Tonitygorman

TONITYGORMAN (the bottom lands of Gorman’s house) Area 146:0:15 Mount Sedborough Manor

Griffiths Valuation 1862

Occupier………………….. Lessor John Brady……………………… In fee H 0s & L James Wiggins………………….. John Brady H & Os John Maguire…………………….Reps Robt. Beatty H Os & L James Maguire…………………...John Maguire House

1901 Census

Head of family……………. Landholder if different Joseph Johnston Robert Blakely Thomas Kennedy……………….. William Beatty

Prior to this, the Johnston farm had the reputation of being difficult to make a living on because the rent was very high. The Griffith Valuation gives its size as 95 acres with a total valuation of £69 although that does not tell us what the rent was. There were stories of different evictions and seizures of stock prior to the Johnston family coming from Co.Monaghan in 1897. The ownership has remained with the family since.

Surnames in 2005

Nelson Courtney McManus Former Residents Johnston Barnett

One of the fields on the Johnston farm was known as the Lodge Meadow. There is reputed to have been a Masonic Hall in that field but there is no trace of it now or on any of the old maps. There is some vague story of Militia or Volunteer body in this area. In 1775 when the regular army was engaged in the American War of Independence, the Volunteers were formed mainly from the Protestant gentry and their tenants to safeguard the country from a possible French invasion. In the Fermanagh Story, Livingstone listed the Volunteer corps present at a review in 1780 and included was a detachment from Magheraveeley. Some corps had a Masonic connection. Perhaps there is a connection here, perhaps not.