The Silver Bowl: 1829 April 28

1829 Apr 28

Newtownhamilton

This advertisement raises more questions than I can answer. There are only two houses in the townland of Urker, Parish of Creggan, Co. Armagh that could fit this description.

The first is Urker House, which was inhabited by Captain Samuel BALL (1757-1843).
The second significant dwelling was at Urker Lodge. Elizabeth JACKSON, the widow of John JACKSON (1780-1817), lived there and had three small children at the time. Even though she struggled to pay her rent, there is no record of her losing tenancy; yet, the advertisement mentions specifically Urker Lodge.

I suspect that the ad was in error and that it should have referred to Urker House not Urker Lodge. Here is a timeline of what I know so far:

1665 Lieut. Thomas BALL was awarded some 6,725 acres in Co. Armagh, including lands in Creggan Parish. SOURCE: Land Confiscations and Plantations in County Armagh during the English Commonwealth and Restoration Periods. 1650 to 1680, Harold O’Sullivan. Published in: Armagh: History and Society, ed A.J. Hughes and William Nolan. Geography Publications, 2001.
1692 May 21, Thomas BALL (a son of the original Thomas BALL, his will was probated in 1692) collected dividends for a number of townlands, including Urker,
1800 Aug 1, Urker Lodge was set to John JACKSON by Thomas BALL, father of the John BALL, who I suspect is the contact person in this advertisement, and witnessed by his brother Samuel BALL
1817, John JACKSON’s will records him as being of Urker:.
1826 Letter. Elizabeth JACKSON was still a tenant, but received a rent reassessment from Samuel BALL.
1830 Sept 2, Urker Lodge was leased to his Widow Elizabeth by James JOHNSTON of Woodvale and William JOHNSTON of Dundalk.
1856. This house was still leased by Elizabeth JACKSON, and then by her son, David Jackson, then by his son, Sir Thomas JACKSON, and was associated with JACKSONs and their descendents, well past the middle of the 20^th Century.

TO BE LET, FOR SUCH TERM AS MAY BE AGREED UPON, the HOUSE OFFICES AND DESMESNE of URKER, together with from TEN to FORTY ACRES or more of LAND adjoining the premises. The house is in perfect repair, and fit for the immediate reception of a family, a sum of money having been lately expended upon it. The furniture is also in good order. Several dozen of choice OLD PORT and SHERRY may be had at a valuation. Urker Lodge is situated in the County Armagh, Barony of Upper Fews; distant 8 miles from Dundalk, five from Castleblaney, and seven from Carrickmacross; within a quarter of a mile of Crossmaglen; and a monthly fair and weekly market town, in a cheap and plentiful country, abounding with fuel and other advantages not generally met with.

Proposals (if by letter, post-paid) will be received by JOHN BALL[1], Esq., Dunleer, County Louth.

Thanks to Kieran McConville for the image beneath:

[1] John BALL Esq. of Dunleer was mentioned in the will of Thomas Prideau BALL (1796-1869), but his relationship is unclear. He is probably, a descendent of Abraham BALL (abt 1665-1740) who held a lease for Urcher in 1716, which was inherited from his father Lieut. Thomas BALL. This means that one option is that he is the John BALL who was a son of Thomas BALL (1727-1798) and Phillipa USSHER..This John BALL died in Nassau. His brother Capt. Samuel BALL (1757-1842) resided at Urker House. This John BALL may or may not have been the same John BALL who was a member of the Irish Parliament representing Drogheda in 1796 & 1799 SOURCE: Journal of the County Louth Archaeological Society, Vol. 4, No. 4 (Dec., 1919/1920),pp. 375-386 Published by: County Louth Archaeological and History Society: http://www.jstor.org/stable/27729240