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| Sarah, aged 71,1892 |
It was an absolute surprise when a distant relative contacted me and was able to share this treasured item. Whilst I have precious photos of my parents and grandparents on both my maternal and paternal sides, I have very, very few photos of any of my great grandparents, and very fewer of my great great grandparents! So this photo came as a rather poignant surprise.
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| Map showing the Parish of Lower Killeavy, County Armagh |
My 2x great grandmother Sarah was born in 1821 (working on the age listed on a census record from 1901).
Sarah's husband passed away in mid 1887 at the age of 70. They had been married for 33 years.
In the following year, 1888, her son Owen (my great grandfather) emigrated to Australia. The family surname became McCane in Australia. Owen married my great grandmother Margaret Farrell in 1892.
Sarah's daughter Ann (known as Nancy) had married in 1891. She and her husband Patrick Barry began their married life close by in Ballynalack.
Sarah's eldest son Edward married Mary Anne Mallon in 1892. The wedding photo passed down through the generations has been a godsend, as it shows Edward and his mother Sarah, who would have been aged about 71 at the time. This photo is a rare gem.
Special Note to any family members: If you have memories to add, photos or information to share, can I graciously ask that you do so. Please use the comments box below or email me. It may prove to be invaluable to the story and provide future generations with something to truly treasure.
I have not yet been successful in finding a birth / baptism record for Sarah, and I'm unlikely to find one, given the time period she would have been born in and the country. It's extremely difficult to find Irish records of births, deaths and marriages in the early 1800s.
From information shared by distant relatives, it seems she was born in County Armagh, and baptised in the Lower Killeavy Parish (sometimes spelt Killevy).
From information shared by distant relatives, it seems she was born in County Armagh, and baptised in the Lower Killeavy Parish (sometimes spelt Killevy).
Sarah was apparently known to close family as 'Sally' throughout her life.
It's likely she would have been baptised at one of the old Churches that can still be found (although in ruins) in the townland of Ballintemple, outside Newry. The west church is the only surviving pre-Norman church in County Armagh, and the east church is medieval, probably dating from the 15th century.
Sarah married Patrick Muckian in December of 1853. She was aged 32. That does seem unusual for that time, as so many woman married around the age of 20. I wonder why Sarah didn't marry until she was in her early 30s. She would possibly have been considered an old maid in the townland of Ballintemple, and I would dearly love to know the circumstances around this!
Sarah's husband Patrick was also in his 30s, but slightly older. He was aged 36 when he married. They went on to have five children over the following ten years.
Edward was born in 1854.
Mary came along in 1856.
Owen (my great grandfather) was born in 1859. Sarah was 38 years old.
John came along in 1862.
Ann (known as Nancy) was born in 1864. By this time, Sarah was aged 43.
It seems that Sarah lived out the remainder of her life on the family farm. The ancestral family home is no longer standing, but I know its location in Ballintemple, very close to the old churches, thanks to information passed on from my distant cousins.
It's likely she would have been baptised at one of the old Churches that can still be found (although in ruins) in the townland of Ballintemple, outside Newry. The west church is the only surviving pre-Norman church in County Armagh, and the east church is medieval, probably dating from the 15th century.
Sarah married Patrick Muckian in December of 1853. She was aged 32. That does seem unusual for that time, as so many woman married around the age of 20. I wonder why Sarah didn't marry until she was in her early 30s. She would possibly have been considered an old maid in the townland of Ballintemple, and I would dearly love to know the circumstances around this!
Sarah's husband Patrick was also in his 30s, but slightly older. He was aged 36 when he married. They went on to have five children over the following ten years.
Edward was born in 1854.
Mary came along in 1856.
Owen (my great grandfather) was born in 1859. Sarah was 38 years old.
John came along in 1862.
Ann (known as Nancy) was born in 1864. By this time, Sarah was aged 43.
It seems that Sarah lived out the remainder of her life on the family farm. The ancestral family home is no longer standing, but I know its location in Ballintemple, very close to the old churches, thanks to information passed on from my distant cousins.
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| Map of Ballintemple showing the ancestral family farm (red) near the Killeavy Old Churches (yellow) |
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| Photo courtesy of distant cousin Brian Rafferty |
This photo shows the ancestral family farm, as it stands today, sadly no longer in the family. Not much to see apart from the footprint of the family home. It looks like it might have been quite an isolated spot for Sarah and her family back in the mid-to-late 1800s when they lived there.
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| Photo courtesy of distant cousin Brian Rafferty |
This is the view from the ancestral family farm today. I can only imagine how tough life would have been here during the long cold winter months, especially back then! The life of a farmer's wife would have been tough and challenging.
It does appear though that Sarah might have had family, perhaps even close family members living close by. According to the Griffith's Valuation of 1864 there were McCanns living on the land next to Sarah and Patrick's plot.
It does appear though that Sarah might have had family, perhaps even close family members living close by. According to the Griffith's Valuation of 1864 there were McCanns living on the land next to Sarah and Patrick's plot.
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| 1864 Ordnance Map - plot no. 9 is my 2x grandparents, Sarah and Patrick's, plot Green circle includes the plots of other McCann families (plots 7 & 8) and another Muckian family (plot 10) |
The Ordnance Map shows that m 2x great grandmother Sarah and my 2x great grandfather Patrick were living on the plot that's marked with a 9, whilst two McCann families were living on plots 7 & 8. On plot 10 there was another Muckian family, possibly a close relative of Patrick's! It seems feasible that the families were all eking out an existence side-by-side.
I have found out only a few other details about events in Sarah's life between her marriage and her death.
It seems her daughter Mary Elizabeth married Patrick McCabe in 1880 and left her childhood home to begin her married life.
Sarah's son John married Catherine Benett in 1887, and long afterwards it appears they both emigrated to the U.S. According to family stories the family name Muckian became McKane for this branch of the family.
I have found out only a few other details about events in Sarah's life between her marriage and her death.
It seems her daughter Mary Elizabeth married Patrick McCabe in 1880 and left her childhood home to begin her married life.
Sarah's son John married Catherine Benett in 1887, and long afterwards it appears they both emigrated to the U.S. According to family stories the family name Muckian became McKane for this branch of the family.
Sarah's husband passed away in mid 1887 at the age of 70. They had been married for 33 years.
In the following year, 1888, her son Owen (my great grandfather) emigrated to Australia. The family surname became McCane in Australia. Owen married my great grandmother Margaret Farrell in 1892.
Sarah's daughter Ann (known as Nancy) had married in 1891. She and her husband Patrick Barry began their married life close by in Ballynalack.
Sarah's eldest son Edward married Mary Anne Mallon in 1892. The wedding photo passed down through the generations has been a godsend, as it shows Edward and his mother Sarah, who would have been aged about 71 at the time. This photo is a rare gem.
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| Sarah Muckian (nee McCann) and her son Edward on his wedding day 1892 |
Apparently, according to my distant relatives, it was customary for the groom to be photographed with his mother on his wedding day, and of course his wife, although a photo of Edward and wife Mary Anne has not yet surfaced!
By 1901, Sarah was still living on the family farm, but with her son Edward, his wife Mary and their family of five children. Sarah was listed as the 'head' of the family on the 1901 census, and owner of the farm.
By 1901, Sarah was still living on the family farm, but with her son Edward, his wife Mary and their family of five children. Sarah was listed as the 'head' of the family on the 1901 census, and owner of the farm.
At that time Sarah was 80 years old. The record states that she was not able to read, and obviously not able to write her name either as evidenced by the note at the bottom of the page "her mark".
Sarah didn't make it to her 90s as she was not listed on the 1911 census alongside her son Edward on the family farm.
Sarah didn't make it to her 90s as she was not listed on the 1911 census alongside her son Edward on the family farm.
This death record states that Sarah Muckian died on the 26th of March at Ballintemple, presumably at her home on the family farm. The death was reported by her son Edward. All these details certainly sound like a match for my great great grandmother, apart from the fact that her age was listed as 66!!!
That would be twenty years out by my reckoning, if I use the 1901 Census Record as a guide. It would also mean that she would have been only 12 on her wedding day and would have given birth to her eldest son Edward when she was 13! All of this leads me to believe that Sarah's age on this record was most definitely incorrect!
Apart from that fact, I think there are enough matching details for me to say that the record is correct in stating that my great great grandmother died in 1907. She was however 86 years old. The cause of death was listed as 'influenza', which she had suffered for 21 days. Sadly, this probably means the end was not lovely and peaceful for my 2x great grandmother. It sounds as though she was probably very ill at the end and her passing might have been a godsend.
Special Note to any family members: If you have memories to add, photos or information to share, can I graciously ask that you do so. Please use the comments box below or email me. It may prove to be invaluable to the story and provide future generations with something to truly treasure.
Lovely
ReplyDeleteEdward continued to live on the farm. My grandmother, Rosaleen, was born there around 1911/12 (she doesn't appear on the 1911 census). However Edwards wife Mary died and my grandmother was taken, as a baby, to live with her sister Sarah (now married Doran) and was brought up in that household. It is likely that it was around this time that the farm may have given up. Brian
ReplyDeleteWonderful information, thank you very much Brian. I had no idea that your grandmother was taken to her sister's home when your great grandmother Mary died. It must have been considered the best thing to do at the time. I think the photo shows stoic people who lived a tough life.
DeleteLovely story of Sarah - they certainly had a hard life then. What a special surprize to be given the wonderful photo and family information
ReplyDeleteThanks Flissie. They were very hardy stock! Amazing resilience and strength. The photo was just the most fabulous surprise.
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