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| 1840–1876 |
(1) The Mercers'
Company operated a loan fund for tenants. (2) The following amounts were lent out: - 1831 to 1840, £200; - 1841 to 1850, £1,785; - 1851 to 1860, £576 4s 10d; &c. |
(1) PRONI ref.
D974, per index entry in the online catalogue,
www.proni.gov.uk (accessed 2015-01-20). (2) Link to table of the Mercers' accounting of expenditures made on the Kilrea estate, between 1831-1889. Note: In 1882, when Robert Stuart made a presentation to the Deputation from Companies' Irish Estates, on behalf of the tenants of the Kilrea estate, he described the borrowing process as follows: "When a tenant wants a loan he travels sometimes five miles to lodge his application. In a week after he comes again to know if he has been successful. If so, he brings with him two solvent securities. He gets the money, 6d. in the pound being deducted from it. He pays it back in five monthly payments, each time walking perhaps 10 miles. The two other banks charge a higher rate of interest--one of them 1s. in the pound; the other, I think, charges 9d., but they all do a good business. They are sources of great evil and much misery to the farmers." Link to statement by Robert Stuart. |
| 1840–1880 |
Miss S.J.
Ferrier was the principal of Kilrea Girls' School. |
The Fairy Thorn
(1984), pg. 48. |
| 1840 |
"The first National School in the district was Drumagarner
… situated
on church land beside Drumargarner chapel. ... The school
was a
two-storied building, each floor measuring 28' by 17'." The Reastown school "came under the National Board and the first teacher was Theophillus O'Neill." |
The Fairy Thorn
(1984), pp. 52, 55. |
| 1840 |
James Kilpatrick
(or McIlfatrick), a member of the Reformed Presbyterian
Church at Drimbolg, emigrated to Sydney, Australia. |
The
Covenanter (1853), pg. 187: article describes James
Kilpatrick's
efforts to commence in farming in Australia, and how he
raised a little
church on his farm. Link to transcription. |
| 1840-01-18 |
A legal
notice was published in the Northern Whig, of an impending election
of
Guardians of the Poor for the several Electoral Divisions
in Ballymoney
Poor Law Union. |
Northern Whig,
21 January 1840. Link to transcription. See also entry under 1840-01-25, "(1) The Ballymoney Poor Law Union..." |
| 1840-01-21 |
Meeting
of the inhabitants of the united parishes of Kilrea and
Desertoghill,
in Drumagarner, the Rev. Samuel Auterson in the Chair, and
Mr. Peter
M'Alister, Secretary. The objects of the meeting were: "to
take into
consideration the propriety of transmitting an address to
her Majesty,
Queen Victoria;" to petition Parliament for an extension
of the elective
franchise," and reform of the Irish municipal
corporations; and, to
express their "utter detestation of the base and atrocious
calumnies heaped on
the Catholic people and priesthood of Ireland by the Tory
party and
press in England." This petition, along with others from
many other
parishes, were presented by Mr. O'Connell to Parliament. |
Vindicator, 22
January 1840. Link to transcription. Dublin Weekly Register, 15 Feb. 1840 (editorial). Link to transcription. |
| 1840-01-25 |
(1) The
Ballymoney Poor Law Union (PLU) came into operation. (2) The first election of Poor Law Guardians was held for Ballymoney PLU. Local guardians included: John Kennedy, Tamlaght; Creighton Hutchinson, Moneygran; James Johnson, Drumard; Alex Gilmore, Boveday; Washington Smith, Moyagney; Joseph Henderson, Lislea; Arthur Church, Dullaghy; and Michael Mulloy, Claragh. |
(1) Poor Law
Commissioners' Report (1844), pp. 518ff. (2) The Fairy Thorn Revisited (1996), pg. 59. Note: The Ballymoney PLU included all of the townlands in the parish of Kilrea, viz.: Claragh, Erganagh, Fallahogy, Kilrea, town of Kilrea, Lislea, Movanagher, Moyagoney, Moynock, and Mullan. See also entry under 1840-01-18, "A legal notice was published..." |
| 1840-02-04 |
A
sermon was preached by the Rev. Francis Wilson, of
Killemure, in Kilrea
Presbyterian Secession Church; after which, the Rev.
Joseph Dickey,
youngest son of the Rev. William Dickey, of Carnone, was
unanimously
chosen to be the future Pastor of that congregation. |
Belfast
News-Letter, 14 February 1840. Link to transcription. |
| 1840-03-31 |
(1) The Rev.
Joseph Dickey was ordained the new minister of 2nd Kilrea
Presbyterian. (2) Mr. Dickey cleared the remaining £50 of the debt incurred in the construction of a building for the congregation. |
(1) Kernohan
(1912), pg. 43. (2) The Fairy Thorn (1984), pg. 74. Belfast News-Letter, 14 April 1840, for an account of the proceedings. Link to transcription. |
| 1840-04-15 |
The
parish of Kilrea presented a petition in favour of
alteration of the
law governing church patronage, to the House of Commons. |
Caledonian
Mercury, 20 April 1840. Link to transcription. |
| 1840-04-26 |
Meeting
of the inhabitants of the united parishes of Kilrea and
Desertoghill (Roman Catholic),
at Drumagarner, the Rev. Samuel Auterson in the Chair, Mr.
John
O'Regan, Secretary. The object of the meeting was to
obtain a petition
against Lord Stanley's registration bill, for presentation
to
Parliament. |
Freeman's
Journal, 1 May 1840. Link to transcription. |
| 1840-08-07 |
Day
of public thanksgiving, observed by the Presbyterians of
Kilrea, on the
occasion of the union of the Synod of Ulster and the
Secession
Synod. |
Derry Journal,
14 August 1840. Link to transcription. Enniskillen Chronicle, 20 August 1840. Link to transcription. |
| 1840-11-17 |
The
new Presbyterian church at Churchtown, in the parish of
Tamlaght
O'Crilly, was opened for public worship by the Rev. Dr.
Cooke, of
Belfast. |
Belfast
News-Letter, 27 November 1840. Link to transcription. See also entries under 1835-09-21, "The Presbytery of Magherafelt attended...," and 1836-01-23, "Churchtown Presbyterian was built, ..." |
| 1841 |
The
population of the town of Kilrea was 1,191, occupying 195
houses (up
from 1215 and 191 in 1831, and 973 and 110 in 1821);
eighteen houses
were not occupied, and one was in progress of building.
1841 census
statistics for the townlands of the parish of Kilrea,
situated within the
barony of Loughinsholin, follow: Format: Area; Population; Number of houses inhabited, unoccupied, building, total. - Claragh: 673A. 3R. 36P.; 365; 67, 1, 0, 68. - Erganagh: 317A. 3R. 25P.; 174; 26, 0, 0, 26. - Fallahogy: 388A. 3R. 21P.; 141; 30, 1, 0, 31. - Kilrea: 743A. 1R. 16P.; 227; 35, 1, 0, 36. - Lislea: 917A. 3R. 38P.; 467; 81, 4, 0, 85. - Moneygran: 748A. 0R. 20P.; 374; 57, 1, 0, 58. - Moyagoney: 740A. 1R. 20P.; 319; 60, 3, 0, 63. - Moyknock: 611A. 2R. 29P.; 347; 57, 0, 0, 57. - Sub-totals, including the town of Kilrea: 5,142A. 0R. 36P.; 3,605; 608, 29, 1, 638. Note: The remainder of the parish is in the barony of Coleraine; the entire parish contains 3,437 persons. 1841 census statistics for the townlands situated within the barony of Coleraine: - Movanagher: 606A. 3R. 8P.; 418; 78, 0, 0, 78. - Mullan: 425A. 0R. 6P.; 204; 35, 0, 0, 35. - Subtotals: 1,033A. 3R. 14P.; 622; 113, 0, 0, 113. |
The Fairy Thorn
(1984), pg. 20 (re: population figures for the town of
Kilrea). Kernohan (1912), pg. 45 (re: number of tenements in the town of Kilrea). Census of Ireland, 1851, pp. 232, 241 (details for townlands). |
| 1841 |
The population
of the parish of Tamlaght O'Crilly was 8,301. 1841 census statistics for the townlands and
villages of the parish, situated within the barony of
Loughinsholin, follow: Format: Area; Population; Number of houses inhabited, unoccupied, building, total. - Ballymacpeake, Lower: 662A. 3R. 25P.; 399; 76, 8, 0, 84. - Ballynian: 537A. 2R. 11P.; 313; 55, 2, 0, 57. - Drumagarner: 596A. 0R. 19P.; 366; 70, 3, 0, 73. - Drumane: 508A. 1R. 26P.; 254; 42, 0, 0, 42. - Drumard: 655A. 2R. 14P.; 304; 58, 0, 0, 58. - Drumlane: 658A. 2R. 27P.; 328; 59, 1, 0, 60. - Drumnacanon: 747A. 0R. 19P.; 387; 68, 3, 0, 71. - Drumoolish: 487A. 0R. 20P.; 338; 61, 7, 0, 68. - Eden: 755A. 0R. 18P.; 388; 64, 4, 0, 68. - Glenone: 825A. 0R. 27P.; 557; 97, 3, 0, 100. - Gortmacrane: 768A. 0R. 10P.; 646; 119, 0, 0, 119. - Inishrush: 692A. 2R. 23P.; 360; 59, 5, 1, 65. - Killygullib Glebe: 966A. 2R. 39P.; 807; 140, 5, 0, 145. - Killymuck Glebe: 572A. 2R. 0P.; 383; 70, 1, 0, 71. - Lisgorgan Glebe: 179A. 1R. 16P.; 140; 26, 1, 0, 27. - Lismoyle: 925A. 2R. 1P.; 323; 63, 1, 0, 64. - Lisnagroat: 906A. 3R. 15P.; 392; 70, 1, 0, 71. - Moneysallin: 702A. 0R. 22P.; 322; 54, 2, 0, 56. - Moneystaghan, Ellis: 496A. 2R. 18P.; 404; 78, 3, 0, 81. - Moneystaghan, Macpeake: 410A. 0R. 27P.; 189; 36, 2, 0, 38. - Mullaghnamoyagh: 89A. 3R. 0P.; 62; 11, 0, 0, 11. - Timaconway: 494A. 1R. 21P.; 277; 50, 2, 0, 52. - Tyanee: 1,719A. 1R. 11P.; 1,036; 189, 6, 0, 195. - Inishrush village: ———; 182; 38, 6, 0, 44. - Portglenone town (part of): ———; 247; 42, 3, 0, 45. - Tamlaght village: ———; 211; 40, 4, 0, 44. - Subtotals: 15,457A. 3R. 9P.; 9,615; 1735, 73, 1, 1809. Note: The remainder of the town of Portglenone is in the parish of Ahoghill, barony of Toome, Lower, county Antrim. 1841 census statistics for the townlands situated within the barony of Coleraine: - Bovedy: 908A. 2R. 0P.; 640; 120, 4, 0, 124. - Drumsaragh: 426A. 0R. 14P.; 205; 33, 1, 0, 34. - Subtotals: 1,334A. 2R. 14P.; 845; 153, 5, 0, 158. |
Census of
Ireland, 1851, pp. 243-4. |
| 1841 |
The Church at
Greenlough was rebuilt, under the parish priest, Father
M'Laughlin. |
Parish of Greenlough (2006). |
| 1841 |
The Boys'
School at Drumagarner was opened on the lower floor. |
The Fairy Thorn
(1984), pg. 52. |
| 1841-01-15 |
The
house of Francis Cassidy, in Killygullib Glebe, parish of
Tamlaght
O'Crilly, burnt down, killing himself, who had been
confined to bed
with illness, and three of his infant children. |
Belfast
News-Letter, 22 January 1841. Link to transcription. |
| 1841-03-09 |
Death of John
Henderson, Esq., of Kilrea, Seneschal of the Manor of the
Mercers' Company, from 1803-41. |
Belfast
News-Letter, 2 April 1841. Link to transcription. |
| 1841-05-23 |
The
parish of Tamlaght O'Crilly (Roman Catholic) met, the Rev.
John
M'Laughlin, in the chair, and "adopted a series of
resolutions in
accordance with those of the general [anti-Tory] movement,
and an
address to the Queen." |
Vindicator, 2
June 1841. Link to transcription. |
| 1841-06-10 |
Anti-Tory
meetings were held in Kilrea and Desertoghill, and other
places in Ulster. |
Dublin Monitor,
10 June 1841. |
| 1841-06-12 |
Petitions
were
submitted by the Presbyterians of Ireland, totalling
33,192
signatures--including 161 from 1st Kilrea, and 133 from
Boveedy--for
the abolition of patronage in the
Church of Scotland. |
Belfast
News-Letter, 2 July 1841. (Names of the signatories were not listed.) |
| 1841-09-22 |
H.J. Heyland,
Esq. published a legal notice of intent to sell the
townland of Gortmacrane, parish of Tamlaght O'Crilly. |
Northern Whig,
17 August 1841. Link to transcription. |
| 1841-10 |
At Kilrea, the
Rev. Mr. Mooney was working towards the establishment of a
news-room for teetotallers. |
Dublin Monitor,
26 October 1841. Link to transcription. |
| 1841-11-30 |
The
Rev. William Denham was ordained "as assistant and
successor to the
Rev. A. Boyle, in the pastoral charge of the Presbyterian
congregation
of Boveedy." |
Kernohan
(1912), pg. 64. Freeman's Journal, 10 December 1841. Link to transcription. |
| 1841-12-21 |
W.H.
Holmes, Esq., agent to the Mercers' Company in Kilrea,
advertised a
house in Swatragh, with ten acres, to set for lease--"on
condition of
being employed as an Inn for the accommodation of
Travellers." |
Belfast
News-Letter, 21 December 1841. Link to transcription. |
| 1841–1848 |
Patrick
Mulholland was the principal of Drumagarner National
School. |
The Fairy Thorn
(1984), pg. 52. |
| 1842 |
(1) The Roman
Catholic church at Drumagarner, St. Mary's, was rebuilt. (2) Under Father Samuel Oterson [Auterson], the church at Drumagarner was rebuilt at a site just west of the old church. "The Mercers' Company contributed £200 to the erection of the church. ... When the new church was completed, the graveyard was extended and the stones of the old church used to build the surrounding wall." |
(1) The Fairy
Thorn Revisited (1996), pg. 110. (2) Research by Mrs. Kathleen Gillen; cited in The Fairy Thorn (1984), pg. 83. |
| 1842-01-20 |
The Magherafelt
Poor Law Union (PLU) struck its first poor rate, totalling
£3,766 18s. 7d, of which £22 1s. 8d. was deemed
uncollectible in early 1844. |
Poor Law
Commissioners' Report (1844), pp. 518ff. |
| 1842-03-10 |
The Magherafelt
Union Workhouse was declared fit for the reception of
paupers, and admitted its first inmates the following day.
The workhouse was built to accommodate 900 inmates, at a
cost of £6,600. The 6 acre site was demised to the
Magherafelt PLU by the Salters' Company, at a nominal
rent. |
The Workhouse,
online at workhouses.org.uk (accessed 2015-01-22). Poor Law Commissioners' Report (1844), pp. 518ff. Note: The Magherafelt PLU included the following townlands in the parish of Tamlaght O'Crilly: Ballymacpeake Lower, Eden, Glenone, Inishrush, Inishrush (town), Moneystaghan Ellis, Moneystaghan Macpeake, Mullaghnamoyagh, Portglenone (county Derry side of the river Bann), Tamlaght O'Crilly (town), and Tyanee. |
| 1842-06-11 |
Two
children and Miss Shaw, of Kilrea, were rescued from
drowning in one of
the lakes adjoining the town. Miss Shaw was rescuscitated
by Drs.
Hunter and Church. |
Belfast
News-Letter, 21 June 1842. Link to transcription. |
| 1842-07-12 |
Orange
processions took place at Kilrea, the "plains," Agivey,
and Boveedy,
with "the firing of shots, the ringing of the church and
meeting-house
bells, and the hoisting of garlands on the tops of houses,
&c." |
Dublin Monitor,
22 July 1842. Link to transcription. |
| 1842-08-05 |
A
public meeting was held in Coleraine, for the purpose of
organizing a
branch of the Society for the Promotion and Improvement of
the Growth
of Flax in Ireland, to embrace in its circuit
Newtownlimavady, Garvagh,
Kilrea, Ballymoney, Bushmills, Dervock, Portstewart,
&c. |
Northern Whig,
11 August 1842. |
| 1842-08-24 |
Murder
of a boy named George Marlin, in Kilrea. The Lords Justices offered a reward of £100 for
the apprehension and conviction of the murderers. On
the 2d September, John Paul
was charged, on the oath of James M'Auley, as being the
person who
struck
the fatal blow. At the Londonderry Assizes, held 23rd
March 1843, John
Paul was found guilty, and sentenced to twelve months'
imprisonment. |
Dublin
Monitor, 2 September 1842. (murder) Kerry Examiner, 13 September 1842. (reward) Northern Whig, 13 September 1842. (charges) Northern Whig, 28 March 1843. (trial) |
| 1842-09 |
Meetings
were held, sermons preached, and collections made in
behalf of the London
Hibernian School Society, at Dungannon, Antrim, Kilrea,
Tamlaght
O'Crilly, Banbridge, and Grenshaw. |
Belfast
News-Letter, 20 September 1842. Link to transcription. |
| 1842-11-15 |
The Ballymoney
Union Workhouse was deemed fit for the reception of
paupers. The workhouse was built to accommodate 700
inmates, at a cost of £6,785, plus £1,240 for fixtures and
fittings, &c. The Ballymoney Poor Law Union struck its
first poor rate, in the amount of £3,042 8s. 3-1/2d. |
The Workhouse,
online at workhouses.org.uk (accessed 2015-01-22). Poor Law Commissioners' Report (1844), pp. 518ff. |
| 1843 |
The Girls'
School at Drumagarner was opened on the upper floor. |
The Fairy Thorn
(1984), pg. 52. |
| 1843 |
"Movanagher
Schools [for boys and girls] were built by the
Mercers' Co. in
1843 at a cost of over £600. The first teachers were
William and Mrs.
Frances Hosford." |
The Fairy Thorn
(1984), pg. 53. |
| 1843 |
Kilrea
became an auxiliary of the Ulster Society for Promoting
the Education
of the Deaf and Dumb, and the Blind. "The Mercers' Company
gave a
donation of £100 when it was instituted, and they are
still life
members." |
Article written
by Miss Jane Clarke, July 1912, for the Northern Constitution,
and cited in The Fairy Thorn (1984), pg. 45. |
| 1843-01-19 |
The Magherafelt
Poor Law Union struck its second poor rate, totalling
£2,315 9s. 1d. |
Poor Law
Commissioners' Report (1844), pp. 518ff. |
| 1843-03-06 |
(1) The
Ballymoney Union Workhouse admitted its first inmates. (2) The Ballymoney Union Workhouse opened for the reception of paupers. The Poor Law Union incurred a debt of £8,500, advanced by the Lords of the Treasury, for the building of the workhouse. (3) "It was divided into three blocks--the admission building, the workhouse and the infirmary. The rules of admission were very strict and the treatment of the inmates left a lot to be desired. Hence the great reluctance of the majority of the population in Ireland to use the services of any workhouse." |
(1) The
Workhouse, online at workhouses.org.uk (accessed
2015-01-22). (2) Coleraine Chronicle, 18 May 1844. (3) The Fairy Thorn Revisited (1996), pg. 59. Poor Law Commissioners' Report (1844), pp. 518ff. Note: In the county of Londonderry, the Ballymoney Poor Law Union included the parish of Kilrea, the northern portion of the parish of Tamlaght O'Crilly, and portions of the parishes of Aghadowey, Ballymoney, and Desertoghill. |
| 1843-03-17 |
Murder of John
Richey, of Gortmacrane, parish of Tamlaght O'Crilly. |
Freeman's
Journal, 11 July 1843. (man charged) Link to transcription. See also entry under 1843-07-04, "Capture of John M'Loughlin, ..." |
| 1843-04-22 |
The daughter of
a Mr. O'Briens, of Tyanee, parish of Tamlaght O'Crilly,
died of an accidental gunshot wound. |
Northern Whig,
22 April 1843. Link to transcription. |
| 1843-04-28 |
Presentation
and address to William Henry Holmes, Esq., agent to the
Mercers'
Company of the Kilrea estate, by the tenantry, proposed
availing themselves of
the restoration of Mr. Holmes from an alarming illness,
and to express
their attachment and respect for him. |
Belfast
News-Letter, 28 April 1843. Link to transcription. |
| 1843-07-04 |
Capture
of John M'Loughlin, who had been charged with the murder
of John Richey, of
Gortmacrane, on 17th March, by the police sergeant's wife,
at the barrack in Kilrea. |
Freeman's
Journal, 11 July 1843. Link to transcription. |
| 1843-08-21 |
A
deputation of the Ulster Society for Promoting the
Education of the
Deaf and Dumb, and the Blind, attended Kilrea. A meeting
was held, the
Rev. Thomas Lindsay, rector of Kilrea, in the chair. Also
in attendance
were the Revds. Augustus Minchin, curate of Kilrea, Joseph
Dickie,
junior, H.W. Rodgers, James Denham, Andrew Todd, and
Smylie Robinson;
Doctor Clarke, and — Lane, Esq. An auxiliary was
established, with the
following office-bearers: Patrons, William Holmes, Esq.,
and the
Worshipful the Mercers' Company; President, the Rev.
Thomas Lindesay;
Treasurer, Park Holmes, Esq.; Secretaries, the Revds. M.C.
Motherwell,
curate of Tamlaght O'Crilly, H.W. Rodgers, and Andrew
Todd; Committee:
the Revds. William Napper, rector of Tamlaght O'Crilly,
Joseph Dickie,
James Denham, and Mr. Wallace. A collection was taken, and
pupils were
examined. |
Northern Whig,
26 August 1843. Link to transcription. |
| 1843 |
Extensive
failures of the potato crop in England, caused by over
ripened seed raised in the season of 1842. |
Coleraine
Chronicle, 1844-05-18, citing the Quarterly Journal of
Agriculture. |
| 1843-09-05 |
Meeting
at Kilrea, for the improvement of the growth of flax in
the district;
Alexander Clarke, Esq., Upperlands, in the Chair. The
Chairman and Mr.
Skinner addressed the meeting. A resolution was passed to
form an
auxiliary branch of the Belfast Flax Improvement Society
for this
district. A second resolution was passed, appointing
managers of the
auxiliary: William H. Holmes, Esq., President; Alexander
Clarke, Esq.,
Vice-President. Committee: Parke Holmes, Esq., George
Dunbar, Esq.,
Mayor of Belfast, Andrew Orr, Esq., John Church, Esq.,
Rev. Thomas
Lindsay, Rev. Hugh W. Rodgers, Joseph Clarke, Esq., M.D.,
Marshall
Mackay, Esq., Mr. Henry O'Neill, Mr. William Alcock, Mr.
John
Henderson, Mr. R. M'Aghon, Mr. John Kennedy, jun., Mr. R.
M'Cherry
[sic], Secretary, with power to add to their numbers. |
Northern Whig,
21 September 1843. Link to transcription. Northern Whig, 5 December 1843 (donation of £100 by the Mercers' Company.) Link to transcription. |
| 1843-11-13 |
The Ballymoney
PLU struck its second rate, totalling £1,180 19s. 8d. |
Poor Law
Commissioners' Report (1844), pp. 518ff. |
| 1843-01-01 to 1843-12-31 |
The
Magherafelt Union Workhouse commenced the year with 219
inmates, admitted 366 paupers during the year, discharged
397, with 268 inmates remaining at the end of the year. The Ballymoney Union Workhouse, which admitted its first paupers on the 6th March 1843, admitted 348 during the remainder of the year (including any that were born in the house), discharged 164 (including any deaths that occurred in the house), with 184 paupers remaining at the end of the year. |
Poor Law
Commissioners' Report (1844), pp. 518ff. |
| 1843-11-20 to 1845-02-14 |
A Commission
was directed by her Majesty's Government, to "inquire into
the state of the law and practice in respect to the
occupation of land in Ireland, and in respect also to the
burdens of county cess and other charges which fall
respectively on the landlord and occupying tenant,"
&c. Creighton Hutchinson, who lived near Kilrea, was
one of the many land occupiers who gave evidence. |
Inquiry into
the Law and Practice re Occupation of Land in Ireland
(1845). Link to transcriptions of evidence given by: Mr. Creighton Hutchinson, a farmer who lived near Kilrea; the Rev. John Brown, D.D., of Aughadowey, who expressed his candid opinions about the London Companies as landlords--also stating that, "A gentleman coming from London does not understand the patois of our northern people, who speak a kind of Scotch; and, on the other hand, they understand as little of his cockney English;" and, Rowley Miller, Esq., whose testimony addressed the Drapers' Company, but who was a prominent proponent of the Lower Bann Navigation project. |
| 1844-01-10 to 1844-04-09 |
At the
end of the first quarter of 1844, on 9th April, 243
inmates were lodged in the Ballymoney Union Workhouse.
During those three months, 118 persons had been admitted
in varying states of bad health, primarily in the category
of "bodily infirm." The population consisted of 147 people
over the age of fifteen years, and 96 under; 100 males,
and 143 females. Of the 96 children, 24 were identified as
illegitimate, two of whom had been deserted by their
mother. Of the other 72 children, 26 had been deserted by
their mother or father, or both parents. Of the adults,
more than 43% had been mendicants, the largest proportion
being females, while many of the inmates with previous
occupations had been male labourers or female servants. At the end of the first quarter of 1844, on 9th April, 309 inmates were lodged in the Magherafelt Union Workhouse. During those three months, 122 people had been admitted in varying states of bad health, primarily in the categories of "sickly or delicate," "idiot or imbecile," and "bodily infirm." The population consisted of 154 persons over the age of fifteen years, 155 under; 133 males, and 176 females. Of the 155 children, 29 had been identified as illegitimate, seven of whom had been deserted by their mother. Of the other 126 children, 39 had been deserted by their mother or father, or both parents. Of the adults, about one-third had been mendicants, primarily females, while many of the inmates with previous occupations had been male labourers or female servants. |
Poor Law
Commissioners' Report (1844), pp. 518ff. Link to extracts. Note: The link, provided above, includes a selection of several cases from the returns of paupers from the Ballymoney and the Magherafelt PLUs, giving details of name, age, religious denomination, previous occupation, condition upon admission, and current condition. A detailed schedule of Appendixes from the Commissioner's Report is also provided, detailing the state of progress in the opening of the workhouses; collection of poor rates; accounts of expenditure upon the relief of the poor; statistics of admission, births, deaths, and discharge; summary of audited accounts and establishment charges; particulars of the paupers, including gender, religious persuasion, by what authority admitted, marital status of men and women, legitimacy of children, state of health at time of admission, and previous occupations. |
| 1844 |
The Rev.
William Denham resigned his charge at Boveedy. |
Kernohan
(1912), pg. 64. |
| 1844 |
The
Fair Trader day coach ran from Belfast to Londonderry
daily, stopping
at several towns en route, including Ballymoney (but not
at Kilrea). |
Coleraine
Chronicle, 13 April 1844. |
| 1844-01-01 |
Meeting
of the inhabitants of the town and neighbourhood of
Coleraine, relative
to making the Lower Bann navigable. Mr. M'Cleery read a
paper,
describing the proposed Lower Bann Navigation, from Lough
Neagh to
Coleraine. The project would entail: dredging between
Lough Neagh and
Lough Beg; making a canal from above the fall at Portna to
below the
fall of Carnroe; making a cut and lock at Loughan Island;
and, making
another cut and canal to overcome the fall at Salmon Leap. |
Northern Whig,
4 January 1844. Link to transcription. |
| 1844-01-04 |
Coleraine
Quarter Sessions, in which applicants applied for licenses
to keep arms. |
Coleraine
Chronicle, 24 August 1844. See also entry under 1844-08-11, "A legal notice was published..." |
| 1844-02-10 |
The
parishioners of the United Parishes of Desertoghill and
Kilrea
presented an address and purse to the Rev. Daniel Mooney,
C.C., on the
occasion of his removal from Kilrea. The address was
signed by John
M'Kinney and Daniel Mooney, M.D., on behalf of the
parishioners. |
Vindicator, 10
February 1844. Link to transcription. The article includes Rev. Mr. Mooney's reply. |
| 1844-04 |
Meetings
were held in a number of towns, including Kilrea, "to
consider the law
relative to Presbyterian marriages. At most of these
places[,]
petitions to Parliament in favour of the right of the
Presbyterian
ministers to celebrate mixed marriages were adopted." |
Dublin Weekly
Register, 6 April 1844. Link to transcription. Belfast News-Letter, 4 June 1844 (petitions presented to Parliament). Link to transcription. |
| 1844-04-20 |
The
new parish church (Church of Ireland) at Kilrea was
consecrated by his
Grace the Lord Bishop of Derry and Raphoe. "This handsome
building is
situated at the end of Kilrea, near the Meeting-House, it
is built with
freestone, from a quarry in the vicinity of Buncranna, the
style and
workmanship is elegant; the large eastern window is of
coloured plated
glass, the smaller windows are neat, it adds much to the beauty
of Kilrea." The building was "erected by the
Mercers' Company, at a cost of about nine thousand
pounds." |
Coleraine
Chronicle, 20 April 1844. Statesman, 23 April 1844. Link to transcription. |
| 1844-04-20 |
In consequence
of ill health, W.H. Holmes, Esq., agent to the Mercers’
Company, would be giving up the situation, with a
successor to be appointed in June. |
Coleraine
Chronicle, 20 April 1844. See also entry under 1844-06-28, "Departure of William Henry Holmes, Esq...." |
| 1844-04-25 |
Petitions
were heard in Parliament from a large number of dissenting
congregations in Ireland, praying for "the adoption of a
measure to
legalise marriages solemnised by a Presbyterian or
dissenting minister,
between members of the Established Church and Presbyterian
Dissenters." |
Coleraine
Chronicle, 4 May 1844. |
| 1844-05 to
1844-08 |
An
engineer was engaged by the Board of Works to survey the
river Bann
from Lough Neagh to Coleraine, with a view to opening up
that part of
the river. The survey and the valuation were expected to
be completed by August. |
Coleraine
Chronicle, 14 May 1844. Coleraine Chronicle, 22 June 1844. |
| 1844-05 to
1844-07-01 |
James
Magee forced the slide off the letter-box at the post
office in Kilrea,
after the office had closed. He was prosecuted at the
Petty Sessions in
Kilrea on the 1st July. Mr. Becknell, the new agent for
the Mercers'
Company, intervened; and, an ample apology having been
offered by Mr.
Magee, the prosecution was withdrawn. |
Coleraine
Chronicle, 6 July 1844. |
| 1844-05-06 |
The
Ballymoney Poor Law Union submitted a memorial to
Parliament, praying
for the relief of the sum of £8,500, advanced by the Lords
of the
Treasury to the Union, to build the workhouse. While great
numbers of
people were relieved within the workhouse, "the travelling
Mendicants
still continue to demand charity as heretofore from the
Rate Payers."
The memorial was signed by Charles O'Hara, Chairman, on
behalf of the
Guardians. |
Coleraine
Chronicle, 18 May 1844. |
| 1844-06 |
A larger number
of trout was taken this season at Portna, than in any
season during the previous twenty years. |
Coleraine
Chronicle, 22 June 1844. |
| 1844-06-24 |
Arrival of
George Becknell, the new agent of the Mercers' Company. |
Coleraine
Chronicle, 6 July 1844. |
| 1844-06-25
& 26 |
Presentation
of a large scale entertainment, called Hughes's "Grand
Modern Roman
Amphitheatre of Arts" at
Ballymoney. The show featured a Music Carriage and
orchestra, an
elephant, twenty horses and Lilliputian ponies, and Mr.
Brown, the
Hibernian Clown--the show to be conducted within an
immense Pavilion. |
Coleraine
Chronicle, 22 June 1844. |
| 1844-06-28 |
Departure of
William Henry Holmes, Esq., former agent of the Mercers'
Company. |
Coleraine
Chronicle, 6 July 1844. |
| 1844-07-20 |
A
deputation of the Ulster Society for Promoting the
Education of the
Deaf and Dumb, and the Blind, attended at Kilrea, G.
Bicknell, Esq., in
the chair. "The Rev. Thomas Lindesay, the Rector of the
parish, the
Rev. Augustus Minchin, the Rev. H. Walker Rogers [sic],
the Rev. M.
Motherwell, the Rev. J. Dickey, &c., amongst others,
were present.
Collection, £4 02 4-1/2d." |
Northern Whig,
27 July 1844. Link to transcription. |
| 1844-07-22 |
At
the county of Londonderry Assizes, Samuel Pinkerton
submitted to the
charge of "rescuing at Kilrea, a horse, the property of
William
Doherty, which had been distrained for poor rate." Mr.
Pinkerton was
fined 1d. and discharged. |
Belfast
News-Letter, 30 July 1844. Link to transcription. |
| 1844-07-23 |
A
man named Robert M'Callion, of Kilrea, and a boy named
Matthew Kennedy,
scaled the walls of the Ballymoney workhouse, bringing
with them their
workhouse clothes and part of the bedding. The
men were apprehended, charged by Mr. R. Boyle, master of
the
Workhouse, with theft, &c., and brought before the
magistrates on
the 5th August. They confessed their guilt, and were
ordered to find
bail and to stand their trial at the
Quarter Sessions. |
Coleraine
Chronicle, 27 July 1844, 10 Aug. 1844 The 10th August 1844 edition of The Belfast Protestant Journal said: "They were then committed to stand their trial at the next Quarter Sessions, otherwise to find bail, themselves £40 and two sureties in the sum of £20 each." |
| 1844-08 |
Reports of
"misses" in the potato crop in north Tyrone. Potatoes
looking well in county Derry. |
Coleraine
Chronicle, 17 August 1844. |
| 1844-08-09 |
(1)
Act 7 & 8 Vic., cap. 81, Marriages (Ireland) Act, or
an Act for
Marriages in Ireland; and for registering such Marriages,
was enacted
by Parliament. (2) Under this act, the Rev. H.W. Rodgers, of First Kilrea Presbyterian was appointed Licenser by the Magherafelt Presbytery. |
(1) Cotton
(1892), pg. 49. (2) Coleraine Chronicle, 1844-09-14. |
| 1844-08-11 |
A
legal notice was published, requiring "all Persons
residing in the
Half-Barony of Coleraine, and connected with the Petty
Sessions
District of Kilrea," and who had been licensed to keep
arms in the
Coleraine Quarter
Sessions of the 4th January 1844, to bring their Arms to
the
Constabulary
Barracks at Garvagh, in order for those Arms to be marked. |
Coleraine
Chronicle, 24 August 1844. |
| 1844-08-13 |
Meeting
in the Court-room of Kilrea, to aid and support the Church
Education
Society, with the Rev. T. Lindsay in the chair.
Collection, £9 4s. 7d. |
Coleraine
Chronicle, 17 August 1844. |
| 1844-08 |
No less than
10,000 Irish shipped to Scotland to work in the harvest. |
Coleraine
Chronicle, 24 August 1844. |
| 1844-09-12 |
The
triennial visitation of the diocese of Derry (Church of
Ireland) was
held in the Cathedral, by his Grace the Lord Primate.
"When the
ordinary interrogatories respecting the parish of
Tamlaghtocrilly had
been answered by the Rev. Mr. Napper, the rector, his
Grace the Lord
Primate said he had received a memorial from the Rev. Mr.
Bloxham,
chaplain of a chapel of ease in that parish, in which it
was stated
that the writer was removed from the chaplaincy, because
for twelve
Sundays he was absent from his charge, although the duty
was regularly
performed. That, added his grace, addressing Mr. Bloxham,
is a mistake;
you have been suspended, but not removed. You are still
the chaplain." |
Statesman, 17
September 1844. Link to transcription. |
| 1844-09-20 |
Accident,
at Kilrea: A lad, William Osborne, who had been residing
with his
grandfather, Mr. Walter M'Lucas, was thrown from a cart,
the wheel of
which passed over his head, causing instant death. |
Coleraine
Chronicle, 28 September 1844. |
| 1844-09 |
The Mark Lane Express
reported results of experiments by Messrs. Berry and
Herring, in which
the nutritive value of one hundred pounds of potatoes were
found to be
equal to that provided by 25lbs. of meat, or 28lbs. beans,
or 35lbs.
wheaten bread, or 190lbs. parsnips and carrots, or 300lbs.
turnips, or
400lbs. cabbage. This result established "the fact that
3lbs. of
potatoes are equal to twelve ounces of bread and five
ounces of meat." |
Coleraine
Chronicle, 28 September 1844. |
| 1844-10-01 |
It
was reported that "the shares of the Belfast and Ballymena
Railway were
all taken with avidity according as they had been
allocated." The
editor of the Belfast
Mercantile Register
suggested "that the Committee of this undertaking may take
measures in
their present application to Parliament, to empower them
to extend the
Railway from Ballymena to Coleraine." |
Belfast
Mercantile Register, 1 October 1844. Link to transcription. |
| 1844-10-02 |
Visit
to Ballymoney by Mr. Turner, Dentist, at Miss M'Ilronan's,
Main-street.
Mr. Turner supplied artificial mineral Teeth, stopped
decayed and tender
Teeth with fine gold, and cleaned Teeth. |
Coleraine
Chronicle, 28 September 1844. |
| 1844-10-15 |
A
sermon was preached by the Rev. Dr. Henry Cooke, to a
crowded congregation, at 2nd Kilrea Presbyterian, for the
purpose of
liquidating the debt incurred by the congregation in
erecting the
meeting-house. The editor of the Coleraine Chronicle
urged the Mercers' Company to "amend their past omission
of duty to
this congregation," and come forward with assistance for
the
congregation. The collection amounted to nearly £50. |
Coleraine
Chronicle, 5 Oct. 1844, 12 Oct. 1844, 26 Oct. 1844. |
| 1844-10 |
"[T]he
Worshipful Company of Mercers have, on recommendation of
their
excellent agent, G. Beckneil, Esq., remitted to the
Archdeacon of Derry
the munificent donation of fifty pounds, in aid of the
funds now being
raised in the diocese of Derry towards the endowment of
the Church
Education Society." |
Coleraine
Chronicle, 12 October 1844. |
| 1844-10 |
The new Flax
Market, built by the Mercers' Company, was opened. |
Coleraine
Chronicle, 19 October 1844. |
| 1844-10-11 |
An
editorial article in the Derry Standard criticized the
Mercers' Company
as "a wealthy and something Puseyitish corporation." For,
while the
Company had given £450 towards the decoration of a Roman
Catholic
chapel, they had not yet contributed anything towards the
Second
Presbyterian Church of Kilrea. |
Statesman, 11
October 1844 (editorial). Link to transcription. Note: A public feud ensued between the editors of the Derry Standard and the Coleraine Chronicle, over language used by the former in reference to the new agent of the Mercers' Company, George Bicknell, Esq. |
| 1844-10-17 |
Confirmation of
children in the parish church (Church of Ireland) of
Kilrea by the Lord Bishop of Derry. |
Coleraine
Chronicle, 19 October 1844. |
| 1844-10-22 |
Meeting
to inaugurate the new Kilrea Farming and Flax Improvement
Society.
Members were required to pay an annual subscription of 3s.
6p., and
membership was required in order to compete for premiums
(prizes) at
any competitions hosted by the Society. The office holders
were: George
Bicknell, Esq., President; Alexander Clarke, Esq., and the
Rev. Thomas
Lindesay, Vice Presidents; Mr. R. M'Chlery, Secretary; Mr.
John
Henderson, Treasurer; and a committee of twenty-four men,
including:
the Revds. H.W. Rodgers, Robert Torrens, and Samuel
Auterson; Dr.
Clarke, M. M'Kay, William Adcock, Alexander Moore, Neal
Collance, James
Smith, W. Henderson, J. Kennedy, jun., Thomas Atkinson,
James Dripps,
John Bear, Thomas Gardner, C. Foy, H. O'Neill, Robert
M'Kay, Arthur
Church, C. Hutchinson, Alexander Gilmore, Robert M'Cahon,
Adam Paul,
and Patrick Heggarty. |
Coleraine
Chronicle, 2 November 1844. Note: The annual subscription fee probably precluded small or poorer farmers from membership in the Society, and therefore, participating in competitions which awarded premiums. |
| 1844-11 |
A
new line of railway was under contemplation. As proposed,
it would run
from Portadown to Coleraine, passing through or as near as
possible to
many towns, including Maghera, Kilrea, Garvagh, &c. In
petitions to
Parliament, and in legal notices, the line would be called
the Armagh,
Coleraine, and Portrush Railway. |
Coleraine
Chronicle, 2 Nov. 1844, 21 Dec. 1844 (legal notice of
provisional
registration of the railway), and 28 Dec. 1844
(editorial). |
| 1844-11 |
Clergymen
of the diocese of Derry (Church of Ireland), including the
Revds.
Thomas Lindesay and Augustus Minchin of Kilrea, presented
an address,
declarative of their support of scriptural education in
public schools. |
Statesman, 26
November 1844. Link to transcription. |
| 1844-12-03 |
A
new railway project was brought before the public, for a
line "from
Armagh to Portrush, via Charlemont, Stewartstown,
Cookstown, Moneymore,
Magherafelt, Maghera, Kilrea, Ballymoney, and Coleraine,"
provisionally
registered as the Armagh, Coleraine and Portrush Railway.
A meeting was
held on the 14th December, "at which deputations
representing two
competing Lines hence to Armagh attended." The contending
company was
the Portadown, Armagh, Coleraine, and Portrush Railway.
The meeting
resolved that, though the meeting considered it "most
important to the
interests of the Counties of Antrim and Derry, that a line
of Railway
communication should be made from Armagh or Portadown, to
the Seaport
of Portrush; but they, at the same time, abstain from
expressing any
approbation or disapprobation, of any particular line." A
subsequent
meeting was scheduled for the 17th December 1844, in the
Court-House,
Ballymoney. |
Dublin Monitor,
13 December 1844. Link to transcription. Coleraine Chronicle, 7 Dec. 1844, 14 Dec. 1844. |
| 1844 |
In
the year 1844, 10 ships carrying 2,107 emigrants left the
port of
Derry; 6 ships to Canada, carrying 905; and, 5 ships to St
John, New
Brunswick, carrying 815, for a total of 3,827 emigrants
(an increase of
1,332 from 2,495 in 1843). In addition, 2,000 emigrants
left Derry to
proceed for the same destinations from Liverpool. |
Coleraine
Chronicle, 11 January 1845. |
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