Hello Len Many thanks for your response. I have come to the conclusion that Mr Knox was the incumbent at Urney, as you suggest. I found a list of the rectors and very briefly there was a Charles Knox, who was rector for one year 1813 -14. The letter to the Marquis of Abercorn, I referred to, was dated Feb 1814, and it appears that Mr Knox was trying to instigate the collection of tithes on potatoes, previously exempt. The marquis seems to have disapproved. Another letter in March 1814 refers to Mr Knox being removed to the archdeaconry in Armagh. I assume he was also related to the Bishop of Derry. Later in the century , at the time of the Griffiths valuation the lessor to the tenants in Rabstown and many neighbouring townlands, was Rev William Knox . Do you think this means that the diocese of Derry owned this land and he was collecting rents on it’s behalf? The lessors after his death were Andrew F and Thomas F Knox. Could they have acquired the land after the disestablishment of the church of Ireland or were they acting as agents? I would love to hear what you think. Regards Marion
Sent from Mail for Windows 10 From: Len Swindley Sent: 09 September 2017 12:33 To: Marion Cc: [email protected] Subject: RE: [CoTyroneMailingList] Rev William Knox and Urney Hello Marion, For what it may be worth, my thoughts are that Rabstown belonged to the large Bishopric of Derry Estate (Cos. Londonderry, Tyrone and Donegal). The Rev. William Knox (died 1831, London) was the Bishop of Derry; the Rev. William Knox (died 1860) of Clonleigh, Co. Donegal was a son and Andrew Ferguson Knox of Urney Park was his son. The Marquis of Abercorn and his agents generally addressed the clergy within their estate as “Mister”. As bishop, William Knox, the elder, would have had the legal right to demand his tenants pay tithes. Hope this is useful? Len Swindley, Melbourne, Australia Sent from Mail for Windows 10 From: Marion Sent: Sunday, 3 September 2017 12:13 AM To: [email protected] Subject: [CoTyroneMailingList] Rev William Knox and Urney Hello All I have been looking again at the farms worked by my ancestors in Rabstown, Urney and the historical background. I noticed in the Griffiths Valuation that their immediate lessor was a Rev William Knox and that he was also the lessor in quite a large area of Urney (about 14 townlands of various sizes). I assume he was the same person who was the rector of Clonleigh parish in Donegal. I am interested to know if he was the owner of the land, rented it from someone or was acting as an agent for the owners . If anyone knows anything about him or his family I would be very interested. I have looked at the notes on the website and seen that he died in 1860 at Urney Park , which was also the home of Andrew Ferguson Knox. Andrew and a Thomas F Knox seem to have taken over as immediate lessor in Rabstown (Val Revision Books) My family were also farming in Rabstown at the time of the Tithe Applotment Books (about 1825) and I wondered who their lessor would have been at that time. I did come across a letter to the Duke of Abercorn in 1814 with a comment about violent mobs in Urney because Mr Knox was demanding tithe on potatoes. Apparently they broke the windows and doors of his house and also those of his agent. Who was this Mr Knox and on what basis was he demanding tithes?? Does anyone know anything about the Knox family and their position in Urney during the 19th century??? Any comments gratefully received. Regards Marion Shephard Sent from Mail for Windows 10
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