THE SCOT IN ULSTER
THE SCOTTISH CHURCH IN ULSTER
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in Ireland is a remarkable chapter in the history of the Scots.
For two or three years after the "great settlement of 1610," the colony went on increasing; and then its progress was checked by rumours of a great plot among the natives to sweep away the foreign settlers. Such a conspiracy did actually exist, and was certainly a thing which might be expected; but it was discovered and suppressed in 1615, before it came to a head. [1] This danger past, the settlement again made progress, the Government putting pressure on the undertakers to compel them to fulfil the conditions of their contracts, and fully plant their lands with "British" tenants. In 1618 the Irish Government instructed Captain Pynnar to inspect every allotment in the six "escheated" counties, and to report on each one, whether held by "natives" or "foreign planters." The report presents a very exact picture of what had been done by the settlers in the counties inspected--Londonderry, Donegal, Tyrone, Armagh, Cavan, and Fermanagh. Pynnar points out that many of the undertakers had altogether failed to implement the terms of their agreements. On the other hand, he reports the number of castles, "bawns," and "dwelling-houses of stone and timber built after the English fashion," and mentions the number of tenants, and the size and conditions of their holdings. He states that "there are upon occasion 8000 men of British birth and descent...continue reading »
[1] Calendar of State Papers, Ireland, 1615-25, p. viii.
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Page 49
The Scot in Ulster:
Sketch of the History of the Scottish Population of Ulster
by John Harrison
1888
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