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And
the Hearts of Down.
Betsy Gray is arguably one of
the better known figures in the United
Irishmen Rebellion of 1798 rebellion in County Down, due in
no small way to the publication in 1896, of W G Little's book 'Betsy
Gray or the Hearts of Down' The legend of Besty Gray endures to
this day, it is virtually impossible to separate the few verifiable
facts from the many myths which have endured over the three centuries
since her death.
We do know that Betsy Gray was
a young Presbyterian
woman, the daughter of a Protestant
farmer, and that she was killed along with her brother George
and lover Willie Boal, shortly after the Battle of Ballynahinch.
Where she was born is not exactly clear, Little places her birthplace
at Gransha, near the Six Road Ends south east of Newtownards.
In the Dromara area some contend that she was born in Tullyniskey
near Waringsford village in the parish of Garvaghy, and that her
parents were John and Rebecca Gray and not the farmer Hans Gray
which is Lyttle’s contention. To add further confusion to
the matter Mary Ann McCracken sister of hanged leader of the rebellion
in County Down Henry Joy McCracken
stated that Betsy was a native of Killinchy County Down. Some suggest
that Mary Ann possibly mistook the place name ‘Tullyniskey’
for ‘Killinchy’ as the latter was a contemporary of
the time, is seems probable that her version may be the closest
to the truth.
Betsy's father, brother George
and lover Willie Boal, were all members of the United Irishmen.
Betsy was not officially a member of the organization, however she
was to play a significant role in events in 1798. In June, George
Gray and Willie Boal were involved in the rescue of Colonel Bryson
from Newtownards
Jail after which they they went to Ballynahinch
to join the battle against the British forces commanded by General
George Nugent. |
There are various versions of
Betsy's involvement in the battle, at this distance in time it is difficult
to separate fact from fiction. One states that she rode into battle on
a white horse, dressed in green and brandishing a sword, and that she
was leading the Hearts of Down, the attack was initially successful the
Monaghan Militia who held a position in the town square were dislodged
and pursued down Market street. Upon hearing a bugle call which may have
been the Militia sounding the retreat, the insurgents took this to be
the arrival of government reinforcements and themselves began to retreat,
which culminated in a complete rout, Betsy, George and Willie Boal attempting
to escape in the direction of Lisburn
Several members of the Hillsborough
Yeomanry two of which are said to have been Thomas Nelson and James
Little both from Annahilt captured them in Ballycreen. at the farm of
Samuel Armstrong, during the struggle Betsy's hand was cut off by one
of the soldiers (Jack Gill) with a sword when she attempted to save her
brother, Nelson then shot her in the head, at the same time George was
shot also
This version of the story is the most popular and
may be the closest to the truth, one clergyman recalled that other families
would not sit in the same pew as the Little's, and that their children
were stoned on their way to school, after Mrs. Little was seen wearing
Betsy's earrings.
Poem commenting
Betsy Gray.
No tombstone marks that hallowed
grave
Near the road to Lisburn Town
And never a spade disturbs the spot
Where sleeps the hearts of Down
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