Hi Doublecherry, Have you used
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~rosdavies/SURNAMES/S/Str.htm apparently over 100 references to newtownards on the Strain data page.
Examples
Mrs. . STREAN . Newtownards deceased; tribute from Dr Forbes 26 Dec 1891 NC
Cecil STRAIN . Newtownards of Loughriscouse ; a joiner ; son of Robert Strain (deceased ); married Sarah Orr of Ballygrangee 8 Jun 1921 at Ballyblack Presbyterian Church, witnesses were Hugh Orr & Hannah McKeag PR
Turning to Bullys acre
In 1848, Newtownards Board of Guardians [for the Workhouse] received complaints from the various parish authorities that their graveyards were filling up with pauper dead from the workhouse. [ie the famine] As a result, the Board bought an acre of ground from Lord Londonderry in the townland of Milecross to be used as a burial ground for the paupers in 1850. This is the area known as Bully’s Acre. Source
http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?guid=c3a15070-5e9d-4da3-a1d5-202812c1229aRos Davies has a map of the townland.
See also
http://www.workhouses.org.uk/bullysacre/ This is about Other Workhouse graveyards being turned into development sites!
Also
http://scrabopower.wordpress.com/about/Gary Dempsey says:
November 11, 2008 at 2:47 pm
I was reading your blog and came across the term Bully’s Acre Boys – and then noticed that you grew up in Newtownards. I am currently writing a paper on the term Bully’s Acre and would be interested to hear about any memories that you have of the site in newtownards .
Summing it up it is currently an open public amenity area in Milecross.