T2541/IA/1/14/10
James Hamilton, to [Earl of Abercorn, London].

22 February 1784

'I send your Lordship a return of the rents received from the 18th January till the 15th instant, with an account of the arrears as they stood that day. I send also Barrons-Court account from the 10 January to the 15th instant.'

'I had a line from Mr Hood's son in which he says that nothing is done at the fair maps of Donegal, but hopes to finish them the beginning of summer; he says that he thinks that I may be able to judge what the embanked lands of Desart etc. should rise, but if I thought he could be of use he would come and view them and give his opinion soon after the storms would be over, and I suppose it would be best he should, as the most likely way of convincing the tenants of the reasonable[ness] of their advancing.'

'James and John Steen of Dromore had a flax mill in common, before the expiration of the lease James sold his half of the mill to John, who by agreement was to dress James' flax, free of any expense, save the persons necessary for the work, which would be only the use of the mill, for perhaps a day in the year, which privilege James had till now, and John now denies giving him; the common about their houses was surveyed but not divided. John prevents James from building on the common; James offers to leave these differences to two neighbours, but John refuses; I wrote and afterwards spoke to John to leave it to neighbours but he will not.'

'James Steen sent me up a long state of the case, which James Jordon wrote and read to John, who said he would neither allow him the use of the mill, or to build unless the law obliged him; young Mr Hood certifies under the paper sent me that he measured the half of the common into James' farm and that he thinks James ought to have his flax dressed as formerly.'

'Samuel Doak of Drumfad writes to me that on the 3rd instant his kiln barn and stable were burned down, with a large quantity of oats, 10 sacks of barley 3 hundredweight of flax and his farming utensils to the amount of at least £30; he desires me to represent his losses to your Lordship, hoping that your Lordship would allow him some timber to repair his houses; he says he has planted a great deal, and that there is a considerable quantity of old timber growing on his farm.'

'There was collected in this town last week, for the relief of poor housekeepers and lodgers, who were much distressed by our storm which has lasted very long. £30 4s. 1 1/2d.
of which there was distributed on Friday and
Saturday to 219 according to their condition £27 15s. 11 1/2d.


£ 2 6s. 2 1/2d.

'There were people fixed on the beginning of the week to examine into the state of such people, and returns made of the number of their families and their support and a good many attended, when a general list was made out, and what each was to get affixed to the name, our (?) number as there was no person who begged on the list surprised us, but tradesmen and [ ]* who could not work and labourers who could not get work swelled it greatly; now that storm is I hope well over they will find employment; we could hardly reckon that there was a change till Friday in which however we had a great deal of snow sleet and rain; it was the coldest day I remember. Yesterday and this [is] much more temporate, the greatest part of the snow off the grounds, and I hope our ice will get away without doing us much more damage.'

'It is much to be feared that our markets for provisions will not fall; meal has not risen above 1s. 6d. for ten pound or potatoes above 6d.; some think they will not rise but I fear much corn has been given to support outlying cattle in the mountainy parts...'

PS 'It is now "six a clock" in the evening; I have just returned from the foot of the town; the flood has got into the street and rising fast and we are going to take in such of the people who choose it into the market house, to shelter them till tomorrow; if it continues to rain it must be the greatest flood ever known here.'



*Cancelled

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D623/A/26/10
[James, Earl of Abercorn], London to James Hamilton Esq., [Strabane].
5 March 1784

'When opportunity serves, I desire you may return my best compliments to Lord Castlestewart.

By the bye-laws which you sent me, it appears as if it were a practice to impose a tax upon such inhabitants as are Roman Catholics and are tradesmen or dealers. If that is so, I take it to be not only injurious to the town, but repugnant to principles of liberty, and contrary to the law of the land. I understand that every inhabitant, as such, has a right to exercise his trade, and that there is no such thing as admission to freedom, except where the provost and burgesses think fit to communicate the privileges of the corporation to anyone who is not an inhabitant.

I am obliged to you for the trouble you took in consequence of my enclosing James O'Cahan's petition. It was indeed more than I intended to give you. I believe it is necessary to give Hudson the choice of those he employs, in order to make him responsible for what is done.

Mr Rankin's paper is by no means satisfactory. I desire it may be returned to him. If there is a possibility of doubt of the right, the sooner it is discussed, the better; and if he does not in a fortnight send you another paper, without the reservation, I desire you will work the [Cloghogle] quarry.

If I were at hand, I would get James Steen redressed.

Allow Samuel Doak such of the timber upon his farm towards the reparation of his loss, as you think proper.'


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T2541/IA/1/14/17
James Hamilton, Strabane to [Earl of Abercorn, London].
14 March 1784
'I send your Lordship an account of the rents received from the 15th February till the 14th March and of the arrears as they now stand.'

'I have this night enclosed Mr Rankin the note he gave for the payment of the rent of Cloughogal slate quarry, and let him know that if he does not in a fortnight, send it down without any reservation, that he will not be offered it again, as he is remote from this, and that possibly he may wish to consult; perhaps I may hear from your Lordship before I do from him, and would be desirous to know whether I am without any proceedings to enter upon the quarry, for as he is in possession perhaps it might be right to eject him; if so it must be on the title; he held it by agreement and I should suppose his time not out till November with the other leases expire.'

'I will give Samuel Doak of Drumfad some of the timber on his farm, as your Lordship orders towards the "reparation" of his houses though I am sorry to have timber cut, yet I am pleased with this indulgence as I should think it a likely way, to prevent their cutting clandestinely, and may be an encouragement to planting.'

'On Tuesday I was spoken to by some of the tenants of Gortlougher who said Mr Jordan was carrying on a road, that was not in the least useful; I fixed with him and we went there yesterday; the road begins at "Sian" goes on through the Glantimans into Gortlougher and to go into the great road between Strabane and Magheracreigan at Magheragar; as far as I can judge, it is very laid out through bad grounds, avoiding hills, and a very great convenience to the inhabitants; it really lets out these people conveniently, that were before shut up; beside it goes directly past by the edge of a limestone quarry in Magheragar; it was plain when I went there that the person complaining wanted chiefly to push the road so as to pass by his farm, without I may say touching him, though the road going as it is intended will I am persuaded save his farm and give him a road from his house to the limestone quarry; this very man as it appears was the chief petitioner for the road, and said he would be glad to have it though it went through his garden; we went from that to the part of "Sciaan" called the holm where one Patton complained of a road or rather a pass agreed on for that town and Legartown from their farms, to Strabane and Newtown-Stewart; I really thought Jordan right in that also, and I think they all in both cases seemed satisfied.'

'I then went to "Scian" mill which I believe is very completely finished everything put in good order and just waiting for our millstones from Liverpool; they and the things I formerly mentioned will make her a capital mill I think.'

'Indeed I do not know how to get James Steen of Dromore redresed; His brother John is a stiff stubborn man; if as your Lordship says you was at hand, the least word even from me would do it; many of the tenants ask me whether I believe your Lordship will be at Barrons Court this summer, or rather when I think your Lordship will be over. I can say nothing in answer but this I am sure of, that it would be a blessing to the people, and of greater good, than anything that could happen, for the well-being of the estate.'

'I most humbly beg pardon for this liberty...'