William Wainright Lynar and Isabella Semple

[ion]

Thank you gaffy for the links and your research. I read in an earlier post that you found in a directory that Revd Lynar lived in Carrickfergus in 1852. Aparantly he did not want to live in his parish as directed. In a legal action appealing against the Lord Bishop of Down and Connor’s ruling that he must reside in the parish, it was held in May 1854 that Revd. William K Lynar would reside near to his parish with the consent of the bishop. I was wondering if the High St property was also the residence of his mother. In  the Registry of Deeds Memorial transcription 1853.8.39 dated 15/3/1853 one of the parties is Lady Isabella Lynar otherwise Semple of Carrickfergus Co. Antrim, widow of Sir William Wainwright Lynar late of this City of Dublin Knight.

[gaffy]

After the 1852 directory entry showing him at High Street in Carrickfergus, subsequent directories for 1858, 1863, 1865, and 1870 on the PRONI street directory website (also 1868 on the Lennon Wylie website) show him in Larne, but with no address specified.  None of the street directories mention Isabella.

However, Griffith's Valuation (with a local print date of 1861) shows William as a lessee in Dunluce Street in Larne. The Valuation Revision Book for Larne (1863-1866) shows him still in Dunluce Street, however his name was then crossed out and elsewhere in the Book written over the top of someone else in Pound Road Larne (Pound Street today), effectively showing him moving there (precise year isn't shown). The Valuation Revision Book for Larne (1867-1878) shows him still in Pound Road, however his name was then crossed out.

Besides living in Carrickfergus and Larne, I can see no evidence of him living anywhere near St. John's church. He could have hitched a ride on a boat from Larne to the likes of Ferris Bay or had some other similar arrangement across Larne Lough, say, from Magheramorne, but I don't see that as terribly practicable and since we know that a horse and saddle were among his effects sold off after his death, I imagine he travelled to and from the church by horse. With the church being just short of halfway up the Islandmagee peninsular, and Carrickfergus and Larne being about 9-11 miles from the  church, I'm guessing it took from 1 - 1 1/2 hours to ride there.

There is evidence in 1850s newspapers that his involvement in "politics" in Carrickfergus raised some hackles on the basis that he was deemed an outsider.

[scotmum]

The Valuation Revision Book for Larne (1867-1878) shows him still in Pound Road, however his name was then crossed out.

The Larne Reporter of 20th June 1868 carried details of the house on Pound Street being sold by auction, and mentions it was formerley occupied by a Miss Blair and recently by the Rev. W. R. Lynar.