At the Town Hall Newtownards in January - at our Burns Supper, I came across this plaque in the hall way of the building.
The Town Hall (Market house) has witnessed many important and significant events in Newtownards history - here is another one to add to that list.
Note the date of his visit - perhaps helping to sow the seeds of Rebellion a few years later?
HMA
There is a similar plaque to this on Apsleys shop Larne Main Street. I'm not sure of the date but I suspect it would have been the same year. What would be the connection between him and the rebellion, would he have been against it or would he have been a supporter?
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ReplyDeleteGlad to hear that there is another plaque in Larne, Co. Antrim.
I do not think he would have been a supporter of the Rebellion that was brewing, however N'Ards and the surrounding area was a 'hot bed' of revolt at that time. I am sure he would have been aware of the local political situation at that time - and the State oppression of Presbyterianism.
To me it seems coincidental that he visited Ireland at this time.
I take it Wesley would have brought his ideas of freeing slaves to the people of Antrim and Down as it was the year before he published ' thoughts upon slavery'. I know Mary Ann Mccracken was a great abolitionist.When I was at Hezlett house in Castlerock a few years back I read two Presbyterian brothers who lived in the house fell out over the rebellion and one hung the other from a tree outside the house for being a royalist. Would a small percentage of Presbyterians have supported the crown or did they mostly support the rebellion?
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