John Hart, born about 1787, was the school master of the Tullaniskin parish school in Newmills in Tyrone County, Northern Ireland, from 1825 (and perhaps as early as 1821) until about 1863-1864. A new building for the school was constructed in Newmills in 1821.
Family notes indicate that John's wife was Margaret Leslie and that there were five children in the family: John, Lizzie, Lydia, Margaret, and Robert. Marriage records suggest that there was also a son James and that Lizzie's full name was Eliza Jane.
1821 A John Hart joined the Freemasons of Ireland in No. 421 Dungannon on June 18. [1]
1825 In The First Report of the Commissioners of Irish Education Inquiry, dated 30th May, 1825, John Hart was listed as the school master in the parish school in Newmills in the parish of Tullynisken, in the diocese of Armagh, in county Tyrone. [2]
1826 In The Second Report of the Commissioners of Irish Education Inquiry, dated Dublin, 16th September, 1826, John Hart was listed as the school master in the parish school in New Mills in the parish of Tullanisken, in the diocese of Armagh, in the barony of Dungannon, in county Tyrone, in the province of Ulster. John Hart's annual income from the school was about £28 with one acre of land, and his school house was described as very good. John Hart's religion was protestant. There were 71-72 students in the school, 46 males and 25-26 females. 37-41 of the students were of the established church, 18-23 were Presbyterian, and 12 were Catholic. The authorized version of the scriptures was read in the school. New Mills is a village about 3 miles from the town of Dungannon. [3] [4]
1828 John Hart was named secretary at the founding meeting of the Brunswick Club in New-Mills on October 20. The Brunswick Clubs opposed the proposed Roman Catholic Relief Act, which was enacted in March 1829. The Act permitted members of the Catholic Church to be members of the British parliament. [5]
1828-1835 John Hart, New Mills, was a Church Warden in Tullaniskin Parish in 1828, 1830, 1833, and 1835. [6] [7]
1828-1837 John Hart served as an "applotter" in Tullaniskin Parish in 1828, 1830-1833, and 1837. Scott's summary of entries in the Old Vestry Book lists, [8] [9]
8th April 1828 John Hart E Lamie Applotters
13th April 1830 … John Hart E Lamie Applotters
5th April 1831 Jas McEntire John Hart Applotters
24th April 1832 J Hart Jos Senior Applotters
9th April 1833 … John Hart Ben Howard Applotters
… No further applotments were made by vestry owing to the Church Temporalities Act passed in 1834
21st April 1835 Resolved that as no cesh was legally applotted last year the late church wardens have no accounts to give in. It is the opinion of the Vestry that application be made at ensuring Assizes for £6 for support of foundling child when applotted & levied on Parish with the County Cesh.
1837 … 4th May John Hart Newmills Jas Mellyan to applott County Cesh. Sum when applotted £229-11-1
1846 "Church Society's School, New Mills--John Hart, master" was listed in Slater's National Commercial Directory of Ireland in the section, "Dungannon, with the villages of Coal Island, Donaghmore, and Neighborhoods." [10]
1850-1859 A John Hart was listed as the postmaster of Newmills, Dungannon, Tyrone, in several editions of Thom's Irish Almanac and Official Directory (1850, 1851, 1852, 1857, 1859). [11] [12] [13] [14] [15]
1852 "Church Society's School, Newmills--John Hart, master" was listed in The Belfast and Province of Ulster Directory for 1852 in the Dungannon section. [16]
1856 "Church Society's School, Newmills--John Hart, master" was listed in The Belfast and Province of Ulster Directory for 1856 in the Dungannon section. [17]
1858-1859 "Church Society's School, Newmills--John Hart, master" was listed in The Belfast and Province of Ulster Directory for 1858-1859 in the Dungannon section. [18]
1860 Griffith's Valuation listed the valuation of the property of occupier John Hart in Drumreagh Otra in the Parish of Tullyniskan, lessor the Earl of Castlestuart. A tenement described as house, office, & gardens on land of area 1 R. 5 P. was valued at 10s. for the land and £1 5s. for the buildings, and land of area 13 A. 2 R. 25 P. was valued at £7 10s., for a total of £9 5s. [19] Drumreagh Otra (Irish name Druim Riadhuachtarach) is the townland bordering Newmills to the north and east. [20]
1863-1864 "Church Society's School, Newmills--John Hart, master" was listed in The Belfast and Province of Ulster Directory for 1863-1864 in the Dungannon section. [21]
1865 "Church Society's School, Newmills--John Dickson, master" was listed in The Belfast and Province of Ulster Directory for 1865 in the Dungannon section, suggesting that John Hart had retired from his position as schoolmaster by 1865. [22]
1870 John Hart of Derry, age 83, "formerly parochial schoolmaster" was buried on February 1 in Tullaniskin Parish. [23][24] Derry is a Townland between Newmills and Coalisland to the southeast. [25]
Research Notes:
Scott states in his discussion of the school at New Mills in Tullaniskin Parish that "John Hart was school master for many years and was buried in 1870." [26]
The notes of Evelyn Miles Krase state that John Harte was a school master. [27]
The children John, Lizzie, Lydia, Margaret, and Robert are listed on a family tree dated 1938 by John Francis Schafer showing ancestors of his mother, Ella Frances Miles Schafer, and likely based on information from her. The tree shows John Harte married to Margaret Leslie, both born in Northern Ireland, and notes that Margaret died about 1834.
1820 An abstract of the parish baptism records indicates that a child with surname Hart was baptized in Tullaniskin Parish in early 1820. [28]
1824 An abstract of the parish baptism records indicates that a child of surname Hart in the townland Glencon was baptized in Tullaniskin Parish in mid 1824. [29] Glencon is a townland northwest of Newmills and north of Dungannon. [30]
These two children were not the children of the schoolmaster John Hart. The Tullaniskin parish registers identifies them as John son of Jacob and Sarah Hart, born the 18th and baptized on February 20th, 1820, and Isaac, son of Jacob and Eliza Hart, born May 31st and baptized on June 20th, 1824. The son John could be the John Hart, son of Jacob Hart, who married Sarah Farrell, daughter of James Farell, on September 27, 1854, in Tullanisken, Tyrone, Ireland. [31]
Lewis (1837) describes Tullanisken, [32]
Tullanisken, a parish, in the union and barony of Dungannon, county of Tyrone, and province of Ulster, on the road from Dungannon to Stewartstown, and on the Tyrone canal; containing, with part of the post-town of Coal-Island (which see), 4106 inhabitants. This parish comprises 4461¼ statute acres, of which 26 are under water: the surface is remarkably undulating, and the soil various; that part which is under tillage is generally productive of good corn-crops and flax. At Derryvale is a large green for bleaching linen-cloth, where about 30,000 pieces are annually finished for the foreign and English markets; and at Coal-Island and Newmills are extensive iron-works, forges, and platingmills, for the manufacture of spades, shovels, edge-tools, &c. At Coal-Island, also, are two large establishments for the manufacture of fire-bricks, pots for glass-houses, and crucibles, one of which was established in 1834 by two English gentlemen from Stourbridge: the greater part of the goods manufactured here are for the home trade. There are extensive coalworks, earthenware manufactories, and many other trades dependent on the above, all in full operation and productive of great benefit to this part of the country. The surrounding scenery is interesting, and the land is well planted: among the principal seats are Lisdhue, Bloomhill, Drumreagh, Torren Hill, Beech Grove, and Derryvale.
The living is a rectory, in the diocese of Armagh, and in the patronage of the Lord Primate; the tithe rentcharge is £150. The glebe-house was built about 1791, at a cost of £813 British, of which £100 were a gift from the late Board of First Fruits. The old church was destroyed in the war of 1641; in the 15th of Charles II. this parish was episcopally united to that of Drumglass, and Tullanisken church remained in ruins until 1792, when Primate Robinson dissolved the union and erected the present church at Newmills, on the site of the ancient one. It is a plain building with an embattled square tower, and was built at a cost of £553 British, of which £461 were a gift from the beforementioned Board, £35 were raised by parochial assessment, and the residue by private subscription; in 1823 a gallery was added at an expense of £73, of which £40 were subscribed by individuals, the residue being raised by parochial assessment. In the Roman Catholic divisions the parish is one of three forming the district of Drumglass, and has one small chapel. Near Lake Farlough is an ancient mansion named alter it, distinguished as occupying the site of Tyrone's favourite camp; and a little westward from Tullanisken church, on the northern bank of the Torren, is a large and wellfortified encampment thrown up by Turlogh O'Nial. In the churchyard is a venerable ash-tree, measuring 29 feet in circumference; near Drumrea is a valuable sulphureous spring, said to be highly beneficial in scorbutic cases. Ducart, the celebrated engineer, resided for some years in this parish, and under his direction the aqueducts, bridges, &c., of the canal, were constructed, by the Board of Inland Navigation: a remarkable aqueduct constructed under his direction still remains entire, near Newmills.
Lewis (1837) states, [33]
The parochial schools at New Mills near the church are aided by the rector. The school house was built in 1821 with a residence for the master and is endowed with an acre of land from the glebe. A school at Creenagh is aided by an annual donation from Lord Castlesteuart. In these schools are about 180 children. There are also a school at Edendork and a private school.
Lewis (1847) describes Newmills, [34]
Newmills, a village, in the parish of Tullaniskin, union and barony of Dungannon, county of Tyrone, and province of Ulster, 3 miles (N. N. E.) from Dungannon, on the road to Cookstown; containing about 105 inhabitants. It derives its name probably from two corn-mills erected in 1758, by the proprietor of the adjoining lands; and comprises 20 houses, most of which are indifferently built. Here is the parochial church, a plain edifice with a square embattled tower; and nearly adjoining it is the principal parochial school, with a residence for the master, endowed with a portion of the glebe land, comprising one acre.
A directory published in 1819 describes Dungannon. [35] One person with surname Hart but no person with the surname Leslie appears in the Dungannon town listing. One person named Leslie and several named Hart appear in the listings of other towns in the directory:
William Leslie, gun-maker, Scotch street lived in Armagh in 1819. [36]
John Hart, joiner, John Hart jun., joiner, and James Hart, musician, lived in Rosstrevor in 1819. [37]
Robert Hart, wheelwright, John Hart, tallow chandler, and Hugh Hart, painter and glazier, lived in Rathfriland in 1819. [38]
James Hart, publican, Scotch street, and John Hart, whitesmith, Irish street, lived in Armagh. [39]
James Hart, publican, lived in Portadown. [40]
William Hart, innkeeper, Verner's-bridge, lived in Dungannon. [41]
In 1766, a Robert Leslie, protestant, lived in Derryloran parish of Armagh diocese in county Tyrone, in the townland of Cookstown. [42] A John Hart and a Robert Hart, both protestant, lived in Aghalow & Carnteel parish, Armagh diocese in county Tyrone. [43] [44]
[1] Freemasons of Ireland Membership Registers, Vol. III, 1760-1859, Ireland, Grand Lodge of Freemasons of Ireland Membership Registers, 1733-1923, [AncestryImage], [AncestryRecord].
[2] The First Report of the Commissioners of Irish Education Inquiry, Dated 30th May, 1825 (Reports from Commissioners, 1801-1826, Vol. 120, Education in Ireland, 1825), 412, Appendix 198, [AncestryImage], [AncestryRecord], [GoogleBooks].
[3] The Second Report of the Commissioners of Irish Education Inquiry, Dated Dublin, 16th September, 1826 (Reports from Commissioners, 1801-1826, Vol. 121, Education in Ireland, 1826), 496-497, Appendix 22, Abstract of Parochial Returns, [AncestryImage], [AncestryRecord].
[4] Personal Communication, email from William Roulston, 15 November 2017, who first alerted me to this record and who stated that this report for the British Parliament lists the names of all teachers and schools in Ireland at that time.
[5] The Belfast News-letter, Tuesday, October 28, 1828, p. 2, col. 4, [URL].
[6] Henry Gordon Waller Scott, Tullaniskin Notes and Manuscript, Armagh County Museum, no. D8, FHL film 1279325 Item 13, image 1872, [FHLCatalog], [FHL_Image].
[7] Henry Gordon Waller Scott, Tullaniskin Notes and Manuscript, Armagh County Museum, no. D8, FHL film 1279325 Item 13, image 1875, [FHLCatalog], [FHL_Image].
[8] Henry Gordon Waller Scott, Tullaniskin Notes and Manuscript, Armagh County Museum, no. D8, FHL film 1279325 Item 13, image 1748, [FHLCatalog], [FHL_Image].
[9] Henry Gordon Waller Scott, Tullaniskin Notes and Manuscript, Armagh County Museum, no. D8, FHL film 1279325 Item 13, image 1749, [FHLCatalog], [FHL_Image].
[10] Isaac Slater, Slater's National Commercial Directory of Ireland (Manchester and London: I. Slater, 1846), 458, [GoogleBooks].
[11] Alexander Thom, Thom's Irish Almanac and Official Directory for the Year 1850 (Dublin: Alexander Thom, 1850), 422, [GoogleBooks], [HathiTrust].
[12] Alexander Thom, Thom's Irish Almanac and Official Directory for the Year 1851 (Dublin: Alexander Thom, 1851), 492, [GoogleBooks], [HathiTrust].
[13] Alexander Thom, Thom's Irish Almanac and Official Directory for the Year 1852 (Dublin: Alexander Thom, 1852), 491, [GoogleBooks], [HathiTrust].
[14] Alexander Thom, Thom's Irish Almanac and Official Directory of the United Kingdom for the Year 1857 (Dublin: Alexander Thom and Sons, 1857), 790, [GoogleBooks].
[15] Alexander Thom, Thom's Almanac and Official Directory of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland for the Year 1859 (Dublin: Alexander Thom and Sons, 1859), 826, [GoogleBooks].
[16] James Alexander Henderson, The Belfast And Province Of Ulster Directory For 1852 (1852), 549, [PRONI].
[17] James Alexander Henderson, The Belfast And Province Of Ulster Directory For 1856 (1856), 562, [FindMyPastImage].
[18] James Alexander Henderson, The Belfast And Province Of Ulster Directory For 1858-1859 (1858), 585, [PRONI].
[19] Richard Griffith, Griffith's Valuation, 1847-1864, (Eneclann Ltd, OMS Services and The National Library of Ireland),, "County of Tyrone, Barony of Middle Dungannon, Union of Dungannon," p. 66, [FindMyPastImage].
[20] Townlands.ie website, [URL].
[21] James Alexander Henderson, The Belfast And Province Of Ulster Directory For 1863-1864 (1863), 718, [PRONI].
[22] James Alexander Henderson, The Belfast And Province Of Ulster Directory For 1865 (1865), 757, [PRONI].
[23] Personal Communication, email from William Roulston, Ulster Historical Foundation, quoting from the Church of Ireland Tullyniskan Parish Register, Armagh diocese, Public Records Office of Northern Ireland, MIC1/10-11.
[24] Tullaniskan Parish Register, Armagh Diocese, Baptisms, 1794-1955; Marriages, 1794-1915; Burials, 1809-1918; Vestry Minutes, 1791-1870; Confirmations, 1824-88, MIC1/10-11, Public Records Office of Northern Ireland, p. 49.
[25] Townlands.ie website, [URL].
[26] Henry Gordon Waller Scott, Tullaniskin Notes and Manuscript, Armagh County Museum, no. D8, FHL film 1279325 Item 13, image 1896, [FHLCatalog], [FHL_Image].
[27] Family Document, "Family History Notes of Evelyn Miles Krase" (25 Jan 1895-17 May 1973).
[28] Henry Gordon Waller Scott, Tullaniskin Notes and Manuscript, Armagh County Museum, no. D8, FHL film 1279325 Item 13, image 1829, [FHLCatalog], [FHL_Image].
[29] Henry Gordon Waller Scott, Tullaniskin Notes and Manuscript, Armagh County Museum, no. D8, FHL film 1279325 Item 13, image 1830, [FHLCatalog], [FHL_Image].
[30] Townlands.ie website, [URL].
[31] Ireland Marriages, 1619-1898, FamilySearch.org, [FindMyPastRecord].
[32] Samuel Lewis, A Topographical Dictionary of Ireland, 2nd Edition, Vol. 2 (London: S. Lewis and Company, 1847), [InternetArchive].
[33] Samuel Lewis, A Topographical Dictionary of Ireland, Vol. 2 (London: S. Lewis and Company, 1837), [GoogleBooks].
[34] Samuel Lewis, A Topographical Dictionary of Ireland, 2nd Edition, Vol. 2 (London: S. Lewis and Company, 1847), [InternetArchive].
[35] Thomas Bradshaw, The General Directory of Newry, Armagh, and the Towns of Dungannon ... for 1820 (Newry: Alexander Wilkinson, 1819), 129 (page 146 of pdf), [Scribd].
[36] Thomas Bradshaw, The General Directory of Newry, Armagh, and the Towns of Dungannon ... for 1820 (Newry: Alexander Wilkinson, 1819), 73 (page 93 of pdf), [Scribd].
[37] Thomas Bradshaw, The General Directory of Newry, Armagh, and the Towns of Dungannon ... for 1820 (Newry: Alexander Wilkinson, 1819), 42 (page 61 of pdf), [Scribd].
[38] Thomas Bradshaw, The General Directory of Newry, Armagh, and the Towns of Dungannon ... for 1820 (Newry: Alexander Wilkinson, 1819), 55 (page 74 of pdf), [Scribd].
[39] Thomas Bradshaw, The General Directory of Newry, Armagh, and the Towns of Dungannon ... for 1820 (Newry: Alexander Wilkinson, 1819), 70 (page 90 of pdf), [Scribd].
[40] Thomas Bradshaw, The General Directory of Newry, Armagh, and the Towns of Dungannon ... for 1820 (Newry: Alexander Wilkinson, 1819), 91 (page 110 of pdf), [Scribd].
[41] Thomas Bradshaw, The General Directory of Newry, Armagh, and the Towns of Dungannon ... for 1820 (Newry: Alexander Wilkinson, 1819), 137 (page 154 of pdf), [Scribd].
[42] Ireland 1766 Religious Census, [AncestryRecord].
[43] Ireland 1766 Religious Census, [AncestryRecord].
[44] Ireland 1766 Religious Census, [AncestryRecord].