John Houston was one of the highest rates payers in his Barony? Is the James Alexander, Shanmullagh related? (you know how people of simmilar status liked to marry into each others families?)
"At Omagh, for the Barony of East Omagh and Co. at Large, on Friday, 27th December, 1844, at the hour of Ten o'clock in the Morning, and from thence until Six o'clock in the Evening, before the Magistrates then and there assembled, and a number, not exceeding Six, of the following highest Cess-payers of said Barony, to be then and there selected by ballot, and appointed pursuant to the provisions of said Act, viz.:--
1 Edward Gault, Trillick.
2 John Houston, Ballinahatty.
3 John Orr, Beagh.
4 James Buchanan, Deroran.
5 Alexander M'Farland, Cooley.
6 James Sproule, Grammon.
7 Archibald Osborne, Dernaseer [?].
8 James Alexander, Shanmullagh.
9 Samuel Mackay, Legacorry.
10 William Dickson, Cavan, Esq.
11 William M'Grew, Mullaghmore.
12 Andrew Patterson, Inchfern.
Thursday the 5th day of December, 1844, will be the last day for receiving Applications.
No Application for sudden breaches will be considered or ordered by the Grand Jury at next Lent Assizes, that has not been lodged in the Secretary's Office, on or before the 5th day of December, 1844.
As persons willing to contract for Public Works are now aware that printed Sheets of all Applications for Presentments must be published previous to the Presentment Sessions to be held in each Barony, the Secretary requests that they will forward their Applications on or before the 1st day of December, 1844.
ALEXANDER AUCHINLECK, Secretary."
http://www.irelandoldnews.com/Tyrone/1844/18441115.html