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Dear Elwyn,

Thank you so much for your time and effort. Obviously this raises more questions than answers for me, but I very much appreciate your look-up.

I was wondering, records show he lived in the Grange of Ballyrobert. This was not always part of Templepatrick, but im not sure for the specific timeframe you looked up. Could it be possible that records of people from Ballyrobert have been held by other presbyterian churches in the area (for example Carnmoney)? Do you know if this is true and could this perhaps be the case?

Dear Rootschatters,

I'm trying to fulfill my late fathers work to find out more about my Blair family roots. He past away in 2018 and I'm trying to find out where our family comes from. Seeing our family name I expect a Scottish origin, but we have not been able to find and confirm this connection.

I have been able to trace our family back to Antrim in the person of Samuel Russell Blair who is my 3rd Great-Grandfather (probable birth between 1805-1810). Maybe his parents/ancestors came to Ireland during the Great Plantation. I found that Samuel Russell Blair lived in the Grange of Ballyrobert (Templepatrick) for quite a long time (found him in the Tithe records and Griffith Valuation Records, the 1821, 1851 and 1861 census). He was married to Margaret (Mary) Moore in 1833 (Templepatrick) by rev. John Carson (Non subscribing Presbytarian Church) and they had 5 children that were all baptised by John Carson (John: 1834, Jennet: 1836, Samuel: 1838, Elizabeth: 1841 and Robert 1843). His son John Blair is my 2nd Great Grandfather, joined the Royal Artillery (served for 22 years) and went on to live in England with his wife and kids (North Shields).

Unfortunately I have not been able to find any trace of birth/baptism, death/graves, parents or siblings of Samuel Russell Blair and Margaret Moore. The Church census of 1831-1835 mentions him and Margaret with a "mother" Elizabeth Harper, but I have not been able to find more information about her or who's mother she was. I am wondering if there is a link to the Carnmoney Blair and Harper families. Another interesting point is that I noticed that his second name Russell is mentioned specifically everywhere I find him, indicating to me the importance to him. Could this illustrate a connection to a Russell family (?) he or his parents found important? I know PRONI and Familysearch has some microfilm and documented data on Templepatrick/Grange of Ballyrobert/Carnmoney area for 1800-1815, but as this has not been digitalised yet (for the dates I am looking for), are only available on microfilm in those libraries and I live in the Netherlands these are inaccessible for me at this time.

Does anyone have any family links or suggestions possibilities in finding these birth/baptism/death records or the parents of Samuel Russell Blair? Or is anyone in the area able to assist me in this search?

Any help would be greatly appreciated. It is my mission to finish my fathers work.
Thank you in advance!

Ruben Blair

I’m looking for a baptism record for my 3rd great grandfather, Samuel Russell Blair between 1805-1810. I’m expecting to find this in the Templepatrick Presbyterian Church records, unfortunately they are only available on site at PRONI and PHSI. Is there anyone in Belfast willing and able to assist in a lookup at PRONI? This is my only link in trying to find his parents, birthdate and possible siblings. PRONI Reference :   CR4/12/A/1 , A copy is also available on microfilm onsite - MIC1B/11/1.

I would be very gratefull.
Best regards,
Ruben

Dear Rootschatters,

I'm trying to fulfill my late fathers work and try to find out more about my Blair family roots. I have been able to trace them back to Antrim in the person of Samuel Russell Blair who is my 3rd Great-Grandfather. I found that he lived in the Grange of Ballyrobert (Templepatrick) for quite a long time (found him in the Tithe records and Griffith Valuation Records, the 1821, 1851 and 1861 census). He was married to Margaret (Mary) Moore in 1833 (Templepatrick) by rev. John Carson (Non subscribing Presbytarian Church) and they had 4 children that were all baptised by John Carson (John: 1834, Jennet: 1836), Samuel: 1838, Elizabeth: 1841 and Robert 1843). His son John Blair is my 2nd Great Grandfather, joined the army and after retirement went on to live in England with his wife and kids. (South Shields).

Unfortunately I have not been able to find any trace of birth/baptism, death or the parents of Samuel Russell Blair and Margaret Moore. The Church census of 1831 mentiones him and Margaret with "mother" Elizabeth Harper, but I have not been able to find more information about her or who's mother she was. I know PRONI has some microfilm and documented data on Templepatrick/Grange of ballyrobert, but as this has not been digitalised yet and I live in the Netherlands I unfortunately can't visit there any time soon.

Does anyone have any suggestions in finding birth/baptism/death or the parents of Samuel Russell Blair? Or is anyone in the area able to assist me in this search?

I would be very gratefull for any help.
Thank you in advance,

Ruben Blair