Valuation of Tenements 1863

Dromore

County Down

Condition of the poorer classes in Ireland: first report: appendix A and supplement

Parliamentary Papers on Ireland 1801 -1922

1835- 1835 , Volume 32

For inquiring into the condition of the poorer classes in Ireland

Dromore (part of) &c, Pop.14,911	Dromore (part of) &c, Pop.14,911	Dromore & Garvaghy,Pop,18,497	Drumara (part of) Pop,10,129,entire parish
Rev. Samuel Crory P.M.	Rev. William Filgate	Rev. Hugh McConville, P. P.	Rev. Michael McCartan, P.P.
Cannot tell the number of deserted children, but I have known or heard of none that perished within the last three years	There are 13 at present supported by vestry assessment, I know of none having so perished.	No more than two or three supported by Vestry cess, I have not heard of any who perished through neglect.	Five supported through assessment
I cannot tell, this I consider to fall more within the knowledge of the Curate and Rector of the parish.		I could not ascertain the number, perhaps eight who are supported by their mothers.	There are about ten or more I know the general practice is for the reputed fathers to dis-own such children so that they may evade the law for their support
I cannot tell, I have not heard of any making applications for support	Cannot state the number but most are generally supported by the sources already mentioned.	Twenty perhaps more, they are generally supported by the charitable contributions of those who are themselves not far removed from poverty.	I am informed there are about fourteen.
I cannot tell exactly how many old and infirm persons may be in the parish but such characters are generally supported by money collected in the different places of worship or by the charity of their neighbours.	I cannot state the number supported by money from the houses of worship and by the collection of potatoes, meal and sometimes money.	Forty or more, many whom reside in town, and receive a little aid, weekly from the poor's fund.	I suppose about eighty or ninety, they are supported partly by begging and partly by collections in the houses of worship made occasionally
I cannot tell how many labourers in the parish may be in the habit of leaving it to find work elsewhere, but in the part where I live in the parish very few leave it. And those who do leave it go mainly to England and Scotland for the harvest time only.	Few if any.	Very few, some young men go to Scotland in the harvest season.	In the harvest season about 50 or 60 persons leave their dwellings to seek employment elsewhere, of about 20 to 30 pass over to England or Scotland.
Few married men leave the parish and those who do leave it and in their absence their wives generally support themselves and children by begging.		I do not know an instance, but one or two, of a married man leaving his family to seek employment, those two went to America and one of them sent for his wife and children.
Cannot tell the number but beggars generally get provisions and sometimes half pence	Cannot state the number, alms mostly given by the farmers in provisions in the town in money	There are not many resident, but a great many strolling beggars, alms are usually given in provisions, especially in the country	About 30, chiefly in provisions given by the farmers.
No such thing exists here as letting lodgings to strolling beggars, where they get liberty to stay all night they have to pay nothing in the morning.	I believe those called strolling beggars are seldom called upon to pay for their nights lodgings.	There are eight or ten in the town who charge 2 pence to beggars or others for a night, beggars are not charged for lodgings in the country.	The householders afford lodgings to beggars, not for money but from a feeling of Christian charity, the number i cannot exactly ascertain.
None that I have ever heard of	None have as I am convinced.	None that i have heard of.	No one has ever came , to my knowledge.

Some County Down Wills

Charitable Donations and Bequests (Ireland)

Returns from the Diocesan Court of Dromore from 1831 to 1844

Dorcas Carleton,£50 to the poor of the parish of Clonallan, County Down
Thomas Kennedy, of Rathfriland, to the Seceding Congregation of Rathfriland
Owen Dignan, of Drumgath, Port town, Rathfriland £3 for saying masses
Archibald Scott, Banbridge, £20 for erecting stairs to the second Presbyterian Meeting house in Banbridge
William Phoenix,£10 for building the Methodist Chapel in Banbridge

Henry Weir, Banbridge £20 for painting and otherwise improving testator's place of worship in Banbridge, ,£20 to the Society for promoting Christianity among the Jews the committee of said place of worship may think proper,£20 for the General assembly home mission society, £20 to the General Assembly's foreign Missionary Society, £20 to the Society for promoting christianity among Jews
Margaret Templeton, Kilpike, Banbridge, £10 to the home mission, £10 to the Sunday school society for Ireland
Eliza Scott, Banbridge, £20 to the Synod of Ulster's home Mission

Alexander Chambers, late of Banbridge, £5 to the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary society,£5 to the Rev. John Johnston, Presbyterian minister of Tullylish,to be devoted by him to the repair and improvement of the meeting house of Tullylish
Thomas O'Reilly,late of Magherary, £30 towards the building of the new chapel in the townland of Ballymaghery
John Andrews,late of Ballyward in the parish of Drumgooland, £5 for the congretation of Drumlee for to aid them in liquidating their debt on the new meeting house.

Robert Mulligan,late of Ballymafoy in the parish of Anaclone, £20 for missionary purposes, to be paid by my executors of my real and personal estate, one year after my decease, to whatever missionary societies or purposes they shall consider it be fit and proper to be given to.
Luke Savage,late of Ballinran, Parish of Kilbroney. £ 2 to be given towards the repair of Killsavan chapel.

Andrew Smith late of Knockmagorm in the parish of Garvaghy, £100 to the Rev. J. Rutherford or his executors or assigns in trust for the home mission of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian church in Ireland, £100 to the Rev. J. Rutherford for in trust for the foreign mission of the Presbyterian church of Ireland, £100 to the Rev. J. Rutherford in trust for the Jewish mission or the society for converting the Jews.

John Carter late of Carrakavaddy in the parish of Donaghmore, I desire my executors to pay the sum of £ 1 to the Rev. John Keenan and also the sum of £ 1 to Miss Kearney of Curlingford, both sums I have promised for charitable purposes.

Nicholas Downey,late of Legananny, in the parish of Drumgooland, At the expiration of my wifes days, Susanna Downey, I allow my executors to bury her decently, and then I allow them to call an auction and auction all my land and effects to pay off all those charges, then the remainder to be given for the benefit of our souls, that is to the clergy and the poor as my executors find most needful.

Hester Barnsly,late of Ballinahinch, parish of Magheradroll, Spinster, After bequeathing several sums, testatrix continues her will as follows, namely after my funeral expenses and just debts are paid, I leave what money that remains of mine to the poor of Lisburn, to the disposal of Sarah Barnsly and Mary Anne Barnsly who is appointed the above executors.

Patrick Gilmore, of Dree in the parish of Dromara, At my wifes death I will and bequeath to my sisters son, Edward Croskerry, the three acres which i purchased from Peter Gilmore and John O'Hara,by giving to the very Rev. Dr.Devlin the sum of £3 for charitable purposes.

Ebenezer Martin,late of Balluly parish of Garvaghy, To the Banbridge Bible society, for 50 years £1,to the London missionary society for 50 years £1 , to the home mission of the General assembly of the Presbyterian church in Ireland, for 50 years from testators death.
Patrick Rooney, of Ballyrally, parish of Clonalton, farmer deceased,£1. 10 shillings for masses for deceased's soul.