To his Grace Lord John George Beresford Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of all Ireland
The humble petition of the protestant Inhabitants of Ballygawley in the parish of Ballinasaggart alias Errigle Kearn, and County of Tyrone Humbly Sheweth,
That from the dilapidated state of the present parish church, the errection of a new one has become indispensible the choice of a site for which is becoming a matter of contest, self interest, and private accommodation, for which reason your Memorialists presume to approach your Grace with the facts, which are briefly as follows.
1 The parish consists of a narrow tract of about 6 miles long by 2 1/2 broad, near the centre of which Ballygawley is situated a little in a lateral position of about 3 quarters of a mile, and although this town, from its population and extent, being a fair, Market, and post Town, on the mail coach road from Dublin to Derry, would be the most natural, and proper site for it, yet, through the interest of Mr. J. C. Moutray who has the next presentation to the living after the present incumbent, an old man of upwards of 70 years of age, who does not, ever at any time of the year reside in the parish, nor is the former even a Parishioner, both those gentlemen are endeavoring
2 to have it built near the House of Mr. [above the line] Moutray, who has a son in training for the church.
3 That for this purpose a vestry was held in the old parish church on Tuesday the 15th Inst. where the retainers, and dependants, of Mr. J. C. [John Corry] Moutray were assembled
4, and where the rector Mr. Graham so far forgot himself, the place where he was, and the dignity of his sacred office, as to call some of the most respectable inhabitants of the parish liars, the latter perceiving that some resolutions were about being
5. carried in this manner, requested a little delay for the arrival of their friends who were obliged to attend a funeral, which would not be Granted
Granted, in consequence of which one of the church wardens Mr. Alexander Moutray would neither be present at or a party to such self interested proceedings.
6 That the place where the church is sought to be errected is on a bare place called Feddan, on the extreme verge of the parish not near any public road without any accomodation for either persons, carriages, or vehicles, of any kind without a house near it which was the great objection to the site of the old church, and was the cause of great seceding, and sectarianism, in the parish, as persons could not attend from any distance where no accomodation of this kind could be procured.
Your Memorialists understand that a Memorial was forwarded proporting to contain the sentiments and agreeable to the wishes of the inhabitants of Ballygawley, which was not the fact.
The prayer of your Memorialists therefore is, that your Grace would be pleased to order an enquiry into the subject, and cause the church to be built at Ballygawley, where the distant Parishoners can find accomodation for their families, and where a large congregation would be collected, and your Memorialists will ever pray &c, &c.
PS Please direct any answer that may be necessary to this Memorial to
Wm. Mann Esq.
Ballygawley
30th May 1827PS. Lime and stone can be procured on that spot at Ballygawley, which is not the case at the proposed place of building the church so that it could be built there at one half the expense added to which we have the authority of Sir Hugh Stewart for stating, that the late primate Stewart, said that a chapel of ease should be built at Ballygawley even before the present church was condemned, as well for the accomodation of that part of their parish, as for that of those of the Inhabitants of Aughaloe parish, part of whom must go 40 Miles to their parish church.
First Name Surname Th.[?} Armstrong Wm. Cole Wm. Mann Lewis Davis Robert Beatty William Stewart Andrew Little Patrick Hughes William Beatty Edward [? Eamond] Hull Alex. Morton George FitzGibbon Hn.[?] Harvey John Kinsley William Johnston John Ashfield Robert Ewin[? Ervin] James Ewin[? Ervin] G. H. Sallery George Mayne James Johnston Rich. Johnson Simon Hazelton Alex. Warnock John Crooks John Mothby [?unclear] Richard Hughes Alexr. J. Hughes Wm. Gibson Robt. Morrow Arch. Hadden John Mitchell Wm. McDowell Wm. Bell Adam Ashfield George Mitchell Samuel Montgomery Joseph Wilson David McCartny Richard Neely Thomas Harvey Ephraim Irvine James Montgomery Wm. Neely Stuart Simpson Henry Smyth George Cull Wm. Montgomery William Dunbar Samuel Crookes William McDowell John Anderson Thos. Gardiner Arthur Wilkin Thos. Dunbar Thomas Johnston Richard Bell Robt. Simpson John Simpson Robert McConnell Wm. Hays Hugh Corry James Robinson John McConnell James McCollum James Neely Richard Coulter Chas. McLean Robert Hamilton Andrew Cranford David Crooks William Williamson William Robinson The foregoing are the names of the protestant inhabitants and landholders of the town of Ballygawley
First Name Surname William Campbell William Stewart Jr. Samuel Hopper Robert Lockhart Robert Johnston Robert Godfrey Andrew Lockhart William Beatty John Miller John Miller Senior James Moses Thomas Campbell [Written sideways] 73 Total no. of Protestant inhabitants and householders in the town of Ballygawley 71 No. of Protestant Inhabitants and householders in the immediate vicinity 144 total of Ballygawley
First Name Surname John Moses Archibald Turner Robert Miller Wm. Miller Archibald McCollum John Lockard Francis Lockard Thomas Hacket Robert McCollum Robert Anderson George Patterson John Clarke William Walker James Garner George Bell Samuel Miller[? Miles] William Lockard Thomas Gilkison Stuart Moore William Gregory Joseph Beatty James McNerny Thomas Murray William Stewart Jr. Arthur Stewart John Robinson Ephraim Irwin Robert Campbel Charles Nimmo James Robinson James Simpson James Paisly William Mclaran Andw. Adams Jacob M'Fadden Owen Gregory John Patterson James Clark William McGangey[?] Joseph Hacket Saml. Anderson Andw. Hacket Matthew Lockhart Hamilton Patterson Joseph Hackett Jun. John Gregory William Moore John Hackett John Lockhart Jun. Andw. Lockhart Jun.[?] Patrick Smyton Robt. Kyles William Robinson Jun. Hugh Robinson William Johnston William Morton Sen. [written sideways] 71 The No. of Protestants & Householders in the immediate vicinity of Ballygawley
First Name Surname John Doherty James Doherty John Doherty James Doherty