June 1916

Seagoe Parish magazine

JUNE 1916

Confirmation

The date fixed for the Confirmation is Sunday, June 25th, at 3-30 p.m. The classes for

the candidates are well attended, and the young people who have joined them

are showing much interest in the work of preparation. We were glad to notice that a, very

large number joined the classes of their own accord, without being pressed to come, and they are

attending the classes with great regularity. We hope the parents of candidates will be careful that their children attend every class. Owing to the brief period of preparation, it is not possible to go back upon the work done each night, and so when a candidate misses a, class an important section of the work is also missed.

We would remind the candidates that special addresses on Confirmation are given at the Parish

Church at each Wednesday evening service up to the date of the Confirmation.

The Excursion-

The year would seem very uneventful if there were no Sunday school excursion. The children in our Sunday Schools look forward to it as a great event in their lives. They are not going to be disappointed, even in this year of war, for through the kindness of Colonel and Mrs. Blacker, the spacious fields at Carrickblacker have been placed at their disposal for Tuesday. June 13th. The various Sunday Schools will meet at the Parish Church at 9-30 a.m., and after a short service, they will march to the field.

There will be a stall “under the spreading chestnut tree" for the sale of all kinds of good things, and any profits will be given to one of the War Funds.

The price of Tickets for the Excursion will be-

Children under 8 years of age, 3d:

8 to 14, 6d;

Over 14, 9d.

The Ticket entitles the holder to two Refreshments. Children must have attended at least

12 Sundays at Sunday School since January 1st to receive Tickets at the above rates.

No hawkers or dealers of any kind will be admitted to the grounds.

Missionary Collections.

The following summary of the C. M S Box Collections, has been sent to us for publication by Miss G. Atkinson, of Eden Villa, our local C.M.S. Secretary:

Carne, £l Is 10d;

Drumgor £1 15s 2d;

Edenderry, £2 5s 3d;

Hacknahay, £4 11 s 0d;

Seagoe, £2 13 l, 1/2

Total, £12 6s 4, 1/2d.

We hope, if possible, to publish a full list of the names of collectors, and

of the amount collected by each, in an early issue of the Magazine.

Potato—Planting in France,

A member of the 9th Batt. Royal Irish Fusiliers has sent the Rector the following very interesting

letter, which we publish with great pleasure.)

B.E.F., 20/04/16

Dear Mr. Archer,—Sitting in the billet a few moments ago, I suddenly thought of writing you

few lines, so putting the thought into action I am now trying to do that difficult job —Correspond.

Now the weather has improved 'immensely just now, the sun is shining and the day is very hot.

Often when we come out of the trenches for a rest I pass away the evenings in a quiet stroll around the fields, and if any farmer is working on his farm, I like

to go and see how he does things compared with the Irish.

A few evenings ago, I watched some of the French people planting potatoes,

and their way is altogether different from the Irish.

I will just commence at the beginning and tell you how the French do potato planting, First, in the winter time the manure is spread thickly over the stubbles. Next, the ground is ploughed deeply (with three horses in the plough. It is then left until March or April, when it is rolled with a heavy roller, and grubbed with a large grubber.

This finishes the preparation of the ground as far as horse labour is concerned. The potatoes then are planted in the following manner; a line is procured which reaches from the top of the field to the bottom, and fastened as we do at home on two pegs. The labourer then digs holes along the line about twenty two inches apart, while the labourer's assistant drops a potato in each hole as it is dug. After this row has been planted the line is then shifted twenty-two inches from the other row, and the same process is again gone through, except that the soil that is dug out of this row of holes is used for covering the potatoes of the first row dug. The spade that is used is of very light material, and has no lugs.

Women do the most of potato planting, while the assistant that I mentioned is usually a little girl or boy. I must say those two women and two little girls would plant an acre a day. This finishes potato planting

Now regarding grain crops—they are mostly all sown in November. Just now, you would be surprised to see how well they have grown. Therefore, you see the French system shows to advantage. At home, most of the farmers are just commencing to sow their own corn,

while here it is from six to eight inches high, which means that the harvest in France would be about six weeks earlier than at home.

Above note was written yesterday, but had to stop to attend to duties.

So this evening (it is now 7-30 p.m.) having finished work I again take a walk through what was

once a splendid garden, but has been trodden over by the feet of many soldiers ; but as one looks around he can see nature again asserting itself, and little flowers and shrubs are springing up at irregular intervals.

It is now 8 o'clock and the darkness is setting in, so I will have I suppose to retire and finish in the candle light. You will think the following news rather strange— behind the trenches that we sometimes occupy there are four milk cows. The cows help to supply whatever Regiment holds

that particular line of trenches with fresh milk (while they are in the trenches), which means that

each Regiment when it takes over has to tell a man to look after the cows. Now that, the weather

is good and plenty of grass they are let out to graze in what you might call a small valley, which is hidden by some trees from the view of the enemy ; but, like ourselves, they seem to have become familiar with shell-fire, etc., and graze on quite unconcerned when the shells are flying over them. Now I must conclude.

Hoping all the Seagoe, people are well, as this leaves all the boys from Seagoe in the best of health.

Yours sincerely,

One of the NINTH."

P.S.—My chum has written the greater part of this letter, and as promised, I have written you a little on potato planting. There is very little of it worth putting in the Magazine.

Excuse me for ending so abruptly, for the ration party has just turned

up, and I have to go with them to meet the ration carts, or I would have told you some more things.

[We hope our correspondent will soon tell us “some more things “about French farming.]

Fire at Blacker's Mill.

On Thursday, May 4th, at 9-30 p.m., Blacker’s Mill at Ballynaghy was discovered to be on fire.

The flames spread rapidly, and notwithstanding the efforts of the residents to subdue the outbreak, the buildings were soon reduced to a heap of smouldering ruins. The energetic firm of Messrs. Spence and Bryson have already, we believe, have begun to re-build the factory. [For particulars regarding Blacker's Mill, see Old Seagoe Notes.]

Whitsuntide,

On Whit Sunday, June 11th, there will be celebrations of Holy Communion in the Parish Church at 8 a.m., and after Morning Prayer. The special collections will be in aid of our Parish Day Schools.

Many improvements has been made in the Schools in cleaning, lighting and ventilation, and the result is evident in the complete absence of epidemics among the children. It is our wish to make further necessary improvements, which imply a corresponding expenditure. We hope the parishioners will respond liberally to our annual appeal.

Jews' Society,

The following sums have been collected on Cards

for the Jews' Society issued during May—

5/-, S. Martin; 2/7, Lilian Sands; 2/6 each, Lottie

Magee, Maggie Rainey, Annie McDonald, May Best,

Lily Lewie, Nellie Hamill, Annie J.McMurray, May

Johnston, Emma Magee, Annie Johnston, Lewis

Calvert No name;

Bell, Richard Harrison,

2/4, John Cairns; 2/-, No name; 1/9, Emily Cox;

1/5, Henry Porter; 1/4, Eva Best; 1/3 each, Edith

Cairns, Annie Reid; 1/2, Mary Bell; 10d each,

Nannie Hynes, Charlotte Allen; 9d, Eveline Reid ;

8d each, Maggie Mathers, Hadden Cairns; 7d each,

Alec Graham, Joseph Hynes. Total, £8 Os Od.

(The outer cover, with the collector's name, was

missing from three of the above cards.)

PARISH REGISTER FOR MA Y.

Baptism,

Loney— On May 6th, 1916, Samuel James, son of

Samuel James and May Loney, of Edenderry.

Sponsors— Ellen Macauley, May Loney.

Marriages.

Mcloughlin and Mcloughlin—On May 6th, 1916,

Joseph Loughlin (Gunner, R.H.A.,

County Palantine Brigade, B.E.F., France)

of Lisniskey, to Florence Jane Mcloughlin,

of Drumnagoon.

Hunter and Best-—On May 9th, 1916, John

Hunter, of Legacurry, Parish of Shankill,

to Alice Best, of Balteagh.

McCann and Martin—On May 30th, 1916, Wm. James McCann,

of Parkmount, Parish of Portadown, to Eliza Jane Martin, of Edenderry.

Burials.

Coulter—May 15th, Joseph Coulter, of Edenderry, aged one year.

Best—June 1st, George Best, of Edenderry.

ITEMS.

Miss Hunter, of Knock, caught two hawks last week. They were so busily engaged in killing her

chickens that she was able to catch them before they could escape.

A hawk recently killed a canary belonging to Mr. Anderson, of Balteagh. The canary was at

once put in a rat-trap, and the hawk swooped down on it again immediately and was caught.

The Choir took part in the Choral Festival at Maralin on Saturday, May 28th. They drove over in vehicles kindly offered by the Parishioners. Unfortunately, the weather was rainy, but never the less the drive was much enjoyed. The musical portions of the services were excellently rendered by the combined choir. The Rev. T. W. E. Drury conducted.

In next month's issue we hope to present our readers with a unique picture of Old Seagoe Church

as it appeared in the year 1750. We are so accustomed to see it as a ruin we will scarcely recognise it as it appeared with roof, windows, belfry and porch.

Readers of Seagoe Parish Magazine will be interested to hear that it has gained an entrance into the

prison camps in Germany. The Germans evidently know a, good thing when they see it. It is much

enjoyed by the men. When sending be careful to remove the outer cover.

We regret to hear that Robert Pentland (Royal Artillery), of Lutton's Hill, was wounded.

Maxwell Stoops and Norman Stoops have also been wounded, but we are glad to hear that they are both doing well.

William James Whiteside, of Carrickblacker Road, was unfortunately blinded by a wound last year in France, has just left home for a visit to St. Dunstan's, Regent's Park, London, to take part in the

rowing races on the Thames. St. Dunstan's is doing

a noble work for the most grievously afflicted among our wounded soldiers. Perhaps some reader would be inclined to help it by a subscription

The members of the Select Vestry spent an evening at the Rectory last week.

Much regret was expressed at the 'death of Lieut. Calvert, of Lurgan, who was shot on Easter

Monday, April 24th, during the Rebellion in Dublin. His remains were interred in Seagoe Graveyard on May 8th.

On Empire Day, the Union Jack was displayed on a flagstaff at Seagoe School. At mid-day the children gathered round the flag, and on a signal from the Rector three hearty cheers were given for King and Flag and Empire.

Unusual spells of rainy weather have been experienced during the past month.

beginning of May a steady downpour of rain continued for almost three days.

The heavy rain, though disagreeable, has ensured a healthy season. There is very little sickness. Our monthly Parochial Record is exceptional, as there has only been one Funeral of a resident in the Parish during the past month.

Portion of the music sung at the recent Choral Festival will be sung at Evening Prayer in the

Parish Church on Sunday, June 4th.

The Rev. James Smith. M.A., Curate of Aghalee, has been appointed Curate-in-charge of the Parish

of Ardmore.

We deeply regret to record the death of George Best, of Railway Street,

after a, long and trying ill ness.Our sympathy goes out to his wife and young

family in their sad loss.

Pte. Norman Stoops, of the Y.C.V., has arrived at his home in Lisniskey. He received nine shrapnel

wounds. Two fragments of the shell passed through his upper right arm. He is making a good recovery, and seems little the worse for his trying experiences.

An Armagh man who was beside him was killed by the same shell, and five others wounded. Private Stoops is one of our youngest heroes, being only 17 years of age.

He was born on the anniversary of the Battle of Waterloo.

The returns from the Jumble Sale held last month are smaller than usual, owing to a double postponement.

The Receipts totalled 19s 8d, including a,

subscription of 2s 6d from Mrs. Walker, Seagoe

Villa ; the expenses were 10s, leaving net balance of

9s 8d, which is given to the General Bible Class account to reduce the deficit.

Sunday school Teachers,

A meeting of Sunday School Teachers will be held (D. V.) in Seagoe School on Monday, June 5th, at 8 p.m., to arrange for the Annual Excursion. All Teachers and Superintendents are invited

to be present.

Old Seagoe Notes,

Old Shankill Church, 1710 it was first proposed to build a new Church on " Lurgan

Green." In 1718 the Vestry of Shankill took the matter in hand and in 1725 the first Church on the

present site was consecrated, and the old Shankill Church was disused.

Great Storm at Ardmore, 1783.—Ardmore Church was blown down in the year 1783 during the

great storm. It had been erected in 1764.

SEAGOE PARISH MAGAZINE.

Murder at Derrymacash, 1713. Toole M'Phellemy McCann, a well-known resident, was

murdered at Derrymacash on Nov. 13th, 1713. The event created much excitement in the neighbourhood.

Weavers' Riots in Lurgan, 1857.—A great riot of Handloom Weavers occurred in Lurgan in

1857.

Knocknamuckley Church, 1844.—The Foundation Stone of Knocknamuckley Church was laid in

Ballygargan on 23rd April 1844. The building of the Church was delayed so that it was not completed until the close of 1852. It was opened for Divine Service on 9th January 1853, and was consecrated by the Bishop of Down on 23rd February 1853.

Seagoe Parish in 1880.—A Parochial Census of Seagoe Parish was made in the year 1880 by Dean

Dawson shortly after his appointment as Rector.

The Church population of the whole Parish was

found to number 704 families and 3647 individuals. Of these 158 families and 774 individuals resided in the townland of Edenderry.

Foxes in Old Shankill, 1674.—

That foxes became, a pest in the neighbourhood of old Shankill ,and therefore in the neighbouring townlands of Seagoe Parish, is proved by an interesting note in records of Shankill Parish under date, Easter Monday, 21st April, 1674.

It was as follows—" You Churchwardens pay every person killing an old fox one shill, for every fox- cub 6d, provided the heads of the foxes and cubs be brought in and hung up in the Churchyard one Sunday at least."

Blacker's Mill, 1619.—Blacker's Mill or Factory is a very ancient building. It was erected in 1619 close to the site of the old Manor House, the residence of Valentine Blacker. Traces of the Manor House existed so recently as 1864.

It is said to have been an old stone bawn or fortified house and enclosure,

and was called Blacker's Bawn or the Bawn of Ballynaghie. It is noted as having no less than

eleven interior flues to its chimneys, an unusual circumstance in those days. A square stone let into

the gable wall of Blacker's Mill records that it was built in 1619 and rebuilt with additions in 1864, in the latter case by Mr. Maginnis, owner of the Mill, whose initials are on the stone.

An Interesting Parish Magazine, 1880 .—

The late Mr. John B. Mahaffey, of Lurgan, edited a most interesting series of “The Lurgan Parochial Magazine “some 36 years ago. The first number was issued in July 1880, at the price of one penny per month. It continued to be issued until December 1881, when its name and form were altered, and it was called “The Lurgan Chronicle." Each number contained items of current news from the Parishes in the neighbourhood, including Seagoe, but the chief

value of the magazine consisted in its Local Antiquarian Notes, from which we give extracts this

month in these Notes. Mr. W. J, Mahaffey, of Bangor, has very kindly lent us his copies of the•

Magazine for making extracts.

Proximity of Seagoe Parish to Old Shankill' Church —Up to the year 1874 Seagoe Parish

extended to within 290 yards of Old Shankill Graveyard. The reason for this curious arrangement of boundaries have not yet been cleared up. We mention the fact here, because in quoting from

Mahaffey's Old Lurgan Notes many of his statements become of considerable interest to the residents in Seagoe Parish.

A Church Drum, 1675.—

A remarkable custom prevailed in Old Shankill Church up to the year 1675.

The Parishioners were summoned to Worship by the beating of a drum instead of by the ringing of

a bell. The following is a copy of the minutes of the Vestry that abolished the old Church Drum

At a Vestry held at ye Parish Church of Shankill the 18th January, 1675-6.—Agreed on by the Curate and Parishioners of the said Parish at a, meeting of the Parishioners this present day,- In regard we think a bell more decent and fitting for calling together the parishioners to Divine Service than a Drum which will used. That the sum of eight pounds be equally and indifferently divided on with the parishioners and to be levied by the Churchwardens of this Parish, and the same bee paid to Arthur Brownlow, who is desired to lay out the same for a bell of about one hundred pounds weight,. which bell we likewise agree shall be set up in the Market House of Lurgan till a convenient steeple be erected for containing the said bell the said Mr. Brownlow having consented

to, providing the said Bell may be also rung for the markets and town use.

We likewise agree that the salary heretofore paid by the parish for beating the drum shall hereafter continue to be paid to some fit person to be appointed for ringing the Bell, to begin from Easter next, if the Bell shall be got up by the first May next.

A. C, BROWNLOWE, Jo. WETHERBY, Cure

CHRIS CLARKSON,

Churchwardens.

GAWEN WATSON,

At the foot of the page is added " Memorand ; Ye

bell is bought by Mr. Brownlowe, but no money yeti

raised in ye parish or paid to him for it."