[4qd-bannvalley] Making the research leap to Scotland

[4qd-bannvalley@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx (Robert Forrest)]

Hi Alison,

I have an interest in 17th century Plantation in North Derry. Sir Thomas
Phillips was responsible for building the newtown of Limavady c. 1610 and
brought 25 English families to the region. Many are named in his 1631 Muster
roll. However, no specific region of England can be identified although
Phillips himself was from Hammersmith in England.

Another important character in the early plantation was Sir Robert
McClelland from Kirkcudbright in Scotland and he took control of both the
Haberdashers & Clothworkers' estates. This meant that he was landlord from
Dunboe right into the valley of the Roe into Aghanloo, Balteagh & Bovevagh
parishes. McClelland shipped dozens of colonists from Kirkcudbright to
Coleraine at his own expense and many of his family members came hence the
prevalence of McCleland in the region. McClelland settled in Ballycastle in
Aghanloo parish where he lived until his death in the early 1630's. The
Muster rolls for the Clothworker & Habserdashers estates, 1631 lists dozens
of people who came from the Kirkcudbrihght area of Galloway.

Of specific interest to your query is a document in PRONI that lists
freeholders from Scotland giving their addresses and their holdings in the
valley of the Roe, which I list below. However, it would be a mistake to
believe that all of these freeholders came in the plantation and it appears
that some may have sub-let their holdings.

PRONI T/466/1
Freeholders and Copy holders on Robert McClelland?s Irish estate c. 1617-18
(Haberdashers? estate). Measurements in Irish acreage

Sir Robert Macklelland of Bombee (Bombie) in Scotland, Knt freeholder to all
those 3 towne lands called Ballecaslan (Ballycastle) (71 acres), Lisronan
(Lisrowan) (50 acres) and Carboylan (Carbullion) (103 acres) in the
Ballibetto of ffoykarrons (Aghanloo parish).

Sir William Maxwell of Gribton (Gribdae) in Scotland, Knt freeholder to all
that towneland called Balle Reskmore (Ballyriskmore) (88 acres) in the
Ballibeto of Bradalen (Drumachose parish).

Harbert Maxwell, gent of Kurkennel (Kirkconnell) in Scotland, gent,
freeholder to halfe that towneland called Enish Conohor (Inishconagher) (67
acres) in the Ballibeto of Belle Tuege (Bovevagh parish)

Edward fforester of Culdoche (Culdoach) in Scotland, gent, freeholder to
halfe that towneland called Dromneere (Drumneechy) (100 acres) in the
Ballibeto of Balle Tuege (Bovevagh parish).

Alexander Mikell (Mickle) of Kircubryt (Kirkcudbright) in Scotland, Esquire,
freeholder to all that towneland called Lislane (104 acres) in the
Ballibetto of Ercolah (Balteagh parish).

William Maklellane of Overlawe in Scotland, gent, freeholder to all that
towneland called Balle Monnevonne (Freehall, Moneyvennan) (97 acres) in the
Ballibetto of ffoycarrons (Aghanloo parish).

Six freeholders in the nature of copyholders, (a Copyhold was a form of land
tenure less valuable than a freehold and was granted at the will of the Lord
of the manor).

John Eward (Ewart) of Kircubrytt (Kirkcudbright) Scotland, gent, freeholder
to all that towneland called Crott (60 acres) in the Ballibetto of
ffoycarron (townland disappeared but was in the centre of Aghanloo parish).

William Macklelland of Molock (Mullock) in Scotland, gent, freeholder to
half that towneland called Dromleefe (Drumalief) (48 acres) in the
Ballibetto Bradelen (Aghanloo parish).

William Magghee (Magee) of Kircubrytt (Kirkcudbright), Scotland, gent
freeholder to half that towneland called Dromleefe (Drumalief) (48 acres) in
the Ballibeto of Bradelen (Aghanloo parish)

William Fullerton of Kircubryt (Kirkcudbright) in Scotland, gent freeholder
to all that towneland called Neekede (Keady) (88 acres) in the Ballibetto of
Balle Guillin (Dungiven Parish).

John Macklelland of Bocbe (Bombie) in Scotland, gent, freeholder to half
that towneland called Mean (northern half of Maine) (71 acres), in the
Ballibetto of Ercolah (Balteagh parish).

John Macklelland of the Orchard in Scotland, yeoman, freeholder to half that
towneland called Mean (Southern half of Maine) (70 acres), in the Ballibetto
of Ercolah (Balteagh parish)


I have a particular interest in thefreeholder Edward Forresterwho received a
freehold in Drumneechy, Bovevagh. Forresters mother was a McClelland & he
was therefore probabbly related to Sir Robert. Edward Forrester married
Janet Linton and was of Culdoach, Kirkcudbright. He is mentioned frequently
in the Burgh records of Kirkcudbright and hence I was able to get additional
information on his family from this source. But Edward Forrester continued
to be mentioned in the Burgh records right into the 1640's & hence I was
able to conclude that he never 'emigrated' to Ireland bur remained in
Culdoach. There is no doubt that some of the McCleland freeholders moved to
county Derry & the burgh records of Kirkcudbrightmentions Sir Robert
McCleland's move to Ireland.
McClelland's estates became a kind of bridgehead for Scots entry into north
Derry and the Roe Valley in particular.

The whole area of settlement and surname distribution is very interesting
and worthy of further investigation.

Bobby Forrest




>From: Alison Causton <acauston@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
>Reply-To: 4qd-bannvalley@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>To: Bann Valley Genealogy <4qd-bannvalley@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
>CC: Linde Lunney <family@xxxxxxxxxx>
>Subject: [4qd-bannvalley] Making the research leap to Scotland
>Date: Sat, 22 Jul 2006 12:50:18 -0300
>
>Hello, all:
>
>For those subscribers whose Bann Valley ancestors' surnames suggest
>earlier emigration from Scotland, particularly during the plantation
>period, have any of you managed to make the (documented) research  leap
>back to Scotland?  I am well aware what a tall order this  entails ... for
>those of us whose Irish forebears were farmers and  such, the leap is
>probably well nigh impossible.
>
>Is there any literature which addresses the origins of the 17th  century
>Scottish emigrants to either the Bann Valley or to county  Antrim? i.e.,
>particular surnames from particular places; whether  certain groups, or
>clusters of surnames, came from particular  parishes in Scotland; etc.
>
>I'm just beginning to consider this subject, so apologies if my  questions
>are more general than specific.
>
>Thanks in advance,
>
>Alison Causton
>Annapolis Valley, Nova Scotia