Does anyone know when Robert (the parish clerk) passed away?
This is just a possibility. GRONI online has a death registered in Magherafelt Registration District for a Robert Canning who died on 7 May 1898, reported age 98. To view the full record, including digitised image, costs £2.
https://geni.nidirect.gov.uk/
A very good suggestion for the death, as that is Robert. The witness was his daughter Mary Ann Waters/Walters/Watters who married in 1876. There is also a will for Robert at
http://www.proni.gov.uk/index/search_the_archives/will_calendars.htm which mentions his wife Mary Wilson and grand-daughter Catherine.
Catherine Watters married Elaine's George Canning in 1902
The will also mentions his daughters Mary Ann (Watters), Jane and Matilda as beneficiaries if his wife predeceased him. Mary (nee Wilson) died 29 March 1904.
