Good Day all An inquiry at Strabane workhouse relating to a Margaret M'CULLAGH along with some marriages and deaths for you today.
3 Oct. 1868 Inquiry at Strabane Workhouse On Wednesday last, Richard K. HAMILTON Esq , Poor Law Inspector, attended at Strabane Workhouse, to investigate a case which excited considerable public interest. The parties chiefly interested in the result were the Rev. Mr. M'LAUGHLIN, the Roman Catholic Chaplain, and S. DUNN Esq., a highly respectable Presbyterian and the guardian representing the Clmrchlands of Ardstraw in the Strabane Union. Mr. M'LAUGHLIN, Barrister-at-Law, appeared for the Rev. Mr. M'LAUGHLIN. Mr. DUNN was not professionally represented. There were present besides the Inspector, the following gentlemen; Mr. Samuel DUNN, Capt. AUCHINLECK; Messrs. Francis O'NEILL, John BLAIR, William SMITH, James CUNNINGHAM, John GREGG, Patrick M'KINDLAY, John HOOD, William M'CREA, John CARNIN; David M'MENAMIN, clerk of the union; John A. YOUNG, master of the workhouse; John G. GREGORY, relieving officer; Rev. Mr. LYLE, Presbyterian Minister; Rev. James M'LAUGHLIN P.P., Leckpatrick; Rev. Mr. M’GROARTY P.P., Stranorlar; Rev. F. O’NEILL C.C., Strabane; Rev. Wm. DOHERTY C.C., Strabane; Rev. Mr. M'CANLEY C.C., Strabane, &c. The inquiry was opened at twelve o'clock noon and did not close till seven p.m. A number of witnesses were examined, including Mr. YOUNG, master of the workhouse and Mr. M'MENAMIN, clerk of the union, but the main facts elicited in evidence may be summarised as follows; On the 22nd November 1867, a woman, named Margaret M'CULLAGH, described as a widow, was admitted into the workhouse with her four children. Mrs. M'CULLAGH had, it appeared, been married in the Parish Church of Ardstraw, of which her husband, Matthew M'CULLAGH was a member, whilst she was a Roman Catholic. They lived together as members of the Established Church up to the time of his death. Their four children were baptised in Newtownstewart Church. She, after her husband's death, made application to have her children taken under the care of the Protestant Orphan Society, which application she made one week before she became an inmate of Strabane workhouse, when she registered herself and her children Roman Catholics. The woman being in bad health, Mr. DUNN, who represented the electoral division to which she was first chargeable, visited her in the Infirmary and there had a conversation with her, when he asked her if her children were registered Roman Catholics in the workhouse and she replied, "You know I did’nt care." The master then in Mr. DUNN 'S presence, asked the woman if she wished her children to be brought up in the Roman Catholic faith and she replied that she did. She died in about a week after her admission and the Rev. Mr. M'LAUGHLIN alleges that at a subsequent period, Mr. DUNN was mainly instrumental in having her children sent to nurse with a woman named Martha HODSKEY, who is said to be a Protestant and closely related to them. The Rev. Mr. M'LAUGHLIN wrote to the Poor Law commissioners, stating the case to them from the point of view in which he regarded it. Considerable correspondence took place upon the subject and in one of his letters the Rev. Mr. M'LAUGHLIN observed, "I feel bound to denounce the whole affair as a barefaced attempt at proselytizing - a shameless effort to defeat the laws of the country and the intention of the Legislature; and I demand of you, as impartial administrators of that law, not as a favour, but as a matter right, that you direct that these children be restored to the custody of the guardians." Mr. DUNN, believing that he was the person referred to by the Roman Catholic chaplain intimated his wish to have the whole case investigated and an entry to this effect was made upon the minutes and transmitted to the commissioners. The result was the present inquiry by one of the Poor Law inspectors. After all the evidence had been heard, Mr. Wm. M'LAUGHLIN said "Having regard, sir, to the 8th section of 25 and 26th Victoria, we are of opinion that the removal of these children from the workhouse was, under the circumstances, illegal." The inspector replied, "That is a matter for the Poor Law Commissioners. They will draw their own inference from the evidence and act in accordance with the law." The inquiry then terminated. The facts will soon be placed before the Poor Law commissioners for their decision. 4 Nov. 1868 The Recent Investigation in the Strabane Workhouse The particulars of an inquiry which was held a few weeks since in the Strabane Union Workhouse by Richard K. HAMILTON Esq., Poor Law Inspector, when several witnesses were examined, will be in the recollection of our readers. The Rev. Mr. M'LAUGHLIN, Roman Catholic chaplain of the workhouse and Mr. DUNNE, a Presbyterian gentleman, representing the Churchlands of Ardstraw, were the parties primarily interested in the result of the inquiry, which related to the case of orphan children who had been recently discharged from the workhouse, their mother, Margaret M'CULLAGH, a widow, having died there. The children, when admitted into the workhouse, were all registered Roman Catholics at the mother's request. Rev. Mr. M'LAUGHLIN alleged that after the woman’s death, Mr. DUNNE was mainly instrumental in having her children sent to nurse with a woman named Martha HODSKEY, said to be a Protestant, and closely related to them. Mr. McLAUGHLIN wrote to the Poor Law Commissioners and Mr. DUNNE, wishing for an inquiry, such was accordingly held. The evidence was afterwards submitted to the Poor Law Commissioners, whose decision has now been received. Their letter, after giving a summary of the evidence, concludes as follows; It appears that the woman HODSON, or HODSKEY, immediately after the order was made, obtained possession of the three children, the fourth being out at nurse and removed them from the workhouse. It appears to be admitted that this woman is not the children's aunt, but their second cousin and that she and her husband are not in a position to support the children and that, in fact, the children have not remained with her since they left the workhouse, but have been at different houses in the neighbourhood of Mr. DUNNE'S residence. Mr. DUNNE, however, although present during the inquiry, did not, as the commissioners are informed by Mr. HAMILTON, offer to give any information respecting the children and declined to produce any witnesses. The commissioners are of opinion that improper means have been used to obtain the discharges of the children from the workhouse. The commissioners fully believe that those designs could not have been accomplished had the business relating to the application of the woman HODSON, or HODSKEY, been dealt with by the Board of Guardians in due course, and in regular manner, but the omission of the clerk, to make a record of so important a matter on the minutes, led to the case being disposed of by a few guardians in a hasty way and without sufficient consideration. Had due inquiry regarding the woman taken place, the guardians would not have been likely to have consigned the children to her care. The clerk's conduct in regard to the minutes was probably due to negligence alone, for which he is blameable but, had it been shown to result from any collusion with the design in question, he must have ceased to have held the office of clerk of the Strabane Union. There does not appear, indeed, to have been any official person influenced in this transaction. Mr. DUNNE appears to have been the party principally concerned in effecting the discharge of the children. Mr. DUNNE is an elected guardian of the union and his conduct is not under the control of the commissioners further than the expression of their opinion above stated. With regard to the request of the Roman Catholic Chaplain that the commissioners should cause the children to be restored to the care of the guardians, the commissioners desire to state to the guardians, as they have already stated to the Roman Catholic Chaplain, that they have no authority by law, nor have the guardians any authority by law, to reclaim possession of the children as proposed. B. BANKS, Chief Clerk." Married October 22, in the First Presbyterian Church Raphoe, by the Rev. John Thompson, Mr. Alexander ARBUCKLE, Ruskey, to Elizabeth, third daughter of the late Mr James HOLMES, Burnside. At the residence of the bride's father, by the Rev. James Law A.M., Capt. F. CCUNNINGHAM of Yarmouth, N. S., to Mary Jane, eldest daughter of Dr. H. H. Wilson, Kingston, Kent, N. B., formerly of Ballyclose, Newtownlimavady, Ireland. (no date recorded) Oct. 31, at St. Mary's Roman Catholic Chapel, Newtownlimavady, by the Rev. E. M'Kenna C.C., Mr. Thos. LAGAN, Newtownlimavady, to Maria, second daughter of Mr. George KERR, Drumnahay, Magilligan. Oct. 29, at St. Ann's Church Belfast, by the Rev. Mr. Chadw_ck, (?) Samuel STEWART, Dunseverick, Bushmills, to Lizzie, daughter of Andrew QUIGLEY, Belfast. Died Oct. 31, of diptheria, at the residence of his father, Mr. William DALE, Hawkin’s-street, Robert Love, aged two years and four months. Nov. 2nd at 12 Fountain-place, of bronchitis, Thomas, youngest son of Mr. William CUNNINGHAM, compositor, aged 3 months. November 1, at his residence, St. Johnston, Mr. Matthew CAMPBELL, aged 90 years. Oct. 31, at Antrim Place, Portrush, James MOORE Esq Coleraine. Nov. 2, at his residence, Corncammon, Joseph DUNLOP, aged 57 years. Nov. 2, at Mr. Bernard Monaghan's, No. 2, Foyle-road, Londonderry, George KELLY, formerly of Enniskillen. Oct. 26, at Aughliard, Manorcunningham, Eliza KING, aged 82 years. October 19, at his father's residence, Laghey, County Donegal, Mr. Andrew GREGORY, National Teacher, aged 26 years. Oct. 28, at Ruskey, parish of Ray, County of Donegal, John DOHERTY, aged 55 years. Oct. 27, at Craigtown, near Portrush, Margaret Ann, wife of Mr. Isaac KEITH, aged 50 years. Oct. 21, at the Parochial House, Newtownlimavady, Sarah KEARNEY, aged 38 years, sister to the Rev. John KEARNEY P.P, Nov. 1, at Rosavo, Cultra, Holywood, James HERON Esq., J.P., Director of Ulster Banking Company, Belfast, aged 52 years. transcribed by Teena from the Londonderry Standard _______________________________________________ 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/
