Transcribed by Teena from the Tyrone Constitution 3 July 1908
An Omagh Ordination in 1699 (By Rev. W. T. LATIMER B.A.) It may, perhaps, interest some of your readers to know how the Presbytery of Laggan in 1699 proceeded when they set apart Rev. James MAXWELL to the work of the ministry in Omagh. We must remember that two hundred years ago, Irish Protestants were not so much split into sects as at present. At that time the only Protestant churches in the Omagh district were the Presbyterian and the Episcopal and Presbyterians were then relatively more numerous in comparison with other Protestants than at present, although since the disestablishment of the Irish Episcopal Church they have recovered to some extent what they lost during a period of persecution in the reign of Queen Anne and afterwards. I have already written a sketch of the early history of the Omagh Presbyterians for the "Tyrone Constitution" and need not go over the same ground again, more than to say that in 1673, the Rev. John ROWAT had the ministerial oversight of Cappagh and Drumraw and that in 1677 the Rev. Samuel HALLIDAY took charge of the Omagh district. Mr. HALLIDAY afterwards removed to Ardstraw and for a long time Omagh was supplied by the Presbytery. On the 7th of September 1698, the Presbytery met in St. Johnston. "Mr. James MAXWELL, student of Divinity, having come to this country, and some of the brethren being occasionally together and having seen his testimonials from Scotland, did appoint him a homily to be delivered by him this day, if the meeting would accept of it. They are approven herein and he being desired to deliver it, accordingly did, upon 2 Cor. 5, 17, which was accepted as a piece of trial in order to being licensed." Other "pieces of trial" were appointed for Mr. MAXWELL, which he duly delivered. On the 28th December 1698, he was examined on the 31st psalm in Hebrew and in the Greek New testament "Ad aperturam libri." Being in all these approven and having declared that he "owned" the Westminster confession of Faith, he was licensed to preach the gospel as "probationer" and was appointed to supply Omagh on two Lord’s days. At the next meeting of Presbytery a deputation from Omagh asked that a minister should be sent to "moderate" in a call to W. MAXWELL. It is evident that this request was granted, although the fact is not distinctly stated. Mr. MAXWELL at the same time, was appointed to supply Omagh two Lord’s days. On the 22nd February 1699, commissioners from Omagh appeared before the Presbytery with a call for Mr; MAXWELL, who was permitted to consider this invitation till next meeting and meantime, he was appointed to preach two Sundays in Omagh and two in Carndonagh. At a meeting of Presbytery held In St. Johnston on 10th May 1699. Mr. MAXWELL delivered two pieces of second trials in order to his ordination and was approven. The congregation of Omagh by their commissioners, Patrick MORE and Hugh MORE, asked the Presbytery to hasten Mr. MAXWELL'S trials that he might be settled speedily among them and that he supply them till next meeting. The latter request was granted and Mr. MAXWELL told to supply Omagh as frequently as he could. On the 14th of June Mr. MAXWELL excused himself to the Presbytery "for not delivering his exegesis and theses according to appointment," on account of his going to the County of Down, but he is ordered to have them ready 'against the next meeting.' Mr. MAXWELL delivered these pieces of trial on the 25th of July 1699 and he was then ordered to have the same 'in the form of a latin exegesis' at the next meeting of Presbytery. On the 20th of September Robert M’CAUSLAN and William CRAWFORD appeared as commissioners from Omagh asking "for the speedy ordination of Mr. MAXWELL among them and the interum to be continued with them. Their desire was granted." At next meeting on 20th September, Mr. MAXWELL "delivered his exegesis in latin and sustained his theses as appointed and was approven." On the 18th of October he delivered his popular sermon, was examined in the 33rd Psalm in Hebrew and the Greek testament "ad aperturam libri" and was approven. Accordingly his ordination was appointed to be in the meeting-house of Omagh on the 8th of November. Mr. HOMES, Urney, was directed to serve the edict on the previous Sunday, with Mr. John HARVEY as alternate and Mr. HOMES of Strabane "to preach and proceed in the work of ordination." On the appointed day (8th November 1699) the Presbytery of Laggan met at Omagh for Mr. MAXWELL'S ordination. The ministers present were Revs. - Robert CAMPBELL (Ray); Samuel HALLYDAY (Ardstraw); Joshua FISHER (Donoughmore); William HOMES (Strabane); John M'QUACHIN (Enniskillen); Seth DRUMMOND (Ramelton); Thomas WENSLEY (Donagheady); Wm. GRAY (Taboin); together with the following elders - John CRAFORD (Ardstra); William EWING (Donaghmore); Walter PATTERSON (Taboin); Thos. BEST (Ramelton); Thomas EWREY (Strabane.) It was reported that Mr. HOMES, of Urney had preached on the previous sabbath in Omagh and "served the edict" of Mr. MAXWELL'S ordination, to which there was no objection. Then several questions were put to the people, which they answered "satisfyingly.' One these questions was evidently with regard to the amount of their minister's salary, as it is stated on the margin the record from which I quote, that Omagh promised £40 and 40 barrels oats to Mr. MAXWELL yearly, for his "maintenance". Besides this, there was of course the Royal bounty, which then produced about £16 a year in addition; but gold was then, much more valuable in relation to the necessaries of life, than at present. After these and other matters had been arranged with the congregation, Mr. MAXWELL was asked was he "clear" to embrace this call and be ordained minister of Omagh. To this he replied in the affirmative, but complained "of the largeness of the bounds and therefor desires that neither the meeting, nor the people may expect from him frequent family visits in the congregation, as are usual in other places where the bounds are less." To this statement neither of the parties concerned made any objection. “Then the meeting orders publick intimation to be made at all the doores of the meeting-house, that if any had anything to offer contrare to Mr. MAXWELL'S ordination in Omach they would now propose it. And nothing is objected by any to the contrare. Therefore the meeting resolves to proceed to his ordination." Before the solemn services were begun the Presbytery adjourned till the afternoon. On their re-assembling the Rev. William HOMES of Strabane, preached and "proceeded in the action according to appointment." The other ministers who took part in the services are not named. Thus on the 8th of November 1699, the Rev. James MAXWELL was ordained minister of Omagh and the surrounding district, where he discharged the duties of his office with zeal and success till his death in 1750. It may interest some of your readers to hear that the BOOTH family of Dunamona, RODGERS of Edergole and GALBRAITH of Clanabogan, are descended from Rev. James MAXWELL. Not a few among his descendants attained to positions of honour and prominence, as for example Rev. Hugh Walker RODGERS, Kllrea, Moderator of the synod of Ulster; Rev. James Maxwell RODGERS D.D., moderator of the General Assembly; and Mr. W. H. MAXWELL who is at the head of the Educational department in the State of New York. Since 1699, when Mr. MAXWELL'S ordination took place times have changed greatly in Omagh and its neighbourhood. Other Protestant denominations have sprung into existence and different social or political societies occupy much of the time and engross much of the attention that men formerly gave to their church. Whether the trend of moral and religious thought is better or worse than it was 200 years ago, I shall not at present discuss. But at all events I think it is well to inquire into the motives that guided our forefathers in the past and to study the customs - both social and religious - that formerly prevailed in Ulster. _______________________________________________ UlsterAncestry@cotyrone.com UlsterAncestry Mailing List Searchable Archives: https://www.mail-archive.com/ulsterancestry@cotyrone.com/ https://lists.cotyrone.com/mailman/listinfo/ulsterancestry Website: https://cotyrone.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/CoTyroneIrelandGenealogy/
