Tyrone - Benburb - Clonfeacle Parish & Presbyterian Cemetery *********************************************** Ireland Genealogy Projects Archives Tyrone Index Copyright ************************************************ File contributed by: C. Hunt & M. Taylor BENBURB-Parish of Clonfeacle [From C. J. Hobson of New York City] HERE LYETH YE BODY OF MATTHEW REI[D] [S]ON TO ALEX REID WHO DYED ANNO 1670 'The headstone bearing the above description was accidentally broken some time ago. The sexton pointed out the pieces lying under a tombstone and after spending some time putting the together I was rewarded by being able to make out the inscription. I believe this to be the oldest inscribed stone in the churchyard. But for our Society this inscription would be forever lost. I am unable to tell to what family of REIDS the headstone originally belonged. The name is plentiful in the neighbourhood. Originally the stone was about 12 inches high and about the same in breadth.' 'There are a few of these small stones scattered through the older portion of the churchyard the inscriptions on some of which it is impossible to read. The following inscription is copied from a small headstone about 18 inches above the ground. The family still resides in the locality and still makes use of this burial-plot. The stone is somewhat broken at the top and some of the inscription is missing;:- Here lies the BODY of William BEATTY WHO departed this life the 2 day of May ANO 1695 'I have put what I consider three missing words should be in capital letters' 'On a tombstone near the southern boundary of the churchyard there is an inscription to the wife of Colonel SHELDRAKE who was about this time in charge of Charlemont Fort. The inscription reads as follows':- Here lies the body | of Rebecca SHELDRAKE late wife of Lt Col | SHELDRAKE who departed this life 5'th |April 1810 aged 51 years. ________________________________________________________________ BENBURB - PRESBYTERIAN BURIAL-GROUND, 'The following inscriptions have been copied from the above burial-ground which is situated about one mile from the village. About the year 1646 a church was erected here which in 1839 which was removed to a more central site in the village. All traces of the old church, with the exception of the foundations have disappeared. Lord POWERSCOURT who was anxious that the church should be removed to the historic village had the burying-ground enclosed with a stone wall at his own expense. It would seem from tradition and other sources of information that the first Presbyterian church erected in this locality was in the townland of Lisnacroy. convenient to the residence of the late John NEILL. A garden there until recently was known as the Meetinghouse Garden. No interments seem to have been made at that place: but at Derry-fubble within about a mile of the churchyard and where for nearly 100 years there was a Presbyterian church, there was one interment made. The body was afterwards raised. The congregation moved to Eglish and traces of the church have long since disappeared' _______ IN MEMORY OF THE REV JAMES WHITESIDE 46 YEARS MINISTER OF BENBURB PRESBYTERIAN CONGREGATION. HE DIED THE 22'XD MAY 1822 AGED 82 YEARS. ALSO ANNE HIS WIFE WHO DIED 29'TH FEBRUARY 1830 AGED 76 YEARS. THIS TABLET WAS ERECTED BY THEIR SON GEORGE AS A TRIBUTE OF RESPECT AND FILIAL AFFECTION FOR HIS BELOVED PARENTS. QUIESCANT IN PACE ______ 'On a tablet inserted in the wall surrounding the plot there is the following inscription':- THE BURYING PLACE OF JOHN RUNNETT MAY THE 9'TH 1803 ______ JOHN KELLY LATE OF DRUMGOLD COUNTY OF TYRONE AND FAMILY 1840 'This plot is surrounded by a wall in top of which a tablet is inserted with the above inscription.' ______ 'On a tombstone at the north-east corner of the churchyard is the following inscription. The REANEY family is now extinct':- Sacred to the memory of Wm REANEY who departed this life Febry 23'rd 1844 aged 21 years. Also John REANEY who died 15'th April 1854 aged 37 years. And William REANEY if Eglish, C. Armagh their father who departed this life 4th Decbr 1861 aged 77 years. Also Catherine their mother died 27th'th March 1869 aged 86 years. Also Anne MILLAR daughter of the above William REANEY who died the 10'th October 1889 Aged 75 years. Source: Journal of the Association for the Preservation of the Memorials of the Dead in Ireland Vol 6 1904 (FHL # 0258795)