Monthly Archives: March 2019

Today (22nd March 2019) we had Nancy from Philadelphia pay a visit to Clifton House and Clifton Street Cemetery. Nancy has spent many years researching  her ancestors, the Johnston family, who were tanners in the Mill Street/ Castle Street area of Belfast in the early-mid 19th century. The Johnston's were wealthy enough to purchase a Wall Plot, the most expensive plots in the cemetery. However, Elizabeth Johnston, aged just 30 passed away in 1859, leaving her husband William with a young family. William worked as a clerk in Herdman's but was diagnosed with tuberculous. With the death of his wife, coupled with [...]

THANKS to the Belfast Charitable Society and the Barbour Fund some students from the North Belfast area will be able to benefit from financial support to help them through the cost of the second year of their studies at Queen’s University. This has been made possible through the University’s Pathway Opportunity Programme and the partnership created by the Belfast Charitable Society and the Hilden District Nursing Society. Both societies have a long and successful history of caring for older people, working to improve the lives of those who are less fortunate and, in some instances, providing and facilitating education and training [...]

On 13th March 1826 a meeting was called by Elizabeth Fry to encourage the women of Belfast to take an active role in the various charitable institutions within the town of Belfast. The women of Belfast agreed to write to the Poor House Committee for permission to set up a 'Ladies Committee' for 'superintending the female department' of the Poor House. The initial Minutes made the following statement; “The Ladies forming this Committee respectfully submit this proposal, to the Committee of Gentlemen, in the hope of obtaining their approbation and support to enable them to effect their object; And beg most earnestly [...]

This week marks ‘National Apprenticeship Week’ and we thought it would be fitting to look back at the activities of the Belfast Charitable Society, who were earlier pioneers of apprenticeship schemes in the Belfast area. Between 1841 and 1846 there was never less than 100 children in the Poor House with a peak of 242 at one point. The question of how best to care for them and prepare them for life outside the confines of the house was constantly on the minds of the Poor House guardians. It was known that children who came from impoverished backgrounds were likely to [...]

A number of members of the Belfast Charitable Society were involved in the 1798 rebellion. Dr William Drennan, visiting physician to the Poor House, came up with the concept of an organisation to unite Catholic, Protestant and Dissenter, but stepped back from the organisation as it became more militant. Thomas McCabe, a prominent member of the Belfast Charitable Society, was active in the United Irishmen. Thomas lived at the Vicinage on Buttle’s Loney, behind the Poor House, on which St Malachy’s College now stands. It is said that much of the 1798 rebellion was planned in McCabe’s house. Mary Ann McCracken’s [...]