Andrew Gawn

 Andrew procured a lease on land in Halftown in 1801from his brother James. He lived there and farmed this land during his lifetime. I have a copy of the Residual Account from the Inland Revenue Office drawn up shortly after his death in 1853. It states that Andrew Gawn had in 1841 procured a leasehold on 15 acres Irish in the townland of Browndodd. This lease was for a period of 61 years at the annual rent of £3-14-4½. For some reason this land was lost to the Gawn family and went to the Flemings. This resulted in bitterness between some members of the two families. I am told that my Grandfather Andrew, grandson of the above Andrew, had to delay his marriage to Agnes Elliott (whose mother was a Fleming) until his uncle William died or he would not have inherited the farm in Halftown that William owned.

He is recorded as being a churchwarden of Donegore and Kilbride Parish Church in 1818. It states that “Andrew Gowan of Halftown served at the Easter Vestry held in Donegore Parish Church”. His name, correctly spelt, is also included in a list of people responsible for the running of the corpse house in Kilbride graveyard. (See A History of the Parish of Kilbride by Rev. Robert R. Cox, MA)

His grave and headstone is in the graveyard beside Kilbride Presbyterian Church, near Doagh, Co Antrim. The graveyard at that time belonged to the Church of Ireland. A church was recorded to have been at this location in the year of 1306. The parishes of Kilbride and Donegore were joined in 1622. Whilst Andrew had connections with Donegore and Kilbride Parish Churches his family were all baptised in 1^st Donegore Presbyterian Church, Parkgate, Co Antrim. As his marriage to his wife Margaret took place in 1st Donegore it is likely that the MacMillan’s were members of that church and Andrew allowed the children to be baptised there. But as we see above twelve years after his marriage he still had connections with the Parish Churches of Donegore and Kilbride.

 2nd Donegore Presbyterian Church, which is closer to Halftown than Parkgate, had been established in 1788 but it was a breakaway from 1st Donegore and strong feelings existed between the two congregations.

The above mentioned Residual Account shows that the valuation of the:-

Furniture, Plate, Linen, China, Books, Pictures, Wearing Apparel,

Jewels and Ornaments was                                                                                             £ 16-5-0.

Horses and Carriages,  Farming Stock and Implements of Husbandry was                          £ 93-2-0

Farm in Browndodd, Co Antrim                                                                                      £190-0-0

Bonds, Bills, Notes and Interest due at the Death                                                              £204-9-9

Book and other Debts                                                                                                     £ 16-0-0

Total Value of the Estate                                                                                                 £519-16-9

Deductions amounted to                                                                                                  £155-4-1

With a Net Residue of                                                                                                     £369-16-9

The Executors of the will are named as Thomas McConnell, Parkgate and Thomas Gawn, Ballysculty, Parkgate. In the will Thomas Gawn’s address is given as Halftown for last Will and Testament dated 28/1/1853. This is just four weeks before his death and he must have been very ill at this time as the will is signed by an X.