Kate’s notes: Acton is a small hamlet of about 200 souls, located in County Armagh. The village was founded in the 17th century, during the Plantation of Ulster, by Sir Toby Poyntz.
   The complete bequest of James Alexander Gilleland was published in the Belfast Gazette of June 17, 1938 (pages 217 & 218). When I first read the short piece published in the Syracuse (NY) Post-Standard, I misunderstood Mr. Gilleland to be an Irish-born American, but this is not the case.  The bequest in the Belfast paper begins, “In the goods of JAMES ALEXANDER GILLELAND, late of Dane Lodge, Poyntzpass, in the County of Down, Justice of the Peace, deceased.” At the time of his death Mr. Gilleland held not only stocks, but “nine dwelling houses, messuages, tenements and premises situate in St. Kilda Street, Victor Street and Balmoral Street, in the city of Belfast, a residence known as “Dane Lodge” and lands in the Townland of Killysavan.
   The name of Gilleland’s wife, which did not appear in the Syracuse paper, was Eliza Jane. Mr. Gilleland died on 14 February, 1938 and Eliza Jane on 27 February, 1946.
   Due to the length of the bequest as published in the Belfast paper, I have not furnished a transcription. The piece in its entirety, however, may be found via the archives of the Gazette at http://www.belfast-gazette.co.uk/

from The Post-Standard
Syracuse, New York
21 March, 1947

Acton Gets Own Rector

   For the first time in a quarter of a century, the Church of Ireland parish of Acton, northern Ireland, has a rector of its own. This is due to the late James Alex Gilleland, who died in 1938, leaving his money after the death of his wife for restoration of his childhood parish to its former status, as a separate parish with a separate rector. Rev. J. A. O’Brien Rogers is the new rector.

-transcription by Kate Maynard, 2012

Please do not publish this transcription elsewhere without credit to the transcriber.