Theophilus Mc Cartan born 1700 died 1778.
Bishop of Down and Connor 1758 - 1778.
Theophilus McCartan was born at Aghnagun near Warrenpoint Co. Down. His birthplace is in the Dromore diocese although he was ordained into the Diocese of Down and Connor by Dr. Armstrong in Ballykinlar. After studies in Paris he was appointed to the parish of Loughinisland. There he built the first modern church in 1740. From 1707 to 1740 the parishioners had been worshipping in Bohogs and mass rocks at Sevaghan and Tievedarragh. Before 1707 and the introduction of the Penal Laws the ancient insular churches had been in use by both denominations.
In 1761 Theophilus McCartan was consecrated Bishop of Down and Connor. He continued to reside in Lougninisland and was very proud of the McCartan traditions. He did much to preserve their heritage. It was the bishop who erected the inscribed stone in Mc Cartan's chapel to commemorate John, Phelomy and Dominick. (Link stone inscr)
John McCartan is reputed to be last chieftain of Kinelarty and died
26 September 1736 aged 96 years. His father Patrick fought with Owen Roe
Neill at the Baffle of Benburb. The Phelomy mentioned on the tomb is a son of
John and died 27 June 1761 aged 82 years. Dominick another son of John's is
also mentioned. He lived at Clanvaraghan House and died March 1772 aged 78 years.
Theophilus presented a chalice to his clan which was inscribed thus:
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'Theophllus McCartan, Eps hunc calicem donavit in usum successive perpetuum, majoris natu sacerdotis ejus cognominus, Dunensis, aut Dromorenois A.D. 1773.
Bishop Theophilus McCartan bestowed this chalice for the use, successively perpetual, of the eldest priest of that family name belonging to Down and Dromore A.D. 1773. (Ever since there has been a McCartan priest to treasure this chalice). |
Bishop Theophilus died in 1778 aged 78 years at Loughinisland. His grave is in McCartan's Chapel next to where the last chieftain lies. His inscription reads:
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"This stone erected by order of Reverend Theophilus McCartan Titular Bishop of Down and Connor and Pastor of Loughinisland who departed this life 16th Day of December 1778 aged 78 years."
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His last will and testament reads:
"In the name of God. Amen. I, Theophilus MacCartan of the parish of Loughinisland & County of down, Titular Bishop of Down &c., being infirm in health, but of perfect mind and memory, calling to mind the mortality of my body and knowing it is allotted for mankind once to die; I make this my last will and testament in the manner following. First and principally I will and bequeath my soul to the one Eternal God, the father, son and holy Ghost, three co-equal and co-eternal, the three persons of the adorable trinity, three distinct persons in the same essence and number of divine nature, which soul with this my body I firmly believe and hope to received in god's mercy at the General Judgement and resurrection.. As touching what worldly substance it pleased God to bless me with I will and bequeath in manner following. I will that his my body be bury'd with my parents in the Churchyard of Clonalan (if I do not bring the tombstone to Loughanisland before that period) for the expense of which funeral I bequeath ten pounds ster. I will twenty pound ster. to the priests of the Diocese of Down and Connor, young and old, to be equally distributed between them by Revd. Paul Mac Cartan, injoining each priest to say six masses for my intention, said legacy is to be given to such priests as are actually then in Ireland. I will and bequeath to my two grandnieces Pheny and Catherine Kelly the fifty guineas due to me by bond and judgement by Mr. Henry Savage of Saintfield Attorney as also fifty pounds ster. out of my substance equally between them; and should either of the two die before the receipt of such money, the whole to the survivor; if both will die bejore the payment of said legacy I will bequeath ten pounds of that money to their mother Angelica Kelly. I order and will that my executors expend as much of sd money to pay for the schooling sd girls to learn to sow and knit. I will and bequeath to my Con., Theophilus McCartan, my silver watch and best suit of cloathes, with the two plate spoons with my crest, and six shirts and cravats; and if it please God I die before he is settled in any place I order him two guineas in cash. I will and bequeath all my books to Paul, John, Patrick and young John macCartan, priests, equally to be devided, and John's part to remain in father Paul's possession, and Patrick's in Con. John of Morne's keeping; if either or both would die abroad the books to remain to the possessor injoyning every of the four to celebrat twelve masses to my intention. I also bequeath Paul my sadle, bridle and night gown, with six of my shirts and cravats for his trouble of Administrator. I will to said Patrick macCartan, priest, if he returns, my yalow suit of vestments, with my small plate chalice and what belongs to said ornaments, as also my plate spurs and snufbox and largest silver pixis, which are to be lodged with father John of Morne for said Patrick's use untill his return.
I will father John mcCartan of Mourne the suit of vestments at Dromarod
Chapele with the silver pixis I commonly use, and my crucifix tipt'd with plate.
I will and order my large chalice and Patena in the keeping of father Paul
macCartan at his death to be left according to the inscripiton upon. sd chalice.
I will to father John macCartan when he returns, the suite of vestments in this house, got from Mr. Morgan, and the small pixis he formerly had from me, but now in his house. I will that three tomes ofPontass and all the volumes I have of Flury's history be given to Patrick Kelly of Crossan, or to one of his sons I order that the suit of vestments at Loughanisland Chapel, with the plate chalice & patena shall always reamin for the use of said Chaple, ordering the parishioners or any principal three thereof not to suffer any of my successors to carry sd ornaments through the parish, but to remain jbr the use of the Chaple only. I will to Con. Mary maGenis alias McCartan one guinea and the two guineas her son Hugh McGenis owes me by note. I will and bequeath to Con. Sally O'Neill alias McCartan of Aughagallan two guineas and my largest plate spoon.. I will to Con. Paly mcCartan one guinea and the guinea I lent her by Arthur Roney. I will to Con. Nelly McCartan alias Roney my tea tonges and tea spoons and my smalest plate table spoon7 charging her conscience to leave the same at ther death to Mary mcCartan, of Rathermullan, or her heirs; I also leave sd Nelly all my tea cups and saucers. I will to Catherine macCartan my dishes, and to her husband Arthur Roney two shirts & 2 cravats, and my second best wig and hat; my best wig. I bequeath to Revd. Paul macCartan; my second best suit of cloths. I will to Arthur mcCartan of Burin; the gould ring in the ponifical ornaments being my own. I bequeatht to my successor; and as all the silks, Pastoral staff the cope, stole, manipule, vail and one of the Pontificals, without any linen, belong to the Diocess, I desire the same my be preserv'd by Paul macCartan for my successor. 1 bequeath to Con. Hugh macCartan, of Saintfield, my great coat, best whip & cane, with a pair of buck-skin gloves. I will to Patrick Savage of Anadorn (for his trouble of being one of my executors) two guineas and two of my shirts and Cravats. If Patrick Rogan is in my service at my decease 1 order him one guinea, my third or worst surtout, coat, waistcoat & breeches. I will and bequeath my tenant right, title and Interest to this my farm, with all my farming utensils (exccept my wheelcart which I order to be sol to my kinsman Fargus macCartan; but, if at my decease or after it, it will or can be proved that the said Fargus macCartan, by force, fraud or clandestine private stealing took a crown's worth of my substance, I hereby will, order and desire that he will not enjoy my little farm or a sixpence worth of any legacy or substance; but in that case I will my right, title and interest to the farm and utensils, as above, to my kinsman, Hugh mcGenis, Mary macCartan's son, hoping that Sqr. Forde (in consideration of what improvements I made here) will except of either as tenant. My silver crucifix upoion the Crystal I will to Mr. John McManus of Crigbilly; my shoe bucles and trunk, along with the above guinea I bequeath to Polly macCartan the plate oil-stock and pixis of the deceased Michl. Morgan, in my hand, I will, in the keeping of the Revd. Paul macCartan, which at the charge of his conscience he is to give young Patrick Morgan, nephew to said Revd. Michl. Morgan, as soon as he has any call or is quahfted to make use of them. Lastly I will that all my stock, furniture and substance or every kind (except the articles above specfied) be sould by publick auction, being first properly advertized, and the above legacies be paid with the money rising from said cant. As I am persuaded after paying the above articles something of value will remain, I will and order if the same will amount to twenty pouns ster. to recieive of that five pounds which I bequeath to that house will be remitted to the Ladys of Deer-street in Drogheda. All the rest the remaining part of my little substance or fortune I will and bequeath to twenty in numer of the poorest widows and housekeepers residenters of this parish of Loughanisland uper and lower part, which poor I nominate and declare my conjoint heirs to this my' last will and testament, revoking by these presence all former will or wills, legacies or donations heretoforemade or promised by me, begging and requesting my well-beloved friends, the Revd. Paul macCartan, of Saul, Mr. Hugh macCartan, of Saintfield, apothecary, and Mr. Patrick Savage, of Anadorn, land surveyor, whom I hereby constitue and appoint my joing and sole executors to this my last will and testament.
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Signed, sealed and declared to be my
last will and testament, this twenty sixth of
April 1777 seven:
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John Fitzsimmons. Patrick Lynch, Francis Montgomery.
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In the name of god Amen. I, Theophilus macCartan of the parish of
Loughanisland Diocess of Down, being, I thank God, in perfrct senses and memory, and having made a properly signed before witnesses my last will which will is in the possession of Revd. Paul macCartan of the parish of' Saul, one of my Executors, which last will and testament I hereby ratifte and confirm except and still excepting the alterations or donations I here qfier make in this my codicil to my said will before mentioned. First I will and order that if either or both of my grand nieces, Philice or Catherine Kelly, will behave scandalous or marry any base or inferior person without the consent of my executors, that both or either so behaiving is to have forty shlling only and the remainder I will to the person of the two who acts as directed by Executors; if both will misbehave, after the forty shilling to each, the remainder of my appointment to them I will to 12 of the poorest widows and houskeepers of this parish of Loughanisland. I will and order that when my Executors are desposing of my goods and chattels, by publick cant, after my deces, I positively hender my Executors to give any part or article of my goods to Angelica Kelly otherwise Savage, without ready money, upon the account of any legacy left by me to her daughters; and if said daughters die before their mother, I will and order her forty shillings, and not the sum specified in my will. Lastly I order that, when all the Articles specified in this my will & Codicil are dully executed, if twenty pounds ster will remain my Executors are to remit five pounds ster. of the same for the use of the Community of Deer Street in Drogheda. Lastly I will and desire that when my last will and this Codicil are duyly executed by the Revd. Paul macCartan and Hugh macCartan, of Saintfield, who I constitute executors to this my Codicil as well as to my last will and testament, I order and desire my executors to notifie said execution as dully made, and subject the same to the examination of my trusty and good friend, Mr. John Potter, of Downpatrick
Theo. MacCartan, &c.(seal)
Signed, sealed and declared to be my
Codicil and last will in conjunction with the will and testament above specified this 23 day of June 1778 eight, in the presence of before signing the words "of Loughanisland" and the words "I will" underlined
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James Killen.
Hugh O'Donnell. |
Endorsed:- "The within will and Codicil of Theop. Macartan, Decd., was proved in common form of Law on the 22 day of Decr. 1778, and the Execution granted to the Exrs. by the Revd. Jacob Hazlett Sur. of Down."