Marion,
You ask why the Rev Knox was trying to collect the tithes. The answer is probably that he was the local Church of Ireland Minister and so legally entitled to collect the tithes for his parish. Tithes were a system used commonly across Europe, not just in Ireland, for paying for the upkeep of the local church and the Minister’s salary etc. Originally paid in kind, but later in cash, and supposedly 10% of your income. It was compulsory. In countries where nearly everyone was a member of the same church it wasn’t too controversial, though no-one likes paying taxes, but in Ireland where the majority of the population weren’t members of the Church of Ireland, it was resented very much. Who wants to pay for somebody else’s church? Not surprisingly, there was widespread opposition to the tithe system across Ireland. Many people who were not a member of the Church of Ireland refused to pay. Periodically there was civil unrest. This in Urney looks to be an example. Tithes eventually disappeared around the 1860s when the Church of Ireland was disestablished. That is, it was no longer the state church. Elwyn On Sat, Sep 2, 2017 at 3:12 PM, Marion <marionsheph...@btinternet.com> wrote: > > > Hello All > > I have been looking again at the farms worked by my ancestors in Rabstown, > Urney and the historical background. I noticed in the Griffiths Valuation > that their immediate lessor was a Rev William Knox and that he was also the > lessor in quite a large area of Urney (about 14 townlands of various > sizes). I assume he was the same person who was the rector of Clonleigh > parish in Donegal. > > > > I am interested to know if he was the owner of the land, rented it from > someone or was acting as an agent for the owners . If anyone knows anything > about him or his family I would be very interested. I have looked at the > notes on the website and seen that he died in 1860 at Urney Park , which > was also the home of Andrew Ferguson Knox. Andrew and a Thomas F Knox seem > to have taken over as immediate lessor in Rabstown (Val Revision Books) > > > > My family were also farming in Rabstown at the time of the Tithe > Applotment Books (about 1825) and I wondered who their lessor would have > been at that time. I did come across a letter to the Duke of Abercorn in > 1814 with a comment about violent mobs in Urney because Mr Knox was > demanding tithe on potatoes. Apparently they broke the windows and doors of > his house and also those of his agent. Who was this Mr Knox and on what > basis was he demanding tithes?? > > > > Does anyone know anything about the Knox family and their position in > Urney during the 19th century??? Any comments gratefully received. > > > > Regards Marion Shephard > > Sent from Mail <https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=550986> for > Windows 10 > > > > _______________________________________________ > CoTyroneList mailing list > CoTyroneList@cotyroneireland.com > http://mail.cotyroneireland.com/mailman/listinfo/ > cotyronelist_cotyroneireland.com > >
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