They Came From Dromore

William Gibson

Mr Gibson was a native of County Down Northern Ireland, Born in 1840, and died age 74 on the 1st.of  November 1913 at the Princes Hotel,  Hove, Sussex. leaving an estate of the value of £305,601. The son of a small farmer in Drumbroneth  Dromore.   He was an apprentice to James Crozier, a watchmaker, of North Street, Belfast and subsequently opened his own business in the same street.  The business was wrecked in the 1864 riots and in 1865 he acquired new premises on the corner of Donegall Place and Castle Place, which became familiarly known as Gibson’s corner.  He bought out the businesses of Hugh McCormick and Joseph Lee, both successful jewellers, and established his own business as one of the foremost jewellers of its day.  This business was registered as Messrs. Gibson & Co., Ltd in 1891 and continued to be the leading firm in the trade, not only in Ireland but also in the UK.

.  Before his death, William Gibson was offered a Peerage. . As a small boy he was apprenticed to his uncle a  watch maker in Belfast. He was diligant and industrious and at the age of 27 he set up his own business, first in North Street and then in Castle Junction "Gibsons Corner". His range widened to include Silver and gold objects of very high quality, exhibited in the U.S.A. and Paris, where he won prizes. He had his own registered assay mark, he presented very elaborate silver cups to the Royal Ulster Agricultural Society and a magnificent gold mace to Queens University Belfast, this is still used at each graduation ceremony.

At the time of his death in 1913, he was so well known in London that a special train was run from London to bring the Lord Mayor, Aldermen and leading businessmen to his funeral.

William Gibson was one was one of those fortunate and shrewd men in whose hands every venture prospered and everything he had touched "turned to gold".

The business expanded very rapidly and was eventually formed into a limited company. In 1884  the business had grown so much, premises were aquired in Regent street London and there a branch was initated which ultimatley became the Goldsmith and Silversmith company (limited). Another business which William Gibson started in Regent Street was sold to Mappin & Webb Limited, William Gibson also purchased the farm in Drumbroneth, Dromore where he had been born, and built a large house there, Drumbroneth House, in which he resided  while on business trips to County Down. Drumbroneth House is now owned by Mr. Victor Shields, who with his family now reside there.

William Gibson left in his will approximately a quarter million sterling, to set up a trust for  providing sons of farmers in County Down and Antrim with educational advantages, the scheme will be known as The Gibson Trust Fund. He also left £500 to Dromore Non Subscribing Presbyterian Church

Gibson Scholarships (F247)

These scholarships, founded in 1913 under the will of William Gibson, Belfast and London, for the promotion and encouragement of education in agriculture and the cultivation and management of land for profit, are awarded to undergraduates and postgraduates of the University who were born in Northern Ireland. Preference will be given to students born in County Down or County Antrim and to undergraduate rather than postgraduate candidates.

1. A postgraduate scholarship was established in 1976 and will be available thereafter as funds permit. Applicants should be graduates of the Faculty of Agriculture and Food Science of this University. The holder will undertake full-time research in Agriculture or Agricultural Science in the Faculty of Agriculture and Food Science and may register for a higher degree of the University.

2. The scholarship will be tenable for up to three years and its value will be £2,335, subject to annual review, plus fees with an allowance of £200 per annum for approved expenses.

3. The scholarship will be awarded on the recommendation of a Board of Electors consisting of the Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture and Food Science and three other persons nominated by Faculty from among the members of the Faculty.

4. Candidates must apply to the Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture and Food Science normally not later than May 1 in the year in which the scholarship is offered.

Application forms may be obtained from the Dean's Office.

Belfast Corporation

In 1912 the Corporation decided to acquire a new Mace. Designed by John Vinycomb, and made by the Belfast goldsmiths William Gibson & Co., the new Mace was first used in 1913, the tercentenary of the granting of the Charter by James 1, and has been used ever since. It measures 49 inches in length, 6 inches in diameter at the head and 11.5 inches in the stem. The head is decorated with the Belfast Arms, the Royal Arms, the Arms of the Province of Ulster and the Harp of Ireland, all surmounted by an imperial crown and surrounded by Celtic-style ornamentation. Inside the crown, the flat circular top bears an inscription consisting of the legal title of the City and the date, with the names of the Lord Mayor, High Sheriff and Town Clerk in 1912, round a gold sovereign showing the head of George V The staves carried by the two Sergeants-at-Mace were presented by Councillor Frederick H Lewis in 1869.

The new mace 1913

Queens University Belfast

The precious 18 carat gold mace, given to Queen's in 1909 as a celebration of its new status as a University, is back in service at this week's ceremonial graduation processions, after recent restoration at Garrards. The top London jewellers were in the headlines last year when Jade Jagger, daughter of Rolling Stone Mick, became their creative director.

A mace was originally a weapon intended to prevail over an armoured adversary. As long-range weapons were developed, such as the musket and the longbow, the mace was relegated to a ceremonial role. It denotes authority and the bearer of the mace in academic processions 'guards' the Chancellor in the tradition in which medieval sergeants-at-arms marched as royal bodyguards.

The Esquire Bedell bears the mace in the Queen’s academic procession. He or she leads the Chancellor or Vice-Chancellor into the ceremony and puts the mace on a stand on the stage, which is the cue for members of the academic procession to remove their head dress. The Esquire Bedell also looks after the honorary graduate, leading him or her out at the end of the ceremony. The mace is always present during the conferment of degrees.

The head of the Queen's gold mace is set with four allegorical figures with the crest of Queen's University surrounded by semi precious stones. There is a Celtic cross finial and tapering stem with the words "The gift of William Gibson, a citizen of Belfast 1909."

Mr Gibson, the benefactor who presented the mace to Queen's, was born in Dromore, County Down in 1840. He began his career as an apprentice watchmaker in North Street, Belfast and eventually established his own firm Mssrs. Gibson & Co. Ltd in 1891, which became the leading jewellery firm in the UK. They produced only the highest class of goods and the warehouse in Donegall Place and Castle Place was the chief source of supply in Belfast for everything connected with the watch and jewellery trades.

In a fitting coincidence, the modern-day exclusive jewellers Garrards, who restored the mace in May to its original splendour, had amalgamated in 1952 with the company set up in London by William Gibson in 1880 - the Goldsmiths and Silversmiths Company of Regent Street, London. The mace will return to Garrards later in the year, along with the University's Hart silver collection, to be placed on show in an exhibition next summer in the Gilbert Collection, Somerset House

The precious 18 carat gold mace, given to Queen's in 1909 as a celebration of its new status as a University, is back in service at this week's ceremonial graduation processions, after recent restoration at Garrards. The top London jewellers were in the headlines last year when Jade Jagger, daughter of Rolling Stone Mick, became their creative director.

A mace was originally a weapon intended to prevail over an armoured adversary. As long-range weapons were developed, such as the musket and the longbow, the mace was relegated to a ceremonial role. It denotes authority and the bearer of the mace in academic processions 'guards' the Chancellor in the tradition in which medieval sergeants-at-arms marched as royal bodyguards.

The Esquire Bedell bears the mace in the Queen’s academic procession. He or she leads the Chancellor or Vice-Chancellor into the ceremony and puts the mace on a stand on the stage, which is the cue for members of the academic procession to remove their head dress. The Esquire Bedell also looks after the honorary graduate, leading him or her out at the end of the ceremony. The mace is always present during the conferment of degrees.

The head of the Queen's gold mace is set with four allegorical figures with the crest of Queen's University surrounded by semi precious stones. There is a Celtic cross finial and tapering stem with the words "The gift of William Gibson, a citizen of Belfast 1909."

Mr Gibson, the benefactor who presented the mace to Queen's, was born in Dromore, County Down in 1840. He began his career as an apprentice watchmaker in North Street, Belfast and eventually established his own firm Mssrs. Gibson & Co. Ltd in 1891, which became the leading jewellery firm in the UK. They produced only the highest class of goods and the warehouse in Donegall Place and Castle Place was the chief source of supply in Belfast for everything connected with the watch and jewellery trades.

In a fitting coincidence, the modern-day exclusive jewellers Garrards, who restored the mace in May to its original splendour, had amalgamated in 1952 with the company set up in London by William Gibson in 1880 - the Goldsmiths and Silversmiths Company of Regent Street, London. The mace will return to Garrards later in the year, along with the University's Hart silver collection, to be placed on show in an exhibition next summer in the Gilbert Collection, Somerset House

The gold mace gifted by William Gibson to Queen’s University in 1909 that has been restored at Garrards jewellers. Mrs Jill Lyttle, Undergraduate Associate Dean of the Faculty of Legal, Social and Educational Sciences, one of the Queen’s University’s Esquires Bedell, who carried the mace in Monday’s ceremonial graduation processions., with Chancellor Senator George Mitchell.

Dromore connection with the Crown jewels

 Garrard & Coy Ltd.

A leading London firm of jewellers, Goldsmiths & Silversmiths, founded by GeorgeWickes later becoming Wakelin & Taylor, and then Robert Garrard, 1758-1818. In 1843 they were appointed as Crown jewellers, in which capacity it has since been responsible for the maintenance of the regalia and the crown jewels and their preparation until 1946 and in 1952 was amalgamated with the Gold & Silversmiths Co. founded in 1880 by William Gibson and John Langman and resides at 112 Regents St. London. Still maintaining the name Garrard and still the Crown jewellers

From "Industries of Britain"

Donegall Place and Castle Place, Belfast.—This eminent house was founded by Mr. William Gibson in the year 1865, and has since amalgamated its business with that of the Manufacturing Goldsmiths' and Silversmiths' Company of Regent Street London
 _{Doubtless the largest manufacturers of fine jewellery, silver, and electro-plate, &c, in England. This has given the house a distinct advantage over the majority of its competitors, and enables it to offer to the public valuable opportunities of obtaining the newest designs and highest finish and quality of goods at manufacturers' prices. The purchaser is thus enabled to save something like twenty-five per cent, on ordinary retail prices, and to secure goods of a very superior class at about the same figures as those hitherto quoted to the trade. Messrs. Gibson's business has been very successful from the first, and its prosperity is continuous under the able and energetic management it enjoys. It is carried on at the above address in splendid premises, constituting one of the finest establishments in the goldsmiths', silversmiths' and watchmaking- trades, and the stocks here displayed are of surpassing beauty and interest, and of immense-value; -This fine-building is The firm's own property, the ground and first floors being used as showrooms, "while the top flat is occupied by the numerous staff of skilled workmen here employed. Messrs. Gibson have their general factories at Newcastle Place, Clerkenwell, London, and at Rue Martel, Paris ; and they have recently purchased the manufacturing business and retail shops of Messrs. Mappin Brothers, of Sheffield and London. They produce only the highest class of goods, the quality and finish of all their manufactures being unexceptionable, and these are all sold at the smallest possible margin of profit. An exceedingly large and far-reaching business is controlled, and the house enjoys the support and patronage of a most valuable and. influential connection. The warehouse in Donegall Place and Castle Place is regarded as a chief source of supply in Belfast for everything connected with the watch and jewellery trades, and the spacious show-rooms here are replete with beautiful productions in gold and silver ware, watches, clocks, gem jewellery, and works of art, the mere enumeration of which would require a small volume. Messrs. Gibson & Co. are manufacturers of gold and silver medals for the Commissioners of Intermediate Education, Ireland ; and they hold a great number of prize medals awarded to them at the leading exhibitions " for originality in high-class jewellery and fine watches." The business is conducted with conspicuous ability and enterprise in all departments, and the firm have lately issued a most interesting booklet entitled " Precious Stones and Bric-a-Brac." This beautifully printed and tastefully illustrated little work has achieved great success and favour, and is a wonderfully useful and instructive guide to connoisseurs and others, giving much valuable information on the subject of which it treats, and showing the various marks found on articles of jewellery and bric-a-brac to determine the place of their origin and manufacture.}

 Gibson had factories in Clerkenwell London, and Rue Martel in Paris, and in 1891 purchased the business and retail shops of Mappin Bros of Sheffield and London.  The Company exhibited in Philadelphia, Paris and Chicago and Gibson was awarded the cross of the Legion d’Honneur.

 Messrs. Gibson & Co., Ltd. was the largest manufacturer of fine jewellery, silver and electro-plate in England.  They produced only the highest class of goods and enjoyed the patronage of influential people.  The warehouse, in Donegall Place and Castle Place, was the chief source of supply in Belfast for everything connected with the watch and jewellery trades.  Their showrooms displayed gold and silverware, watches, clocks, gem jewellery and works of art.

 Messrs. Gibson & Co. was also manufacturers of gold and silver medals for the Commissioners of Intermediate Education, Ireland.

The Company received many prize medals for ‘originality in high-class jewellery and fine watches’.

 In 1880 Gibson went into partnership with John Langman and  founded the Goldsmiths’ and Silversmiths’ Company, of Regent Street, London.  In 1898 it became the Goldsmiths’ and Silversmiths’ Co. Ltd.  Their hallmark was originally W.G.& J. L. then became G. & S. Co. Ltd.

 The Company was a major concern producing diamonds, jewellery, bridal gifts, watches, clocks and silver and electro plate.  It had substantial premises covering a quarter of an acre, on the corner of Regent Street and Glasshouse Street, which included a tea room for the benefit of its clients.  In 1928 premises were totally rebuilt and went on to become the designated house of Garrard and Co Ltd, the Crown jewellers, with whom the Goldsmiths and Silversmiths Co. Ltd amalgamated in 1952.

 Gibson died at the age of seventy four on the 1^st November 1913 at the Princes Hotel, Hove, Sussex , leaving an estate in the UK of a value of £305,601.  After several bequests including £10,000 to Queen’s University, for establishment of special agricultural scholarships, Gibson directed that the residue of his property (about £150,000) should be used ‘for the purpose of assisting poor and deserving farmers and holding farms in County Down and County Antrim, Ireland’. 

 Gibson spent a lot of his time at the Villa Lisnacrieve in Cannes and he also had a house overlooking Hyde Park, London.  He was a Unitarian and a Unionist, although he did not take an active part in Politics.  He was a member of the Ulster Reform Club. 

ULSTER HISTORY CIRCLE

Councillor Jim McIlroy, Chairman of Banbridge District Council

Pat Devlin.

John Davis QUB, James Hawthorne and James Nolan from the Ulster History Circle,  Victor Shields, Jim McElroy chairman of Banbridge District Council, Walter Smith from the Gibson Trust, Raymond Kelly and historian Tom Shields.

Drumbroneth House, Dromore, Built by William Gibson 1901, now owned and resided in by  Mr. Victor Shields and family

Victor & Norma's grandchildren

Gibson births & Marriages for Dromore

_{Harry Ferguson}

My whole economic philosophy and all my efforts are guided by the knowledge that the best way to improve the total economy will be through cutting the costs of production of agricultural products, which control the cost of living. There must be implements of an altogether new type which will produce, for the first time in history, enough food to feed all the people of the world. And, also, produce from the land - the source from which all wealth comes a new wealth to enrich the world.

Our Plan for prosperity, security, and peace can be stated in two simple propositions:

1. Make the good earth produce more than enough to keep its whole population in comfort and contentment.
2. And, what is equally vital, produce 'more than enough' at prices which the people of the world can afford to pay.

That is our ambition. That is the course to which I am wholly dedicated.
Harry Ferguson
Detroit, Michigan
December 1, 1947

The son of a farmer, Harry Ferguson was born on 4th November 1884, at  Growell, County Down, and christened Henry George, although he was always known as Harry. The family farm covered 100 acres, a large holding in Ireland at that time. Harry disliked farm work and quickly became interested in mechanical things, joining his brother Joe in his cycle and car repair business in 1902. There Harry took an interest in flying. He had been fascinated by flying since following the exploits of the Wright brothers in the United States and went to several air meetings and exhibitions, particularly in France in 1907 and 1908, and then went back to Ireland and designed and built his own monoplane. After many adventures trying to fly this plane (he had to learn the hard way - there were no instructors), he finally succeeded and flew for the first time on 31st December 1909, the first flight in Ireland. This was the same year that Bleriot  made the first flight over the English Channel. From accounts that I have read, Harry spent more time crashing than he did flying. On one particular occasion during an early flight ,a gust of wind caused the aircraft to vere and summersault, the result being that Harry and the engine both fell out. It is believed that Harry's plane was the first to feature tricycle undercarriage, he also took up the first passenger in Ireland, a very brave, or foolish, lady by the name of Rita Mart, who had travelled from Liverpool to make the flight on 23rd August 1910.

His brother Joe did not like the flying, and, as he could not see any benefit to the company and was concerned for Harry's health, this led to many arguments. The two eventually decided to go their separate ways, Harry setting up in business as May Street Motors in 1911. The company name was changed to Harry Ferguson Ltd about a year later. There Harry sold Maxwell, Star and Vauxhall cars. Harry competed in a Vauxhall car in local hillclimbs and speed events in which he proved to be quite successful. In addition to the cars, Harry Ferguson Ltd also held the franchise for Overtime tractors. With this involvement, Harry was well qualified to take on the task of educating the farmers of Ireland in the new ways with tractors. He was engaged by the government to demonstrate tractors during the first world war. The problem with these early tractors was that they were very heavy, had iron wheels and a large flywheel. The weight caused compaction of the soil, and the steel wheels, while not allowing any slippage, caused other problems. When a tree root or under soil object was encountered by the plough or cultivator, the wheels would not spin, and this either caused damage to the implement or the tractor. With the energy stored in its large flywheel, it rotated around the rear wheel with dire consequences for the driver. There were on the market several devices to stop the tractor tipping over backwards, but Harry's fertile mind had the idea to somehow make the tractor and plough one unit and use the suck of the soil as weight for grip, thus allowing the size of tractor used to be smaller, causing less compaction.

The first attempt at joining the tractor and plough in one unit resulted, in 1917, in a plough designed to go behind the Model T Ford car, which, for around £90, could be converted into a tractor. This conversion was called the Eros. The plough cost £28. This proved quite successful and sold in significant numbers.

After the Eros, the most widely used tractor was the Model F Fordson, at the time one of the smallest tractors available. The first attempts involved modifications to the 1917 plough with a mechanical linkage controlled through a slipper mechanism which followed the furrow bottom. Ferguson went to America in 1920 to meet Henry Ford and asked Ford to make the plough alongside the Model F tractor. Ford was impressed with the outfit and offered Harry a job which he declined. Harry went on another trip in 1925 where he met the Sherman brothers who agreed to build the plough for sale. Business was good until Ford decided during the Great Depression to stop tractor production. By this time Harry had returned to Ireland to continue his experiments and his ambition of making the plough depth wheel redundant.

During the late twenties, Harry and his fellow engineers began experimenting with hydraulics and eventually fitted a Model F with hydraulic linkage with promising results; this system actually had lower link sensing. The tractor came to Norfolk in 1931 and was demonstrated to several influential people including William Morris , in the hope that someone would build the tractor, as Harry and his small team were engineers and not production men, Eventually frustration got the better of Harry Ferguson, and, rather than try to persuade someone to build a tractor using his patent linkage system, he built his first tractor. This tractor was designed and built in Belfast, in 1933, using an l8hp Hercules engine. Called the 'Black Tractor', due to its colour, it is normally on display in the Science Museum in London. The gears for the 'black tractor' were made by the David Brown Company of Huddersfield, who, after some persuasion, became interested in building the tractor as a production machine. An agreement was made, with David Brown to build the tractor and Harry Ferguson Ltd to sell it. Designated the Model A, it cost £224, at a time when a Fordson cost £140.

During the years 1936-38, 1350 Model A's were made, although their sales were not easy as the tractor needed to be bought with its range of implements, each costing £28, in order to get the best out of it. Consequently it proved rather expensive although Harry Ferguson tried to get Browns to build it cheaper. Not being happy with the set up between himself and David Brown, Harry took an example of the Model A and demonstrated it to Henry Ford on his ranch at Fairlane, Nr Dearborn, Michigan, U.S.A., in October 1938. Henry Ford was suitably impressed, and, at a table in the demonstration field, he and Ferguson made their famous Handshake Agreement'; Ford was to use his production capacity to produce the tractor and Harry Ferguson Ltd would act as the salesmen. In addition Harry Ferguson was to have the final say in any engineering changes.

The first prototype was completed in March, just three months after work had begun, and, on 1st April 1939, it was demonstrated to a few friends in Mrs Ford's nursery garden at Fairlane. The first production tractors were ready by June, and, on the 12th June, everything was ready for a demonstration to distributors who had been appointed. The public launch came on 29th June with over 500 people being invited. The agreement worked well throughout the war period although Harry was frustrated that the Ford tractor plant at Dagenham, England, would never agree to build his little tractor. Between 1939 and 1947 some 306,000 examples of the Ford/Fergie or 9N, were made.

Although never built in the UK, a version was imported during the war. This tractor, the 2NAN, was built without electric start and ran on steel wheels. Ford engineers wanted more involvement in the design of the tractor and suggested that the gearbox be increased from three speeds to four speeds and position control be incorporated in the hydraulics. Ferguson would not agree to either of these changes, although his engineers were thinking along similar lines. In 1947, Ford prepared to release a new tractor, called the 8N, incorporating the above changes and unmodified Ferguson System Hydraulics. This tractor angered Harry Ferguson as his patents were being used without his consent, and he sued Ford successfully for $9.25 million. Production of this tractor was stopped in December 1952.

While the court case was going on with Ford, Ferguson had arranged with Sir John Black, of the Standard Motor Co, to produce a tractor to his design. As the Standard Co owned a factory at Banner Lane Coventry, which had been a shadow factory during the war, it was turned to tractor production in 1946, and the TE (Tractor England) was born. These were initially powered by a Continental petrol engine, until the engine that was being designed and made for the Standard Vanguard was in frill production. Diesel engined versions were available from January 1951. Production of the TE continued in all its 16 guises until 1956, and, when production stopped, 517,651 tractors had been produced. With the Ford deal at an end, Harry Ferguson set up a separate company in America to produce the equivalent of the TE, the TO. The TO (Tractor Overseas) was produced by Harry Ferguson Inc. at Detroit between 1948 and 1954, a total of 140,000 being made.

During the early fifties, negotiations started between Harry Ferguson Ltd and Massey Harris for the amalgamation of the two companies and product lines. These negotiations were long and drawn out as Harry Ferguson insisted that he have control over design changes. Eventually an agreement was made, and the first tractor of the amalgamation, the FE35, rolled out of Banner Lane in October 1956. Known as the Grey/Gold 35, this tractor was produced by Massey-Harris-Ferguson. During the following months, further negotiation took place with the result that by the end of 1957 Harry Ferguson had sold all his shares in the Massey-Harris-Ferguson Co. During the negotiations, Harry insisted that his share of the company was worth $17 million, however, the Massey Harris directors would only go to $16 million After some time in a stalemate situation, Harry eventually suggested that they toss for the extra million. Eventually the directors of M-H agreed and a half crown was duly tossed, Harry called tails; he lost. He then suggested that they toss again for the coin, and this time Harry won. The directors had the coin mounted on a cigar box with the inscription, 'To our friend and partner Harry Ferguson. A gallant sportsman'. Harry received $16 million (then £5.7 million) for his shares in M-H-F.

The 'FE achieved many milestones during its production span, with over 517,000 being built at Coventry alone. The tractor was exported throughout the world and made significant advances to the world's food production. Harry Ferguson always maintained that it took five acres to feed a pair of draft animals, but, with his tractor, this land could be put to use producing food for the growing population of the world. One of the more unusual feats that the TE achieved was in 1958 when Sir Edmund Hilary travelled to the South Pole using three of the little tractors. The tractors proved reliable over the 1200 mile journey and, despite high fuel  consumption in the extreme conditions, proved more able than an ex-army Weasel, which had to be left behind. Hilary gave the tractors to the Americans who were manning the Antarctic station in exchange for a flight out, and they remained there for some years being used for further survey work. Of the three tractors that travelled to the Pole, one is still there, one is in New Zealand and the other returned to the UK in 1965 to take up residence in the Massey Ferguson Heritage Centre at Coventry.

For many years Harry Ferguson had been considering at the back of his mind the problems of the motor car and now turned his energies to this. He had been interested for some time in the work of two engineers; Tony Rolt and Freddie Dixon. For many years they had been working with four wheel drive systems and had been demonstrating to the Army a vehicle built for military purposes, known as the 'Crab'. It had four wheel drive and steering by swinging both axles which caused some novel handling. Ferguson, upon his return from America, went to see the two at work, and, in 1950, Harry Ferguson Research was formed. Claude Hill joined the team from Aston Martin soon after, and work began on building a complete car.

The car had revolutionary features; four wheel drive, anti lock brakes and torque converter transmission. Even the engine was of Ferguson design, being a flat four which gave a low centre of gravity. Ferguson Research had bought, from Count Teramela, the rights to the Torque Converter for about £500,000. The intention was to sell the ideas to a large motor manufacturer to produce the production version, as had been the intention with the tractor. A total of three prototype road cars were built, two estate cars and a saloon. The last estate car R5/2, built in 1959, also incorporated a supercharged version of the Ferguson flat four engine. This gave the engine an output of 150bhp from the 2.2 litres. In testing, this vehicle was regularly lapping the Motor Industry Research Authority test ground at 100 mph. Unfortunately the engine is no longer in the car, although both can be seen in the Museum of British Road Transport in Coventry.

After the road cars, Ferguson Research turned to racing to prove the worth of the Ferguson Formula System. A racing car was built, designated P99, that conformed to the, then current, Formula 1 regulations. However, all the forward thinking in the transmission, was to no avail, as the car was front engined at a time when John Cooper and most other designers were successful with rear engined cars. The car was entered for several races by Rob Walker, including the Oulton Park Gold Cup in 1961, where it was driven by Stirling Moss. To the delight of the Ferguson engineers the race was wet, and the combination of four wheel drive, anti lock brakes and Stirling's driving proved too much for the opposition, and he won the race. P99 did, however, prove to be unbeatable in the Hillclimb Championship in 1964, where it took Peter Westbury to the Championship. The car now resides in the Donington Collection.

Several others experimented with four wheel drive in racing cars, and the Ferguson Formula was used at Indianapolis in 1969 and in a Lotus 56b turbine Fl car during 1971. Harry Ferguson did not see the racing car win its race, as he died in 1960. He suffered great bouts of depression and insomnia in the latter years of his life but still had flashes of his old brilliance and stamina. On one occasion when on holiday in Jamaica, he awoke to find a burglar in his room. In the ensuing struggle the robber's gun went off, and Harry sustained a bullet through his leg. Later, when the robber was brought to court, in his defence he said that he had been savagely attacked by Harry Ferguson. Harry Ferguson's original ideas are still employed. No matter what colour of agricultural tractor, they all have the converging three point linkage and weight transfer system that Harry pioneered. Many modem road vehicles have four wheel drive technology, and those produced by Vauxhall/Opel, Ford, Mitsubishi, Honda, Land Rover, Lancia, Alfa Romeo and others employ the Ferguson patented Viscous Coupling control system, developed by GKN and FF (Ferguson Formula) Developments, a company owned by Ferguson's old partner Tony Rolt and his son Stuart.

For those of us in agriculture Harry Ferguson revolutionised the farm tractor and saved us all a great deal of hard work. For the general public, his ideas, firstly for aviation and now employed by the motor industry, have made a great contribution to human development. Harry Ferguson, although a very slight figure of a man, proved a giant in the engineering field.

PITTSBURG  AND  HER  PEOPLE 

GEORGE B. KELLY, of Braddock, near Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, a dealer in real estate, was born January 31, 1856, son of William Guy and Mary (McCracken) Kelly, he being one of twelve children, five of whom survive. The parents were both natives of Dromore, county Down, Ireland, and were there married. In 1845 they  emigrated to this country with their three chil­dren, and remained at Albany, New York, two years, and then  came to Allegheny county, Pennsylvania, via the canal. They located at Wilkins-burg, where they followed farm life. He 'died in 1876, aged sixty-nine years. In politics Mr. Kelly was a Republican. In religious faith the family was, while living in their native country, members of the old Covenanters, but upon coming to this country  became connected with the United Presbyterian church. Mrs. Kelly died in 1894, aged eighty-six years. Their surviving children are: Robert, a contractor, of Wilkinsburg, Pennsylvania; Samuel, of the Kelly-Wood Real Estate Company, Pittsburg, Pennsylvania; Anna, wife of William Beam, of Rummerdale, Pennsylvania; Sarah, wife of William McHenry, Pittsburg, Pennsylvania; George B., of this sketch.

George B. Kelly was only permitted to acquire but a limited education in the country schools, and at the age of twenty-two years left the farm and came to the city of Pittsburg and engaged in the live-stock business at the city stock-yards. He was thus connected for several years, and in 1890 engaged in the real estate business at East Liberty, and still follows the same in a most honorable and satisfactory manner.

Dromore and District Local Historical Group Journal

SAM FERRIS "MARATHON MAN"
BY TREVOR MARTIN

Most of us this summer enjoyed the spectacle of the greatest of the worlds athletes gathered in Barcelona to compete for Olympic gold. The marathon, held over 26 miles represents for many the pinnacle of endurance, tactics and true grit. The games of 1924 were held in Paris and anyone who watched the film "Chariots of Fire" would have been given a good impression of the period, styles and equipment of the runners.

There were many famous names at these games Paarvo Nurmi winner of nine gold medals, Eric Liddell who refused to race in the 200 metre final because it was held on a Sunday, Johnny Weissmuller winner of five swimming golds and later to become the screen Tarzan. Amongst all these world famous characters was a man from the town of Dromore, Sam Ferris, one of the greatest distance runners that Northern Ireland and the United Kingdom was ever to produce, made his Olympic debut.

In December 1923 he rejoined the Royal Air Force and was stationed in Uxbridge where he competed in a cross country race. Although he only came third his talents came to the notice of Bill Thomas of Herne Hill Harriers who persuaded him that his true forte might be long distance rather than cross country running. Bill Thomas's entreaty had an effect on Sam and he joined Herne Hill Harriers with whom he stayed throughout his career. Many young men who had fought in the war were taking to serious athletics, Bobby Mills who had been awarded a Distinguished Flying Cross in the Royal Flying Corps won the 1920 Polytechnic marathon, although prior to the race had never run further than 14 miles. Sam's first 20 mile race was not a success so it was important for him to build up the stamina necessary for long distances.

In the 1924 Olympic trials there were 80 starters one of whom was Sam Ferris competing in the first ever marathon race of his career. Despite conditions being poor and a lack of experienced runners in the field, by the 23 mile point 3 runners were well in the lead. Ahead of Sam in first and second place were Duncan Wright and Jack McKenna. McKenna was in all sorts of trouble and collapsed with exhaustion just past the 25 mile point. Ferris, although exceptionally strong, could not catch the Scotsman Wright who finished in 2.53.47, only 45 seconds in front. It would appear therefore that Bill Thomas was right and Sam's talents lay in the longer distances. It was as a result of this achievement that he was picked for the British Olympic team to compete in Paris in 1924. The marathon team for the Olympics was Jack McKenna, Duncan Wright and Sam Ferris and of the three runners who finished in the best position. The heat combined with the route chosen for the course, much of it over cobbled roads, led many including Wright to drop out; the only time that Wright was ever to fail to complete a marathon. Sam's fifth place in 2.52.26, behind the eventual winner Alban Stenroos of Finland was the best achievement to date for a British runner in an Olympic marathon. The achievement is even better when we see that at the 23km mark Sam was 30th and even after 35km was only 9th. The omens looked good, what might he achieve in future years as it is generally thought in the world of running that marathon runners reach their peak much later than those at the shorter distances?

Sadly for Sam he was to be bitterly denied Olympic gold for although he competed in two further Olympics, (Amsterdam in 1928 and Los Angeles in 1932) the gold was tragically to elude him. It was the 1932 games in Los Angeles that was perhaps to prove to be his greatest disappointment for through a combination of fate and bad management he lost the gold medal. In later years he was to relate this story, one that best illustrated the lack of a co-ordinated and professional approach on behalf of the administrators of the British Olympic team in those early days. When Sam and Duncan Wright arrived they were given no briefing on the course, indeed Sam only saw the course once before the actual race. In contrast Juan Zabala of Argentina, the eventual winner had trained on the course and knew it intimately. On race day they were given their British running vests to find that they were much too long and they both felt that it would be a disaster to use them in the competition. Duncan Wright was adamant he would not use the vest and he eventually competed wearing his own Scotland vest. Sam tried to redesign his vest cutting some eighteen inches off it's length, but this was to prove catastrophic during the race. After a distance into the race the vest began to ride up Sam's back exposing the kidney area to the wind and causing it to chill. He stopped several times during the race to adjust the vest eventually, holding it down using the safety pins that held up his number. Despite this he ran well coming up through the field until he had Juan Zabala in his sights. Once again Sam's backup team were to let him down. He was told Zabala was going well and to ease off for the silver medal. The truth was that Zabala had been through a difficult period in the race and was on his last legs. A concerted attack by Sam at this point would possibly have
finished him off. Sam finished 2.31.55, only nineteen seconds behind Zabala and won the Olympic silver medal, with both runners breaking the world record.

Sam eventually got over his disappointment and raced on for many years, increasing his tally of awards and honours both national and international. He won the first ever AAA title to be contested, was victorious in eight consecutive Polytechnic marathons and was runner up in the first Empire Games in 1930. He set a course record in Turin of 2.46.18 beating the Belgian, French and Italian champions. They even came to England to get their revenge but, he destroyed them winning in 2.40.32 a margin of five minutes. Course records were his speciality, in Liverpool he came home in 2.33.00 some fifteen minutes in front of the next man. Sam, a strict non smoker held strong views on marathon running and indeed training in general. A newspaper article written in 1931 said of him "In order that the novice may evaluate Sam Ferris, he must do as Sam Ferris did, train wisely, train conscientiously and train consistently. Spasmodic bursts of energy serve no useful purpose."

His training for any marathon began some eight weeks before the race and was set to a strict regime, one that he kept to and which served him well.

As a Warrant Officer in the Royal Air Force Sam served in many stations throughout the world over the years, at Dieppe in 1940 he was the officer in charge of evacuating the men prior to the advancing German Army.

Henry Fairley a local man and relative of Sam remembers spending time with him, his wife and daughters in India in 1938. Sadly Sam died in the late seventies but his widow Marjorie is still alive and living peacefully in a cottage in Rosson-Wye, England. I'm sure that many who read this story will like me be proud that a man from Dromore has written his name into Olympic history.

I would like in my article to acknowledge the help of Seamus McKeown and Henry Fairley for the invaluable information that they supplied in compiling this incredible story of surely one of Dromore's greatest sons.
 

THOMAS STOTT-DROMORE'S FORGOTTEN POET
by ROY GAMBLE

They say a prophet has no honour in his own country. In Ulster the same could be said of poets, or rather, the memory of them, for despite a considerable legacy of soulful outpourings passed on by local rhymers, it seems we are poor custodians.

Dromore is no exception. How many citizens know that the town once could boast of a resident poet? It's a good few years ago of course (just over a couple of centuries in fact), nevertheless, some of his writings are still extant to-day.

Thomas Stott-the poet of Dromore, or as some called him, the poet laureate of Down was no Keats or Wordsworth, nor did he claim to be. He said of his poems: "They are the recreations of solitary hours snatched from the hurry of business, furnishing innocent amusement and a proof that literary recreation is not altogether incompatible with the pursuits of commerce."

And yet he was a reasonably prolific writer, contributing regularly to numerous journals and newspapers, including the Belfast Newsletter and the London Morning Post, where many of his poems appeared under the pen-name 'Hafiz' (Arabic for observer).

No ploughman poet, like Robert Burns and John Clare, Stott was born suckling the proverbial silver spoon, the son of a prosperous Hillsborough linen merchant. He followed his father's calling and his first poems were written when learning the linen trade in Waringstown.

He seems to have possessed a penchant for non-de-plumes. Not only did he extensively employ the exotic 'Hafiz' he also used the colourful pseudonym 'Banks of Banna' for some of his early poems, possibly in his Waringstown days.

Stott eventually settled in Dromore, then a thriving linen centre, and in 1777 he was married in the town's cathedral to Mary Ann Gardiner, a lady of good connections originally from Coleraine.
 

Stott and his new wife set up home in 'Dromore House' - which once upon a time served as the 'Clergy Widows Houses' - and rapidly built up a growing business with several bleach greens in the meadows beside the Lagan.

Many of his poems reflect his great love of Dromore and its citizens. Poems like: "The Mount of Dromore" in which he celebrates an annual Easter Monday custom of youthful high jinks on the ancient Norman earthworks. Then there is a satirical piece (shades of Orwell's 'Animal Farm') where some educated pigs plead their case for a share of the 'Liberty, Equality, Fraternity' that was sweeping Europe at the time. In the "Humble petition of Dromore pigs" he writes:

". . . We the swine of Dromore
At a numerous meeting,
To all lovers of pork
This petition send greeting . . .

" And the poem ends:
"Dear liberty then
To us captives restore,
And our thanks shall resound
Through the streets of Dromore."

Incidently, it flows quite nicely to the tune of Master McGra.
 

Throughout his life Stott retained a passion for nature and wildlife. A keen fisherman and gardener, the solitary hours spent on the river bank and among the shrubs and flowers and fruitful trees of his garden must have given him inspiration for such poems as: "the moralizing Trout", "To May," "Sketch of a fine day in October," "To a woodlark," and not to be outdone by his contemporary John Keats- "To Autumn," which he describes as - "Crowned with sickle and the yellow leaf."

Stott was no effete poet. He possessed a fine business acumen and thought nothing of setting out from Dromore on horseback to travel to the brown linen markets in towns scattered throughout the province.

He wrote of such travels in a poem entitled "The Brown Linen Buyers" in which he describes the homeward journey: "Well lined with beefsteak and Irish champagne."

Dromore once had the honour of receiving a letter from the great adventurer and romantic poet Lord Byron. Apparently some of Stott's verse had attracted a scathing attack from Byron during a certain literary controversy of the time. On learning, some time later, that Stott wrote merely for pleasure and not for profit, Byron wrote to apologise for his earlier inconsidered remarks.

In later years Stott struck up a close friendship with local patron of the arts, Bishop Percy of Dromore. The memorial which stands in the pinnacle meadow (which incidently was one of Stott's own bleach greens) was raised by the poet in memory of the Bishop after his death in 1811.

Stott died in Dromore house in 1829. He was buried in the cathedral churchyard, within sight of his home and not far from his beloved Lagan.

His grave, fourth in line to the right of the main gate, is marked with this badly faded inscription:

"In the humble hope of joyous resurrection.
Here rest deposited the earthly remains of Thomas Stott esq.
Born Hillsborough on 21st June, 1755
He departed this life at his residence in Dromore
The 22nd day of April, 1829.

In 1825, just four years before his death, Stott's one and only book of poems "The Songs of Deardra" was published.

This slim volume, a few poems in decaying copies of ancient Belfast Newsletters, a worn tombstone, and a painting hung in Castleward in which the poet and Bishop Percy are prominent, is all that remains of the poet of Dromore.

He never attained greatness and remained a minor poet only. The evidence is that he never strove for greatness. As he wrote in the title page of the "Songs of Deardra":

"And if the world should not prove kind,
As through its mazy paths ye stray,
Be not disheartened - fortune's blind,
And fame oft flatters to betray."

His poetry, even if it were readily available, would not be much read today. The late 18th century style is somewhat ponderous, the words pedantic. Nevertheless, he was a man of his time and as a poet he recorded what he observed and loved best - the simple everyday scenes around Dromore and among the meadows beside the Lagan.

In an age of instant electronic entertainment it is no longer fashionable to read poetry. This is a sad passing. A poet, especially a local one, is also an historian, and the writings of Thomas Stott provide us with a tangible link with the past.

Whether or not he saw himself as a keeper of history we'll never know. There is little doubt though that the urge to record the passing scene was strong. Perhaps, as a modern poet puts it, "Of the fear of death - the need to leave messages for those who come after saying, I was there, I

Joseph Mullin, 1811-1882

MULLIN, Joseph, a Representative from New York; born in Dromore, County Down, Ireland, August 6, 1811; immigrated to the United States in 1820 with his parents, who settled in Watertown, Jefferson County, N.Y.; attended the public schools; worked in a printing office; attended Union Academy, Belleville, N.Y., and was graduated from Union College, Schenectady, N.Y., in 1833; principal of Union Academy and subsequently taught in the Watertown Academy; studied law; was admitted to the bar in 1837; appointed examiner of chancery, supreme court commissioner, and commissioner in bankruptcy in 1841; prosecuting attorney of Jefferson County 1843-1849; elected as a Whig to the Thirtieth Congress (March 4, 1847-March 3, 1849); president of the village of Watertown in 1853 and 1854; associate justice of the supreme court 1857-1881 and also served as presiding justice; died at Saratoga Springs, N.Y., May 17, 1882; interment in Brookside Cemetery, Watertown, N.Y.

McNAMARA John

 Clergyman, born in Dromore County Down, Ireland, 27 December, 1824; d. in North Platte, Nebraska, 24 October, 1885. He was educated at St. Paul's college, Flushing, L. I., and completed his theological course at the General theological seminary of New York. He was assistant to Ray. William A. Muhlenberg, D. D., in St. Luke's hospital, and was then a missionary of the Protestant Episcopal church in Kansas. He was clerical deputy to the general convention for many years from Nebraska, where he was pastor of the Church of Our Saviour in North Platte. In 1869 the degree of D. D. was conferred on him by Nebraska college, of which institution he was president for several years. He is the author of " Three Years on the Kansas Border" (New York, 1852), and "The Black Code of Kansas " (1857).

Dromore Ghost

Date 16/2/1851, Downpatrick paper

Superstitious Dread of Ghosts
It is a strange thing that at this time of day and in an enlightened part of Ulster, such a popular delusion should prevail as a belief in apparitions, yet such is the fact, and in the instance we are about to relate, has been attended with very sad consequences. In  a late number, an allusion was made to the melancholy circumstances under which Alexander McKevitt lost his life from being overturned in a bog hole, on the side of the road in Tubberdoney. The accident took place on the evening of the Fair at Dromore, and it so happened that a similar disaster happened  at the same spot a few years before, when a report, as is frequently the case on such occasions, became current, shortly afterwards among the country people, that the place was haunted, so that no timid person would venture to go past it after dark, a group of young men who stayed late, and who had to come along this bog road, were struck with low moans which they heard, and the clink of chains coming from a distance of thirty or forty perches from where they were passing, and where a branch line turns of in another direction. They instantly took fright, and instead of ascertaining the cause of the moans, came to the wise conclusion that it must be a ghost, so that they hurried on in a desperate state of alarm, and never stopped until they arrived at their respective homes, next morning the discovery of the unfortunate man explained the cause of their absurd and cowardly apprehensions,

Belfast/Ulster Street Directory, Dromore

Agnew, James, woollendraper, Bridge street
Agnew, Joseph, linen merchant, Red hill
Bodel, Michael, Esq., Postmaster
Bullick, John, woollendraper, Bridge street
Brush, Crane R., Esq., land agent, Church street
Cromey, William, woollendraper, Bridge street
Corry, Samuel, ironmonger and grocer, Bridge street
Davidson, John, surgeon, Bridge street
Dromore Arms Hotel, John Munro, proprietor
Fegan, John, proctor of the Manor Courts of Dromore,
Gilford, and Hillsborough, residence, Market square
Frackelton, John, wholesale and retail grocer, tea dealer, timber, iron, and flour merchant, Bridge street
Frazer, Robert, cabinet and chair manufacturer
Frazer, Hugh, do., Meeting house street
Frazer, Robert, grocer, &c., Market square
Hammond, Joseph, woollendraper, Market square
Harrison, John, woollendraper, Church street
Harrison, Hugh, grocer, timber, iron, and flour merchant, Church street
Harrison, Robert, currier, tanner, soap and candle manufacturer. Meeting house street
Heron, John, grocer and ironmonger, Church street
Jamison, George, grocer and haberdasher, Meeting house street
King's Arms Inn, John Martin, proprietor
Lindsay, David, manufacturer of linen drills and sheetings, Ashfield
Livingston, Samuel, currier, tanner, and spirit dealer, Bridge street
Martin, John, King's Arms Inn, Market square
Magill, John, Esq., solicitor, Church street, and Dublin, residence, Islanderry
M'Cartney, Edward, grocer and dealer in delf, glass, and earthenware, Church street
McCaw, \Villiam, wholesale and retail grocer, tea dealer, ironmonger, and flour merchant, Market square
M'Caw, T., manufacturer of linen cloth, Lissinashanker
M'Clelland, William, of Thomas M'Murray & Co., residence, Clanmurray
M'Dade, John, grocer, tea dealer, boot and shoe manufacturer and leather merchant, Church street
M'Dade, William, boot and shoe manufacturer, Market square
M'Murray, Thomas, and Co., linen, cambric, and cambric handkerchief manufacturers and bleachers, Quilly, Mr. M'Murray's residence, Lagan Lodge
Patterson, John, grocer, &c., Church street
Patterson. John, timber merchant, Church street
Prenter, James, grocer and spirit merchant, Bridge-st
Saul, William, haberdasher, Church/street
Stewart, Robert, seneschal and deputy registrar of the diocese of Dromore, master extraordinary in chancery, Ex. and Q.B., Church street.

1880 Belfast/Ulster Street Directory, Dromore

Dromore, a market town in the County Down, fourteen miles distant from Belfast, seated on the River Lagan, and on the road from Dublin to Belfast. The Parish or Cathedral Church has undergone various repairs, and has been lately much improved. It derives most of its peculiar interest by having been erected by the great and good bishop, the celebrated Jeremy Taylor, and containing his remains, as well as those of the late Bishops Percy, Rust, Digby and Wiseman. The old wall surrounding the graveyard has been completely pulled down and a beautiful railing fixed in Scotch freestone ; a good selection of choice evergreens beautifully planted within the railing giving the edifice a more beautiful appearance, and certainly improving that portion of the town. A number of the old cabins facing the wall have been pulled down, and large roomy and comfortable houses erected. The Episcopal residence adjoins the town, and was built in the time of Bishop Bernard, and the woods around it planted by Bishop Percy. In the See House resided the several bishops of the diocese up to 1843, when, at the death of Bishop Saurin, the diocese was annexed to Down and Connor, and the See House has passed into other hands, and is now the seat of James Quinn, Esq., J.P. The other places of worship in Dromore are two Presbyterian and two Methodist Churches, one for Covenanters, one Unitarian, and a Roman Catholic Chapel. The market is held on Saturday. Fairs on the first Saturday in March, on 12th May, first Saturday in August, 10th October, and the Saturday but one previous to Christmas in each year, being in all twelve fairs in the town, which are well attended ; a fair is also held on the first Saturday in each month, except the months herein named. Population, in 1871, 2,408.

Post Office, Church Street - Miss Carrothers, post mistress. Hours of Posting - For Banbridge, 8.30 a.m.; Belfast, etc., 8.30 and 10.35 a.m.; Scotland, via Belfast, 6 p.m.; to all parts, 8.20 a.m. Hours of Delivery - 7.40 a.m.; 1.35 and 4.55 p.m.
Dromore Gas Company - Chairman of Directors, John Harrison ; secretary, H. Gibson ; manager, John Meiklejohn

Places of Worship

The Cathedral - Bishop - Right Rev. Robert Knox, D.D. - Dean - Very Rev. J. Lefroy, A.M., Aghaderg. Archdeacon - Ven, Henry Stewart, D.D. Prebendary - Rev. J. Harding. Treasurer - Rev. Chas. Beresford Knox, A.M. Precentor - Rev. E. P. Brooke, Maralin. Chancellor - Rev. E. Robinson, Clonallen. Registrar - Mark A. Saurin. Apparitor - William Falkner. Organist - Henry W. Hall
First Presbyterian Church - Rev. J. K. Strain
Second Presbyterian Church - Rev. Jas. Rentoul
Wesleyan Church - Rev. Thomas Knox
Unitarian Church - Rev. David Thompson
Covenanting Church - Rev. Terence Boyd
Roman Catholic Chapel - Rev. Wm. McCarten

Public Institutions

Northern Banking Company, Church Street - W. S. Lamont, manager ; W. Adams, cashier
Railway - The Belfast, Lisburn and Banbridge Junction Railway Company, John Kinghan, station master
Petty Sessions are held on every alternate Thursday ; magistrates attending - E. Orme, R.M.; Stewart Blakney, William Cowan Heron, Geo. Brush, James Quinn, John Lindsay
Solicitors attending - Joseph Dickson, Dromore ; John F. Mulligan, Belfast ; Wellington Young, Lisburn ; Hugh Glass, Thomas Card, Andrew McClelland, Patrick Doyle, Banbridge
Clerk of Petty Sessions - J. B. McConnell. Districts - Dromore, Dromara and Ballynahinch.
Sub-Inspector of Constabulary - T. J. N. Robertson. Constable - Patrick Fitzgerald

Clergy, Gentry, etc.

Ainslie, Captain, Ballykeel House
Brush, G., J.P., Gillhall Castle
Clarke, John, commissioner for taking affidavits for superiors courts
Conyngham, Mrs., Iveagh Cottage
Cosbie, George, Church Street
Dickson, Joseph, attorney and coroner for southern divisions of County Down
Graham, Henry, surgeon, etc.
Harri