Saturday, August 8, 2015

Ballymore parish, County Armagh, in the 1440s

Ballymore parish, County Armagh, in the 1440s

Niall C.E.J. O’Brien

Introduction

The study of parochial ecclesiastical history in medieval Ireland is for the most part dependant on the information contained in the various editions of the Calendar of entries in the Papal Registers relating to Great Britain and Ireland. It is only within the Archdiocese of Armagh, and to far lesser extent in the Diocese of Dublin, that the ecclesiastical historian is given additional information to tell the story of a parish or other benefice in more detail. In the 1440s the rectory and vicarage of Tamlachtalig (Ballymore) in County Armagh, and in the Diocese of Armagh, features a number of times in the Calendar of entries in the Papal Registers relating to Great Britain and Ireland and in the Registrum Iohannis Mey: The Register of John Mey, Archbishop of Armagh, 1443-1456, edited by W.G.H. Quigley and E.F.D. Roberts (Stationery Office, Belfast, 1972). This article intends to gather the various entries relating to Ballymore and explore the story behind the facts.



The petition for Ballymore in 1438

In about June 1438 Donald Ofercaran told the Pope that that Henry Ofercaran had entered into a simoniacal bargain with David Macdamm, rector of Ballymore, for the latter to resign Ballymore (worth 14 marks) in return for money and give the succession to Henry Ofercaran. After the bargain was made; David Macdamm resigned the rectory to John, Archbishop of Armagh.[1] On 25th May 1434 the Archbishop assigned Ballymore to Henry Ofercaran after the latter paid the agreed money.[2] This John, Archbishop of Armagh, was John Swayne, Archbishop from 1418 to 1439.[3]

Ballymore rectory before the resignation of 1434

Eugenius Olorchan was rector of Ballymore before David Macdamm. Eugenius Olorchan was also a culdee of Armagh and a commissary general for the Archbishop. Before April 1433 Eugenius Olorchan was part of an exchange of rectories with John Mcgeerun. The latter was to become rector of Carnteel while Eugenius would become recor of Ballymore. But Eugenius Olorchan died soon after 9th April 1433 and thus on 11th May 1433 David Macdamm, deacon, was inducted as rector of Ballymore.[4]

David Macdamm

Apart from holding the rectory of Ballymore until his resignation, David Macdamm appears elsewhere in the ecclesiastical record. In 1440 he was a canon at Armagh and papal judge concerning the rectory of Athacochaill in the Diocese of Connor. In 1446 he was a papal judge concerning the rectory of Ardbo in the Diocese of Armagh.[5] Elsewhere David Macdamm was noted as a canon of Armagh in 1440, 1441, 1443, 1448 and 1455. David Macdamm was also at various times a commissary for the Archbishop of Armagh and a proctor for the dean and chapter of Armagh. In the 1450s David Macdamm served as treasurer of Armagh.[6]

Ballymore vicarage: Comedinus Ofercaran

The appointment of Henry Ofercaran to Ballymore rectory in 1434 was not the family’s first association with the parish. Up to October 1429 Comedinus Ofercaran was vicar of Ballymore. Upon his death before 21st October, Donald Ofercaran was appointed to fill the vacancy and he was to be inducted by Henry Ofercaran, the same who got the rectory in questionable circumstances later on.[7]

Henry Ofercaran

Previous to becoming rector of Ballymore, Henry Ofercaran served as vicar of Killevy. On 18th February 1432 he was assigned to Killevy following the death of Tyrnacus Mcynnuff. On 26th May 1434 Carol Mcconolad O’Neill was appointed to Killevy following the resignation of Henry Ofercaran.[8] Many years later, after the dispute over Ballymore had begun to fade, Henry Ofercaran was still involved with the wider church as canon at Armagh.[9]

Donald Ofercaran

In 1438 Donald Ofercaran was then the perpetual vicar of Ballymore (worth 5 marks). He had previously got papal dispensation as the son of a priest and an unmarried woman but some people said it was as a son of a married man and an unmarried woman. Donald’s relationship with Henry Ofercaran is unclear and it is possible that they were related.[10]

Questions as to his own birth may have remained with Donald Ofercaran but this did not stop him from dealing with the illegitimacy cases of others. In an undated document when vicar of Ballymore, Donald Ofercaran obtained a mandate for a dispensation to Hugh Ofercaran on account of a defect of birth. On 1st June 1449 Hugh Ofercaran was appointed vicar of Ballymore, through his proctor Henry Ofercaran, after the death of Patrick Mackerly.[11]

In late June 1438 the abbots of SS. Peter and Paul’s, Armagh, and St. Mary’s of Mellifont along with the prior of St. Mary’s, Louth, were to examine the case and if true, give the rectory of Ballymore to Donald Ofercaran provided he resigned the vicarage of same.[12]

Later developments

It would appear that Donald Ofercaran was unsuccessful at removing Henry Ofercaran as rector of Ballymore as the latter was still rector in 1440. But the charges of simony did not go away. On 22nd September 1440 Henry Ofercaran was cited on charges of simony. He was to appear at the church of Armagh before the Archbishop’s officials with many more clerics, including David Macdamm, who were similarly cited on charges of simony.[13]  

Armagh Cathedral

The petition for Ballymore 1442

In about September/October 1442 Patrick Okinagan, commonly called Okellaig (O’Kelly), brought a new claim to the papal court that Henry Ofercaran had entered into a simoniacal bargain with David Macdamm, rector of Ballymore, for the succession to Ballymore.[14]

Patrick O’Kelly said that the rectory of Ballymore was then created into a prebend with a canonry at Armagh. Along with the charge of simony, Patrick Macdamm alleged that Henry Ofercaran was a “notorious fornicator” and committed various other crimes not listed.[15]

Patrick O’Kelly

In 1442 Patrick O’Kelly was rector of the parish church or prebend of SS. Bridget and Trea at Ardtrea (worth 14 marks), County Tyrone in the Diocese of Armagh.[16] In 1407 and 1410 a person called Patrick O’Kelly was a canon of Dromore but it cannot be stated for sure that he was the same man as the later rector of Ardtrea.[17]

It was the desire of Patrick O’Kelly to have Ballymore (also worth 14 marks) united to Ardtrea for life. But the papal mandate issued on 8th October 1442 said that Patrick O’Kelly had to resign his old parish on obtaining Ballymore. The three papal judges assigned to decide the case were the prior of St. Mary’s of Louth, Diocese of Armagh and Arthur Mackamail and William Somerwell, canons of Armagh.[18]

Loss of Ardtrea

In 1446 Archbishop John Mey deprived Patrick O’Kelly of the rectory of Ardrea (decreased in value to 12 marks) and assigned it by ordinary authority to John O’Kelly. But in the circumstances John O’Kelly was unsure of his title and petitioned the pope for a new title. The petition said that Donald Olaynd previously held Ardtrea until his death when succeeded by Patrick O’Kelly. Maurice Omulumog, canon of Armagh, was to assign the new title to John O’Kelly.[19]

Success at Ballymore

If Patrick O’Kelly lost Ardtrea, he was more successful at getting the rectory of Ballymore. One of the papal judges, Arthur Mackamail, went in favour of Patrick O’Kelly and Henry Ofercaran was ousted. Patrick O’Kelly may have recognised himself as rector of Ballymore but others saw him only as the vicar of Ballymore.

Meanwhile Henry Ofercaran was not finished with Ballymore and lodged an appeal to the court in Rome. On 23rd August 1448 Pope Nicholas V appointed Archbishop Mey, the abbot of Mellifont and the prior of St. John’s at Ardee to judge the appeal. On 5th April 1449 Archbishop Mey directed letters to Patrick O’Kelly as vicar of Ballymore telling him of the appeal and that Archbishop was sequestering the goods of Ballymore while the appeal was pending.[20]

On 5th April 1449 Arthur Mackamail was cited to appear in the chapel of the Archbishop’s manor of Dromiskin bringing papers showing why he went in favour of Patrick O’Kelly. The pressure against Patrick O’Kelly was building and on 21st May 1449 Archbishop John Mey reversed the judgement of Arthur Mackamail and reinstated Henry Ofercaran as rector of Ballymore.[21]

Death of Patrick O’Kelly

The accumulation of years of legal cases and social pressure played on the health of Patrick O’Kelly. By the 1st June 1449 Patrick O’Kelly was dead. In a move of total victory Hugh Ofercaran was appointed vicar of Ballymore to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Patrick O’Kelly.[22]

Long shadow

The dispute over Ballymore did not totally end with the death of Patrick O’Kelly and instead cast a long shadow over the church in the Archdiocese of Armagh. In about January/February 1454 John Mcbryn, Cistercian abbot of Newry, Diocese of Dromore, denied that he had passed any sentence in favour of Patrick O’Kelly against Henry Ofercaran for Ballymore without the consent of the Archbishop of Armagh. This was raised as part of an inquiry into the request by John Mcbryn for letters of indulgence for his abbey which was had lately burnt down by accident fire.[23]  

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[1] J.A. Twemlow (ed.), Calendar of entries in the Papal Registers relating to Great Britain and Ireland: Papal Letters, Vol. IX, 1431-1447 (Stationery Office, London, 1912), pp. 18, 19
[2] Mario Alberto Sughi (ed.), Registrum Octaviani Alias Liber Niger: The Register of Octavian de Palatio, Archbishop of Armagh, 1478-1513 (2 vols. Irish Manuscripts Commission, Dublin, 1999), no. 119
[3] W.G.H. Quigley & E.F.D. Roberts (eds.), Registrum Iohannis Mey: The Register of John Mey, Archbishop of Armagh, 1443-1456 (Stationery Office, Belfast, 1972), p. ix
[4] Mario Alberto Sughi (ed.), The Register of Octavian de Palatio, Archbishop of Armagh, 1478-1513, nos. 60, 61, 62, 63, 112
[5] J.A. Twemlow (ed.), Calendar of Papal Registers Great Britain & Ireland, Vol. IX, 1431-1447, pp. 92, 548
[6] W.G.H. Quigley & E.F.D. Roberts (eds.), The Register of John Mey, Archbishop of Armagh, 1443-1456, pp. 3, 31, 110, 129, 131, 289, 324, 334
[7] Mario Alberto Sughi (ed.), The Register of Octavian de Palatio, Archbishop of Armagh, 1478-1513, no. 143
[8] Mario Alberto Sughi (ed.), The Register of Octavian de Palatio, Archbishop of Armagh, 1478-1513, nos. 100, 116, 120
[9] W.G.H. Quigley & E.F.D. Roberts (eds.), The Register of John Mey, Archbishop of Armagh, 1443-1456, p. 334
[10] J.A. Twemlow (ed.), Calendar of Papal Registers Great Britain & Ireland, Vol. IX, 1431-1447, p. 18
[11] W.G.H. Quigley & E.F.D. Roberts (eds.), The Register of John Mey, Archbishop of Armagh, 1443-1456, p. 27, 181, 207
[12] J.A. Twemlow (ed.), Calendar of Papal Registers Great Britain & Ireland, Vol. IX, 1431-1447, pp. 18, 19
[13] W.G.H. Quigley & E.F.D. Roberts (eds.), The Register of John Mey, Archbishop of Armagh, 1443-1456, pp. 31
[14] J.A. Twemlow (ed.), Calendar of Papal Registers Great Britain & Ireland, Vol. IX, 1431-1447, p. 275
[15] J.A. Twemlow (ed.), Calendar of Papal Registers Great Britain & Ireland, Vol. IX, 1431-1447, p. 275
[16] J.A. Twemlow (ed.), Calendar of Papal Registers Great Britain & Ireland, Vol. IX, 1431-1447, p. 275
[17] Brendan Smith (ed.), The Register of Nicholas Fleming, Archbishop of Armagh, 1404-1416 (Irish Manuscripts Commission, Dublin, 2003), nos. 34, 131
[18] J.A. Twemlow (ed.), Calendar of Papal Registers Great Britain & Ireland, Vol. IX, 1431-1447, p. 275
[19] J.A. Twemlow (ed.), Calendar of Papal Registers Great Britain & Ireland, Vol. IX, 1431-1447, p. 542
[20] W.G.H. Quigley & E.F.D. Roberts (eds.), The Register of John Mey, Archbishop of Armagh, 1443-1456, pp. 144, 145, 149, 150
[21] W.G.H. Quigley & E.F.D. Roberts (eds.), The Register of John Mey, Archbishop of Armagh, 1443-1456, pp. 200, 203, 204
[22] W.G.H. Quigley & E.F.D. Roberts (eds.), The Register of John Mey, Archbishop of Armagh, 1443-1456, pp. 181, 207, 208
[23] Brendan Smith (ed.), The Register of Nicholas Fleming, Archbishop of Armagh, 1404-1416, no. 262