"The estate records of Lord Brookeborough whose family owned most of the land in and near Brookeborough in the 18th and 19th centuries were searched and extracts made of leases mentioning ARMSTRONGS. This material proved to be of considerable help in establishing the history of the family prior to James, the Coroner, as many of the leases noted were taken out for a term of three lives. This system of leasing was of benefit to the lessee, who on payment of a small fine was permitted to insert a new 'life' in his lease. He, therefore, held his land at the original rent for so long as the 'lives' or renewed 'lives' were in being. The ages mentioned in connection with 'lives' were approximate and those so named were children of the lessee, or of those of his relatives or neighbours." The PRONI reference at the time of writing this (early 1960's) was d.998/19 P.R.O.N.I. Therefore to take one or two of my transcriptions and interpret it:- 1. Name of place where lease was taken out - AGHAVOORY Name of Lessee - JOHN ARMSTRONG. Date Lease was taken out - 1st May, 1787. John ARMSTRONG's age at time of taking out lease was 35, so an approximate date of birth could be deduced as 1752 John Armstrong had only one son in 1787 his name was James ARMSTRONG and he was aged 8 so his approximate date of birth could be deduced as 1779. 2. Name of place where lease was taken out - Aghnacloy. Names of Lessees, John & William Armstrong. Date Lease was taken out - 1st May 1774. The above John Armstrong had two sons (being the first and second born) Thomas, aged 14 (which would make approx. year of birth 1760) and George, aged 12 (approx year of birth 1762). The above William Armstrong's eldest son was named Thomas, he was aged 11 (which would make his year of birth 1763) I do hope this helps to interpret the transcriptions for you, if anyone else has ideas on how these notes can be utilised I would be interested to hear from you. Wouldn't it be wonderful if this system still exhisted ( I am not speaking as a landlord now!), just imagine being able to rent a property and your grandchildren some 50 years down the track be able to still pay the same rent!:) Wow! Regards, Jen Part 5 -Brookeborough Estate Records...Cont. John Armstrong, Aghavoory, 1/5/1787, lease for lives of John Armstrong, aged 35 (Jas.) Armstrong aged 8 only son of lessee and John Little. Hugh and Edward Harpur, Ardmore, 1/5/1796, lease for lives of Hugh, Lessee, Robert Armstrong, 2nd son of John Armstrong, Drapers Hill, aged 12, and Wm. Armstrong, eld. son of John Armstrong, Brookeboro aged 9. Martin Dixon, Brookeboro and Lurgan, lease 1/5/1764 for lives of Lessee, Jno. Armstrong, 2nd son of Jas.Armstrong of Derryvree aged 9,and Jno.Hogg. Observations relet Willy Sam from 1/11/1833 John Noble, Brookeboro and Largy, 1/5/1778, lease for life of Wm.Armstrong of Gortin, aged 2, Observations - Noble went to America. Christopher Armstrong, Ballyreagh, 1/5/1763, lease for lives of lessee, Robert, aged 15 and John aged 9, sons of lessee, Observations relet to Wm.Armstrong 1/5/1827 John Armstrong, Cavans, 1/5/1781, lease for lives of lessee, his two brothers Wm.aged 5 and Jas aged 3, sons of Wm.Armstrong of Tattykeeran. Observations - lessee and Wm. dead (no date). Brookeboro, Lismalone & Lissolvan, former tenant, John Armstrong, chane of tenancy 1/5/1859 and relet to Miss Susan Armstrong, James Armstrong, Thos. Johnston, etc. Aghnacloy, former tenant, Cath Johnston, change of tenancy Nov., 1864. Brookeboro, former tenant, Jas Armstrong, lease granted to Mrs. Jane Armstrong. Observations lease for 21 years signed 18/9/1866 from 1/11/1865 Brookeboro, former tenant W.R.Armstrong, No. 1 house, ejected No.2 house, now John McDowell and 3 other houses, also land in Aughnacloy. Aughnacloy, former tenant John Armstrong dead (no date of death) List of English Tenants in Brookeboro Estate. Brookeboro, Willy Sam, lease 1834 (?Wm. S. Armstrong) Brookeboro, Christy Armstrong. Longfield, Jas Armstrong, 1834 Aghnacloy & Brookeboro, Willy Bob. 1842 (?Wm. R. Armstrong) List of English Tenants in Brookeboro Est...Cont. Tattendiller, Peggy Sam, 1842 Brookeboro Rental 1847-1851 D.998/19 Aughnacloy & Tattendillar Wm R. Armstrong - remarks English tenant to Nov.1850. Penalty 35s., half of yearly rent for not keeping Hotel. Note in 1852 - ejected and possession taken 3/8/1852. Aughnacloy, Wm. Armstrong, butcher Aughnacloy, John Armstrong (black Jack) Brookeboro, Margt. Armstrong, observations - abated Brookeboro, Wm.R. Armstrong Brookeboro, Thos. J. Johnston. Brookeboro, John Armstrong Brookeboro, Jas. Armstrong Brookeboro, Wm. Armstrong house and land (builder) Brookeboro, John Armstrong, Lismalone and Lissolven Brookeboro, Margt. and Mary Armstrong. Brookeboro, Wm. Armstrong, Lismalone and Lissolven Brookeboro, Christy Armstrong, Tattendiller Brookeboro, Edward Armstrong. Ballyreagh, Wm. Armstrong. Ballyreagh, Frank Armstrong. Ballyreagh, Frank Armstrong. Registry of Leases Brookeboro Est. 1876 (Ref. D,998/19 PRONI) Brookeboro, Susan Armstrong 1/11/1865 no lives (in pencil expd.) Brookeboro, Jane Armstrong 1/11/1865 no lives (in pencil expd. 21 years Maggie Armstrongs Big House) Brookeboro, Jas Armstrong, 1/11/1839 - (expd. lives John George and Jas.) Brookeboro Wm.Armstrong, 1/5/1841 - sold. Brookeboro, John Armstrong 1/11/1844 Brookeboro, Margaret and Mary Armstrong, 1/11/1837 - Miss Gregstons House now J.Bloomfield. Brookeboro, Wm. Armstrong 1/11/1832 - John Armstrong, son of Lessee, Sophia Graydon and Sarah Frith Armstrong, daus. of lessee. Lease 27/7/1818 Henry Brooke to John Armstrong of Tattykeeran for lives of John Armstrong, aged 8 and George Armstrong, aged 2, the second and 4th sons of James and Jane Armstrong of Maguiresbridge. Ref. D.998/26/292 Lease d.1/5/1812 Henry Brooke to Christopher Armstrong of Brookeboro, shoe maker of house for term of lives of Chris. Armstrong, the lessee, aged about 46, Wm.Armstrong, eld. son fo Lessee, about 18 months and Chris. Armstrong you. son of Edward Armstrong of Ranafely. D.998/26/507 - 21/8/1832 Lease, Sir H.Brooke to James Armstrong of Brookeboro of tenement for term of lives of John Armstrong aged 8, George Armstrong, aged 6, and James Armstrong, aged 4, being the 1st, 2nd and 3rd sons of lessee same signature as D.998/26/591. D.998/26/570 Lease 11/4/1838 between Sir Arthur B.Brooke and Margt. and Mary Anne Armstrong spinsters of tenement east side of the street of Brookeboro for lives of Brooke and DArcy. .................