O'Neill Family of Farhills, Tyrone

[Liz F]

Hi,
I have Mary O'Neill, c1764-1854 and John O'Neill c1774-1833 - both stated as having lived at Farhills, and both dying at the home of their nephew Francis O'Neill, a linen merchant of Mount Pleasant - this information was printed in The Belfast Newsletter. I believe there was another brother Henry O'Neill of Claudy, who was the father of the above named Francis - and that he was dead before 1832.
I'm unable to find Farhills on the map, and wonder if anyone can help - or indeed if anyone has any information about this family.
Thanks

[gaffy]

There are a couple of references online to 'Farhills' or 'Far Hills', Ardstraw and the Northern Ireland Place-Name Project which is based within the department of Irish & Celtic Studies at Queen's University, Belfast, identifies it as a minor place name in the townland of Kilstrule, Ardstraw civil parish. 

https://www.townlands.ie/tyrone/strabane-lower/ardstraw-strabane-lower-portion/churchlands/kilstrule/

It is marked on old OS maps near the northeast corner of Kilstrule and looks as if it might extend into the neighbouring townland of Carnkenny. On a modern map, that reads across to an area just south of where the Hill Road intersects with the Greenville Road, to the southwest of Ardstraw village (approximately).

[gaffy]

Mount Pleasant, where Francis O'Neill resided, was in the townland of Gloudstown, Donaghedy civil parish.  It was shown by name in old OS maps and reading that across to a modern map places it just north of the Ballyheather Road, about a quarter of a mile east of where the Altrest Road intersects with Ballyheather Road.

https://www.townlands.ie/tyrone/strabane-lower/donaghedy/mountcastle/gloudstown/

Griffith's Valuation showed Francis leasing some 47 acres there, you can see Mount Pleasant in the maps that accompany the valuation listings in the following website:

https://www.askaboutireland.ie/griffith-valuation/index.xml?action=placeSearch

Francis' will can be read at the PRONI Will Calendars website:

The Will (with one Codicil) of Francis O'Neill late of Mountpleasant County Tyrone Esquire deceased who died 5 August 1873 at same place was proved at Londonderry by the oaths of Philip Devlin of Waterside Londonderry P.P. William Carroll of the City of Limerick and Charles O'Neill of the City of Londonderry Esquires the Executors.

https://apps.proni.gov.uk/WillsCalendar_IE/WillsSearch.aspx