October 1910

Seagoe Parish Magazine.

OCTOBER, 1910

WE reproduce in our issue this month an interesting portrait and autograph signature of Mr. John

Walker, more familiarly known as " Clerk " Walker, who acted as Parish Clerk in Seagoe Parish

from the year 1825 to 1873, a period of almost 50 years. Mr. Walker was born at Walkerstown, in

the townland of Kernan, in the year 1799. He was baptised in Seagoe Church on January 22nd, 1799. His father, who was also called John Walker, acted for some years as Parish Clerk, and had occupied the important post of Churchwarden in the year of his son's birth, 1799. John Walker, sen., was very highly respected, and his son used to relate how he remembered him rising at night to engage in prayer. Besides acting as Parish Clerk he was agent to Sir Francis Macnaghten for some property in the district. In his latter years he became afflicted with deafness, and used an ear trumpet, which is, we believe, still in the possession of his descendants. He died on February 3rd, 1842 in his 88th year, and was interred in Seagoe graveyard. The following entry in Seagoe Registers in the handwriting of the then curate, the Rev John Beatty, is a proof of the high esteem in which he was held.

Mr. John Walker having this day resigned the office of Parish Clerk, in consequence of his deafness

incapacitating him from fulfilling efficiently the duties thereof, I hereby appoint his son (John Walker) his successor, whom I believe likely to make a very efficient clerk, and whose character and conduct justify the appointment. I wish at the same time to record my good opinion, coupled with that of the whole Parish of the excellent moral character which Mr. Walker, sen., has always sustained.

Dated this 23rd of January, 1825.

SEAGOE PARISH MAGAZINE.

STEWART BLACKER, Vicar of Seagoe.

Witness present,

ELIAs THACKERAY, Rector of Louth.

JOHN BEATTY, Curate of Seagoe.

The signatures of both father and son are entered

on the same page, the writing of the old man being

very indistinct, and that of John Walker, jun., in a

clear, strong hand. John Walker, jun., who became

Clerk in 1825, had an eventful youth. When only

16 years of age he became a bugler to the Seagoe

Yeomanry, and in the eventful year of Waterloo, 1815,

he, with the Yeomanry, were sent to Drogheda to

garrison that town during the absence of the regular

forces on foreign service. He used to describe very

vividly the scenes enacted just outside Old Seagoe

Churchyard on the day when the Yeomanry left.

Mothers, Sisters, Sweethearts, and Wives were in

agonies of distress when they saw the Seagoe boys

marching away. Mr. Walker's bugle and sword were

sold at Archdeacon Saurin's auction, but it is not

known who now has them. They were interesting

relics of a past day. Mr. Walker used to describe

Drogheda as " a very rebelly place," and related how

some of the inhabitants attacked the Seagoe men,

and left three of them apparently dead on the street.

When the other member of the force heard of the

attack they sallied out in a body and destroyed the

district where the attack was made. Mr. Walker

married a namesake of his own, Miss Eliza Walker,

on March 11th, 1819. His eldest son, also called

John, was born on November 22nd, 1823.

Walker received a very Complete education before he

became Clerk. It was necessary for him to qualify

in ordinary educational subjects so that he might

act as Schoolmaster, and he also received special

instruction in Music. The following interesting

certificate is extant :—Board Room of the Association

incorporated for Discountenancing Vice and

Promoting the knowledge and the Practice of the

Christian Religion.

17 Capel St., July the 1st, 1825.

This is to certify that John Walker was on the 24th

day of February, 1825, admitted into the Seminary

for training Parish Clerks and Schoolmasters instituted

by the Association, and that he continued a

student in the Institution four months. His progress

during that time was, as appears from the Judgement

Books, creditable to him and his conduct in every

respect unexceptionable. James Aickin, Superintending

Clergyman; Charles Dickinson, Francis Lynch

Blosse, John A. Russell, Members Of Committee ;

Richard Graves, Secretary ; James Wilson, Assist.

Secretary.

After leaving the Training College in Dublin, Mr.

Walker entered upon his duties in Seagoe. Great

care was apparently exercised in the appointment of

Parish Clerks. The Candidate was required to take

a solemn oath before he was appointed. The following

were the terms of the oath taken by Mr. Walker—

Affidavit to be made before Master in Chancery or

a Master extraordinary in Chancery—John Walker,

of Kernan, in the County of Armagh, maketh oath on

the Holy Evangelists that he is a subscribing witness

to the annexed Petition of the Honourable and

Reverend Pierce Meade, the Reverend Francis Beatty,

the Reverend Michael Sampson, the Reverend William

MacMullen, and the Reverend James Saurin, ad-

dressed to His Excellency the Lord Lieutenant of

Ireland, and Privy Council of Ireland, and saith that

he was present and saw the said Thomas Beatty and

Michael Sampson, and Daniel William MacMullen,

and James Saurin sign their names and affix their

seals to the said Petition, and saith that the name

John Walker subscribed as a witness to the said

Petition, is this Deponent's proper Name and Handwriting.

This Petition is dated 1827.

The Bishop's Licence to John Walker to officiate

as Parish Clerk of Seagoe is an interesting document.

It runs as follows—James, by Divine Providence

Bishop of Dromore, to John Walker, of Segoe, in our

said Diocese of Dromore, greeting, whereas you are

Recommended unto us as fit and proper person to

be Singing Clerk, in and for the said Parish of Segoe.

We do by these presents give and grant unto you our

full Licence for that purpose during our Will and

Pleasure, In testimony whereof we have herewith

caused our Consistorial Seal to be affixed the twenty

fifth day of May in the year of our Lord one thousand

eight hundred and twenty six. W. T. Hamilton,

Registrar of Dromore.

The trust imposed upon John Walker in these

solemn terms was very faithfully fulfilled by him

during a long term of years. His chief duties

consisted in leading the singing of the Psalms in Church,

and answering the responses, but another very

important duty consisted in keeping the Church

Registers of Baptisms, Marriages, and Burials. His

musical duties were accomplished with ability. For

many years the instruments used in the musical

portion of the services in Seagoe were two flutes

or pipes, one of them was played by Mr Walker, and

the other by Mr Charlton. The two leaders sat in

the front of the gallery and before a Psalm was started

they made sure that they were on the correct pitch

by sounding a square flat pitch pipe. Mr. Walker

had a good voice, and his Amens ' are remembered

still by many of our older parishioners. He was

fond of singing in his own house, and a favourite

of his was “ Jessie to the Fair." He was

proficient performer on the flute, and on Sunday

evenings after service he spent hid time singing some

of his favourite Psalms. On Sunday mornings he

came across the field from Walkerstown, by a path that

he got made for himself, and for many years called

at Mr. Collins' house beside the Church, where he

sat for an hour and enjoyed a good smoke. He was

always dressed neatly in black, and wore a white

cravat and silk hat. Archdeacon Saurin was a very

close friend of his, and Mr. Walker had some funny

stories to tell about the " Deacon." His grandson, Mr.

SEAGOE PARISH MAGAZINE:

William Walker, remembers him telling how the

Deacon " when driving home from a service at

Aughacommon one Sunday afternoon saw a fine

flock of ducks near Kilvergan, and getting out of his

carriage bought them from the old woman who

owned them. He then put the ducks into the well of the

carriage and drove off with them to the Rectory! Mr.

Walker on one occasion made an interesting find

when digging in one of his fields. He discovered the

horn of an Irish Elk, a species of wild animal which

was at one time plentiful in Ireland. Mr, Walker's

duties as keeper of the Parish Registers were

performed with great fidelity and exactness. Several of

the large volumes of Registers in the safe at the

Rectory are altogether in his writing. There are

no blots, no erasures, and no blanks, and the names

are written in the clear and distinct hand, which

is noticeable in his signature printed above. He

was present at all weddings for many years, in fact

from 1825 to 1873, when failing health and the

approach of old age made it impossible for him to

fulfil his duties. When his sight became dim he

used a quaint pair of horn spectacles, more like

motor goggles than anything else.

The old man was very fond of children. One of

them remembers how he used to exchange pleasant

and funny sayings with them when he met them

coming from school. " Hi ! Hi ! " he used to say

something terrible has happened, all the crook

sticks are broken," and the children would run away

laughing at the thought of all the crook-sticks breaking

and the big potato pots falling into the fire.

When Disestablishment overtook the Church great

changes occurred and Mr Walker was not so

intimately connected with the Parish as formerly. Still

his name is to be seen in the Registers up to 1873

and he attended the services. One Sunday morning

in the spring of 1876 after receiving Holy Communion

he was seen to enter the Vestry in tears and taking

away with him his large old Prayer Book he left

the church never to return. He must have felt that

it was the last time he could attend the service owing

to increasing weakness. He died the same year and

was interred in Seagoe Churchyard near the ruins of

the Old Church where in his early boyhood he

worshipped with his parents. " Having served his own

generation he fell on sleep and was gathered to his

fathers." Old Seagoe Graveyard contains no more

honoured remains than those of " Clerk " Walker

and the whole Parish respects his memory.

We are indebted for many of the above particulars

-to information supplied by Mrs Walker, of Seagoe

Villa, Mr Nesbitt, Mr D. W. Walker, Mr T. J.

Montgomery, and others. The portrait is taken from

.a photograph in the possession of Mrs Walker of

Seagoe Villa.

Harvest Thanksgiving Services,

The Annual Harvest Thanksgiving Services in

Seagoe Church will take place on Thursday, October

27th, at 8 0'clock, and on Sunday, October 30th, at

Morning and Evening Prayer. The Rev Canon

Grierson, B.D., Rector of Banbridge, will preach at

the Thursday service, and on the Sunday the Special

Preacher will be the Rev R. D. Patterson, Rector of

Ardmore.

Contributions of Flowers, Fruit, and Corn for the

decoration of the Church should be sent to the

Church on Wednesday morning, October 26th, from

10 to 12. The offerings on Thursday evening will

be given to Foreign Missions, and we hope all will

give most liberally towards the ingathering of the

great spiritual harvest. On Sunday the collections

will be devoted to our Parochial Funds.

District Harvest Services.

The following Services will be held in the various

Districts :

Tamnificarbet, Sunday, October 23rd, at 7

Monday, 24th, at 8

Hacknahay, Sunday, 30th, at 8-30

Preacher—Rev. R. D. Patterson.

Monday, October 31st, at 8

Carne, Sunday, Nov. 6th, at 3-30

7th, at 8

Drumgor, Monday, 13th, at 7

14th, at 8

Baptisms.

Suffer the little children to come unto Me."

Sept. 3^rd —Frederick William, son of Frederick and Elizabeth Abraham.

„ —Norah Eveline, daughter of Thomas and Mary Ruddell.

„ —Margaret Atkinson, daughter of George and Christine Robinson.

„ —Mary Sarah, daughter of Leonard and Sarah Jane Mayes.

„ —Henry Valentine, son of James and Anne Sands.

—Letitia, daughter of James and Sarah Jane Preston.

14^th —Robert, son of William Edward and Elizabeth McCann.

Marriage,

God is love."

Sept. 10th—William James McClatchey, Edenderry, to Anne Matilda Best, Ballyhannon.

Burials.

“ Jesus said unto her, Weep note"

Sept 3rd—Gertrude Loney, Edenderry, aged 6 months.

Sept 15th—William James McKeown, Killycomaine, aged 6 ½ years.

Sept 18th—John Steele, Portadown, aged 10 years.

Sept 21st—Henry Monroe, Levaghery, aged 91 years.

SEAGOE PARISH MAGAZINE.

Obituary.

Our list of Burials this month is an unusually sad

one. The death of little Jack Steele by drowning

while trying to save his pet dog brought sorrow to

many hearts and an overwhelming grief to his

father, mother, and sister. He was one of the

brightest and happiest of our school children. His

early death reminds us of the awful uncertainty of

life, and bids us think seriously of the coming

eternity. We hope the children of the Parish will

learn from this sad death the lesson of kindness to

dumb animals. He lost his life in the effort to save

his pet dog. " He prayeth best who loveth best all

things both great and small." Another sad death

has been that of William James M 'Keown, who died

from the effects of burns received through his clothes

accidentally catching fire while he was playing near

the hearth. At the inquest the Coroner spoke

strongly about the dangers incurred by young

children when playing near unprotected fires. Fire

screens can now be purchased at a very small cost.

Last month we announced the serious illness of

Mr. Henry Monroe, of Levaghery, and this month

we regret to have to chronicle its fatal termination.

Mr. Monroe was one of our oldest and most respected

welfare of the Parish. He retained his mental and

physical powers wonderfully up to the last, and

notwithstanding his great age was able to go about

the farm until a few months ago. We desire to

express our deep sympathy with his relatives in their

bereavement.

Memorial to Dean Dawson,

Five years have elapsed since the death of our late

Rector, the very Rev. Dean Dawson, but as yet no

memorial has been erected to his memory. He did

a splendid work in Seagoe Parish, and built a Church

which is said to be one of the finest country Parish

Churches in the Diocese. It is fitting that his

memory should be perpetuated by a permanent

memorial in the Parish. Various suggestions have been

made, but the idea which seems most feasible and

which would associate his name with one of our most

useful buildings is that of a Dawson Memorial Wing

to be added to Seagoe Parochial School-house. There

is a great need of further accommodation in the

School. Proper Class rooms, Cloak rooms, out offces,

and boundary walls and gates are required to bring

the School up to modern standards,. On Sundays

also further space is needed for the Infant School and

Girls' Bible Class. A preliminary meeting has been

held in connection with the subject, and it is hoped

that in the near future the scheme may be brought

to a successful issue.

We intend in an early issue of the Magazine to

publish a sketch of the proposed Memorial Building.

Girls' Friendly Society.

The Seagoe G.F.S. will open their Winter Session

with a United Service in the Parish Church on

Wednesday evening, November 2nd, at 8. All the

Associates, Members, and Candidates are expected to

be present. We begin the Session a month later this

year owing to the absence from home of our

Secretary, Miss Armstrong, and also on account of the

special course of Lectures now being given in

Blacker's Mill Reading Room every night and which

most of our Hacknahay G.F.S. members are attending

C.I.M.S,

A meeting of the Men Communicants of the

Parish will be held (D.v.) in Edenderry Parochial

Hall, on Thursday evg., October fth, at 8 0'clock„

for the purpose of forming a branch of the

Church of Ireland Men's Society. We cordially

invite to this important meeting all the men of the

Parish who are regular Communicants. The rule of

the Society, which is being widely established in

land, is that Members must be Communicants, and

non-Communicants can join as Associates.

Communicants Union,

The Lord Bishop suggests that in every Parish a.

Communicants Union should be started to unite

together the Communicants in the Parish. On

Monday, October 17th, a meeting of our Communicants

will be held in Edenderry Parochial Hall. All our

Communicants are invited to be present and join the

Union. The rules will be explained at the meeting.

Nature Notes,

The swallows have taken their departure. On

Wednesday, Sept. 21st, they started on their long

flight to the tropical climes of Africa and the South.

On Sept. 8th, apparently a small contingent migrated

but the main body remained until Sept. 21st.

will be interesting for our local observers to watch

for stragglers. Some few birds seem always to get,

left behind.

Congratulations.

We heartily congratulate Mr. Robert T. Montgomery

on obtaining a Silver and a Bronze Medal at

the recent Grocers' Exhibition in London. These

are very high distinctions and were won in open

competition against the best talent in the United

Kingdom.

Offertories for September

Morning. Evening

Sep. 4^th —15th S. aft. Trinity £2 1 5 ½ £0 11 2

11^th —16th S. aft. 1 3 6 0 12 6

18^th —17th S. aft. 1 9 6 0 9 9

25^th —18th S. aft. 3 0 3 1 0 6

Week-Days 0 11 11

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£7 14 8 ½ £3 5 7