Plantations in Ulster, 1600–41During the early years of the seventeenth century, Ulster was transformed by the plantation of people from England and Scotland. In the west of the province, the counties of Armagh, Cavan, Donegal, Fermanagh, Londonderry and Tyrone had been ‘escheated’ or confiscated by the Crown following the ‘Flight of the Earls’ in 1607. Land in these counties was granted to new owners who were expected to let the land to British settlers and to instigate a programme of building works and other improvements. Counties Antrim and Down were not subject to a formal scheme of plantation, but also saw a substantial influx of people from England and Scotland during this period. There was also a smaller movement of people in to County Monaghan.
3
This exhibition is intended to illustrate the origins and progress of the plantations using documents from the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland and other repositories. It is based on the publication Plantations in Ulster, 1600–41, edited by R J Hunter, which was republished in 2018 by PRONI and the Ulster Historical Foundation. It also draws on the resources of the National Monuments and Buildings Record for Northern Ireland part of the Historic Environment Division of the Department for Communities. A survey of the surviving building and structures from the planation period by Rowan McLaughlin and James Lyttleton An Archaeology of Northern Ireland, 1600–1650 was published by the Department for Communities in 2017.
1. Map showing Ulster at the beginning of the seventeenth century. [PRONI]
Planning the PlantationDetailed planning for the proposed plantation of the six ‘escheated’ or confiscated counties began in 1609. As part of this process maps were produced by a team of surveyors, the most prominent of whom was Sir Josias Bodley. These were ready for use in early 1610. Although more detailed than anything previously available, inaccuracies in the maps were to cause problems resulting in legal disputes which lasted for many years.
The English and Scottish ‘undertakers’ who were granted land agreed to observe various conditions, which were set out in a printed pamphlet in 1610. These included settling people from England and Scotland, within a defined time, at a minimum density of twenty-four adult males per 1000 acres. They were also required to erect various buildings, including fortified houses. Thomas Blenerhasset, who received land in County Fermanagh, published his own proposals in 1610. This was an unofficial piece of promotional literature for the plantation.
1. Map of part of the barony of Strabane, County Tyrone, produced in 1609. [PRONI T1652/15]
3. Title page of the Conditions to be observed by the British undertakers, published in 1610. [PRONI D4446/B/2/1]
4. Title page of Thomas Blennerhasset’s pamphlet A direction for the plantation in Ulster, published in 1610. [PRONI D4446/B/2/8]
1 2
3
4
‘Art thou rich, possessed with much revenue? Make speed without racking of rents, or other offencive means; thou shalt doe God and thy Prince excellent service… Art thou a Tradesman? a Smith, a Weaver, a Mason, or a Carpenter? goe thither, thou shalt be in estimation, and quickly enriched by thy indeavours … Art thou a Gentleman that takest pleasure in hunt? the Fox, the Woolfe, and the Wood-Kerne doe expect thy comming ... There thou shalt have elbowe roome … . Art thou a Minister of God’s word? make speed, the harvest is great but the laborers be fewe: thou shalt there see the poore ignorant untaught people worship stones and sticks: thou by carrying millions to heaven maiest be made an Archangell, and have whiles thou doost live for wordly respects, what not. …?’
Extract from Thomas Blennerhasset’s pamphlet A direction for the plantation in Ulster, printed in London in 1610. [PRONI D4446/B/2/8]
www.nidirect.gov.uk/proni
/publicrecordofficeni @CommunitiesNI
Surveys of the PlantationBetween 1611 and 1622 the government conducted a number of surveys designed to measure the progress of the plantation. They revealed a mixed picture, with some undertakers making little progress with building works or in settling British tenants. Many of the original settlers sold their estates and opted out of the endeavour.
One area where good progress was made was the precinct of Strabane in County Tyrone which was granted to the Earl of Abercorn, a Scottish undertaker. Other members of the Hamilton family also received land in the area and by 1622 there were around 200 British families living on the Abercorn estates.
1. A section of the survey of the plantation carried out in 1622. [British Library Add. Ms 4756, f. 110]
2. Drawing of a house and bawn on the Skinners estate at Crossalt (now Brackfield) County Derry~Londonderry, 1622. [PRONI T510/1/39]
The Precinct of Strabane allotted to Scottish Undertakers
The Earle of Abercorne hath 1000 acres called Strabane, upon this there is a strong Castle of Stone and lyme which standeth within the Towne of Strabane; In w[hi]ch Towne there are above 100 dwelling houses diverse of them of stone and lyme, and 120 Brittish Families, which are able to make 200 able men furnished with shott and Pike, in which is also built a Sessionshouse, and a Markett Cross of stone & lyme, with a strong Roome under it, to keep Prisoners in: and a Plottforme on the top, w[hi]ch is a place of good defence.
There is also a Watermill built, with stone, with a Bridge over the Water, w[hi]ch by the said Mill at the charges of the late Earle of Abercorne.
Extract from a rental of the estate of Sir William Balfour, 1636. [PRONI D1939/15/2/2]
www.nidirect.gov.uk/proni
/publicrecordofficeni @CommunitiesNI
Trade and markets The influx of new settlers, along with the extensive building programme and the establishment of new fairs and markets, invigorated the Ulster economy. This is reflected in the surviving port books which record the customs duties paid on goods entering and leaving the Ulster ports.
The page from the Londonderry Port Book for July 1615 (below) shows the importation of luxury goods such as ‘raisins of the sun’, currants, Castile soap and salad oil, along with manufactured goods including frying pans, iron pots, kettles and crockery ware. Weapons including firearms and armour were also imported, an indication of concerns about the security of the plantation settlements.
1. Page from the Port Book of Derry, July 1615. [PRONI D4446/B/6/5]
3. Drawing of Calbeg [Killybegs] harbour, Co Donegal, 1622. [PRONI T510/1/41]
3
2
1
In the Seaflower of London John Zachary Master entred as one the former side
Georg Hamond entredOne barrell w’th Iron Ware val £01 10 0One bundell w’th friyng pans tg iC £00 10 0ix Iron potts w’th one Iron kettell £00 16 8one puncion w’th grocery ware val £06 13 4v grosse Trenchers valued at £00 10 0i Maund w’th Iron ware tg viC £03 0 0iii barrels Soape valued at £06 0 0iii Iron Morters w’th pestells £00 6 8i Iron Beame valued at £01 0 0i Maund Iron ware tg viiC £03 10 0
Georg Swetenham entredi Barrell starch tg iiC valued at £02 0 0i firkin Indico tg 1 li val at £10 0 0i b’re reasons of the Sunne tg iiC £1 16 0i b’re of Currants tg iiiC val £4 10 0iiC of Castell Soape val at £3 14 8xv gallons Sallett oyle val £1 5 0iiii peeces of reasons val at £2 0 0i quoile of roape tg iii qr. val £0 7 6i faggott of Steele tg iC val £0 15 0lviii barres of Iron tg xviC £8 0 0
Extract from the Port Book of Derry~Londonderry, July 1615. [PRONI D4446/B/6/5]
www.nidirect.gov.uk/proni
/publicrecordofficeni @CommunitiesNI
The Native IrishUnder the plan for the planted counties, the English and Scottish undertakers were expected to lease land to British tenants. The native Irish were to be accommodated on the estates granted to ‘servitors’, Irish grantees and the Church. In practice, many undertakers were prepared to allow native Irish tenants to remain rather than go to the trouble of attracting settlers from Britain. The government reluctantly accepted these arrangements.
The native Irish generally paid higher rents and had less security of tenure. As the plantation developed, they were increasingly squeezed out, moving to marginal land or becoming undertenants to the new settlers.
A rental (below) records the names of native Irish tenants living on the estate of an English undertaker, Sir William Balfour, near Lisnaskea, County Fermanagh in 1636.
“
1. Part of a rental of the estate of Sir William Balfour, 1636. [PRONI D1939/15/2/2]
Leased by Middleton from all S[ain]ts last to Patrick Magwyre and Teige Magwyre for one yeare, at £7 10s p[er] Ann[um], 2 fat unshorne muttons, 12 henns, 4 workemen wth horses all upon demand yearely, the kings rent and Countrey charges
03 15 00
Dromsilvester
½ part of a tate Sett by Middleton to Bryan mc Dun Magwire from all S[ain]ts last for one yeare at £4 10s p[er] Ann[um], one fatt unshorne mutton, 6 henns, 4 able workemen wth horses yearely, the kings rent and Countrey charges
02 05 00
Extract from a rental of the estate of Sir William Balfour, 1636. [PRONI D1939/15/2/2]
www.nidirect.gov.uk/proni
/publicrecordofficeni @CommunitiesNI
Antrim and DownAlthough counties Antrim and Down were not included in the formal plantation scheme, they also experienced an influx of English and Scottish settlers. A large area of south Antrim and north Down was acquired in 1605 from Conn O’Neill of Clandeboye, by two Scottish men, Hugh Montgomery and James Hamilton. Sir Arthur Chichester, who was Lord Deputy of Ireland from 1605–15, was also granted land in the area and developed the town of Belfast. The new land owners encouraged the settlement of British and Irish tenants on their estates, as did some of the remaining native lords such as Randal MacDonnell, Earl of Antrim, who owned much of the north of County Antrim.
1. Genealogy of MacDonnells, earls of Antrim, written in Irish and English, 1704. [PRONI D2977/5/1/4/3]
2. Charter of the town of Belfast, 1613. [Belfast City Council]
James, by the grace of God, of England, Scotland, France and Ireland King, Defender of the Faith, etc. To all to whom these our present letters shall come greeting
Know you, that we, as well on the humble petition of the inhabitants of the town of Belfast in our County of Antrim in our province of Ulster in our Kingdom of Ireland, as for the inhabiting and planting of the northern parts of our said Kingdom now depopulated and laid waste, according to the established form in our kingdom of England, excellently begun, and for the better progress in and perfection of our new plantations, lately happily undertaken, of our special grace, and of our certain knowledge and our mere motion, by and with the assent of our well beloved and faithful councillor Arthur Lord Chichester of Belfast, our Deputy General of our said kingdom of Ireland, and also according to the tenor and effect of our certain letters, signed with our proper hand and under our seal, bearing date at our Manor of Farnham the last day of July in the year of our reign of England, France and Ireland the fifth and of Scotland the two and fortieth and now enrolled in the rolls of our Chancery of our Kingdom of Ireland…
Translation of the Charter of Belfast, 1613 [PRONI LA/7/1/A/1]
www.nidirect.gov.uk/proni
/publicrecordofficeni @CommunitiesNI
Everyday LifeA glimpse into the everyday life of British settlers can be found in the accompanying petition from tenants at Moneymore, County Londonderry, to their landlords, the Drapers’ Company of London. Their complaints cover a range of issues including the undeveloped state of the settlement, as reflected in the unpaved streets, unfinished buildings and the lack of a market or fair in the locality.
They are also concerned about the lawless nature of the country. Numerous dispossessed and landless people, known as ‘wood kern’, were living on the fringes of the new settlements, particularly in wooded areas, and attacks on settlers and their property were common.
“
1. Petition from the inhabitants of Moneymore to the Drapers Company in London, 1625. [PRONI D3632/A/212]
3. Elevation of a proposed house for the Drapers Company settlement, c1613. [PRONI D3632/P/1]
1
2
3
That yo[ur] w[orships] wilbe pleased to Pave the streets w[hic]h in wynter is soe Noysume and Troublesome unto us, that for verye dyrt and myre we are scarce able to goe from one house to an other without boots.
… To speake of the dangerousness of the place werein wee live; wee need not make anie ample relation of it, noe man havning bene In these p[ar]ts, but can testifie of yt, that the like or equall yt is not almost to be found in Ireland, Wee here beinge dayly subiectt to the incursions and continuall stealthes of the woodkerne, w[hi]ch these p[ar]ts allwaies hitherto have been subject unto, and wee thinke will nev[e]r be free from, Manie of yo[ur] poore tenn[an]ts havinge lost in one night (verye lately) fower or five head of cattle, being all that ever they have had in the world, …
Extract from an ecclesiastical visitation of the diocese of Derry, 1622. [Trinity College Dublin MS 550]
www.nidirect.gov.uk/proni
/publicrecordofficeni @CommunitiesNI
Churches and SchoolsOne of the objects of the plantation project was the strengthening of the protestant Church of Ireland. New parishes were to be established and new churches built. Glebe land was also granted to provide an income for the clergy. A visitation or survey of the diocese of Derry carried out in 1622 shows that in many cases the conditions had not been fulfilled. Churches remained unbuilt and glebes, when they were granted, were often at too great a distance from the parish. The Roman Catholic Church organisation continued to function in Ulster despite being deprived of financial resources and church buildings.
The Plantation objectives also made provision for the establishment of endowed grammar schools in each of the confiscated counties. Although land had been granted for their support, progress on the establishment of the schools was slow.
“
2. Illustration of the church at Macosquin, County Londonderry, 1622. [PRONI T510/1/26]
1. Page from an ecclesiastical visitation of the diocese of Derry, 1622. [Trinity College Dublin MS 550]
1
2
3
2. The Church of Leakepatrick remayneth uncoured.
The Incumbent is Henry Noble m[aste]r of Arts, a good preacher of Competent learning and of a good conversac[i]on. …
The Church of Camos is ruined.
The Incumbent is the said Henry Noble.
… This parishe beinge smale, and the towne of Strabane built in the confines thereof, I united in the former incumbents time thiese two parishes, and thinke them fitt to be United, the rather bycause there is a fayre Church begune by the late Earle of Abercorne intended to serve for those two contiguous parishes. Howsoeu[er] that building of the Church w[i]th the death of the Earle hath ceased. …
Extract from the genealogy of Sir William Cole, 1630. [PRONI D1702/7/5]
As touching Schooles it is well knowne that his Ma[jes]ty intended a convenient proporc[i]on of lands as well for London Derry, as for Dongannon or Donegall, yett both these have fayre p[ro]porc[i]ons Alotted unto them for the Maynetenance of Schooles. But the Lands intended for the Schooles at Lo. Derry are swallowed up I knowe not well by whome, …
Extract from an ecclesiastical visitation of the diocese of Derry, 1622. [Trinity College Dublin MS 550]
www.nidirect.gov.uk/proni
/publicrecordofficeni @CommunitiesNI
The PlantersThe undertakers who received land in the plantation came from across England and Scotland. They were expected to bring with them tenants who would be settled together to form British communities. In addition, estates were granted to servitors, who were military officers or government officials, and to institutions such as the Church of Ireland and Trinity College Dublin. A number of native Irish lords also received estates.
One prominent planter was Sir William Cole (1576–1653), an English soldier and administrator who was granted land in County Fermanagh. He was also provost of the town of Enniskillen and constable of Enniskillen Castle. The accompanying genealogy, produced in 1630, emphasises Cole’s descent from landed gentry families in County Devon, although his immediate family were merchants and lawyers and Cole himself was born in London.
A less typical settler was Robert Algeo from Renfrewshire in Scotland. He acted as agent or estate manager for various members of the Hamilton family, including the Earl of Abercorn, who were granted land in the Strabane area. Algeo was a Roman Catholic, as were a number of the Hamiltons. A memorial stone bearing Algeo’s name survives in the townland of Artigarvan near Strabane.
“
1. Genealogy of Sir William Cole, Enniskillen, County Fermanagh, 1630. [PRONI D1702/7/5]
3. Photograph of Robert Algeo’s crucifixion plaque, Artigarvan, Co Tyrone, 1625. [PRONI D4446/A/1/160]
1
2
3
The Genealogie of the right Worshipfull and worthie Captaine Sir William Cole of the Castell of Eneskillen in the countie of Firmanaugh in the Kingdome of Ireland knight, whoe faithfully serued Queene Elizabeth in her warrs of Holland and Ireland, and sithence in like manner serued Kinge lames, and his Matie that now is, in eminem places and Offices as well in their Martall as Ciuill affaires and is lyneally descended of the Auncient howse of Cole of Deuon and Cornewall, wherin is sett forth the discents lynes and branches of the Seuerall fameleys of that howse and sirname, togeather with their matches and alliances to other right Noble, worthie and worshipfull famileys, their Armes and Ensignes; …
Extract from the genealogy of Sir William Cole, 1630. [PRONI D1702/7/5]
www.nidirect.gov.uk/proni
/publicrecordofficeni @CommunitiesNI
Derry~Londonderry – The London CompaniesThe area which became County Londonderry was treated in a different manner to the rest of the plantation counties. Most of the land in the new county was granted to the wealthy City of London Livery companies. Grants were also made to a servitor (Sir Thomas Phillips), the Church of Ireland and some native Irish lords. The London companies created ‘The Honourable The Irish Society’ to oversee the plantation and to develop the towns of Londonderry and Coleraine.
1. Map by Thomas Raven showing the division of the County of Londonderry amongst the London companies, 1622. [PRONI T510/1/5]
There had been a settlement at Derry from medieval times, however this was destroyed during Sir Cahir O’Doherty’s rebellion in 1608. In 1613 the Irish Society began to build a new fortified town on the site which they named Londonderry. The walls of the new settlement, which were designed by Thomas Raven and Sir Edward Doddington, were completed in 1619 when they were described by Nicholas Pynnar in the accompanying document. The walls remain intact and are among the best preserved of any walled town in Europe.
The Cittie of London-Derrie in now compassed aboute w[i]th a verie stronge wall excellently made and neatly wrought being all of good lyme and stone the circuit whereof is 284 p[er]ches and 2/3 at 18 foote to the p[er]che, besides the 4 gates w[hi]ch containe 84 feete and in every place of the wall it is 24 foote high and 6 foote thicke, the gates are all battlemented, but to two of them there is no goinge upp so that serue to no great use, neither have they made anie leaves for their gates but make two Draw-bridges serue for two of them, and 2 p[ort]cullices for the other two The Bullwarkes are verie large and good beinge in number nine, besides 2 half Bullwarkes and for 4 of them there maie be placed 4 Cannons or other great peeces, the rest are not all out so large, but wanteth verie little, the Rampart w[i]thin the cittie is xii foote thicke of earth,
All thinges are verie well and substantially donne, Savinge there wanteth a house for the Soldiars to watch in and a Centinell house for the Soldiars to stand in, In the night to defend them from the weather w[hi]ch is most extreame in theis p[ar]tes…
Extract from Nicholas Pynnar’s survey of the city of Londonderry, 1619 [Trinity College Dublin MS 864]
