1264-1800: A Topographical Dictionary of Ireland by Samuel Lewis discusses the administrative history of Antrim. It is uncertain when Antrim was made a County and given representation as such in Parliament. Something like the modern arrangements seems to have originated in 1584 when the
Lord Deputy Sir
John Perrot divided the area into
baronies. From whatever point the
county constituency existed it comprised the whole of
County Antrim, excluding the parts in the borough constituencies of
Antrim (from 1666),
Belfast (1613),
Carrickfergus (1326),
Lisburn (1661) and
Randalstown (1683).
^The Lord Lieutenant wrote to the Sheriff of Antrim on 2 November 1665 recommending Poyntz as the successor of Skeffington, who had inherited a peerage in September as
Viscount Massereene. In the absence of evidence to the contrary it is assumed that, in this period, such a recommendation was tantamount to election.
Bergin, John (2009).
"Upton, Arthur". In Kinsella, Eoin; Clavin, Terry; Evers, Liz; Gallagher, Niav; Maume, Patrick; O'Riordan, Turlough (eds.). Dictionary of Irish Biography. Royal Irish Academy; Cambridge University Press.
doi:
10.3318/dib.008767.v1. Retrieved 2 November 2022.
O'Hart, John (2007). The Irish and Anglo-Irish Landed Gentry: When Cromwell came to Ireland. Vol. II. Heritage Books.
ISBN978-0-7884-1927-0.
Leigh Rayment's historical
List of Members of the Irish House of Commons. Cites: Johnston-Liik, Edith Mary (2002). The History of the Irish Parliament 1692-1800 (6 volumes). Ulster Historical Foundation.