McMaster Family

[joanch]

Hello, I live in Australia and I was hoping that someone could help me with finding death dates for Francis McMaster (born 1889, Scotland, Father William McMaster, Mother Elizabeth Steel) and Mary McMaster, nee Davidson/Davison (born 1891, Glenwherry, Ballymena, Northern Ireland, Father Robert Davison, Mother Eliza Jane Smyth). They married in 1908, Ballymena, Northern Ireland and had five children (1908-1924, two died in infancy). Any help would be greatly appreciated regarding this family.

[mckha489]

Have you tried here?  https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/services/go-groni-online

But there is maintenance happening this weekend.

Also, there are various newspaper mentions of McMaster in Ballymena. I don’t know enough about the family to be able to say if any are yours

[joanch]

Thank you for your reply and yes I have tried that site. Can I ask what the newspaper site is called please.

[mckha489]

I use Findmypast

But also there is the British Newspaper Archive  which has the same database. It depends which one you want to pay for.

[bbart]

In 1968, a Robert Sydney McMaster passed away:
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/deaths_returns/deaths_1968/04183/4066586.pdf

This Robert with matching death date to above,  has multiple death notices from his family; here is the highlights:
-Robert was son of the late Francis McMaster, mother Mary of Lealies, Kilwaughter, Larne, sister Kathleen
-sister Maisie and brother in law Jack, and family, of 4 Bellair Park
- brother Billy and sister in law Peggy and family, of Millbrook
-mutliple notices from the L.O.L. and R.P.A.C 520 and also from a club called Apprentice Boys of Derry Baker Club;  all of these due to the fact Robert's brother William was a member in high standing.

So all that said, he should be "your" Robert, and the above gives clues, such as mother Mary is still alive in 1968, but father Francis is not.

Attached are clippings that I believe are Francis and Mary's death notices; the image name is the newspaper and edition date.

Sorry if this is rambly and hard to follow... big storm, and lights are flickering.... typing fast!

[joanch]

Thank you so much, I shall follow all this up and fingers crossed they are my "people"

[joanch]

Thank you again bbart I have researched and I do believe this is the couple that I have been searching for, thank you very grateful. Can I please ask if you dont mind could you please look for a newspaper announcement of a death for their daughter Kathleen or Cassie Cleverly. Many Thanks Joan

[aghadowey]

Not a death but Kathleen was alive in 1995 when sister Maisie died.
Newtownabbey Times and East Antrim Times, 30 Mar.1995: McKAY, Maisie — Died 21st March, 1995, peacefully at her home. Deeply regretted by her loving sister Kathleen Cleverly and niece M_ and husband Albert and Crawford. - Ballymoney. Peace, perfect peace.

Note: Kathleen's daughter M_ may still be alive. I did find numerous newspaper articles which mentioned her in the 1960s.

[joanch]

Thank you so much again for the info on Kathleen, I do know that niece M passed away last year. So am I reading right that Albert is Maisie’s husband then who is Crawford.