1912

County Louth People who opposed Home Rule.

According to the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland (PRONI) the archive of the Ulster Unionist Council, held by PRONI, contains just under half a million original signatures and addresses of the men who, on 28 September 1912, signed the Ulster Covenant, and of the women who signed the parallel Declaration. In total, the Covenant was signed by 237,368 men, and the Declaration by 234,046 women.

Besides the province of Ulster many of those who signed resided elsewhere in Ireland and abroad. In the case of County Louth the Covenant could be signed in Dundalk and in Ballymascanlan Parish Church. But some residents signed elsewhere. In addition it is possible others, because of their occupation or profession such as British army personnel, could not sign such a declaration.
One of the genealogical values, however, of such a record is that for some it gave both a former and a current  address.
 

More information on this record, its background and aftermath, can be found on PRONI website at http://www.proni.gov.uk
 

The wording to the Ulster Covenant signed by men only was:

        'Being convinced in our consciences that Home Rule would be disastrous to the material well-being of Ulster as well as of the whole of Ireland, subversive of our civil and religious freedom, destructive of our citizenship, and perilous to the unity of the Empire, we whose names are underwritten, men of Ulster, loyal subjects of His Gracious Majesty King George V., humbly relying on the God whom our fathers in days of stress and trial confidently trusted, do hereby pledge ourselves in solemn Covenant, throughout this our time of threatened calamity, to stand by one another in defending, for ourselves and our children, our cherished position of equal citizenship in the United Kingdom, and in using all means, which may be found necessary to defeat the present conspiracy to set up a Home Rule Parliament in Ireland.  And in the event of such a parliament been forced upon us, we further solemnly and mutually pledge ourselves to refuse to recognize its authority.
In sure confidence that God will defend the right, we hereby subscribe our names.
         And further, we individually declare that we have not already signed this Covenant.'
 

That signed by women only read:

        'We, whose names are underwritten, women of Ulster, and loyal subjects of our gracious King, being firmly persuaded that Home Rule would be disastrous to our Country, desire to associate ourselves with the men of Ulster in their uncompromising opposition to the Home Rule Bill now before Parliament, whereby it is proposed to drive Ulster out of her cherished place in the constitution of the United Kingdom, and to place her under  the domination and control of a Parliament in Ireland.
            Praying that from this calamity God will save Ireland, we hereto subscribe our names.'

 

Among those who signed, where County Louth address (i.e. postal) is given, were the following:
 

Surname Forename(s) Address Parliamentary Division (or per PRONI) District (or Per PRONI) Place of Signing (or per PRONI) Agent per PRONI Adams Annie Beaulieu, Drogheda Dublin Dublin Not Recorded Not Recorded Adams James Stapleton Place, Dundalk Not Recorded Not Recorded Not Recorded Not Recorded Alexander David St. Nicholas Inst., Dundalk (South Belfast) (Saint Anne's) (City Hall) Not recorded Anderson Robert Mountpleasant, Dundalk North Louth Ballymascanlan Ballymascanlan Parish Church Not recorded Anderson? J. Born Co. Louth - Colin?; {about 20 years resident in Ulster (Belfast); & 5 Broad Park Avenue, Ilfracombe} (Barnstaple, England) (West) (Exeter, Barnstaple, Ilfracombe, Torquay) Smith, J.A. Armstrong J. H. 21 Castle Road, Dundalk (& 13 Little Brunswick St., Belfast) North Louth Dundalk Dundalk (LOL 1617) Not recorded Benson Willie Tully, Louth (Co. Louth?) South Fermanagh Lisnaskea Parochial Hall, Lisnaskea Thomas Beresford Bloomer Richard Ballymascanlan, Dundalk North Louth Ballymascanlan Ballymascanlan Parish Church Not recorded Bothwell? Emma Stapleton Place, Dundalk East Belfast Strandtown Strandtown Hall and Belmont (Presbyterian) Church John E. S. Edwards Bradley Samuel Corbollis, Ardee North Louth Dundalk Dundalk (LOL 1617) Not recorded Bradley William Castletown Rd, Dundalk (& Erin Terrace, Belfast) North Louth Dundalk Dundalk (LOL 1617) Not recorded Brogden? Thos. Wm. Edwin Drogheda (South Belfast?) (Saint Anne's) (City Hall) Not recorded Carlisle Robert Dublin St., Dundalk East Down Killough Killough Hugh Finlay Clarke Arthur Hayenstown, Dundalk Not Recorded Not Recorded Not Recorded Not Recorded Colville M. Stapleton Pl., Dundalk North Louth Dundalk Dundalk (LOL 1617) Not recorded Coyne W. J. Castle Rd., Dundalk North Louth Dundalk Dundalk (LOL 1617) Not recorded Cruden Catherine Boyne Terrace, Drogheda Belfast (South Belfast) (Saint Anne's) Old Town Hall (City Hall) Not recorded Cunningham A. G. 48 Broughton St, Dundalk North Louth Dundalk Dundalk (LOL 1617) Not recorded Dalzell Andrew Drogheda Mid. Armagh Keady ? Keady ? W. J. Greer Davidson Henry C. 32 Clanbrassil St., Dundalk (South Belfast) (Saint Anne's) (City Hall) Not recorded Dobbin Rhoda M. E. Drummalla House, Omeath (South Belfast) (Saint Anne's) (City Hall) Not recorded Donnan H. H. 14 Wellington Place, Dundalk North Louth Dundalk Dundalk (LOL 1617) Not recorded Doran William Wellington Place, Dundalk (& Castlecaulfield, Co. Tyrone) Dundalk (or South Belfast?) (Saint Anne's?) (City Hall) Not recorded Fegan Wm Shamerock Bar, Dundalk (South Belfast) (Saint Anne's) (City Hall) Not recorded Fitzgerald Augustine Ravensdale, Co Louth North Louth Ballymascanlan Ballymascanlan Parish Church Not recorded Ford A. Lockett (? Canon of St. Patricks) The Rectory, Ardee Not recorded Not recorded Not recorded Not recorded French Cissie Rathgeenan, Ardee South Monaghan Castleblaney Homes about Carrickmacross Mrs Brownlow French Jane Rathgeenan, Ardee South Monaghan Castleblaney Homes about Carrickmacross Mrs Brownlow French John Rathgeenan, Ardee South Monaghan Castleblaney Carrickmacross Homes Mrs Brownlow Gilbert Jeanie M. Seatown Place, Dundalk (South Belfast) (Saint Anne's) (Broadway Presbyterian Church) Mrs Henry Gray Marget Ravensdale, Dundalk Newry & South Down Newry Orange Hall, Newry Melvin Orr Gray Richard Ravensdale, Dundalk Newry & South Down Newry Orange Hall, Newry William Orr Grey John R. Mountpleasant, Co Louth North Louth Ballymascanlan Ballymascanlan Parish Church Not recorded Grey John Wm. Mountpleasant, Co Louth North Louth Ballymascanlan Ballymascanlan Parish Church Not recorded Guilfoyle Robert W. Lisnawillie, Dundalk (South Belfast) (Saint Anne's) (City Hall) T. H. Witherow BA Hanna Eva F. Crossmaglen, Dundalk Mid. Armagh Armaghbrague Armaghbrague Pres. Church George Kane Hanna Louise S. Crossmaglen, Dundalk Mid. Armagh Armaghbrague Armaghbrague Pres. Church George Kane Hanna Margaret Crossmaglen, Dundalk Mid. Armagh Armaghbrague Armaghbrague res. Church George Kane Hanna Oswald J L Crossmaglen, Dundalk South Armagh Newtownhamilton Newtownhamilton (The Lecture Hall?) Mr. Alan Ardis Hanna W S Crossmaglen, Dundalk South Armagh Newtownhamilton Newtownhamilton (The Lecture Hall?) Mr. Alan Ardis Harbron Mary Louisa Railway Cottage Drogheda Mid. Tyrone Omagh Unionist Rooms P. Cruickshank Hart John Bellurgan, Ballymascanlon North Louth Ballymascanlan Ballymascanlan Parish Church Not recorded Harvey James Boyd Long Avenue, Dundalk North Monaghan Monaghan Monaghan Forster Dunwoody Henry John Seatown, Dundalk Dundalk (or South Belfast?) (Saint Anne's?) (City Hall) Not recorded Hepburn Eliza Jane Collon, Co. Louth Kilmarnock Burgh (Scotland) Dumbarton Orange Hall (Church Street) S. G. Smith Hill Howard 4 Faughart Terrace, Dundalk (South Belfast) (Saint Anne's) (City Hall) Not recorded Hughes J. R. Carrick Road?, Dundalk (South Belfast) (Saint Anne's) (City Hall) Not recorded Hughes L.? Chapel Lane, Dundalk (or Dee St., Belfast) North Louth Dundalk Dundalk (LOL 1617) Not recorded Hughes William H. 9 Brunswick Row, Dundalk North Louth Dundalk Dundalk (LOL 1617) Not recorded Hullah Arthur V. 32 Clanbrassil St., Dundalk Not Recorded Not Recorded Not Recorded Not Recorded Hutchinson J. Signalman, Dundalk (South Belfast) (Saint Anne's) (City Hall) Not recorded Jackson J Bachelors Walk, Dundalk North Louth Dundalk Dundalk (LOL 1617) Not recorded Johnston Thos 5 Demense Tce, Dundalk North Armagh Portadown Town Hall Mr J. N. A. Wilson Jones Fred. G Mount Av., Dundalk (South Belfast) (Saint Anne's) (City Hall) T. H. Witherow BA Kemy? Alexander Dunleer, Co. Louth North Belfast Duncairn  Forttwillliam ? Church Lecture Hall J. Mabinquin  Kenny (B.A.) F. Carlingford, Co Louth Newry & South Down Newry Orange Hall William Orr King David Wellington Place, Dundalk (& Edward St., Armagh) Dundalk or South Belfast?) (Saint Anne's?) (City Hall) Not recorded Knox S. B. Seatown Place, Dundalk (or Railway St., Lurgan)) Dundalk (or South Belfast?) (Saint Anne's?) (City Hall) Not recorded Liston John Mary St,. Dundalk North Louth Dundalk Dundalk (LOL 1617) Not recorded McAlester Alexander Broughton Street Dundalk (& Leiburn?, Kilkeel, Co. Down) Dundalk (or South Belfast?) (Saint Anne's?) (City Hall) Not recorded McAlester Maggie Dundalk South Down Kilkeel Mourne Lecture Hall Miss Janey Shannon McAlister William Plaister, Mount Pleasant P. O., Dundalk North Fermanagh Belleek Rossharbour James Johnston, junior. McCandliss John Campbell Four Lodge, Omeath, Co. Louth (South Belfast) (Saint Anne's) (Old Town Hall) Not recorded McClenahan J. Barrack Street, Dundalk North Louth Dundalk Dundalk (LOL 1617) Not recorded McComb William R. Demesne, Castletown Rd., Dundalk (&? Tandragee) North Louth Dundalk Dundalk (LOL 1617) Not recorded McCormac Robert Drogheda (in Co Louth? or a street) North Armagh Portadown Town Hall Mr. J. N. A. Wilson McDowell Ernest Mullaharlin, Dundalk Not Recorded Not Recorded Not Recorded Not Recorded McElderry John Henry Drogheda (Co Louth?) (South Belfast) (Saint Anne's) (City Hall) Not recorded McFeat Richard 3 Brook Street, Dundalk (South Belfast) (Saint Anne's) (City Hall) Not recorded McGowan William Mt. Hamilton, Dundalk (South Belfast) (Saint Anne's) (City Hall) Not recorded McKee Clara A. 41 Richmond Grove East, Longsight ?. (A. Brown, Clohogue Hill, Crossmaglen, Dundalk, Ireland) Various Manchester 20 Bryenuse St, Man. H. Crowe McKee Margaret 41 Richmond Grove East, Longsight ?. (A. Brown, Clohogue Hill, Crossmaglen Dundalk, Ireland) Various Manchester 20 Bryenuse St, Man. H. Crowe McKeever Jane Syddan House, Ardee North Down Bangor Dufferin (Memorial) Hall Miss Murren McKenny Fred. Lisnawilly, Dundalk North Louth Dundalk Dundalk (LOL 1617) Not recorded Milling Agnes A. Kinedar, Dundalk North Antrim Portrush [The Skating?] Rink, Portrush Douglas F. Scott Montgomery Geo.  Joseph 11 Kincora Tce., Dundalk East Down Killough Killough Hugh Finlay Montgomery Thomas 32 Clanbrassil St., Dundalk (South Belfast) (Saint Anne's) (City Hall) Not recorded Moore William John Long Avenue, Dundalk, Co Louth North Belfast (Clifton) Cliftonville Unionist Club Hugh G. Skimin Moorhead William 32 Clanbrassil St., Dundalk (South Belfast) (Saint Anne's) (City Hall) Not recorded Morrow George 2 Brrok [Brook?], Street, Dundalk North Armagh Seagoe? Churchyard? T. J. Atkinson Morton Thos. Dundalk North Monaghan Clones Orange Hall, Clones F. Patterson Neill Benjamin Bachelors Walk, Dundalk Dundalk (or South Belfast?) (Saint Anne's?) (City Hall) Not recorded Neville E. V.? 1 Broughton St., Dundalk (South Belfast) (Saint Anne's) (City Hall) Not recorded Neville Robert Ballymascanlan, Dundalk North Louth Ballymascanlan Ballymascanlan Parish Church Not recorded Noblett William Drogheda,  Co Meath Bridgeton (Scotland: Edinburgh) (Bridgeton) 24 West Street, Ralton? William Hindman Orr Elizabeth Clemont Park, Dundalk Dublin Dublin Not Recorded Not Recorded Parkes Katie Bawn House, Omeath Dublin Dublin Not Recorded Not recorded Parks William Omeath South Down Warrenpoint Warrenpoint John Robb Power Alexander C. 32 Clanbrassil St., Dundalk (South Belfast) (Saint Anne's) (City Hall) Not recorded Reeves Norman V. 36 Bridge St., Dundalk North Louth   Dundalk Not recorded Rennie John Blackrock, Dundalk Mid. Tyrone Omagh Mountjoy Pres. Church James Williamson Rice Alfred 38 Dublin Street, Dundalk North Louth Dundalk Dundalk (LOL 1617) Not recorded Rowe John 2 Lisnawilley Road, Dundalk (South Belfast) (Saint Anne's) (City Hall) T. H. Witherow BA Sadlier Edith Corstown, Ardee South Monaghan Castleblaney Home. Carrickmacross Mrs Brownlow Sadlier Margaret Corstown, Ardee South Monaghan Castleblaney Home. Carrickmacross Mrs Brownlow Scott D. H. 2 Demense Tce., Dundalk Newry & South Down Newry Orange Hall, Newry William Orr Sholdis James 54 Castle Rd, Dundalk (& 97 Enfield St., Belfast) North Louth Dundalk Dundalk (LOL 1617) Not recorded Sholdis John 54 Castle Rd., Dundalk (& 97 Enfield St., Belfast) North Louth Dundalk Dundalk (LOL 1617) Not recorded Stevenson Hugh Collon House (? Co. Louth) Derry City Londonderry YMCA Not recorded Stewart John Drogheda England: Bury Manchester 104 Walmerdy Road, Bury Not recorded Swann Henry B. The Rectory  Omeath, Co Louth South Down Warrenpoint Warrenpoint William H. Pedlow Tierny William Ballymascanlan North Louth Ballymascanlan Ballymascanlan Parish Church Not recorded Tuke C. 40 Dublin St., Dundalk North Louth Dundalk Dundalk (LOL 1617)) Not recorded Woods James Chapel Lane, Dundalk. (Gamble St, Belfast) North Louth Dundalk Dundalk (LOL 1617) Not recorded Wykes Alfred No. 2 St Helena, Dundalk Belfast (South Belfast) (Saint Anne's) City Hall T. H. Witherow BA Wykes George No. 2 St Helena, Dundalk Belfast (South Belfast) (Saint Anne's) City Hall T. H. Witherow BA The following, who signed in Dundalk, gave an address outside County Louth: Surname Forename(s) Address Parliamentary Division (or per PRONI) District (or Per PRONI) Place of Signing (or per PRONI) Agent per PRONI Crozier James Edward Mintlone, Scarva, Co. Down Dundalk (or South Belfast?) (Saint Anne's?) (City Hall) Not recorded Bosomworth William Tandragee, Co Armagh North Louth Dundalk Dundalk Not recorded Bradley William J. 25 Erin Terrace Belfast North Louth Dundalk Dundalk (LOL 1617) Not recorded Coleman Samuel 35 Donegall Avenue, Belfast North Louth Dundalk Dundalk (LOL 1617) Not recorded Duddy Robert J. Armagh North Louth Dundalk Dundalk (LOL 1617) Not recorded Dunbar Saml A, 256 Donegall Road, Belfast North Louth Dundalk Dundalk (LOL 1617) Not recorded Fulton Victor Strabane, Co Tyrone North Louth Dundalk Dundalk Not recorded Kennedy Thomas Frances Loughgall, Co Armagh North Louth Dundalk Dundalk Not recorded McAlister Benjamin Newry, Co. Down (Place of birth?) North Louth Dundalk Dundalk Not recorded McCleery John 16 Harcourt St., Antrim Rd., Belfast North Louth Dundalk Dundalk Not recorded McComb Samuel Jonesboro,  Newry, Co. Armagh North Louth Dundalk Dundalk Not recorded McCullagh Hugh 1558 Portadown North Louth Dundalk Dundalk (LOL 1617) Not recorded McWilliams George Ballybay, Co Monaghan North Louth Dundalk Dundalk Not recorded Murray? A. M.? Ballynahinch, Co Down North Louth Dundalk Dundalk Not recorded Stewart R. J.? 1 Scarva St., Banbridge North Louth Dundalk Dundalk (LOL 1617) Not recorded Wilson John Newry North Louth Dundalk Dundalk Not recorded Wilson Joseph E. Cappy, Bailieborough, Co. Cavan North Louth Dundalk Dundalk Not recorded