The great fraud of Ulster

by T. M. Healy

SUMMARY FROM 1894 REPORT OF RECORD OFFICE OF THE INQUISITION AT ANTRIM.

Inquisition taken at Antrim, 12 July, 1605 (3° James I.), before William Parsons, esq., surveyor general of Ireland, John Dalway, esq., Robert Barnewell, esq., and Laurence Masterson, gent.; by virtue of a commission under the great seal of Ireland.

Jurors: John Lugg, of Portmuck, Brian Ognive, of Larne, Hugh Magee, of Ballindowne, Richard M’Jinkin, of Ballinlogh, Art ballagh O’Hary, of Loughtoman, John or Shane Oge O’Hary, of Kells, Phelim duff O’Hary, of same, Edmund O’Duffin, of same, Neale O’Duffin, of same, Donat or Donogh M’Gloster, of Glanarme, Donel ballagh M’Gille, of the Park, Alexander M’Randoll boy, of same, Art O’Hara, of Billy, Richard M’Robert Carry, of Cross, and Cormac O’Mallon, of Killelagh, gentlemen.

The Jurors say that Queen Elizabeth was seised as of fee, in right of her crown of England, of all manors, castles, lands, and other hereditaments in the lower part of the territory or country of Claneboy, called Lower Clandeboy, in the county Antrim.

They say that Lower Clandeboy contains certain lesser parcels or territories called tuoghs and oinaments, to wit: Tuoghnefuigh, &c.

The Jurors say that the bounds of the territory of Lower Clandeboy are: towards the whole east side, the high sea; towards the south, the bay of Knockfergus, the river Lagan to the ford of Garrifinbress, thence by known bounds separating it from Killultagh to where the little river Owen Camelin falls into Lough Eaugh or Sidney, as in an inquisition taken at Ardwhin, co. Down, on 4 July, &c., &c.

[Here follow four-and-a-half printed pages of description of Sir Con O’Neil’s lands.]

The Jurors further say that Bryan boy O’Maghallow, prior of the late house of regular canons of Muckmaire, at the time of its dissolution, was seised of the site of the priory and eight townlands, &c. The prior was also seised of a free fishing of salmon, eels, and other fishes in all waters within these townlands; of land called Broaghnenaw on the north bank of Owen Neview; of an old fort called Dunoare near Lough Eaugh; of land called Cloyenne Corp on the south bank of Bealagh Negalvon; of land called Leighballi Islan bane in Tuogh Moylinny near Ramoore of the tithes of the premises; of the churches or impropriate rectories of Killede or Killelagh with the presentation of the vicar (who receives two thirds of the tithes and altarages), Emogall with the presentation of the vicar similarly endowed, Carnemeve (except the third of the tithes for the curate); and of the chapels of Reeltin, Duogh in Moylinny, Sillwoodan in Tuogh Munter Rividy (with the tithes of, &c.), in which chapels the prior was bound to maintain a curate; and of the chapel or rectory of Whitekirk in Iland Maghy with tithes (except a third allotted to the curate), the chapel of Ballimeighan with tithes (except a third allotted to the curate), and two parts of the tithes and altarages of Magherisergan in the Rowt, and Killgarne in the Larne. And of an old religious house called the Friary of Masserine and the townland of Ballydonogh in Ederdaowen belonging to it, and of 30 a. of land belonging to it, and in occupation of the garrison there. There is on the land of the priory an old Castle called Cloganmabree or Castlemouybray almost overthrown. Queen Elizabeth was seised of the dissolved priory and possessions, which are worth yearly 51s.

Queen Elizabeth was also seised of all fishings of salmon, eels, and other fishes on Lough Eaugh towards Claneboy, and old eel wears on the river Bann near Castle[Toome] and of a free fishing of eels, salmon, and other fish in the same river; worth yearly 13s. 4d.

The Queen, by English Patent dated 16 Nov., 13th year, in pursuance of Indentures 5 Oct., 13th, between the Queen and sir Thomas Smith and Thomas Smith his son, gave such of the premises as lie south of CastleBelfast, CastleMoubray, and CastleToome, and the Monastery of Masserine together with great Arde and little Arde, as part of the earldom of Ulster, to sir Thomas Smith and Thomas Smith, for ever, under certain conditions as to the conquest of the land, its settlement with Englishmen, and the furnishing of armed men to hostings. [The Letters Patent, and Indenture are set out verbatim.]