Cairns / Graham - Rasharkin

[akanex2]

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

[baza307]

Folks , thanks for all your help and info. It is very much appreciated.

Cheers.

[flaraysun]

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

[kingskerswell]

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

[aghadowey]

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/

[flaraysun]

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

[aghadowey]

Roughly when would the photograph have been taken? And how much of the house is in the picture?

[flaraysun]

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.

[aghadowey]

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.