From here I'm in no position to answer many of the questions posed by these postings. However, the Belfast Newsletter (at that stage an establishment paper) has, through late 1799 and early 1800, reports of a "lawless banditti" which was operating in the area around Kells, it was led by a man called [Thomas?] Archer and also included a man known as "Doctor" Lynn. All these were rounded up and executed at about the same time as Roddy/Rody - who is named in the papers as "Roger" McCorley - hence, since forenames often follow in families, this looks like a possible connection with the family mentioned above. The reports give the impression that McCorley was a Catholic - that may however be a part of the newspaper's political stance. There is no doubt in my mind that Francis J Bigger's attempts - even to having a stone placed near the Bridge commemorating Roddy McCorley who died on "Good Friday 1799" - are confusing rather than helpful.

When I get home I'll look again at this one. For anyone seeking information, the Local Studies Library at Library Headquarters in Ballymena has files on both Archer and McCorley.