Disturbances in the County of Down.
(From the “Methodist’s Magazine” of 1787).
Elizabeth and Margaret Mathers, with Isabella Mitchell, sister-in-law to Margaret Mathers, are three elderly women of unblemished character, and exemplary behaviour. They have lived together for many years at Drumarran, near Guilford, in the country of Down. In the year 1780, about a week before Christmas, Margaret Mitchell going to spin as usual, missed the whirl of her wheel, which she sought for everywhere; but it was not to be found: till as she was sitting about eight days after, it was laid upon her lap.
The next evening, Molly Steward (a girl about ten years old that was with them) laying down her spool, it was whipped away; but half an hour after it lay at her side broken. The night after, when she had just done spinning, her wheel-hack was broken; and so were several of their hacks, within a few days after. That night when they went out of the room to family-prayer, they left the candle burning in the chimney. When they returned, they found it taken out of the candlestick, and put into another at some distance.
After Isabella Mitchell was gone to bed, with her pocket as usual at her head, it was snatched away and thrown at the bed’s feet. Her sister took it up and gave it to her. Quickly it was thrown thither again. She gave it her again. It was snatched a third time and thrown upon the floor. She then rose and put it under her side, and it was taken away no more. In the morning when she rose, it was thrown after her on the floor, as was the Bible which she had laid under her head. She took it up and laid it on the dresser. But it was presently lifted up, and thrown at Thomas Ballance, whom it hit on the side.
While the class was meeting, many stones were thrown across the room, as if two sets of men had been pelting each other. One of these struck Thomas Mettleton on the head and raised a large lump. Betty Mathers having had all her papers thrown about, had thought to secure the class-paper, by putting it in the Bible. And this she laid close to her. But quickly it rose up before them all, and leaped into the window. She took it up intending to take out the class-paper. But it was not there. Quickly after it was strewed over Robert White, being torn into a hundred pieces.
One of their neighbours sitting by, said, it is an impudent devil, to dare to meddle with the Bible. Immediately a knife was aimed at her face, and came with the point foremost. But being intercepted by the head of her cloak, it did no harm. The same day several parts of their goods (which were not many) were either broke or taken away. And in general, whatever they had occasion to use, was just then taken away. But the greater part of the things taken away, were brought again in a little while.
From this time they were troubled more and more. Everything was thrown about the house, trenchers, noggins, fire-shovels, poker, tongs, pot-hooks and candlesticks. Many strangers as well as neighbours came in: and most of them were struck on the head, breast, arms, or other parts, either with trenchers, noggins, potatoes or stones. Yet none were considerably hurt.
Fanny Brennan, a young woman that lived at the next door, came in some days after, and sitting down by the fire said – Well I never got any stroke yet. Presently the rock of the wheel that stood over against her, flew by her head and struck violently against the wall. Very well, said she, but it has not hit me. She had hardly spoke, when the bearer of the rock, came swiftly across the room, and hit her a smart blow upon the forehead. She got up in great haste, and cried out, I will stay here no longer. Margaret Mathers said – See the impudence of the devil! The words were scarce out of her mouth, when a noggin of water was thrown in her face, and the noggin thrown into the fire.
A few nights after, Sarah Wood, our next door neighbour came in, and said to our girl, I hear your wheel is spoiled: but I will soon set it right. While she was endeavouring to do so, the fore-standard vanished away. She sat down in surprise: presently it dropped from the top of the house, and hit her on the collar-bone, with a considerable noise. She catched Betty Mathers in her arms, and said – O that I was out of the house. But I dare not go by myself. Who will go with me? Betty said, I will; and walked across the room. As she walked, a stone struck her on the back, and as she opened the door, another stone struck violently against it.
Some days after, John Lindsay coming to see us in a stormy night, we desired him to lodge with us. When he went to bed, he put one of his stockings in the other as his manner was. But in the morning, one of them was wanting, nor could it be found anywhere. But eight days after it fell down from the top of the house. As he was then going away, he laid his stick out of his hand and immediately it was gone. Neither could we find this anywhere: but a few days after we saw it standing behind the door.
Once and again the blankets were pulled off us, when we were in bed. In the morning they were found, rammed in, behind the coupler of the house. One night a sheet was taken away: which we found two days after, folded up and put in a box. While our girl was combing her head, her neck-handkerchief was carried away. Eight days after it was brought again and laid down, stuck full of crooked pins without heads.
When we had made up some yarn to carry to the market, it was not to be found. After some time we found one hank of it, thrust into a pitcher of water; another into a vessel of sowings. While Isabel Mitchell sat reeling yarn, she got several blows to the head and cheek, one time with a pewter plate, another with little stones, or with small clods of dirt or clay. Once several sharp stones were thrown down the chimney, which cut the yarn, as if it had been cut with a knife.
Frequently when they were washing or preparing to wash their clothes, either the clothes or the soap was taken away. And it was in vain to seek them, till after some time they were brought again. Frequently the potatoes they had boiled and were going to eat, were snatched off the dish or plate: and after a time thrown at them, so as to strike them on the face or breast.
While Margaret Mather was making a poultice, to apply to Mr Blake’s sore throat, several lumps of dirt and clay were thrown into it, so that it was quite spoiled. And for five weeks, almost every moveable in the house, was continually thrown up and down.
An account of these things coming to the ears of a neighbouring gentleman, Sir R. I—, he determined to search the matter to the bottom, and find out the imposture. With this view, he went to the house himself, with two or three other gentlemen; he searched every hole and corner of the house; but could discover nothing: at length he saw several large potatoes roll along the top of the house, and fall just before him, while the potatoes that were in a basket, rose up and flew all about the house. Meantime a large stone came out of the wall, flew with great force across the room, and rebounding from the opposite door, fell down just at his foot. He took up this, with several of the potatoes, and carried them to his own house.
When he came home he related what he had seen, to his lady and her company. So he did afterwards to several others. But they were not ready to believe him. A fortnight after, he desired several of them to go and see with their own eyes. A little party of them agreed so to do, and went to the house together. While they were in the house they saw many stones rattling upon the dresser. And many potatoes were thrown by unseen hands from every corner of the house: insomuch that some of the company were not a little frighted, and made haste out of it. And every one was fully satisfied, that there was no fraud or contrivance in the matter. Indeed no reasonable man could suppose there was: as there was so great a number of witnesses who could not be deceived themselves, and could have no possible motive to deceive others.
The common report was that all these disturbances were owing to a man in town. And what gave some weight to this report was, that after a Magistrate had examined him, and threatened to take another course with him if the house was disturbed any more, it was disturbed no more, but all things remained in perfect quietness.
The Spiritual Times, 29th October 1864.
Early Gilford Methodism.
Presbyterian minister shot in riot – tragedy of 1772 – the Drumarran Ghost.
Mr F.J Cole, the Methodist historian, here tells the story of the uprising of Gilford tenants, the ultimate riot and its tragic sequel.
“Those who were without money, without food for themselves and families, or those who drove them to this extremity.” With Wesley’s view of these matters in our minds we can better assess the reasons for the tragic occurrence which at that time happened in Gilford. On the 5th March, 1772 the Presbyterian minister, Rev. Samuel Morrell, informed Sir Richard Johnston there was to be a meeting of the Hearts of Oak at a house in Clare; in consequence under Sir Richard’s leadership Mr Morrell and some of the Castle employees went out to Clare and arrested four men, one of whom escaped while the other three were taken to Gilford Castle. The exasperated tenantry, accompanied by some hundreds of others went to Sir Richard to demand the release of the three men and when this was refused they attacked the Castle defended by Sir Richard, his retainers and Mr Morrell.
A miniature battle took place and unbecoming as it was for Mr Morrell to fight with the arm of the flesh against the members of his own flock from Gilford and Tullylish he did so and in consequence lost his life, as he was shot dead while the battle was in progress. Johnston sent his steward out with a white flag to arrange to surrender while he himself escaped over a wall, waded the mill race, swam the Bann, was helped out of the river by a Miss Davison, mounted a horse without a saddle and made no attempt to draw rein until he reached Newry, 15 miles away.
Subsequently a number of men were arrested and taken to Downpatrick jail and while there were visited by the Rev. John Johnson, who had been appointed Superintendent of Methodism in Ireland and who was then retired and living in Lisburn. Later they were transferred to Dublin, where they were tried before a Protestant jury, found not guilty and discharged. Further tragic events occurred in connection with this episode but these need not concern us today. I tell this story because of interesting references to Sir Richard Johnston which have come down to us from a celebrated minister, Rev. Henry Moore. Mr Moore, who was the intimate friend, travelling companion and biographer of Rev. John Wesley, lived over at Tandragee for a year subsequent to the incidents I have mentioned and from him we learn that in 1780 there was a little Methodist Society in Gilford which passed through some rather extraordinary experiences of peculiar interest as from the published account of these we have the names of several members of the Gilford Class Meeting. We do not know who the leader of the Class was, but perhaps it was John Hamilton, of New Mills, who introduced Methodism to Portadown about that time.
There were then living in Drumarran three elderly ladies of unblemished character and good repute, Elizabeth Mathers, Margaret Mathers, and their sister-in-law Isabella Mitchell, at whose house the Class was accustomed to meet.
Christmas was approaching when all sorts of supernatural events are alleged to have taken place. Spinning wheels were smashed by unseen hands while the wheels were beeing operated. Articles of clothing and furniture were seen moving about, stones and potatoes were thrown about the rooms. The Class Book rose before the assembly, flew into a window and then tore up into hundreds of pieces which fell over the members present. Knives, forks, tongs, pokers, candlesticks and pot hooks were seen to move about.
One evening when the preacher from Charlemont, Mr Blake, was present, one of the ladies of the house was preparing a poultice for a sore throat from which he was suffering when suddenly the poultice was seen to be mixed with mud and dirt.
By this time these events were the talk of the countryside and Sir Richard Johnston came to investigate them. He was accompanied by some of the local volunteer officers and when he heard the incidents described he laughed immoderately. But ghosts are no repecters of persons, because suddenly a stone struck Sir Richard on the head, when he excitedly called out “I’ll be d-d but a stone has struck me,” and turning to one of the officers, he said, “Was it you, Captain?” “No,” said the captain.
Seizing a spade, he therefore flew at one wall and then at another, but the fusilade of stones became so serious that he was forced to run out of the house and into the neighbouring house of one of his tenants, John Stewart. In explanation Rev. Henry Moore alleges that Sir Richard was an infidel although Lady Johnston was a pious woman, but on reaching John Stewart’s door he called out “John there is another world and a devil too, I will doubt no more.”
At this time Mr Moore was brought on the scene and he tells us he examined the cut heads and bruises; the local preachers; the Class leaders; and his colleagues whose truthfulness he would as soon question as John Wesley’s; he was therefore convinced of the accuracy of what he heard.
He says the Mathers ladies were advised to bring in the Parish Priest and he did not object to this if the Priest acted scripturally. He thought of Luke ix. 49, where John said “Master, we saw one casting out devils in Thy name and we forbad him, because he followeth not with us,” and Jesus said “forbid him not, for he that is not against us is for us.”
Fifty-six years later Mr Moore told the whole story to the Rev. Fossey Tackeberry at a London boarding house, and said the ghost ceased to annoy after he had appointed a day of fasting and prayer. A short time later this Church was built. I do not know if it finally laid the ghost but at all events it is satisfactory to know that since then there have been no records of what Mr Moore described as preternatural appearances.
Before leaving the matter, however, you may be interested to know the names of the peopel whom it is alleged the ghost interfered with, they were: the two Mathers ladies whom I have mentioned, Isabella Mitchell, Margaret Mitchell, Molly Stewart, Fanny Brennan, Sarah Wood, Robt. White, John Lindsay, Thomas Ballance, John Mettleton and Mr Robert Blake, the preacher.
Portadown News, 25th September 1943.