1873-1874.] 45 



Lower Belfast, by Sir Fulke Conway and Sir Arthur Chichester 

 respectively. But this plantation was effected by the introduction 

 of English and Welsh families chiefly, and not by Scotch. The 

 Scotch seemed to have arrived here at intervals, but chiefly during 

 the time that the rest of Ulster was portioned out to their country- 

 men. I shall give you here two extracts from Mr. Hill's book, 

 which throw considerable light upon this immigration. 



[The lecturer here read some passages from "The MacDonnells 

 of Antrim."] 



It remains to say a few words about the English settlement in 

 the county. This was carried out, as I said, by Sir F. Conway 

 and Sir A. Chichester early in the 17th century. But long before 

 this, Carrickfergus and the adjacent coast-line — as testified by the 

 existing townland names — had been an English settlement. I see 

 in the Electoral Roll several names which indicate descent from 

 these early settlers. There are Taaf, Plunkett, Dobbin, Hackett, 

 Power, Cusack, Copeland, Burke, Pearson, Baret, Brett, Seymour, 

 Russel, and Phillips ; many bearing the two latter names being 

 also Scotch, and of much later date in the county. 



These names carry us back for the most part to the time of the 

 Anglo-Norman conquest of the country. At one time — in the 

 reign of King John especially — English influence and English 

 settlers were very strong in this country. But at the time of the 

 plantation of Ulster it was very inconsiderable indeed, being 

 chiefly confined to Carrickfergus and neighbourhood. Co-incident 

 with the plantation, Sir Moyses Hill, Sir Arthur Chichester, Sir 

 Fulke Conway, and others, brought in Welsh and English settlers, 

 some of whose descendants are still to be found on the estates 

 possessed by the heirs of these noblemen. Indeed, the English 

 element in the county may almost entirely be traced to this source. 



