This being the fundamental axiom of Parisian patriots, it is well to know how they have applied it in the present instance. At first to the scene of action.
Paris is split in two by the Seine, as Dublin is by the Liffey _ there are quays, bridges, streets paved with burly stones, round and heavy, and narrowest in the quarters most thickly inhabited, and most frequented by the "lower classes." In this the two cities are similar.
But instead of half-a -dozen disjointed and indefensible barracks, like those which strike terror into us, where some 4,000 men sleep, and wake, and drink, and sleep, Paris is surrounded by a regular fortified wall, and forts bristling with cannon, filled with ammunition, and lately garrisoned with 100,000 men. All this however, did not terrify te Parisians.
Besides, telegraphs carried the orders of government _ grand police system promenaded the streets, with eye and ear cocked _ railroads were ready to teem soldiery into the capital, at an hour's notice _ into the capital, already full of mercenaries. And even this did not terrify the Parisians.
Moreover, they were disarmed, unorganised, in distress, without employment, without leaders, without a single "great leader" of the French people. Yet, strange to say, not even this terrified the Parisians.
They knew well that if railroads, telegraphs, mails, boards, councils, and centralized institutions of one sort or another, enable a king or vice-king, a government, or governor, to sit in a capital, and therefrom to rule a whole land, they place at the mercy of the citizens of that capital the whole government of that land _ that, in fact, to master Paris was to master the existing government of France; as, if we seized Dublin, we would hold in our gripe English rule in Ireland, its head and body and limbs _ to choke it, or let it off again, as we pleased.
A centralized city, which thus enables a government to send its orders to every point, and bring its engines and mercenaries by steam from every point, is also, for these reasons, admirably adapted to be cut off from every point by a people within. The Parisians accordingly blocked up or destroyed every road leading into the city _ seized on the railway stations, and burned some of them _ tore up every railroad round Paris, broke down embankments, and cut through bridges, with ease and dexterity. Paris was thus isolated; and the citizens and troops within left to fight it out. Should any train, laden with voracious mercenaries, dash on there, puffing, and panting, and screaming, it and its burden would tumble down to Erebus, of its own accord, without troubling any one.
The city being now cut off from without, the work within is simple enough.
1st. Every street is an excellent shooting gallery for disciplined troops but it is a better defile in which to take them. In the vocabulary of drilling is no such phrase as "Infantry _ prepare for window-pots, brick-bats, logs of wood, chimney-pieces, heavy furniture, light pokers, &c., &c. and these thrown vertically on the heads of a column below, from the elevation of a parapet, or top story, are irresistible. The propelling forces _ viz., ladies, or chambermaids, or men who can do no better _ have the additional advantage of security; and the narrower the street, the higher the houses, the worse the damage, and greater the security. A military proportion (sic.) we recommend to the study of the best lady in the land.
2nd. Bottles, delph, and such missiles, mixed with these, or of themselves, not only knock down and wound infantry, but render streets impassable to cavalry and artillery. A horse may dance on eggs, but no squadron can charge over broken bottles. Artillery cannot ride over them, nor, indeed, can disciplined footmen keep the step, or tred among them, with ease. These admirable weapons abound in every house; and if any engineering urchin take a soda-water bottle, or small flask of thick glass, dry inside, filled with bits of stone, or iron, or metal of any sort _ nails for instance _ and with coarse gunpowder throw into the interstices _ cork it tight (the cork being perforated) and then attack a judiciously adjusted fuse, he will possess a domestic bomb or grenade by which he can either blow his arm off, or out with deadly effect against cavalry or infantry below, _ especially cavalry. To these missiles, from windows and house-tops, revolutionary citizens add always boiling water, or grease, or, better cold vitriol, if available. Molten lead is good, but too valuable _ it should be always cast into bullets, and allowed to cool. The housetops and spouts furnish, in every city, abundance; but care should be taken, as they do in Paris, to run the balls solid _ you cannot calculate on a hollow ball and that might be the very one selected to shoot a field officer.
3rd. The Parisians never fall into this mistake, viz., to attack barracks or forts, in the first instance. Their plan is to draw the soldiery into the narrow streets, where they can only advance a few abreast; and where lanes, alleys, and streets, running at angles, afford excellent opportunities of taking them in flank or rear. Street-fighting is most harassing on disciplined troops, especially when subject to the attentions of heads of families from house-tops and windows, as we have shown above. They are divided _ disjointed _ worn out, doing nothing.
Nor do the Parisians long to concentrate their enemies in one barrack, or park, or entrenchment, that they may have one grand tussle and have done with it. They are too civilized for that. They know well that if communication be prevented between the different portions of the city _ if the governor, or vice-governor, be disabled from sending orders in every or any direction _ if barracks be isolated one from the other _ if regiments and squadrons be kept separate _ if officers commanding be left to their own resources, a total ignorance of what is going on a street or two off, or what is wanted at the far side of the city, or what they ought to do with themselves _ then government is at an end. Men accustomed to order are powerless when they cannot order _ the discipline of soldiery is, in this case, their deadliest foe; they are bewildered, chop-fallen, and amazed. Parisians knowing this well, block up every place they can, whether military are there or not _ strew streets with impediments, glass, stones, rubbish, make bridges impossible, and so stay all concert and aid between the portions of the city on either side of the river, cut off barracks and guard-houses from other barracks and guard-houses; and all this by the simple and ready means we shall now explain.
4th. In the manner above shown, and by firing from windows, every street can be made a defile. But every street contains in itself materials for rendering it a fortress _ impregnable to foot, horse, or artillery, viz., by barricades. While the women are employed as we have shown, this is the work for men. The Parisians have attained to great excellence in the building of these defences of civilisation. This is their style.
A man or two will rip up, with a pick-axe or crow-bar, or stout bit of iron railing, the pavement of a street in a right line across, of several feet across, in ten minutes or so. The first carriage passing by does for a base _ or logs of timber, lamp-posts, felled trees, or carts, if at hand. On this are piled stones, and flags, and mud, and rubbish, and wood, and loose furniture, care being taken to make the front of the barricade as vertical as possible, and covered with stones as small as possible, thrown up as perpendicularly as possible, (small stones throw off cannon shot, and yield under the feet of a storming party, while large stones break and splinter before shot, and act as stairs to assailants, against whom they should be thrown from behind as missiles.) The barricade can be raised to any height, proportionate to its base, provided there are materials sufficient; and when immediate materials fail, the nearest street is ripped up, or the most convenient house pulled down. The line of defence extends across the entire street. In the inside a rough stage or platform, of piled stone, or wood, of furniture, is usually thrown up to about four feet of the top in front, and from this top the inner side of the barricade runs down at an angle to the meet the platform _ thus a revolutionary citizen, standing on the platform, leans against the inner side of the barricade, rests his musket on the top _ and so. The ascent to the platform should be as easy as possible; an ascent of stones, heaped up, is the usual one.
This is the perfect barricade _ but revolutionary citizens are not particular; they do the best they can, and fight. However, it can be made more perfect. By cutting up the street in front, to a depth of a few feet, materials are at once had, and a ditch made against assailants _ if into this be imbedded an iron railing, torn from the nearest house-front, and other portions of the same, inserted horizontally in front of the barricade, as a cheveaux de frize, the position becomes impregnable.
The place selected to throw up such a defence depends on circumstances, and the military tact of the individual citizens.
Fancy, then, a hundred such barricades at once in Paris _ a hundred streets teeming with missiles, and paved with broken glass, as we have described:_then fancy mothers flinging their furniture down on devoted troops; swarthy workingmen defending barricades, retreating from street to street before bewildered soldiers, wheeling on their flank through an alley, or round this street or that on their rear; fancy young children with their little shirts all bloody, still dashing on the bayonets of the mercenaries; the tocsin ringing; the Marsellaise; the red flag, the hoarse glorious Vengeance booming, the burning palaces, and Vive la Republique _ and then wonder if LOUIS PHILLIPPE had his crown knocked off.
But this is not alone a lesson to us _ it is a fact, an historic fact, which will shake all Europe, and materially, for good or ill, change the position of Ireland and her masters. Some other time we may linger on the glorious days of Feb., 1848 _ for the present we must dive into the future.
The ex. kingdom of France, when last seen, stood on the verge of war. LOUIS and his ministers had leagued with Russia and Austria. He had permitted England to get a footing in Italy, and to take the side of independence there.
The republic will not permit English interference in the Italian peninsula. The league with Austria cannot exist. Charles Albert having failed to acquire te affections of the Piedmontese, which he never deserved _ having assumed an attitude of hostility to the Emperor, from which he dare not retreat, his 'constitutional ally," having now to take care of herself, will presently give way to the republic of Piedmont. Fraternal Republics will spread over Italy _ Venetian Lombardy, Naples, and eventually Rome. One sees no objection to the Sovereign Pontiff becoming, if he deserve it, First Consul of Rome _ the successor of Peter becoming, in his temporal capacity _ the successor of Marcus Brutus.
Leopold of Belgium sits on a tottering throne. We May hear of him presently attending the congress of dis-crowned heads in London. Belgium will become an independent Republic, or the Rhine will be "the natural limit" of the French nation once more.
In Italy England cannot league with Austria now. In Belgium she dare not hazard another Waterloo.
At home she is defenceless; and the men who now form the provisional government of France have been for years her most celebrated enemies. The great Republican party of which they are the leaders have vowed her ruin: and the French people burn with a thousand memories, and will avenge them.
And so we may have a Republic nearer home ere long; for in these events lies our fate. Next week we shall return to this matter.

The Nation May 27, 1848

Arrest of Mr Devin Reilly - Tuesday

On Monday evening, Mr Devin Reilly one of the writers for the United Irishman & ----- a prominent member of the Irish Confederation, was arrested on an information sworn before the magistrates of the Head Police Office, charging him with having unlawfully engaged on the day previous at the Confederation meeting, held at Belvue, in drilling & training the members of St Patrick's Club, of which he is vice-president. The precise words alleged to have been addressed by Mr Reilly to the club, & which form the subject of the accusation, were -
"Right shoulders forward - march!"
which is alleged to be an offence contrary to the provisions of the 60th (---) & is a transportable misdemeanour under that act.
Although the warrant for Mr Reilly's arrest was issued before twelve o' clock yesterday, it was not executed until half-past four, when the police-office was closed, and the magistrates had left; so that there was no possibility at that hour of having the case investigated. Mr Reilly was arrested by Inspector Gay, just as he was leaving Newgate prison after visiting his friend Mr Mitchel; and was immediately conveyed to Chancery-lane station-house. Having communicated his situation to his friends, his solicitor, Mr Fitzgerald, accompanied by Mr William Michel, waited on Messrs Porter & Magee, and tendered bail for his appearance this morning to answer the charge preferred against him; they represented the unreasonable hour at which he had been arrested, and the great hardship of keeping a young gentleman confined during the night, but the magistrates refused in the most peremptory manner to interfere alleging that their jurisdiction ceased the moment they left their office. The result has been that Mr Reilly was obliged to pass that night in the station-house, Chancery-lane.
It was generally understood through town, that the case should have been investigated at seven o' clock yesterday evening, and at that hour the board-room was thronged to excess. Among those present were - Mr TF Meagher, several political & personal friends of the accused, and many other gentlemen. The entrance to Exchange-court, Cork-hill, and the other approaches to the police-office, were filled with crowds of people who appeared much excited at the news of Mr Reilly's arrest on such a charge. Chancery-lane was also densely crowded, and cheers were repeatedly given for him. It was ascertained that the case would not be investigated until Tuesday morning; the people separated in the most orderly & peaceable manner - Freeman

Wednesday
Committal of Mr TD Reilly to Newgate
Mr Porter read the joint informations of Inspector Walpole & Constable William Perry, which set forth that on the 21st of May they saw a number of men marching through Kevin-street, three a-breast, and linked. They observed a man, wearing a white ribband, in his breast, marching at their head, whom they believed to be Thomas Devin Reilly. On arriving at Belleview-gate, he made use of these words to the party -
"Right shoulders forward - left wheel,"
upon which they changed their positions by bringing forward the right shoulder, and marched in through the gate, and informants believed that in doing so he was training the said persons to military exercises.
Inspector Walpole sworn - Has made the information just read, in reference to the proceedings on the 21st; identifies Mr TD Reilly, now at the bar, as the person who headed the club that marched, and gave the words of command.
Cross-examined by Mr Reilly - Was aware that a police notice was issued last week; is not aware that it was generally believed that the notice was issued against persons called Confederates, but considers it was issued in reference to those who were obstructing the streets.
Was that assemblage peaceable & orderly?
Perfectly so.
Mr Reilly - Do you think her Majesty's troops have a right to seize on a certain number of words in the British language and appropriate them to their own use and benefit entirely? (laughter)
Witness - I don't think it is right for me to answer that question.
Mr Porter - Certainly, you may answer it. Are there any words in the British language which the military have a right to use exclusively?
Witness - There are not.
Mr Reilly - Have I not the right to use any words I please in the English Language:
Witness - Yes, but not words of command.
Mr Porter - You have a right to use any words you please, but you must be responsible for them.
Cross-examination continued - You might use the word "forward" singly, for other purposes save military ones; but when you say "right shoulders forward - march", you indicate a military evolution.
Mr Reilly - I object to this; the witness is now giving evidence that her Majesty's officers and non-commissioned officers have command over certain columns of Johnston's dictionary. (Laughter) To Witness - Were you ever in a dancing school?
Witness - Never.
Mr Reilly - Now, suppose there was a line of young ladies standing up there where you are, and a nice dancing-master at the corner where Mr Wyse sits - (Laughter) - and that the dancing-master said to the young ladies - "forward - march" - would you consider that to be a military evolution"
Witness - No
Mr Porter - That is no consequence, for the statute applies to men only.
Mr Reilly - Well, I will suppose that young gentlemen, or old ones were in the dancing-school (for there is evidence in the British classic, as your worships will recollect, of such a thing as an old gentleman learning to dance), would you consider the word "forward -march," addressed to them by the teacher, a military movement?
Witness - Certainly not in a dancing school.
Mr Reilly - Then do you think that to attend a peaceable meeting, for the purpose of denouncing jury-packing in Ireland, is anything more of a military movement than to march to a funeral, or receive the word of command at a dancing school?
Witness - Yes; my firm impression is that it would be a military purpose (laughter).
Mr Reilly (to the bench) - I have bail here.
Mr Porter - I believe the usual course is, when the court to which the informations are returnable is sitting, to leave that matter to it.
Mr Reilly - Then you refuse bail.
Mr Porter - The case can be tried at once at the Commission Court, if you choose it.
Mr Reilly - Then I won't choose it.
Mr Porter - We shall return the informations within half-an-hour.
Mr Reilly - Where am I to go next - is it to Newgate?
Mr Porter - Yes.
Mr Reilly - Might I ask that the indignity might not be put upon me of conveying me in the police caravan, as I am willing to go quietly and peaceably.
Mr Porter - It is not my intention to send you there before two o' clock, not is it my wish to treat you or any gentleman with indignity.
Mr Reilly - Then, as I am to go, I wish to be sent there at once, as Mr Dillon will make an application to the court in this case.
Mr Porter - The delay I mentioned is not from any unkindness to you. I wish to make a communication in another quarter.

Mr Reilly was then removed in custody to the superintendent’s office, and the ordinary business was proceeded with.
At half-past three o' clock ( Mr Reilly being still in custody) Mr Magee arrived and read to Mr Reilly, a note conveying the consent of the Crown Solicitor (Mr Kemmis), that Mr Reilly should be admitted to bail.
Doctor West of Summer-hill, and Mr Reilly of South George's-street, were the two sureties tendered, the amount of the recognizances was, Mr Reilly himself 100l and his two sureties in 50l each, for his appearance at the commission.

Mr Porter - In answer to counsel - As the case stands, Mr Reilly having been arrested within twenty days previous to the sitting of the commission, he need not be tried at the present sittings.
Mr Reilly then, accompanied by his counsel, exited.

The Irish Felon

June 24th 1848 - The Irish Felon - pg 8-9
Letter to the Chief Legal Murderer and jury packer General of Ireland Signed to My head Assassin, Your enemy to the death
Thomas Devin Reilly

The Felon Prosecution
Mr. Reilly has addressed the following letters to the Under-Secretary.

I
Mosapher Lodge, Rathmines, 6th July 1848.
Mr. T Devin Reilly hereby informs the AG that he has this day sent the letter, of which the enclosed is a copy, to the Under-Sec. at the castle.
"The A-G."

II
-------------
Sir - I understand that a warrant has been issued for the apprehension of Mr. Martin, for the publication of an article, or articles, alleged to be felonious, in the Irish Felon newspaper, to which I have hitherto been a contributor.
I am, as yet, unaware what precise articles these are; but if I am the author of them, or any of them, I now hereby offer to avow the authorship, and to assume the entire responsibility which may devolve upon all connected with their publication; and to surrender myself to you, or to any other officer of the English government, whenever or wheresoever you may appoint, on the sole and express condition that the warrant against Mr. Martin shall be withdrawn and that no prosecution shall be instituted against him for any past publication in the Felon newspaper.
I owe it to Mr. Martin to state, that I write this letter without his knowledge, and I am certain, when he shall know of it, entirely against his wish; but I consider myself bound in justice and honour to addopt this course.
I shall forward a copy of this note to the A-G.
I have the honour & c.,
T Devin Reilly.
To the Under-Secretary, Castle of Dublin.

The Irish Felon, July 15th - pg 56-57.
Clarendon. The Irish Felon - July 8th, 1848.
The case got put to the bottom of the list because council for the prosecution had just returned from the country and was unwell.
Mr Thomas Devin Reilly was indicted for that he, on the 21st day of May, did, at Bellevieu, attend a certain meeting dangerous to the peace of her Majesty's subjects, ad to the security of the government, and for the purpose of training and drilling to the practice of military exercise and evolutions divers persons without lawful authority.

The English Queen's Incarcerator-General and General Turnkey of the Irish.

My lord. You will remark that this letter is more polite than usual. And for three reasons - one, for that politeness is cheap, and that a L-L who will proclaim and arrest old women caught hawking according to their wonted trade, in the public streets a mere newspaper, is a very despotic and desperate character, with whom one should keep their manners withal; second, for that I am beginning to have a sort of ridiculous regard for you personally, quite cognate to my own character, inasmuch as you have at last thrown away that sham about legal institutions and courts of justice and have taken the high hand in defiance, and most proper contempt for your 'law'; and thirdly, because I can afford to be polite to you now, inasmuch as you are beaten.
----------
I do not fear or covet the inside of a goal, or the deck of a transport hulk; and I have shown you that already. Now, it seems to me - and, you know, we have no secrets - that every man who is fit for anything, ought to stay out; and I mean to stay out. Of treason and felony, enough has been written for the present. it has done its work right well; but "brevier leads" are not the leads to take down a battalion withal; nor yet are "minion' and 'nonpareil" the "leading columns" on which I wish to stake my liberty and life, or on which my liberty or life lost would be of the highest service to my country.
And now, my lord, good-bye. Adieu. I take my leave, not without regret, of a nobleman with whom I have carried on a correspondence which I may possibly renew, if there be a necessity. But our present parting has this additional element of regret - that, as I have said, I was beginning to have a sort of regard for you, for the open slap dash style of tyranny with which you have entered. I am sure I shall think more highly of you as you proceed. Possibly we may never meet; but should your present course bring us into closer collision than may be agreeable to either of us, I shall have the pleasure of knowing that courtesy has not been wanting on my part.
There is now a pitched battle between you and my country; and as the knights of old used to couch lance in grace, before they couched in earnest; as in the tournament of the ring, the brawny boxer grips his foeman's hand before he squares to action so, as one humble Irishman, would I now beg your lordship to accept the considerations of distinguished respect, with which I have the honour to be, my lord
Your mortal enemy, Thomas Devin Reilly.

Northern Standard, Peoples Advocate (& others)

Obituaries / The Nation-Irish Felon / Northern Standard-Peoples Advocate / Irish Times / Shipping Advertisments / Belfast Newsletter (linen) / Londonderry Journal / Back to Top

The Northern Standard was first published in 1839 and for many years represented Conservative/Unionist views. The Peoples Advocate was published from 1876 for about 30 years. It represented Nationalist views. Combined the two give a fair representation of political opinion in Monaghan town and county over this period.

I have also added some additional material to provide context for the various entries.

Northern Standard

Jan 1847
Establishment of a soup kitchen in Monaghan – list of contributors to fund incl. John Reilly - £3
AW Holmes wrote an editorial castigating Lord Rossmore for only contributing £15. He suggested that perhaps this was intended as a weekly contribution.

15th Jan, 1848
Tenant Right – Poor rates, rents, and a little of everything else were to be disposed of; yet, with all this goodly promise, there was not a gentleman of the country present, save three – if we exclude a few young Presbyterian ministers, and RC priests, who embraced a favourable opportunity of displaying their oratorical powers, improving the rights of men to the soil, and demonstrating to a nicely an immensity of everything - - - - We do not like to see clergy putting their oars to such matters – they should always have plenty to do in their congregations, and we are inclined to look with suspicion upon those who without having any property themselves, begin to teach those who have it what to do with it.
WS Crawford esq.
Hamilton McMath esq of Thornford, JP
Rev Mr Bell, Ballybay
Rev Mr Hanson, Drumkeen
Parr, Corlea
Thomas McCullagh, esq JP Ballybay
John James Hughes
Wm McClean, MD
Wm Jackson, Rea Mills
James McCullagh, Ballybay
1st object was to petition parliament to legalise Tenant Rights of Ulster
Mr J McKnight, editor, Derry Standard
Mr Bell proposed 3rd resolution that ‘No landlord was entitled to more rent than the produce of the said land would be if left in its natural state’.
Wm Sharman Crawford
I maintain that all landed property is held as a trust for the public uses, and that there is no individual right to property in land except subject to those great trusts.
In the evening the gentlemen engaged in the demonstration celebrated the event by a public dinner.

{NB A deputation of the General Assembly had waited on the Lord Lieutenant. Minutes of the Presbytery of Ballybay - 23rd December, 1847.
Agreed unanimously to Petition both Houses of Parliament in behalf of Tenant Right. A draft of a petition was read and approved. The ministers of the Presbytery and an elder from each congregation were requested to sign it. The petition was then entrusted for presentation to Rt. Hon. T. Versey Dawson and to his brother Lord Cremorne.
Present - Thomas Boyd, Moderator, George B Coulter, Thomas McWilliams, David Bell and Blair Shaw.}

Northern Standard - 1848
12th Feb - ad for the 1st issue of The United Irishman
edited by John Mitchel aided by Thomas Devin Reilly & John Martin.

Jan 29th - Suicide of Rev. James Moore of Mullaghfad.

Mon Fri 25th - Spring Assizes

Sat, 4th Mar, 1848 - Abdication of Louis Phillippe
Papers full of talk of Rebellion/Conspiracy etc Pledges of Orange loyalty
Series of letters to the Orangemen, Nobility and gentry of Monaghan by the proprietor of the Northern Standard, Brother Arthur Wellington Holmes

In the 1st half of 1848 the NS has not one mention of the famine – all revolutionary ferment.

Monaghan Gas Company

20th May Mitchell was arrested at his residence, 8 Ontario Tce. And accompanied by Mr Devin Reilly to ??? Police Office for 2 articles in his paper

Quoted (with astonishment in NS) is a letter to the Protestant farmers, labourers and artisans of Ireland by Mitchel
“I will speak plainly. There is now growing on the soil of Ireland a wealth of grains and roots and cattle, far more than enough to sustain in life and comfort all the inhabitants of the island. That wealth must not leave us another year – not until every grain of it is fought for in every stage”.

Sat May 27th, 1848
Arrest of Thos Devin Reilly
Bail £100 for himself & two sureties of £50 from Dr West and a Mr Reilly.
Arrested for uttering - "Right shoulders forward - march."
Reilly argued that the meeting to denounce the vile system of Jury packings was not a military meeting and therefore not training

The NS complains of some articles of Reilly and then mocks the grounds of his arrest as ‘halt to a club or boo to a goose’ – he can get off on these charges.
“There never was pursued so despicable a course as that adopted by the government in Dublin during the last week _ it is mere child’s play in the midst of the most astounding treason, and the most arrogant defiance - - - Mr Devin Reilly, in a letter in the United Irishman, tells us plainly that nothing but a republic can rule this country. He does not mince the matter in the least. He laughs to scorn the puling government that presumes to hold the reigns of power at such a juncture and defies them.
(He writes article that are plain treason and what does the government do?)
He resolves the whole question of the grievances of the country into one question to be tried in Green-Street – whether Mr Mitchell is to be convicted or acquitted.
And Mr Devin Reilly signs his name to the letter which we have extracted, and he is not the man to deny his signature. And Mr Devin Reilly is arrested – and ‘serve him right’ we hear you say, good reader – under the felony act? Not at all – not at all.
The writer of this treason, the spouter of this sedition is arrested for calling ‘halt to a club’ in the streets – under pretence, and a very pretty pretence it is, that he was drilling au millitaire, and he was brought before the awful bench of magistrates under a charge of saying ‘halt’ to a club or ‘boo’ to a goose or some confounded absurdity or other.
When he comes to trial he will argue that it wasn’t a military gathering and the jury will let him off
Because the thing is in common use in funerals, processions, boarding school exercise etc - - -
And the trial will be burlesque and the law will be laughed at, and the authorities scorned.

July 8th - Jury found true bills against TDR for "training, drilling &c".
Arrest of Mr. John Martin
Queen vs. Thomas Devin Reilly - Put to the bottom of the list.

While this was going on in Dublin - Monaghan Quarter Sessions Crown Courts
Bessy and Thomas Weakly, larceny of a heifer, and having same in their possession knowing her to be stolen.
Mr John Reilly defended - Bessie found guilty - the other not guilty.

Larceny of potatoes - again Mr Reilly defended - not guilty
Assult on watchman - Mr Reilly defended - Guilty - 12 months

July 15th - Massive parade described (Presumably 12th)
Aug. 12th - Rebellion - Arrest of Wm. Smith O'Brien

Northern Standard Sat, Oct 1850
Last Tuesday 1st meeting of Irish Tenant League was held near Ballybay.
Charles Gavan Duffy
Editorial – The bulk of the people there were from Farney and no surprise. {Shirley is English – they are Celts – he is perhaps too harsh}
The middle class was not there.

July, 1850: Monaghan ¼ Sessions
Only important feature was the wholesale system of eviction adopted upon ET Shirley’s Farney estates – 600 ejectments = 3,000 people – hope he made provision for emigration – otherwise charge on courts. 120 cases dismissed.

14th, July 1850
Smith O’Brien, Meagher, McManus, O’Donohue and Martin are sailing away.
Surprisingly generous comments – Honest but mistaken – They are not degraded convicts – Success was all that was necessary to rank them with Washington etc

[Dundalk Democrat June 8th, 1850

Murder of Mr Mauleverer – not much sympathy

Oct 5th 1850 – soiree
Chair taken by Rev John (sic) Gunn Brown, Pres Min
Oct 19th, 1850
Agricultural dinner at Shirley estate - DD complains that it got no invitation - the word exterminator was used – 1,000 driven out of their houses]

[Rev DG Brown didn’t quite refer to some landlords as exterminators but he didn’t back off either.
The Dundalk Democrat had no such scruples w.r.t. Shirley.
The NS was somewhat more circumspect (after all the proprietor, AW Holmes was Grand Sec of the county Orange Order) but it still was seriously critical.]

Dec 6th, 1851 (?? Aug 1851)
Murder of TD Bateson, agent of Lord Templeton
¾ mile from Castleblayney on Keady road – foul murder

Steam Communication between Keady and Liverpool
William McMaster - Agent ]

[Irish Times

Thursday, July 20th 1865 – election
Friday, July 21st – Thomas Bradford of Carnbeg attacked opposite the office of the Earl of Roden – Main street of Dundalk
Mon, July 24th Mon election polling – fatal results
NB Vesey Dawson accomp by Rev John Rogers – ex-moderator
{Canon Young canvassed his father’s tenants for Dawson.}

Ardee Oct 24th, 1861 – Co Louth revision
Jos Dickie, solr, Dundalk – Conservative agent

Obituary of Joseph Dickie Tues Oct 2nd, 1877 (Oct 1) ]

Politics

1 Aug 1870 Gladstone's first Land Act. Tenants took action in the Courts and with the assistance of lawyers like Givan of Aughnacloy and Ross and McMinn of Monaghan benefited by rent reductions and removal of impediments to free sale. All above were Presbyterians. (The Act was a godsend for the legal profession) In 1872 a Secret Ballot Act was passed so that landlords could no longer absolutely rely on the votes of their tenants. In the 1873 by-election caused by the death of CP Leslie, John Leslie defeated the Home Rule candidate, Isaac Butt (2,538 to 1,451) causing Bishop Donnelly to claim: "there is no denying that if any man or body of men took up the Home Rule cry, the great body of people would follow: nothing but the bad complexion of the present Home Rule Association keeps them aloof from it". Also in the by-election of 1873 Canon Young, then based near Clones, was involved in the abortive campaign by John Madden of Hilton who appears to have made some claims to be a supporter of Home Rule. In the 1874 election John Leslie and SE Shirley were re-elected in the Conservative interest. Presumably John Reilly acted as John Leslie's election agent in both of these elections. Donnelly noted that the Tory election agents in the Monaghan polling station took home with them the ballot boxes for their own districts.

*** On March 14th 1874 Mr William McWilliam made what appears to be his first appearance at the Petty Sessions when he represented a man accused of the larceny of turf. On May 9th he defended Ann Clarke who was charged by the Ulster Railway Co. of travelling without paying. It could best be described as a modest beginning.

On June 4th the Northern Standard published a list of those contributing to a memorial to Lord Rossmore. John Reilly was one of the Town Commissioners who contributed. I think Lord Rossmore was killed in an accident in that year and the memorial stands in the centre of the Diamond. He was also a member of the committee to erect the memorial to Lord Rossmore in the Diamond.

Feb 19th - 1876; First issue of People’s Advocate.

Organ for the Catholic people of Clogher; 3 great issues.
1 Religion in the school.
2 Security in the soil.
3 The right to frame in the capital of Ireland the laws regulating the internal affairs of the Kingdom.

Advertisment;
Daniel MacAleese
Steam Printing Works
Hill street, Monaghan.

In spite of his apparently modest beginning Mr McWilliam was, within three years, sufficiently well off to contract a marriage. His bride was Hester Maria Morell, the second daughter of John Harris Morell, the minister of 2nd Ballybay Presbyterian church. The marriage took place in Ballybay on February 1st, 1877 and was conducted by the bride's father.

In 1878 Mr McWilliam made numerous appearances in the Petty and Quarter sessions; clearly he was continuing to build a considerable practice.
His first child, Russell, my grandfather, was born on the 23rd May.

1878 - Revision of voters list - Co. Monaghan: Castleb', Ballybay, Clontibret, Rockcorry
Mr. John Matthews (Dublin), Mr. RE Baillie (C'blayney), Mr. John Reilly (Mon) instructed by Mr. Wm. Martin and Mr Samuel Mitchell appeared for the Conserv. Mr Gallagher appeared for the Liberal Party.

Jan 26th, 1878 - Petty sessions.
Taking forcible possession
Sisters Catherine and Bridget McMahon charged Rev. Patk. Smith, RC priest of Sheskin - Parish of Tydavnet and Peter McQuade and John Connolly with having by force and violence taken possession of their house.
McW for complainants - Ross for defendants
Dispute about legitimacy of will giving the property of Fr Peter McMahon to Fr Smith
John Reilly esq. knowing both priests - taking out probate on will.

Jan 12th - 1878
Quarter Sessions
Murphy vs. McGlone - £8 for breach of warrenty in a cow.
McW for plaintiff
Reilly for defendant
Pat McNally - country cow doctor since 1816 - cow dying - technical name for disease "all damaged" - from abuse. McGlone in the habit of selling bad cows
How long since she got it - since she received the damage. It might have been done in the training of her.
Gave decree for the £8.

1878
Lots of McWilliam in Petty sessions

Oct 26th Mon. quarter Sessions
Shooting a hound - Knight for plaintiff - Reilly for defendant.

Revision of voters list - Co. Monaghan
Castleb', Ballybay, Clontibret, Rockcorry
Mr. John Matthews (Dublin), Mr. RE Baillie (C'blayney), Mr. John Reilly (Mon) instructed by Mr. Wm. Martin and Mr Samuel Mitchell appeared for the Conserv. Mr Gallagher appeared for the Liberal Party.

Land League

In the late 1870s farming suffered a significant depression. Partly as a result of this the Land League was founded. In its first couple of years it made no significant impression in Monaghan. Partly this was due to the presence in south Monaghan, since the early 1870s of the Farney Tenants Defence Association and in North Monaghan of significant numbers of Protestant tenant farmers. Late in 1879 there was a meeting of the tenantry of Ancketell's Grove; Mr Ancketell discussed how to help them (and reduced the rents). From Wright Two Lands on One Soil At Camlough in south Armagh in Dec 1879, Fr Quinn, a Gladstonian, presided over a large gathering calling for rent reduction and "either fixity of tenure or peasant proprietorship". Blurring between Land League and Liberal! At Portadown on 4th Mar, 1880 an attempt to hold a tenant right meeting was broken up by a loyalist mob, notwithstanding that the resolutions were very "moderate" and in no way suggestive of links with the Land League. 29th Jan 1880, Ballymoney. TA Dickson took up the typically southern themes of opposition to emigration and support for peasant proprietorship, and he pressed the point that merchants had a vital interest in standing by the farmers in the "coming struggle". "We have a common platform upon which Ulster and Munster can meet and join in a united effort". In some districts landlords joined the Orange Order in the hope of mobilising it against the Land League. It is possibly in this light that we should view the resolutions of the Monaghan County Grand Lodge which passed rather nebulous tenant right motions (Dec 1880). This meeting is covered in the Irish Times (17th December, 1880). In late October, 1880 the Land League moved into the North and held a meeting at Dungannon, while Col Knox called an Orange meeting near by. By mid-November the League's meetings were no longer confined to Catholic edges of the province such as Buncranna, Ballyshannon and Belleek. Besides the Dungannon meeting, others were held at Enniskillen. At Monaghan, on 21 November 1880, a massive meeting was organised by Dickson, the two Liberal MPs Givan and Findlater, William Ancktell (a Liberal landlord) and Canon Smollen, PP Clones. Henry Overend, a Carrickmacross Orangeman, opened the meeting by proposing a resolution that tenant right did not provide protection against eviction or unjust rents, and Canon Smollen went through the situation in Monaghan where tenant right had virtually ceased to exist. The objectives of the meeting were indicated by TA Dickson in a speech which clearly demonstrated that it was a new departure for Ulster liberalism. "When in March we canvassed you for support, we advocated fixity of tenure at fair rents and free sale with the creation of tenant proprietary . . . but we were regarded as missionaries. But what is out position today? We don't recede nor take one step backwards. The force of circumstances has driven public opinion up to our platform and today we see the farmers' three F's and a tenant proprietary . . recognized by leading statesmen as the true and only solution of the Irish land question. . . The coming Land Bill will meet with tremendous opposition. The men whose only remedy for Ireland's miseries is coercion and Peace Preservation Acts, failing in their dastardly attempts to frighten the Executive into suspending the liberties of the people will, in the Houses of Commons and Lords . . . endeavour to fritter away the Bill and by cunning amendments, to render its clauses ambiguous and negating. Then will be the time for Irish members, North and South, to stand by the government and resist insidious compromises and thereby prevent the disastrous mistakes and blunders of the Land Act of 1870 from again being repeated". The tacit link with the Land League was implied in Findlater's speech when he said "a scheme somewhat on the lines of our Fixity of Tenure Bill, with such improvements as the more advanced views of land reformers might commend, would ultimately satisfy all parties". And in defence of agitation, John Givan, MP, said: "If anyone tells me that agitation is based on lawlessness I will throw back the falsehood in his face, and tell him that agitation in its legitimate form has been caused by unjust laws - and in its aggravated development I can trace it to the gilded chamber of the feudal lords - and to the treatment the Disturbance Bill received at their hands."

1879
Quarter Sessions.
Jan 11th - Mr Geo Knight denies that he violated a rule of the court. Mr. Reilly seems to support him.
Knight and McWilliam - argument about the quality of flax seed.

1879 At the Quarter Sessions held on April 5th Garret Cassiday, Bernard Duffy & Francis McGennis appeared on poteen charge. The three men had been found with barrels of wash. Two of the men claimed that they had been passing on their way to a wake. They were released on bail pending the payment of a £6 fine. Prosecutions for poteen making were common in both my great grandfather's and grandfather's times as were editorials condemning the trade in the Northern Standard; the latter is particularly the case in the 1920s.
On the same day Mr McWilliam appeared for the defence in a case of breach of warranty on a mare which would not work in a cart and 'slips'. John Reilly appeared for the plaintiff.

On July 5th 1879 there was an election of Monaghan Town Commissioners. Among the candidates were McWilliam Wm, North Rd & Reilly John, Hill St. The assenters were the same for both and all appeared to be Protestant. Nearly thirty years later Russell was to buy Holly Lodge which was the Reilly house up till 1889.

[Anna (Aunt Nan) McWilliam b. 4th June 1879]

Revision of Parliam. Voters lists. Mr Matthews for Conserv.- Mr O'Shaughnessy for Lib. - Mr Reilly present.

Rev Henry Henderson died in Dec 1879, aged 59. Wrote as 'Ulster Scott' read by Orangemen. He was married to Sarah Jane Russell, a sister of Anna Russell. He was noted for his 'no popery' views and the author of two novellas, written in 1859, and dealing in lurid detail with Jesuit/Ribbonmen conspiracies to murder and defraud Protestants.
NB The Irish Times records abt. 1878 that he was declared bankrupt; it may be in this context that a subscription was raised.

[People’s Advocate;
The Rev Henry Henderson, better known as ‘Ulster Scot’ amongst the Orange Brethren is dead. The luminary who has shuffled off the mortal coil was one of the greatest leaders of the Orange brotherhood, a contributor to the Orange press, & held a most sublime hatred of the Pope and Popery. In recognition of the indefatigable zeal in the cause he espoused, a meeting was called in the Town Hall her, & and a number of Tory gentlemen in long speeches referred in laudatory terms to the Rev Mr Henderson. Letters of apology were read from the nobility of Ulster, & before the meeting separated a subscription list was opened, but for what purpose I know not.

On Dec 6th, 1879 there was a meeting to elect a physician for the Monaghan in the room of Dr Ross. Mr Reilly appeared on behalf on Dr. Hall while Mr Young JP proposed Dr Woods. The tellers were Mr Reilly (for Dr Hall) proposed Dr Ross and Mr McMin (for Woods) proposed by Mr McWilliam. As related in the Clogher Record in an article on Bishop Donnelly:
"Appointments to most public offices in the county were in the hands of the magistrates by virtue of their ex officio position on public boards. The Fever Hospital was the only institution in Monaghan outside their control and Donnelly got great satisfaction being on the winning side in the appointment of Dr Woods as physician to the hospital against Lloyd's nominee - Dr Hall. Dr Woods was a well-qualified popular man who succeeded in splitting the landlord ranks and, with the assistance of some liberals and Donnelly, got the appointment.
Woods had been an officer in Masonic Lodge N. 223 in Monaghan town. He subsequently converted to Roman Catholicism". Jessie Lloyd was Lord Rossmore's agent.

People’s Advocate – Hails the victory of Dr Woods over Dr Hall & was rude to Col. Lloyd & Mr Swan (ED. NS)

The only other observation we will make in relation to this contest is to express out admiration of the ability displayed by the professional gentlemen who took part in the proceedings. Mr McMinn ably supported by Mr Ross and Mr McWilliam showed argumentative power of a very high order, and made many important points which, however were overruled by the chairman.
Mr Reilly – to watch the proceedings on behalf of Dr Hall.
Messrs. McMinn, Ross & McWilliam for Dr Woods.
1st issue – Who was entitled to vote, ie. Subscribers to hospital or last year.
Mr Reilly on side of Dr Hall, Col. Lloyd & Lord Rossmore.

Sunday, 7th Dec. – Large meeting in Castlerea with Parnell, Davitt, etc.
Parnell resolved;
That all the misery of our people & the poverty of our country is referable to our unjust and feudal land system etc. - -
Editorial;
The distress intensifies, yet the Government move not to relieve or check it. From every quarter there arises the cry of warning, the cry of terror, but the only response is in the movements of police to still the clamour of the wretched, & stifle freedom of speech in everyone bold enough to raise a voice for succour to those threatened with want and suffering.]

Northern Standard
Jan 10th 1880
The liberals have decided we are to have the expense of an election - The sturdy followers of John Knox will not bow the knee to Dr Donnelly.

[People’s Advocate 17th Jan, 1880.
Sir John Leslie cannot be brought to look upon tenant-rights as anything but another name for confiscation; and for all who presume to say the tenant-farmers have an interest in the lands they till, he has but one name – the ugly name of communism.]

Apr 8th - Election editorial
NB - 1880 election - Sewallis Evelyn Shirley assented to by Richard Henry MD amongst others
In the March/April General Election Leslie and Shirley lost their seats to the Liberals, John Givan and William Findlater.

As Wright (Two Lands on One Soil) put it;
“TA Dickson's initiative in repudiating the close dependence upon Presbyterian educational interests and leading liberalism towards the programme of the Leinster and Munster larger farmer organizations freed northern liberalism from the erstwhile constraints imposed by its Belfast leadership. It left the movement as an unambiguous rural phenomenon.”

1880 - Feb 21st - Reilly Testimonial
Mr Ed Gibson £30
Mr John Givan £25
Dr Donnelly £20
Col Lloyd £20
Sir John Leslie £10 10s
CC McMin £10
Geo Knight
Chas McMahon jnr
RE Bailie
Jos Wright
Wm McWilliam £10
Archdeacon Stack £2
Rev Bern Duffy PP £2
Rev. Bryan Duffy PP £2 &c..

[William McWilliam b. 10th Sept 1880]

William McWilliam nominated Poor Law Guardian for 1880 for Enagh by Joseph Wright of Kilmore.

After the departure of John Reilly his role was taken over by William McWilliam and George Knight so that at the next revision sessions held during the Oct 30th - Quarter Sessions they appeared for the Conservatives & O'Shaughnessy for Liberals.

Nov 1880 re Boycott expedition
When Capt Boycott, the Earl of Erne's agent in Co Mayo found he could not get his crops harvested, the Orange order organised a body of Monaghan farm labourers to go to his aid.

People’s Advocate;
Nov 18th.
The potato diggers, organized by Col. Lloyd left Monaghan to raise Capt. Boycott’s “Champions” – 31 in number with 22 new spades.

Orange Emergency Committee
Northern Standard Dec 4th - Dinner to welcome back members of expedition; the labourers were presented with silver medals by Lord Rossmore. Wm McWilliam not mentioned as present.

Nov 21st 1880. TA Dickson in Monaghan.
The truest deeds are noble deeds
So let us all unite men
We’ve borne too long with Tenant wrong
And now for Tenant-right, men.

In Sept. 1881 a sensation was caused when the liberal and pro-tenant candidate TA Dickson defeated the Tory in a close fight in the Co. Tyrone by-election. A local landlord and Orangeman complained,
'It is too bad that what was once called Protestant Tyrone could not return a Protestant member. That low fellow Dickson was returned by Protestant members, and I believe a number of Orangemen voted against their grand-master (Knox). The fact is that the Protestants as well as the Roman Catholics do not want an Orangeman or even a Fenian if he is a gentleman or a landlord. I look upon this election as a death blow to Protestantism.

Sept 1881 People’s Advocate regrets Dickson’s election ahead of Rylett who wasn’t a good candidate. (In the Co Tyrone by-election). The conservative candidate Knox isn’t mentioned.

1881 22 Aug. Gladstone's Second Land Act. Land Commission court opened, Oct.

1881 Jan 1st; People’s Advocate
Tenant right meeting – Annyallow. Rev Matthew McAuley in chair and chaired round the fields.
Jan 8th; Land League in Carrick, Dromore & many other places.

Jan 15th; Michael McCourley (Mr Ross) vs. Lord Rossmore (Mr McWilliam)
Plaintiff had been ejected; Lord Rossmore’s agents came in and broke up the land.
After assessment of damage damages were awarded to the plaintiff.

Total of Evictions in Ulster in 1880;
Monaghan – 44;
Cavan – 149;
Donegal – 98;
Antrim – 13;
Armagh – 21;
Down – 27;
Tyrone – 83;
L’derry – 19;
Fermanagh – 43.

Agrarian offences 1-14th Jan; Monaghan - 1

18th June 1881; Catherine Barkey - evicted for non-payment of rent - John Brown in possession. She took up residence again.
Wm McWilliam for landlord, Lord Rossmore

Wm McW - Ballybay - defending a father & son (father with no hands) against a charge of shooting at manager of Bank of Ireland.

Wm McWilliam acts for Dacre Hamilton and Lord Rossmore
Applies for permission to serve processes by post.

Trespass - Pat McNaughton summoned for allowing his cattle to trespass on a field which he formerly held from Dacre Hamilton. McW for DH

The Riot in the Shambles:
Mr McWilliam appeared for three lads arrested; presumably they were involved in the Orange march - Charles Houston, William Gillanders & Thomas Moorhead - Constable said he saw TM strike a man 2-3 blows. Didn't see stone throwing at peaceful parade. Cases against all three dismissed.

People’s Advocate; Sat July 23rd, 1881.
Case arising out of a disturbance during an Orange march form Dublin street to the Shambles on 30th June.
The cases were Constable McDonald vs. Charles L Houston, Sub-constable Torley vs. Thomas Moorehead & Constable McLoughlin vs. Wm J Gillanders.
The cases against the Protestants (all for assault with fists against persons unknown) were dismissed.
One Roman Catholic was returned for trial, for stone throwing, and then bound over to keep the peace.
McWilliam wanted the matter dismissed as party feeling had subsided.

1881 2 Nov (from Irish Times) The Orangemen of Monaghan and the Land Question.
This was a meeting of a Property Defence Association in Monaghan.
William McWilliam was present and 2nd for a motion against boycotting and intimidation.

[Herbert McWilliam b. 15th June 1882]

7th Jan 1882 – Meetings of Landlords in Dublin
Main issue:
Compensation to Landlords for reduction in rents
{Advantage tenants as Landlords would have less incentive to go to litigation}
Compensation not in such a way as to be a tax on tenants
2nd issue:
Nationals (NS’s word) want to cause trouble and this is why they oppose compensation.
“Had the people of England known that the same indiscriminate and unreasonable reductions would have been made - - - upon rents already reasonable enough they would never have consented to pass so confiscatory a measure

Monaghan Tenant Defence Association – Mr McMinn in Chair

21st Jan – editorial on appeal of sub-commission judgements – essentially upheld

Chief Commission in Belfast
Monaghan cases – JB Ross for ten – Overend, instructed by McWilliam for Landlords

Guardians – McW wanted Union to become contributory (under Nat Sch teachers Act, 1872 – effectively tax to raise salary of National School teachers – Lost on Chairs casting vote
(1883; Local Gov board writes to re-open matter)

Land Bill, 1881

Full text of Land Bill Northern Standard, Apr 16 This Bill granted the three F’s. Where tenants and landlords could not agree on a fair rent, the matter was to be settled by the courts. If the tenant wished to buy his holding outright, the Land Commission would put up ¾’s of the price, to be paid back over a period of 35 years. From Frank Thompson; The End of Liberal Ulster Fair rents were to be secured by the establishment of a judicial tribunal which, on application by the tenant or by the landlord or by the two jointly, would fix rents, which would stand for a period of 15 years. The act was extremely well received in Ulster. At the end of October – some 4 weeks after the courts had opened – the News Letter remarked that “the tenants are flocking to the land court with a vengeance”.]

Feb 10th – Land Commission Court
Monaghan Land Commission
Doyle, Mitchell & Col Davys – Sub-commissioners
Tenant – Ross
Lord Plunkett – McWilliam

Apr 14th, 1883
Eliza Kennedy – landlady
Geo Knight for tenant McWilliam for landlord

BA Johnston – Landlord
Ross for Tenant & McWilliam for Landlord; Alexander Dickie – Valuer for Landlord

Rev EP Brooke – Landlord
Ross for Tenant & McWilliam for Landlord

May, 26th
Earl of Dartry; Ross for Ten & McW for L’ld

June, 2nd
Sir Th Forster; Ross for Ten & McW for L’ld

(Irish Times Thurs 14th June 1883
General Assembly met Tuesday and issued a long statement on non-denominational education)

1883 Sat, June 23rd
Great Conservative demonstration
McWilliam – as a Presbyterian – Resolution to express regret that Liberals were standing & splitting Prot vote
*** He was the son of a Presbyterian clergyman & his brothers were Presbyterian clergymen – (I only know of one brother-in-law)

June 23rd (from General Assembly – 12th June – 1883)
Education committee of GA
Gov reviving idea for denominational training schools – 1st put 1858, then 1866, then 1879
RC hierarchy against non-denominational sch and instructed clergy not to employ state trained teachers – in order to force state to establish Christian Brothers instead
[NB Denom educ creates small ineffective schools in certain areas]

June, 30th
Mr Monroe’s agents
Geo Knight, solr for 30 years, respected and liked
Mr McW of Mon works enthusiastically. His pleasant and good humoured face is seen everywhere, and his amusing stories send the loud laughter round his comrades in arms, after a hard days work and a good dinner in the Westenra Arms.
[It was suggested that he wanted Pringle to retire so as not to split the vote.]

Mr Pringle’s chief supporter is Mr Dickson, MP. His conducting officer, Mr Ross, can be dismissed in a sentence. His great forte is to quote irrelevant poetry – fussy, violently partisan – not overburdened with brains.

Poll; Healy, 2,276 – Monroe, 2,011 – Pringle, 270

[Monaghan Collegiate School – Athletic sports
Judges – Wm McWilliam & L Morell, MD}

7th July (Same day as result of poll)
Ejectment – Col Lloyd vs Anne Shaw
McWilliam for plaintiff :(Possession given)
On the same day he acted for two other landlords.

Bachelor’s Ball – Mr & Mrs McWilliam, the Misses Morell

People’s Advocate; By-election caused by the resignation of Givan.
On the conservative side Mr Geo Knight, Sir Samuel Wilson, Col Lloyd, John Munroe, Hugh Holmes & Sir John Leslie were all enumerated.
It was also said the Tories would run a working man candidate & it was confidently stated Mr McWilliam, solr. had been commissioned to bring forward this child of toil from the Dublin workshop where he was wasting his Parliamentary fragrance.

June 1883 Monroe as conservative candidate - Election of Tim Healy
John Monroe, QC, con., 2,011; Tim Healy, HR, 2,376; Henry Pringle 270.

Sat June 23rd 1883
Attitude of General Assembly to education.

Continual opposition to 'denominational schooling' from 1858 on
Against non-vested training schools as inconsistent with non-sectarianism
Denominational education against the interests of both religions in minority areas

Revision sessions 1883 - Clones
McW & Knight instructed by Wm Martin for conservatives.

People’s Advocate;
Rosslea meeting 10th Oct, 1883
Beat almost to death Hugh Donogh MacAleese – a slight stripling scarcely, if at all, out of his teens.

Revd. John Morell McWilliam, b. 19th Nov. 1883, m. 1914

1884, Jan 12th Cow with ‘Elf shot’

Feb 4th 1882? Eviction in Scotstown
[Dacre Hamilton & Sir Th Forster]
Formal eviction and reinstalled as caretaker

Mar 4th Land Act sub-commission
Hadden, Bamford and Weir
Gertrude Rose, Landlord
Ross vs McW (L’d)]

[? Looks like 1881 but appears in sequence as 1883.]
Jan 17th – Land Commission Court – Landlords no confidence in it.
Sat Jan 17th. Land sub-commission - Sub-commissioners - Mr Cecil Roche and Mr. F O'Callaghan.
Estate of Dacre Hamilton.
Mr. McWilliam for landlord and Mr. Rushe for tenants.
Patk. McCowal and John McKenna had been evicted 29th July last (Tonystacken, Scotstown).
Decision P McCs rent reduced from 5.6.0 to 4.0.0 & J McKs from 11.15.8 to 9.10.0]

24th Jan Memorial to manager of Ulster Bank (presumably Clones) Drs Richard and William Henry were contributors.

Normal petty sessions - small amounts of money and disputes about the description of animals bought and sold - one case of wife-beating.

1884 Sat Feb 7th. Eldon Loyal Orange Lodge, 155.
Chairman - Bro. Dr. Hall. Toast to Co. Grand Master by Dr. Hall.
Bro. Archdeacon Stack.
"Nobody could deny that Lord Rossmore was a right good fellow. No-one could have seen him at Rosslea without knowing what stuff was in him. As he walked at their head that day he did not know the moment that something serious would have happened; yet he marched them in solid columns ready at any moment to have answered the rebels.

Bro. McWilliam said that he had been entrusted with the proposing of a toast and it was with the greatest pleasure that he rose to his feet to do so. It was one which their District Master could scarcely have proposed, but he would drink it as energetically as any person present. He wished them to drink the health of their worthy Chairman and District Master. -------- foremost in everything in connection with their order --------- always where he was wanted and where certain people might possibly shrink from the publicity of certain acts he only seemed the more anxious to perform them. It was all very well to be cautious sometimes and he (McW) might perhaps deserve credit for a little too much of that quality, but he would not like to be the person who would go to the DM's house on the morning of the 12th or any such day and advise him to be cautious and to remain at home. He (McW) knew full well that he would receive a bad answer for his pains. Their worthy DM was a very energetic Orangeman and he hoped they would drink his health with all honours and wished that he might be long spared to preside over them.

Major Auchinlech welcomed. Identified with some of the first victories in the North.
At the time when Healy and his party had attempted to force their treasonable doctrines on the people of Tyrone he was one of the foremost in the fight. He had the pleasure of seeing what they all would like to see - Healy bolting for safety into the post office at Dungannon.

Present - The Ven. the Archdeacon of Clogher CGC; Major Auchinlech, Omagh; Dr. JC Hall DM; Mr Wm McWilliam, Rev F Bevan, Mr RC MacCulloch (Headmaster of Monaghan Collegiate) Mr James Clarke, WM 155; Mr Wm Martin DM 155 Mr JA MacConkey Sec 155; Mr Wm Ryan Tres 155 Mr RE Crawford WM 1142.

NB This was the occasion of Dr Hall's capping of Parnell's speech in Co Clare. "Cromwell sent us to Hell or Connaught - Well we're still here."
"It's a pity that they didn't go further."
A parliamentary question was asked about the propriety of such a remark coming from an officer of the crown - he was county surgeon - In a letter read out Hall stated that he had of course meant America rather than Cromwell's alternative destination.

1883 Feb 21 Opening of new Orange Lodge
Speech of Lord Rossmore's read.
Resolution in favour of renewing the Crimes Act.
6th new Hall opened in the past year.

People’s Advocate
Feb 28th
The Monaghan Poor House Doctor opened another Orange Lodge at Loyst?
He appears to be a regular political maid of all work for the loyalists.
This rising statesman who filled the chair in the absence of his noble patron prayed with a solemnity to put a Grand County Chaplain to the blush and his attitude of reverence in presenting the Lodge with a 6 1/2d copy of the bible beat Burns’ holy Willie to smithereens.

Mar 7th – re visit of the Prince of Wales; the Lord Mayor stated that as soon as he sets foot in Dublin he would take down the flag in the Mansion House.

Mar 14 - re previous Orange Lodge meeting.
Some of them perhaps had read Parnell's utterances a few days ago in Co Clare.
He said "You are the descendants of the men whom Cromwell sent to h--l or Connaught. He only succeeded in sending you as far as Connaught". It was a pity they did not get sent a little further.
In answer in the House of Commons, from a letter from Dr. Hall - he meant America.

Apr. 4th - 1884
Cumberland Blues LOL 868
Important speech by WE Macartney.
Dr Hall in chair. Mr McWilliam called to propose the first resolution.

"That as Irishmen and loyalists we repudiate utterly the legislative action of the present government. We unhesitatingly condemn the Franchise and Redistribution Bills, as at present proposed. We regard them as incentives to anarchy and rebellion, and entirely subversive of true liberty and loyalty and we applaud the resolution of the Ulster Members to unite in opposing the measures which can only end in degradation to our country, danger to out Queen, and injury to our Protestantism; and we heartily commend the action of Sir M. Hicks-Beach and the other English and Scotch Conservatives who voted for Lord Crichton's amendment."
The resolution divided into 3 parts;
It first stated that they as Irishmen and loyalists repudiated the actions of the present government.
They were not to be classed with that section of the nation, who by some manipulation called themselves Irishmen.
He referred to the insult offered by Lord Mayor of Dublin, who on March 7th, who with reference to the upcoming visit of the Prince of Wales stated that as soon as he sets foot in Dublin he would take down the flag in the Mansion House.
The Lord Mayor was mocked for backtracking; his better nature asserted itself or because he received a curtain lecture at home from his lady hoping for a title.
The resolution further stated that they approved of the conduct of the Ulster members in banding themselves together to oppose the measure which only end in degradation of their country, danger to their queen & injury to their Protestantism.

Mr Macartney had a go at TA Dickson.

McWilliam represented the GNR in a case of coal stealing in Monaghan station.

Apr 18th – Th. Loan/Sir J Leslie (McW)
Lord Rossmore & the Monaghan markets (McW)

May 16th - Meeting of Board of Guardians of this Union in the Boardroom of the Workhouse. Wm McWilliam present and spoke

Northern Standard - 1885
(Lots about the strike at McKean’s Mills.)

People’s Advocate
10th Jan, 1885
Meeting of Irish National League in Carrickmacross.

Note proceedings of boundary commission – Mr MacAleese, Mr Ross & Mr G Knight.
Civilised exchange – a couple of alterations mentioned.
Knight suggests MacAleese will be next member – and a good one;

Mr Knight; Mr MacAleese who is to be an MP in the next parliament is looking forward to the struggle in St Stephens.
Mr MacAleese; Mr Knight is not a prophet in the sense of verity.
Mr Knight; But I flatter myself that I am & and a very creditable member you will make. You will compare very favourably with many now in the H. of C.
In the event Mr MacAleese had to wait more than ten years before gracing Westminster.

Nina McWilliam b. 17th Apr 1885

June 1885 - Cricket match - Monaghan CC vs 5th Batallion Royal Fusileers (who included TC O'Brien). Wm McW took 6 wickets in both innings.

People’s Advocate
1885 Oct 17th
Orange counter demonstration – 1154 present – vs great national meeting at Bloomfield.
Poorhouse doctor there;
Mr George Knight the only sensible man there – recognised no doubt that Protestant farmers were not represented at Shanco.

1885 October 24th
Monaghan National Convention ratified the selection of candidates – Tim Healy & Sir Joseph McKenna – Daniel MacAleese not selected.
Unity needed – the rejection of a candidate could not be allowed to interfere with the general harmony.

Dec 5th
Election.
Main point not Nationalist victory but collapse of Whigs. This corrupt party has at last received the reward of all its perfidies. Not one seat in Ulster. The last severe blow it got was the rejection of Mr Thomas Dickson who was defeated in Mid Antrim by Hon Robt. O’Neill – Party suffered from coercion policy

1886 - Jan 2
Last Wed - 1st of a series of anti-Home Rule meetings held in Orange Hall; motion proposed by Dr Hall.
That we condemn in the strongest manner any surrender on the part of English statesmen to the demands of the rebels for Home Rule - certain civil war &c.

Jan 9 - Editorial - mentions Sir John Leslie, Hall and Archdeacon Stack.

1886 - Feb 6 - Healy (who is the subject of editorial invective - turning his back on the first place to put money in his purse.) decides to sit for South Derry, so a Mr O'Brien, a carpet-bagger from Liverpool, the owner of a public house there, will succeed him. Mr Hall will stand in opposition.
Feb 10 - O'Brien, 4,000 - Hall, 2,500.

Feb 13 - Presbyterian protests
19 Presbyteries - 328 congregations - 306,000; Mon - 11 cong - 6,500.
At a meeting on Feb 2 the Presbytery of Monaghan passed a resolution against Home Rule, a copy of which was sent to James Hazlett MP for presentation to the House of Commons. The Moderator was directed to send copies to the leaders of the two Parliamentary parties.

Feb 27 - Edit on Ld Randolf Churchill in Great Ulster Hall.

Mgt. Griffin summoned her husband John for having assaulted her.
McW for plaintiff. He got one month hard labour.

Mar 6 - Address to Dr Hall for standing in recent parliamentary election from LOLs 155, 868, & 1142.
McW present & proposed the toast of "The Press". Wm Swan replied.

General Assembly resoln vs Home Rule.

Apr 10 - Positive comment on efforts of Irish Loyal and Patriotic Union to raise funds .... to send delegates and speakers to meetings in England.

Apr 17th, 1886 - Evictions at Scotstown.

People’s Advocate.
May 4th.
Ballybay Petty sessions.
Amongst others Mr James McKean JP was on the bench.
Chas Mitchell prosecuted for selling drink for consumption.
Mr Forster Dunwoody, defence, objected to Mr McKean sitting as he was identified with a movement against Mr Mitchell.
Mr McKean distinctly refused to leave the bench but the case was dismissed on its merits (although McKean would have convicted)

17th April – Sir John McKenna, MP, and his tenants
Wm Webb, tenant, near Killeagh
Bailiffs seized 14 head of cattle; 3 weeks previously 9 head seized and brought to the pound – Demonstration – auctioneer accepted 40£ less 20% (reduction demanded by tenant)
Present seizure is for balance and costs.
Action of McKenna caused great indignation locally.

Guardians, 14th April
Owen McNally in chair
Present were Wm Elliot, RT Blakely, JP, Robt Lyons, Robt Wilson, John Treanor, Peter Duffy, Peter Tierney & Ed Duffy.

Irish Government Bill.
They dealt with some business and then Wilson left and the Nationalists were in the majority and in the chair.
Treanor proposed the following resolution, eulogistic of Gladstone and his scheme for the government of Ireland.
That we, the members of Monaghan Board of Guardians - - - take this opportunity in placing on record our sincere and heartfelt gratitude to the Rt Hon Wm Ewart Gladstone PM for his statesmanlike effort in bringing before the people a measure which has as its object the legislative independence of Ireland.
Mr Elliot and others objected – keep politics out of Guardians

Follow up - Wed meeting reported on pg 3 of Sat 8th May, page 3
{32 members were present with Col Lloyd in chair}

May 8, 1886 - Meeting of Board of Guardians.
There was a motion to rescind a previous motion in support of the Home Rule Bill. I presume that the earlier motion was passed because so few members attended that the Nationalists found themselves in the majority.
When the motion was proposed by Wm Elliott, JB Ross objected and wanted other business taken first according to the rules in Banks.
Mr Elliott - I am glad there is some reformation wrought in you, for when this resolution was passed it was introduced before any other business
McW moved that the business be taken in order.
Clerk - It doesn't matter as the Guardians were summoned for both purposes.
Some rude words exchanged
McW - just vote on motion - not discuss politics.
Mr Ross - Gladstone best ever
[Elliott - change of heart in two years.]
Brings in Wilberforce and slaves & Peel and Wellington coming down to the House and stating that Catholic Emancipation must be granted to the Irish. Property and Liberty not inseparable.
Grattan brought in.
Elliott interrupts.
McW requests that he would not do so again as the speech was already in print and must be delivered.
Mr Ross - I so not know if my friend intends that as an insult.
McW - I would say you are insulting us.
Mr Ross - Catholic people had never exercised tyranny and oppression - Back to the days of Alfred to prove his assertion.
Mr Tierney - If we got the management of our own affairs in a native parliament it would put an end forever to sectarian quarrelling.
McW - That was said twice by Mr Ross.
Mr Rafferty wants to say one word. We would rather see the country immersed in the bottom of the sea than see tyranny practiced by the Catholic populace.
McW - Vote. We have had two full speeches on each side. The motion was carried by 28 votes to 8.
A second motion was proposed by McCullagh (U) to leave politics out of the business. It was 2nded by McW - Ross didn't assent.

People’s Advocate.
Ross’s speech was indeed reported but McWilliam’s quips were omitted; In NS insults thrown by Mr Elliot re. Price of pigs were not mentioned.
Main point in speech; Ulster Protestants opposed every measure of reform;
Catholic Emancipation was granted; the church was disestablished and yet forebodings never came to pass.
Ross’s remarks were frequently interrupted.

May 22nd
Bogus warriors;
There is just now great commotion over the supposed movement to drill and arm the Orangemen of Ulster.

June 5th
The Orange Grand Army – 73,561 men.

June 12th
Religious disturbance in Monaghan following defeat of Home Rule Bill and the scoundrels who led the violation of peace belong to those who express themselves anxious to maintain the dignity of Crown and preserve the interests of the Queen’s subjects.
Demonstration – after they dispersed some passed through the Shambles – jeered – fired revolvers into the crowd.
2 soldiers injured.
People armed with sticks and the military gave chase – an Orangeman named Crawford was severely beaten and may die.
There was also a mention of Orange riots elsewhere.

June 19 The terrible riots in Belfast and Sligo show what HR would have brought. Expression of Loyalist rejoicing brought out all the malice and hostility in RCs.

Plan of Campaign

The Plan of Campaign 1886-9, Laurence Geary Farmers Journal 5th Oct 1885; In Co Monaghan Healy urged tenants to ignore landlords and pay rents into a common fund. He suggested that this would raise £6-7 million for a campaign fund. Lewis of Inniskeen, the holder of 2,489 acres settled in 1888. Shirley of Lough Rea, 28,386 acres valued at 20,744 25th March 1887 (Reported FJ 28/3/’87) Mrs Smith, Cockermouth, Co Monaghan – Tenants demanded 15% which was granted (FJ 6/7/’88) Hugh Swanzy, C’blayney, 501 acres, valuation 399 – Tenants demanded 25% which was granted (UI 2/4/’87) Sir Michael Hicks Beach, Irish Chief Secretary, Autumn 1886 & Sir Redvers Buller tried to persuade the landlords to act responsibly; many did not. ICS suggested that police and military help might not be immediately or quickly available for evictions. Beach resigned 3rd March 1887. Arthur Balfour was appointed; within days there were evictions of the Shirley estate & 55 on the Annesley estate in Cavan. This was followed by the Land Act of 1887 - 23 Aug. Land Act gives courts power to revise and fix rents. Home Rule and the Plan of Campaign had at least one northern supporter – Rev Matthew Macauley of Castleblayney. He was assaulted on the public highway by an Orange drumming party, 1 July 1886. A week later his church was desecrated; the words “No Popery” were suspended from the pulpit and orange lilies scattered about. From Livingstone: The Presbyterian minister, Rev Matthew Macaulay, found things so rough in his area that he had to resign his ministry and leave. Many of his parishioners had left his congregation and especially after he supported the Home Rule bill, he found himself the subject of much personal abuse. When he arrived at his church on Sunday 11th July 1886, he found the walls desecrated and ‘No Popery’ notices written on them. On another occasion a mob surrounded himself and his wife. He wrote about the incident: “they cursed the Pope, and used other forms of language too odious to print in a respectable newspaper like yours. Some of the men are my own congregation, others belong to different denominations of Protestants in the district. There were no Catholics among them. I was advised to prosecute them, but I did not like to set the law in motion against men and boys whom I had baptized.

1886 Oct. Northern Standard editorial on the Plan of Campaign

30th Nov 1886; A monster meeting was held at C’blayney Fair Green to consider the Plan of Campaign.
Canon Hoey presided and speakers included John Dillon and Willie Redmond.
Macauley sent a letter of support.

July 16 1887 Cases of ‘boycotting’ being prosecuted.
(It’s not clear whether these were in Monaghan. During the Plan of Campaign there were only four estates targeted in the county.

1887 23 Aug. Land Act gives courts power to revise and fix rents.

My great grandmother, Hessie, died around Christmas, 1887, aged 32. Her six children were brought up by her elder sister Marion, who was by all accounts a formidable woman.
1888 4 Aug. Death of John Harris Morell.

1893; 2 Sept. Second Home Rule Bill passed by Commons; rejected by Lords, 9 Sept.

1893 - Clogher Record. - Reactions in Ulster:
Attempts to mobilise opinion at grass roots level by Unionist clubs movement - propagandist. Lord Templetown organised those in Monaghan.
Feb - Police reported 'they were established in many areas and joined by all classes, gentry, clergy, farmers, traders and labourers.

Northern Standard 1893
Note that virtually every editorial for this period is on the subject of Home Rule.

People’s Advocate;
Feb 4th; Lord Templeton to form Unionist Clubs throughout Ulster.
Feb 18th; Accuses Redmond of having Tory and Orange supporters.
[Anti-Redmond – small knot of disappointed Parnelits.]
Mocks the small numbers of Unionists etc. [Whether consciously or not underestimates the strength of Unionists in Ulster]
NB D MacAleese, Wm McWilliam & James B Ross were all members of Board of Guardians.
Feb 18th;
Introduction of Home Rule Bill by Gladstone.
The Home Rule bill appears to give almost unlimited satisfaction to the National Party – even Redmond.
Even its strongest enemies now admit that Home Rule is an inevitability.
Lord L’derry concedes the passage of the measure & has no other hope for its defeat than the slender one of Ulster resistance.

Feb 18th - Editorial - appears to be Mr Gladstone's presentation of the Home Rule Bill.

Feb 25th - Universal condemnation (in the Press) quoted;
"the Bill of a gambler" and its provisions for creating mischief and confusion and civil war have been dealt with in the most crushing and destructive manner.
Manifesto to the Orangemen and Loyalists of Belfast.
Lord Salisbury's visit to Belfast.
Irish National League of America - Reject Bill.

People’s Advocate;
Feb 25th;
Has a go at Rev Dr Kane.
Calls great mass meeting – Ulster Hall – 2/3/93
Kane & Wm Johnston are regular targets as is Saunderson.

Mar 11 - All Grand Juries protest
In Monaghan, Sir John Leslie (foreman) - earnest objections - deprive us of our liberty, civil and religious and a fatal obstruction to the harmony now existing.
Meetings of Unionists.
Ballybay meeting - 9th Mar Rev ABR Young presided
The resolution of the Ulster Convention League adopted.

Mar 18 - Co Monaghan Orangemen in the Orange Hall, last Tuesday.
Proceedings private.

Presbyterian General Assembly

From JRB McMinn. On Wednesday March 15th 1893 a special meeting of the General Assembly took place in May street church, Belfast. After a committee session the Assembly publicly debated 8 resolutions prepared by the Committee on the State of the Country. The burden of these resolutions was to reaffirm loyalty to the Queen, generally to express a determination to maintain the union, specifically to reject the government of Ireland bill currently before the house for a variety of stated reasons, to urge the abolition of dual ownership of land in Ireland, to support reform of the system of local government in Ireland, to encourage Presbyterians to remain calm and treat all their fellow-countrymen with forbearance and goodwill and finally to suggest that Sunday 26th March be set aside by all Presbyterians as a day of prayer to invoke divine aid in averting the current dangers. In April 1893, the Assembly discussed Gladstone's second Home Rule Bill. The Orangemen warned of a new inquisition, or a St Bartholowmew's Night massacre and the imminent replacement of the old Protestant Ascendancy by a new Catholic one. Armour took the view that such fears were irrational and deliberately fomented for reactionary political ends. A resolution was put to the Assembly condemning Gladstone's ideas out of hand, and pledging loyalty to the Crown and constitution. He proposed an amendment supporting the Liberal premier, and advocating 'adequate means of self government'. He condemned the 'senseless fear of Romanism' and displays of 'mass hysteria'. He described landlordism as the 'curse and scourge of Ireland' and declared that ' the principle of Home Rule is a Presbyterian principle'. He sarcastically enquired if 'no man can be saved or remain a Presbyterian unless he renounce Home Rule'. The vote was ten to one against him. His critics never forgave him for the ultimate apostasy - voting for Home Rule. Conservative clergy and laity boycotted him. Many years later his friend Robert Lynd wrote that he was for long treated as a 'sinister legend - a traitor - a dangerous man, contentious and perverse - a bitter and black-bearded agent of the enemy - enemy number one in his own church. 'I am sure that a race of Presbyterians worthy of the best traditions of our faith, will arise in the near future, with their minds cleared of Unionist cant, and blood purified from the rust of serfdom and they will claim to dwell in the land, not under the protection of the Saxon, nor by the permission of the Celt, but by virtue of the services they will render to a country we love.' JB Armour, 1894.

Special meeting of General Assembly of Presbyterian Church - one dissenter out of 600
[from 1st Mon - James Allison went to Scotland to address meetings about the passing of a measure "now before the House of Commons".]

Mar 25th - JC Hall puts himself forward as a candidate in Chamber of Delegates in Belfast.
Primary aim - Independence of Ulster (except so far as its union with GB can be maintained; only then steps with fellow unionists of S & W.

Editorial suggest that Lady Unionists organise.

Mon Unionists publish the 1st election address to the U of U.
Call to unionists to register with named individuals in each area.
Members of Orange Lodges should enrol in their different Lodges from which lists will be transferred to a central list.
This whole procedure was to elect delegates to Belfast!!!

Poor-Law Guardians election - Unionist victory – 1893?.
The only division contested was in Monaghan Union which elected 3 guardians.
Wm McWilliam (U) - 541
Wm Martin (U) - 533
RT Bustard (U) - 526
J Rafferty (N) - 240
Wm McCullagh (N)- 234
J Mullan (N) – 226

Only notice Peoples Advocate gives to Unionist organization is to mock it.

Apr 1 - Formation of Mon Ladies UA for the purposes of literature distribution.
Meeting to be at Town Hall on Apr 7.

Apr 8 - Astounding reception given to Arthur Balfour last Tuesday by men of Ulster.

People’s Advocate;
Apr 15th; Rubbishes letter from a Scotch Presbyterian on Home Rule (Liberal member for Kilmarnock Burgs)

2nd & 3rd resolution of General Assembly appear to be based not on solid facts but on vague apprehensions of evil – “Civil & Religious Liberties”.

May 6 - Proposed to hold a County Unionist meeting in the town at an early date.

Collegiate school vs Armagh Royal.
W & R McWilliam were playing (Why was Dr Henry playing?)

May 20 - Cricket season opened with a match vs Darkley.
Mon 78. D 34 - W McW at 3, run out 0 & 3 wickets. Dr Henry opened the batting.

Jun 10 - Mon Womans Unionist Association - Organised into centres who will furnish addresses in E,S & W for newspapers to be forwarded &c and give literature and pamphlets of facts and also provide collecting books for Unionist funds.

Ulster Defense Union - Close of register of members - 169,870 members registered.

July 1 - R McW losing 1st round gentleman's handicap tournament, 7/5, 10/8.
Willie was in doubles as was Russell.

July 15th, 1893 - Monster Co Demonstration at Rossmore Park. Ld R Grand Mast.
1st anniversary of birth of son and heir who was presented to the brethern from the platform.
1st train from Glaslough. The Lodges as they arrived were stationed along the North road to wait the arrival of the special train from 'Blayney, B'bay, Newbliss, Clones and Smithboro ca 12 o'clock when they marched to Rossmore Park via Glasslough st, Diamond and Market st. - ca 12,000 people.
Ld and Lady Rossmore, Dr Hall, James McCullagh, High Sheriff, Miss Smith, Sir Thomas and Lady Crawford. Dr W Henry was mentioned.

People’s Advocate;
1893 July 15th.
The Hon Wm Westenra was the observed of all at the Orange meeting on Wednesday. His little Honour completed the 1st 12-months of his career on that day; & on the principle – learn young, learn fair, has offered to him a copious draft at the sectarian feeding bottle. We wish his little Honour long and happy years to unlearn the unchristian lessons so early presented to him.
Extra constabulary for the 12th – not needed.

Aug 19 - Northern Standard Editorial re petition signed by 3,500 Presbyterians in favour of Home Rule.

The petition deserves to be noted for its singularity, for, in its utter loneliness it stands out "like a signal of distress".
Gladstone manifestly regards it as a Godsend and it thanks him for his fidelity to the cause of Ireland, for his efforts in behalf of Home Rule, and for the part he has taken in robbing the Landlords.
Gladstone says; I look forward with confidence to a very large and early return of Presbyterians in particular to the sentiments in favour of a union with their fellow countrymen which governed them a century ago.
J Patrick Smith MP writes to the Times;
The sentiments expressed imply "they were republicans, gravely disaffected to Great Britain, joined with RCs to bring about treasonable ends.
This remark would be a strange one from a PM if it were not for the remarkable obstinacy with which Mr G shuts his eyes to the facts of Irish History.
Less than one century of union and of justice have removed all possibility and almost all memory of such a state of affairs, until now, we have a PM, for purely factious reasons, desiring a return to what constituted so grave a menace to the safety of the country.

People’s Advocate;
1893 Aug 9th
Declaration of 3,525 Presbyterians in favour of Home Rule.
They make their opinions known in spite of stifling policy of the General Assembly.

Exchange of letters with Grand Old Man
Signed
JB Armour MA Ballymoney
JB Dougherty MA Londonderry
+ 3 others.

It is clear that the PA & NS are occupying parallel worlds.

Death of James M Ross of Liscarney; Father of James B Ross & John Givan ( Son-in-law).

Sept 9th;
Overthrow of Home Rule Bill by Lords.
Lords heading towards its doom; Long depended on to prevent the working classes from enjoying the fruits of honest toil – anti-reform etc.

Sept 16th
Labour demonstration in Belfast; Disgraceful Orange rowdyism.

Peoples Advocate doesn’t accept that the Lords have killed the Home Rule Bill.
Sept 9th.
The Monaghan Unionist Ladies and women propose to mingle their laughter together in the Town Hall on Sept 27th.

Sept 27th - Meeting of the Mon Wom Un Ass in the Town Hall, adjoining the Westenra Arms.
Lady Constance Leslie in the chair.
The attendance incl the Misses Morell.
The 46th Psalm, 'God is our refuge and our strength', was sung.
The work which we undertook six months ago has been successful beyond our utmost expectations. All they wanted was justice, and they wanted England to understand that. They did not wish to tyrannise over their adversaries, but they would not be allowed to tyrannise over them.

People’s Advocate;
Sept 29th;
“What a delightful life must be that of a lady Unionist”.

1894 Sat. Jan. 19th; Petty sessions - Wylie vs. Fay
This was an action for a breach of warranty in a mare sold by Daniel Fay to John Wylie, in the May Fair of Clones, 1894.
Mr McWilliam appeared for the complainant, and Mr. Murphy represented the defendant.
The story of the drugged & kicking horse - 'engagement to work'.
Her only fault was that she would not ride peaceably. He never dragged her.

Jan 26th - Queen's bench division - Two cases of trespass.

Sat. Feb 2nd - Samuel Kerr summoned John Sommerville for assaulting him on the 19th inst. There was a cross case.
Mr. Dunwoody represented the plaintiff and Mr. McWilliam appeared for the defendant.
The plaintiff stated he was coming home from Ballybay fair on the day in question accompanied by some neighbours. When he got near his home the defendant appeared.
Mr. McWilliam. Did he hit you?
Witness. He would have only I got out of the way.
The Chairman. Was there snow on the road?
Mr. McWilliam. There was, it was a case of snowballing.
The case was dismissed.

Sat Mar. 23rd - Petty sessions. Trespass countered by assault.
Stealing bushes vs. "you struck me & threw me over the ditch & kicked me".

Wages due - 1s a day.
Counter - 6d a day and owed 5s a week lodgings and board from Oct to Feb

Accident of 18 yr. old girl at a churn. She lost four fingers. Hired for 6 months for £2. 12s. Accident while helping her employers daughter.

Sat Sept 7th 1895
The Clerkship of the Crown - The official confirmation of Mr McWilliam's appointment to the above office in this county, rendered vacant by the death of the late Mr Robert Murdock, was received by him and the Secretary of the Grand Jury on Wednesday last.

People’s Advocate;
Sept 28th 1895
Death; 27th Carson, at his residence, Springfield Ballybay, Isaiah Carson JP, aged 65 years

Golf
A meeting was held in the Westenra Arms on 20th Sept, 1895 with a large attendance.
Rev Mr Hall gave lands of Brookvale behind the Cathedral.
Monaghan Golf Club, Brookvale, behind Cathedral
Inaugural competition.
Wm McWilliam had 147 (-30) =117 for third or fourth place.

Dec 14th Wm McW Clerk of the Crown was present/or represented at the funeral of Rev RA Hall.

People’s Advocate;
1895 Oct 12th; Case of GBH in Clones
Mr JEC Lawlor DI to prosecute; Mr ME Knight for Gillespie in cross-case; Mr Henry Murphy defended.

Oct 19th; Quarter Sessions; RW Moorehead as member of Grand Jury & Thomas Moorehead as Chairman.

Nov 9th;
The “Medical Journal” on Clones Workhouse.
Dr Henry req’d to render a detailed report on sanitary conditions has done so & condemned in no measured terms the inefficiency of the nursing staff and unsanitary conditions. He is met with “the Committee do not recommend any alteration in the system of nursing or the sanitary arrangements.

Jan 25 1896
Death of Rev Chas Lucas Morell DD Dungannon. The family claimed descent from Pasteur Louis Francois Morell, Sieur de Collonges who on 25th May 1559 was chosen Moderator of P C of France. He preached the funeral sermon of his leader and attached friend (Dr Cooke). Dr Morell was a Conservative.

People’s Advocate; Saturday, Dec 8th 1900.
Dan McAleese set up (nationalist) Peoples Advocate - Bishop Donnelly helped
Proprietor & Ed. Dan McAleese of Belfast
MP for N.Mon. 1895-1900 when he died
Succeeded by son Charles who died in 1904

1901 22 Jan. Accession Edward V11.

Circular 1st Feb, 1901
Sir,
I am directed by the Rt. Hon. Lord Rossmore, Lieutenant of the county, to call a meeting of the Justices of the county of Monaghan, to be held in the Courthouse, Monaghan on Tuesday 1st day Feb, inst., at 1.30 o'clock pm for the purpose of passing a resolution of sympathy with His Majesty in consequence of the loss occasioned to His Majesty and the Nation by the death of Her late Majesty, Queen Victoria.
Yr Ob Ser, Wm McW, C of C & P.

Third Home Rule Bill

William James McWilliam born, 21 Aug. 1910.

1911 2 Apr. Census: population, 4,381,951

The inhabitants of Holly Lodge as recorded in the 1911 census were Russell McWilliam, Elsie McWilliam, two young Protestant girls - one Church of Ireland and one Presbyterian - described as a nurse and a cook. There was one infant, under one year old

A resolution was carried unanimously by the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland szed in 1912 that:
A separate parliament for Ireland......would, in our judgement, lead to the ascendancy of one class and creed in matters pertaining to religion, education and civil administration. We do not believe that any guarantees, moral or material, could be devised which could safeguard the rights and privileges of minorities scattered throughout Ireland against encroachment of a majority vested with legislative and executive functions.

Ministers and laymen in the Presbyterian Church were under intense pressure to conform to Unionist orthodoxy, and many were persuaded to sign Carson's covenant in 1912. Armour said 'the terror is so great that some men prefer to sit silent, and say nothing. The right of free speech does not exist in Ulster at present.'
Armour protested against 'bastard Carsonism', and condemned intimidation as a 'kind of leprosy' in the 'atmosphere of a garrison colony'. He jeered at Carson's proposal for an 'Ulster Day' as a 'Protestant fools' day'. He poured scorn on the idea that Ireland might have to be partitioned. Exclusion of the north from an independent Ireland would be 'ruinous to Ulster and Protestants generally'. The proposal was worse than nonsense - 'it was pure insanity' - 'Of all the madcap schemes this is the worst.'
He warned that if the Tories gained control of the northeastern counties they would give no quarter to the Home Rulers they held in their power, regardless of whether they were Protestants or Catholics.
He spoke at the General Assembly of 1913. He made a strong attack on the numerous attempts which were being made to stifle free speech. He suggested that the conservative motion before the house implied that 'no Home Ruler can enter the Kingdom of Heaven'. After six hours debate his supporters lost the debate by 921 votes to 43, with 165 abstentions.

1912
Aug 10th Russell & Mrs McWilliam played in the mixed doubles in Clones LTC.
Sept 7th R McW 50no vs Keady

28 Sept. Solemn League and Covenant signed in Ulster.

In 2nd Ballybay Presbyterian church my grandfather's uncle, Rev. James Morell preached a sermon for the occasion. A full report of this sermon was published in the next issue of the Northern Standard. He text was from the beginning of the twenty third psalm:
The Lord is my light and my salvation, whom shall I fear.
The Lord is my strength and my life, of whom shall I be afraid
Though an host shall encamp against me, my heart shall not fear.
Though men should rise against me, in this will I be confident.

He warned his congregation of the hard struggle to come and gave them three reasons for confidence. In his first reason he alludes to the special character of the Ulster-Scots, 'a Scotsman greatly improved by long residence in Ireland', who have made Ulster the garden of Ireland by their industry. He quotes Lord Rosebury as saying that the 'Ulster-Scots are without exception the most dominant, the most irresistible race that exists in the Universe'. Secondly he points out that the Unionists are supported by the Unionist family in England. His third ground for confidence lies in the support that they receive from the Lord. The link implied with the chosen people of the bible, the Israelites is clear.
The day ended with the singing of God save the King and the signing of the covenant.

NB Ulster Day - 218,206 men & 228,999 women signed the Covenant.

(Virtually all my family signed the Covenant including all four grandparents in Monaghan & Dungannon - see census records. The only names missing were the Rev James Morell who preached the above sermon and my great grandfather, William McWilliam. Perhaps the latter, as a Crown servant felt it inappropriate to participate in what was in effect an act of civil disobedience.)

Text of the Ulster Covenant:
Being convinced in our consciences that Home Rule would be disastrous to the material well being of Ulster as well as of the whole of Ireland, subversive of our civil and religious freedom, destructive of our citizenship and perilous to the unity of the Empire
We, whose names are underwritten, men of Ulster, loyal subjects of His Gracious Majesty King George V, humbly relying on the God whom our fathers in days of stress and trial confidently trusted, do hereby pledge ourselves in solemn covenant, throughout this our time of threatening calamity, to stand by one another in defending for ourselves and our children our cherished position of equal citizenship in the United Kingdom, and in using all means which may be found necessary to defeat the present conspiracy to set up a Home Rule parliament in Ireland
And in the event of such a Parliament being forced upon us, we further solemnly and mutually pledge ourselves to refuse to recognise its authority. In sure confidence that God will defend the right, we hereto subscribe our names.

Nov 9, 1912
New Orange Hall opened
Bro. Russell McWilliam seconded a vote of thanks to chairman, tea-makers and those who contributed to the program.

1913 16 Jan.
Home Rule Bill passes third reading; defeated in Lords, 30 Jan.; passes Commons again, 7 July; defeated in Lords, 15 July.

31 Jan. Foundation of Ulster Volunteer Force.

Clogher Record:
The impact of partition proposals on Co Monaghan xiv, 1 (1991), 41
The organisation of Unionist opposition to Home Rule in Monaghan, Cavan and Donegal. xvi, 1, (1997), 46 by Terence Dooley.

By Jan 1913 in Cavan and Monaghan the Unionist movement was being directed through the Orange Lodges. One third of the rifles in possession of the local UVF were stored in Orange Lodges.
The covenant was signed by 5,000 in Monaghan, 4,600 in Cavan and an estimated 3,000 in Donegal.

By Aug 1913 in Monaghan there were 1,152 UVF members in two battalions.
Divisional Representatives included 3 gentry, 3 farmers, 3 solicitors, 1 land agent and 1 doctor. [PRONI UUC papers D1327/4/18]
Quoted in Ulster Movement against Home Rule:
Landlords were not the sole organisers;
Professional men included ME Knight, Wm Martin, George Ross and Herbert McWilliam, solicitors and CM Stack, AW McGarvey and WJ Atkins, Clergy.

July; 11 1914 Pg 4 ****
Orange & Black Memorial service. Rev Jas Morell - Psalm 3 v6
I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people that have set themselves against me round about. David - old man tested in battle
A Psalm of David when he fled from Absolm, his son ie Saml 15

Sept 12 1914 Pg 3 **** Presbyterians and the war. Jas Morell Rev 6: 3 & 4

Dec 26, 1914 Pg6 **** Obituary of Rev James Morell
Not a great man for the higher courts; good teacher & pastor.

RH Parke d. 1914. About 5 years previously went into partnership with R McW.

1916
Reference to Dr MR Whitla, JP - The Laurels

A fighting family;
Lt Col VJ Crawford DSO RAMC, son of the late Sir Thomas Crawford of Drumbrain, Newbliss and brother of Mrs Henry, The Diamond Clones; Served in the South African War; 5 other brothers of Mrs Henry serving
A son of Dr & Mrs Henry, Capt TR Henry, Royal Irish Fusiliers, is serving in Salonica

1920 Sat. Feb 28th - Home Rule Bill - Six counties exclusion. ?Editorial
10th Mar 1920 - UUC accept 6 county partition
10th Apr - 3-county delegates resign from the UUC.

Lord Farnham in April, 1920.
Our people look upon themselves as betrayed and deserted . . How can we remain members of a body that have plainly told us they don't want us and that we are an encumbrance to them and have . . broken a solemn covenant in order to get rid of us.

Michael Knight, a former member of the UUC standing committee, was equally as vehement that the betrayal of Monaghan Unionists "by those who professed to be their friends" had been "in order to make for themselves places of trust and emoluments".
The government of Ireland Bill, 25th Feb 1920, proposed to set up 2 governments. The decision of the British cabinet to exclude 6 rather than 9 counties was taken at the last minute. On the 10th Mar 1920 the UUC decided to accept the government's offer of a six-county parliament. Attempts to reverse this decision failed and on April 10th the delegates of the three counties resigned from the UUC.

Ulster Unionists and Partition, 1914-23.
Leaflet, Why I voted for the six counties, printed and circulated in April 1920 by Lt-colonel F. H. Crawford (D 1700/5/16):
WHAT WAS MY OBJECT IN SIGNING THE COVENANT?
To prevent Ulster by every means in my power from being placed under a Dublin Parliament, and to "stand by one another" for this purpose only.
Ulster's Solemn League and Covenant.
Being convinced in our consciences that Home Rule would be disastrous to the material well-being of Ulster, as well as of the whole of Ireland (1), subversive of our civil and religious freedom, destructive of our citizenship and perilous to the unity of the Empire,
We, whose names are underwritten, men of Ulster, loyal subjects of His Gracious majesty King George V., humbly relying on the God whom our fathers in days of stress and trial confidently trusted,
DO hereby pledge ourselves in solemn Covenant throughout this our time of threatened calamity (2) to stand by one another in defending (3) for ourselves and our children our cherished position of equal citizenship in the United Kingdom and in using all means which may be found necessary to defeat the present conspiracy (4) to set up a Home Rule Parliament in Ireland.
AND in the event of such a Parliament (5) being forced upon us we further solemnly and mutually pledge ourselves to refuse to recognise its authority.
IN sure confidence that God will defend the right we hereto subscribe our names.
AND further, we individually declare that we have not already signed this Covenant.
1. "Ulster and the whole of Ireland." We had to recede from the "whole of Ireland" and stick to Ulster only, sometime previous to this or we should have lost all.
2. "This our time of threatened calamity." Bill of 1912 and 1914 is referred to. Nothing to do with the present Bill before Parliament.
3. "Stand by one another in defending" Ulster from a Home Rule Parliament, by keeping a strong Protestant Ulster that will ensure a lasting Protestant majority.
4. "Present conspiracy" meaning the Bill of 1912 and Act of 1914. At the time the wording of the Covenant was passed some of our friends had the word "never" in the body of it. At the request of some of those who were in the outlying districts of Ulster (three counties) as well as some local members the text was changed from "never" to "present conspiracy," as it was felt it would be a mistake to pledge ourselves indefinitely as times change and at some future date it might hamper free action. It was thought best to face each crisis as it occurred. On the Committee that passed the final wording of the Covenant, it was distinctly understood at the time that it was the 1912 Bill that the Covenant referred to.
5. "Such a Parliament" refers to the 1912 and 1914 Bill and Act in which Ulster was not recognised in any way, but it was proposed to put her under a Dublin Parliament. In the Bill at present before Parliament, Ulster for the first time is officially recognised as an entity and is offered different treatment.
A solid Protestant Ulster will be a prop in Ireland to the Empire without which the whole Naval strength of England would be jeopardized. A Protestant and Loyal Ulster would be an invaluable jumping-off point for the British Navy and Army if it were found necessary to use them in case of serious trouble in Ireland or elsewhere. This is sufficient justification for supporting the six county policy. The Empire should count for something.
It is Ulster's duty, on this score alone, to see that whatever is left of Ulster must be predominantly Protestant, for the safety of the Empire, even though one county only remained.
I consider that by voting for the six counties I have kept my Covenant both in spirit and in letter. My one object in signing the Covenant was to keep Ulster Protestant, and free from any possibility of becoming a part of a Home rule Ireland with one Parliament in Dublin.
If I had voted for the nine counties I would have been going against both the spirit and letter of the Covenant.
Take for example, a ship that has struck a rock and is sinking. The last lifeboat is pushing off with men and women and children. It is so dangerously full that there is no more room. Several people on the wreck jump over-board, swim for the lifeboat and try to scramble into it, with the result that it begins to sink. If they get into the boat they will go down just as surely as if they had stayed on the wreck, and they will have drowned the lifeboat load of passengers who would have otherwise have had their lives saved.
Surely this is not what our Unionist brethern in the three counties wish to do in Ulster. I do not believe that if they carefully consider the matter that they will wish to drag down the six counties.
Take another situation. Three men are walking on a pier. None of them can swim. One falls into the sea and is being carried away. The remaining two can either jump in and drown with their friend or they can throw him a rope. Standing on the pier they can make a good effort to save their drowning friend. Jumping in all three will be drowned.
For the six counties to jump into an Irish Parliament in Dublin and drown in it with the other three may look heroic, but it would be disastrous to all nine of the counties.
If, however, six strong Unionist Protestant counties hold together on the firm pier of a Protestant Ulster Parliament they will be able to help their brother unionists in the three counties when these need assistance far better than if all nine were in a hopeless minority in an Irish Parliament, as they undoubtedly would be.
There are 890,880 Protestants in the whole of the nine counties of Ulster, there are 70,510 Protestants and 260,655 Roman Catholics in the three counties. I cannot believe the Protestants in the three counties are willing to swamp 820,370 Protestants merely for the satisfaction of knowing they are all going down to disaster in the same boat.

Three county response.
Extracts from a pamphlet, Ulster and home rule. No partition of Ulster, being a statement issued 1 April 1920 by the U.U.C. delegates for Cavan, Donegal and Monaghan _ the figures in square brackets indicate the differences between the three counties' estimate and the most pessimistic U.U.C. forecast of unionist representation in Ulster under proportional representation (D 627/435):

The FIRST occasion on which the value of the Covenant came to be tested was in 1916, when we were in the midst of the war, and when it was represented by the government that for the sake of the Empire, and in order to ensure Victory it was necessary the Irish question should be settled and that the Nationalists were willing it should be settled on the basis of excluding six Counties. The Ulster Unionist Council considered the situation but no one then thought for a moment (serious as the crisis was) of violating the Covenant. All was made dependent on the attitude of the three Counties. We met in a room by ourselves and the Council sat waiting our decision. Had we rejected the proposal that would have been an end of it. We decided, in view of the then alarming state of affairs when the existence of the Empire was at stake; that we would leave the decision in the hands of the representatives of the six Counties. Our determination was recognised as a patriotic act of self-sacrifice, and it was declared that should the matter not go through we should never again be called on to make such a sacrifice. The matter did not go through owning to the attitude of the Nationalists, ad we returned to our former position . . . .
The facts about the three Counties were as clear when the Covenant was signed as they are today, and they have not altered. The position of Ulster remains the same. Why were we asked to come in and sign if, when the emergency comes, we are to be thrown over?
The SECOND OCCASION on which the test of the value of the Covenant was at the meeting of the Ulster Unionist Council on the 10th March, 1920, but what a change? Our consent was not considered then to be necessary. The delegates by a majority rejected a proposal that the Northern area should consist of nine Counties, and limited it to six as proposed in the government Home Rule Bill regardless of our protests. This we bitterly resent, and yet there are excuses to be found.
1. The decision was rushed. Not only had the delegates insufficient time to consult their local associations, except in a few instances, but the meeting itself was hurried. Several delegates, both in the six and the three Counties, who desired to speak being refused a hearing.
2. The meeting was misled. It was represented that a Parliament for the nine Counties would have a Nationalist and Sinn Fein majority. Mr. Moles, M.P., had the hardihood to state that it would consist of 33 Nationalists and 31 Unionists. It was pointed out to him in vain that the population of Ulster was:
Protestants 890,880
Roman Catholics 690,816
Leaving a protestant Majority of 200,064
and that it was impossible a majority of 200,000 should not be able to return a majority of members.
It was further shown that at the last Election for the nine Counties, when the number of members to be elected was 38, the members returned were _
Unionists 23
Nationalists 15
Unionist Majority 8
and that the Election was held on the PRESENT FRANCHISE.
It was further pointed out that the new Bill gives Ulster 64 Members and that if there had been 64 at last Election the numbers would have been:
Unionists 38
Nationalists 26
Unionist Majority 12
All was in vain. Mr. Moles persisted in his estimate but gave no reasons for it except that the result of the last Municipal Election in Belfast was not satisfactory to certain interests there. It was insinuated that the Unionist working men of Belfast could not be depended on as heretofore, and therefore we must be cast out. This is a libel on the Unionist Labour Voters in Belfast. To those who are acquainted with municipal affairs in Belfast it is not surprising that Labour should assert itself in Elections for the Corporation, but to infer from that fact that the sturdy working men of Belfast are not as staunch Unionists as ever they were is not only unjust but untrue. After all why should not Unionist labour be represented in the Belfast Corporation, and even in the Unionist Government, and why are we to be abandoned lest that should happen?
3. No poll of the Council was allowed to be taken, although a poll was claimed, but only a show of hands. If, as should have been done, the votes had been counted, it would have been seen that the majority was a comparatively small one, and we were thankful to see such a large number of the delegates from the Six Counties respect the Covenant they had signed, and are confident that they represent a large majority of the Unionists of Ulster.
4. One argument used was so childish that we hardly like to repeat it. It was said that the Covenant only applied "throughout this our time of threatened calamity" and was only to "defeat the present conspiracy to set up a Home Rule Parliament in Ireland" and that our present position is "a new calamity" and a "new conspiracy"!! and yet the parties who used this argument pointed out that the Bill of 1914 (which the Covenant was entered into to oppose) was on the Statute Book and would come into force unless repealed.
We must, however, do the Council the justice to say that had they not been led to suppose that our inclusion would mean a Nationalist majority they would never have thrown us over, and we feel sure that had the members had time to reflect they would have felt that the decision they arrived at was the very thing the Covenant was intended to prevent. . . .
There is no reason why the historic Province of Ulster should be partitioned. The three Southern Provinces consist of 23 counties with a population of 2,808,523. The population of the nine counties is 1,581,696. If three counties are taken from Ulster the difference between the population of the two areas will be still more marked, viz.,
26 Counties 3,139,688
6 Counties 1,250,531
This latter is too small for a Parliament, and it is bound to become parochial with its 52 Members as compared with 128 for the Southern area. Are not nine counties a small enough area for a Northern Parliament? Anyone looking at the map will see what a ridiculous boundary six counties would present. Donegal cut off with its habours [sic] and rivers and no access to it except through the six counties. Cavan and Monaghan form a natural boundary to the South of Ulster, and Monaghan runs up to a point between Tyrone and Armagh into the very heart of the province.
FIGURES
A majority of 12 in a Parliament of 64 is a good working majority and gives the minority a fair representation.
A majority of 20 in a Parliament of 52 is rather large. It would appear to be unwise that the Northern Parliament should have too great a Unionist majority, just as it is to be deplored that the Southern Parliament should have (and will have) too great a Nationalist majority, if it should contain any unionists at all. The ideal position would be to have a fairly strong Nationalist minority in the North and a fairly strong Unionist minority in the South. If this ideal position cannot at present be effected in the South it can and should be in the North. . . .
An argument that has been used is that the three Counties contain a majority of Nationalists and Sinn Feiners, That is true. But so does Derry City, Fermanagh County, Tyrone County, South Armagh, South Down and the Falls Division of Belfast. Yet no one proposes to exclude them. The truth is that it is impossible to fix upon any exclusively Unionist area. There are more Unionists in the Southern area than there are Nationalists in the three Counties and no provision whatever is made for them. In their case we are told minorities must suffer, but that doctrine seems to be ignored where the minority is a Nationalist one.
The sacrifices already made by the Unionists of the three Counties during the War will surely be recognised.
Belfast is the commercial capital of Ulster. All our trade, business and railways are connected with it. The G N R runs direct from the town of Cavan through the County Monaghan to Belfast. If a barrier is to be erected between our Counties and Belfast it will be injurious to all.
The County Donegal entirely surrounds Lough Swilly, and everyone knows how important it was during the war. The county also runs along one side of Lough Foyle and up to the City of Derry.
It has been said that the traders of Belfast are in favour of the Six County area, but that is not so. They want as large an area as possible to be connected with Belfast for business purposes. The smaller the area the worse for them. It narrows the limits for their travellers, who at present penetrate every town and village in Ulster. The large shipbuilding and linen firms who are not dependent on this do not care how small the Northern area may be if their works in Belfast are safe as their business is worldwide, but the general body of Belfast traders know how they would be hit and that the cost of maintaining a Parliament, Government and Law Courts in Belfast will fall more heavily on six Counties than on nine.
If the Province of Ulster as a whole is established and well governed under a settled Government in Belfast, it will be the greatest inducement to the three Southern Provinces to become settled and well governed also: and will appeal to them in a way that a portion of Ulster round Belfast would not do.
We appeal to our fellow-Unionists in the six Counties not to desert us and not to violate their Covenant when they can take us in with perfect safety to themselves.

 

In many places the local offices of the inland Revenue Commissioners were burned and the files taken away. This took place in Monaghan on Easter Sunday 1920 when five armed and masked men raided the houses of revenue officers William McComb and Patrick Toal.

1920 1 Jan Mon. War Pensions Comm. {R. McW. member - also PP}
2 Jan. First Black and Tans recruited.
Jan 10th - Mon Petty Sessions - R.McW. defending assault case.
15 Jan. Sinn Fein in control 172 out of 206 borough and urban councils in local elections; further successes in June.
**** Jan 17th - Wm. McW. C of C.& P. in attendance.
Feb 7th - R. McW. for defendants - Having a quantity of illegal wash.
Got off - Smell of wash etc. ie. dumped - female defendant v. excited.
NB H McW at Ballybay sessions.

15th Feb 1920 - Attack on the Bellatrain Police Barracks.
Eoin O’Duffy & Ernie O'Malley was present when Bellatrain barracks was overrun. The country barracks were overrun and the IRA were allowed a free run.
Feb. 21st Petty sessions as usual
Sat. Feb 28th - Home Rule Bill - Six counties exclusion. Editorial
10th Mar 1920 - UUC accept 6 county partition
10th Apr - 3-county delegates resign from the UUC.Mon Spring Assizes.
Apr 17th Quarter Sessions - No record of Wm McW present ********
Standard naturally for nine counties
Petty and Quarter Sessions carried on as usual - R McW frequently acting.
1st May Northern Standard Editorial.
In May 1920 the IRA commander of the county, Eoin O'Duffy, was instrumental in having a vote of allegiance to Dail Eireann passed by Monaghan County Council by 20 votes to 4, the first of its type in the country. (Dundalk Democrat)
15th May 1920 - Newtownhamilton police barracks attacked.
23 May Railwaymen's strike begins; refusal to transport troops.
June 5th Mr Bernard McGeough JP, draper, resigns
First to "down tools" in connection with the present political campaign.
June 12th - Petty sessions
June 19th P. sessions.
June 19th - Mon. Quarter Sessions
****** Sub-sheriff, Wm Swan and C of C & P, Wm McW were present.
Only two small (but interesting cases)
20th June Dail courts set up
July 3rd - Petty sessions
Judges travel to Summer Sessions by car
Monaghan - A platoon of soldiers guarding Courthouse
Summer Assizes - (Record Court) - Mr McWilliam, BL
21-4 July Sectarian riots in Belfast (recurrence, with thirty deaths, in Aug.)
July 26th - Petty Sessions
27 July 'Auxiliary' parliamentary force recruited to cope with spreading guerrilla violence.
Aug 7th Report on Sinn Fein Police
"It's a rough life" - fracas SF reinforcements arrived - (late night drinking) - 'others'
9 Aug. Restoration of Order Act.
Aug 14th Petty sessions
28th Petty sessions - no appearance
Sept 4th do
31st Aug - North Monaghan - Arms raid on private houses.
O'Duffy got permission to carry out a general raid for arms on private houses on the night of 31 Aug. 1920. In North Monaghan the homes of Protestants and Hibernians, which had guns, were raided. Some of the occupiers put up fierce resistance. One of the houses raided was that occupied by Herbert McWilliam at Bowelk near Ballybay
2nd Sept 1st recorded Sinn Fein court in C'blayney
Sept - Boycott of Belfast goods adopted by Dail Eireann as a response to the riots and deaths in Belfast.
Note - Sept - Boycott of Protestant traders in town.
A deputation of four, representing a committee of Catholic traders, visited all the shops in Monaghan town with a petition.
We, the undersigned traders of Monaghan town, hereby pledge ourselves not to deal directly or indirectly with Belfast Unionist firms or traders until such time as adequate reparation has been made to the Catholic victims of the recent Belfast pogrom.
Reply of McCaldin to RC traders i.e. No!
In September 1920, in response to the outbreak of riots in Derry and Belfast Dail Eireann imposed a boycott on Belfast products. Monaghan was economically linked to the rest of Ulster and most of the large traders in the towns were distributors for Belfast firms and many of these traders were Protestant. The Catholic traders implemented the boycott but unionists did not. Though only friendly persuasion was used many Nationalists were deterred.
24th Sept - A large meeting representing Unionists all over the county was held in Monaghan town; condemned attacks etc; decision taken to appoint committees with the authority to protect themselves from further attacks.

Oct 1920 - Apr 1921 THE TERROR

During the latter months of 1920 and the first half of 1921 the Auxiliaries and the Black and Tans spearheaded the British governments attempt to break the IRA. They seem to have been based in Castleblayney and their activities don't seem to have spread further north than Ballybay. The sectarian tensions were brought to breaking point between 1919 and the Truce as indicated by the monthly police reports of the County Inspector and the Inspector General.
"There was a serious danger of reprisal if 'Sinn Fein lawlessness' continued to grow unchecked". Unionist patrols were being organised to guard the local Orange Halls.
Oct 15th - still weekly Petty sessions.
25 Oct. Terence MacSwiney dies on hunger strike.
Oct 29th Mon Quarter sessions R McW for defendant in breach of warranty - Lost
The system limped on when people appeared.
1 Nov. Execution of Kevin Barry.
Enrolment of Ulster Special Constabulary
Nov 8th CCP office - Additional expenses incurred attending sessions owing to stoppage of trains.
21 Nov. 'Bloody Sunday'.
Dec 3rd Presb. Church - Ann. social - Chairman Wm McW - Short address
Mrs Mitchell and Miss Morell (?Eva) made presentation to Rev Mr Armour.
10 Dec. Martial law in Cork, Kerry, Limerick and Tipperary.
23 Dec. Government of Ireland Act sets up six-county parliament and administration in North; similar provision for South ignored.

1921 Jan 1st - Ballybay ambush; constable and civilian killed & 3 policemen wounded. Black & Tans retaliate by firing shots into a Newbliss Catholic club.
Jan 28th Monaghan Quarter Sessions - William McWilliam present - Military in occupation of the courts and stringent searches carried out
4 Feb. Craig succeeds Carson as Ulster Unionist leader.
Feb 4th - Death of Lord Rossmore.
March 4th Co. Monaghan Assizes - Stringent security in operation and because of the paucity of cases they only lasted one day - a record. William McWilliam was present.
On 4th March 1921 a train was raided at Inniskeen and the next month another was held up at Glaslough and large quantities of foodstuffs were destroyed.
Mar 11th Rossmore GC AGM. R McW outgoing capt presided
Roslea; Feb, a unionist farmer was shot dead by a party of civilians who came from the Monaghan side. A month later, two Unionists were also shot dead, during a 'general attack by Sinn Feiners on the houses of loyalists'. This was followed by the murder of a Unionist farmer and his son at Drumgarra, in retaliation for the burning below.
Rosslea burnings on March 21st, 1921 - houses of 14 Specials burnt in retaliation for the burning of 10 Catholic houses.
NS April 8 - An all party conference was held at Clones at which a joint committee of leading Unionists and Nationalists pledged to try and preserve peace in their respective districts.
Apr 1st Rescue of Matthew Fitzpatrick from Monaghan Co Hospital
Apr 21st Near Glasslough - Train stopped and burnt out.
Murder of Kate Carroll, middle aged Protestant spinster
May - Election - Six counties Unionists 40/52 - 26 counties SF 124/128
[Last 32 county elections]
6th May After attacks on the barracks of Ballybay and Carrick, there appeared a notice in Carrick 'challenging the whole strength of the Carrick IRA brigade to name a day and a place and there to meet them.
25 May Dublin Customs House burned down.
May 27th 5th Russell & Mrs McW (84) - 6th Herbert & Mrs McW (85)
7 June William McWilliam is corresponding with Dublin Castle re his pension.
Vacancy due to impending retirement of CCP
Position under any settlement arrived at by Peace Conference
June Crown forces at Bessmount - All county Monahan screened, area by area
June 22nd R. McW. and assult case. (H. McW. in Ballybay.)
Geo. Barnes summonsed Oliver Brown for assault. There were cross cases.
R McW for Barnes & John Gillespie for Brown.
Brown throwing gravel out of river. Struck Brown with a shovel.
? Torn hat of Brown - did you chase him home?
22 June Opening of Northern Ireland parliament by George V.
June 24th Mon Q. Sessions Judge Johnston QC
Fri July 8th Mon Summer Assizes ***** Wm McW in attend
Since last Assizes 146 cases ( 76 previous year) - 9 murders 12 attempted.
Record Court Mr Wm McW BL
15th July H McW in Ballybay - Co-op Society (Assizes) looking for damages - Mr R McW instructs Mr Lardner. [ie. In July all McWs were in Monaghan]

Fri 10th June 1921. Monaghan vs. Clones
Russell McWilliam vs Rev. Mr. Smyth
W. Greacen vs Starky
Fr. O'Harte vs C. Murphy
JJ Hannigan vs Baldwin Murphy
Major F Murray vs Irwin McNeill
MGR Lardner vs Campbell
John McCaldin vs Hair
Dr. TP Condon vs John Beatty

Tea afterwards was provided by Mrs McW, McCaldin & Larder.

Fri. July 22nd 1921
Rossmore Golf Club: Rossmore Cup final between Russell McWilliam and Rev. Fr. McConnell (St. Macarten Seminary)
Fr. McC was 8up after the first 18 and won on the fifth - 14up sic.

9 July Truce between IRA and British army.
11 July 1921 TRUCE
Sept 23rd - Applicn for licenses - Those to be notified incl. Wm McW
He also notifies - sitting for taking of accounts wrt Wm Beatty dec'd for 27th Sept.
Sept - Oct - Police reports from KEW.
[23.9.21 NS - No business had been conducted in the Petty session Court in Carrick but a Republician Court on the following Tuesday was inundated with business.]

Police Reports from PRO, Kew

27.9.21 & 2.10.21 - DI Monaghan - Camp at Lough Bawn House, Col Tennyson's house taken over by IRA.
5.10.21 -~200 men marched to Bawn RC chapel. Sentries remained, fixed bayonets. Removed people from seats and occupied them. After service fell in, fixed bayonets and back to camp.
6.10.21 - Irish Indo - While serving civil bills Jas Treanor, Scotstown was badly abused by some unknown persons and all his documents seized. Jas Brown, Clontibret and John Devlin, Emmyvale, ditto
Report: T. probably in collusion; No truth in 2nd two
8.10.21 SF court in Council chambers in Carrick
11.10.21 - 1-200 IRA men took over part of Carrick workhouse within a few hundred yards of barracks - strength 33 men.
11.10.21 - SF Court in 'Blayney workhouse
Presided over - Th Rooney, Jas Quinn, John Coleman. Mssrs Laverty & Smith Solrs.
[Oct 14th - Sinn Fein "Parish Courts" were opened in Dublin on Tuesday 42 N. Gt. Georges st & 41 York st
A Republician court in Omagh - 5 Justices - 2 ex-JPs]
14.10.21 Breach of truce by IRA carrying ammunition, Glasslough, night of 13th.
Arrested Chas Clerken, John McDaid & Jos McCrudden - drunk and disorderly. Clerken had 3 revolver cartridges; 'I got them from a fellow in Monaghan for another fellow' This man is an active member of Donagh Co IRA (rank unknown)
Oct 14th Rate collections; republican courts vs rate payers - (see Sinn Fein Courts) - Ward vs Madden.
15.10.21 - Scotstown - SF court - Parties summonsed for breaches of Belfast Boycott. Entering David Patton's shop & Th Kelly's, Ballinode - Mr Mat Lardner, solr appeared.
18.10.21 -Carrick workhouse - moved away, local IRA still sleeping nightly.
20.10.21 SF court, St McCartan's Hall, Monaghan.
Most cases vs people who purchased Belfast goods in shops of Unionists
Magistrates: Peter Ronaghan, chemist & John F Hughes, baker, Dublin st
DX Keenan, JJ Keenan & M Lardner
Jas McFadden, Old Cross Sq, Head Cons.
NB - Actual printed Saorstat Na h-Eireann Ordinary Civil Bill
Francis McKenna, Plantiff & Frederick Robinson, Farmer, Defendant re 27.15.0
[Oct 21 - Quarter S. - 1 Case. No mention of Wm McW]
21st Oct Boycott of J&J Patton, Glasslough.
This is a report of observations. The boycott was rigidly observed; Five members of the IRA observed; very few RCs entered; met afterwards (? to discuss); List of pickets given.
26.10.21 - SF court in Carrick
27.10.21 -Breaking of Truce
Rifle cartridges made into packages for distribution in lodging-house of Mrs Agatha Clare, Glasslough. Packages given to 100 men near Monaghan. Philip Marron - Lieut. in IRA and recently on the run believed to have issued the ammo and subsequent dispersal
27.10.21 Emyvale - Distribution of arms
[Oct 28th Issue by Ministry - rate collectors arrested - £10,000 due in Mon.
Unionists not paying to non-Crown collectors - sanctioned collectors]
30.10.21 Ardaghy - revolver target practice
31.10.21 Castleblayney - Posted list of those still trading with Belfast - only 3 RCs
2.11.21 Sinn Fein Court in Killylough, AOH Hall, JJ Keenan attd

11 Oct. Conference opens in London.
Nov 25 - 2 Sinn Fein police arrested in Carrick

6th Dec 1921 TREATY

Dec 9th Grand Master of the Grand Orange Lodge counselled restraint and 'defence not defiance', and urged that loyalists do nothing without first consulting their leaders.
Dec 9th******* Advertisement for Encumbrances - Dated 5th Dec (signed Wm McW)
NB No Autumn Assizes
Dec 10th First Mon. Memorial Organ Dedicated
NB - Rev J McW & Wm McW noted as having served.
14 Dec. Debate on Treaty terms begins in Dail Eireann (ends, 7 Jan. 1922).

1922 7 Jan. Treaty approved by Dail Eireann (64 to 57).
9 Jan. Griffith elected President, succeeding de Valera.

16 Jan. Provisional government take over from Dublin Castle.

21st Jan 10 GAA/IRA going to Derry interned
Jan 27th Mon Q. Sessions - Judge Johnston
Military left courthouse and out of country.
3rd Feb - Ballybay - Petty sessions and Parish Courts reported
NB - Post treaty the NS starts regular commentary on both court systems.
Feb 10th - Kidnappings and cross border trouble
11th Feb Specials going from Enniskillen to Newtownards - @ Clones train was attacked and Billy?Matthew Fitzpatrick and 3 specials killed.
Feb. 17th - Death of Billy Fitzpatrick - Monaghan IRA out of control
Collection for Princess Mary's wedding gift - Mrs R & H McW mentioned
[British Judges continued in empty courts till 1924]
Feb 24th - Carrick Petty sessions banned
Mar 24th - Mon District court - 24 cases of the type in old county court
To the end of March
Increase of reporting of Parish Courts in Ballybay & Monaghan (& District Courts)
All McWs lying low
30 Mar. Craig-Collins pact.
The Belfast boycott raised the cost of living and the Collins-Craig pact of January 1922 ending it was greeted with 'jubilation'.
7 Apr. Special Powers Act in Northern Ireland (annually renewed; made permanent, 9 May 1933)
Apr 7th - Parish Court - Lots of cases of illegal/Sunday drinking.
14 Apr. Anti-Treaty forces seize Four Courts, Dublin.
Apr 14th Q. Sessions - Judge Johnston
Note Messrs Keenan & Lardner hard at work in Parish & District courts
NB A couple of notices inserted by Parke & McW.
Apr. 28th N Mon District Court
Solrs in attendance - Henry Murphy, Clones, Daniel X Keenan, JJ Keenan, Major Fitzgerald & James Rountree
****** 2nd May 1922 Notice inserted by Wm McW - C of C & P
May 5th - Spring sitting of N Mon circuit court - Mr Justice Kelly - Sentries from the IRA garrison - armed were on duty
16 June General election in Irish Free State: large majority to pro-Treaty Sinn F‚in. [get members for the county]
28 June Attack on Four Courts by Provisional government (destroyed, with Public Records Office, 30 June): civil war follows.
18th Aug Monaghan bank raid
NB Russell was of course in the county all this time but there are no records of court appearances.
Friday 18 Aug. 1922, a force of 60 Irregulars entered the town. They seized Ronaghan's chemists and opened fire on the courthouse and robbed various banks.
The whole operation lasted 36 minutes and the raiders left via the North road.
9 Sept. Third Dail assembles, William Cosgrave president.
11 Sept. Abolition of proportional representation for local elections in Northern Ireland.
29th Sept NS Editorial welcoming the arrival of the Civic Guards in Monaghan
Oct NS editorial regarding the work of the provisional government as remarkable.
Oct 6th - new born baby strangled in Ballybay by mother - Hit on head and thrown out by her mother - Both subsequently charged.
Oct 17th - Revision of Jurors' lists/1922
Co. Court Judge will open courts for above at Clones Fri 10th
Oct 20th Two week old baby strangled in Mon Co Home Mother & her mother and step-father all charged. Step father wrote to girl planning the killing.
Do we guess that he was the father.
Oct 27th Rossmore GC - Mr Wm McW presents 2 prizes R McW, Mrs McW, H McW
Oct 27th Mon Q. Sessions JW Johnston.
******* Mr McW informed his Honour that there was no business to go before the court.
A sued B for £17 for work not done & calf whose tail dropped off - Mr McW for plaintiff.
2nd May - Oct 27th - Longest absence of Wm McW - 51/2 months.
Only one notice till then in 1922.
Oct 1922 Mr O'Higgins - Stipendiary Magistrates to be appointed; end of District and Parish Courts - County courts continued; end of prejudice re former 'British Courts'. These courts are now Irish.

Nov - 27 District Justices sent out
Nov 10th - Special and first sitting of new Court of Petty Sessions (sic) in Ballybay before Mr MJ Hannon BL Preliminary discussion to get in order Special court
Ballybay child Murder charge - Mary Anne Tate & her mother Eliza with murder
Herbert McWilliam for defendants (Was he the first solicitor in the state to appear before the new District Court?)

Same paper - announcements of new courts
******* 5th Dec - 5 notices by Wm McW C of C & P (such activity)
Dec 15th First Business sitting of Monaghan District Sessions
As usual - Poteen prosecution
2 reports of death due to drinking poteen.
Again a bunch of notices inserted by Wm McW.

17 Nov.-2 May 1923 Seventy-seven republican prisoners executed.

1923 5th Jan Clerk of Crown & Peace for Cavan (HH Moore) attacked but beat off attackers.
JJ Keenan - State solicitor for Monaghan - congrat by Judge Johnston
Fri Jan 26th - Mon Criminal Court of Q. Session held at Clones court before County Court Judge Johnston.
****** Wm. McW CPS in attendance. Clones because Mon Courthouse occupied by military
Feb 2nd. Mr McW appeared in case before District Justice Hannon - Case of egg theft.
Feb 9th - Clones Petty Sessions - Gt. Northern Railway
ME Knight for company, H Murphy for defend.
Rebels raid Ballyconnell (Co Cavan)

1st Mar Letter to MA Knight from the Commanding Officer of the Irish Army - Monaghan Brigade.
Solicitors instituting or defending proceedings in enemy courts or appearing in or recognising such courts without having obtained a permit from the Minister of Home Affairs, Republican government, to do so, to be liable to a fine of £100 for the first offence since publication of the Proclamation of Nov 21st 1922. Appeal if any to Minister of Home Affairs to be lodged within 48 hours from time of payment of fine. If offenders refuse to give undertaking to desist and continue their activities, their residence will be destroyed. If after this action they still continue they will be shot.

Mar 9th Notice dated 28th Feb - Representation of people Act
******** (signed) Wm McW - Registration Officer Mon.
Also Notice signed as C of C & P - 5th Mar Same notices appear in Mar 16th issue
Ballybay District court - H McW
Mar 30th R & H McW playing at Rossmore
R McW defending a poteen Case:
Mrs McKenna (70 yrs or more). Son member of old Republician police & the material had been seized in this context intending to prosecute - Case dismissed.
Note - Ballybay district court - H McW appearing regularly.
Mon Courthouse occupied by military therefore R McWs appearances limited naturally.
Apr 1st Customs introduced
April - the irregular campaign starts to collapse - Stack captured etc.
Apr 20th Clones Q Sessions - Judge Johnston - ME Knight , Wm McW C of C & P Mr PJ Magee Registrar also present.
27 Apr. De Valera orders suspension of republic campaign; arms dumped in May. Civil War ended
May 25th R McW defending poteen case in District Court.
6th June - 3 Notices by Wm McW C of C & P
22 June Northern Ireland Education Act setting up non-denominational schools opposed by Presbyterians and boycotted by Catholics.

Extracted from an article by Gordon Lucy: Northern Standard 20 July 1923

The Twelfth in Monaghan, 1923

How They Kept the Twelfth
County Monaghan Demonstrations

Perfect Peace and Harmony

The Orangemen of County Monaghan supplemented by strong contingents from East and West Cavan, met under peaceful and harmonious conditions at Clones on Thursday last to celebrate the 12th July anniversary, just as the Orange Society has done for the past two centuries or more, with but small interruption. There have been prophecies both within and without the ranks of the Orange Society that the setting up of the Free State would see the end of these annual demonstrations, but the meeting at Clones on Thursday was a fitting answer to those forebodings.
Special and ordinary trains brought large contingents from all outlying districts, in Cavan and Monaghan, whilst large numbers came by road. At the railway station a huge procession of about 50 lodges was marshalled into line by various stewards, and a start was made for the place of meeting at Killacoona, about two miles from the town. Passing through the town all business was suspended and a friendly feeling of welcome seemed to possess the spectators who viewed the processionists from the windows and sidewalks. Arriving at the famous beauty spot at Annalore the rendezvous was reached by passing along an avenue of trees whose branches formed much desired shelter from the boiling sun.
The field was placed at the disposal of the brethren by the Very Rev. Dean Haire-Foster and Brother A.Y. Knight, and at the meeting Brother M.E. Knight, County Grand Master of Monaghan, presided.
Reverend Canon Ruddell, M.A., opened the proceedings with prayer. Brother M.E. Knight, County Grand Master, presided and accompanying the Chairman on the platform were Brother W. Martin, Deputy County Grand Master, and Mrs. Martin, Brothers T.W. Hanna, Worshipful Master, Monaghan District; John Holdcroft, Deputy Master; Joseph McCaldin, District Secretary; Joseph Walker, Deputy Master, Truagh; Reverend Percentor Given, Worshipful Master , Dartrey District; Reverend Canon Ruddell, B.A., Clones; Reverend E.W. Bigger, Worshipful Master, Ballybay; Alex Hazlett, Worshipful Master, Mullapike; Joseph Walker, Glasslough; Messrs. John Skelton, Clones; Thomas Hayes, J. Gillespie, George Knight, and Mr. G. Knight, R. J. Williamson, etc. etc.
The Chairman who was received with enthusiasm, expressed his pleasure at presiding once more over such a large and representative gathering of the Orangemen of the county. They were met to celebrate the great victory at the Boyne, which secured for them all creeds and classes the priceless heritage of civil and religious liberty (Cheers). In welcoming them there he desired especially to welcome the brethren from County Cavan. They also had passed through deep waters, and had seen troublous times. (Hear, hear.) Looking around on that great assembly he could not but think that the Divine blessing rested on them both in Monaghan and Cavan. (Cheers) He was deeply sensible of the responsibility which rested on him in regard to his position in the Institution as Grand Master of Monaghan, and he proposed to say a few words to them on the present situation as it presented itself to him. (Hear, hear) It was not with the object of gaining their applause that he was going to speak to them. But in the first place he wanted to say something in answer to criticisms which he understood had been passed on the decision to hold a meeting that day. It had been said that the demonstration and their church parades on the previous Sunday were held on permission. He said there was not a word of truth in that statement. Permission was not asked of anyone, and he did not consider any permission necessary. (Hear, hear) Every step affecting their institution was taken only after careful consideration by the County Grand Lodge, which was representative of the whole county, and he might say that the decision to hold that meeting was absolutely unanimous. It appeared to him that those members of the Institution who criticized their actions were only looking for an excuse to abstain from identifying themselves with the Order, as he knew no reason why they should not celebrate the July anniversary that year as they had done in the past. (Hear, hear.)
They had had their Twelfth of July demonstrations uninterrupted for years, with the exception of some of the years of the great war when it would have been unseemly to hold such meetings. Last year because of the disturbed state of the county they as Orangemen did not wish to give any cause or excuse for trouble, and therefore abandoned their usual meeting.
* This article first appeared in "New Ulster", No. 32, Autumn 1997, pages 27 - 29, official publication of the Ulster Society

Groundless Forebodings

Now, that the county had reverted to more settled and peaceful conditions, at which every well-disposed person would rejoice, they saw no reason why they should not resume, their normal custom and hold their meetings in accordance with their usual practice. They met - law abiding and orderly - and in exercise of their civil and religious liberties and he was glad to say that the forebodings of a handful of dissatisfied people had proved groundless. When he looked at the gathering, which included everything that was best in their society in the county, had every hope that the celebrations would go on and prosper and be a real instrument for good in the county, standing for the protection and promotion of the Protestant faith and the safe-guarding of the interests of their people generally. (Cheers) That naturally led to the consideration - What was to be the future position and attitude of their people under the altered conditions in that country, and especially in that county? They opposed with all their strength the changes which had taken place in the Constitution, and in that contest they could say they fought with clean hands. They had nothing to reproach themselves with, nothing to regret but the fact that they were not successful. They were under a Constitution which was not of their choice and for which they were in no way responsible, but having done all they could, were they under the changed circumstances to disappear as a party in the county? Cries of 'No'. He unhesitatingly said 'No', and that view, he believed, found substantial support amongst their people (Cheers.) They formed a considerable minority.

Substantial Interest at Stake

They had substantial interests at stake. Their homes and their associations were all here and here they were compelled to remain. The Free State Government had promised to respect the liberties and rights of minorities, and he for one was in favour of taking their proper place in the community and insisting upon fair treatment for those they represented. (Hear, hear.) In recent years their people in that county had acted with a dignity and courage beyond all praise. Many suffered grievously but the wicked policy of reprisals found no sympathy amongst them. (Hear, hear.) When the Free State Government was attacked and obstructed by those whose support they were entitled to expect the Orangemen acted in an exemplary manner. They were law-abiding and peaceful, and he thought it must be conceded that their example in many ways, notably payment is lawful demands for rates and such like, had a beneficial influence in the county. (Hear, hear.) He dare say there were people who said, "You will have the British back". Well, to such he would say he feared they were under a delusion. They owed nothing at all to British statesman. (Cheers.) To them was due the present position in which they had in that part of the county found themselves. Three years ago at a July meeting he said, that they in that county had to rely upon themselves alone. He was more convinced than ever that that was true. He believed that by standing lawful, law-abiding people they could create and build up for themselves and for those who would come after them a strong position in that county, and without any sacrifice of those principles for which they had always stood, emerge a strong, self-reliant and respected section of the community. (Cheers.)
Continuing the Grand Master said a resolution would be submitted to them dealing with present position of affairs, and he could anticipate that it would meet with their unanimous approval. It dealt with matters which vitally affected them as Orangemen. The speaker then brought before the meeting the claims of the Orphan Society on their generosity.

Recognition of Rights

Brother William Martin, Deputy County Grand Master, moved the following resolution: "That on this anniversary of the Battle of the Boyne the Orangemen of County Monaghan, as citizens of the Free State, which forms an integral part of the British Empire, reaffirm our adherence to the principles of civil and religious liberty secured by that victory for ourselves and others. We welcome the declared intention of the Free State Government to extend freedom of thought and action to men of all creeds and their expressed desire to recognize the rights of minorities. As representatives of an Institution whose members are pledged to recognize duly constituted authority and who have always been identified with the support of law and order, we trust that the efforts of the Government to suppress crime and lawfulness may meet with speedy success. Standing as we do for the maintenance of Protestantism, we claim due recognition of our rights, to adequate representation on public bodies; and in particular a voice in formulating the educational policy of our native land.
Brother William Martin, in the course of an able and humorous speech, said some people thought that the necessity for such demonstrations in the Free State had passed, but in his opinion, the necessity of holding them was greater than ever. Obviously, remembering the characters of the 'Pilgrim's Progress', he said, many more might have been with them, but for those he might call the 'faint-hearted' and those whom he might call 'Mr. Facing-both-ways'. (Laughter.) Mr. Faint-hearted thought something would happen if they held a meeting in the Free State - although he did not know exactly what that happening might be - but he (the speaker) had got hope for Mr. Faint-hearted. Regarding Mr. Facing-both-ways he did not care so much about him. (Cheers.) If Mr. Facing-both-ways thought it would be popular he would have been there. (Laughter.) Next year he thought these people might have altered their minds.(Cheers.) There were of course some that had been with them in the past that they missed and for whom there would have to be some excuse, some of these people were good, and some middling. (Laughter.) It would be interesting to know why some of these people were not there.
Perhaps their heart failed them; perhaps they wanted to 'wait and see'. (Laughter.) Mr. Knight had been good enough to the Free State to hold this demonstration. I dare say that if that application had been made and granted Mr. Facing-both-ways might have been with them. (Laughter.) Proceeding, the speaker said they all knew that since they had met before the Union which has so long existed had disappeared. The Union they had supported had gone. That portion of the plank might be gone, but the platform was there still. (Cheers.) Protestantism in the past had to be supported and they were coming back to much the same condition of things again. 'Are we faint-hearted' the speaker asked 'are we afraid, (No, no.) They would all agree the speaker went on - that the ancestors suffered more than they had done or were willing to suffer. Some had thought that when the Union was gone that they (the Orangemen) would go too, but that was not so. In Australia, in Canada, in many other parts of the world, and even in the United States, there was to be found the Orange Institution, which stood out for far more that the old opinions, and there were hundreds of thousands in the Colonies who had so much incentive to induce them to remain true to their principles. What they stood for was the maintenance of Protestantism, and they locally asked no more from the Free State Government, than they should be allowed to observe their rights. They have never asked nor did they require any sympathy more than what was given to anyone else, but they claimed the right to law-abiding people to live here. A right that every true citizen was entitled to enjoy so long as he kept within the law. Whether the Constitution of the Free State was to their liking or not, it would be in their own interest to respect the laws. If the Free State Government carried out all the promises that they had made in the past, that was all they asked or required. Those promises provided for free and equal rights for all denominations, that every one could live up to the full measure of his religious belief. Those (the speaker said) were similar to the principles for which they had fought for in the past. They were well aware that the new Free State Government since its foundation, had been very much hampered, and that it was obliged to keep up a very big army, and to spend a lot of money in paying that army. The Free State was in no doubt in an awkward difficulty. They knew too that army was not created to keep their people in bounds, or to pay any attention to them. If every one had been as law-abiding as the Orange Society there would have been no need at all for an army. They only asked to be allowed to observe their rights, they were law-abiding, and if all the other classes of citizens in the Free State had been blessed with principles similar to theirs no money would have to be spent on the upkeep of the army. (Cheers.) They as Orangemen would continue to support law and order, and would give the Free State no trouble, so that the Government would be able, so far as they were concerned to devote their entire attention to the development of the country, and to its welfare as a whole. (Hear,hear.)

Nothing Aggressive

Reverend Precentor Given, seconding the resolution, said he had figured on County Monaghan platforms for forty years, and urged the brethren to act up to the principles of their Order. There was nothing aggressive or criminal, he said in those tenets, nor was there anything in them that would lead to harm being done to a neighbour no matter what religion or persuasion that neighbour belonged. (Hear, hear.) Orangemen, he declared, had been the best citizens of Ireland all through its history, and not one of them had ever been found to have done an underhand act such as lying behind a ditch for the destruction of his fellowman. (Cheers.)

Orangemen and Reconstruction

Brother Alexander Hazlett, in supporting the resolution, said some people had been wondering what the Orangemen in the country were going to do in the future. It had been said that there was no hope for them, and that there was no use in their holding meetings, but that large gatherings had given them a lead, and that was to 'carry on'. (Cheers.) The Union had been broken, but they still formed part of the community of nations known as the British Empire. They were not going to be sulky boys in the corner. They had to live in the country and they meant to make the best of it. (Applause.) The resolution was then passed with acclamation.
On the motion of Brother T.W. Hanna, seconded by Brother James Walker, a warm vote of thanks was passed to the Very Reverend Dean Haire-Forster and to Brother A.Y. Knight for kindly placing the grounds at their disposal for the meeting.
A vote of thanks was also passed to the Grand Master for presiding.
In responding, the Grand Master congratulated them on the splendid success of their meeting which he said, was the most satisfactory they had ever held at any period in the history of the Institution of the county.
Subsequently the procession was reformed, and with banners flying and bands playing the brethren marched back to Clones where the various contingents took trains for several destinations.

Civic Guard Regulates Traffic

During the day Inspector Rochford, Monaghan, and a large number of the Civic Guard were on duty and rendered valuable assistance in regulating traffic, which at times would have become completely out of hand were it not for their prompt efforts. They did their work well, and there was not the slightest mishap. The crowd was most orderly and required no attention from the Guards.
Some seizures of intoxicating drink were made by the Civic Guard from persons who had a stock of same on the roadside in addition to the mineral displayed for sale. The offenders will probably be dealt with at the next District Court.

Appendix

The following were the names of some of the lodges that took part:
Monaghan No. 2 District: - Smithboro 341 W.M., Thomas Hall; Ballingall 367, W.M., D.J. Clarke; Mullaharagh 779, W.M., T.W. Hanna; Watts Bridge 967, W.M., R. McEndoo; Feragh 589, W.M. S. McAllister; Annahagh 809, W.M., John Clarke; Loyst 590, W.M., Jas. Burton; Tyraden 388, Thos. J. Reid; Ballinode 272, W.M., A. Leonard; Monaghan 155, W.M., W. Smith; Monaghan 1142, W.M., J. Roberts. The officers of the Monaghan District were: Messrs. T. W. Hanna, W.M., John Holdcroft, D.M., and James McCaldin, secretary.
Truagh No. 1 District: - Glaslough 151, W.M., J. Walker; do 47, W.M., W.J. Eakins; Mullapike 583, W.M., Alex Hazlett; Hand and Pen 597, W.M., Wm. Garland. The officers of Truagh District were Messrs. Jas. Walker, Robert Birch and Alex Hazlett.
Clones District: - Clones 365; Clones 586; Clones 715; Longfield 751.
Ballybay No. 7 District: - Ballybay 211, W.M., Reverend Mr. Bigger; Aughnamullen 629, W.M., R. Fox; Clontibret 771, W.M., W. Cage; Braddox 949, W.M., S. Boyd; Corlea 953, W.M., J. McCrory. Ballybay District officers were Messrs. D. McMahon, W. Gage, and A. Miller.
Castleblayney District: - Scotch Corner 601, W.M., R. McChusney.
Dartney District No. 3: - Rockcorry 519, W.M., R. Harrison; Corragarry 718, W.M., W. Sloan; Druate 266, W.M., G. McGernon; Lissarley 1805, W.M., C. Welsh; Eight Tates 499, W.M., J. Lester; Cruminan 193, W.M., T. Lyons; Doohat 264, W.M., W.Bole. The following were the officers for Dartney District: - Reverend Precentor Given, W.M., Samuel Dixon, D.M., R. Gernon, secretary.

Lodges were also present from Drumalure and Cloverhill, County Cavan.

24 July Land Commission replaces Congested Districts Board.
Aug 3 1923 - Clones District Court - Mr H Murphy examined Dr. W Henry MCH
Aug 8th Wm McW registrn Officer.

Aug 31st - 1st Notice signed Wm McW C of P
I assume that by this time normal business has been resumed.
Sept 7th - R McW defends another poteen case
Sept 28th - Legal point arising from above - Had correct process been followed
Back to Acts of 1831 & 1857 - Lost and appeal followed.
By end of year R McW back to full flow; It would appear that the establishment of the District Courts etc. was what restored normality
Nov 23rd Dail Eireann (Winding Up) Commission sitting at Mon Courthouse - Davitt.
26th Nov Wm McW office - Mill st. Looks like recent change from North Rd/or was this when he sold Corlatt and moved back to live in the North rd.

1924

Irish Times 3rd Jan,1924 Poteen case – R McW defended
May 1924 - Courts of Justice Act establishes legal system for Irish Free State.
1925 Jan 30th Electoral Act, 1925
Wm McWilliam, Registration Officer. (elsewhere Clerk of the Peace)

27th Feb Peter Treanor, Bragan - Possession of poteen - R McW defended. Amt too small to be analysed.
Mar 20th - Gola estate trouble. Assault and false imprisonment in Scotstown Sinn Fein Hall - R McW defended.
April 17th Ballybay Bernard Clerkin (H McW) sued for a gun removed at gun point. Defendant didn't show and was fined £5.
24th July - Appeal against above fine. Minister for Justice investigating such cases.
Also GNR summoned Peter Finlay, cattle dealer for threatening and obscene language towards the stationmaster.
24th April Fight for washstand - 2nd hand
8th May - follow up - R McW for Connolly vs McKenna.
Latter paid £2 fine for trespass after bargaining.
June 5th Boundary Jurisdiction James Johnston, Rough Hill, Co Monaghan injured James Boyle, Tuttymore, Co Fermanagh.
Assault was 200 yards over the border. Could only be tried in the Northern courts.
17th July Border Traders hardship Use of unapproved roads or add on an extra thirty miles. R McW defended. 8 cases of eggs; 1 box - 64 tablets of carbolic soap; 3 boxes - each 1 doz tins of boot polish

31st July. Following raid by joint force of RUC and Civic Guards along the border area from Moy bridge to Roslea.
Michael Treanor & sons John and Patrick of Clonkeen, Emyvale. Possession of still and still head. It was argued that they were parts of a windmill to scare crows - "Probably the only one of its kind in the world." The case was adjourned for two weeks to allow reconstruction of the device. This was done and the defendants acquitted.

Irish Times 13th Aug – Monaghan girl’s sad story
31st Aug Richard Sloan, Creggan, Emyvale - part of same raid - possession of a revolver. Property of nephew in RUC. œ10 fine and one day detention.
7 Nov. Findings of Irish Boundary Commission leaked; agreement to maintain existing border, 3 Dec.
Nov. 13th Owen McKeown, Dooskey, Clontibret (R McW) sued Margt Keenan, Drumnart for œ5 damages for trespass of cattle on plaintiff's lands. NB A witness for the defendant admitted being a principle witness in a shebeening case when a fine was imposed and paid.
1926 18 Apr. Census: population of Irish Free State, 2,971,992; of Northern Ireland, 1,256,561.

Aug 27th County Registrars (Henry Murphy) replace Clerk of Crown & Peace
Registrars to Circuit Court as C of C & P was to County Court incl. revision of lists of voters and jurors.
15th Oct - Wm McWilliam retired

1927 3rd June Death of William McWilliam. - died at Comber.
Christian gentleman - honourable - Large attendance of the legal profession and of people of all creeds and classes of the town.

*** Wm Armour - 1st Cor. 6th Ch.
Vi “Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unjust, and not before the saints”.

Vii “Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? And if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters”.

Viii “Know ye not that we shall judge angles? How much more things that pertain to this life?

Viv “If then ye have judgements of things pertaining to this life, set them to judge who are least esteemed in the church”.

Vv “I speak to your shame. Is it so, that there is not one wise man anong you? No, not one that shall be able to judge between his brethren?

& said, "He was not one who talked much about spiritual matters, he had a good deal of that fine reticence which is one of the characteristics of the men of our faith".

Northern Standard – 1834.

1934, Jan 5th Sympathy to Dr MR Whitla on death of brother, Sir William Whitla. Educated at Model under famous Master McEntee with DC Rushe as a classmate.
(Rushe 1852-1928)

1934, Jan 12th An editorial on the state of the nation criticises De Valera’s Economic War.

1934, Jan 19th Henry Murphy, Co. Registrar mentioned. Russell McW defending a case of larceny.

1934, Feb 7th Mr John McNally, chairman of Monaghan Urban Council, welcomes impending visit of O’Duffy.

Tuesday 13th Feb Gen O’Duffy arrives in Monaghan to prepare for Sun 18th meeting

Mr John McNally (Mon UDC) spoke after O’Duffy at Ballyocean
Wet night at Newbliss – O’Duffy and Toal spoke + Dr VD Kearns (in blue shirt)

Feb 16th – O’Duffy referred to statements by Mr Sean Moylan FF TD West Cork
Quoted O’Malley – latter in charge etc
O’Duffy refuted and claimed he led from the front etc – first against the guns and first into breach in walls

O’Malley (in book) is quoted as saying that ‘he writes good reports’.

Sunday, 18th Feb – Monaghan

Senator Toal proposed a vote of thanks
Mr Baldwin Murphy, solr, Clones seconded a vote of thanks.
He said that “he presided at the first meeting held in the county in Clones. He supported the Fine Gael movement and glad to chair meeting in the county town. He couldn’t express an opinion on the leaders of the government in years gone by but could w.r.t. the previous 2 years.
The economic war was foolish, highly/exceedingly and they all knew because no matter what walk of life or what business they were in, all were paying dearly for it".

Speakers: Mr J Coburn, TD, Gen Mulcahy, TD, (blueshirt), Mr P Belton, TD & Prof Tierney
Blueshirt meeting

Procession formed on North road – O’Duffy and prominent Fine Gael leaders – 1,500 marched, most in Blueshirts, incl lots of young ladies – blue shirts & black berets

Incident in Old Cross Sq – man injured & Guards drew batons
Meeting in Church Sq – 3 hours speeches
Chair by Patk Maklin, MCC and Chair of Mon branch of Fine Gael
Mr P McEntee, Town Clerk – address from Urban council
Non-political address given to him by Francis Duffy, chair of Urban Council.
Dr McNally , President Co Exec, Fine Gael

O’Duffy not polite to Dr Ward – said FF only became Republican when Black and Tans left.

NS gives a full report on the proceedings but absolutely avoids taking an editorial position even though it is critical of the government.

Northern Standard - 1935.
Jan 4th Connolly vs. Cosgrove - Ballybay ?which McW.
[Also Mar 15th]

Jan 25th - Men (Mon. Harps Gaelic Football Team) in blazing motor car. R.McW. for defendant.
May 3rd - More of above case.
Feb. 15th - Row over a hen.
Feb 22nd - Owen McKenna & Peter Mullen of Knockbalum for having been in possession of a quantity of poteen. R.McW. defended.
(NB ? Guards cycling without lights)
McKenna fined £6 for a bottle which he tried to lose.
Mar 15th - Unlicensed dance hall at Emyvale.
Brown sugar in prohibited area. 25lb for 'putting an elder on a cow'. No evidence of poteen making - £2 fine.
Peter Owens (young lad) Scotstown. 2 gal. poteen and a worm and still head. R. McW. for owner o crt from which spirit was seized (boy's uncle)
? fine or prison. i.e. prison an absolute bar for the States.
Ballybay ? which McW. - Smuggling of sausage cases.
Mar 29th - Cow killed by car.
Apr. 12th - Emyvale poteen case - 4 men, 2 pints of poteen. R. McW. defends.
Wife sues husband for maintenance.
Ballinode Hiring Contract - 6 month contract, worked 3 months and then his mother died - £2 comp & £1 costs.
May 3rd - Comp for not having house in repair. Larceny of turf.
May 10th - Widow awarded £230 - husband died in factory accident. Workman's Comp. Act.
May 10th - Rebecca Phair vs. Joseph Hill to recover possession of her house and farm - R.McW. for her. Promises of marriage etc. Judge found him to be a bad lot and ruled for her.
May 24th - Rub for an old man's pains - Poteen of course.
June 7th 1935 - Mixed bathing at Ballybay - Condemned by Town Commissioners - Set alternate times at Leslie Lake.
[Contrast with Rev James Morell over a century earlier, possibly with reference to the same lake.]
July 5th - John & Thomas Connolly, Derryarrat, Scotstown - a gallon of wash found on land. (Habit to conceal it on other's land) Case dismissed.
July 12th - Edward Doran, Edenmore, Emyvale - Still etc. found in his house - admitted charge - £10 or two months prison.
July 26th Post 12th troubles in Belfast - 7 dead. Limerick Protestant Church burned down. In Clones Masonic Hall, Pringle Memorial Hall & Plymouth Brethern Hall burned down. [Daddy appears to have been in Donegal.]
Aug 30th - 1 Cwt. Maize smuggled at Moy bridge - Alleged interest in poteen.
œ100 fine for meal worth 6/-.
Sept 27th - Cavan won 2nd All Ireland.
Oct 4th - Cattle stealing. R. McW. for two of the defendants - Dealt with summarily - pleaded guilty - 4 months prison.
Oct 25th - Lord Carson dead.

Summary of 1952 in Northern Standard
Rural electrification was switched on over an area of 25 square miles round Scotstown.

1953 2nd Jan - Death of Russell McWilliam - Obit. 9th Jan.

Jan 16th. Housebreaking charge.
Peter McCague - pleaded guilty - 9 months.
Peter McCaul (defended by James McWilliam) pleaded not guilty to this and a charge of receiving a stolen watch - 3 months/appeal.
Feb 13th accident - cyclist/van.
Ballybay - neither insurance, tax not driving licence. J.McW. defended.
Mar 13th Judge Eugene Sheehy at Circuit Court. Tribute to R.McW.
Also assault case - H.McW. instructed by Parke & McWilliam
July 31st - 70 year old beaten and robbed (£17). Itinerants camp raided and 3 men arrested. Pleaded guilty at Cootehill court. Itinerants demonstrated at court and barracks.

1953 Aug 28th Statement of Bishop O'Callaghan in NS. Dancing to cease at 12 under pain of sin.
Oct 9th Monaghan Librarian and little censors.

Nov 20th. Death of Wm. Armour BA. (born Belfast 29th 1879)
Dec 4th Memorial at 1st Mon.
Dec 4th. Famed Hungarian producer and playwright. Death of Rudolf Bernauer.
Father of Mrs. Desmond Leslie, Glaslough.

1957.

Saturday, 12 June 1954 - Raid on Gough Barracks in Armagh.
Saturday, 27 Dec. 1954 - Gun battle in Roslea RUC station.
11 Nov. 1956 - Six customs stations along the border destroyed.
12 Dec. 1956 - Several explosions in different parts of the six counties.
As the white Christmas of 1956 approached the British army began blasting the many unapproved roads leading into Northern Ireland.
1 Jan. 1957 - Raid on Brookeborough RUC station in Fermanagh. Sean South from Limerick and Fergal O'Hanlon were killed. Thousands turned out in Clones and Monaghan to meet their remains. Monaghan urban and county councils passed a vote of sympathy to the O'Hanlon family. The funeral in St. Macartan's Cathedral was attended by Paddy Mooney and Eddie Kelly T.D.'s.
Violence in the North eased after the introduction of internment in the Republic in July 1957.
Explosion at Moy bridge between Emyvale and Aughnacloy [? Date 1961].
General election in March 1957. Eineachan O'Hanluain (abstentionist Sinn Fein) won a seat from FF. McWilliam (FG) was bottom of the poll with 425 votes.

July 1960 - Vocational Education Committee, vote for chairman. Reverend R.W. Heavener, the outgoing vice-chairman, lost on a sectarian vote.

1957 Jan, 4th - The remains of Fergal O'Hanlon arrived in Monaghan town from Clones at ~ 7.30 pm. The crowd was estimated at 4,000. All business houses closed doors at 7pm. All blinds were drawn
Jan 11th Monaghan Urban Council - Vote of sympathy with his family; Heasty associated with the vote.
Jan 11th - Report of oration at his graveside - pg 5
pg 6th - Broadcast by John A Costello;
It is the deep and earnest conviction of my colleagues and myself that Partition cannot and never will be ended by force.
Response by Dev
Unauthorised Military Body would "Pave the way to Anarchy and Ruin".
Jan 17 & 25 - Man sentenced in District Court - refusal to account for movement and possession of firearm.
NB Discussion of IRA manifesto in Clones and +ve tone of some members.

General Election called for Mar 5th.

Committee Rev W Heron & WJ McWilliam and JW Gordon appointed to investigate possibilities of organising training courses within the Presbytery to supplement the correspondence course of GA.

Sunday 10th Feb. - FG nominations in Ballybay - No room for speech by H McW
Feb 15th - Speech by H McW
No particular economic material ie. the government is doing well and FF has no new policies. Stated party line wrt "troubles" with a dig at FF TDs who supported local motions (Paddy Mooney?) in opposition to Devs stated line.

Nominations
Kelly, Mooney & (Brennan)
Dillon & (McWilliam)
Eaneachan O'Hanlon.
Robert Houston (Independent Farmer)

HR McWilliam
Proposed: Wm Black, Mill st, Monaghan.
Seconded: Emily McKean, Laragh, C'blayney.
Assentors:
RH Mills, Sylvester Healy 'blayney, Edre Henry, John B Fitzpatrick, Aghagola, Scotshouse, John James McArdle, Mullaghmonaghan, WJ McW, John Baldwin Murphy, Patrick D Mitchell, Tullyrain, Shantonagh.

Robert Houston, Independent Farmer, Clones.
Proposer; ME Knight
2nd ; James Haslett
Assentors
Derrick Martin, Robert Montgomery, Church Sq James Wilkinson, North Rd. Fred McConkey, Clones, James Young, Jackie Strattan & Geo Henderson, all Clones.

Votes
Brennan 3,132
Dillon 5,894
Houston 3,594
Kelly 2,788
McW 425
Mooney 4,719
O'Hanlon 4,791

Belfast Newsletter - Mar 5 (Tues) - Grievances against government - high unemployment and loss of trade in towns. (Overall 4 Sinn Fein seats {2 in prison} and 65,000 votes.)

Mar 8th
Pastoral by Dr O'Callaghan; Physical force cannot heal but only aggravate.

Mar 8th - Monaghan Presbytery: election to committees
Mar 15th: Bridge near Roslea destroyed.

Fri June 28th - Clogher Diocesan Synod meeting at Clones.
Protest vs Co Wexford Boycott.
Rt Rev Dr Tyner - Bishop
Perhaps more ominous had been the sporadic emergence of a Communist type of "collective punishment" in the form of a sectarian bias & social persecution such as at present operated vs inoffensive members of their church in Wexford.
ME Knight proposed resolution.

July 5th 1957 Presbytery of Monaghan - unanimous resolution
The Presbytery of Monaghan express their delight at the good relations that continue to exist between the Presbyterians and the Roman Catholic brethren. The Presbytery regret that the same good spirit is not prevailing in Fethard-on-Sea. While deprecating the utterly un-Christian spirit of the boycott there, the Presbytery express the hope that all religious and civil authorities will do their utmost to put an end to this blot on the otherwise good relations that exist elsewhere in our land between Roman Catholics and members of other churches.

[Boycott started early May]
Newtownbutler - 12th parade
Viscount Brookeborough NI PM
1 No retaliation for attacks - Unionist community has shown restraint.
2 The unhappy events in F-on-S unhappy reminder to the loyalists of Ulster as to what could happen if NI was submerged in an All Ireland Republic.
The boycott has existed for the past 2 months and twice a high dignitary of the RC church has given his blessing to the boycott as a peaceful and moderate protest.

Aug 2nd - 260 years of 1st Monaghan
Article on History of the Church.
NB Bleckley; school and manse on the Hill where Charles Gavin Duffy studied and whose friend was Matthew Trumble - son of previous minister. Later the school moved to Corlatt
NB Marcus was grandson of TY Killen, Moderator in the 1880s and also related to the historian.
NB CGD also studied at the Belfast Institute.
Aug 23rd - RUC spiking of roads between Clones and Cavan
Sept 6th - Inhabitants of Drummully between Clones and Legakelly cut off
Clontivera near Clones - Northern Customs blown up
Oct 11th - 9 men arrested on Monaghan/Tyrone border

NB Closing of the GNR lines

Belfast Newsletter - 1957

[Mar 1956 - A great part of the railway system must be closed - A poor compensation was the Eire government's introduction of a Bill to confer the unsolicited blessing of Eire citizenship on the people of NI.
Oct - Introduction of 30 mph speed limits and driving tests.
Dec - IRA raids.]

Bomb attack on Derrylin RUC station, Fermanagh.
Eire police arrested 8 men near Ballyconnell.
Mr WWB Topping, Minister of Home Affairs - "As long as raiders were allowed to organise in Eire and return there, the main responsibility must rest with the Eire government.
Jan 2 - 2 IRA men killed in attack at Brookeborough - 2 lorries, ca 15 men.
Jan 3 - 12 men found by Eire police and troops in bog. 4 in Monaghan hospital and 8 in Bridewell, Dublin.
O'Hanlon identified, by his father. The Limerick man, not yet.

England playing and winning a test series in South Africa.

Jan 4 -Big crowds (4,000) as bodies of O'Hanlon and South arrive in Monaghan.
8 men remanded in Dublin incl. Ruaidhri O'Bradaigh (30) and Daithi O'Conaill (18).

2 members of Dail, J McQuillan (:Ind) and Pat Finnucane (Farmers) call for recall of Dail to debate two motions;
1 UN observers required.
2 Irish Government should discontinue use of Irish Army and Civic Guards as instruments of British policy in helping to maintain partition and release of men in custody.

Jan 7 - Response of Topping to Costello's speech.
"At last - at long last - the PM of the Republic has condemned the conduct of those who seek to usurp the authority of his government and to destroy that of our country. We welcome his broadcast and hope it will now be accompanied by real action. But until we see the actual results, past experience, past bitter experience, prevents us being optimistic as to the action that will follow".

NB Public representatives present at the funeral of Sean South incl. the Mayor of Limerick, Alderman DB O'Malley and JJ Collins, TD for Lim West.
Jan 8 - Dublin council's sympathy with gunmen's relatives - Debate on diffs between sympathy and approval.
Jan 19 - Dungannon Territorial Army barracks destroyed by a bomb.
26 men detained by police in Eire.
Jan 29 - Eire Gen Election likely.
Capt O Henderson - Dev in the past an even stronger opponent of force than Costello.
Feb 1 - 96 mph gale lashes Ulster.
Feb 6 - McSparran, leader of anti-partition Nationalists condemns IRA raids.
Feb 7 - Costello suggests Federal Soln to Partition; rejected by Topping next day.
Feb 14 - Brookeborough replies no - Eire bleeding to death with emigration at 40,000 per year.
20 Sinn Fein candidates in election.
Feb 25 - UUP annual conference - Call to end British/Irish trade pact and the advantages and privilages of Commonwealth preference.
Mar 1 - Minister of Education, Midgley - all Catholics are traitors - Just trying to draw a distinction between their RCs and Eire's loyal Protestants.
Mar 5 (Tues) - Grievances against government - high unemployment and loss of trade in towns. (Overall 4 Sinn Fein seats {2 in prison} and 65,000 votes.)
Mar 16 (Sat) - Economic madness to change Ulster's status.
Mar 21 - Topping - Envious eyes cast at the prosperous North.

May 4 (Sat) - Eire man seeks custody of two children. Judge granted a conditional order of habeus corpus against Mrs Sheila Cloney and Desmond NO Boal.
[A month later an application was made to make it absolute; the High court adjourned it in the hope that the couple might be reconciled, which they were.]
June 8 - Miss Gwendoline Sullivan, solr, asked to write down an address which Mrs Cloney gave her.
27 Apr - Wife left - Boal later arrived with terms; Sell farm. Emigrate to Canada/Aust. Children brought up as Protestant. He to consider turning.

1957, May 6 - Canon Heavener and "Dead Hand of the Past" in every activity of the State from the child's history book in the primary schools to the graduates' degree in College.
[from 1st Monaghan - ca 1954/5 - In 1954 Morwood Meldrum sought to relinquish the Religious Education teaching in Monaghan Technical school but he was persuaded to stay. When a complaint was made at Presbytery that the textbooks in use in some of the Protestant National Schools gave prominence to the Roman Catholic faith and way of life a committee was appointed to investigate.]

May 22 - Unemployed march in Dublin vs removal of food subsidies.
June 1 - Arthur Miller found guilty of contempt of Congress - Refusal to identify alleged Communists.
June 5 on - GA Decline of congregations in border regions.
Report on divorce: Keep remarriage of innocent & in some cases of legally guilty persons.
June 7 - Rector of Fethard-on-sea, Rev ACP Fisher urged the RC bishop of Ferns, Dr Staunton, to order an end to the boycott and buy from Miss Betty Cooper and Mr Gardiner.
Cross border rail to stop.

June 22 - Clogher Synod protests at boycott - reported in NS.
June 26 - Mr A Barrington, lecturer on Public Administration and Constitutional Law, UCD, at RC social study conference in Dublin condemned boycott to applause.
June 28 - Robert Briscoe, Lord Mayor of Dublin, post USA tour
a Jewish charities
b anti-partition hyperbole
c attract American industry
Failed on last two according to editorial, which asked the question re boycott.
July 1 - Most Rev Dr Browne, RC bishop of Galway, condoned the 'weapon of boycott' when he preached at a special service in Wexford yesterday. Cardinal D'Alton and members of the hierarchy were present.
At Upperlands Co L'derry - Capt OWJ Henderson MP - Fethard - Another instance of the cruel and inhuman rule of the RC Hierarchy.
Rev A Fisher, rector of Fethard Union - police protection sought by 2 brothers of Mrs Cloney.
Wed Jun 3 - Reply at Kilmore Synod by Rt Rev Dr Charles Tyndall.
Attempt by Browne to justify it as a mild little local episode is a bit ludicrous.
Fri July 5 - Dail reply to Noel Browne - Dev condemns boycott - the reply was given by Mr D O'Briain (Parl Sec) for Dev said (from what appeared in the press) boycott ill conceived, ill-considered and futile - beg all who have regard for good name and good repute of our nation to bring this affair to a speedy end.
July 9 Tues - Internments in Eire.
Mr TS Kelly (father of Sheila Cloney) asks Minister of Justice to set up a judicial enquiry asking;
Why she left and who supported her leaving and staying away.
Priest at mass in Fethard, Rev Wm Stafford;
Not now, not in the near future, not in the distant future will their priests let them down by asking them to withdraw one inch or to apologise for their actions.
July 13 - Events at Fethard-on-sea reminder to the loyalists of Ulster as to what would happen if NI was submerged in an all-Ireland republic.
Boal in Donegal by invitation - the boycott weapon "must surely have been forged for the RC Church, so enthusiastically had it been used by her to her political advantage in other countries.
Capt Terence O'Neill re Dev
For a man to refute in public a prominent member of his hierarchy in the same week as he deals with the IRA is certainly an act of courage.
July 23 - IRA chiefs taken in Dublin swoop - 12 arrested, July 6, Wicklow st.
Aug 19 - RUC sergant killed in booby trap at Brackaville half a mile from Coalisland;
3rd RUC man to die - 1st at Derrylin, 2nd in ambush near border in south Armagh.

Border crossings

Original brick customs house at Aughnacloy blown up Nov 11th, 1956
Caravan blown up Wed June 26th, 1958

Sat Mar 11th, 1961
Road culvert blown up near Aughnacloy, Co Tyrone
Contract for a Bailey bridge – July 31st, 1961

Northern Standard, 1958

I was approaching my 6th birthday and attending the Model under Mrs Dickson

Paper starts with a summary of 1957

Mon Feb 5th – windstorm of violence – destruction

Mon anglers assoc acquire fishing rights on Blackwater to the border

March ESB gave demonstration of electric cooking at Swan Park Annexe
Clogher Diocesan Historical Society – 4th meeting at Clones

Sunday 26th May Rt Rev Dr Tyner, Bishop of Clogher, dedicated electronic bells presented to Mon Parish by the Robin’s family, Dublin st

June, 1957 – Captain’s Prize at Rossmore GC won by Mr WJ McWilliam

Striking scenes of religious fervour in annual Eucharistic procession in Mon on feast of Corpus Christi

July – Branch of Irish Soc for Prevention of Cruelty to Children – Mrs JJ Keenan, President & Mrs McWilliam, V-P

*** Nov 3rd, 1957 – Russians announce launch of 2nd satellite containing a live dog.

{I remember standing on the path between the end of the lawn and the vegetable bed, looking up at the sky with Daddy and trying to identify the sputnik – unsuccessfully, as far as I can recall. }

1958

ESB film shows – largely attended

Nurses Home at the Mental Hospital – Built by RT Cullen & sons

Mon Bridge club – N/S Mrs & Miss Murphy – E/W Mrs R McW & Mrs Dixon

Mar 7th, 1958
1st Mon – Annual meeting
Meldrum – Government policy against small farmers of Mon and Cavan – attacks Metrapolitanites – Presbyterians, if anything emigrating less than others – Presbyterians were neighbourly but not civic minded.

Mr McWilliam affirmed the interest of the church at large in that part situated in the Republic and said local matters of importance were always under consideration. He believed all Protestants should play an active part in civic affairs and lend every support to efforts to establish a sound national economy.

Samuel Johnston – Sabbath School Superintendant
Mrs WJ McWilliam gave Ladies Work Class report – large amounts given to reduce the Congregational debt

Clogher Record – Treasurer – J Baldwin Murphy

Six border roads spiked – Spade factory cut off – Mr Eugene McCabe, extensive dairy and agricultural farmer will be badly affected.

NB Monaghan VEC – Canon Heavener, v-chair

Fri July 18th – Barbeque in mountainous area north of Monaghan at the suggestion of a charming young Chinese lady, a graduate of UCD

Urban Council discusses the possibility of a speed limit

Several explosions on border – Killeen {Dundalk-Newry} – broad daylight by 8 men – holding up traffic – 4th time
Customs hut at Tyholland blown up

July 25th Meridith Black qualifies

Aug 1st – death of Mr Harry Hamill – Printer & Newsagent at North Road – served apprenticeship with Daniel MacAleese

1st Monaghan Presbyterian Church
Annual Royal Black Preceptory religious service on Sunday Aug 10th
Preacher Meldrum, recently elected Co GM (?Chaplain) in succession to Tyner

Extracts from the reports of the General Assembly.
1956 - pg 99
Contrary to common opinion in the North there is no great migration of people from the South into the North.
The problem is migration from country into town.
pg 96.
National and international problems.
Estimated that between 1936 & 46 a third of the Protestant male population in the Republic aged between 15-19 emigrated and the total Presbyterian population fell by 15%.
Of all Protestant denominations the decline was most marked in Presbyterians.
Why?
1 Economic.
2 To better themselves and seeking a less restricted way of life.
3 Irish language.
4 Political and religious reasons.
Many reacted to Partition.
Remedy;
There is a feeling that Protestantism is a dying cause in the Republic; there is no sense of being able to make a contribution to the life of the community.
These feelings are aggravated by the attitude of people from the North who look on them with pity and encourage the belief that there is no future for Protestantism in the south.
1 People in the South must find a sense of purpose.
2 In the North there must be a change of attitude giving encouragement not pity.
Pleasure not disapproval must be expressed when our people seek to make a contribution to the political life of their country.
We need to be constantly reminding ourselves that there is no Border in the Presbyterian Church, that the problems of the church in the South should be regarded as problems of the church in the North.

1957 - calling a special conference of Presbyterians in the Republic.

1958 - pg 117
The suggestion is raised of regrouping those Presbyterians lying mainly in the Republic under one Synod in Dublin.
Discussion deferred as proposal controversial.
{Can I work out a priori why the Northerners would oppose this in terms of
a Stated objections
b Unstated objections

1960 pg 99 & 150
Still proposing united Synod for South.
1963 pg 151 Overture. Reorganisation of Synods with the Synod of Dublin incl. Donegal, Dublin and Munster & Monaghan.

 

Irish Times

Obituaries / The Nation-Irish Felon / Northern Standard-Peoples Advocate / Irish Times / Shipping Advertisments / Belfast Newsletter (linen) / Londonderry Journal / Back to Top

McWilliam extracts from Irish Times (1925-1989)

18th Jan, 1928 – Robbery charge in Monaghan – Russell made a legal point
19th - Long argument but lost

Feb 6th, 1928 – Town tenants commission

20th Sept 1928 – Bundoran - Russell lost semi-final

3rd Oct, 1928 – Suit that did not fit
6th Feb, 1929? – Clones Dr’s will

6th Aug, 1929 – Royal Dublin – Wm McWilliam (10) 2nd with 72

M. Term, 1931 – law school – passed Roman Law – Herbert McWilliam

JC Hall, Rowantree Hse Mon d. 8th Apr, 1931
Parke and McWilliam solrs for Execs

Irish Universities Junior Boxing

Light-wt HR McWilliam won one but lost final

15th Feb 1932 – Dr WN McWilliam of Lenaderg, Banbridge – 74th year – father of FE McWilliam, artist

26 Apr, 1932
Dumfries-Forbes wedding
Presents rec’d by Earl of Dumfries from Rev J McWilliam

14th Feb 1933
Junior Universities – HR McWilliam who showed a better knowledge than most of the others – hard fight in 1st round but won final

Dec 2 1933 – Law Students debate
18th Mar 1936 – HR McWilliam on TRR team

30th Aug, 1937 – Draw for Irish Close at Dollymount, Sept 6-9
Pre-tournament strokes – WJ McWilliam (80) joint 18

15 June, 1938
WJ McWilliam playing in Dundalk Capt’s Prize

28th Sept 1938 Irish Open Amateur
3rd Round WJ McW Rossmore bt PF Purcell Portmar 5 & 4
4th Round KG Patrick Glenbervie bt McW 4 & 3

Sept 3rd, 1939 – Interpro at Portmarnock
Ulster last – WJ McWilliam 85 – High wind (The Golfing Union of Ireland Yearbook records WJ McWilliam as an interpro)
Obviously outbreak of war on everybody’s mind

1940, Nov 1st at Laragh, Co Monaghan
Herbert Russell McWilliam to Erica, elder dau of Mrs McKean and late James Fitz-James McKean

Apr 1st 1941
Rossmore – Capt J Duffy; Treas A Rudd; Sec Dr WJ Coyne
Comm J McCabe, J McNally, WI McLoughlin, J McWilliam, Dr M Killen

Oct 29th 1945
Rossmore Capt Prize J McWilliam (3) all sq – R Patton (12) I down

Peter McWilliam
June 24th 1976 67no vs YMCA
Aug 30th 1976 37 vs Phoenix
Sat 11th Sept 1976 38 vs Clontarf

William McWilliam, jun

Mr McWilliam RM – gave decree in ‘rent strike’ – Belfast – Feb 6th, 1937

McW RM at Fintona – Aug 11th, 1937 & Aug 17, 1937

9th Sept – seasonal offence of orchard raiding – McW RM – fined parents 5s

Belfast shooting – 2 sent for trial – McW RM – 28th Sept 1937

Fri Oct 8th 1937
Illegal papers in Tyrone, Omagh – Old IRA man charged – Major Dickie RM & Mr W McW RM

1938 8th Apr Government of NI appointed W McW, barrister as temp RM valid until 31st Mar, 1940

Dangerous souvenir – 1916 Proclamation in Belfast – W McW one of 3 RMs – acquitted

NI Att Gen appoints as Senior Crown Prosecutor for Co & City of L’derry
Tuesday, Feb 6th, 1940
Mr McW prev was Junior Crown Prosec for Tyrone

NI Att Gen – Mr McW to act as Crown Prosec at Winter Assizes
Opened at Armagh Nov 19, 1940

July 22 1944
Wm McW appointed to be ref for the purpose of the Purchase Tax to decide disputes as to wholesale value of any goods

Aug 8th
Wm McWilliam of Woodland Hse, Carrickfergus, Co Antrim app by Home Sec to be Chairman of Pensions Appeal Tribunal in NI. He is Senior Crown Prosec for L’derry and temp RM in NI

Shipping Advertisements

Obituaries / The Nation-Irish Felon / Northern Standard-Peoples Advocate / Irish Times / Shipping Advertisments / Belfast Newsletter (linen) / Londonderry Journal / Back to Top

The following Newspaper Advertisements were collected from various sources:
McWilliam Family Record by Rev JM McWilliam,
Ulster American Folk Park, Omagh,
Crossle papers, National Library of Ireland &
Online extracts from the Belfast Newsletter.

(see Russell of Newry)

Summary of the transatlantic voyages by Matthew Russell ships' master between 1763 & 1774. The outbreak of the American War of Independence put an end to this trade and I have found no further sailings listing Matthew Russell as master after this date

March 1763 Newry Philadelphia
August 1764 Newry New York
August 1765 Newry New York
October 1766 Newry Arrives from West Indies

January 1768 Robert New York
March 1770 Robert New York
August 1771 Robert New York
March 1772 Robert New York
March 1774 Robert New York

Belfast Newsletter Doc ID 8951 24 Sept 1756 Russell Capt + Newry of the "Martha" for Liverpool and Chester

June 1760, Martha, Liverpool & Chester

June 1760, Matthew Russell, Capt. of the Martha sailing between Newry and Bristol

March 1763, Matthew Russell Capt of the new ship Newry sailing to Philadelphia
For Newcastle and Philadelphia in America - The ship "Newry" commanded by Capt Matthew Russel (Burthen 500 tons, a noted good sailor, & newly built for the accommodation of passengers) will be clear to sail from this harbour for said ports the 1st July next. Whoever incline to take passage in said ship, as Passengers, Redemptioners, or Servants, are desired to apply to Thompson & Waring, David Gaussan, or to the captain on board, who will agree with them on the easiest terms.
22 Mar 1763.

31 May This day The Newry, Capt. Russell arrived from Norway.
Delayed till the 14th July

Belfast Newsletter search
49031 28 Sept. 1764 +New!York 30 July John =Kiersted,Luke. master arrived passengers +Newry
=Clark,Rev/Dr. embarked +Albany lands +Lake!George settle linen hempen manufacture.

Aug. 1764, Matthew Russell, Capt. of the ship "Newry" sailing for New York.
10th Aug 1764
For New York, the ship Newry, burthen 300 tons, Matthew R Master will be clear to sail the 10th Sept next. for Freight or Passage apply to Thompson & Waring, or to David Gaussan.

Belfast Newsletter search
40558 29 Jan. 1765
persons passengers servants =Corry,Edward =Corry,Isaac merchants Snow Elizabeth =Montgomery,James master sail +Newry +Philadelphia 1 Mar.

Belfast Newsletter search
40770 9 Apr. 1765 Catherine =Henderson,Alexander commander +Philadelphia passenger+Ballycastle. =Corry,Edward =Corry,Isaac +Newry owner lodgings =Ewing,John=Bashford, Mr. tavern. 7 American flour flaxseed sale. =Fullerton,George merchant. sail +Newcastle 10 May accommodations passage freight goods servants redemptioners. =Greg,Thomas +Belfast =Dunlope,George

Belfast Newsletter search
42488 14 May 1765
+Minimore.=Corry,Isaac +Newry. =Dunlope,George +Ballycastle =Bell,Thomas =Johnson,Mr.=Fullerton,George sailing Catherine postponed 1 June. passengers servants redemptioners +Belfast 30 embark. freight =Greg,Thomas =Corry,Edward

Belfast Newsletter search
42516 21 May 1765
Catherine =Henderson,Alexander commander +Philadelphia passenger=Corry,Edward =Corry,Isaac +Newry owner lodgings =Ewing,John =Bashford,Mr.=Fullerton,George merchant. sail +Newcastle 10 accommodations freight goods=Johnston,Robert +Moneymore 17. servants redemptioners. =Greg,Thomas +Belfast =Dunlope,George +Ballycastle. tavern 7 Apr. sailing postponed 1 June 30 embark =Bell,Thomas

Belfast Newsletter search
42533 28 May 1765
6 June passengers distance. servants redemption +Belfast embark 10 freight =Bell,Thomas =Johnston,Robert +Moneymore. =Corry,Edward +Newry =Bashford,Mr. owner lodgings =Ewing,John 22. =Fullerton,George sailing Catherine =Henderson,Capt. +Philadelphia postponed redemptioner =Greg,Thomas merchant =Dunlope,George +Ballycastle. =Corry,Isaac

Belfast Newsletter search
42731 2 Aug. 1765 3 +New York Newry =Russell,Matthew master harbour sail 1 Sept. passage goods
freight. =Thompson =Waring =Gaussan,David +Newry 31 July. [woodcut: ship in sail]

Aug. 1765, Matthew Russell, Capt. of the ship "Newry" sailing for New York
Newry 31st July 1765
Sails 1st Sept for New York.

Oct 1766, the ship "Newry", Mathew Russell, arrives in Newry from the West Indies.
14th Oct 1766
John Dickson now landing a cargo out of the ship "Newry" Matthew Russell captain from the West Indies. Andrew Thompson import cargo in the same vessel

The sailing of the ship ANTRIM Captain Ferguson from Newry for Philadelphia and Newcastle, is at the request of several of the Passengers (who can not be ready sooner) further put off until Saturday the 25th instant, when she will certainly sail, Wind and Weather permitting.
For Freight or Passage apply to Messrs. Edward and Isaac Corry, Merchants, or the Captain, at Mr Darby Kane's Newry, John McCollum of Lurgan, or James McVickar [McVicker?] of Larne, who will agree with them on the most reasonable Terms.
Dated April 16, 1767

Belfast Newsletter search
55414 17 July 1767
New York +North America ship Newry =Russel,Capt. +West Indies sail 15 Sept.=Gaussan,David terms 16 +Newry. freight passage redemptioners servants =Thompson,Andrew =Waring,Thomas

Jan. 1768, Matthew Russell Capt. of the ship "Robert" sailing for New York.
The Belfast News-letter & General Advertiser, Tuesday, 21 June 1768
For NEW-YORK, The Ship ROBERT, Burthen 350 Tuns [Tons?] Matthew Russell Master, will be clear to sail from this Port the 10th of August next. Those who incline to embrace this Opportunity, or have Goods to send on Freight, will meet with proper Encouragement, by applying to Andrew Thompson, Merchant, or to the Captain, at Waring's-point. This Vessel is quite new, and has very good Accommodations for Passengers.
Newry, 17th June, 1768.
Said Thompson is now landing a Cargo of best White and Red Wood Deals, Train Oil, and Tar in Barrels, which he will sell on reasonable Terms.

March 1770, Matthew Russell, Capt. of the ship "Robert" sailing for New York.

Aug. 1771, ditto.

Belfast Newsletter - Robert, 300 tons - Master, Matthew Russell - Agent, Andrew Thompson, merchant - Destinatio - New York - 23 July 1771 - To sail 1Sep. Good accomodation for Passengers, can depend on being well treated (July 23)

March 1772, ditto.

1773 Matthew R. long in the American trade - 5ft 6" between decks - Some pass. landed at Amboy on way to lands in Jersey and Pa Rest to NY; most skilled in linen trade.

The Belfast News Letter, Friday, 5 March, 1773.
For NEWCASTLE and PHILADELPHIA.
The Ship Robert, Burthen 350 Tons Matthew Russell, Master, will be clear to sail for the above Ports the first of May next. Those that intend going may apply to the Owners Messrs Andrew and Acheson Thompson, Merchants, or the Captain at Warings Point. The Robert is a new Vessel, full five Feet six Inches high between Decks; as Capt. Russell has been many Years in the American Trade from this Port, his Humanity to his Passengers is well known.
Newry 1st March 1773

Ulster American Folk Park
FOR NEW-YORK, The Ship ROBERT, Burthen 350 Tuns [Tons?], Matthew Russell, Master, will positively sail, Wind and Weather permitting, the first Day of April next. Those that chuse [choose?] to embrace this favourable Opportunity, are desired to apply to Andrew and Acheson Thompson, or to the Master on board.
Newry, 12th March, 1774

Post American War of Independence

UAFP
For the flourishing city of PHILADELPHIA, THE fine New SHIP MARY - Scott, Master, will positively sail, wind and weather permitting, for said Port the 12 May next - for Freight or Passage apply to Andrew Thompson or Matthew Russel, or to Capt. Scott, on board the Ship at Waring's Point. As Capt. Scott is determined to sail at the time appointed, those that chuse to embrace this favourable opportunity, are requested to apply immediately.
Newry, 12 April, 1788.

Matthew Russell expects the fast sailing ship Andromache of Philadelphia, to arrive in the port of Newry within the next few days 26 Mar '95

UAFP
PASSENGERS GOING TO NEWCASTLE & PHILADELPHIA, ARE requested to take notice, MATTHEW RUSSELL expects the Stout, New, and fast sailing Ship ANDROMACHE, of Philadelphia, to arrive in this Port in the course of a few days. The day of sailing and other particulars, will be made known to the public on her arrival.
Newry, Feb. 14, 1795.

The Northern Star, 30 April to 4 May 1795
For Philadelphia, New-Castle, and Wilmington, The Fine New American Ship, ANDROMACHE; 450 Tons Burthen; John Moore, Master.
Formerly advertised in this Paper, now in Newry harbour, will sail for the above ports on the 20th May next, (wind and weather permitting). For Freight or passage apply to Mr James Wallace, Banbridge; Mr Cochran, Armagh; Mr Adams, Black Water Town; Mr Sloan, Coal Island; the Captain, at Thombon's, Warrenpoint; or Matthew Russel, Newry; who pledges himself, plenty of the best provisions and water shall be laid in, and that there shall be no more passengers taken than can be comfortably accommodated. The Andromache is a fine new ship and very high between decks, and the Captain well acquainted with the passenger trade. Such passengers as are not prohibited by the late proclamation, and wish to embrace this favourable opportunity, had better make early application as the ship will positively sail on the day appointed. Newry, April 27. (1795)
N.B. Permission has been obtained from the hon. commissioners of his Majesty's revenue to lay in sufficient provisions, etc. for the passengers.

The Belfast Newsletter, 27 April, 1802.
FOR NEW YORK, The Ship MARTHA, CLARK Master, Burthen 250 Tons.
Will sail about the first of May. For Freight and passage applications to be made to ISAAC CORRY & SONS, or the CAPTAIN on board at Warrenpoint. This vessel is very roomy between decks and in every respect well calculated for passengers.
Newry, April 16. (1802)

Messr's ISAAC CORRY & SONS, are now landing a parcel of choice Morienberg, and Thussenhausen, FLAX, which they will dispose of on moderate terms.
The Belfast News Letter, Tuesday, 15 March, 1803

FOR NEW-YORK The Ship MAGNET, THOMAS MARSH, Master, About 350 tons burthen,
Now at Warrenpoint, will be ready to sail the 10th of April next, and will take a few Passengers, for which she is well calculated, being very roomy between Decks. - For Freight or Passage apply to the Captain on Board, or to ISAAC CORRY & SONS, who are now landing from on board said Ship, a large parcel of Barrel Staves, Tar, and Rosin, and about 1100 Hogsheads of Flaxseed. Newry, April [March?] 12. (1803)
The Belfast News Letter, Tuesday, 29 March, 1803

FOR NEW-YORK, The Ship ANDROMACHE, JOHN PIERCE, Master, Burthen 300 Tons,
Will sail out 15th April next, and will take a few Passengers, who can be well accommodated. - Application to be made out to the Captain on board, at Warrenpoint, or to ISSAC CORRY & SONS.
Newry, March 28. (1803)

The Belfast News Letter, Tuesday, 21 May, 1805
FOR NEWCASTLE AND PHILADELPHIA, The American Ship EDWARD, CAPTAIN GRAY,
About 350 Tons Burthen. For Freight or Passage, having excellent Accommodations for Passengers apply to the Captain on board, at Warrenpoint; or to TREVOR & SMITHSON CORRY.
Newry, May 14. (1805)
N.B. Passengers are hereby notified, that they must be in Newry on Monday the 28th inst. to pay their Passage Money, and be ready to go on board, as the Edward will sail first fair wind after.

The Belfast News Letter, Friday, 28 March, 1806
FOR WILMINGTON, (NORTH CAROLINA), THE SHIP ATLAS, NICHOLAS MORAN, Master, Burthen 300 Tons,
NOW in Dock at Warrenpoint, will sail on SATURDAY the 5th April, with such Passengers as shall engage by the 30th instant. - Apply to the Master at Warrenpoint, or to TREVOR & SMITHSON CORRY.
Newry, March 25. (1806)

Belfast Commercial Chronicle, Monday 15 February 1808
FOR WILMINGTON North Carolina The Fast-Sailing Ship ENTERPRIZE JOHN STENMAN, Master
On Monday the 22nd inst, with such Passenger as before that day. Apply to TREVOR & SMITHSON CORRY
Feb 12 1808

Diana Newry to New York 11/6/1810 Trevor & Smithson Corry

UAFP
The Belfast Commercial Chronicle, Saturday, 9 March, 1811.
FOR CHARTER OR PASSENGERS, THE AMERICAN SHIP RISING STATES, AARON L. STILLWELL, Master.
Daily expected from PHILADELPHIA, at this Port, with Flaxseed - A Staunch Burthensome Vessel,of about 200 Tons; sails well, and can be comfortably fitted for Passengers, who will be accommodated by the Ship with Provisions, or may furnish themselves. Should an eligible Charter not offer immediately upon her arrival, she will be dispatched in a few weeks after to Philadelphia, with whatever Passengers, apply to ARCHD. LITTLE, or MATTHEW RUSSELL, Jun.
NEWRY, March 6.

FOR PHILADELPHIA, THE AMERICAN SHIP RISING STATES, AARON L. STILWELL, Master,
Now lying at Warrenpoint, will sail for the above Port on the 20th April. A few Cabin Passengers can be pleasantly accommodated, if immediate application is made, to Captain STILWELL, on board; MR. MATHEW RUSSELL,jun.; or the SUBSCRIBER, who offers for sale on reasonable terms, the said ship's CARGO, just arrived from PHILADELPHIA, consisting of
716 Hogsheads New Flaxseed,
176 Barrels Rosin
119 Barrels turpentine,
2800 White Oak Hogshead Staves,
5100 Barrel Staves,
1 Cask 254 lb. Fine Yellow Bees' Wax.
ARCHD. LITTLE.
Newry, March 25 (1811).

Russell Matthew Part owner of the brigs "Wellington & Active" 12 Oct 1812.

Enterprise Newry to New York 6/3/1812 Trevor & Smithson Corry

Newry Commercial Telegraph 29th March 1817
FOR NEW-YORK. The Fine, New, Coppered Brig, BRITANNIA, Burthen 300 Tons, Captain Leonard Watson.
This vessel is daily expected, and will have superior accommodation for Passengers, having been purchased for the American trade from this port. Early application for Freight or Passage, is recommended, as she will be dispatched shortly after her arrival, of which notice will be given in a future advertisement.
For Freight or Passage, apply to Owners...
ROBERT TURNER, Warrenpoint;
CORRY & LITTLE, Newry;
SWANZY, WILSON & CO., Newry;
MATHEW RUSSEL, Newry;
JEFFERSON & GODFREY, Newry;
or to Captain Watson, on board.
Newry, March 17, (1817)
(document T 1457/2 p3).

The Belfast Commercial Chronicle, Wednesday, 9 July, 1817
FOR A PORT IN THE UNITED STATES. The Fine New Fast-Sailing American Ship VIRGIN, CAPTAIN MOORE, 500 Tons Burthen, Coppered and Copper-fastened.
The above ship is daily expected at WARRENPOINT, and will take PASSENGERS - her Port of destination in the United States will be made known on her arrival. She is every way calculated for the accommodation of both CABIN and STEERAGE PASSENGERS, and the Captain a man of most excellent character. Early application is recommended, as she will not be long detained after her arrival. The Subscribers pledge themselves that plenty of Water and Fuel will be laid in for the Passage.
CORRY & LITTLE.
NEWRY, July 1, 1817.

The Belfast Commercial Chronicle, Saturday, 18 October, 1817
FOR NEW YORK THE FINE COPPERED BRIG BRITANNIA
Daily expected at Warrenpoint from Dublin.
LEONARD WATSON, master. [Whose humane attention to Passengers, the underneath letter from those who sailed with him last voyage strongly express.]
Burthen 300 Tons. A regular trader of the first class. Has most comfortable Accommodations for Passengers and having half her cargo engaged will not be delayed - Early application for Freight or Passage to the SUBSCRIBERS
[Document added by Jonathan Teer, 20:05:1993.]
CORRY & LITTLE;
SWANZY, WILSON & Co.
MATHEW RUSSEL
JEFFERSON & GODFREY,
ROBT. TURNER, Warrenpoint.

Newry, October 6th, 1817.
"We the undersigned return our most grateful thanks to Capt. LEONARD WATSON of the BRITANNIA, for his polite attention and kindness to us and great humanity during our passage from Newry to New York."
(signed)
James Skeffington, John Dallas, John McConnell, James Miller, Robert McEntire, William Cowden, Bernard Verily, John Mc Cabe, James Murphy, Pat Mc Glaughlin, John Short, William Cowden, James Saunderson, Robert Saunderson, Roger Mc Polan.

Belfast Newsletter (Linen)

Obituaries / The Nation-Irish Felon / Northern Standard-Peoples Advocate / Irish Times / Shipping Advertisments / Belfast Newsletter (linen) / Londonderry Journal / Back to Top

Entries relating to Linen & Bleach Greens in the Limavady/Dungiven area (see Murrell of Balteagh)

17 Nov. 1767 (1)
bleach-green =King,Richard +Drumsurn Co. +Londonderry +Newtownlemavaddy+Garvagh +Colerain set 1 Nov. linens. houses furnaces cribs washing-millsrubbing-boards beetling-engine lapping-house water turf-bog =Ogilby,George=King,William 10.

Nov 20th 1767
That the Bleach-green now possessed by Mr Richard King, Drumsurn, Co Londonderry, distant 41/2 miles from Newtownlimavady, 3 miles from Garvagh, 3 from Dungoven & 11 from Coleraine, 25 to be set, either the whole or half of the same, from the 6th day of Nov Instant, in which 3,000 pieces of linen may be bleached in the season, & with some little addition, from 5-6,00 pieces may be conveniently finished in said green.
The Houses & Green are in good repair; there are 2 large furnaces with Cribs 2 Washing mills, 3 pairs rubbing boards, Beetling engine, & a good lapping house, water in the driest season, an exceedingly good Turf bog most convenient, &, at present, two years turf standing at said green.
Application to be made to said Richard King, or to Mr George Ogilby, or Mr William King both of Newtownlimavady
10th Nov 1767

28 Sept. - 1 Oct. 1779 (3)
sold public auction order assignees =McCausland,Robert bankrupt house=Ross,Edward innkeeper +Newtownlamavaddy 1 Nov. concerns Co. +Derry. fieldlife =King,William profit rent tenements +Roc!Mill mills +Carnafyllagh leasebleach-green +Ardmore 1776 =McCausland,Conolly =Tyler,George =Campbell,Robert.cornmill +Bolea townland +Carrydoe +Coleraine =Tyrone,Earl/of 1774 tenants.linen house engine chief-rent fees =Lane,George mulcture succon buildings bleach-yard timber trees.

28th Sept, 1779
To be sold by public auction, by order of the Assignees of Robert McCausland, a Bankrupt, at the house of Edward Ross, Innkeeper in Newtownlimavady, on Monday 1st Nov next, the following concerns in the County of Derry:
1. A field near Newtownlimavady, held for the life of William King, 43 years old, free of rent, set for 7l/annum
2. A profit rent of several little tenements in the town of Roe Mill, near Newtownlimavady, of 8l 10s/annum
3. A profit rent out of the Mills of Carnasyllagh for 4 years clear, of 12l/annum
4. A lease of the Bleach-green of Ardmore of 19 years, under Connolly McCausland Esq containing 11 acres, now occupied by Mr George Tyler; profit rent to be ascertained by Mr Robt Campbell of Newtownlimavady
5. The lease of the cornmill of Bolea, & Townland of Carrydoe, in the county of Londonderry, within 5 miles of Cleraine, & five miles of Newtownlimavady, held by lease from the Earl of Tyrone, for 2 lives or 21 years from Nov 1774 Part of which is now set to solvent tenants for 245l/annum, the said Robert McCausland held of these lands about 20 acres on which is a bleach green of near 13 acres, capable of bleaching (2),000 pieces of linen in the year, with every necessary house & Engine in the highest repair, now to be set, out of which the chief Rent to Lord Tyrone, & fees, is 152L 5 s/annum, and 16l/annum rent to Mr George Lane for Mulcture of six townlands, & some Ground taken to accommodate the Succon, on which 150l was laid out for a mill
NB The Buildings &c on the Bleach yard cost above 2.00l, & there are 25,000 Timber Trees planted thereon & thriving, which will be worth at the Expiration of the lease a considerable sum to the purchaser

19-23 March, 1779 (3)
Off the bleach green of Wm Ross of Newtownlimavady on Sun 11th, 3 pieces of linen, in green for 3 weeks
There is a subscription list for a reward totalling £111. John Murrell contributed £2 6s

135907 19-23 Mar. 1779 3 stolen bleach-green =Ross,William +Newtownlemavaddy 7 linen marking stuffnames perpetrators villainy punishment reward. =Alexander,Les. =Ross,David=Campbell,Robt. =Ogilby,John =Ogilby,Alex. =Moody,John =Moody,Wm.=Alexander,John =Stirling,John =Tyler,Geo. =McCausland,R. =Neilson,Robert=Given,Robert/Jr. =Orr,James =Lane,William =McCausland,Con. =Murrell,John=Caldwell,John =Moody,Marcus =Thompson,Henry =Boyle,James. =Boyle,Thomas=Boyle,Henry =Lyle,Samuel =Cochran,Alex. =Orr,Alexander =Orr,James/Jr.

171533 2 - 5 Jan. 1781 3 robbery bettling house =Forrester,William +Greenfield +Coleraine partners linens bleaching. season liquid brown reward subscription conviction felony=Murrell,John =Murrell,Henry =Duff,Samuel =Bennett,Francis =Given,Robt.=Gregg,Thomas =Gregg,William =Lyle,S.
{I couldn't read it at all}

6-9 Aug, 1782 (3)
Meeting of linen drapers
Two of the Derry reps were Henry & John Murrell. Other Derry reps were David & William Ross. John Jackson was one of the Monaghan reps.

This was a protest against Foster’s Act of 1782.

Meeting elected 25, incl Thomas Greer to a further meeting.

meeting linen drapers +Ireland +Armagh 5 publick =Bell,Henry chair resolutions resolve laws country. property perjury oaths act Parliament seals tradepenalties buy brown assurance security. bond warrant duties seal-mastersredress fraud manufacture bleach persons Chairman. Co. =Blakely,David/Sr.=Christy,James =Greer,James =Shaw,Thomas =Younghusband,J. =Oliver,Art.=McCall,Henry =Blakely,William =Blakely,David/Jr. =Holmes,Sam. =Holmes,Wm.=Simpson,Thomas =Gordon,George =Wilson,John =Johnston,Samuel =Haughton,Thomas.=Armstrong,Thomas =Oliver,Joseph =Simpson/and/Maxwell =Maxwell =Kels,Thos.=Kels,Jas. =Hardy,James. =Jackson,Robert =Hays,Thos. =Peebles,Robt.=Peebles,Dr. =Kidd,James =Ingram,John =Lowry,James. =Moore,R. =McBride,Geo.=Atkinson,Richard =Wire,Thomas =Eccles,Hugh =Simpson,Daniel.
=Callagan,Patt.=Dixon,Mungo =Gordon,John =Patterson,Robert =Hall,John =Oliver,Ben.=Ross,Hugh. =Hunter,Robert =Cooke,John =McKittrick,Alex. =Wilson,Moses=Gray,William =Corbett,Bar. =Erwin,James =Dodd,John =Cogson,John=Hughes,James =Bell,Robert =Bell,David =Carr,William =Carr,William/Jr.=Read,Thomas =Devlin,Isaac=Treanor,Geo. =Armstrong,Robt. =Moore,Meek =Dodd,Geo. =Drewit,Thomas=Cuppage,Adam =Donaldson,Robert =Pettigrew,John =Rodgers,John. =Dodd,George=Burke,John =Donelson,Andrew =Kelton,Patt. =Jameson,Wm. =Parkison,Iz/Y.=McCartin,Bernard. =Nortin,Thomas =Newgent,Owen =Campbell,Arch.=Fegan,Charles =Armstrong,James =McBride,Adam. =Simpson,John =Turner,Jacob=McGregor,James=Hardy,William =Bleakly,John =Burns,Thos. =Shaw,Geo. =Shaw,Arch.=Harcourt,James =McMahan,Edward =Graham,Patt. =McClure,William. =Pollock,John=Pollock,James =Pollock,William =Pollock,Robert =Moore,William =Gilmore,John.=Dreanon,William =Lee,John =Short,Peter =Burl,James =Wilson,William=Wilson,Henry. =Kennedy,James =Malcomson,Joseph =M''Glone,Thomas=M''Geough,William =Davis,James =Atkinson,Robert. +Antrim =Stewart,William=Hancock,Jacob =Hancock,Joseph =Duncan,Robert =Grubb,Joseph. =Groggan,John=Hancock,John =Hill,John =Hill,Samuel =Hogg,Edward =Hogg,William.=Stewart,Robert =Darby,William =Bateson,William =Bateson,Richard=Mitchell,Alex. =Gardiner,Jos. =Donavan,Geo. =Barclay,John =Finla,William=Bolton,John =Wilson,David. =Hill,James =Martin,William =Ogle,John=Legg,William =Burden,Robert =Burden,John. =Burden,Thomas =Fulton,Joseph=Lauderdale,David =Adair,Charles =Richardson,James =Delacherois,Samuel.=Holland,Charles =Birnie,John =Dickey,Adam =Dickey,Thomas =Davison,James/Jr.=Steen,Alexander. =Watt,James =Steen,James =Swan,William =Craig,John=Swan,Hugh =Johnson,John =Johnson,Simon. =Logan,William =Shaw,Jas/Blair=Allen,John =Adair,Wm/Robert =Agnew,Patrick =Barklie,John. =Black,Richard=Barklie,James =Bellah,James =Campbell,Hugh =Duffin,William =Campbell,Robert.=Davison,James =Dickey,Charles =Davison,John =McCaddam,Thomas =McConchey,James=McConchey,Wm. =Thompson,John. =Dickey,James =Scott,John =McCance,William=Ferguson,James =Sinclaire,William =Betty,Henry. =Teeling,Luke =Lyons,Thomas=McCormick,David =Hamilton,John =Hyde,Samuel =Sinclaire,Thos/Sr.=Sinclaire,Thos/Jr. =Scott,Robert =Wells,George =Stevenson,John=Stevenson,William =Stevenson,Joseph. =Smith,John =Hunter,Thomas=O''Neill,John =Gregg,William =Jones,Edward =Thomson,John =Jones,William.=Sampson,William =Hogg,James =Bell,Robert =Betty,Henry/Jr. +Monaghan=Crawford,George. =Jackson,John =Wray,John =Fowler,John =Fowler,William=Nelson,Joseph =Cuningham,Samuel. =Breakey,Isaiah =Breakey,John=Nelson,Samuel +Lowth=Davis,James =Thompson,Ben. =McNeight,Wm. =Bleakly,Robert =Trouton,Thomas=Taylor,M/and/Co. =Taylor,James +Derry =Brown,Abraham. =Smith,William=Gregg,Thomas =Orr,James/Jr. =Orr,William =Orr,Alexander =Martin,Thomas.=Willson,John =Bennitt,Francis =Chambers,James =Hemphill,Curtis=Smith,William/Jr. =Hanson,George =Rankin,David =Orr,James =Tyler,George=Alexander,Leslie =Ogiby,John =Moody,John. =Moody,William =Murrell,Henry=Ogilby,Leslie =Caldwell,John =M''Causland,Con. =M''Clelland,Thos.=Lane,William =Rogers,Mark =Murrell,John =Stevenson,James =Ross,Michael=Fulton,Thomas. =Fulton,Henry =Forsyth,William =Ross,William/Jr. =Ross,John=Boyle,James =Henderson,James =Erwin,James. =Alexander/and/Bond =Bond=Thompson,Henry =Patten,Robert =M''Ilwain,William =Sayers,Andrew.=Sayers,Joseph =Risk,James =Cochran,Andrew =Alexander/and/Edmiston =Edmiston=Alexader,James.=Ramsay,Thomas =Scott,Oliver =Handcock,Thomas =Cristy,John =Mitchell,David=Laughlin,Arthur. =Armstrong,William =Armstrong,Archd. =Magill,Robert=Ramsay,George =Stevenson,John. =Clark,Jackson =Boyle,Henry =Alexander,John=Ross,James =Ross,William =Given,Robert =Lyle,Samuel =Ross,David.=Ogilby,Alexander +Down =Lindsay,David =Bradford,John =Bradford,Wm.=Bradford,Henry. =Mulligan,Gilbert =Willey,James =Wier,William =Law,John=Agnew,James =Black,Adam =Black,James. =Christy,Joseph =Pike,William=Philips,Joseph =Philips,Thomas =Crosier,William =Crawford,George.=Martin,Robert =Orr,Charles =Richardson,Jonathan =McCreight,Andrew=McCreight,James. =Mason,Arthur/N. =Turnbull,Alexander =Clibborn,James=Stott,Thomas =McCowne,John =Brown,John. =Brown,William =Glenny,George=Gleny,William =Glenny,John =Wakefield,Joseph =Mulligan,Hugh. =Law,Geo.=Law,Joseph =Law,William =Hawthorn,George =McWilliam,James =McWilliam,Henry.=McMordie,Samuel =Dunbar,Robert =McClelland,James =Barcroft,John =Brown,James=Watson,Lancelot. =Sloane,William =Moore,James/Jr. =Hanna,William=Brown,John/Jr. =Mitcel,John =Hawthorn,Archibald. =Lloyd,Thoas=Mulligan,James =Gray,George =Gray,George/Jr. =Hood,John =Ridgway,Joshua.=Fivey,William=Cowan,Wm. =Cowan,John/Jr. =Campbell,Samuel =McCormick,Samuel =Johnson,James.=Cowan,John =Savage,John =Stirling,Robert =Black,Wm. =McClure,Wm.=Mulligan,George. =McClellnd,Robt. =McMordie,Hans. =Taylor,Arch.=Burrell,Robert =Holmes,Sam/Geo. =Cowan,James =McConnell,Thomas =Glas,John=Russell,John =Bradshaw,Robert =Hancock,Jacob/Jr. =Lang,James =Lang,Hugh=Lang,James/Jr. =Fowler,James =Ogle,James =Atkinson,A. =McCormick,John.=Wilson,James =Ferguson,Tho. =Dugan,Wm. =Thompson,Acheson =Black,John +Tyrone=Greer,Thomas =Duffin,Charles. =Willcocks,John =Nicholson,Joseph =Twigg,John=McConcky,John =Jackson/and/Eyre =Eyre =Greer,Wm. =Greer,Thomas/Jr=Boardman,Thomas =Shaw/and/Turner =Turer =Greer,Robert =Cardle,Wm.=Stewart,Alex. =Campbell,James =Milton,Thos/Greer =Christy,John=Newton,Andrew =Ledlie,George =Aiken,James. =Hunter,John =Magill,James=Kennedy,John =Anderson,Wm. =Cook/and/Johnston =Johnston. =Anderson,George=Haddock,Isaac =Falker,Hugh =Cooper,Crofton =Walker,John =McMullen,Pat.=Bloomer,Wm.=Walker,James =Willey,Joseph =Lecky,Geo. =Magill,William representatives.Secretary committee board judgment +Cavan =Brunker,Thomas. legislature 17641771 rowey order office publication newspaper measure money credit. merchantsell freehold purchaser penalty borrow heirs decease fortune errors familiesinspectors officers community bleachers weavers kingdom +Belfast 8.

31 May - 3 June 1791 (3)
linen drapers markets city Co. +Londonderry =Boyle,Thomas Inspector officemanufacture service. 18 =Lyle,Samuel =Atchison,James =Bennit,Frank=Eyre,Berd. =Gregg,Dominick =Hemphill,Curtis. =McCrea,John =Warren,George=Bond,Wm. =Orr,Henry =Clark,Alex. =Clark,Alex/Jr. =O''Nail,John.=Courtney,Joseph =Glenholmes,John =Crawford,Sam. =Crawford,Robt.=Henderson,Ken. =Henderson,John =Rankin,John =Christy,John =Rutherford,Robt.=Laughlin,Art. =Hamill,James. =Ross,Edward =Bryan,Josiah =Alexander,John=Ogilby,Alex. =Ross,James =Stevenson,Jas. =Ross,Wm. =Alexander,J/Jr.=Taylor,Geo. =Moody,John =Ogilby,John =Campbell,Robt.

8-12 Feb, 1793 (3)
Barony of Kennaught delegates to a meeting in Dungannon on Monday next
Dr Stewart, John Murrell, Wm Haslett & J Boyle

15 Feb, 1793 - Dungannon meeting
Wm Sharman, chair; Henry Joy & Wm Armstrong, secretaries.
Resolutions included - attachment to constitution, affection for sovereign, disapproval of Republican forms of government - they called for better representation and Catholic Emancipation
They look rather similar to those suggested by the Synod of Ulster in the same year.
The only incongruous figure was Daniel Eccles of Ecclesville, a landlord. I doubt if he had much to do with John Murrell but in fact their grandchildren were to marry in 1852.

240275 8 - 12 Feb. 1793 3 barony delegates meeting province +Ulster 15 +Londonderry =Ferguson,John=Armstrong,Wm. =Moore,Robt. =Murray,James. +Coleraine =Church,Wm. =M''Naghten=Lyle,Hugh =Church,Rob. =Lyle,Sam. =Orr,Alex. =Orr,Hen. =Church,John.+Tirkeeran =Scott,Jas. =Atchinson,Jas. =Ross,Jas. =Stephenson,Jas. +Kinnaght=Stewart,Dr. =Murrell,John =Haslett,Wm. =Boyle,James +Loughinsholen=Glendy,J/Rev. =Smith,J/Rev. =Caldwell,Dr. =Pollock Co. +Donegall +Raphoe=Ball,John =Cochran,James =Pinkerton,John/Rev. =M''Rab,John/Rev. +Killmacranan=Watt,Jas. =Nesbit,Alex. =Allen,John =Lytle,Jo/Rev. +Inishowen =Ross,Sam.=O''Donnell,Nath. =M''Grah,W. =Scott,David. +Tyrone =Ross,Wm. =Armstrong,Arch.=Sproul,And. =Alexander,Jacob +Strabane +Omagh =Ferguson,And.=Moorhead,Charles =Buchanan,John =Bryan,John +Clogher =Eccles,Dan.=Seton,James. GOVIRL

Dungannon Meeting, 15th Feb 1793

We, the delegates of the Province of Ulster, appointed at separate meetings of the counties, assembled at Dungannon on the anniversary of that day which (--) freed Ireland from foreign legislation & being fully acquainted with the sentiments of our particular districts declare the sense of the people in the following terms:
Wm Sharman Esq in the Chair
Henry Joy & Wm Armstrong, Secs
Resolved 5 persons from each county + Chair & secs be a committee for preparing resolutions for the meeting which was adjourned
The committee reported by their Chairman (Alex Stewart, Esq) the following resolutions unanimously agreed to:
1. Attached to form of British Constitution as uniting the advantages, & tempering the defects of 3 modes (monarchy, Aristocracy & Democracy) of government
2. Regard for Sovereign manifested in his directing Part. to the depressed circumstances of Roman Catholics
3. Disapprove of Republican forms
4. Right of people to be represented
5. Present state of repression intolerable grievance
6. Appears that Lords Spiritual & temporal & commoners return 200 members; only 1/3 to people
7. All boroughs disenfranchised; Electoral franchise to all irrespective of religious persuasion
8. Seen with satisfaction House of Commons pledge enquiry into representation
9. Continue to press for reform
10. Complete, immediate emancipation of Roman Catholics indispensable necessity to safely and happiness
11. Power in a committee of 30 to reconvene the assembly

Committee:
William Sharman, chairman; Henry Joy & William Armstrong, secs
Londonderry representatives
John Church, Newtownlimavady, Hugh Lyle, Coleraine, Alex Knox, James Scott & James Atchison, Londonderry.

12. Committee to communicate with other provinces
13. Indign (?) intent of embodying a militia
14. Oblign to Volunteers (our brave & disinterested protectors)
15. Thanks to Dungannon

8-11 Jan 1793 (3)
31? Pieces of 7/8 wide linen carried away from lapping room of Nath Hunter of Drumcovit, Co Derry - Henry Boyle mentioned
Reward offered incl John Murrell towards the bottom, in value, £1 3s 6d

254005 8 - 11 Jan. 1793 3 robbery reward 14 lapping-room =Hunter,Nath. +Drumcovit Co. +Londonderrypieces linen. =Boyle,Henry water mark =Devitt,Henry punishment +Dungiven 24=Beresford,John/Hon. =Ross,Dav. Inspector General. =Boyle,James =Boyle,Henry=Fanning,Tho. =Clark,Alex/and/Sons =Ogilby,Leslie =Ross,James =Ogilby,John=Stevenson,Jas. =Ogliby,Alex. =Atchinson,Jas. =Giles,Thos. =Ross,Mich.=Fanning,Aud. =Kyd,John =Boyle,Hugh =Irwin,James =Stirling,John=Beresford,Cladius =Henderson,Hugh =Thompson,H. =Alexander,W. =Todd,Wm.=Moody,Wm. =McCrea,John =Boyle,Alex =Lane,Wm. =M''Donagh,Henry =Clarke,Wm.=Spotswood,Tho. =Boyle,James =Kane,Henry =Kyle,John/Jr. =Boyle,John=Hamilton,Wm. =Murrell,John =Gray,Fra. =Hunter,Nath.

21-25 Mar 1794 (3)
Undersigned, incl John & Henry Murrell, Maghera is suitable for the establishment of cloth market from the great quantity of linen manufactured in the vicinity.

256534 21 - 25 Mar. 1794
3 cloth market linen drapers convinced town +Maghera brown linen manufacturedvacinity. market +Ahoghill dated 21 Mar. =Crawford,Samuel =Crawford,Sam.=Crawford,Andrew. =Stevenson,John =Stevenson,James =Stevenson,Jas/Jr.=Stevenson,William =Hunter,Nath. =Boyle,Henry =Magill,Robert =Magill,Wm.=Magill,James =Gregg,Wm. =Boyce,David =Clinton,George =Orr,Wm. =Orr,John=Brown,Robert =O''Neill,Joseph =Torrans,Alex. =Clinton,John =Nerrie,Nicholas=Crawford,John =Catherwood,John =Woods,Terence =Redfern,James. =Redfern,Ben.=Clark,William =Orr,Henry =Lyle,Samuel =Orr,James. =Kyle,Robert=McNaghten,Henry =Rankin,Hugh =Hunter,William =Wilson,John =Bennet/and/Eyre=Eyre. =Rankin,David =Kerr,Wm. =Chambers,James =Moon,James =Diamond,John=Bond,Wm. =Ferguson,Andrew. =Thompson,John =Murrell,John =Murrell,Henry=Bryson,John. =Collins,James. =Graham,Archd. =Henderson,Andr. =Henderson,Wm.=Downing,John =Clark,Alex/Jr. =Jackson/Eyre/and/Co. =Eyre =Boyle,James=Boyle,Hugh =Henry,Henry =Brown,Andrew. =Ross,Edward =Torrens,James=Stewart,John =Irvin,James =Henderson,Hugh. =Wilson,John/Jr. =Barry,Thomas=Rutherford,Robert =Weir,Hugh =Campbell,James =Courtney,Joseph=Courtney,Sampson. =Browne,And/Jr. =Ramsey,Wm. =O''Neill,John =Brown,John=Kirkpatrick,John =Wier,James =Hemphill,Curtis =Patterson,Sam.=Crawford,Robert =Clark,Wm/Jr.

18 - 22 Jan. 1796 (3)
Robbery 20 Dec. +Magilligan Co. +Londonderry =Alexander,Andrew+Newtownlemavady feather beds bolsters pillows blankets sheets table cloths.sums conviction robbery reward 18 =M''Causland,C. +Fruit!Hill =Gage,Marcus=Hamilton,Edmond =Ross,John. =Campbell,Robert =Alexander,Lesley=Jas,John/Alexander =Huey,Henry =Ogilby,John =Orr,Alexander=M''Causland,Conolly =Ogilby,Robert. =Moody,John =Moody,William =Sherard,Hugh=King,William =Boyle,Alex. =Ross,William. =Ross,Richard =Taylor,Thomas=Balfour,Harrison =Smith,William =Martin,Samuel =M''Causland,C. =Mount,Lear.=Ross,Edward =Given,John =O''Sheill,Wm. =Cust,John =Conn,Edward =Rogers,John=Lane,William =Conn,Robert

29 Feb-Mar 4, 1796
Inhabitants of Moneymore, having taken the sense of a number of respectable linen drapers, want a new linen market, incl Henry Murrell

284305 29 Feb. - 4 Mar. 1796 3 linen market inhabitants +Moneymore drapers names market 8 23 =Magill,Robert=Magill,James. =Ramsey,William =Murray,William =Bryson,John =Brown,John=Harkness,Andrew. =Lawson,Thomas =Brown,William =Brown,Robert =Collins,James=Newtown,Andw. =Marshal,Nath. =Bennet/and/Eyre =Eyre =Boys,David=Kennedy,Alex. =M''Clury,John =Cambell,James. =Greer,Robert =Torrins,Andw.=Torrins,James. =Ekin,William =Gibson,Alex. =Junck,Thomas =Burrows,James=Stewart,John =Elliot,Adam =Kelson,John =Dickay,John. =M''Culla,Hugh=Walker,John =Beatty,Hugh =Kyle,A. =Dunn,Robert =Hunter,John/Jr.=Kelso,Robert =Mihhel,J. =Brown,Alex. =Laughlin,James =Lindsay,Robert=Walker,Samuel. =Smyth,James. =Graham,William =Bell,Robert/Adair=Crawford,Jo/Jr. =Murrell,Henry =Gibon,John =Swan,Robert. =Dickey,James=Eken,James =Rutherford,Robt. =Kerr,William =Kane,John. =Renkan,Hugh=Bryson,James =Crawford,Jo/Sr. =Bryson,Henry.

27 Sept 1799 (1, 2)
J Murrell, Ballyquin was one of a very large number - 1 ½ pages - who signed a petition from Londonderry in favour of the Act of Union

Below both John & Henry Murrell are present

Londonderry Journal

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Londonderry Journal - 15th Feb, 1825

A meeting of 3-4,000 'highly respectable' Protestants (Omagh) passed resolutions against Catholic clergy and the Catholic committee.
The highlight was a bitter speech by the usually tolerant John Dickson Eccles.

Rt Hon the Earl of Caledon, Chairman
John Corry Moutray of Favour Royal proposed a series of motions
These were seconded by John Dickson Eccles in an impassioned and constitutional speech of which the following is an outline:

In siding to second these resolutions I cannot refrain from expressing my strongest conviction of the neccessity which exists of adopting them. We see a power rising over us unknown to the law, unrecognised by the Constitution - a power exercising an authority over our people denied even to Royalty - - - - - -
Such a state of things cannot must not be suffered to continue; the voice of reason and humanity will plead against it, and it ought not to be conceded to the Ecclesiastics and popular leaders of a tolerated sect, to assume those powers which they aim at for the levelling our Establishment in the dust, and raising on the ruins of them a dominion long since found intolerable by our ancestors.
The RC Priesthood and Demagogues must not be permitted to intrigue with our tenants and our servants & to inveigle them into a political vortex, by the collection of money from them for purposes no longer dubious. While these men continue to enjoy the benefit of mild and equal laws, and a degree of toleration amongst us, unprecedented in ancient and modern history, is it to be borne that they should convert those of their communion, to whom we have let our lands or given employment as domestics, into politicians or conspirators, realy to kindle a servile war around us, and involve us and our unoffending families in irretrievable ruin? It is therefore our bounden duty and that of every man who has anything to fear or to hope for in our country, to protest againstthe Association which has thus called unto mischievous action
those, who in other circumstances might have continued inoffensively to discharge the several duties of the stations allotted to them by Providence in out Society; and I am disposed to think that the Government and the Legislature will at length see the neccessity of an entire
change of men and measures for the protection of the lives, liberties and religion of His Majestys Protestant subjects in this part of the empire.

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