LIST OF ABBOTS OF MELLIFONT.
Saint Christian O’Connarchy, Founder and first Abbot, Bishop of Lismore and Legate of the Holy See, 1150.
Blessed Malchus, brother of preceding.
Charles O’Buacalla, 1177, made Bishop of Emly.
Patrick, term of office not known.
Maelisa, appointed Bishop of Clogher in 1194.
Thomas, 1211.
Carus, or Cormac O’Tarpa, elected Bishop of Achonry in 1219, resigned that See in 1226, returned to Mellifont where he died.
Mathew, 1289.
Michael, 1293.
William M’Buain.
Hugh O’Hessain, resigned 1300.
Thomas O’Henghan.
Radulph, or Ralph O’Hedian.
Nicholas of Lusk, 1325.
Michael, 1333.
Roger, 1346.
Reginald, 1349.
Hugh, 1357.
Reginald Leynagh, died 15th August, 1368.
John Terrour, 1370.
[There is no record of the names of Abbots in this interval.]
Roger, 1472.
John Logan.
Henry.
John Warren.
Roger Boly.
John Troy, 1486-1500.
Thomas Harvey, died 20th March, 1525.
Richard Conter, the last regular Abbot, pensioned in 1540.
As will be observed, the line of succession is incomplete between the years 1370 and 1472; and it is impossible now to fill in the gaps. The List is taken from Ware’sCœnobia Cisterciensia in Hibernia, and Dalton’sHistory of Drogheda.
THE CHARTER OF NEWRY.
Copied and translated from the Original in the British Museum, from a copy given by John O’Donovan inDublin Penny Journal, 1832-33, p. 102.
Maurice M’Laughlin, King of all Ireland, to all his Kings, Princes, Nobles, Leaders, Clergy and Laity, and to all and each the Irish present and to come, GREETING.
Know ye that I, by the unanimous will and common consent of the Nobles of Ultonia, Ergallia (Oriel), and O’Neach (Iveagh), to wit of Donchad O’Carroll, King of all Ergallia, and of Murchad his son, King of O’Meith, and of the territory of Erthur, of Conla, King of Ultonia, of Donald O’Heda, King of O’Neach (Iveagh),HAVE GRANTED AND CONFIRMED, in honour of the Blessed Virgin Mary, St. Patrick, and St. Benedict, the Father and Founder of the Cistercian Order, to the monks serving God in Nyvorcintracta (Newry) as a perpetual and pure donation, the land of O’Cormac, whereon was founded the monastery of Athcrathin, with its lands, woods, and waters, Enancratha, with its lands, woods, and waters, Crumglean, with its lands, woods, and waters, Caselanagan, with its lands, woods, and waters, Lisinelle, with its lands, woods, and waters, Croa Druimfornac, with its lands, woods, and waters, Letri, Corcrach, Fidglassayn, Tirmorgannean, Connocol, etc.These Landswith theirMills, I have confirmed to the aforesaid monks of my own proper gift, for the health of my soul, that I may be partaker of all the benefits of masses,hours(i.e.vespers and matins), and prayers that shall be offered in the Monastery itself, and to the end of time.
And because I have founded the Monastery of Ybar cintracta (Newry), of my own free will, I have taken the monks so much under my protection, as sons and domestics of thefaith, that they may be safe from the molestations and incursions of all men.
I will also that, as the Kings and Nobles of O’Neach (Iveagh), or of Ergallia (Uriel), may wish to confer certain lands on this Monastery, for the health of their souls, they may do so in my lifetime, while they have my free will and licence, that I may know what and how much of my Earthly Kingdom, the King of Heaven may possess for the use of His poor Monks.
The Witnesses and Sureties are:—
Giolla MacLiag, Archbishop of Armagh,holding the Staff of Jesus in his hand.
Hugh O’Killedy, Bishop of Uriel (Clogher.)
Muriac O’Coffay, Bishop of Tirone (Derry.)
Melissa Mac in Clerig-cuir, Bishop of Ultonia (Down.)
Gilla Comida O’Caran, Bishop of Tirconnell (Raphoe.)
Eachmarcach O’Kane, King of Fearnacrinn and Kennacta (now Barony of Keenaght, Co. Londonderry.)
O’Carriedh, the Great; Chief of Clan Aengusa, and Clan Neil.
Cumaige O’Flain, King of O’Turtray (Antrim.)
Gilla Christ O’Dubhdara, King of Fermanagh.
Eachmarcach O’Ffoifylain.
Maelmocta MacO’Nelba.
Aedh (Hugh) the Great Magennis, Chief of Clan-Aeda, in O’Neach Uladh (Iveagh.)
Dermot MacCartan, Chief of Kenelfagartay (Kinelearty.)
Acholy MacConlacha, Gill-na-naemh O’Lowry, Chief of Kinel Temnean.
Gilla Odar Ocasey, Abbot of Dundalethglass (Downpatrick.)
Hugh Maglanha, Abbot of Inniscumscray (Iniscourcy.)
Angen, Abbot of Dromoge, and many other Clerics and Laics.
INVENTORY OF ESTATES OF MELLIFONT.
Richard Conter, the last Abbot of Mellifont, was, on the 23rd July, 1539, seized of two messuages, 167 acres of arable land, 10 of pasture, 5 of meadow, and 5 of pasture in Clut———, with a salmon weir; £13 13s. 4d. annual rent, arising from 16 fishing corraghs at Oldbridge, together with the tithe-corn of the same, all of the annual value, besides reprises, of £27 18s. 8d.; also a messuage in Shephouse, with the tithe-corn thereof, of the annual value, besides all reprises, of £4 17s. 8d.; three messuages, 120 acres of arable land, 20 of meadow,—a fishery, and a boat for salmon-fishing in Komalane, together with the tithe-corn thereof, of the annual value, besides all reprises, of £15 3s.; 3 messuages, 2 cottages, a water-mill,—a fishing-weir, 120 acres of arable land, 3 closes, containing 6 acres of mountain in Schahinge, together with the tithe-corn, of the annual value, besides all reprises, of £12 6s. 8d.; 2 messuages,—20 acres of meadow and pasture in Donnore, together with the tithe-corn thereof, of the annual value, besides all reprises, of 115/4; 2 messuages, 8 cottages, 46 acres of arable land, and 2 of meadow in Doo——, together with the tithe-corn thereof, of the annual value, besides all reprises, of £5; 4 messuages, 18 cottages, 39 acres of arable land, and 3 of meadow in Glassehalyine, together with the tithe-corn thereof, of the annual value, besides all the reprises, of £5 18s. 8d.; —— 124 acres of arable land, and 10 of meadow in Graungethe, together with the tithe-corn thereof, of the annual value, besides all reprises, of £14 19s. 4d.; a messuage and cottage, 45 acres of arable land, and 15 of meadow and pasture, in ——, together with the tithe-corn thereof, of the annual value, besides all reprises, of £3 8s. 4d.; 4 messuages, 9 cottages, 64 acres of arable land, and 4 in meadow in Balranny, together with the tithe-corn thereof, of the annual value of ——, —— messuages, with 19 acresof arable land in Kordoraghe, together with the tithe-corn thereof, of the annual value, besides all reprises, of 16/-; 7 messuages, 10 cottages, 186 acres of arable land, 8 of meadow, and 40 of pasture and brushwood in ——, with the tithe-corn thereof, of the annual value, besides all reprises, of £12 3s.; a messuage, two cottages, 120 acres of arable land, a fishing-weir, called Bromey’s weir, and the fishery there, a water-mill in ——, with the tithe-corn thereof, of the annual value, besides all reprises, of £16 5s.; 7 messuages, one cottage, 227 acres of arable land, and 10 of meadow in Ballyfadocke, together with the tithe-corn thereof, of the annual value, besides all reprises, of ——; 4 messuages, 20 acres of arable land, and 4 of meadow in Kinoyshe, together with the tithe-corn thereof, of the annual value, besides all reprises, of £10 3s. 8d.; 4 messuages, 46 acres of arable land, and 4 of meadow in Kellystone, with the tithe-corn thereof, besides all reprises, of the annual value of £4 5s. 4d.; 2 messuages, 3 cottages, 60 acres of arable land, 6 of pasture, and 4 of meadow in Oracamathane, together with the tithe-crown thereof, of the annual value, besides all reprises, of ——; 4 messuages, 8 cottages, 124 acres of arable land, a salmon-weir, called Monktone, a water-mill in the town-land of Rosmore, together with the tithe-corn thereof, of the annual value, besides all reprises, of ——; 3 messuages, 6 cottages, 126 acres of arable land, 6 of meadow, and 6 of meadow in Gyltone, together with the tithe-corn thereof, of the annual value, besides all reprises, of £6 4s. 8d; 5 messuages, 8 cottages, 141 acres of arable land, the fourth part of an acre of meadow, and 6 of common pasture in Dromenhatt, otherwise, Newton of Knockamothane, together with the tithe-corn thereof, of the annual value, besides all reprises, of £8 9s.; 6 messuages, 140 acres of arable land, 4½ of meadow —— in Radrenage, together with the tithe-corn thereof, of the annual value, besides all reprises, of £7 12s.; 3 messuages, 8 cottages, 120 acres of arable land, 6 of meadow, 6 of pasture in Calm, together with the tithe-corn thereof, of the annualvalue, besides all reprises, of £6 17s.; 3 messuages, 60 acres of arable land, 60 of pasture, and 4 of meadow in Starenaghe, with the tithe-corn thereof, of the annual value, besides all reprises, of £5 5s. 8d.; the tithe-corn of the townland of ——inserathe and Balregane, near Donnore and below the parish of Mellifont, of the annual value of £2; the tithe-corn of the town of Monamore, of the annual value of £2 13s. 4d.; the rectory of Balrestore, of the annual value of ——; and the chapels of Grangegeythe and Knockamothane, parcel of the rectory of Mellifont, of the annual value of —— all the said rectories being appropriated to the Abbot and his successors, and, together with the said lands, etc., are lying and situated in the Co. of Meath. The Abbot was also seized of a small house in the town of Drogheda, in the tenure of Thomas Tanner, annual value 13/4, and also of another house in the tenure of Roger Samon, of the annual value of 8/-, with 2/- rent from the Mayor and commonalty of Drogheda.
The above is from theMonasticon Hibernicum. It by no means contains a full inventory of the possessions of Mellifont at the time of its suppression, only the property belonging to it in the County Meath. In the sameMonasticonwe read, “By an inquisition taken 14th June, 1612, the possessions of this Abbey were found as follow:—The site, a water-mill, a garden, an orchard, a park called Legan Park, the old orchard containing two acres, the silver meadow 9 acres, the wood meadow 10 acres, and the doves’ park; 80 acres of underwood; Killingwood, being great timber, containing 12 acres; Ardagh, 20 acres, being the demesne lands, and the grange and town of Tullyallen, containing 27 messuages and 260 acres; Derveragh, 5 messuages and 213 acres; Mell, 2 messuages and 60 acres; Ballymear, alias Ballyremerry, 2 messuages and 60 acres; Sheepgrange, no tithe, 8 messuages and 245 acres; Little Grange, 4 messuages and 62 acres; Beckrath, 2 messuages and 63 acres; Cubbage, 4 messuages and 103 acres; Ballygatheran, no tithe, 6 messuages and 132 acres; Salthouse, 7 messuages and 238 acres; Staleban, 11 messuages and 160acres; Vinspocke, 6 messuages and 90 acres; Morragh, no tithes, 11 messuages and 120 acres; Ballypatrick, 8 messuages and 120 acres; in Collon, a water-mill and 23 acres, £6 13s. 4d. annual rent out of the said town, and the tithes thereof; Ballymacskanlan, a castle, no tithe, and 120 acres; Cruerath, Ballyraganly and Donnore, in the parish of Mellifont, with the tithes and altarages, all in this county” (Louth). Here follow the possessions belonging to the Abbey in the County Meath, and which have been given.
THE END.
Footnotes:
[1]The “Tourist Company” have recently fitted up a compartment of the old mill, where a cheap and substantial lunch can be had by visitors who may desire it.
[2]See Illustration, p.19.
[3]See Illustration, p.23.
[4]See Illustration, p.35.
[5]See Illustration, p.43.
[6]See Illustration, p.47.
[7]TheAnnals of Ulstersimply state “for the monks of Ireland did banish him (Auliv) out of their abbacy, through lawful causes.”The Four Masterstell us it was the monks of Drogheda who had expelled him from the abbacy for his own crime. A writer in theDublin Penny Journal, 1835-36, says this Auliv was Abbot of the monastery of St. Mary de Urso, near the West Gate, Drogheda. He quotes some old Annals without particularising them. And Dalton, in his History of Drogheda, tells us that Auliv had been Abbot of that same Abbey of St. Mary’s, Drogheda, and was expelled. Dalton evidently confounds this monastery with Mellifont. No Cistercian Community had power to depose their abbot, such power being vested in the General Chapter of the Order.
[8]It is not generally known that it was an Irishman who, on the fatal day of Aughrim, as St. Ruth rode to victory waving his cap, pointed him out to the gunner whose faithful shot deprived St. Ruth of his head and the Irish Army of a valiant General.
[9]The Puritans admitted that Sir Phelim O’Neil did not commence his alleged massacres until after the sacking and burning of Dundalk.