The Down Survey of Ireland, conducted from 1656 to 1658, was an ambitious project to map all existing land ownership in Ireland. Its purpose was sinister; those lands that would be forfeited by Irish Catholic landowners would be given to Cromwell's supporters and English Protestant soldiers. Nevertheless, it is one of the earliest maps of its kind, and shows us a great deal about Ireland before the massive land confiscations. The Down Survey website also provides an interface between the ancient maps and modern maps.
Here is the map for Laracor Parish, County Meath, where our Allen and Sweeney Ancestors lived.
I realized these maps are not aligned N-S - the map below shows Umberstowne, Dangan (Dingen), Clonmahon and Clondougan, and "Lynchknock" (later Summerhill) with the ill fated Dungan Hill and bog just outside of Lynchknock and its castle. (see separate blog on the Battle of Dungan Hill.)
The survey went on to show the proprietor of the land, the acreage, and how many of those acres were profitable.
Umbrestowne, owned by Valerian Wesley and Richard Lincham, was 273 acres, all considered profitable land. Dangan (Dingan) owned by Valerian Wesley (papist) was 589 acres, all profitable. Valerian Wesley saved his lands, by, as the conquerors had hoped, converting to the Protestant religion.
Knocke, owned by Garrett Linch was 743 acres, all profitable. But notice that after Garret's name it shows "pap." This marks the land as among those to be confiscated. While Garrett Linch was away, the castle was stormed by the Marquis Ormonde and the male inhabitants slain. It was sold by the Protestant Bishop of Meath, Henry Jones, to Sir Hercules Langford in 1661. Sir Hercules Langford would be the builder of Summerhill Estate.
The survey describes the soil of the area as good, with arable meadows and pastures and only a little bog on the southwest end. It then goes on to describe the Battle of Dinganhill, where more than 5800 men were slain. (See separate post)
It describes in Knocke a fair house and an old castle in repair, some very good woods and a mill. It also describes a town at Clomahon and Clondoggan and some small villages at Umberstowne with a few cabins and a fair stone house in Dangen.
The 1670 Survey showed how forfeited lands in the area had been transferred to Protestant landowners.
At Dangan, 589 plantation acres that were owned by Catholic Valerian Wesley now belonged to Protestant Garrett Wesley.
At Great Umberstown, 273 plantation acres that were owned by Valerian Wesley were now owned by Sir John Stephens.
At Clondoogan, 401 plantation acres that had belonged to Richard Linchamp (who was a Protestant) now belonged to Sir John Stephens as well.
The Summerhill Demesne which had belonged to Varerian Welseyin 1641 now belonged to Garrett Wesley, as did Moy.
Enjoyed reading this - our great grandmother was a Swiss governess who stayed at Summerhill House in the late 19th century. We don't know anything else about this, other than she may have been governess to a London family who visited at Summerhill.
ReplyDeleteWow! How interesting! She must have had a fascinating experience.Have you seen this post? https://allensandsweeneysofsummerhill.blogspot.com/2014/05/allen-blog-hughs-story-part-8.html
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