Acton Town
County Armagh, Northern Ireland

Civil Parish Ballymore
Barony Orior Lower
Poor Law Union Newry
Catholic Diocese Aramagh
Catholic Parish Tandragee/Ballymore & Mullaghbhrac

 

ACTON, a parish, in the barony of Lower Orior, county of Armagh, and province of Ulster, 3 miles (S.S.E.) from Tanderagee, on the old road from Newry to that place; containing 3843 inhabitants, of which number, 857 are in the village.  The village was originally founded by Sir Toby Pointz, who, for his military services, obtained a grant of 500 acres of land, part of the forfeited estates of the O'Hanlons, and erected a bawn 100 feet square, a house of brick and lime for his own residence, and 24 cottages for so many English settlers, and called the place Acton, after his own native village in England.  It consists of one main street, and at present contains about 50 houses indifferently built.  Under the authority of an order of council, in 1789, nineteen townlands were severed from the parish of Ballymore, and erected into the parish of Acton, which comprises 4395 statute acres, and is intersected by the Newry canal.  The improved system of agriculture has been extensively introduced, the lands are well drained and fenced, and the bogs have been all drained and brought into cultivation by the proprietor, Col. Close.  The weaving of linen cloth, diapers, checks, and calicoes in the parish.  The principal gentlemen's seats are Action House, the residence of R. Conway Dobbs, Esq.; and Drominargoole, of D. Lucas, Esq.  The living is a perpetual curacy, in the diocese of Armagh, and in the patronage of the Prehendary of Ballymore in the cathedral church of St. Patrick, Armagh; the income arises from a fixed stipend of £50 per annum, payable by the rector or prebendary of Ballymore, and an augmentation of £25 per annum from Primate Boulter's fund.  The church, erected at Pointz Pass in 1789, is a neat edifice, in the early English style.  The glebe-house, situated about half a mile from the church, is a handsome residence; and the glebe comprises 21 acres of good land.  In the R.C. divisions this parish is in the union or district of Ballymore; the chapel is a small building, situated at Pointz Pass.  There are two places of worship for Presbyterians in connection with the Seceding Synod, situated respectively at Tanniokee and Carrickbrack, or Tyrone's Ditches, the latter of the first class.  There are four schools, of which two are aided by annual donations from Col. Close and the Rev. Mr. Darby, and in which are about 220 boys and 160 girls; also a private pay school of about 30 boys and 30 girls.  The remains of a church built by Sir Toby Pointz, in 1684, under the chancel of which he lies interred, are situated in the midst of a wood, and have a very interesting appearance; a tablet is still preserved, with an inscription to his memory.
Topographical Dictionary of Ireland by Samuel Lewis, 1837

 

Do you have a description of this townland or a picture?  If you send it/them, I will put it/them in this space.

 

Available Catholic Records at NLI & PRONI
(other than county heritage centers)

NLI=National Library in Ireland, Dublin
POS=film number
PRONI=Public Record Office of Northern Ireland
MIC.ID=film number

LDS-Latter Day Saints, Family History Library film number

Type Dates Where
Baptisms 1843-1880 (with gaps)
1843-1880 (with gaps)
1843-1880 (with gaps)
Pos 5586
MIC.1D/37
LDS #0926031
Marriages 1843-1880 (with gaps)
1843-1880 (with gaps)
1843-1880 (with gaps)
Pos 5586
MIC.1D/37
LDS #0926031

 

Church Records

Surname Record Type Info Contact
       
***Do you have records to contribute?   Send to IGP Co Armagh

 

LDS Film Numbers

Film Title Film number(s)
Tithe Applotments #256472
Griffith's Valuation, 1862 #258750

(before ordering films, check # for accuracy)

 

SURNAME CONTACT
To add your surname Email IGP Co Armagh

 

Town(land) Links

Griffith's Valuation Index, Ballymore Civil Parish, John Hayes' website
Add your links, send an email describing link and don't forget the URL

 

This page is under construction!

 

Information to be added:
     Description of town
     Maps
     Churches
     History
     Pictures
     Records
     Travel
     Links
     etc. etc. etc.

 

Your help is needed.  If you have anything that you think will add to this website, including records, that will help others when researching this town(land)'s genealogy, please email me.

Ancestry.com UK & Ireland Collection

Back to the County Armagh Townlands website....

 

Back to the County Armagh website....

 


©2001-2004ConnorsGenealogy, Ireland GenWeb
last updated March 15, 2005