The Silver Bowl: 1737 Jan 5

SNAPSHOT: Rev. Patrick SIMPSON leased 136 acres of Philipstown to Alexander DONALDSON for the lives of Patrick SIMPSON, Grizel SIMPSON and James COULTER (son of Charles COULTER “late of Carrickistook”.

1737 Jan 5 SIMSON to DONALDSON

This indenture made the 5^th day of January in the year of our Lord 1737. Between the Rev. Patrick Simson[1] of Philipstown[2] in the County of Louth of the one part and Alexander Donaldson[3] of the said town and county farmer of the other part. Witnesseth that the said Patrick Simson for and in consideration of the rents, covenants, clauses and agreements hereinafter mentioned and expressed doth demise grant set and to farm let and by these presents.demise grant set and to farm let on to the said Alexander Donaldson his heirs and assigns all that part or parcel of land which he the said Alexander Donaldson now possesses lying and being in Philipstown and county aforesaid containing by estimation 136 acres two roods and 10 perches plantation measure together with all and singular the houses members and appurtenances thereunto belonging to have and to hold the said demised premises with these appurtenances unto the said Alexander Donaldson his heirs and assigns from the first day of November last for and during the natural lives of the said Patrick Simson, Grizel Simson[4] third daughter of said Patrick Simson and James Coulter[5] son to Charles Coulter[6] late of Carrickastuck[7]. Yielding and paying therefore and thereat yearly and every year during this demise unto the said Patrick Simson his heirs and assigns the clear yearly rent or some of £90 and one Hogg yearly weighing 12 score or 40 shillings every year into thereof the said rent to be paid half yearly [viz.] on every first day of May and first day of November during this demise over and above all taxes and country charges whatsoever imposed or are to be imposed by act of Parliament or otherwise (Quit and Crown rent only excepted). And the said Alexander Donaldson doth for himself his heirs and assigns covenant grant and agreed to and with the said Patrick Simson and his heirs and assigns that he the said Alexander Donaldson his heirs and assigns shall and will from time to time at all times during the continuance of this demise well and truly pay to the said Patrick Simson his heirs and assigns the yearly rent or sum of £90 sterling or a hog yearly or 40 shillings in lieu thereof on the days and times aforesaid and if it shall happen that the said yearly rent or any part thereof be behind and unpaid for the space of 21 days next after any of the said days of payment that then and so often as it shall happen it shall and may be lawful to and for the said Patrick Simson his heirs and assigns on the premises to enter and destrain and the distress and distresses therefound to impound and to dispose thereof according to law until the said rent to be fully satisfied and if no sufficient distress can be had on said demised premises it shall and may be lawful to and for the said Patrick Simson his heirs and assigns unto the said demised premises to reenter and same to have again repossess and enjoy as his and their former estate or anything therein contained to the contrary notwithstanding. And the said Alexander Donaldson for himself his heirs and assigns covenant and agreed to and with the said Patrick Simson his heirs and assigns that he will plant at or before the first day of November 1738 100 trees or in failure thereof pay one shilling fine and advance rent and that the said Alexander Donaldson his heirs and assigns shall and will grind all the corn and grain that shall be expended on said demised premises at the Mill of Philipstown or in failure thereof to pay five shillings per barrel for every barrel elsewhere ground to be recovered as a rent aforesaid and the said Alexander Donaldson.for himself and his heirs and assigns covenant and agree to and with the said Patrick Simson his heirs and assigns to preserve and keep all the improvements that now are or hereafter shall be made on said premises in good sufficient tenantable repair and at the end or sooner determination of this demise to deliver up the same to the heirs or successors of the said Patrick Simson and the said Patrick for himself his heirs and assigns covenant and agreed to and with the said Patrick Simson his heirs and assigns to preserve and keep all the improvements that now are or hereafter shall be made on said premises in good sufficient tenantable repair and at the end or sooner determination of this demise to deliver up to the same to the heirs or successors of the said Patrick Simson and the said Patrick doth himself his heirs and assigns covenant and agreed to and with the said Alexander Donaldson his heirs and assigns that he the said Alexander Donaldson his heirs and assigns paying the yearly rent and performing the covenants hereinbefore mentioned shall and may peaceably hold and enjoy the said demised premises during the term aforesaid without the [?] trouble Molestation or eviction of him the said Patrick Simson his heirs and assigns or any other person or persons lawfully claiming or to claim by from or under him then or any of them their heirs executors administrators and assigns. In witness whereof the parties where present have hereunto set their hands and seals the day and year first above written: Patrick Simson Alexander Donaldson seal Signed Sealed and Delivered in presence of us Malcomm Hall[8] Andrew Donaldson[9] signed sealed and delivered witness of us it being but further agreed that the said Alexander Donaldson and his under tenant shall pay the Seneschal of the Court Lett to be held for the Manor of Roach two pence [?] and that the said Donaldson undertenants or cottiers shall give one couple of pullets yearly to the said Patrick Simson his heir and assigns and the said Patrick Simson his heirs and assigns are to have half of the fishing in the lease of Philipstown. Note that the words 36 in the sixth line and the words 90 pounds and one half yearly weighing 12 score or 40 shillings into thereof in the 11th 12th and 17th lines being first [?]but wrote after being raised and that the said Patrick Simsons tenants shall have liberty to cut turf raise and carry away marle out of the bog of Philipstown the said tenants joining in [?] when [?] may draining said bog and not otherwise. Patrick Simson Alexander Donaldson Malcomm Hall Andrew Donaldson County of Louth and Memorial of the written deed was registered under me this 22nd day of April 1741 Robert Murphy[10] clerk of the peace.

Numbers 1877

Mr. Burns [11]the present clerk of the peace for County Louth says he has no record in his office further back than 1790 T.W. Bell[12].

[1] Rev. Patrick SIMSON (1681-1780) was the second [actually - he was the 3rd] named Presbyterian Minister in the Dundalk Presbyterian Church (which was founded in 1560 and is one of the oldest non-conforming churches Ireland). He was born at Islay Scotland and Married Margaret McNEIL aka McNEILE etc. After stepping back from active ministering (over doctrinal issues), he became successful managing various leases in the area. His third daughter, Grizel, married John McNEIL. SOURCE: The Flurry Valley: Landlords and Society, 1659 – 1841. Don Johnston, Journal of the County Louth Archaeological and Historical Society, Part I was published in: Vol. 26, No. 1 (2005), pp. 5-26 Part II was published in: Vol. 25, No. 4 (2004), pp. 379-399; Part III was published in Vol. 26, No. 1(2005), pp. 5-26 Published by: County Louth Archaeological and History Society.

SOURCE: Faughart Historical Society: SIMPSON. This Burying Place Erected/by Margaret Simson widow/to the Memory of the Late/Rev PATRICK SIMPSON/Dissenting Minister of/Dundalk who departed this/Life October the 5th 1780 aged/99 years.
SOURCE: Tempests Annual 1909 p.33 Dundalk Presbyterian Church. W. M. Patteson. The Dundalk Presbyterian Church was first organised in the year 1560 and among one of the oldest non-conforming congregations in Ireland. … [the second minister] was the Rev. Patrick Simpson, who held a high position in the Church. He was allied to the M'Neill family. It is recorded in local history that two brothers, Archibald and Malcolm M'Neill, officers in the army, landed at Dundalk in 1688, and fought in the great battle of Ballymascanlon and succeeded in taking the castle formerly occupied by the Scanlons—a Celtic family, who were afterwards driven into exile. Soon after their settlement they brought over from the Island of Islay two Presbyterian Ministers, the Rev. Patrick Simpson and the Rev. Mr. Drummond, one of them to minister at Dundalk and other at Scanlon Castle, near which a Presbyterian church had been built on the ancient site of which the present church of the Protestant Episcopal Communion stands. The Minister's house and farm then occupied the site of the present residence of the MacNeill family, Mountpleasant. Archibald MacNeill gave £100—a large sum in those days—towards the building of the old Presbyterian church in Linenhall Street. Mr. Simpson died in 1760 [sic], at the age of 99 years, and was succeeded by the Rev. Drummond, who also died in Dundalk in 1778, aged 38 years. His remains lie alongside those of his predecessors in the family burial ground the MacNeills.

[2] Philipstown, Parish of Philipstown, Co. Louth

[3] Alexander DONALDSON (1671-1776). He was probably born in Ringfad, Co. Down. This was his second known lease. The first was from the family of Thomas Thynne, 2nd Viscount Weymouth, later the Marquess of Bath. This lease of 127 acres comprised the townland of Drumhaman [Drumhammon, Co. Monaghan - according to John Donaldson, 1838] in Farney Barony in Donaghmoyne Parish. A Hill in the area was known as Donaldson Hill in olden days. On modern ordinance maps this is shown directly south of Castleblayney on grids 25 and 28....Alex secured a lease of this farm for his eldest son John and stocked and cropped it so he could get a firm start. This shows Alex was a man of some means at this time and had some wealth behind him. ... "This done, Alex and his family moved several miles to the east and settled near Phillipstown, Co. Louth where he secured another lease.

...Alex Ban lived there until it was stocked and cropped and let his second son Andrew take possession of it.

... Around 1739 Alex ban Donaldson was invited by Randal Donaldson Esq. landed proprietor of several thousands of acres of land in the North of Ireland to settle on his lands in Cloghoge, South County Armagh....Alex ban took out his third lease and this was the North, one quarter of the Townland of Cloghoge containing 140 acres in Co. Armagh. Here he was to live the rest of his life and build his home. SOURCE: Irish Edition of Alex ban Donaldson.

[4] Grizel SIMSON, third daughter of Rev. Patrick SIMSON.She died sometime between 1737 and 1765. She married John McNEILE - her half 2nd cousin. Their son, Neil McNEIL of Lower Farghart married Anne TWIBILLof Jonesborough and they had 7 children. SOURCE: The Flurry Valley: Landlords and Society, 1659 – 1841. Don Johnston, Journal of the County Louth Archaeological and Historical Society, Part I was published in: Vol. 26, No. 1 (2005), pp. 5-26 Part II was published in: Vol. 25, No. 4 (2004), pp. 379-399; Part III was published in Vol. 26, No. 1(2005), pp. 5-26 Published by: County Louth Archaeological and History Society

[5] James COULTER, son of Charles COULTER. Born before 1734.

[6] Charles COULTER. My first sighting of this Charles COULTER is in a deed: 80-473-56629 dated 1735 Aug 27.

[7] Carrickastuck, Parish of Philipstown, Co. Louth.

[8] Malcomm HALL. NOTE: Francis HALL was a landlord in the area and Malcolm was a name associated with the McNEILEs in the region - so there may have been a HALL-McNEILE link that I have yet to learn about.

[9] Andrew DONALDSON (1712-1773) 2^nd son of Alexander DONALDSON. He married Catherine BAILLIE of Clonaleenan.

[10] Robert MURPHY. NOTE: An Anne MURPHY married a Jaems DONALDSON, so I would expect that in time I will find a family tie here as well.

[11] Mr. BURNS

[12] T.W. BELL.