APPENDIX II
119
A NOTE ON THE LANDS LYING TO THE SOUTH-WEST OF CARRICKFERGUS TOWN
This appendix examines the status of the arable land lying to the south-west of the Woodburn river in the early 1600s. Note that all emphasis has been added, and that all years are new style.1 Summary 1. The hills of Great Knockagh and Little Knockagh lie to the west of Carrickfergus, and three important streams or rivers, important in the context of boundaries, flow from their vicinities more or less south-east to the sea. From west to east these are the Silver Stream (arising from the western end of Great Knockagh), a stream currently unnamed on Ordinance Survey maps (arising from the Stoney glen between Great Knockagh and Little Knockagh), and the Woodburn river (running to the east of Little Knockagh). The distances between these as they discharge into the sea are roughly 1.9 and 0.6 statute miles respectively, while the distance from the Knockagh to the sea is roughly 1.4 statute miles.2 2. There is evidence (see later), that the Stoney Glen was once called Faseris Neey3 (or the Deer’s Lane), and that the stream arising from there and running close to Trooperslane before entering the sea, was once called the Lysnashemer3 stream. 3. The Lysnashemer stream divides the land lying between the Silver Stream and the Woodburn River into a south-westerly part and a north-easterly part, marked ‘2’ and ‘3’ respectively on the map opposite. 4. In 1601 a local jury was asked to record “all the lands, tenements, commons of pasture, and hereditaments anciently belonging to the corporation of Carrickfergus aforesaid and which have always or of a long time continued in their manurance,4 grazing, and possession.” 5 5. The south-westerly part, between the Silver Stream and the Lysnashemer stream, was in the town’s possession by 15946 but it was not included in the findings of the jury of 1601 suggesting that it was a more recent acquisition. The charter of 8 March 1602, 44 Elizabeth I, while not recognising it as a part of the town’s ancient lands, did grant it to the “county of the town of Carrickfergus”7 under the name of Cloghloghortie and with an area of about 1,200 acres. Whether it legally became part of the county of the town or simply belonged to it is unclear, but if it did, it was soon excluded by 11 July 1609, 7 James I8 although the town itself continued to own it. 6. The north-easterly part, between the Lysnashemer stream and the Woodburn River, was included in the ancient lands defined by the jury in 1601 and was granted to 1
That is to say the new year is assumed to start on 1 January. Based on the distance of 460 Irish perches from Trooperslane to the Silver Stream (see below). 3 See the Preface to Second Edition for possible derivations of these names. 4 “Occupation and cultivation.” 5 Pages 19–22 above. 6 Page 124 below. 7 It had been “incorporated by the names of the Mayor, Alderman, Burgesses, and Commonality of the County of the Town of Knockfergus” in the charter 20 March 1569, 11 Elizabeth I. 8 There were two Carrickfergus charters, dated 7th and 11th, in the July of that year. 2
