A note about the Plantation...

Proposals for a Plantation of the Londoners.

"Motives and reasons to induce the city of London to undertake the Plantation in the North of Ireland" (May 1609 - A concise View of the Origin, Constitution and Proceedings, of the Honorable Society of the Governor and Assistants of the New Plantation in Ulster within the Realm of Ireland (1842)

"The country is well watered, generally by abundance of springs, brooks and rivers and [there is] plenty of fuel, either by means of wood, or, where that is wanting, of good and wholesome turf. It yieldeth store of all necessary for man's sustenance, in such measure as may not inly maintain itself, but also furnish the city of London, yearly, with manifold provision, especially for their fleets; namely with beef, pork, fish, rye, bere (barley), peas and beans, which will also in some years, help the dearth of the city and country about, and the storehouses appointed for the relief of the poor.

As it is fit for all sorts of husbandry, so for the breeding of mares and increase of cattle, it doth excel, whence may be expected plenty of butter, cheese, hides and tallow. English sheep will breed abundantly in Ireland - the sea coast, and the nature of the soil, being very wholesome for them; amd if need were, wool mioght be had cheaply and plentifully out of the set parts of Scotland.

It is held to be good in many places for madder, hops and woad. It affordeth fells of all sorts, in great quantity, red deer, foxes, sheep, lamb, rabbits, martens, squirrels, etc. Hemp and flax do more naturally grow there than elsewhere; which, being well regarded, might give great provision for canvas, cable, cording, and such like requisite for shipping, besides thread, linen, cloth, and all stuffs made of linen yarn, which is more fine and plentiful there than in all the rest of the Kingdom.

Materials for building - timber, stone of all sorts... are afforded in most parts of the country; and the soil is good for brick and tile."

In 1610 articles of agreement were drawn up between the Privy Council and a committee of the City of London. The guilds or companies were to take on the settlement of County Coleraine with parts of Donegal, Tyrone and Antrim. Towns were to be built at Derry and Coleraine and it was thought that these new towns would help reduce the overcrowding in London. That may sound unlikely but by 1633 there was an estimated 40-50,000 settlers in Ulster.

In 1633 the county had been divided into 12 portions, each granted to a group of companies with one "lead" company, 55 companies were involved.

The lead companies were:

Mercers, Grocers, Drapers, Fishmongers, Goldsmiths, Skinners, Merchant Taylors, Haberdashers, Salters, Ironmongers, Vintners, Clothworkers

The Vintners, with over 32,500 acres had shares with:

Grocers, Curriers, Plumbers, Tylers & Bricklayers, Blacksmiths, Weavers, Woodmongers, Fruiterers

The collective venture with all its participants became known as "The Irish Society" which continues to hold rents to this day. The Vintners Company sold off its interests in 1906.