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Rent reduction. Mrs. CLEWLOW had family ties to the DONALDSONs of Freeduff, so it is not surprising that she was well acquainted with the issues of tenant rights, and also seems sympathetic to the needs of her tenants. These DONALDSONs were key figures in the 1798 uprising, and thereafter.
Sharon Oddie Brown. January 27, 2012
NOTE: I should have footnoted that her agent and nephew, Thomas Kelly EVANS, was a son of Sarah Maria KELLY and Richard EVANS. They were closely related to the JACKSONs of Liscalgot & Urker Lodge. Letters from George JACKSON in the early 1800s, where he is advising his JACKSON nephew, mention them frequently.

 

1833 Feb 5

NT

 

REDUCTION OF RENTS -- a correspondent, who writes from Clohog, near Crossmaglen, informs us that that neighbourhood was all in a blaze on Friday night last, in consequence of news arriving that their humane landlady, Mrs. Clewlow[1], of Claremont, near Belfast, on a proper representation being made to her, by or worthy agent, Thomas Kelly Evans, Esq., of Armagh, of the pressure of the times, have promptly remitted from 25 to 30%, on her rents. This is not the only active munificence which her tenantry have experienced within these few years past: she has subscribed 20 guineas towards direction of a school house -- £40 towards repairs of a Presbyterian meeting house -- 10 guineas towards the building of a Roman Catholic Chapel in Crossmaglen -- and pays, annually, £4 to the Crossmaglen dispensary, for the benefit of her tenantry: for all which acts of generosity and kindness her tenantry are truly and unfeignedly thankful.

 

Thanks to Kieran McConville for the image beneath:

1833 February 5

 


[1] Ann CLEWLOW née Ann DONALDSON (d. aft1845), daughter of Captain James DONALDSON & Hester ECHLIN (1730-1807). Her sister married Rev. Daniel KELLY. The ECHLINs, DONALDSONs & KELLYs were all significant landowners. SEE: The will of her niece, Louisa Jane KELLY April 5, 1823. Another useful source:  Irish Edition of Alexander ban DONALDSON:

·        p. 245 “Donaldson, Ann married Rev James CLEWLOW, Vicar of Saintfield, Co. Down an (sic) Claremont hear Belfast. This family is now extinct. Estate went to heirs of Ann, this being her maternal Aunt Jane ECHLIN of Echlinville who married Major George MATTHEWS of Springdale near Grey Abby. Mrs. MATTHEWS willed the estate to her 2nd son John Echlin MATTHEWS and his heirs. Edward MATTEWS inherited all of the lease lands after death of Ann and Sarah. At his death he owned 809 acres in South Armagh and 1580 in C. Antrim. Several parcels of this was our DONALDSONS land in Carron and Cloghoge. Anne & James had no children. Later generations of MATTHEWS took the name and arms of DONALDSON to enable them to inherit property.”

·        p.304 Ann CLEWLOW, sister of Rev James CLEWLOW died in 1844 and the property that John DONALDSON (b.1772) resided on was sold in 1854. This ended this family's connection with this land.

 

NOTE: This Saintfield Church connection intrigues me because of DONALDSON connections to Rev.Thomas Ledlie BIRCH of Saintfield at the time of the United Irishmen movement. James CLEWLOW, born was the son of James Hamilton CLEWLOW (Vicar of Saintfield 1756-1782) and Mary TRAIL (of Tullychin); d. 19 Nov 1809 aged 52; he was the vicar of Saintfield 1782-1809.

 

 

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