On 26th June 1798, my ancestor Archibel Wilson of Conlig was hanged, aged only 26 years, at the Far Rocks above my home village of Conlig for his part in the Rebellion. He died protesting his innocence and indeed it was a family tradition that his sister was the real leader of the Hearts of Down in the area.The gallows tree with chain was still there when I was a boy. The rebels certainly were very active in Conlig and letters from the village at the time are kept in the Public Records Office of Northern Ireland. I used to visit Archibel’s grave in Bangor Abbey Graveyard regularly on my way home from Bangor Grammar School to Conlig. It is recorded in the Ulster Journal of Archaeology that he was hanged off Bangor Pier but Granny Kerr nee Sloan said otherwise. Some years ago I was sent a copy of his Courtmartial in Newtownards confirming Granny’s opinion rather than the academics, so I have retained a healthy scepticism of academics ever since.
And in Bangor, Light of the World, 17: The Last Abbot of Bangor, by Dr Ian Adamson OBE, Tuesday, January 18. 2011, I added –
Yet there is also in that graveyard one of the saddest reminders of Ireland’s troubled history. This is the gravestone of one of my family, Archibel (Archibald) Wilson, the Carpenter from Conlig, who was accused of treason following the 1798 Rebellion and hanged with two others at the Far Rocks above our village. Archibel was said to have gone on his knees to the gallows singing psalms to God and died protesting his innocence. The headstone is a split slate one with hammer, axe, trowel and knife between two sets of leaves at the top.
“Here lieth the body of the Archibel Wilson of Conlig who departed this life June the 26 in anno 1798, Eg. 26 yr.
Morn not, dear friends, tho I’m no more
Tho I was martyred, your eyes before
I am not dead, but do sleep hear
And yet once more I will appear.
That is when time will be no more
When they be judged who falsely sore
And them that judged will judged be
Whither just or on just, then they’ll see.
Purpere, dear friends, for that grate day
When death dis sumance you away
I will await you all with due care
In heaven with joy to meet you there.”
This gravestone is probably the most famous and unusual remaining from the 1798 Rebellion has has appeared in the illustrations of many books. It is one of the great treasures of the Bangor Abbey graveyard.
Today Thursday 18 August, the FRIENDS OF BANGOR ABBEY are leading a GRAVEYARD WALK around Bangor Abbey graveyard at low cost or (possibly) free, given by local historian Paul McKay. Meet at Bangor Abbey at 7.30 p.m.