Early Life
James Pillar was born on the 16
th of September 1730, most likely in
Charlemont, County Tyrone, to
James Pillar and
Mary Greer.
Life
James Pillar was a Quaker, like his father before him. He was also a member of the Society of United Irishmen, a radical organisation emerging in 18
th century Ireland initially seeking Parliamentary reform but evolving into a revolutionary republican group inspired by the American Revolution and allied with Revolutionary France. It launched the Irish Rebellion of 1798 with the objective of ending British monarchical rule over Ireland and founding a sovereign, independent Irish republic.
James' membership of this organisation certaintly got him into trouble, as we shall see. The following is extracted from an article in the
Dublin Post dated the 29
th of April 1797.
James was arrested on the 24th of December 1796 and charged with High Treason; he was imprisoned in Charlemont Castle and paid 2s 8.5d per day subsistence. He and three other prisoners remained there for eight weeks under confinement. At the end of eight weeks they were permitted to walk in the front of their room for an hour a day, and were allowed to install a piece of wood in the window, which had until that point been open to the elements.
Notwithstanding their greater liberties at this point, "the utmost strictness was still preserved to keep them from having any correspondence with their friends without. Their loaves were dissected - their butter was cut and pierced - and even a bottle of milk could not escape the research of their vigilant Keepers". Throughout this time they were not apprised of the charges against them, other to be reassured that the charges were not capital, but "as the times were dangerous, Government had thought proper to keep them confined".
James was eventually released after 15 weeks upon paying a bond of 300 pounds.
His bond read:
James Pillar, of Moy, in the parish of Clonficle [sic], and county of Tyrone, acknowledges himself indebted to our Sovereign Lord the King in the sum of 200l. Peter Pillar, of Moy, and said county, acknowledges to be indebted to our Sovereign Lord the King in the sum of 100l.
The condition of the above obligation is such, that if the above named James Pillar (now a prisoner in Charlemont Fort) absent himself from the province of Ulster during the war now subsitting between France, and the King of Great Britain, France and Ireland, then the above to be void and of no effect - otherwise to remain in full force and virtue in law excepting said James Pillar is admitted to return and remain in the said province of Ulster, by Brigadier General Knox, or other of the King's Officers that may be duly authorised by Government to do so.
James Pillar
Family
James married
Arabella English on the 1
st of June 1766. A letter from Arabella's mother
Elizabeth, to Thomas Greer of
Dungannon, dated 20
th December 1765, is available at
PRONI; I haven't accessed the original but the catalogue entry summarises:
Elizabeth English, Oldcastle to Thomas Greer, Dungannon. James Pillar made a proposal for our daughter Bell, and I wish to know your opinion of his character.
They had twelve children, though not all survived. Many emigrated to America and are the ancestors of a whole raft of cousins alive today. Amongst others, their children included:
- Anne, born c. 1779, who married Richard Bryans
- Arabella, who married Robert McCune; lots of American families descend from Arabella
- James English, born 1788
- Elizabeth, who married John Collins
Death
James died on the 26
th of September 1806, aged 76.
1730 - 1806 (76 years)
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