Gobrana Townland, Camlin

Gobrana, 1810

The following is an extract from the Belfast Newsletter dated 4th September 1810 and is reproduced here by permission of the Belfast News Letter

GOBRANA TAN-YARD

To be let for a term (not exceeding fifteen years) with all the Utensils for the purpose of carrying on the Tanning Business in good repair. The Tenant can be accommodated with what Land he may require; and the Proprietor would have no objections to take a concern in the business. The present stock or leather, consisting of Butt, Kip and Calf Skins, in the several stages of Tannage, will be disposed of at valuation. Apply to James Whitla. Gobrana, August 21.

Freehold Registrations, 1831

The following is an extract from The Belfast Newsletter dated 30th September 1831 and is used with permission of The Belfast Newsletter.

The following names are taken from a list of persons applying to register their Freeholds at a General Quarter Sessions of the Peace to be held in Belfast on the 24th October, 1831.

No. 170

Name and Residence of Applicant: John Walker, Gobrana
Description of Freehold, with the names of Barony and Townland in which situated: House and land, Upper Massereene, town land of Gobrana
Yearly Value to be registered: £10

Neighbours assist Mrs Alexander

The following is an extract from the Belfast Newsletter dated 9th March 1841 and is used with permission of the Belfast Newsletter.

Testimony of respect to Mrs. Alexander, of Crumlin. – On Monday the 22nd February, 26 ploughs, belonging to the gentry and farmers in the neighbourhood of Crumlin, assembled on the farm of Mrs Alexander, the widow of the late Rev. N Alexander, and ploughed, during the day nearly 20 acres in excellent style. This kind act was altogether voluntary, and expressive, in some degree, of the esteem with which this benevolent lady is regarded in the neighbourhood where she resides. The work was kindly superintended by James Whitla, Esq. J.P., Gobrana and Charles W. Armstrong, Esq. J.P. Cherryvalley. (N. Whig)

Death Notice — James Charters

The following is an extract from the Belfast Newsletter dated Monday 15th April 1861 and is reproduced with permission of the Belfast Newsletter.

Deaths

April 12th at his residence, Glendona, Glenavy James Charters, Esq., aged 67 years.

Landed Estates records

Sir Richard Wallace – Consolidated Final Notice to land owners and occupiers. 24th October 1877

I have been given copies of printed landed estates records still in possession of local families.

Unfortunately they have "seen better days." I have transcribed as much of the document as possible.

(Notice No.1, Map no 1 –Camlin…)
Landed Es…
Consolidated Final Notice… Owners and Occupiers.
In the matter of the Estate of Sir Richard Wallace, Bart, and M.P., Owner and Petitioner.
To all whom it may Concern.
The Landed Estates Court, Ireland, has ordered the title of the said Sir Richard Wallace to (amongst others) the towns, lands, hereditaments, and premises hereinafter mentioned to be investigated, and a Judicial Declaration made thereon, that the said Sir Richard Wallace has a good and sufficient title to the towns and lands of Aughnadarragh, otherwise…… Ballydonaghy (part of), Ballysessy otherwise Ballycessy (part of),… Ballyvollin, Gobrana otherwise Gobb (part of), Landgarve (part of)… 0 roods and 5 perches statute measure, and all situate in the Barony…… Parish of Camlin, and County of Antrim, all held in fee simple, and which….agreements for lease, rights of common, rights of turbary, rights of way, and other rights and casements set forth in the schedule hereto.
If any person alleges that he has any interest in said premises, not derived under said leases, agreements, or tenancies, or that his interest is incorrectly stated, or claims any right of common, or of cutting turf, right of way, or other easement affecting any of the said lands, and not admitted in the said schedule, or any objection to the boundaries as delineated on the said map, he must lodge his objection, in writing, with the Clerk of the records of the said Court, on or before the 22nd day of December next, otherwise his interest will be barred and concluded by said Judicial Declaration; and said map will be treated as conclusive and binding on all persons whoever. And such objection must be verified by affidavit, entitled as above, and sworn, if out of Dublin, before one of the Commissioners to administer Oaths in Chancery, and transmitted under cover, sealed with the seal of the said Commissioners.
And Notice is also given to the Owners and Occupiers of adjoining… that I have fixed Wednesday, the 16th day of January next, at my Char… Estates Court, Inn’s-quay, for the settlement of the Rental of said Prem… person interested is at liberty to attend.
Dated this 24th day of October 1877.
F.L. James McDonnell,…
(Seal)
Longfield, Davidson & Kelly,
Having Carriage of said Order.
62 Upper Sackville –street, Dublin; and Dungannon

Gobrana

Rights of Way, and other Easements, admitted to exist.
The right of the public to use the roads marked on the map "county road," will be preserved in the Declaration of Title.

The Declaration will include a right for the owner and his tenant on this townland to use a right of way on foot and for horses, cars, cattle, &c., across said railway at the places lettered C D E F on said map No. 1, in this townland, as a means of access to this holding.

The portion of this townland in the possession of the said Dublin and Antrim Junction Railway Company is not included in the contents of this notice, and will be excluded from the Declaration of Title.

The right as at present exercised by the tenant of holdings Nos 2 & 2a, and 2b & 2c, and 2d & 2e, of passing over the said railway between said respective numbers, will be preserved.

Number on map: unreadable
Tenants’ Names: …ousins
Gale days: 1st May & 1st Nov.
Yearly rent: £17 10s 6d
Quantity of land. Statute measure: 17a 2r 28p
Tenure of each Tenant: Tenant from year to year, tenancy commenced on 1st November.

Number on map: unreadable
Tenants’ Names: …Alexander McKee
Gale days: 1st May & 1st Nov.
Yearly rent: £36 5s 0d
Quantity of land. Statute measure: 55a 3r 27p
Tenure of each Tenant: Lease dated 1st day of May, 1855 from Richard Marquis of Hertford to William Alexander McKee, for the lives and life of His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, William Alexander McKee and John McKee, or for the term of 31 years from the 1st November, 1854 at the yearly rent of £35 2s 5d., with £1 15s 1d yearly for receiver’s salary and one half of the poor’s rate. The acreage given in lease is 56a.3r 5p but a portion of same having been taken by the railway company, the rent has been reduced to the amount stated in the rent column, which includes receiver’s salary and 13s rent of lane; the quantity here stated is taken from the ordnance surveyor’s report.

Number on map: unreadable
Tenants’ Names: William Alexander McKee
Gale days: 1st May & 1st Nov.
Yearly rent: £28 3s 0d
Quantity of land. Statute measure: 30a 3r 28p
Tenure of each Tenant: Lease dated 1st day of May, 1855 from Richard Marquis of Hertford to William Alexander McKee, for the lives and life of His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, William Alexander McKee, and John McKee, or for the term of 31 years from the 1st November, 1854,at the yearly rent of £29 9s 5d., with £1 9s 5d for receiver’s salary. This lease includes 9a 0r 37p of the lands of Langarve, being tenancies No.4 (part of) and 4 (part of) in that townland, and there stated to contain 6a 1r 39p and 2a 2r 33p respectively, and the amount stated in the rent column includes the rent payable by this tenant for said first mentioned tenancy No 4 (part of) in Langarve, and also the receiver’s salary for it and for this holding.

Number on map: unreadable
Tenants’ Names: Robert Gresham
Gale days: 1st May & 1st Nov.
Yearly rent: £6 8s 0d
Quantity of land. Statute measure: 6a 2r 26p
Tenure of each Tenant: Tenant from year to year, tenancy commenced on 1st November.

Number on map: unreadable
Tenants’ Names: Robert Gresham
Gale days: 1st May & 1st Nov.
Yearly rent: £9 5s 5d
Quantity of land. Statute measure: 9a 2r 1p
Tenure of each Tenant: Lease dated 1st day of December, 1809 from Francis Charles Marquis of Hertford to William Grisam, for the life of Robert Grisam or for the term of 21 years from the 1st November, 1809, at the yearly rent of £10 17s 11d., with 10s 10d yearly for receiver’s salary, and at the additional rent of £3 yearly in case of assignment (save as therein mentioned) without the consent of lessor. The acreage given in the lease is 9a 1r 36p.; the quantity here stated is taken from the ordnance surveyor’s report. The amount stated in rent column includes receiver’s salary and 5s 5d for tithe-rent charge payable for this holding.

Number on map: 4
Tenants’ Names: James Sooter
Gale days: 1st May & 1st Nov.
Yearly rent: £12 6s 0d
Quantity of land. Statute measure: 14a 1r 1p
Tenure of each Tenant: Tenant from year to year, tenancy commenced on 1st November.

Number on map: 5
Tenants’ Names: Capt. George Douglass
Gale days: 1st May & 1st Nov.
Yearly rent: £89 12s 0d
Quantity of land. Statute measure: 129a 3r 16p
Tenure of each Tenant: Lease dated 6th day of May, 1859 from Richard Marquis of Hertford to James Whitla, for the lives and life of Alice Maude Mary, Albert Ernest Alfred, and Helena Augusta Victoria, children of Her present Majesty Queen Victoria, or for the term of 31 years from the 1st November, 1858, at the yearly rent of £85 19s., with £4 6s. yearly for receiver’s salary. The acreage given in lease is 126 acres; the quantity here stated is taken from the ordnance surveyor’s report. The amount stated in the rent column is the rent and receiver’s salary now payable by this tenant for this holding, the sum of 13s having been deducted for rent of lane included in tenancy 2 and 2a in this townland.

Number on map: 6
Tenants’ Names: Robert Potts, representative of George Whitla
Gale days: 1st May & 1st Nov.
Yearly rent: £69 18s 3d
Quantity of land. Statute measure: 95a 3r 5p
Tenure of each Tenant: Lease dated 1st day of May, 1824 from Francis Charles Marquis of Hertford to George Whitla, for the lives and life of Eliza Oakman, Nicholas Oakman and Robert Oakman… yearly rent of £68 12s 4d., with £3 8s 8d for receiver’s salary, and at the additional rent of £12 yearly in case of assignment (save as therein mentioned) without the consent of the lessor. The acreage given in the lease is 96a 1r 35p., but a portion of same having been taken by the railway company, the rent has been reduced to the amount stated in the rent column, which includes receiver’s salary and £3 12s 3d for tithe rent-charge payable for this holding; the quantity here stated is taken from the ordnance surveyor’s report.

Townland totals:
Yearly rent – £286 18s 2d
Quantity of land statute measure – 383a 3r 26p

Statistical Account or Parochial Survey of Ireland

The following is an extract from the "Statistical Account or Parochial Survey of Ireland – Parishes of Glenavy, Camlin & Tullyrusk" by the Rev. Edward Cupples.

Mr. William Whitla of Gobrana lately introduced a water-furrowing plough, with a rake at each side, fastened by a hinge; which rakes the ridges, while it clears the furrows. It is obvious that this can be employed with most advantage in grounds loose, and free from stones. The common Irish plough is mostly used. The remaining implements are, small harrows, common cars, two-wheeled carts, spades, shovels, picks, hoes, scythes, reaping-hooks, two or three pronged forks, pruning bills, hedge scissors, common hand machines for cleaning grain, rakes, wheel-barrows, hand-barrows, baskets for sowing grain, and flails.

Marriage Notice — Cummings / Dowglass

The following is from the Belfast Newsletter dated 20th April 1896 and appears with permission of the Belfast Newsletter.

Cummings – Dowglass. April 15 at Marlebone Church, London by the Rev. Wm. P. Dowglass, brother of the bride, and the Rev. Edward Pollock, cousin of the bride, Herbert Edward Cummings, 2nd son of William H. Cummings, F.S.A. to Violet, 2nd daughter of Captain George Dowglass, J.P., of Gobrana, Crumlin, County Antrim.

Mr Alfred Sefton

Extract from The Lisburn Standard — 18th February, 1927

Death of Mr. Alfred Sefton

The death of Mr. Alfred Sefton, of "Glendona" Glenavy, occurred after a brief illness. The deceased gentleman, who had been in failing health for some time, unfortunately caught a chill which developed into pneumonia, and proved fatal.

Mr. Sefton, who was unmarried, had been in business in America, and retired over twenty years ago. He was a son of the late Mr. William Sefton, of "Bunker’s Hill", Ballinderry, brother of the late Mr. Thomas Sefton, president of the Home Insurance Company, New Orleans, and the late Mr. Burton Sefton, who was prominently connected with the linen business in Belfast for many years. The deceased gentleman was a Unionist, and an ardent member of the Church of Ireland.

There was a large attendance at the funeral, which took place on Saturday, and the chief mourners were:- Messrs. W. and W.S. Suffern, T.W. and A.B. Sefton, and W. Knox, B.A., LL.D. (nephews), and Mr. J. Fulton (grand-nephew).

At the house a brief service was conducted by the Rev. J.A. Kenning, LL.D., T.C.D., while in the church the service was held by the rev. J.W. Minchin, M.A., T.C.D., who also officiated at the graveside.

1934 Letter from Francis Sefton

This letter was addressed to a new wedded local couple in the Glenavy area from Sefton, Glendona, Glenavy. It is dated Friday 29th June, 1934.

"Dear …

I cannot thank you enough for your nice letter of thanks and kind invitation to go to see you and Mrs… some day. Now I shall be delighted to go but not just at moment but when you get a little better settled down as I know what moving means(?) in the mean time. I wish you both every joy and happiness and above all God’s blessing always which is far better and with kindest wishes to you both.

Yours most sincerely

Francis E Sefton"

Celebrating 10th Anniversary

The following is an extract from the Lisburn Standard dated Friday March 21st 1947

Tribute by Staff
Messrs. Tweedy, Acheson & Co. Celebrate

A unique function recently took place at the home of Mr. Richard Acheson, "Glendona" Glenavy. Exactly ten years ago Mr. Acheson arrived in Lisburn to open a branch of Messrs. Tweedy, Acheson & CO. Some of those who were employed when the business first opened are still on the staff and it was a happy and appropriate thought that the anniversary of the tenth year should be celebrated in someway. All members of the staffs of the two shops entered into the thing with enthusiasm, and so employer and employed met to mark the occasion.

No function could be up-to-date these days without a snow episode, and so the first item was the digging out of the three cars which some to grief on their way to Glendona. Shovels engines and manpower were of little avail, but the good old stolid country horse came to the rescue and ultimately all passengers and drivers were extricated even if a little tired and wet and hardly looking their best for a party.

After a very enjoyable supper, Rev. W.J. Carson, B.A. called on Miss Roulston to introduce the special surprise item of the evening. Miss Roulston the manageress of the ladies shop has been in the business since its inception. She spoke in appreciative terms o the high esteem in which Mr. Acheson is held by all the members of the staff, and of the harmonious relationship which exists n the business. On behalf of the staff of both shops she presented Mr. Acheson with a silver-mounted dressing case, bearing his initials. The gift came as a great surprise to Mr. Acheson who was very moved by this thoughtful action on the part of his staff. In his reply he gave credit for the success of his business, especially to those who began with him ten years ago, but also to all those who had been with him during that period, and to those present in the business. He said he did not wish to speak of them as his staff but as his co-workers for the business very largely depended on their faithfulness and loyalty.

Rev. W.J. Carson spoke of how excellent it was to see Mr. Acheson and his co-workers joined in such happy relationship in business in these days when there is so much strife between those who employ and those who are employed. He said it was an example of how the true Christian spirit could alter the whole face of things in the industrial world if men would but seek that way.

Games and competitions were entered into with enthusiasm and enjoyed to the full. It was pleasing to see the party, without any special arrangement but of their own free will, join round the piano to sing the popular evangelical hymns of the day. After an hour of singing the happy evening concluded with prayer.

Open Air Parade Service – Glenavy Youth Organisations

The following is an extract from the Lisburn Herald dated May 22nd 1948.

Glenavy Youth Organisations Open-Air Parade Service.

Will be held on Sunday 23rd May at 3.30pm on the lawn at Glendona (kindly lent by Mr. R. Acheson)

Local and visiting organisations will fall in at the Station Gates at 2.45pm.

Glenavy Conservative Band will head the procession, and also lead the Parise.

Salute will be taken by Major (Mrs.) Dickson, Commandant 2nd Belfast Battalion C.L.B.

Address by Rev. Gilbert Smith (Magheragall)

Collection for "Save the Children of Europe Fund."

(If weather is wet the Meeting will be held in the Protestant Hall, Glenavy.)

Glendona House

Glendona House is now a B&B – an elegant family run historic Edwardian mansion near Lough Neagh set in four acres of mature gardens and woodland. See their website at www.glendona.com.

Accommodation includes spacious, well-appointed bedrooms, followed by a full breakfast in the Lord Abingdon dining room. Alternatively, there is Glendona Lodge – luxury 5 star self catering accommodation, sited within the boundaries of the historic mansion.

Glendona House was previously owned by The Earl of Abingdon and the B&B has retained its period charm.