CITY OF LONDONDERRY. 
Derry was an object of vital importance to the insurgents, but their plot in this instance miscar¬ 
ried, and Derry became one of the chief places of refuge in the north, for the despoiled English, 
many of whom took shipping there for England. Shortly after, the city of London sent four ships 
to Londonderry, with all kinds of provisions, clothing and accoutrements, for several companies of 
foot, and abundance of ammunition. The twelve companies also sent, each, 2 pieces of ordnance, 
and these are still preserved as memorials of the warlike achievements of the city. There were 
at that time 20 pieces of artillery in Londonderry, which the Society had many years before 
provided for its safety, and it was considered that the assistance which was then so given by the 
city of London, was the principal means of preserving the city of Londonderry from the fury of 
the rebels_ (Hist, of the Irish Soc .) 
In September, 1642, during the illness of Lord Ormond, the lords justices made an alteration 
in the command of the troops in Derry, which at that period consisted of six companies, under the 
command of the mayor and Sir J. Vaughan. Sir William Stewart was appointed Commander-in- 
Chief of the Laggan forces, but the command was superseded on the 15th December, and the 
original officers restored. 
In 1643 the city of Londonderry and Coleraine sent letters to the lords justices, expressing 
their lamentable condition, and praying for relief.— (Carte, p. 420.) 
On the death of Sir John Vaughan in this year, Sir Robert Stewart was made governor of 
Derry by the king. Five companies of the garrison had the honor of contributing to Sir Robert’s 
great defeat of Owen O’Neill, at Clones, on the 13th of June, which was the most disastrous 
the rebels had hitherto suffered in the province of Ulster. 
Towards the close of the year the parliament having taken the Covenant, the London adven¬ 
turers sent over an agent with letters desiring it to be taken within their plantation. 
1644. April 15th. The mayor of Derry was ordered by the lord lieutenant and council, to 
publish a proclamation against the covenant. 
Colonel Audley Mervin, was made governor of Derry by the marquess of Ormonde. He 
was obliged for expedience or safety sake to take the Covenant, which was generally received by 
the people.— (Carte, p. 492). 
1645. Colonel Mervin became obnoxious to the parliament through the representations of 
Sir Frederick Hamilton, w'ho desired the governorship of Derry himself, was displaced, and lord 
Folliott appointed in his place. 
Sir R. King, and Mr. Annesley as a committee of parliament, and Colonel Beale, from the 
committee of adventurers, came into Ulster in the latter end of October, with considerable supplies 
of money and provisions. They turned Colonel Mervin out of the government of Derry, and 
every thing lowered before their power. 
1648. Sir C. Coote treacherously seized Sir Robert Hamilton’s person, forced him to order 
his castle of Culmore to be delivered up, and then sent him prisoner to London. By this means the 
independents were not only entire masters of Great Britain ; but of all the north of Ireland, 
and all the forts of Ulster, except Charlemont. 
The marquess of Ormond endeavours by every means to draw over Sir C. Coote to his 
majesty’s interest, but in vain, and the king’s troops were necessitated, in the last week of March, 
to block him up in Derry. 
1649. Derry and Culmore were besieged by Sir Robert Stewart. The garrison consisted 
of 800 foot, and 180 horse, under the command of Sir C. Coote. Neither of them could have 
held out any time, if any ships had been sent to guard the coast, and lie in the mouth of the 
river to interrupt the supplies of men, money, ammunition and victuals, which Sir C. expected 
soon out of England. But this was neglected j Sir G. Monroe advanced at the latter end of 
May, with a good party to strengthen the army before Derry, and the lord Montgomery joined 
his forces to the besiegers soon after. These officers were all devoted to the service ot Charles the 
II., and had commissions under him, and that monarch was proclaimed with great solemnity in the 
camp before Derry. The execution of the late king had at this time caused such a general 
feeling of disgust among the presbyterians as well as protestants of the north, that they rose in 
arms, declared against the English rebels, and made themselves masters of all the towns and 
places of strength in those parts, except the forts of Derry and Culmore. 
After a siege of four months, and when it was reduced to the greatest extremities, Derry 
was relieved by Owen Roe O’Neill, who was promised by Coote £5,000 for this service, and 
in the following year, Coote, by the defeat of Ever Mac Mahon, the Roman Catholic general at 
Skirfolas in Donegal, reduced all Ulster under the power of the parliamentary army. 
1656. The services of the citizens of Derry in the cause of the rebellion were not forgotten 
by the usurper. The original charter of James the 1st having been condemned and cancelled 
by two warrants of king Charles the 1st, it was regranted by Cromwell, 24th March, 1656, with 
additional liberties and privileges. [In the History of the Irish Society, it is stated that it does 
not appear that this charter was ever enrolled in the office of rolls in Ireland. But this is an 
