The Lords Pool, River Mourne, 21 April 2022, DSC_0790-2
Another one of the renowned salmon fishing pools on the River Mourne near the village of Sion Mills. Co. Tyrone. N. Ireland.
The Lord's Hole is a prized fly-fishing pool, for both salmon and sea trout. It is best fished at the start of the season when fish are running or when water levels are too low upstream.
This is the stretch of river where a 22-year-old 'Lord Strabane' died on 16th June 1655 being drown bathing in the River Mourne at Ballyfatten, near Strabane.
James Hamilton, 3rd Lord Hamilton, Baron of Strabane (b.1633 d.1655) fought against the Cromwellian conquest of Ireland together with his stepfather Phelim O'Neill (b.c.1604 d.1653) in the Siege of Charlemont, County Armagh, from July to 14 Aug 1650, they defended Charlemont fort against the Parliamentarian army of Charles Coote, 1st Earl of Mountrath (b.c.1610 d.1661), however after a massive defense the garrison was exhausted, bloodied, and had used up almost all of it's gunpowder and ammunition so on 14 August Sir Felim O'Neill requested terms of surrender.
James was born in 1633 probably at Strabane Castle, as the eldest son of Claude Hamilton (b.c.1605 d.1638) and his wife Jean Gordon (b.1601 d.1616). His father was the 2nd Baron Hamilton of Strabane, a member of the Strabane cadet branch of the Abercorns. James mother was the 4th daughter of George Gordon (b.1562 d.1636), 1st Marquess of Huntly who had married in 1632. James had one brother, George and two sister, Catherine (b.1623 d.1670/1), who 1st married her cousin James Hamiltonn of Manorhamilton (b.1630 d.1652), the eldest brother of Gustavus Hamilton (b.1642 d.1723), 1st Viscount Boyne, 2nd married, Col. Owen Wynne of Lurganboy (b.1657 d.c.1670) and 3rd, John Bingham, of Castlebar, Co. Mayo. James 2nd sister, Cecilia, also called Mariana (b.1637 d.?), married Richard Perkins of Lifford.
Claude died on 14th June 1638 probably at the Castle of Strabane and was buried at Leckpatrick, Strabane, County Tyrone. James succeeded his father at the age of about 5, his mother ran the family estate for the young Lord Strabane, as he was now known, and they continued to live in the Castle of Strabane.
In 1641, when James was about eight years old, the Irish Rebellion broke out. The rebel leader Phelim O'Neill captured and burnt Strabane Castle and took James, his mother, and his siblings captive. Phelim brought them to his castle in Kinard (County Kerry) but released them after a few days and sent them to "Sir George Hamilton". This could have been Sir George of Donalong, the younger, (b.c.1607 d.1679) or his great-uncle Sir George Hamilton, the elder of Greenlaw and Roscrea (b.1594 d.1662).
In 1649, when he was about 16, during the Irish Confederate Wars, Strabane Castle was attacked again, this time by Robert Monro (b.c.1590 d.1675) and his Covenanter army.
The castle was relieved by Phelim O'Neill, it's previous attacker. Phelim married James' mother in November 1649. Phelim became his stepfather and his half-brother Gordon
O'Neill (b.c.1650 d.1705) was born.
In 1649 Oliver Cromwell (b.1599 d.1658) invaded Ireland with the Parliamentarian forces. On 21st June 1650 the Confederate Ulster Army lost the Battle of Scarrifholis
(near Letterkenny in Co. Donegal). His stepfather fought in the battle and then fled and escaped capture. In July 1650, aged about 17, James joined his stepfather in his fight against the Parliamentarians. Together with Phelim O'Neill he defended Charlemont Fort (in County Armagh) in the Siege of Charlemont against Charles Coote, 1st Earl of Mountrath. The fort surrendered to Coote on terms on the 6th or 14th of Aug 1650. The garrison was allowed to march to a port to go overseas into foreign service.
James, however, did not want to leave the country, and therefore escaped and hid in the woods and bogs of the Munterlony mountains (the Sperrin Mountains) where he was
captured soon after. He then sought Coote's protection; but in December, he returned to his old cause and took up arms again with Phelim O'Neill. His lands, comprising among others what is today called the Baronscourt Estate (near Newtownstewart), were confiscated. In 1652 Phelim O'Neill was captured, tried and convicted for treason in October and was hanged, drawn and quartered at Dublin on 10th March 1653.
In 1655 Lord Strabane accidentally drowned while bathing in the River Mourne at Ballyfatten near Strabane, aged about 22. He had never married and was succeeded by his younger brother George Hamilton (b.c.1636 d.1668) as the 4th Baron of Strabane.
The Lords Pool, River Mourne, 21 April 2022, DSC_0790-2
Another one of the renowned salmon fishing pools on the River Mourne near the village of Sion Mills. Co. Tyrone. N. Ireland.
The Lord's Hole is a prized fly-fishing pool, for both salmon and sea trout. It is best fished at the start of the season when fish are running or when water levels are too low upstream.
This is the stretch of river where a 22-year-old 'Lord Strabane' died on 16th June 1655 being drown bathing in the River Mourne at Ballyfatten, near Strabane.
James Hamilton, 3rd Lord Hamilton, Baron of Strabane (b.1633 d.1655) fought against the Cromwellian conquest of Ireland together with his stepfather Phelim O'Neill (b.c.1604 d.1653) in the Siege of Charlemont, County Armagh, from July to 14 Aug 1650, they defended Charlemont fort against the Parliamentarian army of Charles Coote, 1st Earl of Mountrath (b.c.1610 d.1661), however after a massive defense the garrison was exhausted, bloodied, and had used up almost all of it's gunpowder and ammunition so on 14 August Sir Felim O'Neill requested terms of surrender.
James was born in 1633 probably at Strabane Castle, as the eldest son of Claude Hamilton (b.c.1605 d.1638) and his wife Jean Gordon (b.1601 d.1616). His father was the 2nd Baron Hamilton of Strabane, a member of the Strabane cadet branch of the Abercorns. James mother was the 4th daughter of George Gordon (b.1562 d.1636), 1st Marquess of Huntly who had married in 1632. James had one brother, George and two sister, Catherine (b.1623 d.1670/1), who 1st married her cousin James Hamiltonn of Manorhamilton (b.1630 d.1652), the eldest brother of Gustavus Hamilton (b.1642 d.1723), 1st Viscount Boyne, 2nd married, Col. Owen Wynne of Lurganboy (b.1657 d.c.1670) and 3rd, John Bingham, of Castlebar, Co. Mayo. James 2nd sister, Cecilia, also called Mariana (b.1637 d.?), married Richard Perkins of Lifford.
Claude died on 14th June 1638 probably at the Castle of Strabane and was buried at Leckpatrick, Strabane, County Tyrone. James succeeded his father at the age of about 5, his mother ran the family estate for the young Lord Strabane, as he was now known, and they continued to live in the Castle of Strabane.
In 1641, when James was about eight years old, the Irish Rebellion broke out. The rebel leader Phelim O'Neill captured and burnt Strabane Castle and took James, his mother, and his siblings captive. Phelim brought them to his castle in Kinard (County Kerry) but released them after a few days and sent them to "Sir George Hamilton". This could have been Sir George of Donalong, the younger, (b.c.1607 d.1679) or his great-uncle Sir George Hamilton, the elder of Greenlaw and Roscrea (b.1594 d.1662).
In 1649, when he was about 16, during the Irish Confederate Wars, Strabane Castle was attacked again, this time by Robert Monro (b.c.1590 d.1675) and his Covenanter army.
The castle was relieved by Phelim O'Neill, it's previous attacker. Phelim married James' mother in November 1649. Phelim became his stepfather and his half-brother Gordon
O'Neill (b.c.1650 d.1705) was born.
In 1649 Oliver Cromwell (b.1599 d.1658) invaded Ireland with the Parliamentarian forces. On 21st June 1650 the Confederate Ulster Army lost the Battle of Scarrifholis
(near Letterkenny in Co. Donegal). His stepfather fought in the battle and then fled and escaped capture. In July 1650, aged about 17, James joined his stepfather in his fight against the Parliamentarians. Together with Phelim O'Neill he defended Charlemont Fort (in County Armagh) in the Siege of Charlemont against Charles Coote, 1st Earl of Mountrath. The fort surrendered to Coote on terms on the 6th or 14th of Aug 1650. The garrison was allowed to march to a port to go overseas into foreign service.
James, however, did not want to leave the country, and therefore escaped and hid in the woods and bogs of the Munterlony mountains (the Sperrin Mountains) where he was
captured soon after. He then sought Coote's protection; but in December, he returned to his old cause and took up arms again with Phelim O'Neill. His lands, comprising among others what is today called the Baronscourt Estate (near Newtownstewart), were confiscated. In 1652 Phelim O'Neill was captured, tried and convicted for treason in October and was hanged, drawn and quartered at Dublin on 10th March 1653.
In 1655 Lord Strabane accidentally drowned while bathing in the River Mourne at Ballyfatten near Strabane, aged about 22. He had never married and was succeeded by his younger brother George Hamilton (b.c.1636 d.1668) as the 4th Baron of Strabane.