POYNTZPASS

Poyntzpass is today designated as a village. It lies 9.7 km east of Markethill.

“Poyntzpass was established in 1790 and is a crossroads settlement located
on the main Portadown-Newry (A27) Road about 10 miles south-east of Armagh.
Since 1971 its population appears to have declined slightly to an estimated
370. The village lies in a north-south corridor that carries the Belfast-Dublin
railway line and the now disused Newry-Portadown canal. Previously a canal port
and a railway collection point, the village now has an important cattle market.
A small part of the village to the east of the canal lies within the Banbridge
District Council area…The village has an attractive natural setting but the
topography does present problems for development because of the quite steep
slopes. Some of the more low-lying land in the settlement is subject to flooding.”
(Armagh Area Plan 2004: Armagh District Council Area)

McKay, P A Dictionary of Ulster Place-names (Belfast, 1999) notes:

On the border with County Down, 7 kilometres south-south-east of Tandragee
Parish of Ballymore, Barony of Orior Lower
The pass, which gave its name to the village, is on a major route southwards and was named after Lieutenant Charles Poyntz from Gloucestershire who defended it against Hugh O’Neill, Earl of Tyrone. In 1600 Poyntz was granted land here which was created the Manor of Acton in 1618. However, the modern village of Poyntzpass was not founded until 1796. Poyntz Pass straddles the townlands of Brannock, Tullynacross and Federnagh in County Armagh, with a small portion in the townland of Loughadian in County Down.
(Poyntz Pass, 1655)

The town was described in 1838 in the Ordnance Survey Memoirs:

“The village of Poyntzpass is situated on the east
boundary of the parish in the townlands of Federnagh and Tullinacross, and
derived its name from Sir Toby Poyntz of Brannock Hall, Acton, who was appointed
to watch this pass as well as those of Scarva and Jerrett <Gerrard>
in the reign of William III. It is now the property of Colonel Close of Drumbanagher.
It contains a small plain church with a turret and would accommodate about
300. It was built in 1796. There is a schoolhouse in the east end of the village,
purchased by Colonel Close in 1828 assisted by the Kildare Street Society,
whose books and system are still retained. There are 60 males and 50 females
instructed in it. Colonel Close gives a yearly salary to the master and mistress.

A manor court is held on the first Saturday
of every month, seneschal Mr Mitchell, Markethill. The jurisdiction of the
court extends to debts, fines, and damages under 5 pounds. There is also a
court leet once a year, generally in April or May, to decide on trespass,
poundage, local improvements; the seneschal attends. The townlands in the
manor are half of Carrickbrack, Corcreen, Ballinaleck, Ballyreagh, Tullinacross,
Federnagh, half of Tannyokey <Tamyokey>, Tullylime, Crewmore, Acton,
Brannock, Glassdrummond, Ballynagreagh and 8 townlands in the parish of Loughgilly.

…The town of Poyntzpass is situated on the road between
Tanderagee and Newry, at the distance of 4 and a half miles to the south east of the former and
8 and three-quarters nearly north of the latter. On approaching the
village from the Newry road its general appearance is good. It is situated
in a hollow at the foot of several round hills on the banks of the canal.
At the distance of a quarter of a mile to the northward is the residence of
Mr Dobbs, J.P., a large square house of a plain and comfortable appearance.
The town on a closer inspection presents a more unfavourable aspect: the houses
are built of stone and generally white-washed. The following is their number:
3-storey houses 2, 2-storey houses 86, 1-storey houses 5, mud cabins 22.

“…Poyntzpass: Trades and Occupations:
Spirit dealers 9, grocers 2, haberdashers 2, apothecaries
3, bakers 1, reedmakers 1, shoemakers 3, nailmakers 1, hardware shop 1, painter
and glazier 1,1odging house keepers 4, tailors 2, dispensary 1, smith 1.”
(Ordnance Survey Memoirs 1835-38)