CITY OF LONDONDERRY. 
lor, and obtained an order for re-establishing him in his possession, which being opposed by the 
sheriffs, and other inhabitants of Derry, they were in consequence taken into custody, and carried 
to Dublin. On the 23d of November the Irish Society appealed to the English house of lords 
against the decision of the lords in Ireland, and in 1703 an act of parliament was passed establish¬ 
ing the Society not only in the right to the 1500 acres, but also to the fisheries, which had pre¬ 
viously been a source of much litigation. The society, however, were bound to pay a rent charge 
of 250 per annum, to the bishop and his successors for ever, (which sum is still paid), and to ex¬ 
onerate him from any rents or other demands whatsoever, for the palace and gardens in Derry.— 
(Condensed from the Hist, of the Irish Soc.) 
1704. Ten Presbyterian aldermen, and twelve burgesses refuse to qualify according to the 
act of conformity, and resigned their offices. Robert Rochford, recorder of the city, advised the 
mayor, &c. to elect other members in their place; the mayor, therefore, to leave the dissenting 
members without excuse, caused the sergeants to summon them twice. None, however, attended; 
consequently he proceeded to a new election on the 12th of August, and filled up the vacancies. 
This circumstance occasioned the necessity of a special act of parliament respecting the qualifica^ 
tion of Presbyterians in these respects.—( Gillespie's Annals of Londonderry .) 
1721. February 2d. The military commander of the garrison refused to deliver the key's of 
the city to the new mayor, which by the charter he was bound to do, and surrounded the town- 
hall with troops, and prevented the entrance of the corporation into it. Immediately after the 
commander was removed.— (lb.) 
1725. Cicily Jackson, servant of the bishop, was burned at a stake outside Bishop’s-gate, 
for the murder of her natural child.— (lb.) 
1769. September 23rd. King Charles the 2nd having, by his charter, granted that the 
mayor, recorder, and four senior aldermen who had served the office of mayor, should be justices 
of the peace of the city and liberties, and the corporation having represented, that, from the 
increase of trade and manufactures, the inhabitants were become very numerous, and that it 
frequently happened that the four senior aldermen, from their age and infirmities, were incapable 
of transacting business, or retired into the country at a distance, so that the whole business of the 
magistry devolved upon the mayor, which he was unable to do, with the other duties of his office, 
and that it had been found by experience, that for the more speedy administration of justice, a 
greater number of justices of the peace was requisite ; wherefore the king, by this charter, grants 
that all the aldermen who have, and who hereafter shall serve, the office of mayor, from the time 
of the expiration of their said office, may be appointed justices of the peace of the said city, during 
such time as they shall continue in the office of aldermen.—(9 George 3.— Lodge's Parlia¬ 
mentary Reg.) 
1779. June 4th. The Londonderry Volunteer Association was established for the defence of 
the country—Thomas Conolly, Esq., the county member, commandant. 
1781. May 23rd. The Irish Society contributed £100 towards the association. 
1788. November 19th. The Irish Society contributed £50 towards the celebration of the 
centenary of the 9th December, 1688, at Londonderry. This commemoration of the shutting of 
the gates was continued for three days with great vivacity and splendour, and in an uninterrupted 
spirit of harmony and conviviality, by the citizens of every denomination and class. 
Section 2.—Biographical. 
Bishops. 
Before proceeding to that part of this subject, which relates to the bishops, it will be proper 
to give some account of the ancient and present state and constitution of the chapter of this see, 
as well as of the extent, subdivisions, &c., of the diocese. 
Chapter. —Owing to the destruction of the ancient records of this see, in the civil wars of Tyrone, 
nothing is known of the original constitution of the chapter, further than that it consisted of a prin¬ 
cipal and three inferior or rural deans, an archdeacon, and a certain number of other canons, 
“ who assisted the bishop, and had their houses, and kept their residences about the Cathedral 
Church, and had lands belonging unto them, which were called the Canons’ lands. ’ These lands, 
which constituted the termon, or free lands of Derry, and lay' partly within the island of Derry, 
and partly beyond it, but adjacent to the canons’ houses, being all found by an inquisition taken 
in 1605,while the see was vacant, to be abbey lands, and the property of the crown, were granted 
to the then governor, Sir George Pawlet, and were for some years after his death in the possession 
of his widow and heirs. These grants were, however, suddenly revoked, and at the plantation in 
1609, a considerable portion of the termon lands were given to the bishop and dean. The origi- 
