THE MEM0IRS OF Thomas C. BREAKEY

THE MEMOIRS OF Thomas C. BREAKEY

OF DRUMSKELT HOUSE

BALLYBAY, COUNTY MONAGHAN, IRELAND

Historical and Anecdotal

Introduction

Thomas Cathcart Breakey[1] youngest son of John Breakey (1 Dec., 1780 –11 Feb., 1878) of Drumskelt House and his wife, Elizabeth Small (….,1793 -26 Nov., 1866) of Bailieborough, was born 27 April, 1834. He was trained at a Model Farm, Saintfield, County Down, and married Elizabeth Moore (b. 1859- d. 17 May, 1937). Eight children were born of this union. Drumskelt House was built in 1717 and was occupied continuously by Breakeys until 1959 when it went to the Presbyterian Church by the will of the late Robert Breakey.

The following books were written with pen and ink by Thomas C. Breakey, the first before 1900, and the second, begun in 1901, was finished sometime before his death, 2 April, 1914. Both are bound volumes and neither was given a title. They had been placed in the Museum of the Presbyterian Historical Society, Churchhouse, Fisherwick Place, Be1fast, Ireland, by his son Robert Breakey (5 Nov. 1885 -12 Jan. 1959) for safe keeping. During World War II, they were transcribed on the typewriter by Miss Jeannie Stewart, Assistant Secretary to the Presbyterian Historical Society, for Major Frank Keam Breakey from Napinka, Manitoba, Canada. Fortunately, Miss Stewart had retained a carbon copy of her transcription and, during my first visit to Ireland in June of 1961, I was permitted to take this copy to Bell, Logan & Carswell, Ltd., Carswell Building, Queen's Street, Belfast, and have it reproduced photostatically.

Miss Stewart admitted having some difficulty reading the hand- writing of Thomas C. Breakey. This accounts for minor errors in her transcription. She also had difficulty with certain place names with which she was unfamiliar. Punctuation was often faulty or lacking and the material poorly arranged. The author apparently wrote in a free and easy manner, recording his memories as he recalled them with- out expending much effort or thought in organizing his material. Also, coloquial expressions are often unintelligible to the modern reader and references to historical events of local importance may be meaningless without elaboration or explanation.

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Hence, I am assuming an editor's prerogative, and in doing so will sincerely try to avoid changing the meaning of the author's statements or intruding myself on his personality. I am also responsible for the title and assume complete responsibility for any changes in the bodies of the manuscripts. Whenever possible, the spelling of each place name has been checked against the spelling as it appears on the Ordnance Survey Maps. Why perpetuate errors when they can be corrected?

These books contain much information relating to the Breakey family and early days in Ireland, information that should be preserved for posterity. I am convinced the best way to insure the preservation of such material is to distribute it widely among persons who will appreciate it and care for it, in this instance, to members of the Breakey family who are presently scattered in all countries of the British Commonwealth and the United States.

Edward P. Breakey, Ph.D.

Belvedere,

Sumner, Washington

January 3, 1962

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The Memoirs of Thomas C. Breakey

Book I

The Breakeys were French Protestants or Huguenots. The cruel treatment of the Protestant Christians in the year 1685, when Louis XIV revoked the Edict of Nantes, caused over 50,000 families to seek refuge in England. Protestants who remained got a limit of time to leave France or man, woman, and child found in the country would be murdered. At the entreaty of a French Roman Catholic lady who was in love with one of the Breakeys, numbering three, two brothers and a cousin, they left at the llth hour with only time enough to get over the border into Holland. Being homeless, they joined the army of William III, Prince of Orange.

Later the French lady was eyewitness to the massacre, saw her father lose his life because a poor Protestant servant clung to him for protection. She was so horrified and disgusted with such cold blooded murder and, being a woman of means, she gathered up her money and jewellery, became the most rigid Protestant, left for Holland, found the Breakeys, and was married in all honours to the cousin of my ancestor. All the Breakeys I ever heard of may thank that lady's advice and entreaties for their existence.

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When William III was invited to come to England after James II was exiled, he brought the Breakeys with him,. During their stay in England, my ancestor was married to an English woman. At the Battle of the Boyne, the unmarried brother of my ancestor fell. After that battle, my ancestor and his cousin retired from active service and came to live in this part of the country. The cousin of my ancestor was a non-commissioned officer and settled in Balladian. I do not know his Christian name[2]. By him came all the Breakeys, in County Monaghan and, I think in Ireland, except Humphry Breakey and family of Monaghan, Mrs. J. Mitchell[3], and me and my family, and Thomas Breakey of Carnaveagh.

My ancestor, Wm. D. Breakey, settled in Lisgillin, and built the house in the October of 1690, now inherited by John Greer. At the house warming in Lisgillin and at the suggestion of the ancestors of the Dalys of Drumskelt, Wm. D. Breakey was presented with a set of white dinner Delft. One of the dishes is here still. He had the townland of Lisgillin for very many years at 1/11 (1 shilling, 11 pence) per acre.

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My Father's uncle, "John Soople" (Jack the Supple) so called from his keeping two hounds, Gaylass and Brusher, and always followed them on foot. He had the farm that is to the house for 2/6 (2 shilling, 6 pence) per acre while old Mr. Harper lived. “John Soople" had no family. He said to my Father when a wee boy, "Come to the Mountain Meetinghouse with me and I will leave you all I possess.” Father did so and that is how he came to be a Covenantor.

At the death of John Breakey, so called "John Soople", Father got all he possessed. He sold the farm to Rev'd McDowell who had it but one or two years when old Mister Harper died terminating the lease. The rent was raised from 2/6 per acre to 1-12-6 (1 pound, 12 shillings, 6 pence) by the Verners. Some time after his Reverence was dispossessed for non payment of rent and lost his input. When this farm was taken by the Breakeys, it .was in a wild state covered with brush. This house was built by them in 1717, and the Chesnuts were planted. The road to Ballybay was then along the top of the hills opposite and went out at the gate of our Manse.

My Great Grandfather had three sons. William lived here. He built the house now occupied by Thomas Henry at the Church for his son Isaiah and the year after, Derry Big House (as it was called) for his son Obadiah. Said house is now occupied by John McCreery. Those two men bleached the linen that was manufactured near here. The flat lands of Greenvale reaching up to near Veldon's cross were covered with linen. All the Greenvale Mills were built by Isaiah Breakey. It can honestly be said our Huguenot ancestors brought the knowledge of manufacturing and bleaching linen to this country.

Obadiah sold out his interest to his brother Isaiah and went to live in Queen's County. He had two sons. Frank lived in opulence in Dublin and died on the turn of life. His second son, called for himself, was in the French war under Wellington. He came to see his uncle Isaiah at Aghnamullen and died when there from the effect of a gun shot[4]. He was buried in Aghnamullen. His helmet is here.

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My Grandfather, Billy bon Breakey as he was called (bon was the contraction of bonny or goodlooking), had 13 children. Father was the youngest. All died young but Father, Uncle James, Aunt Mary, Elizabeth, Jane and William. Uncle James was married to Sarah Nixon. He got the townland of Cormeen as a wedding portion and lived and died in the house now occupied by Mr. Phitzpatrick. He died on the 11th day of February, 1835, and was buried in all honours in Aghnamullen by the Freemasons.

Aunt Mary was married to Leakey a solicitor in Monaghan. Elizabeth was married to DuSale, a young man who served his time here learning the linen business. Jane was the second wife of John Scott who was an Elder in the First Ballybay Presbyterian Church. She had no family. After Uncle's death, she came into Ballybay to live in rooms of the father of Francis, Thomas Boyle, who anticipated her every want treated her like a baby. I wish my children to know this and to treat those people with the respect justly deserved. Aunt Jane Scott lived to be very old and died on the 11th of February, 1844. Uncle William was killed off a horse when 25 years of age.

My Father was born the 1st December, 1780. He was married to Elizabeth Small of Bailieborough the 1st of October, 1812, and they Lived together 54 years when she died. He was a large man, 6 feet, 3 inches in height and 16 stones[5] in weight. He had all his faculties until the moment of death. He closed his own eyes, stretched himself and then asked God to take his spirit and so he died. He was very religious. He visited the sick of all creeds and had family worship here morning and evening when he read, sang and prayed. This was his habit the last 75 years of his life. He died the 11th of February, 1878, and was 98 years of age when he died. Mother died the 26th of November, 1866, aged 73 years.

My Grandfather, Billy bon Breakey, was born in October 1738, died the 11th of February, 1808. My Grandmother Breakey's maiden name was Mary Scott. She was born in 1735 and died the 11th of 1811. She had 13 children: My Mother had 13 children by my Father all lived to be on the turn of life, but a wee one called Mary who was born the 27 of December, 1820, and died the 5th of March, 1822.

Robert, the oldest of us, was born in 1813. He learned business in Grandfather Small's and went early in life to live in Dublin. He was clever as a bookkeeper. His first start was with Galivan and Peebles. His next employer was Thomas Drury who gave him £200 (pounds) , a year and food. When T. Drury died, Robert went to Ireland the outfitter at £300 a year. He was married to a daughter of a soliciter (sic) called James Mairs. The first start in life of Mairs was in Creeve in Mr. Nelson's house known now as Coopers. After a few years in Creeve,

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he went to live in Dublin when Robert made the acquaintance of his daughter Isabella and married her. She had only one child called Isabella Pringle. She died when on a visit at Ballina, County Mayo and was buried in the Church yard of Ardnarea with her uncle, Captain Moston. She was 17 years of age. When her Mother died, Robert placed her remains beside her daughter. When Robert retired from business he went to live in Ballina and, at his request, I put his remains with his daughter.

Jane came next to him. She was married to John Berry who lived in Fairmount near Cootehill. She died in 1894. He (John Berry) manufactured linen and learned the art with his father who lived at Killeshandra. Jane had several children. All died early in life but Sarah who is married the second time to a Dublin man called Cooks. After the death of John Berry, Jane went to live in Mountmellick with her daughter. and her daughter's first husband, Graham. Jane died there and was buried with Graham.

Edward was a minister in Belfast. He died of brain fever when he was on the turn of life. He had not married. His remains were brought to Aghnamullen and one of the chief mourners was Rev'd. Andrew Breakey, a blood relation. He was born and reared in Lismagon way in the house now occupied by Mr. Powell beside the Monaghan road Station. The Rev'd Edward Breakey was a big man and of a dark complexion. He was born 18th June, 1816, and died the 22nd of July, 1849.

The Rev’d William Breakey had a heart love for the ministry from A wee boy. like my Father, he had wonderful powers of explanation, illustration, and retention of memory. He had so much of the Scriptures and Psalms committed to memory that frequently at his Wednesday evening lectures he never opened a book. He got 5 calls, first to Tralee, next to Mountmellick, and third to Loughbrickland, which he accepted. He was a pastor in "that Church for 22 years. During that time, he was married to Jane Crothers of Banbridge, a young girl of good family and very large fortune. She lived to have two daughters, Sarah and Henrietta. When his wife died, she was buried in Loughbrickland Church yard. Some time after, he got a call to Lisburn which he accepted. After officiating as pastor of that church for some years he died and was buried in Loughbrickland Church yard in the grave with his wife.

During his life in Lisburn, his eldest daughter Sarah was married to the agent of the Ulster Bank in Lisburn, a John Mourton. He died early in life and left one child, Claude Mourton. Some years after, Sarah was again married to George Wooey (?), an Englishman who inherited the property of his ancestors at Cowes in the" Isle of Wight. Henrietta was married some years ago to a counselor, George Waugh, who inherits the estate of his ancestors at Drummara, County Down. William was dark complexioned, and 5 feet, 10 inches in height. Some years before his death, he got a Call to Sheffield (England) which he refused in favour

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of brother James who was accepted without a dissenting voice. William Breakey has been known to take the text from my Father going to church on two occasions and preached on them. He died on the 6th of April, 1872.

Little Mary, as she was called because she lived only two years, was born in the December of 1820 and died the 5th of May, 1822.

Henry was the only child Mother had with exactly her complexion. He had very curly auburn hair and he was 5 feet, 10 inches in height and 10 stones in weight. He went early in life to business and was bound 6 1/2 years to George Bartly in Ballybay. After his time was up he went to a French house, Forest of Grafton St., Dublin. Having such a taste for business, he very soon distinguished himself and in two years was at the window in the house. After some years, he left for America in 1847. On leaving, he was presented with an illuminated address and watch from the children of Mary's Abbey Sunday School as a reward for the active part he had taken among them. He was religiously inclined from a boy. He died in Brooklyn, New York , March 1849. .He had not married.

Mary was educated at the Moravian Settlement at Cootehill. During that time, she executed several pictures, two of which are here still, "The Beggar of Bethlam Green" represented in worsted, and the "Map of Ireland" handprinted on white satin. She was married to Rev’d John Gillespie during his ministry in Canada, and had one child, Bessie, during their stay in that country. Bessie died in Canada at 6 years of age. After that, they removed to the State of Missouri where John Gillespie was pastor of a church in Gallatin. He did not live long there, and died, I think, about 20 years ago. Mary Gillespie[6] (6) is still living in the house where her husband died. She is of medium size with brown hair and a good deal of complexion. Her hair is very much crimped and curled.

James was very early finished for the ministry. He got a unanimous Call to the Carryduff Congregation near Saintfield, County Down, which he accepted but could not be ordained for over a year owing to his age. After being pastor of that church for several years, he got a Call to Sheffield (England) which he accepted. After he was there some time, he married Matilda Laycock, a Sheffield lady of good family and fortune . She had four sons and two daughters. His sons were John, William, James Hamilton and Norman. His eldest daughter Florence died early in life. Edith was married to Fred Waterhouse, a Sheffield man. After giving birth to her first child, a daughter, she died. John and William are married some years to Sheffield girls. After James Breakey went to Sheffield, divine service was held in a hired room. He set about and got a church built and a large congregation gathered up, principally of Scotch people.

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The love of home was more strongly developed in Mary Gillespie and him (James Breaky) than other members of this family. Mary Gillespie has more than once written to me that nothing this side of Heaven could give her more pleasure than to see the old house and my children. James's hearers, knowing this, were ever forward in giving him a long leave of absence every Summer when he would return to the old home like the swallow or a wee boy home from a boarding school in ecstasies of delight, ready to go at the amusements of his early boyhood, which was principally fishing. He was the largest man of this family, and was the only one with the soft baby-like skin of my Father. He had very thick yellow frizzie hair, one mass of curls. He died while on the turn of life in 1885.

John left this house early in life to learn the medical profession. He learned the compounding up of medicines in Dr. Wheeler's, Belfast. After that, he was appointed doctor in the General Hospital, Belfast. After living there some years, he got an appointment as assistant doctor(physician) in one of Her Majesty's Naval Ships. Some time later he was appointed Head Surgeon in another ship. By merit and foreign service, he succeeded in getting to the head of the wheel in the Navy. His last appointment was Inspector General of Royal Naval Hospitals. After retiring from active service, he took a house in Carlisle Mansions, London, where he still lives. During his life in Belfast, he made the acquaintance of a young lady of fortune, a Miss Jane Miller whom he married on getting a three year appointment to Plymouth Royal Memorial Hospital. By her he had 5 children , two of which lived, Arthur and Mary. She died when giving birth to her last child. Mary was married in Jamaica to a Dr. White, also in the Navy, during the time of John's assignment there. She died early in life, leaving one child, a boy.

Some time prior to that, John was married the second time to a widow, Jeanie Harris of Plymouth, a woman who had three sons and one daughter. One of her sons is a chaplain in the Navy, another is an officer and a third is a banker. Her daughter is married and lives in Plymouth. She is still living but has no family by John.

Arthur Breakey is Captain (now Lieut. Colonel) in the Royal Artillery .He was married very early in life to a young English lady in high life. By him, she had two sons and a daughter. Her maiden name was Laura Carew.

John Breakey and Mary Breakey Gillespie (of Missouri) have been the most useful members of this family. Being blessed with good means and having a giving hand and a generous heart, they have always been forward in helping those of the connection who may require assistance. John is over 6 feet high, has a very military appearance, and had dark fair hair. I have John to thank for showing me London and so much of England. For a long term of years, he has made it a rule to write to me every week and I now look out for his letter as a loved one would for a letter from the object of her affections.

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Hugh was a very hard worked man for a number of years on this farm. He was the strongest man of us all. Could carry 5 cwt.[7] easily. The late Hugh Karns of Tullycorbet and he carried 5 cwt. each in a limit of time of white seed oats from the present markethouse to Gray's corner on a bet of a £1 (pound Sterling). Hugh Breakey lifted the pound. John Thompson of Shantna and David Carson lifted the sacks on them. Hugh was a self taught carpenter. He made a cart on his leaving this country over 30 years ago. One wheel is working still. He left for Australia and was very prosperous. He married Elizabeth Swan, a Scotch girl, one of 7 sisters who were all in Melbourne. His father-in-law, being a builder and contractor, employed Hugh as a joiner at big pay. Hugh bought a bit of waste land in a direction the city was likely to reach, and time after time built on it. The last bit he sold for a site of a public building and realized quite a fortune in that speculation. Now the city is 8 miles outside his property. He was a man about 5 feet, 6 inches tall and weighed 14 stones. He had dark, strong, stiff hair and a good complexion. His wife had four children by Hugh; John, Ada, Earnest, and Letitia. His boys learned joinery and son John is a contractor and builder in Capetown. Earnest lives on his Father's property. Ada is married. Hugh died the 30th of April, 1873. He was the most resolute and pugnaceous of any of us. He would very soon let the offender know the odds between mutton and goat. He was most honourable and, seeing money was not plentiful when he left, his out- fit and passage costing quite a round sum, he refunded all out of his first earnings.

Elizabeth came next. She was a 7-months old and was in a sort of sleep, rolled up in wadding for 9 weeks, out of which she wakened quite brisk and took to the breast of a foster mother. She never counted the costs of any project that would be put before her, which left her the option to 'feel out at the elbows' quite regularly. She was married to a widower, Isaiah Ferguson, well on the turn of life. She went into 7 adult children. His youngest, a girl of 10 stones, never could be reconciled to Elizabeth as a step-mother. Elizabeth very soon came to see she was at sea without sails, or rudder among those step children. She had two sons and one daughter, Robert, Henry, and Bessie. Isaiah Ferguson and Elizabeth with the three children left his lovely farm at Killucan in County West Meath and went out to Queensland (Australia) after his first wife's family. At the entreaties of Elizabeth, Isaiah Ferguson went into business with his brothers, half brothers and sons who were too smart for him. Ferguson had to dissolve partnership at a considerable loss and Elizabeth again came to see she was very small fur among the Fergusons (Elizabeth wrote me this). She died on the 25th of December, 1893, and Isaiah Ferguson, her husband, two years after. She was medium size with dark hair, and no curls. She was educated at the Moravian Settlement near Cootehill (I am not sure that above dates are correct). She was particularly good at sampler work, and that work in the sitting room in this house in a frame was executed by her.

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I come next. Having an unretentive memory, I was not a smart boy at school. All I can say for myself is, like my Father, William, James, and Letitia, I never let boy or girl take a first prize at the school where I would be for elocution. I even went farther than that when at the Model Farm School near Saintfield, County Down. James had me entered as a competitor for a £5 gold medal in elocution in the Concert Rooms, Downpatrick, where any one under 16 in the county was at liberty to come foreward. It ended up in a lass and me going the same lines three times each before a Judge from the Haymarket Theatre in London could decide. The prize was handed to me with some very complimentary remarks from the Judge.

Lord Downshire said to the young girl, “You have pleased me to a turn, you have confidence with discretion. Be advised by me and you will be a celebrity on the stage yet. Tell your people I will introduce you to the proprietor of the Drury-Lane Theatre and I will give you the run of my London house till established." In 12 years she was worth £1.00 a night and in time, well married and in a position to retire from active service.

Though I was what is termed a dull boy at school, yet I could manage points so that I never had I.D. on my back or the old wig on my head which was a favourite punishment of Owen Murphy. My tastes were a little more varied than others of our family. I could stuff birds, make shoes and play the violin to a turn. I could preserve eggshells too. Mrs. Leslie of Ba1lybay, House gave me £1 for preserving a peacock with his tail up and her Cook gave me £1 for preserving eggshells from the Jenny Wren to the Swan. However I did not produce the eggs or glass case for them. I am 5 feet, 9 inches in height, and was of a sandy complection (sic) . My hair got to be a fancy colour among horses early in life. I was born in 1834.

Letitia, the last of us, was the best scholar and most accomplished of any Breakey who ever bore the name from 1690 to the present day. She was educated by a Miss Godfery of Banbridge. She could do lovely pen and ink sketches and imitate (reproduce) any handwriting. Father and Henry too. For years she was writing for the Pal Mal Gazett, Chambers Journal, and a paper called the Armagh Gazett. John Heatly was the editor and proprietor. When he was doing badly with whiskey, she wrote his leader for several months and, in fact, kept his paper afloat 'till her death, when he paid her remains the last token of respect and cried like a child over her grave. She stood high, had a splendid address, was very comely, had one mass of brown curls on her head. She played the violin to a turn, sang sweetly and was the best at elocution of all of us except Father. He poor man would look at her in love and admiration when reciting some of his old things, clap her on the back and say, "Letty you are the blood of the Brealaghans".

When she was on her deathbed, she got a letter of admittance to the staff of a London paper called Judy and £100 a year to begin. \men I read it to her, she said, "Long looked for is come at last but too late for me". She died the 28th May, 1870. Letitia also had the gift of ventriloquism. She often brought those who believe in ghosts to a stand. She could speak as if it were a voice up the chimney, under the table or under the bed. It hurt her throat so she gave it up.

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Father's Uncle, Isaiah Breakey of Millmore House (as it is now called) had 4 sons. John came first. He was a very talented man, and painted in oils and water colours. He did life likenesses in oil. He painted the “Monkey Shaving a Goat" on Andy Ruttledge's signboard, a thing everyone admires. He also did "Farewell to Whiskey" over the first coffee or tea house that was in Ballybay. Two old fellows in dress coats and knee breeches are touching glasses and saying , Farewell to Whiskey'. He and the late William Arnold of Creeve got £50 for the renovating of the picture of Queen Dido in the reception room of Belmount Castle. He was a linguist as well.

George came next. He could play the violin to perfection and was married to a sister of Colonel Ross of Liscarney. They had one child and his wife died early in life. The daughter was married to a young man who was reared in the house now occupied by John Spear. His father was called "Whitehead" owing to his hair being the colour of bog-water flax. I think he was called John Breakey.

Next to George Breakey came Andy[8]. He was a fine bookkeeper. Paid all his Father's hands in and about the bleachgreen. He was a stump orator and a very fine elocutionist. He was married to a woman as Long as a wet Sunday. They had two children, Hans and Mary. Hans went Canada. His father and sister Mary followed some years later. Obediah died when a boy of 16. Their Mother’s name was Sarah Gibson Of Drumlin (?) House now occupied by John Primrose. She was the most pretentious of all the Breakeys, keeping a butler and using a sedan chair. One of the shafts is here, and a beautiful carved thing it is. Her finger glasses are here too.

Colonel Ker of Mountain Lodge was reared during his minority by the Isaiah Breakeys of Mi1lmore House. When of age he turned the water off the Greenvale Mills and by doing so ruined the Breakeys. The linen had to be taken to Queens County to be bleached by Obadiah. Isaiah died in two years after. Colonel Ker would not renew with Andy, his son, and so put the property out of both hands. Andy went to law with Colonel Ker about diverting the water course. As we had no Court of Equity in those days, Andy was beaten. Colonel Ker being so eager to punish him auctioned all in and about Millmore House for the costs of a dismiss before the Judge left Monaghan. A very serious offence to this day. Andy turned about and took £300 off Colonel Ker for destruction of property and contempt of the Judge and so the property was lost to our blood relations who built Millmore House and all the mills in Greenvale.

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It was Captain Johnstone who gave the house its present name. Isaiah Breakey called it Sallyvale, others Milford, and people this side Greenvale. John Breakey, called "Whitehead", who lived in and built the house now occupied by John Spear, and his brother Billy the bon, built and lived in the house now occupied by William Douglas, went to America with their families when the Vernors raised rents to ₤1-12-6.

Grandfather Small had the first shop in Bailieborough and the first tannery in County Cavan. He was married to a Miss King. Great grand-father Small was married to a girl called Stewart. At her wedding she was presented with a set of hand guilt china sage cups and pot. That set was given to my grandmother Small on her wedding occasion and again to my Mother at her wedding. Those of them not smashed are preserved by me and looked on as a treasure. My Grandfather James Small died July 30th, 1839. Grandmother Small died the 2nd of March, 1845. My Mother had two sisters and two brothers ^'who lived into old age. Jane was married to William Stewart first and Dr. Clarke secondly. She had no child by either man. Mary was married to Robert Johnstone of Cootehill, uncle to the late Rev'd. William Johnstone of Belfast.

My uncle Johnstone went to America after those of his children who lived were educated. His eldest son, Rev'd. William Johnstone, got to be top of the wheel in the ministry in the City of Philadelphia. He was pastor of the largest congregation in the city. He died well on the turn of life, was not married, and was very wealthy. James and Robert were partners in a New York paper. They were married in America. One of the girls was married to a foreigner called Herman Vosner ?. The other two live privately in Brooklyn. Cousin William Johnstone was like brother William. He could take the text going into the pulpit and preach on it. Rev'd. J. G. Smyth hearing this, asked him out of our seat on Sunday to preach for him. He was over from America to see us_.. He was very sensational and expressive on the occasion. Mr. Smyth was surprised as he dictated the text in presence of all round the seat, 'Johathan loved David'.

My uncle, Robert Small, kept the tannery of his father, and became very wealthy. He had 4 girls and one son, James, who followed his father in the tannery. He built a lovely house outside of the town called the Villa. He died on the turn of life. He had a family. Elizabeth was married to a merchant called William Maxwell who lived in Cootehill. He and she died early in life and left one child called William. He went early in life to America. Martha died early in life. Jane was married to a Dublin man in business and had no family. Mary is still unmarried but has good means and lives privately in Dublin.

Uncle James had several girls in his family but only one boy, James, who has a very high standing in the Pimms establishment in Dublin. He is married to a Dublin girl. Jane Small's husband is Tom Christian.

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John Breakey's house in Balladian was finished in the building, the October of 1692, by the cousin of my ancestor. During the time the house was being built his wife, a French woman, lived in Dublin and learned the English language. It was said she felt the change very much from a life in Paris to a solitary one in Balladian. But being in such love and admiration of her husband and undergoing so many trials for his sake, she soon became the best of wives and mother of a large family. By her a host of Breakeys came too numerous to mention. The late John Breakey of Balladian had three grandsons in the church, all clever men. John occupied the pulpit of my brother William in Lisburn and is very much liked.

The late William Breakey[9]of Balladian had two very clever grand-sons. William is a Councillor in Belfast and the second man is in a good position in the English army. William Breakey of Balladian manufactured linen and had a lot of people weaving for him.

Robert Moore, my wife's father, came a small boy of 12 years old from the north to learn business in Frank Horners, Ballybay. After the failure of F. Horner, he took a situation in Ballybay with John Breakey. In some time after, he set up business for himself and was prosperous. In time he bought property in Ballybay. He removed old cabins and built good houses instead. He sold that property to his brother-in-law, John Mullin of Cumry and again bought property in the Meeting House Lane, from time to time, which property he kept 'till his death. Robert Moore, my father-in-1aw was married to Anne Berry, daughter of a linen merchant at Killeshandra, a man of good means and longstanding in that country. Anne Berry was sister of Mary Mullin, Cumry, and John Berry of Fairmount. My brother-in-law, William Berry, had the following for his family: Mary Mullin of Cumry House, Mrs. Clarke, M^rs. Browne of Cootehill, Mrs. Browne of Drumlift, Mrs. Faris of Killeshandra, Mrs. Armstrong of Mullanagore, and Mrs. Moore of Ballybay; seven sisters and three brothers; Thomas, James, and John. Mr. Berry give his 7 girls over £300 each of a fortune. He kept two bleach greens. One at Kilawilly near Killeshandra, and the other in Ballyrun, Parish of Drumgoon near Cootehill. John Mullin manufactured linen and had a host of weavers. He was a most prosperous man, had built all in and about Cumry House, was most honourable and truthful in all his actions, goodlooking and very hospitable, and generous to a fault among his connection. He had no family by his wife; she and he had adopted my wife Elizabeth Moore when a wee girl. Mr. Mullin died 8 weeks before my sister Letitia, who was buried beside Father in Derryvally graveyard, 28 May, 1870.

Robert Moore had a family of three boys and three girls. My wife is the eldest. Robert Wardlaw was married about two years ago to Edith Graham, a Cootehill girl.. He is a merchant in Cootehill. William and

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John learned the bank business and in time left for Capetown. William is married, Annie died early in life, and Mary lives in the business house in Cootehill.

I think I will record some old agreements and settlements in this book about passes and meadows in this farm. When William Ker came to live in the Island Farm (as it is called) he had no pass but through this yard and as he stubbed and cleared about 18 acres and, since every turn was drawn through this yard, the pass got very bad. William Ker said to Father, "Give me a pass round your meadows and I will give you ₤40 (pounds sterling) and you shall have the right of pass to your meadows in it when required". Father said he would, but like some of old, did not ask the money till the pass was finished. By that time William Ker had built the house and, as he kept a loansfund and there were a lot of shareholders in it, he began to plan how to rob all men. He gathered up all the money he could, took a moonlight flit, cheated the shareholders out of over ₤2000, and Father out of the ₤40, went to America and never returned.

His brother, Richard Ker of Newbliss, took possession of the farm and set it to Tom Martin who lived where James Daly now lives. Tom Martin gave the farm to his adopted son-in-law, Tom Woods. The first year Tom Woods was in the Island Farm, he got Tom Martin, who was still the tenant of Richard Ker (though Tom Woods was in possession), to summon Father for cutting the fence in the underside of the pass to the Island Farm. The bunch of magistrates left the matter to Murray Ker, Esquire of Newbliss, our Landlord, to settle it. That was in 1854.Mr. Murray Ker came on the ground and in presence of 6 of us, Father, William who was on a visit with us at the time, Tom Martin, Tom Woods, Brother Hugh; and me. Mr. Murray Kersaid as William Ker never paid John Breakey for the ground of the pass he would give no liberty to his representatives on the Island Farm to cut the thorns. The quicks belonged to this farm but John Breakey was at liberty to cut and prune them. John Breakey was still at liberty to use the pass as he had done when it was built. The ditch next the lake was put up at the time the pass was made. For several years, our horses when ploughing the fields over the pass, were turned on it. When William Ker cleared the wood away at Anthony Dalys and was driving his cows to it, my Father was compelled to make the ditch next the fields. A bit of it was left undone over on the rock which I _.finished some years prior to my Father's death. When this property was sold in the Incumbered Courts, all the tenants were served with a printed form stating our boundaries and take, with three months to object. It gave Tom Woods no liberties but right of pass on the lane to his house. To that he did not object and so this townland was sold in that way. That was in 1866.

In respect to this meadow, called the mens' (sic) meadows, it formerly belonged to my Grandfather. In 1796 he gave it to the Landlord to be divided among the neighbours who had no meadow, on conditions Grandfather would get the grass off the 3 acres every year for which would be removed by New Year's day, for the right of pass to the meadow through this yard. No cattle of any kind were to be put on the meadow by any occupant nor turf made on said meadow. The time Grandfather gave up the meadow, the two Gavneys got one acre, Bob Dunn one acre, James Small 1/2 acre and William Rolland 1/2 acre, making 3 acres in all.

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The marin wall between Mrs. Mullin's yard in Ballybay, new occupied by Philip McGurk's and Robert Moore's houses, had fallen in parts, and by order of the sanitary officer, had to be cleared out and rebuilt. Robert Moore on the one part, and Mrs. Mullin, represented by me on the other part, agreed in presence of witness for the wall to be divided and each person to build his half. The gate was Mrs. Mullin's and so she took the upper half. Her part was built at once and to define our length.(I speak in the plural as I will have an interest in the property when Mrs. Mullin dies), I built some blocks of cement up the end of our wall and projected them to catch Robert Moore's end of the wall. Over the end of our wall, I set an old weight in the cement showing about 2 inches above the cement. The wall was built as formerly without any opening. It is the same height and is called a dead wall. It was on the first of October, 1895_,the agreement about the wall took place, in the presence of Mr. McBurney, agent for Robert Moore, and M^r. M. Rutherford, agent for Mrs. Mullin. Our part was built by Robert Beaty, Ballybay, and Francis John Reilly, my neighbour.

Since I begun to write in this book, I have found a record written by my Father. Several things in it, I will record in this book. First the names of my Grandfather's family, all born in this house.

1st. James Breakey, late of Cormeen.

2nd. Jane Breakey, afterwards Scott of Aghahist.

3rd. Letitia, married to Elias Leekey, Solicitor of Monaghan.

She died very old.

4th. Elizabeth who was married to a man called Samuel Dale.

She died very old.

5th. Mary who died of fever when young.

6th. William, who died when quite young.

7th. Robert, who died when a mere child.

8th. John, who was very young at his death.

9th. Isaiah)

10th. Jane) These four died young of smallpox.

11th. Isaiah)

12th. Sarah)

13th. John, my Father, who lived very long.

The house of the late William Breakey of Ballantraw and that of the late Thomas Wylie of Balladian were built by my Great-Great-Grandfather. Strange to say a house that a Breakey ever built from 1690 to the present day has never went to ruins.

I think I will take notice of the antiquities of Clones, as I find very few people who know the meaning of or the use of the round cross in the market. On the top of the plinth sits a round cross, the meaning of which is truth. When Ireland was in a very unlettered and wild state, very few could write are engagement of a beast. The buyer took the seller of an animal to the cross, where the seller put his hand on the cross and the other on his heart and said what he had to say about the animal. People believed that to be a very binding oath, and if violated, God would punish with the worst phase of consumption or heart disease. In 1798 the round cross was thrown off the plinth by the United Irishmen in contempt to the then existing Government. The cross was removed to one of the gardens in Clones where it was kept safe till the late Dr. Young of Monaghan placed it once more in position

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at his own charge and thereby retrieved the reputation of the town from the slur of neglecting its historical relics which, till then had been justly incurred. The round tower in the graveyard and the remains of the old church in the town are also things of very great antiquity, dating back to the sixth century.

I feel as if I had lived into quite another age, manners, customs, and other things are so changed. "How are you, Bill?" was the order of the day in any early boyhood. Now beggars are mistered and mannered. The late Hugh Karns never gave up the old custom of, "How are you, boy?" The Breakeys of Drusnrooghili too. People carrying their shoes under their arms to our Manse and then putting them on for the town is quite done away with. An old lane at our Manse was called the Aghabog dressing room. I remember well when a man would not be seen selling eggs or lump butter in the market. At the same time those men, and magistrates too, could be seen buying a cake at 1d. (penny) smeared with treacle[10]off a brush and eating it in the open market. A servant now would not eat golden syrup on bread in my kitchen. I remember sugar 9/ (shillings) per st. (stone). A soft brown sugar was made from beetroot but it would destroy the flavour of any cookery. That sugar could be bought for 5d. (pence) per pound. I have seen people buy ramps, called by some wild onions, found in Dartry woods, and eat them with oat bread and salt in the open market in Cootehill.

I have seen a cow fair in Newbliss, Rockcorry, Ballatrune, and a good horse fair in Cootehill. All of which have ceased long ago. The 17^th of March was a leading horse fair in Cootehill. People expected to have all oats in the ground on that day. Now if oats were put in prior to that date they would perish and be no use, so changed are the seasons. I remember having 44 st. (stones) of flax off 4 pecks and one quart of seed and I got 9/ (shillings) per st. (stone) for that. This year, I know a man who had only 1 st. to the peck and sold it for 1/ per st. The run of yield is from 2 to 3 st. to the peck of late years. This country has become flax sick.

Jack Sloan, prior to the birth of his son, Long Davy, reared the first white oats that were ever seen in Ballybay. The produce of one stone he brought from Liverpool. Two years after, he had 3 bags of white oats at the old market house. They were the first oats of any colour that had been seen for sale and so it can be honestly said he established the first oat market in Ballybay. He, and the father of the late Hugh Karns of Tullycorbet, brought over each shorthorned roan heifers from Liverpool and they were the first to produce that breed about Ballybay and to their death they kept the lead for splendid milk cows. After the death of the late Hugh Karns of Tullycorbet, I saw one of his two year old springing heifers sold in the open market for ₤22 (pounds sterling). Long Davy Sloan, as we call him, was the first to sell grass seed at our Market House and so it can be said he established that market for us.

[1] According to family tradition, Thomas C. Breakey's Huguenot ancestor was James William de Brequet. When he became a subject of William of Orange, i.e. William III, King of England, etc., he changed the spelling of his name from the French de Breauet to the English Breakey. He is said to have died in 1728. According to Thomas C. Breakey, he died in 1698. E.P.B.

[2] James Hamilton Breakey of Sheffield, England, in a letter to the Rev. James C. Breakey, D.D., of Belfast, dated 22nd June, 1943, wrote, "With reference to your remark re the connection between your branch and ours, it is definitely stated in the record handed down to Tom Breakey that John de Breakey of Balladian and William de Breakey who settled in Lisgillin and built the house in 1690 and in 1717 built Drumskelt for his son William were cousins, so their fathers must have been brothers". This letter is presently, May, 1968, in the possession of the Rev. Dr. James C. Breakey of Belfast. James Hamilton Breakey was manager of the Osborn Steel Works in Sheffield for many years. E.P.B.

A major portion of "the record handed down to Tom Breakey" that was cited by James Hamilton Breakey, was a manuscript written by John Breakey (1782 -1878) of Drumskelt. Several members of the family have seen it and refer to it as John Breakey's Book. Presently, (1968) no one seems to know where it is. What a tragedy that valuable family records are lost to posterity without explanation. E.P.B.

[3] My Great Grandmother's maiden name was Martha Mitchell. She was from Monaghan and a direct descendant of the Breakeys of Drumskelt . Martha Mitchell and her husband, Great Grandfather William Breakey, were cousins. They lived in Balladian near Ballybay in County Monaghan and manufactured linen. E.P.B.

Wm. D. Breakey of Lisgillin = James William de Brequet. The initial "D" -as used here must have derived from the prefix "De" of the French de Brequet. The cousin who built Balladian House in 1692 was named John. E.P.B.

[4] Arnold Stewart Breakey, Jr., M.D., of 718 Park Avenue, New York City 10021, is in possession of records (1968) that refute this statement. Dr. Breakey is descended from this Obadiah Breakey. According to these records, Obadiah was born at Stewart Brook, near Bailieborough, in Co. Cavan, 27 June, 1783, and died at New York, 10 December, 1860. He married Elizabeth Delaney at Ballyboy, Frankford, in Kings County. He was a soldier in the Peninsula War, 1808- 1814, received a musket wound, but lived to come home. He and his wife Elizabeth had a family of eleven children, 4 sons and 7 daughters.

[5] A stone is l4 pounds by legal definition in Britain. E.P.B.

[6] See letter written by Mary Breakey Gillespie from Gallatin, Missouri, U. S. A., in 1915. In appendix. E.P.B.

[7] Cwt. is the abbreviation for hundredweight, i.e., 100 pounds. EPB

[8] Andrew of Corryhagen House. His son, Hans Denaston, came to Canada and settled on the Chaudiere River south of Quebec where he founded the lumber manufacturing and pulp wood business inherited and greatly expanded by his son John Breakey (born there 9 April, 1846), See Canadian Men and Women of the Time, 1912. Breakeyville, situated about 10 miles south of Quebec [City], was named for this family.

E.P.B

[9] Great Grandfather Breakey's Christian name was William. He married his cousin, Martha Mitchell. They manufactured linen near Ballybay, County Monaghan. I have a large linen towel manufactured by them and given to their son James when he left Ireland for America with his bride in 1848. E.P.B.

[11] Claverhouse was James Graham, Marquis of Dundee, known to sentimentalists as "Bonnie Dundee". He was descended from Saxons and a military man of some note. A supporter of James II, a Stuart, who was soon to be displaced by William of Orange, he was sent into the western lowlands of Scotland to persecute the Covenanters and force them to conform. E.P.B.

[12] Grandfather James Breakey and his bride, the former Jane Craig Burgess, came to America in 1848. On arriving in Philadelphia, they visited the Lunney's who advised them to seek land in north-western Pennsylvania. They did, and settled in Jefferson County, near Brookville. Could the Lunney's of Philadelphia have been related to the Lunney's of Cootehill? E.P.B.

[15] Columbkille is better known to us as Columba. Saint Columba was not a contemporary with Saint Patrick. See Appendix for comments on Saint Columba. E.P.B

[16] He was born in 1834 and this was being written about 1900.' He died in 1914. Our problem was, which words had been misspelled by the author and which had been misspelled unintentionally by Miss Stewart when transcribing on the typewriter. E.P.B.