APPENDIX G. ADDITIONAL NOTES ON THE MONTGOMERYS OF FERMANAGH.

Extracts from The Montgomery Manuscripts, compiled by William Montgomery of Rosemount, and edited by Rey. George Hill (Belfast, 1869) :—

“ He (Bishop Montgomery) was their merchant and encourager to traffick in those parts, and wrote to that effect (as also to the said towns wherein he was much acquainted and esteemed) ; and had proclamations made in them all, at how easy rents he would set his church lands, which drew hither many families ; among whom one Hugh Montgomery, his kinsman, a master of a vessel, and also owner, was one who brought his wife, children, and effects, and were settled in Derrybrosh, near Enniskillen, where his son, Mr. Nich. (my long and frequent acquaintance) aged above 85 years, now lives in sound memory, and is a rational man, whose help I now want, to recount particulars of that Bishop's proceedings in that country, whilst his Lordship stayed there ; which was, at least, till near A.° 1618 aforesaid. . . . .

The first I name is Hugh Montgomery of Derrygonnelly, where he lives gentily, within ten miles of Enniskillen ; He is a Justice of Peace, and was a Capt of hors when y^e fermanagh men defended that town & county from Justin McCarty comander of y^e Irish, A.° 1689.

Hee is the eldest son of Mr. Nicholas Montgomery of Derrybrosk (near the sd town) who was Lt in Sr Ja. Montg : Regimt after he was driven to flee for his life from y^e Irish in A.^D 1641. This Mr. Nicholas is aged 84 yeares, and was made Mr. of Arts in Glasgow, and his father was Mr. Hugh Montg : whom our Bp Geo setled there, and made him receaver of his Rente in that part of Clogher Dyoces. This Hugh dyed befor that y^e rebellion broke out A.° 1641.

This Nicholas had debentures in Ireld for service before the 5th of June 1649.

Robert his 2d son is a Lt in the Army and lives unmarryed with his father, he hath a good fortune, and is a proper well-bred man.

Andrew his third Son is a good preacher, hath wife and children and a good liveing and stock at Carrickmacross, he is well Loved and in great respect.

Hugh y^e father of this Nich : was in esteem with our two first Viscts, as being come of braidstane, and his coat Armoriall (wch I caused to be engraven on a silver penner, and bestowed to y^e sd Mr. Nich : as he had given a yonge mare for breed to my Son) is the same wth y^e beareing of the old lairds of Braidstane with a distinction of a Cadet, but y^e kindred I know not, y^e coat is y^e same with Bp : Geo ; Sd Tho : montg : and Gransheoghs.

This last Hugh the Ancestor used to make presents to y^e sd two Viscts of fine colts or fillys, haveing had, (as his posterity still retain) a good breed of that sort and other Catall, he is mentioned p. 54 as planted at derrybrosk aforsaid.

Sr Ja : montg : when he courted his 2d lady (margarit Sr Wm Coles daughter) stayd severall nights in this Hugh's house, and y^e morning he was Bridesgroom, went from thence, being attended by him and many Montg : (his tenents all well mounted) of wch Surname I saw neare one hundred liveing within the 12 tates of Derrybrosk (the said Mr. Nich : his land from y^e church) when I was ther : looking for a troublesom reprizall.

Our present Hugh aforesd is marryed to a beutifull granddaughter and heiress to Sr Jo : Dumbarr, and his estate, whereof Derrygonnelly is y^e chief mansion place, besides wch he hath his fathers, and his own purchases. I was in A.° 1696 three nights in his new house (for y^e old walls are not rebuilt) ; it is a pleasant seate, a River Running by it, within half a muskett shott, and thereon a corn and a tuck mill, in wch one may walk dry in slippers ; he hath a pretty garden, and a plantation of fruite trees, there to also a pretty litle chappell opposite to the house door, about nine score yards from it (to wch one may goe dry in like maner) built and endowed by Sr Jo : Dunbarr aforesaid, for a deacon to read prapers, homilys, or preach in, when the weather is badd.

I saw a rarity at that house, to witt a two edged sword of excellent metall (wch this Hugh never caused to be made) but had it (I have forgott what he told mee thereof) in y^e late warr about Enniskillen. I am of y^e opinion there is no smith in Ireland can forge so good a blade : for I saw it severly tryed. The sword is inscribed on y^e right hand side of the blade thus, roburtus bruschius scotorum rex, 1310, and on y^e reverse side, pro chrisro et patria, d ; er. There are some obliterated, or worn out words supposed to be y^e cutlers name, the Lettrs being seen but by halfs and quarters whereof wee could make nothing.

But to return to this Capt Hugh himself, his wife and children (whom I saw in his new house A.° 1696) they are all comely and well favoured, and live in a good plentifull condition : and so I wish they may continue without occasion to use y^e royall blade, unless the Queen or Lord Lieut please to knt him wth it.

This Capt Hughs estate at present pays him above three hundred pounds per annum, and is in half a winter days journy to Sd Thomas Montgomerys Lands and habitation in the County of Letrim.

I hope he hath my picture wch I bestowd him, and for wch I paid twenty dollars to collonel Roseworm an Hungarian and wch I delivered unto Robt Hamill to be carefully sent to him at Derrygonnely. ”

The Rev. Nicholas Montgomery, mentioned in the above extract, was appointed Rector of Mucknoe, Co. Monaghan, Oct. 31st 1662, and Vicar of Carrickmacross (or Magheross) and Magheracloone, Nov. 5th 1664. His son, Rev. Andrew Montgomery, was appointed Vicar of Carrickmacross in Oct. 1679 (see Shirley's Hist. of Co. Monaghan). The Montgomery tombstone at Derrybrusk bas been thought to be that of the Rev. Andrew.

In the tower of the old Church at Carrickmacroes is the following inscription, engraved on stone, with the crests of Barton, Hill, Montgomery, and a Bishop's mitre :—“ This Church was ruined in the rebellion of