Ulster Plantation Biographies, 1603–1706 — 101 Biographical Entries | Searchable PDF

Discover the people behind one of the most consequential periods in Irish history. Published by Fairbairn’s Crest, this collection brings together 101 biographical entries exploring the planters, military servitors, clergy, landowners and administrators connected with the settlement of Ulster.

These concise accounts connect names with places, families, occupations and historical events. Explore Scottish and English origins, marriages and heirs, land grants, religious careers and the establishment of communities across northern Ireland. Some entries cover several relatives together, helping readers follow connections within a family.

The collection centres on 1603–1706, including the Plantation of Ulster and the Ards and Clandeboye settlements. It also includes earlier figures and later historians who provide background to the period. Its geographical coverage reaches across Armagh, Tyrone, Donegal, Londonderry, Fermanagh, Cavan, Down, Antrim and Monaghan.

Read about Archibald Acheson’s connections with plantation estates in Armagh and Cavan, Patrick Adair’s Presbyterian ministry, and the Balfour family’s involvement in Fermanagh. These entries offer starting points for exploring how individual lives intersected with migration, landownership, church affairs and political change.

What the biographies reveal

• Family origins, spouses, relatives and heirs where recorded.
• Connections between Britain and settlements in Ulster.
• Land grants, estates, townlands and fortified residences.
• Military, administrative and religious careers.
• Variations in names and distinctions between similarly named people.
• Differences between historical accounts, where discussed in the entries.

The accounts range from brief record-based sketches to longer biographical summaries. Detail varies according to the material presented; these are concise reference biographies rather than full-length life histories.

What’s included

• 101 alphabetically arranged biographical entries.
• 59-page searchable PDF.
• Historical introduction and researcher’s search guide.
• A bibliography with 15 source-reference codes.
• Source citations accompanying the entries.
• Three indexes covering associated people and surnames; places and parishes; and land proportions, regiments, dioceses and organizations.
• PDF bookmarks for navigating the main sections.

Use Ctrl+F on Windows or Cmd+F on Mac to search for a surname, location or phrase. Try alternative spellings, then use the supporting indexes to find related entries. The citations provide routes for further investigation in the referenced works.

For family historians, the collection can help identify leads and place names in context. Confirm genealogical conclusions against original records before adding relationships to your family tree.

What you are purchasing

You are purchasing the compiled biographical collection in PDF format. Original source books are not included. Digital download only. No physical book will be shipped.

Biographies: 

Sir Archibald Acheson, Rev. Patrick Adair, Patrick Agnew of Lochnaw and Ballyskeagh, Rev. James Auchinleck (Affleck), William Auchinleck, John Auchmuty, Alexander Auchmuty of Dromheada, George Tuchet (Baron Audley and 1st Earl of Castlehaven), Brutus Babington, Sir Nicholas Bagenal, Sir Henry Bagenal, Michael Balfour (1st Lord Balfour of Burleigh), Sir James Balfour (1st Baron Balfour of Glenawley), William Bedell, Tristram Beresford, Sir Ralph Bingley, Rev. Robert Blair, Sir Edward Blennerhassett, Thomas Blennerhassett, Colonel David Boyd of Tourgill and Glastry, John Bramhall, Rev. Edward Brice, Sir Stephen Butler, Sir Toby Caulfeild, Sir Arthur Chichester, Sir Hugh Clotworthy, Sir John Clotworthy (1st Viscount Massereene), Sir William Cockaine (Cockayne), Captain Sir William Cole, Rev. Father John Colgan, John Colton, Alexander Conyngham (Cunningham), Sir Anthony Cope, Sir James Craig of Castle Croghan, John Crawford of Kilbirnie, Samuel-Louis Crommelin, Sir James Cunningham of Glengarnock, Sir John Cunningham of Crawfield and Donboy, Sir John Davies (Davys), Captain Sir Edward Doddington, George Downham (Downame), Very Rev. Peter Drelincourt, Alexander Dunbar of Boylagh, Rev. George Dunbar of Larne, Robert Echlin, Sir James Erskine of Augher and Spur Royal, Sir Henry Folliott, Sir James Fullerton, Rev. Hubbard (Halbert) Glendinning, Captain Sir Paul Gore, Archbishop Malcolm Hamilton, James Hamilton (1st Earl of Abercorn), John Hamilton of Coronery and Hamilton’s Bawn, Sir Claude Hamilton of Shawfield and Clonyn, Sir Claude Hamilton of Creich and Toome, Sir George Hamilton of Greenlaw and Roscrea, Sir James Hamilton (1st Viscount Claneboye), Christopher Hampton, Sir Robert Hepburn of Alderston and Ocorragh, Sir John Home (Hume) of North Berwick and Carrignagh, Ezekiel Hopkins, Christopher Irving (Irvine), Sir William Irving of Necarne, Sir Roger Jones, William King, Andrew Knox, Captain John Leigh of Omagh, Henry Leslie (1580–1661), Henry Leslie (1651–1733), John Leslie (“The Fighting Bishop”), Rev. John Livingstone, Robert Shipboy MacAdam, Sir Randal MacDonnell (1st Earl of Antrim), Rev. Francis Makemie, Robert Maxwell, Sir Robert McClelland (MacLellan), Thomas Moigne (Moyne), George Montgomery, Hugh Montgomery (2nd Viscount Montgomery of the Great Ards), Hugh Montgomery of Ballynewport and Ballymagown, Sir Hugh Montgomery (1st Viscount Montgomery of the Great Ards), John Murray (1st Earl of Annandale), Sir Robert Newcomen, Con McNeill McBryan Fertagh O’Neill of Castlereagh, Michael Obins of Portadown, Sir William Parsons, Sir Thomas Phillips, Captain Nicholas Pynnar, Neill O’Quin, Brian O’Quin, Walter Quin, Right Rev. William Reeves, Sir Thomas Ridgeway, John Rowley, Matthias Springham, Andrew Stewart (3rd Lord Stewart of Ochiltree and 1st Baron Castle Stewart), Sir William Stewart of Aughentean and Newtownstewart, William Stewart of Dunduff and Mount-Stewart, John Taylor of Ballyhaise, Brockhill Taylor, Captain Henry Upton, James Ussher, Patrick Vans (Vaus) of Barnbarroch and Boylaghoutra, Captain Sir John Vaughan, George Walker (father—1603–1677), George Walker (son—c. 1645–1690), Rev. Josias Welsh, Sir Richard Wingfield, Sir John Wishart of Pittarrow and Latrim, John Wray of Castle Wray, Robert Younge, John Younge of Portlough, Sir John Zouch of Codnor, Captain John Zouch