Campsie, Henry

Campsie, Henry (fl. 1687–93), defender of Derry city, was apparently one of at least six children of John Campsie, a merchant in Derry, who died in 1689 while mayor. John Campsie had been mayor of the protestant corporation in 1688; when the catholic-dominated corporation was about to be installed, John Campsie took charge of some of the corporation plate; he later resumed his office in defiance of the new charter issued (1687) by James II (qv). When normality returned, the corporation plate could not be traced, though John Campsie's children were questioned about it. Henry Campsie was one of the young men (traditionally thirteen in number; some at least were apprentices) who on 7 December 1688, encouraged by a Mr Gordon, a nonconformist minister, took the initiative of closing the gates of the city when the 3rd earl of Antrim (qv), a supporter of James II, was just about to enter with his regiment. When the apprentice boys moved on to secure the magazine, the sentry, supposedly a catholic, shot and wounded Henry Campsie. John Campsie, along with the sheriff, published a declaration which ‘attributed to Providence the impetuous action of the younger and some of the meaner sort [in closing the gates]’ (Macrory, 135), in an evident attempt to lay the blame for the action elsewhere. Though it is still reenacted each year, and has an important role in Ulster protestant folklore, the apprentice boys’ action did not mark the beginning of the siege of Derry (April–July 1689). Henry Campsie signed an address to William III (qv) on 29 July 1689, just after the siege was lifted, and on 27 August 1689 was appointed a burgess of the city. Sarah Campsie, possibly John's widow, was given £3 by the Irish Society in 1690. A Henry Campsie and his wife Jean had a son, John (b. 1691); a Henry Campsie (presumably the same man) and his wife Elizabeth had a daughter Ann, who was buried in 1693.