The rebellion of 1641The Scots in Ulster were no better off than the Irish landowners by 1630 having highly mortgaged their lands due to their inability to transition to a market economy. This resulted in an uprising against the government. October 22 1641 the rebellion took hold causing disorder throughout the country. The rebels, under Sir Phelim O’Neill, an Irishman himself, took over most of Ulster. Originally, the Scottish settlers were to be spared but the rebels soon fell out of control and massacres of settlers took place. Thousands died, some from battle, others from exposure and disease. Those who were able, fled to Dublin or back to Scotland and England. The Laganeers The northwestern part of Ulster led by William and Robert Stewart formed an army and became one of the most efficient fighting machines of the war. More than likely made up of some of the families that were once the “Border Reivers” of Scotland, known for their fearlessness in the face of conflict. My ancestors “The Bell Clan” would have been among these men. More men under the command of Major-General Robert Munro, also a prominent name in my history came to aid in the conflict. It was not until the arrival of Oliver Cromwell in 1649 that the country was brought under control. The Scots supported Prince Charles I, son of King James. He reigned from the time of his father's death in 1625 until he was executed in 1649, tried for high treason. Over the next few years, the monarchy was abolished and a republic formed called the Commonwealth of England. The monarchy was restored in 1660 to Charles’ son Charles II. It would not be until the monarchy was restored to Charles II that the Ulster Scots would breathe a sigh of relief. During the years between 1649 and the re-instatement of the monarchy, they were subjected to heavy fines if they did not want their land confiscated. By the second half of the 17th century the Presbyterians emerged in Ulster as a distinct denomination between it and the Church of Ireland. Most of the Scots were of the former persuasion The Williamite WarThe accession of James II in 1685, himself a Catholic caused unrest among the Ulster Scots. Three years later in 1688, William of Orange arrived in England and was declared King. James II was forced to flee to France, landing in Ireland a year after with the support of a large French army. As many as 15,000 comprised of settlers and garrison packed in the city died of starvation and fever or battling the enemy. By autumn of the same year, most of James' forces were removed from Ulster, pushed south by the Williamite command led by the Duke of Schomberg. The war behind them saw an influx of Scots to Northern Ireland causing them to outnumber the Brits 2:1
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Stephanie Bell-Boissonneault"When researching Family never leave a stone unturned, not even a pebble." Archives
July 2023
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