The McKees were a family of loyalists, who were unpopular in the region: one year before, they had provided information to the authorities leading to the arrest of the radical Presbyterian minister and United Irishman Thomas Ledlie Birch and some members of his congregation.

Over fifty men were piked to death before Stapylton managed to order the soldiers; he then brought his cannon into play against the mass of rebels before him, inflicting enough casualties with canister and grapeshot to blunt their attack.

The following day the York Fencible Regiment of Foot, Stapylton had left to garrison Newtownards repulsed a rebel attack led by David Bailie Warden but then withdrew through Comber to re-join their commander in Belfast.

The day after the battle, "Pike Sunday", Birch preached to the whole rebel army assembled at Creevy Rocks, a hill outside the town:Men of Down, we are gathered here today ... to pray and fight for the liberty of this Kingdom of Ireland.

[3][4] The assembled north Down army marched south joining the larger rebel command led by Henry Munro.

[citation needed] Many of the dead from both sides of the battle of Saintfield were placed in a mass grave within the grounds of the nearby Presbyterian church.

Although there is a plaque signifying the location of these graves, the area seems largely neglected with what appears to be temporary vehicle access over the belligerents final resting place.