HISTORY. 
Presbyterian Ministers. 
It is very probable that a seed of Presbyterian dissent was introduced into the city of Lon¬ 
donderry, at the plantation by the London companies. The first bishop, Montgomery, was a 
Scotchman, “ who held the see from 1605 till 1610, during whose time there is little doubt 
but that the service in the cathedral was conducted in such a manner as to meet the scruples of 
the dissenters. The succeeding prelates were not so favourable, especially Bramhall, who came 
to Derry in 1634. He was a tool of Strafford in his severities against the non-conformists, and 
during the time from his accession to the rebellion of 1641, the greater part of the Scotch, and 
other dissenters, fled to Scotland. After that event, however, they returned. In 1644, Derry 
was visited by Mr. W. Adair, and Mr. John Weir, two Presbyterian ministers from Scotland, 
sent to administer the covenant to the north of Ireland. They came in April, were opposed by 
Thornton the mayor, but, supported by Sir Frederic Hamilton, they obtained admittance. They 
then sent for the keys of the church, in order to preach there on the Sabbath, but the mayor re¬ 
fused them, on the ground that the sacrament was to be administered in it on that day, but he 
offered them ‘ the little church.’ This they found too small, they, therefore, preached in the 
market place, where the covenant was solemnly taken by great numbers. On Monday they 
preached in “ the great church," or present cathedral, “ and spent some time in the city.” 
“ Thence, to the restoration, the Presbytarian worship experienced several vicissitudes, according 
to the opinion of the governor.” “At the Restoration in 1662,” as might have been naturally 
expected from the political part which its professors had acted in the preceding troubles, that 
worship “ was thoroughly purged from the city as an intolerable nuisance ; as appears by a letter 
from the curates of the cathedral, to the primate, in July of that year.” It is probable that for 
some time after this there was no Presbytarian minister or worship, in Derry : but in 1670, however, 
the congregation “ gave an ample call to Mr. Alexander Moncrief, a minister in Fifeshire, in Scot¬ 
land, to become their minister, but he declined. However, in 1672, Mr. Robert Rule was 
formally ordained their minister. He continued till the troubles, which terminated in the siege, 
drove him away early in the year 1688.” “Mr. Robert Craighead, minister of Donoughmore, 
was translated to Derry in 1690,” during whose ministry “the congregation had a dispute with the 
congregation of Burt, respecting the boundaries of their respective parishes.” “ The presbytery of 
Derry was erected in 1702.” “ Mr. Craighead died August 27, 1711.” “ After R.' Craighead’s 
death, they applied for the celebrated Abernethy, then minister of Antrim, but without success. 
They, however, succeeded in obtaining Mr. James Blair, minister of Moira, who was installed in 
Derry on June 2d, 1713,” and “ died in January, 1716.” “ Their next minister was Samuel 
Ross, who was ordained February 13th, 1718.” 
The above information has been chiefly furnished in a letter addressed to the Rev. Mr. Hay, 
of Derry, by the Rev. Dr. Reid, author of a history of Presbyterianism in Ireland. 
Governors. 
Sir Henry Docwra, knt., afterwards Lord Docwra, Baron of Culmore, by patent, Westmin¬ 
ster, May 15th, 1621, was constituted governor of Lough Foyle, during pleasure, by letter of 
privy seal, March 22, 1603-4, and by patent, June the 14th, 1604, for life. 
Sir George Pawlett, knt., under the title of vice-provost, governed the city during the ab¬ 
sence of Sir Henry Docwra, from 1604 till 1608. 
Sir John Vaughan, knt., was governor, as it appears from the plantation in 1611, till his 
death in 1643. 
Sir Robert Stewart was made governor of Derry by the king, on the death of Sir John 
Vaughan. 
Colonel Audley Mervin was made governor of Derry by the Marquess of Ormond in 
1644. 
Lord Folliott was appointed in the place of Colonel Mervin, who had become obnoxious to 
the parliament through the representations of Sir Frederick Hamilton, who desired the governor¬ 
ship for himself. 
Sir Charles Coote took the governorship in 1648, and held it till the restoration. 
Sir Robert Stewart, knt.—Privy seal, Whitehall, November 20, 1660—patent, February 12, 
1660—pleasure. —13 Charles 2. l a pars f. R. 24 Sf 15—18. d. R. 28.—(In English.) 
He was made governor of the city and county, and of the county at large, in consideration of 
his many services performed to King Charles the 1st, and the good affection expressed by him in 
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