mid 1700s - 1800s what was happening in Armagh?

[mona lisa]

Curious to know in the mid 1700s to early 1800s in County Armagh what was taking place then...? was it a calm period ? or?   

[KatC]

http://www.ucs.louisiana.edu/bnl/  hints at some of the trouble during that time. It is an index of the Belfast Newsletter and you can search on locations or people.  There was a lot of unrest leading up to the revolution, horrendous treatment of the resulting prisoners who were sent to Australia if not shot, and a climate of fear afterwards from what I gather.  The Lurgan/Seagoe/Portadown area was one area of major conflict before the revolution as gangs were killing and burning. Read up on Peep O'Day and Defenders and the Orange Order. 

[mona lisa]

very interesting...thanks KatC

[HughDaly]

The penal laws were being relaxed, giving Catholics and Presbyterians more rights but which did not go down well with the Protestants.

The british army were busy in the United States, so various local armies were formed (called Volunteers) in fear of an invasion by France.

The Newry to Portadown canal was opened in the 1740's which brought new trade to many area.

[aghadowey]

The penal laws were being relaxed, giving Catholics and Presbyterians more rights but which did not go down well with the Protestants.

Presbyterians are Protestants 

Think sentence should read "The penal laws were being relaxed, giving Catholics and Presbyterians more rights but which did not go down well with the Protestants Church of Ireland/Established Church."

[HughDaly]

Correct.

Also, there was a famine in the first half of the 18th century, but not in the second half.