Belfast News-Letter Extracts - 1798 Rebellion
Friday, August 17th 1798.
Court Martial
On Wednesday Wm Shaw and Pat O'Neil were brought
before the Court Martial, the former charged with burglari-
ously entering into an out-house, and carrying away by
force a still-worm, value 20s supposed for the purpose of
making bullets; and the latter for carrying away fire-arms
and pitchforks,value 10s the property of ----- Corough, of
Saintfield on the 9th and 12th of June last.-- Found Guilty,
and sentenced to be transported, or serve his Majesty for
life, at their option.
This day, James Watson was brought before the Court,
for Treason and Rebellion, but partly for traitorously asse-
mbling on 7th June last, with a number of other Traitors
and Rebels at Crumlin, in the County of Antrim, for the
purpose of electing an officer or officers to command the
Rebel forces then and there assembled;and also erecting
into Rebellion against his Majesty, and arming for that
purpose certain persons who otherwise would have been
peacable and liege subjects of our Lord the King. The
result of this trial is not known.
On Sunday last a Charity Sermon was preached in the
parish Church of this town, by the Rev. Wm. Bristow, for
the benefit of the Poor House and Infirmary, when a colle-
ction was made of £96-1s-1d.and contributions since rec-
eived £17-12s-7d amounting in all to £113-13s-8d.
John Queery, of this town, who had been found guilty of
Treason and Rebellion, by Court Martial at Carrickfergus,
and sentenced to transportation for life, was brought into
town yesterday evening, and lodged in the Donegall Arms.
The heads of Dickey, Storey, and Byers, have been taken
off the Market-house, by order of General Nugent, where
they were placed on spikes, by sentence of Court Martial,
for being active leaders, etc in the late Rebellion. This
measure must be highly gratifying to the inhabitants of
this town.
We understand that some persons have been found guilty
at Downpatrick, and received sentence of death, for Treason
and Rebellion, but the sentence is not to be put in execution,
'till a revisal or approval of it would take place in Dublin. By
this, it would appear, that no more executions are likely to
take place on account of the late Rebellion.
Yesterday Patrick Burgess, was committed to Carrickfergus
gaol, by warrant from the Sovereign, for stabbing John Bell.
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Note :- The "Storey" referred to above was John Storey,
son of George Storey and brother of Thomas Storey. John
led his column from Donegore to Antrim as part of the
United Irishmen strategy for the Battle in 1798. Thomas
had made an ingenious escape from Belfast gaol in
1796 and General Nugent had placed a reward of 50
Guineas for his capture. He spent 16 years in America
before returning to Ireland and a successful career.
Belfast's News-Letter lists Thomas a Printer of hand-bills
and posters in 1794 at his High Street, Belfast premises.
John was a Printer with the Northern Star Newspaper, the
main voice of Henry Joy McCracken's United Irishmen. He
was arrested 23rd February 1798 and hanged July 1798.
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