This file of an 1832 MEMORIAL PRESENTED TO THE REV. WILLIAM MULLIGAN OF STRABANE, COUNTY TYRONE forms part of the vast archive of 3,000+ pages of genealogical records relating to COUNTIES TYRONE, DONEGAL, LONDONDERRY & FERMANAGH provided without charge or subscription by CoTyroneIreland Welcome to the Premier Website & Research Tool for Cos. Tyrone, Donegal, Londonderry & Fermanagh Genealogy (cotyroneireland.com) A complete list of records pertaining to STRABANE on this website can be found at the foot of this file.
October 9 1832
TO THE REV. WILLIAM MULLIGAN
Reverend and Dear Sir. --- We, the undersigned Members of the Presbyterian Congregation, and other Inhabitants of Strabane, beg, on your retiring from the charge of that Congregation, thus publicly to express our deepest regret at parting with you whilst we do most sincerely congratulate you on your appointment to a Professor’s Chair in that valuable Seminary, the Belfast Royal Academical Institution, a situation attainable only by distinguished talent and merit. Since you first came amongst us, Sir, your public character, as a Minister of the Gospel, has been marked by piety without ostentation, ability and zeal in maintaining the doctrines and discipline of your own Church, whilst you inculcated feelings of charity and good-will towards the members of every other, used much exertion in promoting the interests of our various religious and charitable Institutions; and, in your general conduct, displayed such independence of principle, amiability of disposition, and anxiety for our welfare, as to entitle you to our lasting regard. In taking leave of you, Sir, permit us to present you with these slight tokens of our esteem and approbation. In a pecuniary point of view they are of little value, but we trust you will appreciate them more from the motives and feelings which dictate the offer, than from any importance in the gift itself. With the most sincere desires and earnest prayers for your happiness and welfare, we are, Reverend and Dear Sir, your affectionate Friends…..
Signatory Signatory Wm. ORR, Session Clerk & Elder Joseph HENDERSON, Elder John MORTON, Elder James ADAMS, Elder Robert GORDON, Elder James MCDOUGALL, Elder William THOMPSON James DONNELL John GEARY Robert J. CREIGHTON George KNOX John KNOX Archibald MCCREA Robert BROWN Francis LARMOUR James GRAHAM William GLASSE William STEVENSON Cowper WALKER William RAMSAY Edward WAUCHOB John MCCREA Richard GWYNN Thomas BARNHILL James THOMPSON Lighton WARNOCK The Misses GAMBLE David SMYTH John CARROLL John ANDERSON John GRAY Hamilton FOSTER William ELLIOTT Charles HUMPHREYS Robert WILSON Daniel WAUCHOB James BROWNE John WILSON Nathaniel THOMPSON Robert CAMPBELL William BLAIR John MCFARLAND Robert BLAIR Audley OSBORNE Michael CAVANAGH William GWYNN Andrew HUNTER Charles MAXWELL Samuel HOUSTON Elizabeth WARK James HOUSTON William HUTTON William HOUSTON Samuel MORTON Thomas HOUSTON James BROWN Joseph MCKEE Margaret MCINTIRE John JOYCE William TURNER Cunningham BLAIR Samuel MCNAIR Jeremiah GILL James KINCAID Robert PORTER John PARKER William GAMBLE Isaac GRAHAM William John GREER Eliza SCOTT Robert HOLMES Isabella BLAIR Thomas EDMUNDSON Mary MEASE William SMYTH Essy NELSON James SMYTH Mary HUNTER Robert SMYTH Hugh HAMILTON, jun. James PORTER Elizabeth ALEXANDER John PORTER E. J. BOYD James SIMPSON Samuel STEWART John SIMPSON Joseph BARNHILL Robert CREIGHTON, sen. Bolton BOYLE James SIMPSON Robert IRWIN William DOHERTY The Misses KINKEAD James ADAMS Thomas PATTON William MCLEOD Patrick BOYLE Thomas BROWNE James WILSON James WILSON, jun. David MITCHELL Arthur MCHUGH James MARTIN
ANSWER. My Dear Friends--- I thank you for your kind and flattering Address, and also for the very handsome and valuable Presents with which it is accompanied. You may rest assured that your approval of the manner in which I have performed my clerical duties, and of my conduct in general, is most grateful to my feelings. When, however, I look back on the past, I cannot but see that there have been many imperfections and many defects in my ministerial labours. Indeed, everyone who reflects seriously upon the extent and importance of the duties connected with the pastoral office, must be ready to exclaim with the Apostle, “who is sufficient for these things?” Being warmly attached to the doctrines and discipline of the Presbyterian Church, it gives me much pleasure to find Christians of various denominations, united in testifying that my attachment has not degenerated into bigotry, nor my zeal into intolerance. Nothing, in my mind, can be more offensive than to hear a fallible, erring mortal pronounce an anathema on those who conscientiously differ from him upon religious subjects. To such an individual it may well be said, “who art thou that judgest another man’s servant?” Of my attention to the Charities of your town I have little to boast. My exertions in this respect have been surpassed by those of several of your Merchants, who could scarcely be supposed to have had as much leisure for the performance of such duties. I must, however, say, that I esteem it a high honour to be ranked with the philanthropic and benevolent Gentlemen who conduct the Public Charities of Strabane. To the independence, which you are pleased to commend, I feel that I have some pretensions. I have ever declared openly my opinions, and advocated fearlessly, through good report, and through bad report, such measures as I thought calculated to advance the cause of pure and undefiled Religion, and such measures as I believed conducive to the amelioration and happiness of mankind. But I cannot conceal from myself the fact, that I have never been placed in any very trying situation --- I have never been obliged to sacrifice on the altar of Independence. I have always been surrounded with men of intelligence --- men who knew that unanimity of sentiment, however desirable, is, in many cases, altogether unattainable; and who were therefore, disposed to treat with candour and respect, the views of those who conscientiously differed from themselves.
I am now to remove to a distant part of the country, and of course to be surrounded with other acquaintances and other friends; but if ever I forget the friendship and kindness of the people of Strabane, I must be ungrateful indeed. My Dear Friends, I commit you to the care of Him, who is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His Glory, with exceeding joy -- and I earnestly pray, that mutual forbearance, peace, and brotherly kindness may still prevail among you. I am, my dear Friends, your obliged and faithful Servant,
(signed) WILLIAM MULLIGAN
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William Mulligan was ordained in Strabane [Co. Tyrone] March 20 1828 and resigned August 1 1832 when appointed Professor of Mathematics Royal Belfast Academical Institution
Tuesday, July 14, 1829
MARRIED On the 7th instant, by the Rev. Henry Wallace, Hollywood, the Rev. William Mulligan, of Strabane, to Miss Gardner, of Belfast (Strabane Morning Post)
August 8 1833
DEATH OF PROFESSOR MULLIGAN. It is, on this day, our most melancholy task, to record the death of the Rev. William Mulligan, Professor of Mathematics in the Royal Belfast Institution. He was drowned while bathing, at Loughbrickland [Co. Down], on Tuesday last, the 6th instant. Professor Mulligan was born about the years 1798……[he] had gone to Loughbrickland, on the evening of Monday last, to pay a visit to his family. On Tuesday, he was tempted, by the heat of the day, to bathe in the waters of the lake. Having ventured, in swimming, beyond his depth, he sunk from some cause, hitherto unascertained; and never regained the surface. It is not the least distressing part of this melancholy tale, that a brother was a witness of his fate; but being unable to swim, and no other aid being at hand, relief was impossible. Mr. Mulligan was in the 35th year of his age; and has left a widow to deplore his loss. (Northern Whig)
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