Lynastown Burial Ground

Lynastown Burial Ground

by S.J.W. Cooper



Review

Journal of Craigavon Historical Society

Vol. 1 No. 1 - 1969

When some members of the Historical Society were carrying out research in the townland of Moyraverty, a burial ground, approximately 35 yards in length and 25 yards in breadth, and surrounded by a high wall of rubble masonry, attracted attention.

Marked on the O.S. map as Friends' Burial Ground, it is also known as the Lynastown Burial Ground. It is situated on the old Lurgan-Portadown road about 200 yards past the old Red Cow Inn, on the Lurgan side, and is approached by a pathway about 60 yards long from the roadway to the burial-ground entrance.

Interest was aroused by the fact that, while this was a Friends' Burial Ground, it was situated far from a centre where Friends worshipped. Research was initiated and some interesting features were revealed.

From the List of Friends buried here - and which is given at the end of this article - it will be seen that the earliest interment was that of William Lynes of Legacorry, in 1658.

Mark Sewyer, also of Legacorry, was interred there in the same year.

The earliest record book of the Society of Friends in Lurgan contains the following:

"William Lynas (the Elder) was convinced of truth in the beginning of its breaking forth in these parts, lived in the belief of it, received friends with a willing mind and meetings were kept at his house at ye first meetings here, obtained a good report amongst ye neighbourhood by his Christian behaviour, stood in his testimony for truth and bore reproach for Christ's sake in whom he believed and continued in ye faith untill he died and departed this life ye 22nd of 4th month in the year 1658."

Since there was no Friends' burial ground in the area, and being a Non-Conformist, it appears that William Lynas was buried in this ground, or portion of ground, which as we shall see later was granted by deed by Thomas Lynas to his friends, Ffrancis Robson and William Porter to be held "for ever for quiet enjoyment".

This Thomas Lynas was the son of William Lynas.

In the list of burials we find "bur. Monraverty", "Lyness Town", "Lynastown", and "Moyraverty".

The entry "James Marshall (60) Clan role, Co. Armagh" introduced the spelling "Monraverty" - the modern name - in 1858.

Extracts from the original deed state:

"This indenture was made the fifteenth day of the tenth month in the year of our Lord God one thousand six hundred seventy and three between Thomas Lynas in the townland of Monreaverty in the Manner of Carnon County of Ardmagh and borrony of Onealand east, freehoulder, on the one part and Ffrancis Robson of the townland of Tomnefecarbit, and William Porter of Lurgan in the Manner of Brownloe's Derry, Weavers -- for in the summe of ten shillings ster. .. assignee for ever ALL the percell of ground as it is now fended and about and enclosed ... now in the possession of the said Thomas Lynas."

So to the present time this small portion of ground is known as Lynastown Burial Ground.

The complete list of burials is appended.


Interesting facts are:

  1. The large number of burials under the name Christy.
  2. Robert Hoope's five children were buried in Moyraverty between 1670 and 1695. He himself and the other Hoopes were buried in Lurgan. The name has still local interest - "Hoope Hill" - in Lurgan.
  3. In 1679, Hanna Logan, the 5 year old daughter of Patrick Logan, and his wife were buried in Monraverty. Hanna was a sister of James Logan, who was secretary to William Penn, the founder of Pennsylvania.
  4. The name Kirk - still prevalent locally - had Roger's three children buried before their father's death. He rests in Lurgan graveyard.
  5. Thomas and Margaret Sinton, buried two sons both called James Sinton - the first in 1761, aged 2, and the second, aged 3, died in 1766.

List of Friends Buried at the Burial Ground at Monreaverty, Lynastown

(From original Records)

Surname First Name Died Age Residence Relationship Burial
Atkinson,Edward1685-of Ballinacorr -bur. Monraverty.
Bell,Archibald1668-Tannaghmoreson of Archibald Bell ditto.
Bass,Peter1670-Buconnell -do.
Bullogh,James1678-Lisacurran -do.
Bass,Jane1680--widowdo.
Brown,William1689-Termyreh -do.
Bradshaw,Mary1689-Drumonically, daughter of Jamesdo.
Bradshaw,Ruth1690-ditto. ditto.do.
Brown,Elizabeth1691-Monraverty, daughter of Williamdo.
Bullock,Benjamin1692-Lurgan, son of Ezekieldo.
Browne,Robert1693-Monreaverty son of Williamdo.
Bullough,Joanna--- widowdo.
Bullock,Abraham1694-- son of Ezekieldo.
Bullough,Sarah1703/4--daughter of Thomasdo.
Bullough,Mary1703/4--daughter of Thomasdo
Bullough,Thomas1703/4---do.
Ballinfine,George1788---do.
Black,Elizabeth1859-Ballyshannon, Co. Armagh-Lyness Town-Non-Member.
Christy,Thomas1682-Balligargan son of AlexanderMonraverty.
Christy,"1682-Moyallon, son of Alexander"
Christy,Margaret1689-ditto. daughter of Alexander"
Christy,Mary1693-" ditto. "
Christy,Isabel1694-Knockanor wife of John"
Christy,Margaret171772-wife of Alexander"
Christy,Alexander172280--
Christy,Mary1748-Moyallonwife of John"
Christy,"1750-" Wife of Thomas"
Christy,John176390" son of Alexander& Margaret"
Christy,John17641 wk.-son of John & Deborah "
Chambers,Abigail*-- daughter of Thomas & Catherine"
Chambers,James176412 -son of Thomas & Catherine"
Chambers,Mary176511 3/4 -daughter of ""
Christy,Margaret1765--wife of James"
Chambers,Sarah17673 days-daughter of Thomas & Catherine"
Christy,John1771-Stramore son of Jas. & Margaret "
Christy,Hannah177812" daughter of John & Deborah"
Christy,John177911" son of John & DeborahMontraverty
Christy,Thomas1780-Moyallon, son of John & Mary"
ChristyJoseph178424-son of John & Deborah"
Dunbar,David1685-Lurgan -Monraverty
Dawson,Thomas1780-"son of Thomas & Mary"
Fox,Anne1694-Lurgan daughter of George Fox"
Gilpin,John1685-Tannefaglessan -Monraverty
Golphin,Hugh1685-Lurgan-"
Gibson,Mary1695-Drumgor,wife William"
Gibson,Deborah171?--daughter of William"
Hoope,Abraham1670-Lurgan son of Robert"
Hollingsworth, -1671 -Ballymacramell,wife of ValentineMonraverty
Hoope,Sarah1672-Lurgan, daughter of RobertMonraverty
Hoope,Tabitha1673-" " ""
Harding,Mary1675-.Magheralin " John"
Hart,Esther1678-Toberhenry widow"
Hoope,Moses1682-Lurgan son of Robert"
Harland,James1681--son of Thomas"
Hillery,Tobias1684-Tullygally,son of Christopher"
Hodgson,George1688-Lurgan-"
Harland,Catherine1690-- wife Thomas"
Harland,Peter1691-Tanaghmore-"
Harding,Mary1693-Lissacurran wife Thomas"
Hillery,Mary1693-Tullygally, daughter of Francis"
Hoope,Elisha,1695-Lurgan son of Robert"
Halliday,Rachael1697--wife John"
Hillery,Dorothy---daughter of Francis"
Harland,Mary1700-Tanaghmore widow Peter"
Hillery,Marmaduke1702---"
Kirk,John1674-Ballyhanaghan-"
Kirk,Dinah1674-Tullygally daughter of Roger"
Kirk,Margaret1677-Ballyhanaghan widow John"
Kirk,Elizabeth1685-Tullygally daughter of Roger"
Kirk,Roger1686-"son of ""
Kirk,Deborah1696-" daughter of Timothy"
Lynes,William1658-Legacorry (Shankill)-"
Lea,Abnor1677-Waringstown son of William"
Logan,Hannah1678-Lurgan daughter of Patrick"
Lea,William1682-Waringstown son of William"
Lea,John1690-dittoditto."
Lynas,Catherine1704-" wife Richard"
Lynas,Sarah1737-"-"
Matthews,Abner1676-Lurgan son of William"
Matthews,Elizabeth1676-" wife Alexander"
Matthews,William1689-"-"
Marson,Elizabeth1692-Termyrey wife Richard"
Mullikin,Margaret1694-Moyallen daughter of James"
Mullikin,James1694-"son of James"
Morton,Abigail1696/7-"daughter of John"
Milliken,James1718/9-"-"
Milliken,Martha1719-widow-"
Morton,Margaret1720-- wife John"
Morton,John1729---"
Morton,Samuel173432Moyallen son of John"
Marshall,James1839 13Clanrole, Co. Armagh -Lynastown Non-Member
Marshall,James185860"-Moyraverty Non-Member
Noble,Alexander1694-Lurgan-Monraverty
Neill,Sarah1764--wife John"
Neill,John1782--son of James & Jane"
Peirson,Christopher 1670-Lurgan"
Peirson, William 1675-""
Porter,Rachel1689 20thLurgandaughter of William"
Porter,Mary1689 21st"wife William"
Porter,Mary1694-"wife John"
Porter,Hanna1694-"daughter of William"
Robson,Isabel1671 -Tanificorbetwife Francis"
Robson, Joseph1671-"son of Francis"
Rey,Eleanor1674 -Lissacurranwife John"
Robson,Hannah1685 -Tanificorbetdaughter of John"
Robson, Francis1683-""
Robson,Francis1689-"son of John"
Robson,John I1689-"son of John"
Robson,Stephen1700-"son of John & Sarah "
Robson,Sarah1705-"daughter of John & Sarah "
Robson,John Junr. 1714 23-son of John"
Ranton, Margaret1723 ---"
Sewyer,Mark1658 -Legacorry-"
Sceife,Thomas1674 -Ballyahanahan son of Michael"
Stamper,Sarah1674 -Lurgandaughter of Hugh"
Stamper, Hugh1676-"-"
Sceife,Rebecca1677 -Ballyhanahandaughter of Michael"
Stamper,Bridget1681/2 -Lurganwidow Hugh"
Stamper,Daniel1685 28Lurgan son of Hugh"
Sanders,Robert1709/10 -"-"
Sinton,James1761 2-son of Thomas & Margaret"
Sinton,James1766 3-son of Thomas & Margaret"
Turner,Nathaniel1673 -Lurganson of Thomas"
Thwayte,Thomas1676 -Dougher, near Lurgan-"
Turner,Jonathan1697--son of John & Deborah"
Webb,Anne1709/10 80--"
Webb,Judith1709/10-wife John"
Webb,Rebecca1709/10-daughter of John"
Wakefield, Hanna1779-(daughter of Thos.Christy) wife Joseph"
Wakefield,Susanna-daughter of Joseph & Hanna"
Webb,Margaret1839 73Moyallon-Lynastown Par Monraverty
Webb,John1839 36 Clonrole- ditto Non-Member
Williamson,Joseph184568Moyallon-
Webb,Henry1857 80Clonrole.-Lynastown Non-Member
Waite,Isabelle1858 70Drumgor""
Webb,John1859 55Clanrole""
WebbMargaret183973MoyallonNon-MemberLynastown
Marshall,James183913Clonrola""
Webb,John183936"" "
Allen,James183960Tamnofligasson"Moyraverty
Black,Mary184036Clanrol""
Webb,Henry185783Seagoe"Lynastown
Marshall,John185860Clanroll""
Black,Elizabeth185958Ballyhannan""
Waite,Isabella1858 70Drumgor"
Webb,John185955Clanroll""
Gibson,Elizabeth186858Drumgor""
Black,Elizabeth187052Moyraverty""
Megahey,Richard188064Lurgan""
Webb,Ellen188068Clanrole""
Webb,Thomas1887 75"""
Abraham,Mary188734Drumgor""
Uprichard, Rebecca188837Lurgan""
Webb,John188970Lurgan""
Black,Thomas1890 88Moyraverty""
Webb,Ann189572Lurgan""
Williamson,John189985Drumnagoon""
Green,James189986Greenmount (minister) Lurgan-"
Webb,Ann190863Belfastdaughter of John & Ann"
Green,Francis (Fanny)191077Lurganwidow John"
Webb,James191677Belfastson of John & Ann"
Webb,Ruth191859Belfastdaughter of John & Ann"
Williamson, Mary192884Tamnafiglassondaughter of John & Esther"
Williamson, William193985Drumnagoonhusband of Elizabeth"
Williamson,Elizabeth 195999Drumnagoon wife William"
Williamson, William John196769Drumnagoonson of William & Elizabeth"