Hello Heather
I am the Grandson of David John, the photo is of David Johns Mother Eliza and if you notice the roses at the back of the picture there is a house that I know where a cutting taken from them still grows. The cutting was taken by my Uncle Robert who loved Roses
and he planted a cutting at his house at Castleagree , although he has now passed away
My grandfather Davig John ( Blacksmith) married Jeannie Shields in Dervock Presbyterian church on 14/10/08 when he was 20 years old. Jeannie came from The Coole and her Father John was a farmer. . Witnesses to the marrage were Hugh Winlock and Margeret Shields. I have attached a Photo of both and also a Photo of my grandfather on his own with a greyhound. The McConaghies were found of and bred them and David Johns Father was run over by a train in Ballymena after a dog race , some say hit on the head and put there by a man who owed him money from a bet.
David John ( lets call him senior) was married on 1/4/1887 at Mosside Presbyterian Church By Rev Johnston. His Bride was Eliza McMullan who has been married before to a James Boyd. Eliza and James had a girl called Daisy who was 2( I think from memory) when Hugh died . David John senior raised this Child as his own.
The marrage of James Boyd and Eliza had taken place in 1/4/1881-- interesting to note both weddings took place on 1st April and James was also a Blacksmith
In the 1901 census David senior was still alive but in the 1911 Eliza was a widow. It was when his Father vdied that David John (junior) took over the Blacksmiths shop and reared hos brothers and sisters.
I have attached a photo of Daisy as a young child with her mother and two of her stepbrothers
