Ballynahinch Town Council 1803

By Horace Reid

This mural. now sited on the side wall of the market house, was commissioned by Murals Make Ballynahinch Beautiful in 1998, painted by Hilary Bryson, and sponsored by the Cornmunity Relations Council.

In the 18th century. town government was in the hands of the church Vestry. This mural depicts the proceedings of the Ballvnahinch Vestry on the 26th August 1803. when the town was still suffering the effects of the 1798 rebellion.

Rev. James Forde. Vicar of Magheradroll, is in the centre, chairing the meeting. On the right are three other clergymen: L-R they are Samuel Edgar (seated) and ,John McClelland (standing) respectively ministers of the Second and First Presbyterian congregations; and Fr. Alexander McCoy. of St. Patrick's.

Each townland was represented on the Vestry. Dr. Chambers, representing Ballvnahinch, stands beside Rev. Mr. Edgar. On the left of the picture is John McCalla. representing Lower Ballykine. John made a lot of money in the wake of the rebellion. burying the dead, collecting rebel weapons. and detaining rebel fugitives. He wears the clothes of the nouveau riche. and swaggers with a sword. Beside him is John Moore Johnston. agent of the Montalto estate, representing Upper Ballvkine. The details of this meeting are taken from Johnston's book "Heterogenea" published in 1803.

David Ker senior landlord of the Ballynahinch district and owner of Montalto House. is seated beside him. Dressed in the height of fashion. David Ker junior stands next to Rev. Mr. Forde. Seated between the two Kers is Matthew Forde junior of Seaforde. The gentry have just come from hunting, and have brought their dogs. Matthew Forde is modelled on his present-day descendant Patrick Forde, Samuel Edgar on his famous son, the Temperance reformer Dr. John Edgar. and Fr.. McCoy on one of his early 20th century successors, Canon McGivern. The windows are taken from the choir room in Magheradroll Parish Church.

Benefit Fraud

The topic under discussion is the prevention of charity fraud by migrant beggars. Ballynahinch was predominantly a Presbyterian town, and although Rev. Mr. Forde was in the chair, the agenda was in fact being steered by Rev. Mr. Edgar.

At this meeting a Charitable Committee was established with a President, Treasurer and Secretary. A register of the resident and travelling poor was to he drawn up. Quarterly meetings were to be held at noon in the Parish Church. To guard against benefit fraud by professional beggars, names of the registered poor would be read out in the churches.

Townlands

In addition to the gentry and clergy, the first committee members were: Mr James Martin, Magheradroll; Francis Johnston, Cumber: William Davidson, Drumaness; John Hanna, Magheratimpany; Brien Davy, Drumsnade: Robert Sturgeon, N. Ballyrnacarn; Alexander Brown, S. Ballymacarn John Graham, Ballymaglave; Meredith McDowell, Ballymaglave; JM Johnston, U. Ballykine; John McCalla, L. Ballykine; John Armstrong, Ballynahinch; Dr. Chambers. Ballynahinch; Thomas McCance, Ballycrune; Hugh Kirkpatrick, Magheraknock; Hugh Cearns, Creevytenant; James Dinwoody, Glassdrummoncl; Wm. Pulline. Ballylone; Andrew McRoberts, Ballylone.

Rev. James Forde was Vicar of Magheradroll for 55 years, from 1761 to 1816. During his incumbency his congregation transferred from Old Magheradroll church on the Crabtree Road, to a new church built in 1772 on Church Street in the town. Some parishioners were reluctant to make the move, so William Dornan was instructed to pull the thatch from the old church roof, to encourage their departure. Mr Forde lived in the Glebe House, now the Millbrook Lodge Hotel, He was buried within the walls of Old Magheradroll church. His record of long service was equalled by his successor, Rev Charles Boyd, who was Vicar in Ballynahinch from 1817 - 1872.

Fr. Alexander McCoy's Catholic congregation met in the old Linen Hall in Dromore Street. over a period of 30 years. In 1807 the building of St. Patrick's began on a new site on Church Street. The war with Napoleon was at its height. and money was scarce. In June 1812 an advertisement in the "Belfast Newsletter" announced that Fr. Curran of Downpatrick would preach a sponsored sermon on 5th July, to raise funds.

Rev. Samuel Edgar's church was at the bottom of High Street, near the site of the present Post Office. The landlord Mr Ker wanted to use the land for commercial purposes, so, under pressure, the congregation moved to a new site on Dromore Road. Edengrove Presbyterian Church was built by Rev David Edgar, Samuel's son and successor, in 1841.

John Moore Johnston lived in Rockvale, a large farmhouse on the Dromore Road. "There is an avenue one thousand and fifty yards from the road to the house, and sixty feet wide" he wrote in the 1790s. Rockvale and the same treelined avenue are still in fine condition today.

[Top of this Page]

[Home Page]