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CSO/RP/1825/1818

Letter from Somerset Lowry-Corry, 2nd Earl Belmore, Castle Coole, Enniskillen, County Fermanagh, to Henry Goulburn, Chief Secretary of Ireland, making application on behalf of Reverend James W Williams, Presbyterian minister of Maguiresbridge, County Fermanagh, who is desirous of getting the government bounty or regium donum. States Williams is a man of ‘good character’ who is well established in the county.

30 Dec 1825

1825

CSO/RP/1825/1819

Letter from John Willoughby Cole, 2nd Earl of Enniskillen, Florence Court, Enniskillen, County Fermanagh, to Henry Goulburn, Chief Secretary, Dublin Castle, requesting issue of the government bounty or regium donum to Reverend James W Williams, Presbyterian minister of Maguiresbridge, County Fermanagh. Williams, he observes, will shortly present a memorial seeking the bounty and is a respectable applicant with ‘a very large congregation’.

10 Jan 1826

1826

CSO/RP/1825/1822

Letter from Sir Henry Brooke, Colebrooke, County Fermanagh, to the Chief Secretary’s Office, Dublin Castle, enclosing a memorial from the Presbyterian congregation [General Synod of Ulster] of Maguiresbridge to Henry Goulburn, Chief Secretary, Dublin Castle, requesting their clergyman, Reverend James W Williams, be appointed to the first class of the royal bounty or regium donum. They claim in number they constituter between 400 and 500 families, and together they subscribe near £70 [per annum] towards the upkeep of their pastor. As a people, they assert, they are ‘uniformly distinguished for habits of Industry, peace and Loyalty’. Also character reference from Reverend Robert Russell, Church of Ireland rector of the parish of Aughalurcher [Aghalurcher], County Fermanagh, Ashbrooke, Brookeborough, in favour of Williams.

6 Jan 1826-9 Jan 1826

1826

CSO/RP/1825/1906

Letter from Lieutenant Colonel William Blacker, deputy vice treasurer, Vice Treasurer’s Office, Dublin Castle, to Henry Goulburn, Chief Secretary, [Irish Office, London], proposing that £350 be added to the sum to be voted by government as bounty for the Presbyterian ministers of Ireland, in compensation for the loss of a fund for the support of widows and orphans, following the collapse of the banking house of Lord Newcomen [George Evory], Dublin. He observes the overall loss facing the Presbyterian Church is near £7,000 and confides ‘a stroke of this kind on the part of government’ will endear the northern people to the crown and do more ‘to promote the peace of it than army or Police or any thing else’.

24 Jan 1825

1825

CSO/RP/1825/2008

Letter from William Jackson, Ballybay, County Monaghan, to Henry Goulburn, Chief Secretary of Ireland, Irish Office, London, offering a corrective to an account of a murder incident in the town of Ballybay recited in a speech by the Chief Secretary in the debate on the Unlawful Societies Act and the subsequent conduct of the Catholic Association [reported by the ‘Dublin Evening Post’ newspaper]. Explains that correct procedures were adhered to in the investigation of the murder which was committed on a young Roman Catholic by Samuel Gray of Ballybay with assistance of his brother, Henry Gray. The two brothers, he asserts, were committed for trial on the night of the murder, after which the Catholic Association became involved. Stresses his regret over the remarks passed by the judge, who presided over Gray acquitted, and laments at the impression left with local Catholics. He describes Samuel Gray who ‘keeps a Public House in which sits an Orange Lodge’ as ‘a terror to the poor peasantry’ in his capacity of tithe proctor, and, he believes Gray appeared previously on charges before Baron James McClelland, the Irish circuit judge. Jackson affirms as a Presbyterian of Ballybay he was the person who made the journey to fetch Dacre Hamilton, chief magistrate for Monaghan, and also took notes at the inquest and trial.

16 Feb 1825

1825

CSO/RP/SC/1825/67

Letter from Major Thomas D’Arcy, inspector general of police for the province of Ulster, Belfast, County Antrim, to William H Gregory, Under Secretary of Ireland, Dublin Castle, enclosing a letter from Lieutenant Dominick Persse, chief constable of police, Ramelton, County Donegal, reporting on the burnings of out offices at Tullynadoll, near Fannett [Fanad], barony of Kilmacrenan, in County Donegal. Concludes the outrage is likely the product of a local dispute involving Reverend Dougherty [parish priest] and his family, and three members of the Sweeny clan. Also encloses a second report from Persse, stating a stock house, property of Captain Babington, was consumed by fire, together with 17 sheep and lambs. He supposes culpability rests with an individual named ‘Gremes’ [a Presbyterian] who departed from that place yesterday for America having been ejected by his landlord, Babington. He notes a brother of the suspect lost a number of sheep in the fire and detects ‘no party concern whatever’ in the incident.

9 Apr 1825-11 Apr 1825

1825

CSO/RP/1826/289

Petition of the Belfast Academical Institution, signed by Joseph Stevenson, Secretary, Institution Buildings, Belfast, to Richard Wellesley, Lord Lieutenant, seeking parliamentary funding for the seminary; claiming that the seminary benefits candidates for the presbyterian ministry but also extends ‘impartially to Students and Pupils of all religious denominations, the important advantages of classical and scientific instruction’; adding that £30000 has been spent on building works, endowment of professors and the purchase of books and scientific apparatus. Includes embossed seal of academy. Also covering letter from Stevenson, to Henry Goulburn, Chief Secretary. Also note stating that the Lord Lieutenant cannot act until the Commissioners of Education make their report.

4 Feb 1826

1826

CSO/RP/1826/493

Memorial of John Geddes McGowan, to Richard Wellesley, Lord Lieutenant, seeking ‘a portion of his Majesty’s Royal Bounty’ [a salary] for his position as presbyterian minister of Orritor, Kildress, County Tyrone. Noting that there are 1100 members in his congregation, upwards of 50 families in the parish of Derryloran and that they have recently erected a substantial meeting house. Includes endorsement of petition from James Carlile and William Porter, moderator and clerk of the General Synod respectively. Also oath of allegiance sworn by McGowan and witnessed by Samuel Knight and [John L Murray]. Also letter from Carlile, 21 [] Street, to Henry Goulburn, Chief Secretary, recommending that McGowan’s request be granted.

28 Mar 1826

1826

CSO/RP/1826/804

Letter from John McCance, Suffolk, Belfast, to Henry Goulburn, Chief Secretary, requesting on behalf of the Presbyterian Congregation of Dunmurry, that their memorial requesting an increase of salary to their minister be presented to James Carlile, Moderator of the Synod of Ulster. Adding that he is the chairman of the committee. Including annotation stating that this is not the usual manner of dealing with the memorial.

19 Jun 1826

1826

CSO/RP/1826/1068

Letter from anonymous sender, signed ‘A Clergyman of the Established Church’, to Henry Goulburn, Chief Secretary, claiming that the Presbyterian Synod of Ireland is actively erecting new congregations in order to obtain the Royal Bounty for them. Claiming that this is being done by a committee under Messers [Harnan] and Carlile, presbyterian ministers in Dublin. Adding that it is often not in the power of the minister of the established church to obviate this evil.

16 Jan 1826

1826