Life
1744-1824; b. Carnmoney, Co. Antrim; United Irishman; ed. Glasgow, DD
1783; presbyterian minister of Ballyhalbert and Portaferry, Co. Down;
denounced England in the colonies, 1776; advocated Catholic admission
to Ir. Volunteers, 1779; joine UI, 1791; lectured on ‘Scripture Politics’
in 1793; instrumental in Catholic Relief Act, 1793; adjutant-major to
Society of United Irishmen, Co. Down, 1798; imprisoned Fort George prior
to rebellion, 1798 [var. , 1799; minister in Second Keady, Co. Armagh,
1803; died in penury. ODNB DUB
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Criticism
Ian McBride, Scripture Politics: Ulster Presbyterians and Radical Politics
in the Late Eighteenth Century (OUP 1998).
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References
Dictionary of National Biography: 1744-1824; United Irishman;
taught by Robt. White, presbyterian minister of Templepatrick; ed. Glasgow;
licenced, 1767; minister Ballyhalbert, now Glastry, Co. Down, 1771; spoke
in 1776 against ‘unnatural, impolitic, unprincipled’ war with
America; spoke against Govt. fast-days; suffered secession from his congregation;
volunteer movement, 1778; advocated enrolment of Catholics, 22 Mar 1778;
moved to congregation at Portaferry 1780; moderator gen. of synod of Ulster,
1780; supported Robt. Stewart in election battle against Hill; assisted
in obtained pledge for unanimous and immediate catholic emancipation,
Belfast 1792, volunteer meeting; arrested a Ballynahinch before projected
insurrection; ‘black hole’; released, 1802; resumed ministry;
fiercely beaten by Orangemen returning from attendance at Catholic meeting,
9 Sept. 1811; recommended for divinity chair by William Neilson, 1816;
pauper’s grave, Cliften St. cem., Belfast; m. Isabelle Gamble, 1771.
Bibl. sources includ, Presbyterian records, Musgrave, Teeling, Montgomery’s
Presbyterian History; Madden, Reid’s Presbyt. Hist., Killen’s
Presbyt. Hist. &c.
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