St Patrick’s jaw-bone

A family in humble life near Belfast kept a silver case said to hold the jaw-bone of St Patrick, which once had five teeth; three were given to members of the family emigrating to America and one was put under the altar of Derriaghy chapel. People accused of a crime cleared themselves by laying the right hand on it and swearing their innocence, believing a false oath would bring swift and terrible punishment. It was also thought to help women in labour, relieve fits and ward off witches, fairies and the evil eye. Though rarely used so in Chambers’s day, it was still a welcome visitor in a house where a birth was expected.