1829 Apr 28

Newtownhamilton

P1030378

This advertisement raises more questions than I can answer. There are only two houses in the townland of Urker, Parish of Creggan, Co. Armagh that could fit this description. The first is Urker House, which was inhabited by Captain Samuel BALL (1757-1843). The second significant dwelling was at Urker Lodge. Elizabeth JACKSON, who was the widow of John JACKSON (1780-1817), lived there and had three small children at the time. Even though she struggled to pay her rent, there is no record of her losing tenancy; yet, the advertisement mentions specifically Urker Lodge. Here is a timeline:

1665 Lieut. Thomas BALL was awarded some 6,725 acres in Co. Armagh, including lands in Creggan Parish. SOURCE: Land Confiscations and Plantations in County Armagh during the English Commonwealth and Restoration Periods. 1650 to 1680, Harold O’Sullivan. Published in: Armagh: History and Society, ed A.J. Hughes and William Nolan. Geography Publications, 2001.
1692, Thomas BALL (a son of the original Thomas BALL, his will was probated in 1692) collects a dividend for a number of townlands, including Urker: http://www.thesilverbowl.com/documents/1692May21-BALL-Dividend.html
1800, Urker Lodge was set to John JACKSON http://www.thesilverbowl.com/documents/1800Aug1-JACKSON.html by Thomas BALL, father of the John BALL, who I suspect is the contact person in this advertisement, and witnessed by his brother Samuel BALL
1817, John JACKSON’s will records him as being of Urker: http://www.thesilverbowl.com/documents/1817InventoryJohnJACKSON.htm .
1826, Elizabeth JACKSON was still a tenant, but received a rent reassessment from Samuel BALL: http://www.thesilverbowl.com/letters/1826_Ball_to_Jackson.htm
1830, Urker Lodge was leased to his Widow Elizabeth by James JOHNSTON of Woodvale and William JOHNSTON of Dundalk. http://www.thesilverbowl.com/documents/1830Sept2-JACKSON-JOHNSTON.html
1856. This house was still leased by Elizabeth JACKSON, and then by her son, David Jackson, then by his son, Sir Thomas JACKSON, and was associated with JACKSONs and their descendents, well past the middle of the 20^th Century.

TO BE LET, FOR SUCH TERM AS MAY BE AGREED UPON, the HOUSE OFFICES AND DESMESNE of URKER, together with from TEN to FORTY ACRES or more of LAND adjoining the premises. The house is in perfect repair, and fit for the immediate reception of a family, a sum of money having been lately expended upon it. The furniture is also in good order. Several dozen of choice OLD PORT and SHERRY may be had at a valuation. Urker Lodge is situated in the County Armagh, Barony of Upper Fews; distant 8 miles from Dundalk, five from Castleblaney, and seven from Carrickmacross; within a quarter of a mile of Crossmaglen; and a monthly fair and weekly market town, in a cheap and plentiful country, abounding with fuel and other advantages not generally met with.

Proposals (if by letter, post-paid) will be received by JOHN BALL[1], Esq., Dunleer, County Louth.

[1] John BALL Esq. of Dunleer was mentioned in the will of Thomas Prideau BALL, but his relationship is unclear. He is all likelihood, a descendent of Abraham BALL (abt 1665-1740) who held a lease for Urcher in 1716, which likely came from his father Lieut. Thomas BALL means that the best bet is the John BALL who was a son of Thomas BALL (1727-1798) and Phillipa USSHER..This John BALL died in Nassau. His brother Samuel BALL resided at Urker House. This John BALL may or may not have been the same John BALL who was a member of the Irish Parliament representing Drogheda in 1796 & 1799 SOURCE: Journal of the County Louth Archaeological Society, Vol. 4, No. 4 (Dec., 1919/1920),pp. 375-386 Published by: County Louth Archaeological and History Society: http://www.jstor.org/stable/27729240