Irish MacVicars

McVickars of Ballymena, County Antrim, Northern Ireland

The McVickar family has lived in Ulster for better than four hundred years. Donald McVicar is reputed to have been Presbyterian and the High Constable of the vicinity of Ballymena, County, Antrim in the year 1558 and is reported to be an ancestor of the McVickar family residing in that area in the nineteenth century, from which I am directly descended. In the sixteenth century the Ballymena estate belonged to the O’Neils of Clandeboy under Shane O’Neil. However, at that time as well, the Antrim Glens including Glen Ravel and Clough Village,(about six miles north of Ballymena in the parish of Dunagy) and the Route were claimed, occupied and held by the McDonnells of Antrim first under Colla McDonnell then under Sorley Boy McDonnell, resulting in lengthy conflicts with both Shane O’Neil and the McQuillens. It is hard to know, under what overlord did this Donald McVicar hold the office as High Constable, O’Neil, McDonnell or McQuillen?
It be should noted that the spelling of the name as “McVickar” seems to be particular to Ballymena about 1650 and thereafter. Related families in Belfast, Ballymoney, Ballymena, Portrush, Magheramorne, Glen Arm and Bushmills areas as well as in County, Tyrone and County Down spell the name “McVicker” or “McVicar”. I suspect the various spellings are the result of the spelling preferred by different scribes in different boroughs in the seventeenth century.
“Donnell McVickar” (the Donald above) was deposed in 1560 by the English during the O’Moore’s wars against the English and was examined at Black Castle, Leiklinbridge by John Chaloner. His Examination and Confession is included in the English State Papers of Elizabeth the First on Ireland.
From reading the full text of this examination, it is quite clear that Donnell McVickar and his company were mercenary soldiers and were involved in the sacking of the Priory of Ballykyran and Piers Dobbins Town in County, Killkenny with Neil McLice (still living 1568) and were well acquainted with Shane O’Neil and his men as well as the Lisagh McKedagh (executed May 28,1570) of the O’Moores (of Clanna Rory).
Neill McVicar was pardoned
in connection with the Pardon of Sorley Boy McDonnell signed by Sorley Boy in 1569.
The McVicars of this time may have been Galloglass for the McDonnell and/or Shane O’Neil and perhaps others, perhaps all. Scot Galloglass had been employed in Ireland since at least the thirteen hundreds. (However, given the “Legend of the Eagle”, leads one to wonder which came first, the McVicar family of Antrim or Kintyre. The Mull of Kintyre is about twelve miles from the Tor Head on the Antrim Coast. Both Argyle, Antrim and the Western Isles were part of the ancient kingdom of Dal Riada.) Pat Mcviccarr is listed as residing in Rathlin Island
and John McVucar is listed as residing in Ballymenough (old spelling of Ballymena) both in the 1669 Antrim Hearth Tax Roll. A Donald McVicar in the parish of Dunagy, County, Antrim is recorded in the “Rowan Account Book (circa 1674)”.
Archibald McVickar (probably the son of John McVucar above) received a lease of property on North Street in Ballymenoch from Robert Adair for the period of one hundred and twenty five years, dated 6 September 1684. (The name “John” is overwritten with the name “Archibald” on that lease and the property was already in the possession of the McVickars of Ballymenoch).
I have trace the McVickar family of Ballymena partly through Irish land records back without a break to this lease above of 1684 as well as other branches of McVickars, descended from the same Ballymena ancestors. Three notable branches immigrated to New York City from Antrim in the late 1700’s (Archibald McVickar of Ballyloughan then of New York, died 1779. John McVickar of New York, died 1812 and Nathan McVickar of New York, died 1827).
Burke’s General Armory of England Scotland and Ireland Encyclopedia of Arms 1842 edition shows: MacVicar (Scotland)

Arms: Argent, a millrind sable, charged with four estoiles of the field
Crest: An Eagle rising, purpure
Motto: Dominus Providebit

Our Family silver which was hallmarked in Dublin in 1830-31 is engraved with that same eagle crest, Seals charged with estoiles appear to have been used on some of the Irish leases for property.
Included hereafter are references for the above which may be of help to others who may be interested.

References:
Donald M’Vickar. anno, 1558, High Constable of Vicinity of Ballymena Co. Antrim. “ancestor of family of that name now resident in Ballymena.”
“Root and Branch- Wellington Street Presbyterian Church Ballymena 1828-1978”:under “Books that were not Burnt” page 24. author: Jack Leith publisher: Greystone Press,1978.
“Old Ballymena: a History of Ballymena during the 1798 Rebellion” Published in “The “Ballymena Observer” in 1857, under the title of “walks About Ballymena”. Printed at the “observer” Office at Church Street, Ballymena. pages 5 & 7

“Extract of the Examination and Confession of Donnell McVicar” at Black Castle Leightlinbridge, 14 January, 1561
3. Calandar of State Papers Relating to Ireland of the Reigns of Henery VIII. Edward VI, Mary and Elizabeth” author: State Paper Department of Her Magesty’s Public Record Office. publisher: Longman,Green, Longman & Roberts, London. Volume 1, page 164

Pardon of Neill McVickar, circa. 1570.
4. The Glens of Antrim Historical Society on the web, under:”Sorley Boy McDonnell’s difficulties after the Battle of Glentaisie.” http:// www.antrimhistory.net/content.php?cid=53 (information taken from the Irish Fiants of Elizabeth I )
Pat Mcviccarr,
5. Hearth Tax Rolls- Antrim, 1669 Rathlin Island P.O.R.N.I.,T 307, page 11

John Mcvucar,
6. Hearth Tax Rolls- Antrim , 1669 Barony of Tuam,(Toome) Ballymenoch H. R. (Ballymena),
P.O.R.N.I., T.307, page 161-1669

Donald McVickar, 1674 Parish of Dunagy, Rowan Account Book
7. P.O.R.N.I., T.796, page 214

Archibald McVickar, 1684 Adair to McVickar, Lease for 125 years to buildings on East Side of North Street, Ballymena.
8. P.O.R.N.I., D/929/HA12/F2/1/44

Patrick McVickar 1723 Adair to McVickar, Lease for 20 years, Land on West side of the road leading to Buoroghshane nest to Robert Sterling’s Park..., Ballymena
9. P.O.R.N.I., D/929/HA12/F2/4/38

Archiblad McVickar 1755 Adair to McVickar building and land on the West side of Church Street bordering the tenement then in the posession of Robert Sterling, Ballymena
10. Registry of Deeds, Henrietta Street, Dublin, book 179 page 33, No. 118451

Archiblad McVickar of Ballylochan (same Archiblad McVickar as above) to Douglass 1755 Lease of building and land on the West side of Church Street with freed on to rib on the house newly built Archibald McVickar and also free liberty to build on the nearing gable of Robert Sterlings House ...., Ballymena
11. Registry of Deeds, Henrietta Street, Dublin, book 179 page 32, No. 118450

Alexander McVickar to William McVickar, 1757 remaining term of the Lease for 125 years to buildings on North Street, Ballymena.
12. Registry of Deeds, Henrietta Street, Dublin, book 186 page 357, No.124955

William McVickar to William Hilton,1857 Lease to buildings on East Side of North Street, Ballymena.
13. Registry of Deeds, Henrietta Street, Dublin, book 196 page 167, No. 127505

William McVickar of Ballyreagh, His Will dated 1771 (Died 1809?. Heirs, wife: Nancy, sons: Patrick & James McVickar, & James McVickar”s son William McVickar)
14. Registry of Deeds, Henrietta Street, Dublin, book 608 page 188, No.415782

James McVickar to John McKey Indenture of Mortgage 1812 (... to hold for the life of Patrick McVickar or 61 years from first of November 1809...)
15. Registry of Deeds, Henrietta Street, Dublin, book 657 page 184, No.450896

James McVickar to Robert McVickar. 1815 Lease of buildings East side of North Street, Ballymena. (in lease: Robert is Son of James McVickar and Brother of William McVickar)
16. Registry of Deeds, Henrietta Street, Dublin, book 689 page 420, No.473755

Robert McVickar to Robert Glenn, 1815 Indenture of Morgatge to buildings on East Side of North Street, Ballymena.
17. Registry of Deeds, Henrietta Street, Dublin, book 690 page 139, No.474085

James McVickar (son of Robert) to Patrick McVickar, 1848 Indenture of Conveyance of buildings on the East side of Church Street
18. Registry of Deeds, Henrietta Street, Dublin, Book 1848, page 8, No.202

Sir Bernard Burke, C.B., LL.D. ,Ulster King of Arms, “The General Armory of England, Scotland, and Ireland, Encyclopedia of Heraldry”, 1842 edition, Published by Edward Churton, Holles Street, Cavindish Square, London, reference under surname MacVicar (no page numbers printed on copy examined).

Posession of Dromona Mills and House 1848
20.

Patrick McVickar to Portrush Railroad 1854 right of way through Dromona and Moylarg Townland

21. Registry of Deeds, Henrietta Street, Dublin, Book 1854, page 29, No.170

Patrick McVickar to Belfast Banking Co 1858 part of purchase of Doromna

22. Registry of Deeds, Henrietta Street, Dublin, Book 1858, page 36, No.155
Lord Grey to Patrick McVickar 1860 part of purchase of Dromona

23. Registry of Deeds, Henrietta Street, Dublin, Book 1860, page 37, No.119

Patrick McVickat to Black 1869 mortgage of Dromona
24. Registry of Deeds, Henrietta Street, Dublin, Book 1869, page 21, No.225

Patrick McVickar to John McVickar (Patricks’s son) 1878 title to Dromona
25. Registry of Deeds, Henrietta Street, Dublin, Book 1878, page 11, No.124

John McVickar to McKane 1878 Mortgage of Dromona
26. Registry of Deeds, Henrietta Street, Dublin, Book 1878, page 20, No.203

John McVickar to Matilda McVickar (John’s daughter) 1878 second mortgage of Dromona
28. Registry of Deeds, Henrietta Street, Dublin, Book 1878, page 22, No.98

John McVickar to McKane, Matilda McVickar (John’s daughter) and Elizabeth McVickar (John’s second daughter) forced sale of Dormona 1887
29. Registry of Deeds, Henrietta Street, Dublin, Book 1887, page 23, No.222

John McVickar in Indianapolice Indiana, 23 June 1887
30. Diary of John McVickar page#