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Ireland (Historical Counties) => Ireland => Antrim => Topic started by: baza307 on Tuesday 30 December 08 21:47 GMT (UK)
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Looking for details of my G Grandparents , Matthew Cairns and Mary Elizabeth Graham from Rasharkin.
Matthew Cairns was born 1866 , and Elizabeth Graham in 1872.
They were married in 1894 , in Rasharkin .
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Welcome to Rootschat.
Their birth certificates should list names of both parents. See here for one place to order Irish certificates:
www.groireland.ie/apply_for_a_cert.htm
If the family were still in Co. Antrim in 1911 the 1911 census is free to search:
www.census.nationalarchives.ie/search
Rasharkin is very close to the town of Kilrea (Co. Londonderry) so you might find records of the families on that side of the Bann as well.
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Thanks for that info.
Forgot to say , they came to Glasgow pre 1900.
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1901 census is 1st complete Irish census but a bit of 1851 census for Co. Antrim that covers Rasharkin does survive (a bit too early but might be useful at a later time):
http://irishgenealogy.net/cp/phpbb3/viewtopic.php?f=34&t=1745
Do you have the details from their marriage certificate?
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Hi, This may help:-
Mathew Cairns born 27 Oct 1871 to William Cairns and Agnes Douglas in Ballymena
Mathew Cairns born 2 Aug 1874 to William Cairns and Nancy Douglas in Ballymena
Mary Eliza Graham born 24 Aug 1871 to Mathew Graham and Margaret Fenton of Dirraw Ballymoney
Matthew Cairns married Mary Eliza Graham on 4 May 1894 in Rasharkin Church of Ireland Ballymoney
It is not exact but very close to your info. It was reasonably common to give a child a dead sibling's name and my wife tells me that Agnes and Nancy are interchangable and who am I to argue.
Regards
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Nancy, Anne, Ann, (sometimes Hannah) and Agnes are all interchangeable in Ulster.
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aghadowey , unfortunately I don't have the marriage cert and thanks for the info on where to search.
kingskerswell , my Sister has traced the death certs for both Matthew and Mary Elizabeth. They give parents as ( Mary Elizabeth ) indeed as you say , but for Matthew , they are Robert Cairns and Elizabeth Ann McEachran.
Thannkks for your assistance . Off on holiday for a week now. :)
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kingskerswell , my Sister has traced the death certs for both Matthew and Mary Elizabeth. They give parents as ( Mary Elizabeth ) indeed as you say , but for Matthew , they are Robert Cairns and Elizabeth Ann McEachran.
McEachran is possibly another spelling of McCaughern which is a common surname in the Rasharkin area- with many spellings.
IGI lists 2 children for Robert Cairns and Eliza Ann McCaughern:
1. Rosetta Cairns born 28 July 1870 Co. Antrim
2. David born 21 June 1877 Carrefenton, Co.Antrim
Note: there is a Carnfinton townland in Rasharkin Parish.
Emerald Ancestors index has possible match:
Robert Cairns m.1859 Co.Antrim Eliza Anne ?
Eliza Anne McCaughern m.1859 Co.Antrim Robert ?
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I found the following on Emerald Ancestors and Ancestry Ireland:-
Date of Marriage 4 May 1894
Groom Name matthew CAIRNS
Bride Name mary eliza GRAHAM
Church Rasharkin Church of Ireland
Parish Rasharkin
Civil District Ballymoney
County Antrim
Father's names:-
Surname Firstname Year Fathers Firstname county
CAIRNS MATTHEW 1894 ROBERT Antrim
GRAHAM MARY ELIZA 1894 MATTHEW Antrim
Matthew's parents' marriage :-
Date of Marriage 7 Sep 1859
Groom Name robert CAIRNS
Bride Name eliza anne MCCAUGHERN
Church Rasharkin Church of Ireland
Parish Rasharkin
Civil District Ballymoney
County Antrim
Father's names:-
Surname Firstname Year Fathers Firstname county
CAIRNS ROBERT 1859 JOHN Antrim
(no listing for Eliza)
Birth details for Eliza:-
Date of Birth 27 Jul 1872
Name Elizabeth MCCAUGHERN
Gender F
Fathers Name John MCCAUGHERN
Mothers Forenames Mary Ann
Mothers Maiden Name BOYD
Civil District Ballymoney
Sub District Dirraw
County Antrim
... and her parent's marriage:-
Date of Marriage 23 Jul 1861
Groom Name john MCCAUGHRIN
Bride Name mary ann BOYD
Church Rasharkin Presbyterian Church
Parish Rasharkin
Civil District Ballymoney
County Antrim
Fathers:-
BOYD MARY ANN 1861 DANIEL Antrim
MCCAUGHRIN JOHN 1861 JOHN Antrim
Finally another brother for Matthew:-
Date of Birth 17 Nov 1872
Name Thomas CAIRNS
Gender M
Fathers Name Robert CAIRNS
Mothers Forenames Eliza Ann
Mothers Maiden Name MCCARNA
Civil District Ballymoney
Sub District Dirraw
County Antrim
Unfortunately the 1851 census for Carnfinton townland has not survived (only Killydonnelly, Lisnagaver, Magheraboy, Moneyleck, Tamlaght, Tehorny and Rasharkin Village are still available)
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Also found Mary's father from Ancestry Ireland marriage database and her birth registration, but no marriage for her parents online.
Surname Firstname Year Fathers Firstname county
GRAHAM MARY ELIZA 1894 MATTHEW Antrim
Date of Birth 24 Aug 1871
Name Mary Eliza GRAHAM
Gender F
Fathers Name Mathew GRAHAM
Mothers Forenames Margaret
Mothers Maiden Name FENTON
Civil District Ballymoney
Sub District Dirraw
County Antrim
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Folks , thanks for all your help and info. It is very much appreciated.
Cheers.
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I am also interested in the name Cairns from the same general area of Antrim. I know that the Thomas Cairns I have some information on was born in Ballymena in 1876. His father is Robert and mother Elizabeth Black. Thomas came to the U.S. in 1897 and settled in the upper part of New York, he married my great aunt Matilda Rea who is also from the Rasharkin area of Antrim.
I would be interested in anything you know about your Cairns. I also have a picture of Thomas Cairns taken in Ireland while visiting an unknown woman, I would suspect it is his mother.
Ken Ray
Dunedin, Florida
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Ken,
A bit more information on Robert Cairns and Elizabeth Black. They were married on 30 Jul 1860 in Portglenone, Ballymena. Children born to the couple from the IGI parent search were
Margaret 15 May 1865
Robert John 18 Mar 1867
Mary Jane 9 Nov 1869
Sarah 18 Nov 1871
Rachel 4 Jul 1874
Thomas 3 Feb 1876
Samuel 3 Jun 1880
On the IGI the surname was spelled KEARNS
Regards
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PRONI (www.proni.gov.uk) has the following Will extract which might be of interest- see site for date of probate and value of estate:
"Probate of the Will of William John Cairns late of Ballydonnelly County Antrim Farmer who died 3 February 1911 granted at Belfast to Robert Cairns Farmer."
And this is probably Robert Cairns in 1911 census (Ballydonnelly townland)-
http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1911/Antrim/Killoquin__Upper/Ballydonnelly/130195/
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Hello kingskerswell and aghadowey,
Kingskerswell: WOW, thank you so much for this history. I know the grandson of Thomas Cairns and I have sent him this information, I know he will savor it as he has been trying to learn more about his family. I know Thomas Cairns made many trips to Ireland once he had settled in the U.S., his mission was to be a sponsor for other persons wishing to make the journey to America. Thomas owned and operated a grocery store in upstate New York and offered those individuals a job once they moved.
Aghadowey: This is great information you have also provided. I would guess that the will providing Robert Cairns whatever was in the will, helped him in his life. Interesting that he settled, or lived in the same farming community as the Rea families I have been researching.
Question for both of you....
I have a picture of Thomas Cairns, we assume was taken on one of his trips back to Ireland in the early 1900's. He is shown next to a woman who is sitting in front of a house. Do you believe there is any possible way that the picture could be identified by persons living in the general area of Ballymena? If so, how would I transmit the picture to get it in front of persons over there?
Thanks again
Ken
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Roughly when would the photograph have been taken? And how much of the house is in the picture?
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I believe the photo to be taken around 1915 or so, I do not see any house number. Will try to attach the photo here.
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It's a lovely photo to have but there would have been no house numbers in Northern Ireland until fairly recently except in towns/cities. Was hoping more of the building would show but brick houses wouldn't have been too common in Rasharkin.
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This may not be connected but my gggranny was Mary McCaughern (presbyterian) - born 1865 in the Rasharkin area and she married a Catholic farmer Denis McMullan. My aunt tells me that her mum and dad were John McC and Mary Ann Boyd - I found this an amazing coincidence but my gggranny on my other side had the exact same name Mary Ann Boyd in Belfast. Two different marriageshave been posted for you but I think that my girl must have been the earlier one. I have their family listings if you think that this sounds a possible link.
June
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June
The McCaughern family name is my gggrandmother's family name. The Mary McCaughern you mention may very well be related. Your family listing would be good for me to review. Question; do you know if any of your McCaughern's went to the states? Also, have you ever seen the spelling McCochrane?
My regular email address is (*) if you wish to send the family listing there.
Thanks
Ken
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June,
Do you have any additional information about Mary McCaughern, such as father/mother or other siblings?
Ken