My ancestors - Blennerhassett - Contents
Thomas Lindsay
- References:
- Belfast Fifty Years Ago, Thomas Gaffikin, lecture delivered 1875, published Belfast, 1894. [NLI] Dix Belfast 1894. Brief mention of Lindsay on p.30.
- Research on Thomas Lindsay,
done in 1897
by Linen Hall Library, Belfast,
for
Rev. Thomas Enraght Lindsay.
- The Bulkies: Police and Crime in Belfast 1800-1865 by Brian Griffin, Irish Academic Press, 1997. [NLI] Ir 3522 g 24.
- Gravestone inscriptions of Knockbreda Church, Belfast. See photos.
- Sources yet to be consulted:
Thomas Lindsay, Chief Constable of Belfast.
Photo must be before 1861 since that is when he died.
See full size.
See other scan. Courtesy of Jackie Lindsay.
Thomas Lindsay, born 1794,
from Tarbert, Co.Kerry,
listed in 1816
in
[Vestry Minutes Book, Kilnaughtin],
senior policeman,
served for 4 years as a Sergeant in the Monaghan Constabulary,
moved by 1830 to the Belfast Town Police (also called "Belfast Borough Police"), this was a constabulary for Belfast, not the national constabulary,
there is no service record found for him in the national constabulary service records (only includes those who were serving in national constabulary in 1836 and later),
at retirement 1860 it is said he has 36 yrs service (since 1824), it is unclear if this is Belfast alone, or all police service,
|
Chief Constable of Belfast, 1830-60,
he became Chief Night Constable of Belfast in Jan 1830 [Griffin, 1997], mar 14 Oct 1830, Dromore, Co.Down [LDS], NOT Belfast, to Catherine Spencer [dau of William Spencer of Belfast], no issue, she is "Catherine" in most records, but is "Catharine" on grave, which was erected by her husband, Belfast Newsletter, Friday, 13 April, 1832, describes him as "Chief Constable of the night watch", became Chief Day Constable (i.e. Chief Constable) of Belfast, he is listed in [Matier's Belfast Directory 1835-36] as "chief constable of police", living 7 Catherine St North (see map and streetview), Rev. T.E. Lindsay says he is listed in list of voters for Belfast, 1835, (todo) see, he is listed in [Martin's Belfast Directory 1839] as "chief day constable", living Catherine St North, Freemans Journal, Saturday, November 2, 1839, refers to a seizure of arms in Belfast by "Mr. Lindsay, chief constable", he is listed with an office at Police Place (now Victoria Square, see map), in [Martin's Belfast Directory 1841-1842], he is listed as living 7 Catherine St in [Martin's 1841-1842] and [Martin's 1842-1843], he is listed as Chief Day Constable in [Henderson's Belfast Directory, 1843-44], he is listed (and here) as living at Wills' Place, Belfast, Wills' Place (or Will's Place or Wills's Place) was a row of houses at May's Fields, near St Malachy's church on Alfred St (see map), he is listed
as "chief constable of police"
at Will's place, Belfast, in
[Slater's directory, 1846],
he is listed in [Henderson's Belfast Directory 1846-47] at Will's place, he is listed in [Henderson's Belfast Directory 1850] as having an office at Town Hall Offices, Police Place, he is listed (and here) as living at 4 Wills's Place, Belfast, in what seems to be a row of official houses, the Chief Night Constable is at no.1, he is listed (and here) as "chief day constable, local police" at 4 Wills' Place, Belfast, in [Belfast and Province of Ulster Directory, 1852], "Chief Constable Lindsay" mentioned in Anglo-Celt, Thursday, November 20, 1856, Rev. T.E. Lindsay says he is listed in 1856 Belfast directory with residence at 2 Claremont place, Albertbridge Rd, Ballymacarrett, Belfast (see map).
The 1857 riots:
The Belfast police were involved in policing
serious Catholic-Protestant
sectarian
riots in Belfast in July 1857,
and various further disturbances that year.
There were allegations that some police were sympathetic to Protestant rioters.
Thomas Lindsay, "Chief Constable, Police-Office, Belfast",
is mentioned in a note about a robbery in
The Times, October 10th 1857 (page 7), (todo) see,
Rev. T.E. Lindsay
says he is listed in 1860 Belfast directory at
2 Claremont place, |
he is listed
at 2 Claremont place
in
[1861 Belfast / Ulster Street Directory],
[PRO.NI]
describes him at death 1861
as "Gentleman"
of "Mount Pottinger, Co.Down"
(Mountpottinger, Ballymacarrett),
Catherine's sister Jane Spencer, spinster, was living with him
at Mount Pottinger at his death 1861,
obituary says he
was suddenly struck on 18 Oct 1861 with paralysis,
from which he never recovered,
will dated 22 Oct 1861,
written during his final illness,
mentions his other brothers but not William,
he died Wed morning, 30 Oct 1861, at his residence, "Mount Pottinger"
[NAI], age 67 yrs,
see brief obituary in Northern Whig, 31 Oct,
[NLI]
Hardcopy O.S.S.,
see brief death notice in Northern Whig, 1 Nov,
see obituary and short death notice, Belfast Morning News, 1 Nov 1861,
[NLI] microfilm,
see short death notice, Belfast Newsletter, 1 Nov 1861,
[NLI] microfilm,
see short death notice, Belfast Morning News, 2 Nov 1861,
[NLI] microfilm,
bur 2nd November 1861
with wife at Knockbreda church, Belfast,
notes of
Rev. T.E. Lindsay
say there was a burial entry in Knockbreda parish register, (todo) see,
his will survives in
[PRO.NI],
No. 1743,
ID 2753,
will proven 25th November 1861 at Belfast,
amount under £1,500,
Jane Spencer
was one of the executors of his will.
Thomas Lindsay, Chief Constable of Belfast.
This is the portrait by Robie of Belfast that was presented to Lindsay on his retirement in 1860.
This is not the original portrait but a large-size photo of it. So this image is a photo of a photo.
This portrait must flatter him by depicting him as younger-looking than he was (see photo above).
See larger, but black and white, shot.
Courtesy of Jackie Lindsay.
The old Belfast town hall
Victoria Square, Belfast, c. 1886.
The Cantrell & Cochrane factory was the Belfast town hall 1842 to 1871.
Thomas Lindsay had his office here.
This is now part of the Victoria Square development.
See full size. Out of copyright photo, think from the Lawrence Collection, posted by Gerry Ward.
Victoria Square, Belfast, c. 1910.
The Cantrell & Cochrane factory (old Belfast town hall)
is back centre.
Out of copyright photo, by Robert Welsh,
posted
by Gerry Ward.
Mount Pottinger, Ballymacarrett, just outside Belfast
Mount Pottinger. 1829 to 1842 period.
From OSI.
This is the area of "The Mount" today.
See map.
Knockbreda Church, Belfast
Burial place of Thomas Lindsay and his wife.Knockbreda Church.
Click to rotate.
From Google Street View.
Knockbreda Church.
Photo 2005 by Brian Shaw.
From Geograph.
See more photos on
Geograph
and Flickr.
Grave of Thomas Lindsay, Knockbreda Church.
Photo by Yvonne Russell.
Smaller version posted here.
See full size.
Used with permission.
See close-up upper
and lower.
Location of grave: Inside church grounds.
Go into church from road. Go to LHS of church.
Go to back a bit.
Photo above shows rounded side part of church visible on LHS of picture.
This view is looking back towards the road and entrance.
![[Martin's 1841-1842]](http://streetdirectories.proni.gov.uk/ddm/proni/sd/png/007/0083-0f1a7f.png){kind=link}
![[Martin's 1842-1843]](http://streetdirectories.proni.gov.uk/ddm/proni/sd/png/008/0083-769f7e.png){kind=link}
