Mavemacullen Townland
Loughgilly Parish, the River Cusher and its
mills
HARRY O'HARE
Mavemacullen is the name of two townlands Mavemacullen Upper
and Mavemacullen Lower. Mavemacullen Upper with an area of 239
acres 1 rood and 30 perches is in the Parish of Loughgilly,
while Mavemacullen Lower, 398 acres 2 roods and 38 perches in
area, is in the Parish of Ballymore and Mullabrack. The highest
point in the Mavemacullens is 301 feet above sea-level.
I was always led to believe that the meaning of the name "Mavemacullen"
was "The Plain of the Mills." Some authorities would
disagree. Through the Parish of Loughgilly flows the River
Cusher used in the past as the source of power for many mills.
Over the years the spelling of the name of the townland has
varied greatly. The earliest written form I have found is in the
Hearth Money Rolls of 1664-65 when it was referred to as "Moy
McCullen". Other versions are:
Mowillin also Hearth Money Rolls 1664-65
Maymawhillen Family indenture 1815
Maymaywhillin Family headstone 1817
Maymacullen Family indenture 1827
Maymawhillan Map of Tenancy 1833
Memacullen Headstone 1859
Maymacullen Orange Hall 1923
Mavemacullen Present Day
Mawhillen In speech use, to my knowledge 1912.
'Mawhillen,' as I will call the townland in this article has
within its boundaries, a church and graveyard, a manse, school,
hall, shop. Post Office, Blacksmith's Forge, and 10 occupied
farm houses. However, there are no mills within the townland.
The church Clare parish Church, (Church of Ireland). The
parish was formed with four townlands from Mullaghbrack, five
from Loughgilly and twelve from Ballymore on March, 6th 1840.
The lease of the site of the church was obtained from James
Brown on 3rd March, 1841 and the church consecrated on October
13th, 1842. The first minister was Rev. Edward Bryce. He was
succeeded by Rev. James Wilson in 1844. The latter married twice
first to a daughter of William Hutcheson, Tandragee and then to
Mary Prentice, the widow of Robert Prentice, in Drumbanagher
Church on September, 9th, 1844. Rev. Frederick Trulock Hankin
was minister from 1858 until 1877. Later this church became part
of Loughgilly Parish.
Mawhillen Graveyard is the burial ground of the Harden family,
former owners of Clare. The oldest dated headstone in the
graveyard is that of Irwin of Corlust dated 27th December, 1832.
This seems strange as the lease of the site is dated March 3rd
1841, eight years later. The headstone of James Dillon, who died
in 1859 records his former residence as "Memacullen."
The Rev. James Wilson and his wife Mary are buried in this
graveyard.
Clare Manse is in Mawhillen townland. Built in 1879, it was
occupied by the ministers of Clare until 1965. Previous to 1879
the ministers had resided elsewhere, notably Rev. John Bell who
is buried in the Presbyterian Graveyard, Clare. Described on the
headstone as "A laborious and faithful pastor, aged 57
years," he lived at the cross-roads on the Markethill,
Tandragee Road still known as "Bell's Crossroads."
In this graveyard is a headstone recording the deaths of three
brothers on 22nd, 28th and 29th November, 1918. Residents of
Mawhillen, they died in the great 'flu epidemic which swept the
country at the end of the Great War.
Mawhillen School attached to Clare Parish Church is in the same
grounds. In the early years of the last century a 'hedge school'
is mentioned in the townland in a Government Inquiry into
education in the country.
Mawhillen Orange Hall built in 1923 is inscribed "Maymacullen."
Previous to this the brethren met in a building owned by James
Cunningham.
Thomas Haire was the owner of the shop in the townland and
carried on an extensive trade in a wide variety of goods over
many years.
Grocer, hardware merchant and funeral undertaker it is noted
that in this latter trade he had 23 funerals in a period of 21
days at the time of the 1918 'flu epidemic.
Eleven Lane End's Post Office is also housed in this local shop,
and has been in business for 100 years and more. In tenancy maps
for 1833 and 1863 the area is called "Eleven Lonan
Ends" and "Eleven Loanings" respectively. Named
most likely in the old coach days the passengers having noticed
that there were a number of lanes within a very small area.
The Blacksmith's shop in any district was one of the most
important places. Known locally as "The Smithy," there
was a time when Mawhillan had no Smithy. There had been one just
outside the boundary at an intersection of five roads or lanes.
This spot became known as the "Brick House" because it
was here that one of the first houses made with brick rather
than mud was erected. The smithy became vacant and the local
undertaker, I have already mentioned, needing a smith to shoe
his horses which pulled the hearse, erected a new 'shop' and got
a smith, John Clarke in the late 1890's. This smithy closed in
the 1960s.
The population in the country is less than it was years ago, and
now there are only 10 occupied farm houses in the two townlands
of Mawhillen. I can recall twenty occupied and point out the
sites of at least fourteen others I have become aware of in my
lifetime. Bassett's Directory 1888 lists eighteen residents,
including Post Master Thomas Haire, Brick Manufacturer Robert J.
Haire and the Reverend R. J. W. Wham.
The latter died on the 2nd October, 1929 in Clare Manse, having
at one time been Armagh Deputy County Grand Master of the Orange
Order.
Mawhillen has one fort, rath, in Lower Mawhillen. It was a good
example, until about four years ago an agricultural grant was
used to help level the outer ring.
There is a Spa Well (Chalybeate) in a field behind Clare Church,
Mawhillen, and there were numerous spring wells, many alas,
filled in since piped water came to the area.
PARISH OF LOUGHGILLY
The present Loughgilly Parish extends from Mawhillen Upper to
Ballintemple Townland near Newtownhamilton. On the 1602 map it
is shown as "Locully." The parish was formerly known
as "Castrum O'Hanlon," as much of the Cusher Valley
belonged to the O'Hanlon's until their estates were confiscated
for taking part in the Earl of Tyrone's rebellion in Queen
Elizabeth's reign. The area known as Tyrone's Ditches is mostly
within the parish boundary, in the townland of Ballenan. This is
where the Earl encamped for several years, and had dug his
defences.
In this district roamed several highwaymen, and no doubt Redmond
O'Hanlon, Tory or Rapparee, moved through and maybe even escaped
from his pursuers by walking across Loughgilly Bog. Posts were
placed just below water level to make a ford for those how knew
the path to take.
In 1613, John Madden, Rector (Loughgilly), got a Chancery Decree
for £40 for cattle "wrongfully distrained on the lands
ofLisdramcor and Coronagh," against Sir Archibald Acheson
who, on the 19th June, 1629, however, got a Decree against him
"in lieu of the profits of the Rector of Loughgilly 1624
and 1627.'' He resigned the rectory in 1628 exchanging with his
successor for Donoughmore, Geo. Synge.
One of the larger houses mentioned in papers during these years
was reported by Captain Pynnar's Survey 1618 - 19 .....
"Henry Bowcher, Esq., hath two thousand acres, called
Claire. Upon this proportion there is a bawn of lyme and stone,
being one hundred feet in length, and eighty feet in breadth,
and fourteen feet high, with two flankers. There is now in
building a good strong stone house which is fully two stories
high, and a number of workmen labouring for the speedy finishing
thereof.''
Another resident is noted in "The Post Chaise Companion
1786" when detailing the route from Newry to Ballybay via
Ballymoyer.
"Within half a mile of Ballymoyer Church, on the left at
the cross-road from Newry to Newtownhamilton is Ballymoyer
Lodge, the seat of Sir Walter Synnot, Knt. The house is
beautifully situated by the side of a deep glen, with a fine
stream running amongst rocks through it. The plantations are
extensive and well laid out.''
Hearth Money Rolls for 1664 show that there were 130 listed
homes of one hearth within the Parish of Loughgilly. Six were
listed for Mawhillen and none of the names is in the area now.
The Mawhillen names recorded were, McGeough, McIrnan, McSherry,
O'Keenan, and McGurigan.
In 1785 "Portnorris rioters" committed several
"barbarous actions" in that quarter; "they broke
and destroyed all the effects belonging to a Mr. Murphy. His
damages in liquors and groceries were estimated at £100 loss
besides the personal injuries that himself and family
received."
"Sir Walter Synott, Magistrate, left no means untried to
reclaim these rioters to a sense of their duty but to no effect.
Accordingly, some troops were sent to his assistance and he took
four of these heroes by surprise. In 1787 the rioters were
acquitted. It was confidently reported that some of the Papists
took large bribes at these Assizes not to prosecute."
Papers in State Paper Office Dublin record that in 1796-8 there
was an attack on 24th Dragoons at Loughgilly.
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