Banbridge

County Down

Banbridge Workhouse 1841-1851

http://www.raymondscountydownwebsite.com

(by David Griffen)

For Photographs & History of Banbridge Workhouse & Hospital please click,  

  http://www.workhouses.org.uk/index.html?Banbridge/Banbridge.shtml

Banbridge workhouse was part of a national system created to tackle the problem of poverty in  Nineteenth century Ireland The poor law act of 1838 committed Ireland to following the English example despite the protests of Irish M.Ps of every shade of opinion. Opponents of the proposal argued that the Irish problem was on a far greater scale, as there was no work for a large proportion of the population, a system based on indoor relief, could not be effective. However in 1839 Ireland was divided into 130 Poor Law Unions, based on the main market towns and the building of workhouses began. Each workhouse was to provide for all the old, sick,  disabled and able-bodied poor. Those who entered the workhouse could not own more than one quarter acre of land, and no outdoor relief was to be provided.  Beggars   were to be sent to prison, Each workhouse was to be situated within one days walking distance (10miles) of all parts of the union.

Almost all the workhouses were built to a standard plan by George Wilkinson, the architect  employed by the Irish poor law commissioners, and they offered varying  accommodation from the  smallest of about 200 inmates to the greatest with over 1,000 places. Irish workhouses were  cheaper to build than the English workhouse as the floors were of mortar or earth, the dormitories  consisted of raised platforms, the walls were  unplastered and there were no ceilings. At the front of  each workhouse was an entrance block and remains of the walls can still be   indentified  on the way  into Banbridge Hospital. Here details were taken, clothes exchanged for workhouse garb, new  inmates deloused and separated from their  familys

Banbridge  workhouse opened on the 14th of June 1841, situated on the present site of  Banbridge  Hospital it occupied just over 5 acres and cost £10,037 to complete. It was built to accommodate a  maximum of 800 paupers and served a population of  87, 323 (1841) in an area stretching from   Tandragee  in the east, Leitrim  in the west, Dromore  in the north and  Glaskermore  in the south.

In the early 1840s the number of occupants seldom passed 300, this was no doubt due to the employment provided  by the linen industry, although agricultural prices had fallen and the wages in the linen industry were low (weavers earned from 3 shillings a week to 8 shillings a week) there was no shortage of work, as Charles Magee, the Whyte estate agent, stated in evidence before the Devon commission on the 30th March 1844, here there is scarcely anyone that need want employment if they are willing to work.

Eighteen miles along the Bann between the  Corbet   and Guildford seemed to guarantee relative  prosperity for all, the   Ordnance  Survey Memoir for  Seapatrick  Parish (1834) seems to confirm  this picture "to the man with comfortable cottages, the snowy appearances of the bleach  greens  and noisy manufactories with the growing   villages around them and the noise of the busy shuttle,  which may be heard in nearly  every house, will fully compensate for the want of picturesque   beauty".

However this picture was soon to change as the effects of the failure of the potato  crop began to be felt. Perhaps a third of the rapidly growing population of the   Banbridge  poor law Union, depended on the potato and they were soon flooding to the workhouse, by November 1846 numbers in the workhouse had passed 500 . Fortunately the wealth of the area was such that the guardians had normally a balance of £1,000 in hand in the bank. Prominent among the guardians   were landlords  Whyte  and Reilly and linen merchants Lindsay, Crawford and Law.

The winter of 1846-7 was  particulary  harsh and by January 1847 further admissions to the  workhouse were halted on the advice of the medical officer, "Whooping cough, influenza and  dysentary  are prevalent - and on this account he thinks more than 800, nor even that number could  not be attended without the greatest exertions of the officers," ( 2nd January ) however 4 were  taken in  "who cannot be rejected without safety" and the guardians did provide dinner and a half  pound of bread for each of the 54 paupers turned away.

The board of guardians now faced with a crisis   immediately set up a committee to investigate the  possibility of renting the brewery as additional temporary accommodation. At the same time two storey sheds were erected in both the  men and woman's wards, and galleries in all those parts of the workhouse suitable (Jan 1847), a temporary fever hospital which had been erected at the back of the workhouse was also overcrowded, Smallpox was spreading in  Banbridge, there were cases of Cholera in  Dromore and for three successive weeks the master, Mr Sheridon was forced to turn away more than 300 applicants. Food continued to be given to those who were rejected, despite advice from the Poor Law Commissions in Dublin, against the continuation of this practice.

On the 13th March 1847 the board of guardians advised the master to call in the aid of the constabulary to disperse paupers from the gates and further admissions were stopped for the present, unless in cases of fever, 170 were rejected ,some of whom had come a distance of 9 miles and all in a state of extreme destitution, once again the Guardians agreed to give a portion of food to help the unfortunates return to their hovels. Again on the 10th April 1847, 62 paupers were refused, although all the applicants exhibited  symptoms  of starvation and some even of death. Numbers had reached 898 of whom 183 were in the workhouse hospital and 23 in the fever hospital. Deaths were averaging 14 a week, the increasing cost of extensions and providing for the large number of inmates now forced the Guardians to borrow £2,000 from the Poor Law Commissions.

However there was  a lighter side to life as on the 15th May 1847 ,the master reports that singing and dancing  is carried on in the fever hospital and so great a noise made that the patients cannot get their rest, particulary on saturday  nights, complaints were also made concerning the sale of clothes to local pawnbrokers, and the presence of a man in the female ward. However the major scandal was the dismissal of the clerk of the union, Robert McClelland for embezzlement, the Clerk was in fact the highest paid official , with a salary of £60 per annum ( other salaries included - Master £40, Matron £25, all  Chaplins £25, Surgeon £50, Schoolmaster £20, Schoolmistress £15, Nurse £10 and Porter £10 per annum )

Problems continued to multiply and in September 1847 the Guardians were advised to discontinue the practice of burying paupers in the workhouse ground, there was also continuing difficulties with the water supply, sanitation  and overcrowding. At last on 27th November an agreement was completed for the use of the brewery. Three hundred boys were  immediately  moved from the workhouse to the brewery, meanwhile conditions in the countryside had deteriorated  further and on 1st January 1848 a letter from the Poor Law Commissioners stated that, "from the prevalence of   distress in the Union they consider they would not be justified in permitting any further delay to take place in commencing outdoor  relief," soup kitchens were set up in  each electoral district and as many as 11,000 received food in the rural area in one day. Admissions continued apace and  reached their peak on the 8th February 1848, when the workhouse contained  1,464 inmates, thereafter a slow but significant decline in numbers began and in August 1848 the Guardians ceased to use the brewery, however throughout 1848 and  until  summer 1849, numbers in the workhouse never fell below 1,000.

In the summer of 1848 a scheme for sending female pauper orphans from Ireland to Australia  was put into effect and among those unfortunate girls were 36 from Banbridge workhouse, of these 17  travelled on the first sailing, aboard the Earl Grey arriving in Sydney on the 6th October 1848 some of the girls were the subjects of unfavourable comment and the Belfast girls were described as notoriously bad in every sense of the word, However, in evidence before a committee of inquiry, the matron Mrs. Maria Cooper praised the Banbridge girls for their exemplary behaviour, free passage was also provided for numbers of children whose parents had been transported.

Conditions inside the Workhouse in those years were harsh. Work was provided in various forms knitting, spinning and weaving (both linen and wool), milling corn, picking oakum, and breaking stones (even for woman). Those who failed to work satisfactorily were discharged, punishments for  indiscipline included breaking 5cwts of stones a day, however, Workhouse production and sale of goods were discouraged as they were not permitted to compete with independent producers. The Schoolmaster and School mistress taught the children from 9am to 1pm each day but illiteracy was common among the inmates.  During 1849 and 1850, as conditions in the countryside improved, numbers continued to fall and the lofts and galleries which had been erected in 1847 were taken down, in March 1851 numbers had fallen to 426, during the years 1846-1850 there were over 5000 admissions to the Workhouse. As the register is missing we cannot tell from which part of the Poor Law Union the unfortunates came or whether the same persons were admitted more than once. Some 1000 inmates died during the famine years.

There are only 13 names on the surviving page of the Banbridge Workhouse admission register.
10th January 1844.

Elizabeth McGlogan age 63 Roman Catholic widow admitted by the board Jan 15th, almost starved and infested with vermin present condition in fever hospital.
Martha Dunbar age 65 Presbyterian single admitted Feb 5th almost starved clothing dirty and in rags present condition in good health.
Ann and Margaret McClure, age 10 and 7 protestants orphans admitted Feb 5th both almost starved clothing in rags present condition healthy in female school.
Hugh McBride age 50 Presbyterian labourer widower 4 children alive admitted Feb 26th bodily infirm almost starved and nearly naked present condition in men's ward.
James Burns age 70 Roman Catholic labourer widower 7children still alive admitted Feb 26th almost starved naked and infested with vermin present condition good health in men's ward.
Mary Ann, Patrick, David and Daniel Doherty, aged 11, 9, 7, and 4, Roman Catholics orphans  admitted Mar.4th all in dirty clothing, in rags and infested with vermin present condition good health at school.
Robert Hamilton age 13 Protestant orphan admitted Mar 4th almost starved dirty and clothing in  rags present condition healthy in men's ward.
John Craig age16 Protestant single admitted Mar 4th mentally infirm hungry clothing in rags dirty  present condition in good health in male idiot ward.
Mary Rowan age 60 Presbyterian widow admitted Mar 4th bodily infirm almost starved clothing  dirty and infested with vermin present condition in female ward.
Mary Ann Lyle age 53 Presbyterian married deserted by husband admitted Mar11th with her child age 8 both almost starved clothing dirty and in rags present condition in good health.
Hugh Firey age12 Protestant orphan admitted  Mar 12th almost starved and naked present  condition good health in men's school.
Margaret Buckley age 30 Protestant married deserted by husband admitted Mar 13th almost  starved clothing infested with vermin (since dead).
Robert Kilpatrick age 75 Protestant single admitted Mar 25th almost starved naked and infested with vermin present condition in men's hospital.

By David Griffen

Return of Infants born in the workhouse and during the years 1872, 1873,and 1874

State of the lunatic poor in Ireland

Minutes of the Board of Guardians of the Union of Banbridge

5th.June 1843

That the clerk be directed to apply to the Governor of the County Down Infirmary for the admission of Samuel Hutton,
a dangerous lunatic a native of Sheepbridge, County Down

12th.June 1843

Letter from the Govenor of the County down Infirmary, stating that lunatic's are not admissible into that establishment,
as there is a District lunatic asylum at Belfast for such cases.

Reply,28th.June 1843
 

Iam directed by the poor law Commissioners to acknowledge the receipt of your letter relative to the case of Samuel Hutton.
a dangerious lunatic referred to in the minutes of the Banbridge Union, and to state for the information of the Board of Guardians

that they should request the medical officer to make oath before two justices at the Petty Sessions that the inmate referred to is a dangerous lunatic
and the justices will then commit him to the County goal, where he will remain untill there is room for him in the lunatic asylum

GATE LODGE MEMORIAL
 PARK
 A service of dedication was held on Saturday 12 September 2009 to mark the opening of ‘Gate Lodge Memorial Park’ in Banbridge, dedicated to the memory of the many paupers who were laid to rest in the grounds of the former Banbridge Workhouse between 1841 and 1847.
 The Council committed funding of £220,000 for the Memorial Park which along with its public art and interpretative signage tells the story that this was once a place where young and old were forced to go if they were poor and destitute.
 The remains of the walls, which formed an entrance block into the workhouse, have been incorporated into the Park’s elevated seating area

Banbridge and District Historical Society Journal

Verses on Banbridge,
The Burn Hill of Yesterday
Edenderry Works
Hugh Porter
Lenaderg mans Ozonemeter
A visit to Banbridge District
Gilford's Children
Battle of Guildford Castle
Billy the beggar man
The Tullylish Accordionists
Book Review
Ode to Sea Patrick Parish Church
The Street Singer
Tribute to Charlie McClean
Recollections of Friars Place School
Magennis Clan Rally
Faithful Service
Banbridge Heritage Development Limited
Old Banbridge Football Team
Banbridge Choral Society
Emigrant Sons of The Bann
A.C.s and Banbridge
Interior of  Scarva  Street Presbyterian Church
Jaunting Car at Brookfield
The Late J. Harris  Rea
Banbridge Mixed Choir
Old Reilly Street
Banbridge & District Historical Society Members and Office Bearers

Volume 5

Land of Beauty & Tragedy
Where no Shuttles Fly
The Right Rev. Bishop William Shaw Kerr
Stanley Woods
Run down to Cecil's
Tribute to J. F. Jack  Hamilton
A Browse through the Banbridge Chronicle
Our Field Day
Tribute to Wilson Emerson
Banbridge Heritage Development
Water Power from the Upper Bann
Old Newry Road
An Ulster Childhood at Sea Patrick Rectory
Sound Patterns in the Air
The Trevor's of Rose Trevor
The Cut is an Eyesore
Newry Street
Downshire  Road
Book Reviews

My Town
The Naval Career of  F.R.M. Crozier
The Downshire Bridge Saga
Come Home To County Down
Life in A Mud Hut In Ireland
The Banbridge Workhouse, 1841-1851
The Father of Modern Banbridge Wm.Logan, O.B.E, J.P.
VE. Day the 50th Anniversary
Tandragee  and The Dukes of Manchester
Headstones to the Past
The Ghost Of  Gillhall
Local Dialect
Banbridge - The Earliest Baptist Church, in County Down
Banbridge Brass Band
Obituaries
Book Reviews
Banbridge Heritage Development
Members List

Volume 7

Croziers Lament
Thread Making At Sea Patrick
The Central Bar
The Gigs And Giggles
Memories
The Quarter Days Of The Celtic Year
Tullylish Pottery (Formerly Bannford  Bleachworks)
Old Banbridge Town
The Ulster Bar
Obituary - Earnest Connor Gordon
The Molyneux Family Of Castle Dillon
Characters & Skilled Craftsmen From Days Long Gone
William Blacker
Death of Overseas Member and Former Local Rector
The Wee Arch
Towns Hockey Club, Jubilee Year 1946
The Lumper - An Analysis of its role in the Irish Famine 1845-1850
Walkers Factory
Marjorie Burnett
Harry Ferguson - A tribute
Bakeries and Breadmen in Banbridge District 1930-1940
Membership List

These Journals provide an insight into life in and around Banbridge district in the past and present, There are some photographs that would be of interest to exiles from the Bann, the journals can be purchased from, Jason Diamond, at the Heritage Centre, the address is at the top of this page.
 

Flax & Making Linen

In the late summer the countryside around Banbridge was permeated by the all pervasive stench of rotted flax being lifted out of flax dams, which were at the bottom of the fields. It was spread out along the banks of the dam then piled high on the stout orange-painted farm carts and taken off to the mills. For a hundred and fifty years the linen industry flourished along the banks of the Bann. At every turn in the river between Banbridge and Portadown, there seemed to be a small factory using water to process some stage of linen manufacturing. In the fields along the Lurgan road huge strips of linen lay stretched across the grass on the bleach greens. The factory whistles or hooters marked the daily routine for hundreds of local people employed in the factories. Long hours were also worked, including Saturday mornings, All these sights and sounds, which the children of fifty years ago accepted as part of the everyday fabric of life in and around Banbridge, have gone, how strange they would appear to our present generation, R.Wilson.

During the month of August the countryside used to reek with a foul stench as the flax dams were opened and the flax was removed to make linen. Linen is made from fibres found inside the flax plant, Flax was a greedy crop it took a lot of nourishment out of the soil so it was usually grown in a plant succession following potatoes where the ground had had a lot of manure added to it. The type of flax most commonly grown had pretty blue flowers and the ground was carefully prepared. It was ploughed three times to make sure that the soil had a sufficiently fine tilth. Flax seeds are difficult to sow evenly because they are shiny so tend to slip too easily out of the hand and as they are small and light they are easily blown by the breeze. Well prepared ground is usually relatively free from weeds, but the crop was weeded when the plants were about 9cm high. It was ready to be harvested about three months after planting, that is about a month after the first flowers appeared. The flax was harvested by being pulled out by the roots, the plant fibres go from the tip to the roots so cutting the crop would have reduced the length of the threads. Harvesters grasped the plant about halfway up the stem and pulled it upwards and slightly to one side, it was hard work.

Four handfuls of flax were tied into a beet or sheaf, then the immature seeds were removed by a process called ripling by being pulled through a structure called a rippling comb. The seedless beets were put into flax dams, also called lint holes. A typical flax dam was about 26 m by 2.5 m , it was narrow so that workers could throw beets into the water from both sides of the structure. The beets were weighted down by large stones. The outer parts of the flax plant decayed in the water so that the linen threads could be removed, the length of time the flax was kept in the dam depended on the temperature, the quality of the water and the type of flax. At last the flax was deemed to be ready and the dam was opened, removing the flax from the dam was a most unpleasant task. The men had to get into the water and they became very smelly. The smell was so persistent it could be detected on the skin two weeks later so only young boys and old men would get into the water, that is males who were not interested in chasing woman!.

Once the flax was taken out of the dam it had to be dried, then it was taken to a scutch mill so that the unwanted parts of the plant could be knocked off linen threads which were then spun and woven into linen. The linen was a dull brown when it was first woven so it was spread out on fields called bleaching greens. The linen was valuable so people were hired to watch it and prevent it from being stolen or destroyed by stray animals. One of the old watch towers which used to be found at Tullylish and which used to house a linen watcher has been reconstructed in the Ulster Folk and Transport Museum.

Doreen McBride

I can remember with my mother and father pulling flax at Jack Magills up the Scarva road, quite a few of the families from Reilly street, Scarva Street, and around that area worked at the flax pulling, to help supplement the family income.
Raymond Kelly, ex Friars Place, Banbridge.

The working conditions of adults and children in the Banbridge bleaching mills 1854

 1854 - 1855 , Volume 18
| Report of the Commissioner, H. S. Tremenheere, appointed to inquire ... (into) the better regulation of mills and factories for bleaching works .

Mr.Robinson, Ballydown cambric Bleach Works, Banbridge. I employ about 40 to 50 females, who work chiefly in the stove: and about 15 to 20 men. The regular hours of work are from 6 to 6 in the summer, though seldom so long, and in winter from daylight till dark. The temperature of the stoves is 8deg. on an average, sometimes we work overtime, but not as a general thing, only when we have a quantity of cloth to get ready for a certain day. In those cases we may go on till 8 or 9 o'clock, seldom later, we never like night work, as the work is never so well done, and we sometimes have to do it over again. The few boys we have about 10 in all are employed upon the field, and have generally done work from 3 to 6.In the lapping room the hours are the same as in the stoves, but we seldom work over hours there, we have no regular set of females in that room, when they are wanted we bring them in from the stoves.

Mr.Crawford has a linen bleach work above, but they do not employ females, only a few boys on the field, about 15 or 16 people are employed.

The Acts Relative to factories to Bleaching works,&c.

Mr.John Mullen, foreman (Mr. Hill,  Linen bleach works, Banbridge,) we employ about 20 people, no females or boys

Messrs, John Smith,Weir & Coy.Linen cloth bleach works, Milton, Banbridge.We employ no females and only one boy, we bleach only heavy goods

Mr.William Meek, foreman (Mr. Hayes, Millmount, Banbridge.We bleach linen cloth and diapers, and employ about 30 people,
of whom four are boys under 18,we employ no females, the boys are employed in beetling engines and when required they take
 their night turn every other night with the men.The usual hours of work are from 6 to 6 with 2 hours for meals, and the same on Saturdays.

Mr.McClelland, Barville, Banbridge, we bleach linen cloth only and employ no females only a boy.

Messrs, J.& W.Uprichard, We bleach linen cloth, diaper and damask,and employ about 90 people, of whom  only three are females, and about 14 boys,

ten of the boys are employed in the beetling machines and work time and half time, turn and turn about, i.e., every other night. They begin work at 6 a.m.

and work till 6 p.m. for the regular day, every other night they go on till 6 the next morning, but have occasion to attend the machines for half an hour in every three,they can sleep the rest of the time, six are from 13 to 16 and four from 16 to 18. In the lapping room we have four females neither of them very young, they do not work extra hours one night in a month, even when trade is brisk.

My opinion is that as the boys at the beetling machines at night have so much time to sleep, it is not injurious to them
 

Directory of Banbridge 1819

Merchants, Traders Etc. 1819

A
Adair Robert, Horse Dealer
Amberson James, Schoolmaster
Amberson Samuel, Publican
Anderson George, Grocer
Anderson Joseph, Shoemaker
Anderson John, Shoemaker
Anderson Thomas, Publican
Ardray William, Publican
Ardray Robert, Publican & Butter merchant
Armour James, Carpenter
Arthurs Mary, Grocer

B
Banen,- Surgeon
Beatty Rev.Thomas, Vicarage
Bell Mrs Mary,
Bell John, Publican & Grocer
Black George
Blizard  John Esq. Bannview
Boyle Mrs, Innkeeper, Downshire Arms
Bradford John, Gent
Bradford Robert, Cooper
Bradford Robert, Place of Entertainment
Brownlow  Hugh, Grocer
Bryson Samuel, Hostler
Buckley Bernard, Publican
Byrne Hugh, Publican
Byrne Hugh, Tailor
Byrne John, Tailor
Byrne P.C.Esq. Ardbien
Byrne Thomas, Paver

C
Campbell John, House of Entertainment
Campbell Samuel, Victualler
Campbell James, Victualler
Card James, Cart & Plough-maker
Card William, Cart & Plough-maker
Cleborn Edward, Linen & Flour Merchants
Christy James, Esq.Lawrencetown House
Closs James, House of Entertainment
Cochran James, Esq. Coushill
Craig ary, Haberdasher
Crawford George, Esq.Ballyeivy
Crawford Andrew, Esq. Milltown
Crawford Walter,Esq. Ballyeivy House
Creily James, Plasterer
Crothers & Henry, Haberdashers
Crozier George, Solicitor

D
Davis Rev Henry, Henry-Hill
Dickson John
Degney Bridget, Fruit Seller
Douglas Hugh, Place of Entertainment
Downes Thomas, Shoemaker
Downes Robert, Shoemaker & Publican
Drennen Samuel, Victualler
Dunbar Hugh, Grocer

E
Edmonson Joseph, Brickmaker
Evans John, Wheelwright
Evans Robert, Shoemaker
Evans William, Sawyer

F
Fair Alexander, Mail Coach Agent
Farrell, Surgeon
Finley John, Grocery & Spirit stores
Flanagan William, Lock & Gunsmith
Fowler James, Esq. Bannville
Frazer Hugh, Attorney
Frazer David, Blacksmith

G
Gardner Thomas, Linen Merchant
Gibson Andrew, Labourer
Gilmore & Chapman, Merchants
Glass Samuel, Grocer
Glass John, Slater
Gorman Patrick, House of Entertainment
Graham Samuel, Hide merchant
Gribbon John

H
Hamilton Maxwell, Publican
Hawthorne George, M.D.
Hayes William, Esq. Millmount
Heron John, Grocer
Hopkins Andrew, Wheelwright
Hosack Hannah, Publican
Hudson William, Esq. Ballydown
Hughes Patrick, Linguist
Hughes Patrick, Blacksmith
Hutchinson Thomas, Blue-dyer & Grocer

J
Johnson Rev John, Master of the Academy
Johnson James, Tailor
Joice Esther, Publican

K
Kearns Phillip, Baker
Kelly Robert, Shuttlemaker
Kelly Misses, Dress makers
Kelly Robert ,Esq. Eliza-hill
Kenear John, Grocer & Leather seller
Kennedy Hugh, Mason
Kerr Hamilton, Publican
Kirk William, Carter

L
Lavery John, Grocer & Leather seller
Lawson Rachel, Haberdasher
Law Samuel, Esq. Hazle-bank
Law Joseph, Esq.Cousville
Leech, Painter & Glazier
Lindsay Elizabeth, Fruit seller
Little, Surgeon
Little Andrew, Brush maker
Little Mrs, Roseville
Locke John, House of Entertainment
Love John, Grocer
Lowry Alexander, Esq. Linen-hill

M
Macklin Thomas, Grocer
Magee Dudley, Bailiff
Magill John, Publican
Main John, Woolendraper
Major Mrs, China, Glass & Delf warehouse
Mackin Patrick, House of Entertainment
Malcomson, Surgeon
Matier Hugh, Wheelwright
Merren William, Postmaster
Mitchell Henry, Joiner
Mitchell James, Painter & Glazier
Moore William & James, Nursery & Seed merchants
Moore Matthew, Publican
Moore Thomas, Publican
Morron James, Victualler
Morron John, Victualler
Morton George, Publican
Morton Joseph, Publican
Morton Andrew, Grocer
Morton Misses, Milliners
Mullen Daniel, Gent.
Mulligan Gilbert, Esq.Ballyeivy
Mulligan John, Esq. Parkmount
Mulligan James, Charleville
Mulligan John, Esq. Tullyconnaught
Mulligan Hugh, Grocer
Munn James, Joiner

Mc
McAlinden Henry, Cabinet warehouse
McAlinden John, Carter
McAlister Robert, Shoemaker
McBride Hugh
McCampton Daniel, Tailor
McCariston James, Grocer
McClelland Andrew, Woolendraper
McClelland John, Esq. Gospelville
McClelland William, Haberdasher
McClelland Samuel, Publican
McClelland Robert, China & Delf merchant
McClelland John, Hosiery & Shoe Shop
McClelland Thomas, China & Delf warehouse
McClelland Thomas, Bailiff
McConnell Charles, Publican
McCormick Robert, Saddler
McCreight Rev. James, Seapatrick Glebe
McCrory David, Publican
McCrumb John, Tailor
McDonald John, Chandler
McDonald John, Cooper
McDonald John, Tobacco- spinner
McFadden Hugh, Gent.
McGarry Hamilton, Grocer, Baker & Spirit dealer
McGrath James, Publican
McKinstry William, Sawyer
McMordie Hans, Esq. Bannview
McMordie John, Hosier
McTair James, Nailer
McWilliams William, Merchant
McWilliams, Mrs
McWilliams Robert, Grocer
McWilliams James, Publican
McWilliams Anne

N
Neill Robert, Shoemaker
Nelson Joseph, Watchmaker & Jeweller
Nelson James, Watchmaker
Nelson Mrs Anne

O
O,Flagherty F. Grocer & Seed merchant
O,Neill John, Cabinet maker & upholsterer
O,Neill David, Turnpike-Gate keeper

P
Parker Henry, Sexton
Parker John, Nailer
Pentland James, Grocer
Pettigrew William, Esq. Lenaderg House
Potts Richard, Publican,Delf & Glass warehouse

Q
Quinn Daniel, Grocer,soap-boiler, chandler & Tobacconist
 

R
Rankin Nathaniel, Blacksmith
Raw Patrick, Confectioneer
Reid John, Musician & Dancing master
Ross Robert, Yarn merchant
Rotley Daniel
Rutherford Rev. John, Elizaville

S
Salts Robert, Publican
Saunderson, Surgeon
Savage William, Nursery & Seeds-man
Scott John, Woolendraper
Scott Robert, Grocer, Baker & Spirit dealer
Scott William, Publican
Scott James, Victualler
Scriven Captain, Ballymony Lodge
Seawright Mrs.
Sergeant, Shuttle-maker
Shannon James, Haberdasher
Shields James, Teacher of the Lancasterian school
Sloan James, Grocer
Sloan Miss, Confectioner
Steel James, Grocer & Soap-boiler
Spence William, Esq. Ballygowan Lodge

T
Titterington Matthew, House of Entertainment

W
Wallace William, Sawyer
Waugh John, Esq. Whitehill
Weathers James, Mathematician
Wier Jane, Grocery & Spirit store
Wier Mr. William, Lenaderg
Wier Hugh, Tailor
White George, Grocer & Publican
White Richard, Baker
Willis William, House of Entertainment
Wilson James,
Woods Moses, Ballyvarley House
Woods James, Ballyvarley House
Woods Moses, Solicitor
Woods John, Grocer,Spirit & Hardware merchant
Wright Samuel, Carter

History of Banbridge
Chronology of Events 1618 - 1980

Newspaper Clippings

Author: Van Rensselaer, Cortlandt, 1808-1860.
Title: Signals from the Atlantic cable. An address delivered at the telegraphic celebration, September 1st, 1858, in the City hall, Burlington, New Jersey.
By Cortlandt Van Reusselaer.

Great Britain And Ireland

The meeting of the Irish General Assembly in the Presbyterian Church Londonderry, the election of Rev. John Johnston, of Banbridge, Ireland, Moderator, with a fine portrait. Also a full account of the proceedings.

 Author: Chicago Relief and Aid Society.  

Title:
Report of the Chicago Relief and Aid Society of disbursement of contributions for the sufferers by the Chicago fire. Publication date: 1874

Banbridge

Dec.1^st. 1871. Citizens, by Robert McClelland
Chairman
£400

Bassetts Directory 1886 for Loughbrickland and farmers, and landowners

Anderson Geo, Greenan
Beck James, Cascum
Boggs Hans, Creevy
Boggs W. D'Drummuck
Brown S., Coolnacran
Bryson John, Ballynagarrick
Bulla J.A., Brickland
Burns D Sen.,Glaskerbeg W
Burns D.Jun., Glaskerbeg
Byrne D.,Glaskerbeg W
Campbell H., Legananny
Campbell R, Bovennett
Campbell W., Drumnahare
Carswell R.H.,Drumsallagh
Carswell S., B'Carattymore
Chambers James, Meenan
Copeland J.A.,Tullymore
Copes Thomas, Brickland
Cowan J.,B'Carattymore
Cranney P.,Lisnatiemey
Cromie David, Greenan
Cupples A.,Shankill
Cupples J.,Brickland
Dale John, Brickland
Douglas J.A.,Ballymacratty
Fitzpatrick E.,Drumsallagh
Fulton Samuel, Drumsallagh
Geoghegan Jn.,Legananny
Geoghegan Jas., Legananny
Gordon Hugh, Brickland
Gordon S.,Shankill
Hagan P., Drumnahare
Haughey John, Meenan
Henry S.A.,D'Drummuck
Hudson J.,Legananny
Hutchinson T.,Drumnahare
Ingram J.,Drumnahare
Jardine S.J.,Creevy
Little Alex.,Brickland
Little George, Shankill
Little J.,Glaskermore
Livingstone J.,Shankill
McAlden T.,Ballinteggart
McAlister J.,Glaskermore
McCammon H.,D'Drummuck
McClelland T.,Drumsallagh
McConville H.,Coolnacran
McConville W.,Lisnatierney
McComb R,Lisnatierney
McCullough Francis, Creevy
McEwen Thomas, Meenan
McGivern O.,Drumsallagh
McKain Wilm.,Shankill
McNaughton G.,Caskum
McRoberts J.A.,Ballinteggart
McCauley J.,Legananny
Magill D.,D`Drummuck
Maguire Eugene, Loughbrickland
Main J.,D'Drummuck
Marshall A.,B'Carattybeg
Marshall Geo.,B'Camttybeg
Marshall H.,Loughadian
Megaw Hugh, Meenan
Megaw Thomas,Meenan
Mehaffy J.,Drumsallagh
Middleton J.,Ballinteggart
Millar Wilm. Loughbrickland
OHagan P.,Drumnahare
OHare P.,Lisnatierney
Patterson J.,Lisnagade
Porter John, Drumnahare
Spiers Wihn.,Shankill
Shannon J.,Tullymore
Stokes Wilm. Creevy
Strain James, Creevy
Todd D., Glaskerbeg W
Todd Joseph, Shankill
Todd J.,Glaskerbeg E
Todd Ralph, Ringclare
White W.J., Ballynaskeagh
Wright Rt.,Ballinteggart
Whyte J.J.(J.P.) Loughbrickland House

List of Residents in Banbridge and neighbourhood who signed a petition to Parliament (1828) in favour of Catholic Emancipation

John Love, Richard Arthew, James Morrow, William Parr, John Harcourt, James Nelson, Robert Nelson, George Mahood, James Malcomson, James Stuart, John Robinson, James Fleming, Norton Downs, James Withers, Pat.Downs, John Mulligan, David McMain, Robert McCormick, Henry McCormick, James McCullough, John Fivey, William Major, William Holliday, James Shannon, Hamilton McGarvay, Robert Scott, Conway Carleton, Hugh McClory, Thomas Macklin, Alex. Sterling, James Morrow, John Campbell, Andrew McClelland, Daniel Quinn, Peter Quinn, William Hayes, James Clibborn, James Steel, Joseph Anderson, John Fletcher, Thomas McClelland, Nathaniel Hosack, William Rea, David McClory, William Morrow, John McClelland, John Fivey, Hamilton Kerr, Dan Mullan, Alex. Pentland, William McWilliam, Thomas H.Carleton.

Rockvale, Robert Boyd
Milltown, Thomas Crawford
Banoge Mills, John Murphy

SEAPATRICK HOUSEHOLDERS IN 1766
PARLIAMENTARY RETURNS re RELIGION ; BUNDLE 78 No. 802
PRESERVED IN-RECORD OFFICE, DUBLIN.

A LIST of the several FAMILIES in the parish of SEAPATRICK in the diocese of Dromore, in the County of Down, returned by the Rev James Dickson, Dean of Elphin, and Vicar of said parish, to the Clerk of the House of Lords, in obedience to an order of the said House ; distinguishing, which are Protestants, and which are Papists.

APPENDIX II
PARLIAMENTARY RETURNS re RELIGION IN RECORD OFFICE, DUBLIN,
1740

A LISTof the NAMES of all Protestant Housekeepers in the several Walks under the Inspection of Anthony Cope, Supervisor of Hearth Money of Armagh Survey, ANNO 1740, Loughbrickland Walk, Down County, Eveagh Barony, SEAPATRICK Parish.
John Finis, wid Daben, Wm. Longmore, Wm. Dring, wid M'Bride, Hu Dixon, John Daben, Mr Reily, wid Daben, Saml Raine, Wm Raine, Barth Harthwood, Hu Mulligan, Sam Moligan, Alex M'Mullan John Greer, Tho M'Claten, Alex M'Chesney, Rou Magill, Fran Shadock, Jos M'Clewean, Wm Ingram, wid Cogaran, Jam Admiston, Tho. Jordan, Tho. Scott, Margt Dick, Gan Adam, Robt Adam, Wm Briggs, Sam Briggs, John Law, Geo Glan, -wid M'Callum, wid Corother, Alex Corothers, Tho Corothers, John Lyon, wid M'Callum, Robt Carethers, Jos Lyon, John Gilaspy, Tho Gilaspy, Jam Chambers Sam Stinson, John Stinson, John Forsyth, Wm M'Cormick, Tho M'Bride, wid Campbell, Jos Harper, Wm Wallace, Wm Hamill, Geo Willson, wid Mathews, Tho Parker, Ed Campbell, John M'Callum, Tho M'Knight, Jam Bell, Hans Bell, wid Templeton, Nath Speer, Bry Hues, Tho Nisbit, Jos Campbell, Hu M'Bride, Tho Carother, Jam Henderson, Tho Roger, John Robinson, Jam Barber, Jam Shanklan, *John Seawright, Robt Major, And Kenady, John Major And Dick, Jane Holyday, John Major, Sam Seawright, And Robinson, 'Jam Seawright, And Gibson, Adam Marrow, Rob Forsyth *Wm Seawright, Wm Daben, Fran Hawthorn, John Cotter, Tho Fivey, Tho Aderton, Arch M'College, (M'Allister), Hu Bell, Hum Bell, John Adair, Jam Robson, wid Or, Am Robison, Gilb Craford, Sam Moligan, Wm Muligan, Jos Wright, wid M'Murdy, wid M'Murdy, Hance M'Murdy, Jam Bell, wid Thompson, Geo Gray, Jam Bradfoot, Alex Hamilton, Ar Ingram, Jam Porter, John Seawright, Rob Willson, Alex Lawry, Wm Wright, John M'Cormick, John Gordan, Geor Mahalem, Mick Hook, Jam Hook, Ed Shiliday, Do Martin, wid Smith, Jam Dennon, Geo Wright, John Molligan, Jam Piery, Wm Morton, Jam Muligan,* Alex Gordan, Isac Mathews.

*The name Seawright occurs in the subsidy Roll of County Down for 1663, thus " Gilbert Seawright of Tullycain " (Tullycairn), near Banbridge, A Francis Seawright was a commissioner for Affidavits (chancery) for County Down in 1766.

Alexander Gordon appears in the Subsidy Roll of Down, 1663, as a resident of Ballyvally, and in the map of 1728 John Gordon appears as a tenant holding 74 acres (Irish)

The Year of Grace

A History of the Revival in Ireland, A.D.1859
Author, William Gibson, 1808-1867

The town of Banbridge is one of the most important in the county in which it is situated. For the last few years an unwonted interest in religion has been created in the young men of the locality, mainly through the devoted labours of a Christian layman. As the result of his exertions, the most important moral and spiritual changes have been going forward, and the way seemed to be prepared for a still more extensive spiritual visitation.

The following brief statement of the origin and character of the awakening in Banbridge is interesting, not only for the facts it contains, but as being contributed by a devoted layman of the Episcopal Church, who, during a twelve year’s residence in Spain, in the capacity of a Civil engineer, applied himself, while constructing some of the leading railroads in that country, no less assiduously to the preparation of that “way of the Lord” along which the gospel chariot has even already commenced its onward progress in that land. I returned from Spain, says my esteemed correspondent, Wm. Greene, Esq.; towards the close of 1858. In the month of December I was invited to Banbridge, by a Christian friend, to a meeting of the Young  Men’s Association, we numbered about forty on that occasion. Several of us spake, and many earnest prayers that the Lord would pour out his spirit on that place were offered. The Lord was among us that evening, and we all seemed to feel His presence in no common way. Towards the close of the  proceedings I felt impelled to say that I was certain he was about to do a great work in that town. This was fully six months before the revival was experienced in this country.

Prayer-meetings were held from time to time, and month after month passed, but no sign was given. At  length I was present at a solemn meeting. I could not refrain from tears at the earnest spirit  envinced  by all . We parted, however, without having witnessed anything uncommon but intense earnestness, it was about three days afterwards, when the same persons were assembled, that the blessed showers came down to refresh the waiting hearts of Gods people. Such sights as were witnessed on that night it would not be possible to describe. Multitudes had their stony hearts broken under the subduing influences of the Divine Spirit.

Soon afterwards I was in the neighbourhood again, and went in the evening with the same friend to a prayer meeting. On our way, or about a half mile from the town, we went into two lowly dwellings; and, in a few minutes, there gathered around us eight or nine, who seemed to be filled with joy and peace. We remained but a short time to pray and exhort, and then went off, scarcely had we got to the door of the Presbyterian Church which was very full, when we met some sin-sick ones being carried, one after another, to the school house adjacent, crying and sobbing in indescribable agony. Some  received peace in answer to earnest prayer whilst there, and many were taken to their homes. I think it was on that night that a woman of the town, who had been pursuing her sinful course, standing on the bridge enticing the passers by as they came from the meeting, was shot by an arrow from the unerring bow. She was carried to her house, I was going to say her home, but what a home? Her bed of straw was on the cold ground. I visited her with my friend a day or two after. But the house of ill-fame was now a house of prayer, and never shall I forget the lowliness of that poor pardoned soul as she prayed by her bed of straw. This case attracted the attention of several persons of similar condition in the same street; and I have heard since that as many as twenty had given up their evil courses, although some have fallen away since. A good man, hearing the story of the unfortunate above mentioned, immediately opened his house to her, and from that time to this has supplied all her wants, such acts as this are worthy to be chronicled for the benefit of future generations.

The revival movement was slow in coming to Banbridge, but it has done a wonderful Work; and many facts prove with what power the spirit has been working there. A few months ago the travelling circus came to the town one market day. The Presbyterian minister, knowing the evil influence that generally accompanies this kind of show, gave notice of an open air preaching at the time of the morning entertainment . Only three people went to the show, so that it remained unopened, they were told to come again that evening, but so scanty was the attendance that the money received did not suffice to pay the rent of the ground on which the pavilion had been erected, the company struck their tents the following morning and decamped, having determined to leave the North of Ireland altogether, as theirs was a losing game among such people.

 Take another striking fact, a distillers agent, in collecting his money among the public houses in one quarter of the town,  found his half-years receipts from the sale of whiskey to be £500 less than from a corresponding period of the previous year. Last winter large sums were subscribed by the inhabitants for the poor, and scarcely a needy person was left without feeling that the Lords people were indeed like the Lord Himself, that He dwelt in them of a truth, clothing, and coals, and food being liberally supplied to multitudes. The Sabbath schools here in connection with the Presbyterian body number nearly five hundred children, and thanks, to the zeal and energy of the minister, and the devoted life of my friend, already referred to, together with the successful and self sacrificing labours of the Christian young men, a more flourishing school I have nowhere met than in this place. A variety of other excellent arrangements, such as a temperance hotel, a saving bank, etc., have been put in motion during this celebrated “year of grace”, 1859.

(The revival continued in the town of Dromara, the account of this is on the Dromara webpage)

I would like to thank the Digital Research Library,( Digital Library eXtension Service) for permission to use this material.