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Subject: [BLACK-L] The Laggan Presbytery by Rev. Alexander Lecky B.A.
Date: Sat, 4 Aug 2001 18:43:03 EDT

Good evening fellow researchers,

My name is Robert Cowan and I am a contributing member of the Cowan and
Wigton-Walker groups on rootsweb and occasionally I discover material that
has great benefit to other goups as well. I spend considerable time looking
for rare, out of print books that may provide clues in making the connection
between our Ulster and American families. In the early 1900's the Rev.
Alexander Lecky wrote two books:

"The Laggan and its Presbyterianism," Davidson & M'Cormack, North Gate Works,
Belfast 1905 and

"In the Days of the Laggan Presbytery," Belfast 1908

These books are a must for anyone researching in Ulster and I will do my best
to accurately describe each books content.

>From chapter one of the first book: "On a map of the County of Donegal, it
will be seen that the north-eastern part of the county, which is the most
northerly part of Ireland, is a peninsula washed on the eastern side by the
waters of Lough Foyle and on the western by Lough Swilly. This is Inishowen,
a mountainous and, to a large extent, a barren country. Immediately to the
south of it is a fertile and comparatively flat country, lying between the
river Foyle and the upper reaches of Lough Swilly, and extending in one
direction from the City of Derry to Stranolar, and in another from Lifford to
Letterkenny. This is the district which in by-gone times was well and widely
known under the name of THE LAGGAN, and formed the most productive and
desirable portion of the ancient territory of Tyrconnell."

It is from this area around Derry where many of our early Ulster ancestors
originated, sons and daughters of the Defenders of Derry during the great
siege. The Laggan and its Presbyterianism discusses early Laggan history,
early church life, the Presbytery, persecutions and sufferings of the
Laggoneers, the Rebellion of 1641, the Siege of Derry, St. Johnston, Raphoe
and its royal school, the Seceders, and much more but the real value is in
the Appendix which is divided into parts and includes the Hearth Tax Rolls by
each Parish and also contains notes largely drawn from the unpublished
Minutes of the Presbytery of the Laggan, now in the library of Magee College.
Also included are names of the Protestant householders in the Parish of Leck,
1766, tennants on the Abercorn Donegal estate, 1794 and the names of
householders in St. Johnston, 1794.


By receiving this post it means your surname is mentioned either in the main
text or as a member of one of the lists in the appendix.

The second book, In the Days of the Laggan Presbytery published three years
later, Lecky continues his study of the early Presbyterians with such topics
as; The meetings of the Presbytery, the education and character of its
ministers, ministerial support, church extension, congregations and houses of
worship, the charity of the presbytery, troubles and persecutions, fasts, and
discipline. The real value, once again, lies in the appendix which contains
the following:

Wills of the first ministers of Taboyn and Ray, a section of Francis McKemy
before he removed to America, and the best of all Lists of Ruling Elders and
Commissioners by Parish!! Names of men who attended meeting of the Laggan
Presbytery between the years 1672 and 1700 organized by Parish. This allows
the researcher to study each neighborhood (Parish) and compare it to those
family groupings in early Virgina (Beverly Patent) and evaluate many exciting
possibilities.

If you would like to obtain a copy of these books (211 pages) please contact
me privately at The cost for copying is $25.00 and includes
shipping.

Robert Cowan
525 Harrogate Rd.
Matthews, North Carolina 28105

Thanks,
Bob

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