John Harland (1854) was a good pianist, and singer, and a good
sportsman too - mainly cricket and shooting. His children always addressed him as ‘Father’; while his grandchildren used the title 'Grandpa'. He had a firm belief in education and insisted that all his children including his one daughter should have good schooling. These concepts came from a strong Christian belief. He was raised as a Methodist, but later attended the Church of Ireland service, which was under the care of his close friend Canon Henry Todd. He rendered much valuable public service, as a Member of Armagh County Council, Armagh County Regional Educational Committee and the Ulster Tourist Development Association.
He became a Justice of the Peace for County Armagh in 1905 and later also sat on the Bench in Co. Down, as revealed in an illuminated address and presentation given to him by the people of Bessbrook on 1 September 1922:
sportsman too -
He became a Justice of the Peace for County Armagh in 1905 and later also sat on the Bench in Co. Down, as revealed in an illuminated address and presentation given to him by the people of Bessbrook on 1 September 1922:
An Address and Presentation to John Harland Esq. JP
Dear Mr. Harland,
Your many friends in Bessbrook and its neighbourhood, having recently learned of your nomination to the magistry of Co. Down, desire to give you their heartiest congratulations on your appointment to this important position which you are so well qualified to adorn. You have already served for fifteen years as a magistrate of your native County, and the further extension of your judicial duties is due to the confidence you inspire in your fellow townsmen of all creeds and classes who petitioned that you should be made a member of the Newry Bench. We believe you will discharge your new duties with the zeal and fidelity you have always shown in all your undertakings.
In addition to congratulating you on your recent appointment, we are anxious to assure you that your fellow-citizens are most grateful to you for the valuable service you have constantly rendered them. In ways too numerous to mention you have placed many under lasting obligations. Your service to the State during the war was especially important; you attended the dependents of the soldiers with untiring energy, and gave three sons to the armies who were raised to destroy the German menace to the liberty of the world.
In asking you to accept a little gift we make the request in the hope that it will remind you of the esteem and affection in which you are held on account of your upright conduct, cultivated mind, and courteous demeanour. In all your work you have been always assisted and frequently inspired by Mrs. Harland and therefore we beg to associate her with you in our congratulations
Your many friends in Bessbrook and its neighbourhood, having recently learned of your nomination to the magistry of Co. Down, desire to give you their heartiest congratulations on your appointment to this important position which you are so well qualified to adorn. You have already served for fifteen years as a magistrate of your native County, and the further extension of your judicial duties is due to the confidence you inspire in your fellow townsmen of all creeds and classes who petitioned that you should be made a member of the Newry Bench. We believe you will discharge your new duties with the zeal and fidelity you have always shown in all your undertakings.
In addition to congratulating you on your recent appointment, we are anxious to assure you that your fellow-
In asking you to accept a little gift we make the request in the hope that it will remind you of the esteem and affection in which you are held on account of your upright conduct, cultivated mind, and courteous demeanour. In all your work you have been always assisted and frequently inspired by Mrs. Harland and therefore we beg to associate her with you in our congratulations
Signed on behalf of the subscribers
Henry Todd Henry Dinsmore
Rector of Bessbrook Presbyterian Minister of Bessbrook
There isn’t any record of the nature of ‘little gift’ that accompanied this illustrated address.
He was already 60 years old at the outbreak of the Great War in 1914 and he then had to live through the Second World War too (1939 – 1945). Perhaps it is not surprising therefore, that he sold his business and retired early. In his sixties he frequently announced his fears of impending early death. But these beliefs turned out to be completely unjustified; and from the age of 80 onwards he became much more positive. He routinely pumped water from the well up into the house; he sawed wood every day from the trees he had planted; and he cultivated tomatoes in his greenhouse every year. He developed Alzheimer's Disease some years before his death and was cared for at home by his wife and widowed daughter. He died at Hillside aged 93 and was buried beside his first wife in the Methodist cemetery just below his house. The Will Calendar of 1948 reported the value of his estate to be £3,308 4s 10d.
There are two Harland graves in the Bessbrook Methodist cemetery about twenty yards apart. The first headstone reads:
In Loving memory of Emma Gaynor beloved wife of John Harland who died at Hillside Bessbrook Jan 22, 1890 Also Margaret E. Harland died August 1936. John Harland born 25 May 1854 died 15 March 1948 and Thomas Harland born 29 March 1870 died 3 May 1960. Robert Wallace Harland b. 10 June 1888 died 20 May 1961
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Rector of Bessbrook Presbyterian Minister of Bessbrook
There isn’t any record of the nature of ‘little gift’ that accompanied this illustrated address.
He was already 60 years old at the outbreak of the Great War in 1914 and he then had to live through the Second World War too (1939 – 1945). Perhaps it is not surprising therefore, that he sold his business and retired early. In his sixties he frequently announced his fears of impending early death. But these beliefs turned out to be completely unjustified; and from the age of 80 onwards he became much more positive. He routinely pumped water from the well up into the house; he sawed wood every day from the trees he had planted; and he cultivated tomatoes in his greenhouse every year. He developed Alzheimer's Disease some years before his death and was cared for at home by his wife and widowed daughter. He died at Hillside aged 93 and was buried beside his first wife in the Methodist cemetery just below his house. The Will Calendar of 1948 reported the value of his estate to be £3,308 4s 10d.
There are two Harland graves in the Bessbrook Methodist cemetery about twenty yards apart. The first headstone reads:
In Loving memory of Emma Gaynor beloved wife of John Harland who died at Hillside Bessbrook Jan 22, 1890 Also Margaret E. Harland died August 1936. John Harland born 25 May 1854 died 15 March 1948 and Thomas Harland born 29 March 1870 died 3 May 1960. Robert Wallace Harland b. 10 June 1888 died 20 May 1961
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