August 1926

Seagoe Parish Magazine.

AUGUST, 1926.

CLERGY :

Rev. Canon Archer B.D., The Rectory, Seagoe,

Portadown.

Rev. W. Johnston, L.Th., 21 Edward Street,

Portadown.

CHURCHWARDENS

Rector's—Mr. James Twinem, Lylo and Edenderry.

People's—Mr. Moses Gilpin, Drumnagoon.

July Anniversary Service.

This service, held annually in Seagoe Parish

Church, was held this year on Sunday evening, July

11th, at 7 0'clock. Large crowds were present, and

the various Lodges from Portadown and Seagoe took

part in the service The body of the Church was

filled with the brethren, who joined heartily in the

service. The sermon was preached by the Rev% J.

R. M'Donald, M.A., Rector of Donaghcloney. Before

beginning his sermon he asked the members of the

lodges to stand while- he read out the rules and

obligations by which the members of the Order are

bound. In the course of his sermon he referred to

The present position and prospects of the Christian

church and the dangers which beset it. In making

an appeal on behalf of the Lord Enniskillen Orphan

Fund he said that some people were saying that the

widows and orphans now no longer needed help

owing to the Government provision of pensions, but

we pointed out that many widows and orphans were

ineligible for the Government pension, and even

those who did receive it were still often in need of

further help. He was glad to know that those who

controlled the Enniskillen Orphan Fund had decided

not to reduce in any way the benefits hitherto given

by the Fund to the widows and orphans. The collection,

which amounted to over £9, was on behalf

of the Enniskillen Fund. At the close of the service

the National Anthem was sung. Two Lodges of the

women's L.O.L. were present at the service.

The Curacy of Seagoe.

The Rev. R. W. Johnston, much to our regret, leaves

the Parish this month. The Rector has not yet heard

of a successor to Mr. Johnston. A large number of

curacies are at present vacant in this and other

Dioceses, and difficulty is experienced in filling them

owing to the scarcity of curates. The Parish of

Seagoe has been considered by the Representative

Church body as requiring two curates at least, but

for Some time it seems as if there Would not be even

one. We are fortunate in having the a

Willing and efficient band of voluntary helpers

and we rely on their kind aid in carrying on the

work in the Parish.

Seagoe Day School

Seagoe Public Elementary School will (d.v.) reopen

after the holidays on Monday, August 9 ^th at

9-30 sharp. Mr. Rennix, the principal, will he ready

to receive and enrol the names of new pupils. The

School occupies a very healthy position on high

ground, surrounded by open fields, and being on a

bye-road is free from the dangers of motor traffic.

The playgrounds are extensive and the schoolrooms

are large, well ventilated and well lighted. The cubic

space available for each child is largely in excess of

the requirements of the Ministry of Education, so

that there is no overcrowding. The education imparted

is first rate. The School possesses a highly

efficient school garden, in which gardening and agriculture

are practically taught. The girls are instructed in cookery.

In situation and facilities for

a complete education the School stands out with

distinction among the neighbouring schools.

Protestant Orphan Society

The annual appeal on behalf of the above Society

was made in Seagoe Parish Church on Sunday

morning, July 4th, at morning and evening prayer.

The congregations were large arid the response generous

and yet not quite what we might expect for a

Society which has helped the ,widows and orphans

of Seagoe so liberally. Last year some kind friends

gave special gifts at the annual appeal and so it

was possible to send a larger sum to the Society.

We hope during the autumn to issue collecting cards

and thus to be able to send in a more fitting

contribution to the funds of the Society.

The Battle of the Somme.

No special service was held this year in the Parish

Church to commemorate those from the Parish who

laid down their lives in the Great War, but wreaths

and flowers were placed at the base of the Memorial

pillars on the eve of July 1st. Some wreaths were

also placed on the Memorial in Portadown. Our

Memorial pillars at the Church have proved a very

fitting way of commemorating our fallen heroes.

Passers by are frequently seen standing and reading

the names inscribed on the pillars.

The Health of the Parish.

There is at present, we are glad to be able to record,

an absence of serious illness from the Parish.

We have had recently a good deal of scarlatina among

the children, and of influenza both among young

and old, but happily they have passed away. A new

treatment by injection for scarlatina 'has been tried

and with good results in Lurgan Infirmary. If the

injection is made before the fifth day of the sickness

it has been found possible to discharge the

patient from hospital without fear of infection on

the fifteenth day. This will be good news to those

who have hitherto had to be detained in the Hospital

for six weeks.

SEAGOE PARISH MAGAZINE.

Old Seagoe Graveyard.

We heartily congratulate the Rural Council on the

improvements they have made in Seagoe graveyard.

The new and handsome lodge and time arrangement

of the approach to the graveyard, as well as the neat

uniform provided for the caretaker are great

improvements We have had occasion from time to

time to criticise matters connected with the graveyard.

but we are glad on this occasion to be able

unreservedly to congratulate them on What they have

done.

Seagoe Churchyard.

We ask these who have grave plots in the ground

at the Church to be so good as to keep them neat

and in order. Box edgings should be cut and kept

cut, weeds carefully removed, perhaps flowers

planted, shrubs and trees if withered or overgrown,

removed or pruned. The Sexton can keep the

ground in order, but we do not like, unless asked, to

touch the grave plots. Old wreaths very much

disfigure the graves and should be removed.

The Annual Report.

The Annual Report is now published and deserves

to be carefully studied by the parishioners. It

contains a great deal of information regarding the

working of the Parish and the various funds are set out

carefully and in order so as to be able easily to be

understood. The Sustentation Fund deserves special

attention. It has two sources of income, the W.F.O.

and annual subscriptions. The real revenue of the

Parish depends on the former. A glance at the list

will show that each individual who joins the W.F.O.

gives proportionally three times as much as the annual

subscriber. Not merely does he give more but

he feels it less as (he gifts are given in small sums,

weekly. Were it not for the weekly envelopes the

Parish would be bankrupt. It is most important that

the envelopes should be given in regularly each week.

An all round increase in the giving of our people

would be a great help. We are living so closely to

the limits of our income that whenever any

unexpected expense occurs there is no money to meet it.

The Church needs renovation but it has had to be

postponed through want of funds.

Congratulations.

We offer our hearty congratulations to Mr. and

Mrs Charles Montgomery on their recent marriage.

The Montgomery family have always had a very close

connection with the Parish of Seagoe. Mr. T. J.

Montgomery has held once as Churchwarden on

many occasions and also as a member of the Select

Vestry. Mr. Charles Montgomery has always been

a staunch supporter of this Magazine and has shown

a constant interest in its welfare. The firm, of

which he is a member, has advertised in its pages

ever since it began to be published, now 21 years

since. Mr. Charles Montgomery, by his business

capacity and close attention to the welfare of his

clients, has extended and increased the success of his

firm. We wish Mr. and Mrs. Montgomery much sue

cess and blessing in their future life.

Parish Register for July.

Baptisms,

The following were baptized in Seagoe Parish

Church on July 3rd, 1926 :—

Metcalfe—Emily, daughter of Moses and Emily Metcalfe, cf Drumnacanvey.

Sponsors—Alice Tweedie, Mary Metcalfe.

Glassey—Martha and Thomas, twin children of William John and Rosina Glassey, of Edenderry.

Sponsors—Martha Glassey, Rosina Glassey.

M'Court—Charles Brian, son of Henry and Matilda Kathleen M'Court, of Edenderry.

Yeates, Matilda Kathleen M'Court.

Marriage

Calvert and ConolIy—JuIy 7th, William Calvert, of Bleary, Knocknamuckley, to Anna Isabel

Conolly, of Carne

Burials.

Roberts—July 15th, Elizabeth Roberts, of Drumnasoo, aged 90 years.

Fox—July 27th, Louisa Fox, of Edenderry, aged 56 years.

ITEMS

Thomas Webb is home on a visit from the States

after an absence of many years. He says he could

not live over here now. He likes the life and energy

of the Americans He has in recent years spent his

time in writing and acting short dramatic pieces.

He thinks Seagoe and Portadown have not changed

much since he saw them last, some eighteen years

ago.

The dates provisionally fixed for the Harvest Services

in Seagoe Church this year will be Thursday

October 21st, and Sunday, October 24th.

Very eligible sites for villas and bungalows are now

advertised in Upper Seagoe at the junction of

Seagoe and Lurgan roads.

Mrs. Glassey's twins, whose baptism is recorded

in our Parish Register for this month, received a

special prize at the recent competition held under

the Child Welfare Scheme.

The crops this year seem to be very good, especially

the potatoes. Unfortunately, the apple orchards

seem to be deficient although the bloom in the

spring was unusually good.

The Farmers' Union, which meets in Drumnagoon

had a very pleasant excursion to Mount, Stewart,

Lord Londonderry's place, last month. The weather

was perfect and the excursionists enjoyed their outing

immensely.

BEAGOE PARISH MAGAZINE

Old Seagoe Notes.

Some Vicars of Seagoe.

The Rev. Arthur Fforde, Vicar of Seagoe, obtained

his B.A. degree in T.C.D. at the Spring commencements

in 1723. He received his M.A. degree at the

Summer commencements, 1726. He was the son of

Matthew Fforde and Ann, daughter of Althur

Chamber1ain Brownlow, who were married on Dec.

18th, 1698. Their son, Arthur, was baptized in Lurgan

Church on February 2nd, 1702-3. He was appointed

Vicar of Seagoe in succession to the Rev.

John Campbell, who was buried on Dec. 2nd, 1730.

He signed the Act of Seagoe Vestry for the first time

on April 20th, 1731. He signed the Act of Seagoe

Vestry for the last time on April 23rd, 1748. He signs

the Act of Vestry on the following Easter Tuesday as

Curate. He probably acted as Curate in charge of

Seagoe from Oct. 22nd, 1748, when the Rev Hugh

Tisdall was collated as Vicar of the Parish. He first

signed the Vestry Book of Shankill (Lurgan) Parish

on Oct. 4th, 1748, and signs it for the last time on

April 22nd, 1767. He always signed himself as

' Minister." He is subsequently appointed as Overseer

of Highways in Seagoe Parish on Oct. 4th, 1758,

and also Director of Overseers. His last appointment

as such was on Oct. 2nd, 1765. He was made a Canon

of Kildare and was collated to the Prebend of Dromara

on Sept. 30th, 1748. He died on Dec. 24th, 1767,

and is buried in Old Shankill graveyard. He was

for nearly 18 years Vicar of Seagoe.

Rev. Hugh Tisdall.

The Rev. Hugh Tisdall, who succeeded the Rev.

Arthur Fforde as Vicar of Seagoe, obtained a

University Scholarship in 1726. He had the degree or

B.A. conferred on him in 17z8, and M.A. in 1735 in

T.C.D. He was appointed Vicar of Seagoe on Oct.

22nd, 1748. He signed the Act of Seagoe Vestry for

the first time on July 4th, 1749. and for the last time

on Oct. 5th, 1762. He died probably in the spring of

1763, but the actual date is uncertain. He was 15

years Vicar of Seagoe.

Rev. Richard Buckby.

The Rev. Richard Buckby was Vicar of Seagoe

from 1763 to 1796. He was the son of John Buckby,

sq., Of Kibworth, Leicestershire, and Bridget, only

daughter of Edmond Batenman. of Guilsborough,

Northampton. He was a student at Sidney Sussex

College, Cambridge, where he graduated as A.B. in

1743, and A.M. in 1762. He was born at Thornby on

8th March, : 1722, and was appointed Vicar of Seagoe

n June 14th, 1763. He signed the Act of Seagoe

Vestry for the first time April 24th, 1764, but the

parish meanwhile seems to have been in charge of

the Rev. William Tisdall curate, by whom Vestries

were held on July 19th. 1735, January 4th, and

February 7th. 1764. on April 24th, 1764 Mr. William

Tisdall signs as Curate, under the' Rev. Richd.

Buckby, Minister." Mr. Buckby signs the minutes

of Vestry for the last time on April 13th, 1795 Mr.

Buckby married at Kibworth on 5th June, 1760,

Elizabeth, eldest daughter of Sir Arthur Heselrige, 7th

Baronet of Nosely, Leicester.

The Buckby Family.

The Rev. Richard Buckby had a large family or

nine children, four sons and five daughters. His

eldest son, Richard, was born on 7th Oct. 1765. He

married Mary Ann, daughter of Hamlet. Obins. of

Castle Obins, Portadown. He had a successful career

in the army, becoming Major General. He died on

July 2nd, 1830. His second son, Charles Maynard

was born in Seagoe on Oct. 16th, 1767, but only

survived a few months and was buried in Seagoe on

Feb. 20th, 1768. His third son, Arthur, was born on

Nov 13th, 1768, and was married at Seagoe on

March 16th, 1799, to Elizabeth daughter of William

M'Donnell. He died on Aug. 5th, 1825, and had issue

as follows—I, Rev. Richard Buckby, Rector of Begally,

South Wales. He was born on Oct. 20th, 1801,

and died February 16th, 1884 2, William, 3, John.

died young, 4, Elizabeth, m. John Henry Walker or

Portadown, 5, Charlotte, baptized April 11th,

married on April 18th, 1839 to Wolsey Atkinson. She

was buried at Seagoe on Nov. 3rd, 1885; 6, Deborah

Maria. The Rev. Richard Buckby's fourth son was

John, who took the surname of Bateman. He was

born on Oct. 13, 1772, and eventually became Curate

of Seagoe from 1794 to 1796. He died May 17th, 1839.

His remaining children were Bridget, Charlotte,

Hannah and Heselrige.

The Rev. George Blacker.

The Rev. George Blacker succeeded the Rev. R.

Buckby as Vicar of Seagoe in 1796. He was a

graduate of Trinity Conege,s Dublin, where he got

his degree of B.A. in 1785. On July 12th 1791, he was

appointed to the United Parishes of Banagher and

Dungiven (Derry). He continued to hold both

Parishes by a Faculty, even when appointed as Vicar

of Seagoe. On June 1st, 1796 he Was collated to the

Vicarage of Seagoe. He signed the Act of Vestry

for the first time on Sept. 6th; 1696. A year later the

Act of Vestry is signed, " Stewart Blacker, Rector,

George Blacker, Vicar." The Act of Vestry dated

April 11th, 1803 is signed " Stewart Blacker, Rector,

for Vicar, John Lodge." Two Acts of Vestry in the

year 1805 are signed " Thomas Radely, Curate," On

April 24th, 1810, Richand Olpherts signs the Act of

Vestry as Officiating Curate. Rev. George Blacker

signed the Vestry minutes for the last time on April

4th, 1809. He died on May 1st, 1810, and was buried

in Seagoe on May 3rd. He was only 46 years of age

at his death and had been Vicar of Seagoe for 14

years. He was much beloved by the people, as the

tablet in the Parish Church tells us, and it was to

him that we owe the erection of the Parish

Church.

Dean Stewart Blacker, although for many years

Rector of Seagoe was also Vicar succeeding his

He had been collated Archdeacon or Dromore

Rector of Seagoe and Donaghcloney so far back as

SEAGOE PARISH MAGAZINE.

Oct. 8th, 1777. He was born in 1778 he became

Dean of Leighlin, in the Diocese of Ossory, and

that post until 1804. He resigned the Archdeaconry

of Dromore and the Rectory of Seagoe and

Donaghcloney on May 30th, 1810. He first signed the

Act of Vestry as Vicar on June 9th, 1810. Dean

Blacker died on Dec. 1st, 1826, aged 86 years, having

been 16 years Vicar of Seagoe. His connection with

the Parish as Rector and Vicar covered the long

space of 49 years.

ITEM

A proposal has been made by the English engineer

whom the Town Council called into consultation,

that the new main drainage sewage tanks for

Portadown should be placed .alongside of Seagoe Rectory

grounds. This would be a very unsuitable position

and would lower the value of property in the

neighbourhood. There are many other places in the

neighbourhood of Portadown where the tanks could be

placed without objection. We can rely on our

representatives on the Urban and Rural Council to oppose

this scheme.

Ten Years Ago.

EXTRACTS FROM THE WAR DIARY OF THE

LATE HERBERT MURRAY, P.P.C.L.I.

Springing a Mine.

Thursday, May 9th.—Sentry duty all night. Stand

to 3 0'clock. We sprang mine about 4 0'clock on

our left. Felt ground underneath tremble like an

earthquake. Artillery opened up. Raining all day

Wednesday, May 10th—Sentry duty all night

Trenches heavily shelled after " Stand to," 4 a.m.

Prepared for an attack, but our artillery opened up

and silenced Mr. Hun. No casualties, just two

slight bruises to No. 6 Platoon. Lively time ducking

the shells and shrapnel.

Mr, Hun Violent.

Thursday, May 11th—Sentry all night. Mr. Hun

repeated same thing as previous night but with more

violence. Sharp artillery duels during day. No

casualties. Relieved by No. 3 and 4 Coy. , and went

back to support trenches in Warrington Avenue for

four days. Two hours' gas-alert duty during night

Turned into bed about 3 a.m. Weather mild and dry

Very Heavy Shelling.

Friday, May 12th—Got up about 8 0'clock and went

on gas alarm sentry for two hours. At night fell

in for ration party 7-15. Went to front line. Carride

down empty tea can to Miniature Railway "Ration

dump," and walked to Zillebeke. Unload ration

from transport to railway truck and pushed truck

back to Maple Copse. Made two trips to front line

Very heavy shelling in afternoon. Quite a number

of casualties to No. 4 Coy. Weather showery.

Sniper Nearly Gets Me.

Saturday, May 13th—Got up about 9 0'clock and did

nothing during day, night fatigue, working on

parade at front line. Sniper got R. W. Ellis ; very

nearly got me. Got to sleep about 2-30. Weather

showery.

SERVICES.

THE PARISH CHURCH.

HOLY COMMUNION—1st Sunday after Morning

Prayer ; 3rd Sunday at 8 a.m., and on the Chief

Festivals.

MOLY BAPTISM—1st Saturday of Month at 3 p.m.,

and during any Service in the Parish Church.

if notice be given; Two Sponsors at least are

required, and they must be Confirmed members

of the Church. Churchings are held at each

Baptism. Mothers are expected to bring a thank

offering, (See Book of Common Prayer.)

MORNING PRAYER—Sundays and Chief Festivals

11.30 a.m.

EVENING PRAYER—Sundays 7 p.m., Wednesdays

6 p.m.

DISTRICT SERVICES.

Hacknahay—Last Sunday of Month at 3.30 p.m.

Drumgor-—Second Sunday of Month at 4 p.m.

CLASSES,

ADULT CLASSES--sundays at 10 a.m.

For Men—Edenderry and Seagoe. For Women

Seagoe School.

SUNDAY SCHOOLS—IO a.m. Edenderry Parochial

Hall and Seagoe School. 3 p.m. Seagoe, Edenderry

Parochial Hall, Levaghery, HacknahaY

Carne, Drumgor.

Men's necreation Room, Bridge St., open every

night from 7 p.m.

Seagoe C.L. Brigade in Edenderry Parochial Hall

on Tuesdays at 8 p.m.

Mothers' Union, Edenderry 1st Tuesday, at 4 p.m.

DAY SCHOOL—Seagoe, 9.30 a.m. Principal—Mr.

Rennix.

MARRIAGES must be performed between 8 a.m.and 3 p.m. Licenses are issued by Rev Canon Hannon,

Rectory, Lurgan. Due notice (48 hours) must be given to the Rector of intended weddings. FEES—

By License—Labourers 5/-, Tradesmen 10/-, Merchants and Farmers 15/-, Professional £l. By Banns

FUNERALS will be attended by the Clergy if proper notice be given. SICK CASES should be notified to

the Clergy without delay. FEES FOR CERTIFICATES BAPTISM, 3/7; Children (Factory), 1/- and 2/-

(non-residents) ; MARRIAGE, 3/7. An extra search fee is chargeable in certain cases

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