Close Family Tree

Lisburn Cathedral and its Past Rectors with an Appendix

A set of references to members of the Close family in Ireland.

THE VERY REV. JOHN WELSH (1741-1743.)

The successor to the Rev. Anthony Rogers was a man who does not seem to have been well known-his name was John Walsh, or, more properly, Welsh. This name is not found on the Cathedral Memorial Window, nor is it in Lavens Ewart's Handbook to the Diocese.

He was a Lisburn man. His baptism is to he found in the Cathedral Register, 11th May, 1693. He was son of Thomas Welsh, of Lisburn, merchant, who married Dorothy Haddock, of Magheragall, at Lisburn Cathedral, 2nd June, 1692. He entered T.C.D. 12th May, 1711, aged 18: B.A., 1715, and married Mary, daughter of Edward Peers, of Lisburn, by Jane his wife, daughter of Richard Close, of Lisburn, and sister of the Rev. Samuel Close, ancestor of the Closes of Drumbanagher : his marriage settlements were dated 18th April, 1737. The Dean died 1753 (will dated 5 June, 1752, proved prerogative 4 May, 1754), having had five sons and 4 daughters, namely (1) Conway; (2) Thomas; (3) John; (4) Henry; (5) Piers (as he spelled the name). (1) Harriett, married first, at, Lisburn Cathedral, 22nd September, 1760, Ralph Lambert, only son of Montague Lambert, Lieut. 5th Dragoon Guards (by Sarah, daughter of Samuel Waring, of Waringstown, M.P. for Hillsborough), son of Ralph Lambert, Bishop of Dromore, and afterwards of Meath. Mr. Lambert, who was Second Examiner in Chancery, died December, 1761, or January, 1762, and his widow was married again to the Very Rev. Richard Dobbs, M.A., Dean of Connor, son of the Rev. Richard Dobbs, D.D., Rector of Lisburn. She died 25th March, 1784, aged 45, and was buried at Lisburn. Inscription there. (2) Jane (3) Dorothy : (4) Margaret Maria. He was instituted to the Vicarage of Magheramesk and Aghagallon, 8th March, 1730. He was appointed Rector of Aghaderg, 26th March, 1735: he was also Rector of Carrickfergus. He became Dean of Connor in 1743, and resigned the living of Lisburn, but retained these two parishes. He must have been a complete absentee from Lisburn; his name is not found even once amongst those who attended the Vestry meetings. These meetings are signed from 1741 to 1743 by Thomas Johnston, curate; and on 5th October, 1743, by John Arthur, curate; Roger Vere, curate. He died on the 18th April, 1753. I can find no record of his burial, which probably took place in Soldierstown Churchyard.

I was fortunate in getting the substance of his Will from the Record Office in Dublin before it was destroyed. This is it:

Prerogative WillJohn Welsh, Dean of Connor, Co Antrim.To be buried in the churchyard of the Parish where I die.After my debts and small legacies to the poor herein mentioned are paid, I bequeath as followsTo my dearly-beloved wife, Mary Welsh (above what she is entitled to by her marr. sett., and also by the Will of Mrs. Elizabeth Close), the sum of ú50, her gold watch and chain, and my lease in Lisburn, called Brooke's, which I hold from my good Patron, the Right, Hon. the Earl of Hertford, for her life, and after her death by my eldest surviving son.My other lease in Lisburn, called part Gordon's, and my lease of Broom, and the residue of my real and personal estate and goods to my children equally, viz., to Conway Welsh, Harriett Welsh, Thomas Welsh, Jane Welsh, John Welsh, Henry Welsh, Dorothy Welsh, Margaret Maria Welsh, and Peers Welsh, and if any of said children die under 21 or unmarried the share of such to the survivors of them.    To the poor of the parishes of Aghalee, Aghagallon, and Magheramesk, ú2 10s.    To the poor of the parish of Aghaderg, ú2 10s.    To the poor of the parish of Carrickfergus, ú2 10s.    To the poor of the parish of Islandmagee, ú2 10s.    To the poor of the parishes of Larne and Rallow, ú2 10s.    To the poor of the Grange of Moylusk, ú1 10s.Appoint my beloved wife, Mary Welsh: John Stothard, of Maralin, Esq. ; my brother-in-law, John Peers, and Mr. Edward Jones, Exors.In witness whereof 5 June, 1752.John Welsh.Witnesses- Richard Ravenscroft.Samuel Graham.Joseph Blackborn.

Probate granted 4 May, 1754, to Mary Welsh, the widow, John Stothard, Esq. ; John Peers, and Edward Jones the Exors.

The Vestry Records during John Welsh's Incumbency contain nothing but the usual arrangements for the upkeep of the roads, and the Church expenses. It was the custom then to get estimates for a period of seven years for glazing and slating the Cathedral. Ellis Clegg bound himself to keep the windows in good repair for seven years at. ú1 2s. 9d. per year. John Hanlon similarly bound himself to keep the slating in good repair for seven years at ú2 1Os. per year.