Dromore

(Landowners in 1876 can be got from the index on the main page of the website under Land Deeds)

(Anyone who has material relating to Dromore and would like it put on this website please email me)

A Topographical Dictionary of Ireland

DROMORE, a market and post-town, a parish, and the seat of a diocese, in the barony of LOWER IVEAGH, county of DOWN, and province of ULSTER, 16 miles (W. N. W.) from Downpatrick, and 66 1/2 (N.) from Dublin, on the mail coach road to Belfast, from which it is 14 miles distant; containing 14,912 inhabitants, of which number, 1942 are in the town. Its name, anciently written Druim-mor, signifies " the Great Ridge," Druim being the term applied to a long ridge-shaped hill, such as that above Dromore. Its origin may be traced from St. Colman, who founded here an abbey for Canons Regular, which afterwards became the head of a see, of which he was made the first bishop. This abbey had acquired extensive possessions early in the 10th century, and was frequently plundered by the Danes; it also suffered materially from the continued feuds of the powerful septs of the O'Nials, Magennises, and Macartans. In the 14th century, Sir J. Holt and Sir R. Belknap, being convicted of treason against Rich. II., were condemned to death, but on the intercession of the clergy, were banished for life to the ville of Dromore, in Ireland. At the Reformation the cathedral was in ruins, and the town had greatly participated in the devastations of the preceding periods; in this situation it remained till 1610, when James I. refounded the see by letters patent, rebuilt the cathedral, and gave to the bishop extensive landed possessions in this and several adjoining parishes, which he erected into a manor called " Bailonagalga," corrupted into Ballymaganles, a denomination or townland on which the town stands, with a court leet, twice in the year, a court baron every three weeks for pleas under Ł5, a free market every Saturday, and two fairs. An episcopal palace was commenced by Bishop Buckworth, but previously to its completion, the war of 1641 broke out, and the cathedral, the unfinished palace, and the town were entirely destroyed by the parliamentarian forces. From this time the town remained in ruins till the Restoration, when Charles II. gave the see in commendam to the celebrated Jeremy Taylor, with Down and Connor, by whom the present church, which is also parochial, was built on the site of the ruined cathedral. In 1688, a skirmish took place near the town between a party of Protestants and some of the Irish adherents of James II.

The town consists of a square and five principal streets, and contained, in 1831, 396 houses. There are two bridges over the Lagan; one, called the Regent's bridge, was built in 1811, and has a tablet inscribed to the late Bishop Percy, recording some of the leading traits of his character. Several bleach-greens were formerly in full work in the vicinity, and among others, that occupied by the late Mr. Stott, whose poetical effusions under the signature of Hafiz, in the provincial newspapers, attracted much attention; but all are now unemployed except one, in the occupation of Thos. McMurray and Co., connected with which is a manufacture of cambrics, and also a linen manufacture, established in 1832; another linen-factory was established at Ashfield, in 1828. The market is on Saturday, and is well supplied with all sorts of provisions, farming stock, and linen; and fairs are held on the first Saturday in March, May 12th, Aug. 6th, Oct. 10th, and Dec. 14th. A constabulary police force is stationed here; courts leet and baron are held for the manor, and petty sessions occasionally. In the bishop is vested, among other privileges, the power of appointing a coroner, escheator, and clerk of the market, and a bailiff.

To the many exiles from the Dromara and Dromore areas, who are requesting look-ups and information on their ancestors, a valuable piece of information was written and published by Jim Hawthorne, founder and editor of The Mourne Observer in 1969, giving details of the families who left Dromore and Dromara areas in the early part of the last century to seek work in the Linen Mills off New Lanark in Scotland. Among them was the parents of Jim Hawthorne, who hailed from Ballykeel. Jim Hawthorne's son David, of The Mourne Observer whom I have met while doing research on this article a few years ago, has given me permission to use it on my Website, that it may benefit others researching their ancestors.

Chief credit for so many families from the Dromore and Dromara areas going to New Lanark, must be given to a Mr Willie Kerr, a native of Dromara District, who was employed by the Gourock Ropework Company's Mills in Port Glasgow, when the New Lanark Mills changed over from cotton to canvas in 1905. Mr Kerr was sent back to Ireland by the firm to tell the hand loom weavers of the good jobs that awaited them. The success of his efforts will be gathered from the number of families who emigrated, In the hope that it will be of interest to many readers -and i am sure of especial interest to the families concerned, their descendants and relatives- I have compiled, with the help of some good friends, a list of those families who made the voyage across the North Channel. In those days quite an adventure in itself, to a new life in the model village in the valley of the Clyde. Possibly my list is not complete, and i should be glad to learn of any who may have been overlooked.

First I will start with the Willie Kerr, referred to, Mr. Kerr, had two sons and two daughters. Johnny and Jimmy (Jimmy was killed in the 1914-1918 war), Aggie, (Mrs Dale) and Minnie, (Mrs. McPherson)

Next i take, Richard Jess of Rock Road, Ballykeel, who was the head of one of the first families from Dromore District to settle in New Lanark, in the early 1900's, he was a lace weaver in Glasgow, when he heard of the demand for canvas weavers in New Lanark. Mr. Jess's family were also already in Glasgow and accommodation was soon found for them The family comprised of three sons and four daughters: Willie, (deceased), Joe in U.S.A., Tommy (deceased), Agnes (Mrs. Sam Jess, Greenock), Mrs. Margaret Jess, Ballykeel, Jane (Mrs. Day, Greenock deceased) and Martha deceased.

Two brothers, who lived in what is known as "Kings Big House" in Ballykeel, crossed to Scotland with their families. They were: Samuel Jess and Joseph Jess (Wee Joe). Samuel had two sons and seven daughters : Johnny, (deceased) Fred, New Lanark, Aggie, (d.), Jeannie, (d), Sarah, (Mrs. Hamilton, Lanark) Annie, (d), Hanna, (d), Nellie, U.S.A., Ena, Tarbrax, Scotland.

Joe's family consisted of five sons and eight daughters : Sam, (deceased), Harry, (d), Robbie, New Lanark, John (d), Tommy, (d), Aggie Jane (Mrs. Connor d.), Annie (Mrs. Hay d.) Martha (Mrs Dawson, New Lanark), May (Mrs. Dewson, d.) Lucy (Mrs. Rogers, New Mains) Evelyn (Mrs. Hally, d.) Lizzie (d), and Christina (d)

Tommy Jess of Magheraconluce, Hillsborough a brother of Richard Jess, crossed to New Lanark in 1912 with his family. His wife had died four years previously, although Mr Jess only survived another five years. His young family of nine remained in the village, and between them gave a total of three hundred years to the Mill, probably a record. The family comprised of three boys and six girls: all of whom still survive. they are, Willie, Tommy and Jimmy, all in New Lanark; Sarah and Lizzie, New Lanark, Mary, (Mrs. Black, Carluke), Maggie, (Mrs. Sullivan, Carluke),Annabella (Mrs MacAlonan, Lanark), And Jane (Mrs. Fraser, Montreal, Canada)

Other families of the Jess name who pulled up their roots and headed for Scotland were :

Willie (Billy) Jess of Ballykeel, who lived in the next house to one occupied by Joe Clark. There were two sons and three daughters, Sam, now living at Ballyvicknakelly; Joe, Drumanocken, (d), Sarah (Mrs. McCutcheon, Croft Rd.,d)
Minnie (Mrs. Norman Jess, d).

Alex Jess of Ballykeel : son and daughter: Willie and Annie. (Mrs Cooper) both in Carstairs, Lanarkshire, also a sister Agnes Jess.

Joe Jess of Ballykeel : Un-married and was known as American Joe, now deceased.

As may be gathered from the foregoing list, the name Jess was nearly as common in New Lanark as in Ballykeel!.

There were another two families from Ballykeel, Alex Ruddock and his wife,
William Robert Hawthorne, who had a family of two sons and two daughters, Willie (killed in the 1914-1918 war) and Jim, Newcastle, Co. Down, also Agnes (Mrs Cameron, Clydebank), and Annie (Mrs. Campbell, Rothesay).

Two families went from Derry in Dromara to New Lanark:

First, and one of the very earliest of the Irish settlers in the village was John Morrison, who went out with his family in 1904, some of the family returned to Dromara with Mr. Morrison ,but others remained in Scotland.

They were William, Lanarkshire, (d), John, (New Lanark) Mary-Ellen, (Mrs Stevenson, Ballygowan, d) Elizabeth, (Mrs Stevenson, Dromara) Lena (Mrs. Brown, Carluke), Sarah (Mrs Neill, Dromore) and Charlotte. (Mrs.Prentice, Carluke).
The second family from Derry, Dromara was Samuel Stevenson with his wife and five sons and two daughters, They returned later and settled at Ballygowan. The family were William, Samuel, Robert, all deceased, James, Dromara, (d), and Thomas, Belfast, Sarah (Mrs. Burke, Belfast, d) and Anna-Mary. (Mrs Cargin, Belfast), Elizabeth (Mrs Walker, Belfast, d).

From nearby Mulloughdrinn, went Tom Hunter and family, most of who returned when Mr Hunter retired. They were Jimmy who settled in Dromara; Willie, Belfast (d), Agnes (Mrs Morrison, d), Rebecca (Mrs. Joe Jess, d), Annie (Mrs. Montgomery, d), and Martha.

James Jess from Dromara, who returned when he retired. There were four sons and two daughters. Thomas James (d), Felix (d), Albert, (Newry), Alexander, Hillsborough, Sarah (Mrs Dunlop), Ellen (Scotland), and Mary Agnes who retired to Ireland with her father.

Another Dromara emigrant was Jimmy Anderson of Croft Road. He had two sons and three daughters, Willie killed in the 1914-1918 war, James Cecil, Martha (Mrs Rowan, Widow), Nellie (Mrs Hamilton) and Cissy. (Mrs Frame, d.)

From Kinallen.

There were two families from Kinallen; Sammy Bickerstaff had four sons and four daughters: Tom, Lanark; Willie, London; Sammy, New Lanark; Jimmy, Glasgow; Annie, Belfast; Jessy, Sadie and Jean all Lanarkshire.
The other was Harry Bell who had three sons and four daughters: Willie, Coventry England; Harry and Fred, Lanarkshire; Mary,(d), Gertie and Annie London; and Evelyn.
Drumiller and Ballyviknakelly also had representatives:-
There was William Gourley of Black Bog, who had five daughters: Annie,( Mrs Dickson), Mary, (Mrs. Watson), Ella, (Mrs.White) and Winnie, (Mrs Brown) all of Lanarkshire, and Maggi (Mrs Garland, widow, London).

David Lunn of Ballyvicknacally had three sons and five daughters: Willie, George, Johnny, (all deceased),; Lizzie, (Mrs Main, Cleghorn), Minnie, (Mrs Lindsay, d), Lucy, (Mrs Sanderson, Glasgow), Sarah,( Mrs Auld, widow, Carluke) and Ena, (Mrs Weir, Carluke,d)

From Leapoughs, there were James Adams, who lived with his sister Annie, (Mrs Rea), and Jeannie, (Mrs Patton).

From Dromore

One of the best known families from Dromore was that of Joe Bingham. He had three sons and three daughters: Joe, Jimmy, Johnny, Georgina, Lizzie and Mary-Ellen
Joe Bingham Jr., who was married to a Miss McCracken from Dromore, had five sons and a daughter: Joe, Sandy, Willie, George, Jack and Maggie.

Another family of the same surname is still in New Lanark, Sammy Bingham. There are three sons and a daughter: Bob, (Lanark), Tom, (Carluke), Sam, (Fife), and Minnie, (Mrs Cartner, New lanark) So far as I know, Mr Bingham is the only head of the original Irish families still alive.

Other Dromore families were :
Jim Gregg, brother of the late Hunter Gregg of Ballykeel. Jim had two sons and a daughter: Willie, (Lanark), Joe who has a grocery shop in Lanark; and Lily (Mrs Thompson, Lanark)

Geordie Gregg, brother of Jim Gregg and family, who returned to Dromore.

Hugh McCaw, who came back to Ireland, lived some years in Benraw, and returned to New Lanark. There were two sons: David Hugh, (New Lanark) and Willie (d).

Davey Gilliland, who had two sons and four daughters: David,(d), Johnny; Annie, (Mrs Moore, Dromore), Bella, (Mrs Mark, widow, Lanark), Ellen, (Mrs Wilson, Lanark) and Lizzie, (Mrs George Gibson, Lanark)

John Mackin, Three sons and a daughter: Tom, John and Michael, all (deceased) and Lizzie who is a Nun.

John Maginnis, Four sons and three daughters: Gerald and Daniel, Lanark, Joe, Glasgow, Arthur, Lanark, Aggie, (Mrs Folly, Lanark), Lizzie, and Maureen (Mrs Wilson, New Lanark).

Willie Hugh Kerr of Dromore and Mrs Kerr, (formerly) Miss Mary Clark of Ballykeel, still living at Ballymacormick.

From Ballynahinch :
Mr John Nicholl, Office Manager, was married to a Miss Gamble from Ballynahinch. They had two sons and a daughter.The came to Belfast on retirement.

Other Irish families who come to mind are :
Joseph Hall from Portadown who had one son and four daughters: Joe, (d), Sarah, (Mrs Birrell, Lanark), Annie, (Mrs Rettie, widow), Charlotte, (Mrs Gibson, d), and Jeannie, (Mrs Jamison, d),

James Gibson from Portadown who had five sons: Willie, New Lanark, George,Lanark, Uzaih, (d), Jimmy, Paisley, and Wilson, Renfrew.

Willie Paul from Belfast, a son and daughter, (Mrs Turnbull), both living in Stranraer.

Harry Savage, Charles Lennox and the McClean and Ash families from County Antrim.

Here is a description of some of the photographs published with the above material, i am sorry i could not add the photographs, as the newspaper this information was taken from has faded over the years.

Mr Victor Kernoghan pictured beside the War Memorial in Dromore. While living in New Lanark Victor worked in the coal pits, home on holiday at the start of the 1914-1918 War he joined the Royal Irish Rifles and after the War returned for a time to New Lanark. He and Mrs. Kernoghan live at Drumaghadone on the outskirts of Dromore.

Jim Hawthorne beside the village War Memorial, which bears the name of his elder brother, William Robert.

A holiday re-union at New Lanark, Mr Geordie Gregg, Dromore, who worked for some years in the mill before it closed (his wife was also employed in the canteen), Mr Alfred Gregg, Dromore, the late Mr Geo. Johnston, Holm factory; Margaret (Geordies daughter); Mr Sammy Bingham, who lives in New Lanark and pays regular visits to his friends in Dromore- these include brothers, Willie, John, Albert, Ernie, and Fred and sisters Mrs Martha Johnston and Mrs Mary Ellen Gregg.

Mr Sam Jess reads our story about New Lanark outside his cottage at Ballyvicknakelly. Mr Jess, now 83, went to New Lanark in 1904 when the canvas weaving looms were being installed. He worked for several years in the mill and also for a time in the market gardens, before returning home after World War 1.

Mrs Mary Kerr reading her bible in her home at Ballymacormick, she and her late husband worked for a time in New Lanark.

The last families who arrived in New Lanark from County Down to work in the Mill were,

From Banbridge, William James Kelly (Billy) and his wife Florence, their children, Raymond, Billy, Phyllis and Irene.

From Banbridge, William (Billy) Toman and his wife Agnes, William Toman's mother and their children, Jimmy, Billy, Mary, Joseph, Bernadett Frank, Janet, Isabel, Josephine, (sorry about missing out some of the names before, Bryan)

With the run down of Drumaness Mill and the proposed sale of the village, of topical interest should be a visit which a life long colleague and i paid to another village which has been passing through a similar phase. It is the village of New Lanark, in Scotland, situated about a mile from the town of Lanark, capital of the county of Lanarkshire, the village nestles at the foot of a steep wooded slope on the banks of the Clyde, and a short distance from its once celebrated falls. Why our visit there ?. Well, it is our birthplace, for it was to New Lanark that many Irish families, from County Down in particular, migrated in the early years of this century to find employment in its mills, good conditions and a happy community life. Apart from the local interest of this aspect of New Lanark, there is its wider historical significance in that it was the cradle of the co-operative movement in the early years of the 18^th century: it was here child labour in factories was first abolished in Britain, and unheard of conditions introduced for the betterment of workers. All this, which earned it the title of “the model village” was due to the efforts of that great social welfare pioneer, Robert Owen (1771-1858). From the time the mills were founded in 1784 they had been engaged in producing cotton goods. But in 1905 the firm changed over to cotton canvas, for which there was a great demand. It was for this work that the Irish handloom weavers were eagerly sought after and welcomed with open arms. Compared with an average wage of 8 to 10 shillings per week at home, they began with pay packets of 25 shillings a week at New Lanark and this was increased as they became skilled at working the power looms. The women folk who were employed in the spinning, winding, doubling and warping departments earned more than the men folk could do in the home country. It was a boom village then, its three mills giving constant employment to more than 500 men and women. It was little wonder therefore that some thirty families from the Dromore and Dromara areas pulled up their roots, and with what little personal belongings they had set out for a new life in New Lanark. Even in the depressed years of the late”20’s” and the “30’s” the mills of New Lanark never ceased production. During both World Wars it produced large quantities of material for the armed forces. On reaching retirement age many of those “early settlers” with their families to the homeland. These families and their children, who must have heard much about New Lanark, will I hope, find of interest some of the observations we have to make from our visit.

Unfortunately these observations are not the happiest, for as I said at the outset, New Lanark has been passing through a phase similar to that now facing Drumaness. To put it bluntly, the mills have been closed for almost a year, and the village is virtually dead. It was when I read in the “Hamilton advertiser” of the village’s plight that nostalgia caught me. I contacted Richard Jess of Ballykeel, a senior schoolboy of New Lanark days, and soon we were aboard a plane for a visit to our native heath. From the Braxfield road, New Lanark presented a familiar sight but when we reached New Buildings and Nursery Close everywhere seemed strangely quiet. It was a lovely Saturday afternoon in August and we expected to see the streets full of playing children, but there were none. Where had they gone ?. And where were the men who used to foregather by the Lang Dyke to discuss the events of the week?. Where the bustling women folk getting their messages from the store, or setting off on a visit to “the toon” (Lanark).

After a brief chat with one or two who remembered our families, we looked up some of Dick’s relatives, who welcomed us most hospitably, they included Mr. and Mrs Jimmy Jess, the Misses Sarah and Lizzie Jess, Mr .Tommy Jess, Rabbie Jess and Willie Jess. From them we learned about the rundown of the mill, an embargo by some countries on the importation of canvas, and too keen competition from others had the inevitable effect. The owners, the Gourock Rope-work Co. had transferred the remaining orders into its main mill at Port Glasgow. An attempt, we were told was made to revive the net making section, some of the firms nets are used by Kilkeel trawlers, but without success, due to the fact that some of the families who were expert at this work had already left the village. Although many of the families whom we knew, had gone to other parts there is still a fair sprinkling of Jesses, Binghams, Mackins, Gourleys, Savages, Kerrs, Lunns, etc. Those families of the old country still maintain friendly associations, and in the words of Mr. William Gibson (a Portadown man who settled in New Lanark) “it’s a joy on a shopping day in Lanark to see little clusters of these folk enjoying what is near and dear to the heart of the exile, a chat with lifelong friends, Mr Gibson by the way, is one of the leading citizens in the village and has always taken an active part in organisations, and is keenly interested in its history, on which he has written an interesting pamphlet, indeed it is to Mr Gibson I am indebted for historical facts concerning New Lanark.

During our short stay we walked round the almost silent village, the still more silent mill, climbed the braes, and visited the Falls of Clyde and other boyhood haunts. On our round of the pot-holed streets we chatted to Mrs Paul from Belfast, Mr Pearson, who had a veritable bird sanctuary, Jock McKnight and a few others. We were greatly impressed by the layout of the mill, and how everything had been so carefully planned. We stopped at the three storey building where indoor bowls were played on long tables, where the dramatic society, under Harry Gorey, rehearsed and presented wonderful productions, and where men’s and women’s organisations and the B.B. met. Here too the school concerts were held. A missing landmark was the tall “mill lum” (chimney stack) demolished when electrical power was installed some years ago. Up the brae we halted first at the Kirk, and then at the War Memorial which stands in a railed-in enclosure, I recalled parading with the B. B. at the unveiling of the Memorial in the winter of 1922. Further up the brae we stopped at the football pitch, it is still in fair shape, but there is no football team now. The team then was called Clydevale, in which Dicks uncle Tommy was a star player, Dick too was a promising member of the school team, which was coached by Joe Bingham. The market garden beside the pitch was managed by Bob Brown and son, and provided vegetables for the village, is now overgrown with bramble and weeds. On reaching the main road we viewed the school, but as the holidays weren’t over all was quiet here too. One of my earliest school memories was that on the day Armistice was declared, an army officer brought a German shell into the school and presented it to one of the lady teachers

Our visit to the Falls of Clyde was full of happy memories, we recalled how tourists from Glasgow arrived in horse drawn brakes, and along the route we would perform all sorts of antics, stand on our heads or hands and “bite our big tae for a ha’ penny” and we would scramble for the pennies thrown to us by our “visiting benefactors”.
A hydro electric station uses most of the water that would otherwise be cascading over the falls, but despite having only a trickle they were very picturesque indeed. We crossed by the bridge at the upper falls and walked along the west side of the river to Kirkfieldbank, getting a good view on the way of the village from the opposite side.
I must not forget to mention the town of Lanark itself. In our travels it was by far the nicest town we had passed through. The buildings are well kept, and it is clean and prosperous looking and the flower tubs in the middle of the main street give it a happy appearance. In front of the Parish Church still stands the statue of Sir Wm. Wallace, and across the street a plaque on a building commemorates the fact that it was here he first drew his sword for Scotland’s freedom. Before our return flight we called to see schoolmate Alan Graham at Gourock, near Port Glasgow, Alan, whose parents had charge of the post office in New Lanark , was a sales manager for the Gourock Ropework Co., and is well known in Kilkeel and other ports where he sold nets to the fishing fleets. Alan is now retired. He possesses one of the rare biographies of Robert Owen.

Extracts from a ledger in New Lanark Mill of some of the names of people from Northern Ireland who came to work in the Mills in the early 1900s.

Alex.Boyle, Power loom weaver
Gallows St. Dromore
2 Girls in factory, married daughters husband is power steam weaver.

A. Ward,
12 Hazlenut St. off Old Park Rd, Belfast?
4 girls and 3 boys working, one boy a mechanic.14 of a family, 6 girls and 6 boys, father can make heckles

Pte. W. Lunn, 5081 A. Coy. 2nd Batt.R.I.R.
British Expeditionary Force, France.
(William Lunn came from Dromore)

William James Nixon
Scotch St, Downpatrick
8 of a family, 2 boys and 6 girls, 3 girls and 2 boys working, 2 boys 16 and 20 years
3 girls ,17, 19 and 22 years

James Kennedy, Ballylough by Ansboro, Castlewellan.
6 of a family, 2 girls working and 2 boys.

Jas. Anderson, Maydalgan, by Kinallen
6 of a family, 1 boy and girl working, boy 18 girl 16

John Vance, John St. Downpatrick.
10 of a family, 3 girls working, 1 boy 15 years.

Samuel Rodgers, Artana by Dromara
8 of a family 2 girls working and 1 boy in service

Wm. Johnston, John St, Downpatrick
12 of a family, 2 boys 13 and 17, 3girls 18, 20,22

McPherson	Joseph	Statement of Wages 1885	Glasgow University Archives UGD42/7/27	Joseph McPherson working in the Water Twist Spinning 1st Mill as a Master was earning 26/- per week according to an 1885 statement of wages paid at New Lanark Mills.
McPherson	Dan.	Statement of Wages 1885	Glasgow University Archives UGD42/7/27	Dan. McPherson working in the Water Twist Spinning 1st Mill as a Yarn carrier was earning 7/- per week according to an 1885 statement of wages paid at New Lanark Mills.
McPherson	David	Statement of Wages 1885	Glasgow University Archives UGD42/7/27	David McPherson working in the Water Twist Spinning 2nd Mill as a Master was earning 27/- per week according to an 1885 statement of wages paid at New Lanark Mills.
McPherson	Joe	Statement of Wages 1885	Glasgow University Archives UGD42/7/27	Joe McPherson working in the Water Twist Spinning 2nd Mill as a Yarn carrier was earning 8 / 6 per week according to an 1885 statement of wages paid at New Lanark Mills.
McPherson	D.	Statement of Wages 1885	Glasgow University Archives UGD42/7/27	D. McPherson working in the Mule Spinning 3rd Mill as a Cleaner was earning 17/- per week according to an 1885 statement of wages paid at New Lanark Mills.

	Department	Wages
Back Flyers	1st Mill Preparation	1 at 7/6 and 1 at 8/- per week
Back Flyers	3rd Mill Preparation	1 at 5/- 1 at 6/- 1 at 8/- 1 at 9/- and 2 at 9/6
Bankers (2)	Warping	8/- per week
Card Tenter	3rd Mill Preparation	1 at 7/- and 3 at 8/- and 1 at 8/6
Card Tenter	1st Mill Preparation	1 at 8/- per week
Doffers & Learners (Girls)	Water Twist Spinning 1st Mill	3 at 4/6 and 2 at 5/- per week
Doffers & Learners (Girls)	Water Twist Spinning 2nd Mill	3 at 4/- 1 at 4/6 and 4 at 5/- per week
Drawing Framers	1st Mill Preparation	3 at 8/- per week
Drawing Framers	3rd Mill Preparation	5 at 9/- per week
Duplex Framers	1st Mill Preparation	1 at 9/6 per week
Fly Framers	1st Mill Preparation	2 at 10/- per week
Half -timers	Water Twist Spinning 1st Mill	3/6 or 4/- per week
Half -timers	Water Twist Spinning 2nd Mill	3/6 or 4/- per week
Intermediate Framers	1st Mill Preparation	2 at 10/- per week
Pickers (village)	Blowing Room	7d per bag of 8 lbs (till June '82, 5˝d.)
Piece work Back Framers	3rd Mill Preparation	Average wage 9/- to 9/6
Piece work back intermediate	3rd Mill Preparation	Average wage 9/6
Piece work Fly Framers	3rd Mill Preparation	Average wage 10/- to 12/- per week
Piece Work intermediate	3rd Mill Preparation	Average wage 12/- per week
Piece Work slubbing	3rd Mill Preparation	average wage 9/- to 11/6 per week
Reelers ( Large Reels)	Water Twist Spinning 2nd Mill	2 at 9/- per week
Slubbing framers	3rd Mill Preparation	2 at 9/6 per week
Spinners	Water Twist Spinning 2nd Mill	460 sp[in]dles and up 10/- per week
Spinners	Water Twist Spinning 2nd Mill	450 sp[in]dles and up 9/9 per week
Spinners	Water Twist Spinning 2nd Mill	400 sp[in]dles and up 9/- per week
Spinners	Water Twist Spinning 2nd Mill	372 sp[in]dles and up 8/9 per week
Spinners	Water Twist Spinning 2nd Mill	350 sp[in]dles and up 8/- per week
Spinners	Water Twist Spinning 2nd Mill	300 sp[in]dles and up 7/- per week
Spinners	Water Twist Spinning 2nd Mill	250 sp[in]dles and up 6/- per week
Spinners	Water Twist Spinning 2nd Mill	220 sp[in]dles ( new frame) and up 9/- per week
Spinners	Water Twist Spinning 2nd Mill	110 sp[in]dles ( new frame) and up 5/- per week
Twist Reeling	Water Twist Spinning 2nd Mill	Average wage 10/6 per week
Warpers and beamers (17)	Warping	9/6 per week
Winders	Water Twist Spinning 1st Mill	1 at 7/- 16 at 8/- and 2 at 9/- per week
Winders	Water Twist Spinning 2nd Mill	1 at 7/- 21 at 8/- 2 at 9/- per week
Women	Blowing Room	1 at 7/6 3 at 8/- 2 at 8/6 2 at 9/- per week

My father William James Kelly was born and brought up at the Quilly Burn, in Dromore, where he worked as a weaver, he married Florence Hawthorne from Banbridge, and they settled down in Banbridge, at number three Fryars Place. In 1945 when my father left the army he got a job in Charlie Watsons public house in Dromore, it was while working there in 1949 he met one of the Dromore men who was back on holiday from New Lanark. The man told my father that the wages were good and you got a free house at a rent of about one shilling a week, deducted from your wages and they were looking for men who had experience at weaving. At this time i was working in Hayes Mill in Banbridge, and collecting tumblers and washing up in Charlie Watsons pub at the week ends. After careful consideration my father and mother decided to make the move to New Lanark, my father applied for a job and was accepted on the understanding that he and myself would be employed there. There was my father, mother ,two sisters and a brother now ready for the move to New Lanark,

We left Banbridge in 1949 with a couple of suitcases and the clothes we were wearing, The boat sailed for Glasgow about 9 o clock at night and this was no luxury liner, this was a cattle boat, so called because whilst carrying passengers it also transported cattle between Belfast and Scotland, We embarked and were directed into a small room, with a hatch and counter on one wall, around the sides were seats and a few tables, there were already a few people sitting around the place, in a short time the room was full, and as i was to learn most of them were going over to Scotland for the potato picking. The boat began to draw away from the quay and the hatch on the wall was opened up to display a man ready to serve tea and drink, and it was mostly drink that was ordered, as the drink began to flow and take effect, some one would start singing others were playing cards, others arguing ready to fight, all the passengers were in this small room, with the noise of the people and the cattle down below it was pandemonium.

Sleep was impossible, as the boat began to pitch and toss, porter and beer was getting spilt, the strains of "The County of Armagh", and "Galway Bay" rang out, others were dancing, my father said you would think they were emigrating to America instead of going to the potato picking in Scotland. Early next morning the boat docked at Ardrossan i think it was, to let the cattle be unloaded, then it was on to Glasgow, we arrived at about six in the morning and were we glad to get off that boat. We made our way to the train station and managed to find the train going to Lanark.
We had a comfortable seat and the time soon passed, on arriving in Lanark, my father asked some people the way to New Lanark, we were told the directions and proceeded to head for the village, at that time we did not know there was a bus that went there, but we walked it anyway. On arriving in New Lanark we went straight to the Mill office, after a short talk with the manager, we were taken to the canteen by the personnel officer and given a meal, the first decent bite we had since leaving Banbridge. We were then taken to a large building across from the factory gate and walked up to the top flat, this was our new home, The firm supplied everything, table, chairs, bedding, cutlery and dishes, everything was stamped, G.R.C. "Gourock Ropework Company", and that included the knives, forks and spoons. We were shown the outside toilet and told it was shared between three or four families, then we began to settle in and explore our new home. We had never seen tenement flats before now, so it was a bit of a novelty. Word soon got round the village newcomers had arrived and when the mill workers finished work and had their meals, we received a string of visitors to welcome us. Tommy Jess (digger), David McCaw and a host of others, mostly people who had come from the Dromore area as children, my father being a Dromore man knew a lot of their relatives back home, We were very tired after our journey, and we were told the lights in the houses went out at 11 o clock at night, plus my father and i had to start work in the mill the next morning, so bidding our new friend an early good night we retired for our first night in New Lanark.

Up bright and early the next morning we looked forward to starting our new job, we were told that about 15 minutes before the mill gates opened, the workers gathered outside, a bell was rung from a building, across from the main gate this was to signal the gates being opened , we went down to joined the crowd of workers waiting for the gate to open, then buses began to arrive, full mostly of young women, there seemed to be hundreds of them. When the gate opened, there was a surge forward of the workers and in a few minutes the street outside the gate was bare, my father and i had to report to the main office, to be allocated our place of work, then we were taken to the weaving sheds, where most of the people we had met the night before, worked. I had no experience of weaving as i was on the hackling machines in Hays mill so i was given the job of sewing the bales of cloth up in hessian and preparing them for dispatch to various parts of the world. whilst my father was being shown round the weaving looms, and the noise was deafening. By the end of the day we had settled in.

We quickly got adapted to life in New Lanark and working in the mill, i was moved to the dye works, and i enjoyed it there, during my lunch hour, i used to sit with the old chap who made the wicker baskets, Tim O'Connell, he used to let the bundles of reeds he used for the basket making soak in the mill race for a while to soften them, and make them pliable, he learned this trade while being a prisoner of war, in the first world war.

The following paragraph is taken from a History of Congregations, by Dr. John Carson.

A deputation of local people waited on the Secession Synod on the 11th October 1836 asking for services to be arranged in the town of Dromore. This was done and the Seneschal of the time gave the use of the Court House
In December the Presbytery was informed that the Bishop had forbidden its further use and the Reformed Presbyterians accommodated the new congregation. A committee of Presbytery took charge and in July 1837 a site was sought and ultimately promised, but it was not available until May 1838. Progress was slow. Monet was insufficient and the Presbytery had to come to the rescue. The cause was weak and lacking in enthusiasm, and even in July 1840 at the Union of Synods it was still unfinished.

The united church body decided to pursue the idea of a new congregation and the meeting house was completed , and on the 7th March the first minister was called. There had been a Rev. John Allen working here at the start and old newspapers indicate him as the first minister. What ever his status, he resigned early in 1843 and Mr. John McKee, a licentiate of the Dromore Presbytery, was ordained on the 7th March 1843.

Second Dromore Congregation
Financial Statement for the year ending 1st Nov. 1857

A Market town, and seat of a diocese in the County of Down, 14 miles. distant from Belfast, seated On the river Lagan, and on the road from Dublin to Belfast, The name Druin mor, corrupted into Dromore, signifies the great back of a hill, and is significant of the town', position on the side of a rising ground. Its ecclesiastical see is said, to have been founded in the sixth century; the records., however, in this particular are not to be relied upon. The town, or city, for in fact it is properly entitled to the latter appellative distinction, consists of a square and a few streets neither long nor wide, radiating from it; neither is the square spacious. The town is clean and well kept. Its staple trade is linen cloth, of which. considerable quantities are brought for sale on the market and fair days. Over the Market. house, a neat building, erected on arches, is a large apartment, used for public meetings and occasional assemblies.

The Parish Church is a comparatively small and unpretending structure, and derives most of its peculiar interest from having been built by the celebrated Jeremy Taylor, and containing his remains, as well as those of other bishops of the see. The episcopal residence, adjoining the town, was built in the time of Bishop Bernard; and the woods around it planted by Bishop Percy. The other places of worship in Dromore are three Presbyterian churches, the same number of Methodist chapel and one for Covenanters, and a Roman Catholic chapel. The market is held on Saturday. Fairs, February 2nd, May 12th, July 28th, August 1st, and October 10th, chiefly for cattle, pigs, etc.

Post Office, Market square-Michael Bodel, postmaster. Letters from Belfast, the north of Ireland, and from Scotland, arrive and are despatched every morning at 8, and every evening at 10. Letters (from Dublin, the south of Ireland, and England, arrive every morning at 2, and afternoon at 5, and despatched every morning at 8, and evening at half-past 10. Letters from Comber, Ballygowan, Saintfield, Ballynahinch, and Dromara, arrive every evening at 9, and are despatched every morning at 3, Conveyances To Dublin, the royal mail, from the Post office, every morning at 8, and evening at half. past 10. To Belfast, the royal mail, from the Post office, every morning at 2, and evening at 5. To Lisburn, two cars, from M'Greadys' every morning at a quarter before 8; also, two from Edward M'Cartney's at the same time.

The Cathedral - The Right Rev. Robt. Knox, D.D., Bishop; Rev. Edward Kent, rector ; Revs. Richard Agar and George A. Patton, curate.; Very Rev. U. Bagot (Newry) Dean.

Dromore in the barony of Lower Iveagh, had a population of 2,491 In 1881. It is a station on the Great Northern Railway, 17 and a half miles, English, from Belfast. and 7 miles, English, from Banbridge. The situation of the town in the Lagan Valley, is exceedingly beautiful. Within a short distance in every direction, there are handsome private residences, and richly wooded demesnes. In the approach by rail the most striking feature in the first view is the great fort at the Eastern end. At the North side of this fort there is a treble fosse, and at the South an out-post sloping to the bank of the river. Various excavations have been made in it with a view to the discovery of hidden wealth. The last one was attended with such consequences to the nervous system of one or two men engaged in the enterprise, that the earth was not replaced. Within the past 15 years there has been a great change for the better at Dromore. A desire to give it a prominence among the principal county towns has been manifested in various ways. The appearances of the business houses has been very much improved, and the new houses added during the time mentioned constitute fully a third of the number inside the boundary.

In 1885 the portions of the town divided by the Lagan were connected by a new bridge, 23 feet 6 inches wide, constructed of granite from the design of Mr. Wm. McKeon. C.E., Assistant County Surveyor. It replaced a bridge which was only 13 feet 9 inches wide. Among the houses rebuilt in the square, that of Mr. Robert S. Edgar is the finest. Neither in style nor finish would it be out of keeping in a thoroughfare of Belfast or Dublin. Most extensive changes have been made at the expense of the ratepayers, including a new market place, enclosed in the middle of the Square, and a new Town Hall. To complete these a sum of £3,500 was borrowed from the Board of Works in 1885 repayable by sinking fund in 50 years. Of this amount £1,500 was paid for a reversionary interest in the market tolls, acquired from the last holder of the clerkship of the market, under the authority of the Bishops of Dromore.

Markets are held on Wednesdays and Saturdays, and there is a fair held on the second Saturday of each month. Improvement (Ireland) Act, advantage was taken of the lighting and cleansing clauses. In 1881 the ratepayers decided to secure powers under all its provisions Nine Commissioners are elected, the general purposes rate for the current year is 1 shilling in the £.

The history of Dromore begins with the time of St.Colman, who founded an abbey here, which secured valuable possessions early in the 10th century. Its treasures were supposed to be so great that the Danes frequently made excursions to it for plundering purposes. The Abbey ultimately became the head of a see, with St. Colman as the first bishop. Dromore from that period down to the time of James II. And William I has suffered from many conflicts and burnings. The.O'Neils, MacCartans, and Magennises, in their numerous differences, added greatly to the troubles of the inhabitants. In the reign of James I. the see, found in a state of suspended animation, was re-established, and re-endowed with lands extending through several parishes. The Cathedral was re-built, and a palace for Bishop Buckworth was in progress of erection when the forces directed by the parliament at Kilkenny, 1641, set fire to the town, destroying nearly everything it contained, including the cathedral and the palace. Until some time after Charles II. ascended the throne,

Very little was done to change this condition of things. The famous Jeremy Taylor having been appointed Bishop of Dromore, and of Down and Connor, in 1660, built the present church on the site of the cathedral. He caught fever in 1667 and died in a few days. Although a native of Cambridge, England, he preferred Dromore as a last resting place, and his remains were interred under the chancel. The church was constituted a cathedral by Act of Parliament in the reign of George II. under the Church Temporalities Act it was provided that the sees of Down, Connor, and Dromore should be united on either becoming vacant. The union was effected in 1842. Thos. Percy, author of the Key to the New Testament, &c., was Bishop of Dromore for nearly 30 years, from 1782 and during his time, the church was altered and improved, and it has been maintained in good condition ever since. The interior is chaste. There is a handsome pulpit in Caen stone and marbles, and several stained windows contrasting most agreeably in difference of style and delicacy of colour.

.Loyola House, in the vicinity of the town, was for many years the palace of Bishop Percy, whose taste in planting is manifest to this day in the beautifully wooded hills forming a demesne of 211 statute acres. The property was purchased from the Church Temporalities Commissioners by Messrs. Edward and James Quinn, whose remains are entombed in the cathedral church yard. The Jesuit Fathers purchased of the executors of the brothers in 1883, and the former palace was opened in the following year as a novitiate house for the Society of Jesus in Ireland. Very Rev. Wm OFarrell, S.J., brother of the Bishop of Trenton ,N.J. was the first rector he was succeeded in 1885 by the present rector, Very Rev. John Colgan, S.J. There are two Presbyterian churches in Dromore, of good capacity, and a Methodist church, built in 1871. The Roman Catholic church of St. Colman occupies an excellent site. It is a handsome edifice in the early English Gothic style, and dates from 1871 Very Rev. Wm. M'Cartan, V.F., was appointed P.P.in 1859, since which time he has expended about £17,000 upon new buildings, and In the purchase of parochial property. There is a debt of £1,500.

The old Cross of Dromore, which has been neglected for many years , is hereafter to occupy a pedestal in a triangular space where the road from Banbridge leads into the town and divides at the East end of the Cathedral. The Castle of Dromore, now owned by Mr. Wm. Harrison of Ballaney, is only a fragment in comparison to what it was. Mr.Wm. Clarke, whose place of business is near it declares that not a stone has dropped out in 25 years. It was built by Wm. Worsley for the protection of his father-in-law, Bishop Tod. A newsroom in connection with an enterprise for the supply of refreshments on temperance principles, was established in 1885,and has been very successful. The Masonic and Orange bodies are well represented in the town and district. The Dromore Parish Cricket club has about 20 members.

DROMORE was at one time better known than any part of Ulster in connection with linen manufacture, and it still maintains a reputation for the fine quality of its productions. The firm of Messrs. Wm Sprott & Co. founded in 1850 and now consisting of Mr. William and Mr. James Sprott, employ from 300 to 400 hand-loom weavers in the Manufacture of linens.

Messrs. Wm. B. Miniss and sons are manufacturers of hem-stitched and fancy handkerchiefs. The firm was established in 1855 by Mr. Wm. B. Miniss. He died in 1885 and the firm now consists of his Sons, Messrs. John R, Edmond and Carley, The linen and cambric are manufactured on the premises from linen yarns only. Messrs. Wm. B. Miniss and Sons employ in their own houses from 400 to 5oo people at weaving and hemstitching. They have had the honour of filling an order for linen cambric handkerchiefs given by H. M. Queen Victoria.

At the left side of Church-street, entering the town from the rail way station, the hemstitching factory of Messrs. John Harrison & Co., occupies a conspicuous position. Tamboring, hemming, and finishing cotton handkerchiefs, are done here for the leading commission and shipping houses of Manchester, Glasgow, and Belfast. The handkerchiefs are sent to the factory in the piece, and are finished and reshipped to the houses to which they belong, or in their interest, to fill orders in different parts of the United Kingdom. About 350 girls are employed by Messrs. John Harrison & Co., all of a better class than those engaged in spinning mills and weaving factories. They live in the town and vicinity, and are paid by the piece. Intelligence and skill count for much at labour of this kind, and girls who possess both, make good wages. Mr. John Harrison, J.P., head of the firm, is chairman of the Town Commissioners. His private residence, Mariville, stands in ornamental grounds adjoining the factory premises. The firm of Messrs. John Harrison & Co. has been established about fifteen years.

Mr. John Hamilton, T.C., came to Dromore fifteen years ago to work his patents in hemstitching and embroidering for the sole use of Messrs. Henry Matier & Co., of Belfast. He then had several patents, valuable in this particular field of activity. A beginning was made in Market-square with rooms. After some years had elapsed Mr. Hamilton purchased ground in Meeting-street from Mr. John White of Belfast, and built a factory 100 feet long, 35 feet wide, and 3 storeys high, on the most improved principles for the admission of light and air. He continued to work his patents for Messrs. Henry Matier & Co., and to improve hemstitching machinery. His latest improvement is a booking, counting, and measuring machine, patented by Hamilton & Woods, in 1885. This is also used only for Messrs. Henry Matier & Co. The factory is constructed of brick, and extends from Meeting-street to the edge of the River Lagan. From 400 to 500 people women and girls, are employed. Of this number some receive work to be done at their own homes. The product of the factory is sent to the warehouse of Messrs. Henry Matier & Co., Belfast.

Messrs. William Jardine & Co., Market Square, are manufacturers of shirt-fronts, and manufacturers and finishers of handkerchiefs. The firm was established about the year 1843, and devoted its entire energies to the weaving of fine and coarse linens with hand-looms. In 1868, attention was turned to the making of linen shirt-fronts, and to the hemming and finishing of handkerchiefs by machines. About the year 1877 a department was devoted to the hemstitching and embroidering of fancy handkerchiefs, in from forty to fifty different styles. The other departments were maintained with equal energy. Belfast and Manchester are the principal markets for shirt- fronts, and Belfast and Glasgow for handkerchiefs. Messrs. William Jardine & Co. employ 275 women and girls in their factory, and give out work to from 50 to 100 to be done at their own homes. All live in the town and vicinity. The factory buildings consist of a hollow square, 85 feet long, 5o feet wide, and four storeys high. They are constructed of brick, and are well lighted and ventilated.

The firm of Messrs. Sprott & Heggan was established in 1884, for the machine hemstitching and finishing of cambric handkerchiefs. The range of work runs from the plainest hem- stitching to the most delicate and artistic embroidery. It also includes the attaching of hems in various colours and fabrics. Much taste is required for the successful development of an industry of this kind. Messrs. Sprott and Heggan do a great deal of the finer sorts of needlework, a fact which prevents a very rapid increase in the number of people employed. At the time of my visit, in March of this year, they had 125 women and girls. Goods are made up for manufacturers of Belfast, Glasgow, and other parts of the United Kingdom. The factory is entered from Market Square. It is constructed of blue stone, and is 65 feet long, 24 feet wide, and three storeys high. The firm consists of Mr. Robert Sprott, J. P., Dromore House, and Mr. James Heggan, Mount street.

In the approach to Dromore from the Banbridge direction, the Bleach Works of Messrs. Thomas McMurray & Co. are seen from the viaduct of the Great Northern Railway. They are situated in the Lagan valley, and help to form a picture of the most charming character. The viaduct rises above the valley to a height of 74 feet, and consists of seven arches. Messrs. Thomas McMurray & Co. are manufacturers of linen and cambric handkerchiefs, and bleachers and finishers. The linens are of every grade from coarse to the finest shining and household. In cambric they manufacture in all the degrees of fineness from 6°° to 25°°. The premises consist of 32 and a half statute acres. Upon this there are several buildings. The largest is about 120 feet long, 40 feet wide, and two storeys high. Water and steam in conjunction are used for power purposes. Entering the town from the railway station, the first large build ing seen on the right in Church-street contains their lapping rooms, warehouse, and offices. The firm of Messrs. Thomas McMurray & Co. is one of the oldest in Ireland It was established by Mr. Geo. McMurray, of Waringstown, near Lurgan, about the year 1750, for hand-loom cambric weaving. Mr. Thomas McMurray, his son and successor, removed to Dromore in 1827 and established the present concerns for bleaching and weaving. Soon after his arrival he added linen weaving. He was succeeded at his death by his son, Mr. William McMurray, and Mr. William McClelland, his son-in law. Mr. William McClelland died about 20 years ago, since which time Mr. William McMurray has been head of the firm, and resides at Percy Lodge, immediately adjoining the railway station. Messrs. Thomas McMurray & Co. have agencies for the sale of their goods in London and Paris.

Auctioneers - G. Preston, J. Watson
Bakers - P. M'duff, J. & W. Mallagh. F. ONeill, B. Stewart
Bank, Northern - W. S. Lamont
Boots and shoes - J. Foster, J M'Cullough,. S. M'llwaine, J. Rowan, A. Watson, Meeting street.
Butter. Egg & Grain - A. Sherrard
Builder - J. H. Burns
Cabinet makers - D. Mitchell, T. Preston
Christian Brethren
Church of Ireland (Cathedral) - Rev. Canon Hayes, rector; Rev. E. H. Nuns, curate; Henry W. Hall, organist.
Chemists and Druggists - John Bronte, Henry Graham
Coach builder - Henry Mullen
Coal - W.. Smith, A. Watson, Meeting street, W. Watson
College of the Society of Jesus.
Loyola House-Very Rev. John Colgan, Rector
Dispensary - Dr. M. Weir
Drapers - Mrs. E. Arlow, Alex. Cargin, S. G. Clarke, Robert S. Edgar, David Herron, Jas. Mercer, John Nelson, Mrs. M.A. Saul. Wm Saul, A. Watson, Bridge street.
Emigration agents - John (Mrs. Mary) Jardine. Adam Watson, Meeting street. J. Watson
Gas Co. - Wm. Preston, secy., C. W. Mearns, mgr.
Glass, China, etc. - W. Bennett, M. F. McFadden, Mrs. J. Mathers, C. Stewart
Grain Merchants - J. Martin, J. Mulligan, A. Sherrard
Grocers, etc, Sell spirits, J.Baird, W. Baird, W.J. Baron, P. Brown, Jas. Chambers, J. Mrs. M. Jardine, R. Kerr, W. McCammon, J.P.McCrea, P. McGrady, R.Mahood, Mrs J.Mathers, Mrs M.ONeill, I. Pantridge, A Sherrard, C. Stewart
R.S. Wallace, Adam Watson, W. Watson
Hemstitching Factories - John Harrison & Co., Wm. Jardine & Co, Henry Matier & Co., Sprott & Heggan
Hotel Keepers - Wm. Miller, William J. Napier
Linen Manufacturers - Wm. B.Miniss & Sons, J.M. Dickson, Thos. M'Murray & Co., W.J.Patton, Wm. Sprott & Co.
Methodist C. - Rev. W. Sproule
Mills, Corn and Scutch - W. J.Anderson, A.Creighton, J. Graham and (Sawmill), T. Harrison, E.McCartney
Newsagents, etc. - Miss Sarah Carrothers, Wm. Preston, J. Watson
Pawnbroker - John Nelson
Petty sessions held on the last day of each month, B. M'Connell, clerk
Physicians and Surgeons - S. F.Hawthorn ,J.P., Marshall Weir, J.P.
Post Mistress. - Miss S. Carrothers
Presbyterian Churches - first, Rev. J. K. Strain; second, Rev.J. Rentoul
Provision curers - Dromore curing coy Ld ,Mrs M.ONeill ,
Railway - S.M .J.H.McElnay
R. C. Church - Rev. Wm. M'Cartan, P.P., V.F.
R.I.C, - Jas. Kearney, Sergt.
Saddlers - G. Bennett, Wm. M'Key, H. Mercer
Schools, Evening (Private) - H.W. Hall, B.A;.No-1 (National),
W.Baxter; No.2.
Mr. Faulkner; No.3
D. Palmer; No.4,
Henry W.Hall, BA
Soclicitors - Galway & Jardine, James Murphy
Spirit retailers - D. Allen, J.Clark; Wm. Clarke, Mrs. M.Dawson, J. Ireland, J. McDade, J. McMurray, J. Russell, Mrs. C. Smyth
Town Commissioners - John Harrison, J.P. chairman, David Herron, Geo. Preston, sen, Robert S. Wallace, Robert S. Edgar, Wm.Mallagh, Robert Sprott, jr., John Hamilton, Samuel M'Fadden, Jas.Bell M'Connell, Town Clerk
Executive Sanitary Officer, Dr M.Weir, M.O.H. William J. M'Keown,
Town Surveyor; T. U. Card, Solr.;
J. Hatch, Clerk of Markets and Sanitary sub-officer
Unitarian Church, Rev.D. Thompson
Victuallers - W. Brownlee, Casey, H. Ledgett
Watchmakers, R.Haslett

Farmers,Landowners etc.
Including Ashfield, Ballysallagh, Blackskull,
Coolsallagh, Druma hadone, Listullycurran, McAdams crossroads, Redhills,

Agnew R. Coolsallagh
Archer J. Coolsallagh
Baillie D. Drumaghadrone
Beck, W. Skillyscolbane
Bennett D. T'cairn, Blackskull
Bennett, B. Balleney
Black,W. J. Ballykeel,M'A X Srd
Bodel, R.., Coolsallagh
Brown, Rev. T. Ballynarris
Brush. Geo. (J.P..), Gill hall
Bullick, W. K'sorrell, A'field
Cargan, A. Dromore
Chambers, Jas., Dromore
Corbitt, H.. Drumiller, MA X rd
Coulter, Hamilton, Magherabeg
Coulter, William, Islanderry
Cully, Jos., Skillyscolbane
Currie, J. H. Bhan, Blackskull
DaIzell, S.. Greenogue, Redhills
Dennison, W. Islanderry
Doloughan, A. Magheraheg
Doloughan, R.. Magherabeg
Doloughan, W. J., Coolsallagh
Dunbar, G. Ballynaris. MAX rd
Elliott. H. Ehan, Blackskull
English. Robt. Balleney
Finlay, Rev. T., Ballynaris
Fitzsimons, D. Greenan
Fitzsimons, S. Quilly A'field
Flack, Jn. Coolsallagh
Flack, S. Coolsallagh
Flack, Thos. Ashfield
Graham, John Dromore
Gibson, .A., Ballymacormick
Gribben, Anthony, Lurganbane
Hamilton, John, Drumbroneth
Hamilton, John Drumbroneth
Hammond, George Bottier
Harrison, T. Coolsallagh
Harrison, Wm. Ballaney
Herron, Wm. Bottier
Hook W.G. Lappoges
Hughes, Rev. P. Ballynaris
Jameson, T. Drumbroneth
Jardine, W. Clanmurry
Kelly, S, Ballysallagh
Lilburn, .A. Skillyscolbane
Lilburn, W. Drumhroneth
M'Candless, R. B. Lurganbane
McCandless J. Drumaghadone
M'Caw D., Gogue, Redhills
McCloughan, A. B'mullagh
Comb, W., Greenan, A'field
M'Cracken D.M. Magheraheg
McCracken, Robert, Listullycurran
M'llrath, A., Balleney
McMurray. Wm. Percy Lodge
Magowan. S. Tullyard
Martin, J. Ballyvicknakelly
Martin, W. Ballymacormick
Mercer, G., Ballymaganlis
Mercer, H. Quilly
Mills, J Ballymacormick
Mills, Jn., Ballynaris
Mills, Rt., Ballymacormick
Mills, Rt.. Drumbroneth
Mitchell, Jn., L'ward, A'field
Nelson. Jas. B'macbrennan
Nelson, J.H. Rampart st
Partridge, A. B'mullagh
Patterson, Isaac, Listullycurran
Poots. Jas. Coolsallagh
Prenter. J. Balleney. A'field
Rea. S.T carn. Blackskull
Rea. W.M.D`skeagh, Blackskull
Rodgers John, Dromore
Scott James, Lurganbane
Scott John, Ballysallagh
Shanks M. Bban,Blackskull
Shannon J.A.Listullycurran
Simpson. G.G. Gregorlough
Skelton. W.J. Bhan, Blackskull
Stanfield John, Listullycurran
Stewart J. Ballyvicknakelly
Thompson J. Drumiller, MAXrd
Thompson Robert, Listullycurran
Vaughan. A. Quilly
Vaughan Geo.M. Quilly House
Waddell. C.D. Islanderry
Watson Hugh, Ballyvicknakelly
Waugh S. Drumskee, Blackskull
Weir Jos. Church St.
Wilkinson J. M`beg Redhills
Wilkinson R., M`beg Redhills
Wilson J. B`han, Blackskull

THIS MEMORIAL IS TO PERPETUATE
THE NAMES AND HONOUR THE MEMORY
OF THOSE FROM THIS DISTRICT
WHO SERVED IN

THE NAMES ON THIS TABLET
ARE OF THOSE WHO MADE THE
SUPREME SACRIFICE ON BEHALF
OF KING AND EMPIRE

Commenting on plans to erect a new plaque on Dromore War Memorial, a Council spokesperson stated, “The names of these forgotten heroes appear to have been omitted when the war memorial was first erected in September 1926 and under Section 7 of the Local Government Act (NI) 1923, the Council can correct any error or omission in the inscription on any such memorial. After receiving a request to add these names to the war memorial, Council representatives met with members of the Dromore Branch of the Royal British Legion in August last year. I hope by adding this new plaque that we correct the oversights of the past. However, we need the public to help us. If you know of anyone else from the Dromore area who died in action during the Great War, we want to hear from you before the deadline. Unfortunately, we cannot accept any requests for further amendments after Friday 17 February this year.”

The names to be added to Dromore War Memorial include:

THIS PLAQUE IS TO HONOUR
THE MEN AND WOMEN FROM
THIS DISTRICT WHO SERVED
IN THE SECOND WORLD WAR
AND TO PERPETUATE THE NAMES
OF THE FOLLOWING WHO MADE
THE SUPREME SACRIFICE ON
BEHALF OF KING AND EMPIRE

It is the task of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission to commemorate the Commonwealth's 1.7 million world war dead, who are buried in cemeteries and commemorated on memorials all over the world. Anyone wanting to find the final resting place of relatives who died during the two world wars can now do so very easily by accessing the Commission's records through our website; the search by surname Debt of Honour Register will be found at www.cwgc.org enquiries by letter and telephone are also welcome at our Maidenhead office.

Karen Loizou,
Media Section for Commonwealth War Graves
2 Marlow Rd.
Maidenhead
Berks.
SL6 7DX
Tel.01628-5071471

Seat holders	s*	d*	Seat holders	s	d
Mrs.Fettis	7	0	James McCracken	5	0
William Cowden	10	0	Joseph Gregg	5	0
Isaac Cowden	20	0	Peter Wright	6	0
Mrs. Black	22	0	Robert Poots	6	0
Mrs.Morrow	10	0	Mrs.Guthrie	5	0
Robert Knox	10	0	James Blain	4	0
William Malone	10	0	John Prentice	4	0
John Ewan	20	0	Joseph Porter	4	6
James Cowden	20	0	Samuel Lyttle	7	0
John Jones	5	0	David Abernethy	7	6
David McClean	4	0	M.A.Whiteside	4	0
Isaac Archer	10	0	William Forsythe	4	0
John Beggs	8	0	William Martin	4	0
William Dawson	4	0	John White	12	0
Joseph Rainey	8	0	Robert Clark	7	0
William Kenedy	5	0	John G.Hanna	7	0
John Hamilton	8	0	William Brown	12	0
John Johnston	3	0	William John Agnew	8	0
Samuel Close	4	0	Andrew Agnew	10	0
Mrs. Burke	8	0	Mrs.McClonghan	7	0
David Thompson	5	0	Thomas Thompson	10	0
Matthew Cu?	4	0	George Simpson	12	0
William Hamilton	5	0	John Bryson	2	0
George Adamson	8	0	William Boyce	20	0
George King	3	0	James Bole	5	0
Hugh Beck	4	0	William Hale	5	0
Thomas Beck	4	0	George Taylor	4	0
John Thompson	4	0	Thomas Malcomson	15	0
?ret Agnew	10	0	James McDonald	5	0
John Rowan	6	0	Samuel Bell	5	0
Mrs.Archer	10	0	James Mooney	5	0
D.Hawthorne	10	0	Joseph Frazer	5	8
William Martin	20	0	Isabella Porter	7	6
James Wham	4	0	William Henery	3	0
James Johnston	5	0	John Henery	3	0
George Harper	4	0	Samuel Mercer	10	0
James McFadden	4	0	Samuel Templeton	10	0
Mrs. McClatchey	4	0	Robert McKee	5	0
Isaac Finlay	4	0	William Bell? Ball	6	0
William Barisfield	3	0	William Black	4	0
Hugh Watson	5	0	George Simpson	20	0
John Irvine	4	0	Rowan McNeight	4	0
James Jones	4	0	Mrs. Jelly	3	0
Thomas McKee	4	0	Mrs. Johnston	3	0
Mrs.Kerr	3	0	Alex. Hutchenson	5	5
Francis Jones	3	0	James Coleman	3	0
Samuel Hutcheson	3	0	Thomas McKee	4	0
John Waugh	3	0	John McDowell	3	0
William Rutherford	3	0	Eleizer Cumins	4	0
Robert Gibson	4	0	Daniel McCauley	4	0
Alexander Coulter	5	0	Isaac McMillen	4	0
John Dawson	4	0	Richard Mercer	13	0
William Robinson	6	0	John Magill	4	0
Robert Taylor	8	0	James McClean	6	0
John Misenmins	8	0	Robert McClean	4	0
William Misenmins	4	0	Robert Strong	4	0
Robert McFadden	4	0	Isaac Cumin	4	0
Joseph McFadden	4	0	John Murphy	4	0
Joseph Emerson	4	0	Alex. Ruddock	4	0
Thomas Jones	4	0	Jane Osborne	2	0
Robert Arnold	8	0	James Carlisle	4	0
Alex. Walker	4	0	William John Hamilton	3	0
George Robinson	5	0	Robert McConville	3	0
Eilen Herron	3	0	John Martin	3	0
Hans Kennedy	5	0	John Beattie	4	0
Fanny Spratt	3	0	Robert Griffen	2	0
John Boal	3	0	Patrick Spence	3	0
William Simmington	5	0	George Buchanan	0	0
William Daullighan	4	0	James Geary	4	0
Mrs. Rankin	4	0	Ellen Martin	3	0
William John Kerr	4	0	William Vance	6	0
James Bell	5	0	Robert Guiney	4	0
James McDonald	4	0	John Close	3	0
Mrs.Robinson	3	0	William Lindsay	5	0
William Gregg	6	0	Richard Poots	5	0
Mrs McClatchey	2	0	Isaac Vogen	3	0
James McCormick	2	0	William Perry	1	0
Mrs. McVeagh	4	0	James Gilchrist	3	0
John McVeagh	4	0	James Mackay	10	0
James McGibben	4	0	John Knox	5	0
William Jones	4	0	Thomas Johnston	6	0
James McClatchey	2	0	Hugh McIlveen	5	0
John Moore	5	0	Robert E.Lovell	20	0
M.J.Jones	3	0	William McCauley	4	0
Samuel Mercer	5	0	Joseph Lilley	5	0
Robert Gregg	5	0	John Dearby	10	0
John A.McClelland	5	0	Thomas Crookshanks	10	0
Sarah McClelland	3	0	Samuel Corry	20	0
George McCready	15	0	John Martin	6	0
John Drake	15	0	William Mulligan	4	0
John McCready	10	0	James Mulligan	4	0
Samuel Corry	40	0	Samuel Mulligan	4	0
John McCutcheon	10	0	David Archer	7	0
Mrs. McClaughan	5	0	William Anderson	7	0
William Gavin	5	0
Mary Graham	4	0
Issac Mercer	4	10
William Jones	4	0
Archibald Patterson	4	0
William Brown	4	0
Martha Adair	2	0
Jane Adair	2	0
James Cunningham	4	0

Seaman	Private	Private
D. Boyd	W. H. Arbuthnot	W. Johnston
D. Prentice	H. Archer	A. Jones
Captain	S. J. Archer	A. Lilley
S. Martin, R.A.M.C.	J. O. Armstrong	J. Martin
J. R. Miller	J. Beggs	S. Martin
Lieutenant	T. J. Bell	R. McCandless
J. H. Edgar M.A. B. L.	O. Best	J. McCracken
2nd. Lieutenant	H. J. Boal	A. McDonald
J. S. K. Hunter	T. Boston	H. McDonald
Sergeant	T. Brown	W. McGarrell, M.M.
J. Graham	A. Burns	H. McMahon
S. Gribben	G. Carson	A. McMullan
W. Gribben	W. G. Chambers	M. Nutt
E. Hamilton	T. Cochrane	C. Ogle
J. A. Hamilton	R. Crawford	W. Prenter
T. R. S. Kerr	H. Cunningham	J. Prentice
G. McClenachan	W. Darragh	S. Price
S. Watson	F. Doloughan	J. Pyper
Corporal	T. W. G. Edgar	T. Scott
C. Allen	W. H. Flanagan	R. Smyth
D. Donaldson	R. Fleck	S. Smyth
E. Hamilton	D. Frame	C. W. Thompson
I. Jess	T. Fulton	W. J. Vint
J. Ledgett	W. J. Gamble	W. H. Wallace
W. Lunn	W. Gill	T. Watson
H. Peden	W. Gordon	J. Whitley
D. J. Wilson	E. Gourley	E. Young
Lance Corporal	J. Greer	Nurse
S. Bryson	H. Gribben	E.H.Watson
H. E. Flanagan	W. Gribben
D. G. McEwan	S. Guiney
Private	E. Jackson
W. Anderson	J. Jess

Navy
Seaman: James Porter	Albert Adams	David T. McKeown
Stoker, James Lilley	William R. Baxter. D.C.M.	William J. McKinley
Army	Robert J. Bell	Hugh J. Nicholson
Captain:	Arthur W. Bothwell	William H. Nicholson
Francis McKee. M.B.J.P.	William Cairns	Thomas Pollock
John C. Sherrard	John Catherwood	William H. Rodgers
Lieutenant	Thomas J. Clarke	Hugh Scott
John M. Vaughan	James Crookshanks	Thomas Smith
2nd. Lieutenant	Thomas J. Dixon	Robert A. Smith
Jonathan Napier	Richard Ferris	Robert Smyth. D. C. M.
Sergeant	Robert Gordon	Fredrick B. Thompson
Robert J. Bingham	John A. Gourley	Fred Truesdale
George T. Boyd	John Graham	Samuel A. Waring
Samuel G. Hamilton	James Gribben	Robert Watson
Joseph McFadden	Arthur Gribben	Joseph White
Corporal	William R. Hawthorne	John Young
William Patterson	Samuel Hutchinson
Lance Corporal	David Jess
Fredrick Boyle	John Kane
Richmond J. T. Chambers	William Kayes
Samuel Ferris. M. M.	James Kerr
Thomas Gamble	Samuel Kerr
Thomas Gordon	William J. Lindsay
Gilbert Gorman	Alfred Massey
Henry Kilgariff	John McConnell
Private	William J. McCormick
Robert M. Adair	George H. McIlwrath

Royal Navy	Royal Air Force
Seaman	Flight Sergeant
Cochrane, T. J	McDonald, W.
Army	Russell, J.
Captain	Sergeant
Hill, W. J.	Mussen, W.
Corporal	Wilson, P.
Clokey, J. A.	Corporal
Doonan, D.	Ward, J. M.
L/Corporal	Aircraftsman
Spence, J.	Gracey, H.
Private	McCandless, J.
Cairns, J.	Womens Auxillary
Copling, A.	Air Force
Dobbin, W.J.	Sergeant
Gardner, W.	Beggs, J.

Location	Reference	Nature, Other Records, Also marriages 1827 - 1843 for Aghaderg, Seagoe, Tullylish, Shankill and others.
National Library of Ireland	Pos5504	Microfilm
Baptisms	Marriages	Burials
March 3rd.1823 to Jan.17th. 1845 Jan.1th.1845 to Dec. 30th.1880	Sept.8th.1881 to Dec.31st.1844 Feb.4th.1845 to Nov.17th. 1880	Nov.9th.18821 to Jan.5th.1845 Nov.15th.1847 to Dec.27th.1880

Location	Reference	Nature,
Public Record Office of Northern Ireland	MIC.1D/29	Microfilm
Baptisms	Marriages	Burials
1823 - 1881	1821 - 1882	1821 - 1882

Location	Reference	Nature, Other Records, National Archives original listing. Burnt in 1922
None
Baptisms	Marriages	Burials
1786-1876	1785-1845	1804-1875

Location	Reference	Nature, Other Records,vestry minutes 1872 - ; registers of vestrymen 1872 -
Local custody		Original
Baptisms	Marriages	Burials
-1877 -	1845	1885 -

Location	Reference	Nature
None		PRO Listing
Baptisms	Marriages	Burials
1784 to 1875	1784 to 1845	1784 to 1873

Location	Reference	Other Records, confirmations 1823-46 (gaps)
Public Record Office of Northern Ireland	T.679/395, 398-406,410	Original
Baptisms	Marriages	Burials
1784-1871	1784-1845	1784-1812; 1816-1873

Location	Reference	Other Records, Churchwardens' accounts 1801-36; preachers' books 1847 - ; vestry minutes 1870 - ; registers of vestrymen 1891 -
Local custody	T.679/395, 398-406,410	Original
Baptisms	Marriages	Burials
	1845 -

Location	Reference	Other Records, vestry minutes 1870 - ; registers of vestrymen 1870 -
Local custody		Original
Baptisms	Marriages	Burials
1877 -	1846 -	1877 -

Location	Reference	Other Records, Marriage Notice Books, 1845 to 1861, Stipend Books,1852 to 1921, Session and Committee Minutes,1852-1921; session and committee minutes 1860-1911
Public Records Office of Northern Ireland	C.R.4/14;T.2705	Microfilm
Baptisms	Marriages	Burials
None	1845 to 1895	None

Location	Reference	Other Records, Committee minutes 1871-94; membership list 1835; lists of new communicants 1836-55
Public Records Office of Northern Ireland	MIC.1P/140	Microfilm
Baptisms	Marriages	Burials
1832-1854 1857-1913	1845-1910	None

Location	Reference	Other Records, Marriage notices 1853-1953
Public Records Office of Northern Ireland	MIC.1P/359; C.R.3/9	Microfilm
Baptisms	Marriages	Burials
1827-1943	1871-1936	None

Location	Reference	Other Records, Baptisms 1824 to 1844 relate to Moira and Dromore circuit
Public Records Office of Northern Ireland	MIC.1E/43; MIC.429/1/496	Microfilm
Baptisms	Marriages	Burials
1824 to 1844 1832 to 1952		1864 to 1908