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Davies'
Co. Down, Northern Ireland Genealogy Research Site © Rosalind Davies 2001 Permission granted to reprint research for non-profit use only |
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Articles from the Belfast Newsletter newspaper
arranged in date order
5 December 1758, page 3 On 29 November the letter-of-marque ship CHARMING JENNY of Dublin, George Scott commander, had been in an engagement with a French Privateer in the region of the Flemish Banks and Goodwin Sands. |
24 April 1764, page 3 Sloop TORBAY, William Cox master, and the seizing of cask liquor at Dublin, and Capt. George Scott of Newry appeared to be the owner of the liquor or the sloop. |
15 Jun 1764, page 3; sale of part of Drumnaconnor townland in Kilmore parish by Rev. Hamilton Trail |
8-11 April 1788, page 3: An advertisement dealing with the sale of commodities imported by George Scott on the vessel LARK and on sale at Canal Quay and Market Street, Newry. |
Friday, 24 th August 1778 Whereas John McFADDEN of Drumlig, parish of Saintfield, flax dresser, charged with silvering a half penny to make it resemble a British shilling and also charged with (in suspicion) breaking open a dwelling house of Frances DODDS of Craignassasnagh, now the said John McFADDEN does hereby give notice that he will surrender to the keeper of the gaol in Downpatrick in order to take his trial for said offences at next assizes...whereof all persons concerned are desired to take notice. Dated 24th August 1778- John McFADDEN |
c. 1803 MARRIED: Mr. Andrew Templeton of Templepatrick (Donaghadee), aged 80 years, to Miss Mary FEE, aged 35 years. This was his fourth wife- the second time he was eight weeks a widower and the third time only six. |
1808 |
11 Dec 1818 MURDER: Whereas P.... M.... ( could be Munce) of
Barnamaghery, in the County of Down, Butcher, stands charged, by
the Coroner's Inquest, with the willful Murder of Richard SKILLING,
at Ballygowan Bridge, on the night of Saturday the 21st November inst.
and hath hitherto escaped from justice- Now we, the undersigned Magistrates,
do hereby offer a Reward of FIFTY POUNDS STERLING (the same to be paid
in proportion to the sums respectively subscribed to our names), to
any person or persons who shall, within twelve calendar months , apprehend
the said P...M... and lodge him in any of his Majesty's gaols, so that
he may be brought to trial for the above offence. -- Dated this 30th
November , 1818. Lord Londonderry £50; Lord Dufferin £20; David Ker £10; D. Mussenden£10; N. Price £10; D. Gordon £ 10; John Crawford £10; Thomas Potter £5; G.W.R. Hamilton £5; J.W. Maxwell £10 |
1832 DIED: On Friday last, Mr. John LOWRY of Ballymacreely, parish of Killinchy, commonly known by the name of Master John. He was born 1740, consequently was in his 92nd year. He enlisted in the 76th Regiment in 1760 and first faced the enemy's fire at the Siege of Belle-isle. He subsequently assisted at the reduction of Martinique and several of the West India Islands and was discharged in England at the peace. He returned to Killinchy in 1764 and lived many years with the families of the Moores of Moor Hall and the Halls of Killyleagh in the capacity of butler, was occasionally village school-master and , it may be said, clerk to most of the families in the neighbourhood. He married in 1774 and settled on the paternal farm in Ballymacreely. Mr. Lowry was considered by many as rather an eccentric character but those who knew him can truly say that in honesty of purpose, integrity in all his dealings, liberal and charitable feelings to all mankind, none surpassed Master John Lowry. |
Tuesday morning 7th June 1864- Ballynahinch Petty Sessions- Riot Cases This morning, at eleven o'clock, the hearing of the riot cases, postponed from last Wednesday, was resumed before Capt. O'Donnell, R.M. J.S. Crawford, Esq. J.P. and W.R. Anketell, Esq. JP on the last day the case for the prosecution on the Roman Catholic side closed, and the evidence appeared in Thursday's paper. Daniel Caughey summoned George Neil for assault and Bernard Burns and Hugh McCagherty summoned William James Long , James Palmer {Ballymaglave?), James Gordon {Magheratimpany?} , John Thompson, John Watson {Cumber?} and George Neil , for riot and assault, on the evening of the 19th May - the Ballynahinch fair-day. Messrs. A. O'Rorke and J. Dinnen were the attorneys engaged for Caughey, Burns and McCagherty, prosecutors (the Roman Catholics); and Messrs. Crawford and J. McLean for the defendants (the Protestants). The Roman Catholics were today represented by Mr. Dinnen only, as Mr. O'Rorke was unable to attend. The court was crowded during the day, and the interest taken in the cases remains unabated. Mr. McLean applied to have all the cases against his clients heard before he would open his defence. Mr.Dinnen said this would be a very inconvenient course. Each
case should be heard by itself. Mr. McLean rose to state his case. He said that, when the case was opened, he thought it was a great party fight; but since he had heard the evidence, he was convinced that it was merely a drunken brawl. It was difficult to understand how the quarrel commenced. All they knew was that one party, who was walking with a young woman, said that three other parties whom he did not know assaulted him. This man was not satisfied with hearing the remark the three men made in silence; but he went and took a stick from his opponents, and wanted to make the Bench believe that he did nothing more. He (Mr. McLean) believed that the story was inconsistent. He did not believe the three parties ran sway merely from Murray's taking a stick from them. Murray must have assaulted them at the same time. John Dogherty, a corroborating witness, was examined, the the evidence he gave was extraordinary. He said he saw the assault, but did not interfere, although there were houses within hail. His evidence was that both parties were equally his friends. He must have been drunk, though he said he had only taken some ginger-beer. But he had gone on to contradict the statement by his own acts. He went, he said, to the house of a James Dogherty, to let "Master" McAlee {Magherdrool?} write down his evidence. Many other persons were there. Indeed, all the evidence given was taken down by "Master" McAlee in the house of James Dogherty He did not know why McAlee was called "Master" McAlee, or why he should take down all the evidence, or whether the parties were bound under some obligation to attend "Master" McAlee's summons. They were all examined by "Master" McAlee, so that their evidence would tally. It appeared that three parties, Neil Dogherty, Daniel Doran and Bernard Burns, were the first of the Ribbon party who left town, two of them with sticks Mr. Dinnen objected to Mr. McLean calling his clients Ribbonmen, as there was no evidence of that. Mr. McLean said that the other side called his clients names, and would not allow him to have the same privilege. One of the sticks had been called a lath, and if it had not been produced, with a nail on the end of it, and covered with blood, they could have formed no idea of it. It was very formidable weapon. There was also a "colt"- a very murderous weapon too. "Master " McAlee was not only good at getting up evidence, but of drawing up a line of battle. It was plain that there was a plan devised by Roman Catholics to attack the Protestants. It would be proved in evidence that the Roman Catholics left town with sticks. Their plan was what had actually been put in force- to attack the Protestants on both sides; and for this purpose they sent forward men to provoke a quarrel. Bernard Burns swore that he had left home with a "colt" in his pocket to go to Ballynahinch Fair to do nothing. Why did he go to the fair if he had no business in it? If he had heard that a person called Johnston was going to assault him , was not that a reason for his staying home? Could they believe that he went out of the town with the "colt" on his pocket and the "lath" in his hand without the intention of committing an assault previously arranged? and would he attempt the assault unaided? He would not. He must have expected aid from the persons who did actually assault the Protestants. There was a great difference between Burns's evidence and his informations, and on being asked which was true, he said that the informations were true. This was in respect of persons whom he knew. McCagherty swore on the last day yet he left the town alone, but in his informations he swore he left with some men and girls. In fact, the informations were quite at variance with the evidence in court. On cross-examination, he swore that the informations were true, and that the evidence he had given them was untrue. If this were so, how could any part of these men's evidence be true? and if these men swore what was untrue, what must the evidence of those who had not given informations be? He would ask the Bench to disbelieve the entire evidence. He wondered how the Roman Catholics, as they went out of town, could not see the others; how they all left at seven o'clock; and how a donkey's cart was in a certain place, with sticks and broom handles for the fray, unless there was a previous understanding to give the Protestants a good beating. On the other hand, they found that the Protestants were in town on business, were unarmed, and were attacked front and rear. No other conclusion could he come to but that the Roman Catholics were determined on an attack. ......... The following witnesses were then examined for the defence:- To Captain O'Donnell- We were not then at the fight. Mr. McLean- It was Pat who was produced. (Eliza Nocher) cross examined by Mr. Dinnen- I did not
see Palmer throw his coat off. I lost sight of Palmer.
There were fifteen or sixteen persons there when Palmer and I
went up. Palmer was courting me that night. (Laughter) A part
of five or six were before Palmer and me. There were others behind
us. The three boys passed me without saying a word. I can't tell what
took place before the fighting began. I did not see Hawthorne
that night. I saw William Long in town. I did not see him on
the road. I saw James Gordon in the fight. He was before me.
Hugh Thompson examined by Mr. Crawley- As I was going
home I saw three or four men pass with sticks. There were some fifteen
or sixteen before me. James Dogherty was one of the men. In a
few minutes the bustle commenced. I saw James Dornan then pass
me with his hand under the skirt of his coat, as if he had a stone in
his hand. I saw Roger McCagherty pass with the butt of a loadened whip
in his hand. He "yoked" into work too, and "laid on".
Until these parties with the sticks went past there was no bustle. John Ellison {Tievenadarragh?} , examined by Mr.
McLean- I saw John Dornan lift stones and put them behind
his back. This was beyond the church. Michael Mariner was with
Dornan, and also lifted stones, which he put in his pocket. I
did not then see any persons on whom they could operate. They walked
quickly. When I went on I saw a crowd, and Dornan run into the
crowd. Dornan had no his coat off when I saw him first. He had
it off when he was in the crowd. William Fisher {Cumber?} examined by Mr. McLean-
I met a number of Spa fellows going home out of town. I only saw two
sticks among them. I met a second crowd and they had many sticks like
this (The Lath) John Gordon examined by Mr. McLean- I saw Wm. James
Long in the fair. After seven o'clock he and his cousin Dick
{ Ballymaglave South?} were sitting on the road near the Spa.
Word then came that there was fighting. He did not go. We were together
till after dark. I was not in the fight. The case for the defence was closed. The following Protestant were summoned for riot- Wm Jas. Long, John Long, Jas. Palmer, Henry Gordon, Jas. Gordon, A. Hawthorne, John Thompson, Geo. Neil, John Watson and Francis Johnston {Cumber?} . The Roman Catholics summoned for riot were- Patrick Mariner, Hugh
McCagherty, James Dogherty, Neil Dogherty, Daniel Dornan, John Dornan,
Rose Dornan, Michael Mariner & John McCagherty {Drumnaconnor?}. Margaret McAlee deposed- At Mr. Lightbody's gate,
on the evening of the fair day, I saw a crowd fighting. There might
be about forty people in the crowd. The crowd slanked away, and most
of them were away before I went up. I met James Dogherty. He
was coming from the direction of the crowd with his face bloody.
Roger McCagherty also came. He had no marks of fighting. I saw John
McCagherty standing on the footpath. This was after the fight. When
I can farther I saw a boy on the road, and five or six beating him with
sticks. I do not know who it was or who were beating him. Mary Ann Hannigan said she did not see a fight at all. She passed about half-past eight o'clock after the fight took place. James Davis {Ballymaglave South?} - I was at the
fair. I went out of town behind some of the defendants, and before others.
There were Neil, Gordon, Watson, Palmer and Thompson before
me. Neil Dogherty, Daniel Dornan and Burns passed me on
the road. The three that passed me and a lot before me commenced the
fight. The three men had sticks. Some of the men before me had walking
sticks. I saw the men wrestling about. The party from which the three
separated then came up. There were Hugh McCagherty and Roger
McCagherty. The rest were strangers. I saw Hugh McCagherty
and Roger McCagherty fighting. I saw Neil fighting. I
saw Gordon after he came out of the crowd. I did not see Watson
or Thompson do anything. I saw John Dornan run into the
crowd. I saw John Dogherty behind the wall. Mrs. Lowry said she saw Hugh McCagherty and John McCagherty
on the road. She saw no more. Eliza Nocher re-examined- John Dogherty was standing
behind the wall when the fighting was going on. I heard him say to John
Long, "Willie, I will mark you for that." Samuel Moore, Patrick Mariner, Michael Mariner, Rose Dornan, Hugh Thompson and James Ogle were also examined for the Crown. Same evidence was given that John Dornan and Michael Mariner could not have seen the fight from the place where they liufted the stones. Sarah Christy- I was coming into the town. I heard Pat Quin
(Roman Catholic) say that he was coming into town one errand to
have James Gordon and John Watson beaten. James Palmer , examined by Mr. McLean- I was in the fair
in Ballynahinch on the 19th. I left about half-past seven o'clock. Eliza
Nocher was with me. I was going to see her home. Her sister was
with me. When I was going along the road I was struck over the head
three times with a stick. I don't know who gave me the blow which knocked
me down. It came from behind. Hugh McCagherty, when I was down,
struck me three or four times. I saved some of the blows with my arm.
He beat me with a round stick. John Dornan struck me on the head
with a stone or some hard substance. He struck me more than once. I
had given no offence to any one. There was a quarrell on the road some
distance before me. When I was down, a rush of people went by me on
the road into the crowd before me. I held McCagherty by the legs
till I got up. When I got up I struck McCagherty. I had no weapon
like this (the colt), or like this ( the lath). I had no weapon at all.
Some of the part went home with me in consequence of the request of
the girls. I had no intention of giving any provocation. Eliza Nocher and Samuel Moore were re-examined in corroboration of Palmer. They repeated their former evidence. This closed the case for the Crown. Mr. Dinnen addressed the Court with the view of showing that information should not be returned against his clients. Captain O'Donnell said that he thought the Bench would return information in the case of Caughey against Neil, but they had not finally decided. Judgement would be given to-morrow (Tuesday) morning at 11 o'clock, in all cases; and the cases were postponed till then. The several defendants then entered into their own recognisances to appear, and shortly afterwards the Court rose. |
Last updated August 2008
by Ros Davies