The Great Chemist, Joseph Black. 67 



Ellinor Stewart, Geoi'ge Black's wife, had four sisters; Jane, 

 who married Walter Wilson, grandfather of AValter and Basil 

 Wilson, both well known in Belfast. Walter Wilson was at one 

 time the tenant of Stranraillis, thus occupjdng an estate which 

 had many family memories. Mr. A. Basil Wilson remained in 

 Maryville, where I knew him well; as also in his profession of 

 engineer before, during, and after his management of the old 

 Rowan Foundry in York Street. I shall have something to say 

 later of the Wilson family. The sister, Mary Stewart, became 

 the wife of the Rev. John Clarke, curate of Belfast, who died in 

 1799, worn out by his labours on behalf of charity and the people 

 of Belfast. The sister, Annabella, married Rev. J. Trail Sturrock, 

 of Seapatrick, near Banbridge, and this family were progenitors 

 of the Reades of Wilmont, so well known in the life and trade of 

 Belfast. 



It is time now to say something of these Stewarts, as the 

 Ballydrain family is one of the most interesting of old Belfast. 



The Stewarts of Ballydrain. 



The Stewarts were believed to be of the family of Lord 

 Garlics, but the several versions of the connection are incon- 

 sistent. One of the Stewarts of Glarlies, John, grandson of Sir 

 Alex. Stewart of Garlics, came to Ireland and settled in Bally- 

 moran, which property was afterwards purchased by his family. 

 Upon the Ballymoran ground was the townland of Ballydrain, the 

 townland of the black-thorn, and it is really probable that the 

 name Ballydrain was adopted for the present property by the 

 Stewarts, who built the bawn in 1608, as belonging to family 

 tradition. It is almost certain that the ancient Ballydrain was 

 that at Ballymoran, and is that connected with the legend of St. 

 Mahee, which may be briefly told as follows (see page 36 of 

 Father O'Laverty's book on the diocese) : — 



Mahee was cutting timber, and when his load was finished 

 sat down to listen to a bird singing on a blackthorn. He entered 

 into conversation with the bird for a time v/hich seemed an hour, 



