APPENDIX F. ADDITIONAL NOTES ON THE IRISH MERVYNS.

George, Lord Audley obtained a Grant of lands in Co. Tyrone in 1611 (see Cal. Patent Rolls Ireland, James I. p. 222). He was created Earl of Castlehaven, and died in 1617.

Pynnar, in his Survey of Ulster (Precinct of Omy, Co. Tyrone) in 1618-19, reported :—

“ This is the Countess her Jointure. The Earl of Castlehaven hath 3000 acres called Faugh and Rarone. Upon this there is no building at all, either of Bawne or Castle, neither Freeholders. I ﬁnd planted upon this Land some few English Families, but they have no Estates : for since the old Earl died the Tenants (as they tell me) cannot have their Leases made good unto them, unless they will give treble the Rent which they paid ; and yet they must but have half the Land which they enjoyed in the late Earl’s time. Lessees for Years 8, viz. 1 having 120 acres, 6 having 60 acres le piece, 1 having 30 acres. Cottagers, three. Each of these have a small piece of Land to keep their Cows.

The Earl hath more 2000 acres, called Brede. Upon this there is nothing built.

The Earl hath more 2000 acres, called Fentonagh. Upon this likewise there is nothing built.

The Earle hath more 2000 acres, called Edergoole, and Carneurackan. Upon this there was a large House begun, but now it is pulled down, and made but half so great ; being three Stories high, and finished. The Agent for the Earl shewed me the Rent Roll of all the Tenants that are on these three Proportions ; but their Estates are so weak and uncertain, that they are all leaving the Land. These were in Number sixty four ; and each of these hold sixty acres, which they term a Town Land. The rest of the Land is let to 20 Irish Gentlemen, as appeareth by the Rent Roll, which is contrary to the Articles of Plantation ; and these Irish Gentlemen have under them, as I was informed by the Tenants and Gentlemen in the Country, about three thousand souls of all sorts.”

Through non-compliance with the conditions of the Ulster Plantation, these estates became forfeited to the Crown ; and the three last-named Proportions were re-granted to James Mervyn (grandson of the 1st Earl of Castlehaven), by Letters Patent, dated 1st June. 6th Charles I (1630) whereby these lands were erected into the three Manors of Stoy, Tutchett, and Arleston (or Audleystown). The following details are extracted from the Patent in the Auditor General’s Office :—

“ We have given and granted to the said James Mervyn, his Heirs and assigns for ever, the whole proportion of land by the late General Survey of all lands in our County of Tyrone in our Kingdom of Ireland, called The Great Proportion of Brade, and all and singular Towns, Villages, Hamlets, Balliboes, Sessiagh, or parcels of land, Tenements, and other Hereditaments. known by the following names, viz. Glassdromyn, etc. etc . . . . containing by estimation 2000 acres of land . . . . . . We are willing also that the said proportion of Brade . . . . . shall from henceforth for ever be and be deemed one entire Manor in deed and name, and that the said Manor shall be deemed and reputed the Manor of Stoy in the County of Tyrone, and that the said James Mervyn, his Heirs and Assigns may have and hold within the said Manor 1000 acres of land, distinct and separate, for the Demesne Land of the same Manor . . . . And further that the said James Mervyn, his Heirs and Assigns may have and hold a Court in nature of a Court Baron from 3 weeks to 3 weeks or seldomer at pleasure . . . . within the said Manor of Stoy . . . . with a weekly market, and a fair every 3rd day of May, at the town of Trellicke in the said Manor.

We have given and granted to the said James Mervyn, his Heirs and assigns for ever, the whole proportion of land . . . . called the Great Proportion of Fentonagh in the said Barony and County, and all and singular the Towns, Villages, etc. . . . . containing by estimation 2000 acres of land . . . We are willing also that the said Towns . . . . shall from henceforth for ever be deemed and reputed the Manor of Tutchett in the County of Tyrone, and that the said James Mervyn, his Heirs and assigns may have and hold within the said Manor 1000 acres of land, distinct and separate, for the Demesne lands of the same Manor, and . . . . may have and hold a Court in nature of a Court Baron . . . . within the said Manor of Tutchett.

We have given and granted to the said James Mervyn, his Heirs and assigns for ever, the whole proportion of land . . . . . called the Small Proportion of Edergoule, in the Barony of Omey and co. Tyrone . . . . . containing by estimation 1000 acres of land . . . . and also the whole proportion of land . . . . called the Small Proportion of Carranvrackan . . . . containing by estimation 1000 acres of land . . . . and also all and singular, etc. . . . . containing by estimation 440 acres of land. . . . . We are willing also that the said Towns . . . . shall from henceforth for ever be deemed and reputed the Manor of Arleston in the County of Tyrone, and that the said James Mervyn, his Heirs and assigns may have and hold within the said Manor 90 acres of land, distinct and separate, for the Demesne land of the same Manor, and . . . . may have and hold a Court in nature of a Court Baron . . . . within the said Manor of Arleston . . . . with two fairs annually and one weekly market, at the town of Omagh in the said Manor.”

The patentee was required to maintain in each of his three Manors, twelve “ callivers or musketts,” and twelve “ pikemen.”

A box of Leases, etc. of the Tyrone property is preserved at Castle Archdale. The earliest of these Deeds is a Rent Charge from Col. Audley Mervyn to William Hamilton, of Currin, dated Dec. 5th 1657. The Rent Roll of the Mervyn estates in that county, for the year 1719, amounted to £1514 7s. 8d.