Lisburn

"LISBURN, a parish and market-town (unincorporated), partly in the barony of UPPER-MASSAREENE, county of ANTRIM, and partly in the barony of UPPER-CASTLEREAGH, but chiefly in that of LOWER-IVEAGH, county of DOWN, and province of ULSTER, 6 miles (S.W.by S.) from Belfast, and 73 (N.) from Dublin; containing 13,249 inhabitants, of which number, 5218 are in the borough, 5941 in that part of the parish which is in the county of Down, and 2090 in that which is in the county of Antrim. This place was, in the reign of Jas. I. and long after, called Lisnegarvey; and though now a populous and flourishing town, it was at that time a very inconsiderable village. Its rapid increase in population and importance may be attributed to Edward, Viscount Conway, to whom, in 1627, Charles I. granted the remainder of the manor of Killultagh (a portion of which had been previously given by Jas. I. to his ancestor, Sir Fulk Conway), who, on obtaining possession of this grant, built a castle here, which became the head of the manor. The same grant conferred the privileges of courts leet and baron, view of frank pledge, manorial courts for debts not exceeding £2, a court of record every three weeks for sums not exceeding £20, a weekly market, and two annual fairs. Soon after the erection of the castle, some English and Welsh families were induced by the proprietor to settle here, and a town consisting of more than fifty houses soon arose."

Samuel Lewis, A Topographical Dictionary of Ireland (1837), transcription by Mel Lockie, © 2011