Tombstone Inscriptions in Ballymascanlon Churchyard
Transcribed by ALLAN B. SWAN

The first specific mention of a church at Ballymascanlon, which I have been able to trace, dates from the year 1550, and is contained in the Patent Roll of Edward VI. It says: “ Grant of lands of Ballyskanlan, to Sir Gerard Moore Kt. with Castle and 120 acres arable land and pasture with Ballyskanlan Church and Rectory, with the tithes and profits thereof/’
There is every likelihood that a church existed here for some centuries before this date. It is probable that towards the end of the sixteenth century, and indeed, for some time before this date, there were two churches at Ballymascanlon. An entry from the Royal Visitation Book for Ulster, written in 1622, says that Ballymascanlon “Church and Chancoll ” had been repaired. It may be inferred that they were of some age at that time to need repair. A further entry from Analecta Hibernica, No. 2, p. 55, says that " Ballymascanlon (in Louth) " was " turned to a barne '* in 1628: surely this was not the church which had been repaired six years previously. A Presbyterian church was established here in the second half of the seventeenth century, and it is probable that this building was the newly repaired building of 1622. This Presbyterian church was handed over to the Church of Ireland about 1790 and the wall of the nave was raised slightly, the two transepts built and the tower constructed shortly afterwards.
The church was then as it is to-day, while the remains of the old and very tiny church, containing the remains of at least three Presbyterian ministers, is close at hand in the churchyard.
The late Mr. H. G. Tempest did considerable work on the inscriptions in the churchyard and he was good enough to allow me to use his material. Many of the earlier stones are now illegible. The record is now, I believe, complete and has been made possible by the continued and willing help of Mr. Edward Dullaghan of Ballymakellet.
It must be remembered that only a comparatively few graves are marked by inscriptions;
most have no marking at all while a few have uninscribed stones at the head of the grave.
NOTE—WHERE the old-fashioned form of the letter “s” is found on the inscriptions, this is denoted by the use of the letter “f” i.e., " Sufana " for “ Susana."



ABERNETHY. Erected/by/James Abernethy/in loving memory of his wife/Isabella Abernethy/who died Sept. 10th, 1904/aged 47 years./Also her baby Emily/ who predeceased her 11 years.
BARRETT. Here lyeth the Body of Seragh/Mary Barrtt who departed this life the 2nd of Auguft 1795 Aged 22 years ALSO/Margret Barrett wife to/Gabriel Barrett who departed/this Life the 3rd of Sepr 1805 aged/72 years.
BARRETT. Here Lyeth the Body of Elizabeth/Barrett wife of Jno Barrett of Dow/dalshill who departed this life the 26/day of April, 1807 Aged 52 years ALSO/her Daughter Eliza Aged 9 months.
BARRETT. Here Lieth the Body of Richd Barrett/who departed this life the 2nd of Decem/ber 1801 aged 56 Years. Also his son/Graham who departed this life the 17th of December 1801 aged 18 Years/Also his Daughter Sufana who departed/this life 7th of April 1803 aged 14/ Years ALSO Anne Barrett wife/to the above Richd Barrett who/Departed this life the 27th of Sepr/1820 aged 62 Years.
BARETT. HERE/Lyeth the Body of/William Barett/who Departed this/Life the 21st of Novr/1781 Aged 81 Years.
BARETT. ERECTED/by A: M: Barrett in/Memory of her Husband/Robert Barett, who depd/ this Life 2nd of May, 1787/Aged 46 Yrs also 4 of their/children. Also the above Maria/ Barrett who depd 10th/Jany 1803, aged 58 yrs.
BARETT. Here Lyeth the Body of George/Barett Also the Body of Ellis/Barett AND here Lyeth the/Body of John Barrett Senr of/Jonesborough who departed this/Life the 16th of April 1796 Aged/60 Years/Also the Body of Eliza Wife of/Hugh Barrett Aged 42 Years.
BARRETT. In memory of/JOHN BARRETT/of Dundalk/died Oct. 30th 1844/Aged 44 years/ Erected 1862.
BEATTY. IN MEMORY/of/WILLIAM THOMPSON BEATTY/son of the late Robt Beatty Esqr/formerly of Spring Park in the/County of Longford/Deed 13th Octr 1823/Aged 21 years./ Also Elizabeth Mary Beatty Relict of the late/Robert Beatty Esqr and Daughter of the late/Daniel McNeale Esqr of Strandfield/who departed this life the 2nd day of July, 1844/ aged 81 years.
BEATTY. In loving memory of/Pakenham Wm Beatty/who died 10th Nov 1879/aged 55 years./ Erected by/his devoted wife/and sons./ Also of his parents/Anne, wife of Pakenham Beatty,/ who died 7th July 1862: aged 73 years./Pakenham Beatty/who died 1st March 1877 aged 85 years/and sister Isabella Beatty/who died 24th December 1878, aged 60 years.
BEATTY. See Black.
BENISON. This Tomb/has been erected by/NICOLINA BENISON./to the Memory of her beloved Husband/RICHARD BENISON,/of Ravensdale/who departed this life/the 5th May 1845/ ANN FOXALL/died Novr 29th 1870 aged 26./NICHOLINA BENISON/died Octr 1st 1871 aged 76./POWELL FOXALL died August 9th 1875/Aged 75.
BLACK. In memory of/John Black/of Annaskeagh, Co. Louth/who died l5th July, 1866/and of Anne his wife/who died December 1872/this monument is erected in sorrowing memory/by his beloved daughter/and sole survivor of the family./All are departed./

BLACK. Anne Frances MacNeale Black/died in Dublin 4th June, 1876/Margaret Elizabeth/wife of/ James MacNeale Beatty/ died at Winchester/4th September, 1879,/ James Wolfe MacNeale Black/died 25th January 1881./Children of John and Anne Black.
BLACK. John Edward MacNeale Black/Lieut. 8th King's Regt./died at Berhampore Bengal/ 18th September 1858/Isabella MacNeale Black/died at Penzance/19th July 1871/Harry MacNeale Black/died at Annaskeagh, April, 1873/Children of/John and Anne Black.
BOLLARD. In loving memory/of/THOMAS BOLLARD/who died at Dundalk/on 11th July 1901/ Aged 89 years/and of his beloved wife/Sarah/who entered into her rest on/18th Feby 1904, aged 69 years/also of their children,/Sarah Frances who died on/4th Sept. 1877, aged 13 years./ George Thomas, who died on/5th April 1881 aged 26 years./There remaineth therefore a Rest/ for the people of God./ Doherty, Dundalk.
BOTHWELL. THOMAS HENRY BOTHWELL/of Strandfield/Born 14 April 1867 Died 2 June 1947/and MARY MARGARET his wife/Born 26 July 1895 Died 11 Sep 1946.
BOTHWELL. There is a large family grave with a stone engraved : Bothwell/Piedmont. I am told that this grave contained the remains of John Bothwell, died 12th Sept. 1877 and his wife, Mary Ann Bothwell, who died about 1912 and their children Margery Bothwell, who died 2nd Feb. 1891, aged 22 years ; Robert Bothwell, who died 15th Nov. 1896; and also Emma Bothwell, Edward Bothwell, Lillie Bothwell and Maria Bothwell who died about 1924.
BRADFORD. Erected/BY WILLIAM BRADFORD/of Ravensdale in memory of/his two sons John and Isaac/also his son Henry died the/11th Jany 1835 aged 37 years/Ann his wife died 14th Augt/1837 aged 71 years/ Also in memory of/Rose Anne McCulloch who died/Septr 10th 1853 Aged 47 years/And to Anna McCulloch/who died Dec 25th 1855/Aged 16 years/Also to that of William McCulloch who died Septr 22nd 1864/Aged 59 years/And also to the memory of/William Henry McCulloch/who died March 9th 1871/Aged 27 years/Also to the memory of/ Jane Farquharson daughter of William McCulloch/who died l8th May 1870 Aged 34 years/ Also to the memory of/Sarah daughter of William McCulloch/who died 9th July, 1900, Aged 59 years.
BRADFORD. IN MEMORY/of Barbara Maxwell Bradford/who died on the fifth day March 1831/ Aged 27 years/This monument was erected/out of Grateful Regard to departed/worth by her affectionate/Hufband Samuel Bradford of Dundalk/WILLIAM JOCELYN BRADFORD, M.D./Died 14th August, 1869/Aged 42 years/Keep your eye fixed on/the Lord Jesus Christ.
BRENAN. Joy/cometh in the/morning./L. A. Brenan/Born August 3ist i842/Died March 9th 1917.
BRENAN. Because/I live ye shall live/also./F. E. A. V. Brenan/Born May 24th 1865/Died August 8th 1922.
BROOMFIELD. See Keage.
BROWN. In loving memory of/JOHN HENRY BROWN/Carlingford/Died 8 Dec 1954 Aged 41/ Forever with the Lord.
BRUSH. Sacred to the memory/of/Major John Eastwood/Ramsay Brush/late/The Royal Inniskilling Fusileers/and/Royal Irish Fusileers/Born Sep. 23rd 1866/Died Feb. 14th 1922/and his sister/Edwina Maud Brush/Born Feb. 6th 1871,/Died March 26th 1944.
BRUSH. See Prinsep.
BRUSH. In loving memory/of/Henry Brush of Brohatna/who died 2oth Feby 1900, in his 76th year/also/of Henry his son/Aged 6 months./Also Edwina Brush/widow of Henry Brush/who died 30th Decr 1906.
BUCHANAN. To the/Memory of Alexander Buchanan/who departed this life August 11th/1848 Aged 29 years./Margaret Douglas/Born March 25th 1815/Died October 1st 1882./

BURN. In loving memory of/Elizabeth Jane Burn/Died 4 Feb. 1960.