Tyrone - Benburb - Clonfeacle Parish & Presbyterian Cemetery

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Ireland Genealogy Projects Archives
Tyrone Index
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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)