Dear Rootschatters,
I'm trying to fulfill my late fathers work 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 grateful for any help.
Thank you in advance,
Ruben Blair
