482 
twelfth and thirteenth centuries. ‘‘ Hugh de Belynges” was a juror 
there in 1265,* and we find a Belinstown; “ Petrus Salsarius,”’ at same 
date, and we have Saucerstown ; ‘‘ Thomas Roussell,” and Rowlestown ; 
‘‘ John Walensis,” and Walshestown; ‘‘ Roger de Mora,” and Moortown ; 
“ Michael Forestare,’’ and Fosterstown. 
Among the 81 townlands of Lusk} are two whose names indicate 
their creation. The Regles,t of 230 acres, lying next Lusk village, on 
the west, derived its name from a convent of Aroasian Nuns which ex- 
isted there, and of which this was the farm. It signifies ‘‘ The Abbey 
Church ;’’ and the tract so called was probably aslice of the large town- 
land of Lusk, which was appropriated to the nunnery at its foundation, 
and distinguished by its name. This house was dissolved in 1190, ergo 
this townland was defined and named before that date. Grace Dieu, 
a house of Augustinian nuns, was founded, on the suppression of the 
former, in 1190; and the townland, which still bears this name, dates 
its designation, and probably its severalty, from a period subsequent to 
the year justmentioned. By asimilar mode of treating townland names, 
the ages when they came into existence might be easily determined, and 
especially in those parts ofthe Pale where English names both Christian 
and family, with the word town suffixed, prevail so generally. As an 
example—In the parish of Lusk, near the Railway Station, are two con- 
tiguous townlands, called Rogerstown and Whitestown. The former is 
named in early records ‘‘ Villa Rogeri,”’ and evidently denotes the set- 
' tlement of an Anglo-Norman adventurer. The latter is a corruption of 
Knightstown, and is Latinized ‘‘ Villa Militis,”’ also savouring of a mi- 
litary occupation. Here are the ruins of a chapel and a cemetery, be- 
side which is St. Maurus’ Well, where, on the 15th of January, there 
was wont to be an annual commemoration of the patron saint, for whom 
‘‘our ancestors,” as Alban Butler observes, ‘‘ had a particular veneration 
under the Norman kings.” Thus all the circumstances of the places just 
mentioned point for their history to the period immediately consequent 
on the English invasion. 
Of the subdivision of townlands in populous and fruitful districts, 
we have, as an example, among many, the Marquis of Hertford’s estate 
in the county of Antrim, being the principal part of the ancient Killul- 
tagh. In the Conway Patent§ the denominations recited are 52 im num- 
“ Registrum Alani, fol. 67 a. 
+ Of these 81 townlands, 29 only have Irish names. A prevailing form, both here 
and through the Pale, isa compound of a christian-name or surname with town suffixed, 
as Palmerstown, Parnelstown, Hacketstown, Thomastown. 
£ It is interesting to observe the traditional retention of the definite article with Irish 
names in places where the language has long ceased to be understood, and where the pe- 
culiarity is not recorded even on the map: thus we have The Naul, The Eglish, The 
Grallagh ; which are very correct forms, denoting The Cliff, The Church, The Clay, al- 
though the people using them do not know the reason of the usage. Thus, also, in 
past times, we had The Newry, and The Naas, denoting respectively The Yew and The 
Fairgreen. ' 
§ Patent Rolls of James I., p. 146 a. See also the great Hamilton patent, 2b., 
p. 73 b. 
