John Joseph Cairns, my great grandfather, was born around 1840 and died in Belfast on 12 Sep 1897. His father (my Great Great Grandfather) was Patrick Cairns/Kearns. John Joseph Cairns had two older brothers, Thomas (born about 1830, died in Belfast 12th Jan 1866) and Henry (born about 1836, died in Belfast 22nd June 1896), and two sisters, Margaret (born about 1831, died 7th Feb 1901 in Belfast) and Anne (born about 1840, married Captain Christopher A. Beck in St. Patrick's Roman Catholic Chapel, Belfast in 1865, died 25th Mar 1866).
By searching Belfast newspaper family notices, I found that Thomas’ body was ‘removed to the Ulster Railway Terminus, for interment in Latnamard, County Monaghan’. I searched burial records online and found the following Gravestone Inscription from the Church of Saint Mary, Latnamard in Aghabog, Co. Monaghan.
‘By Henry CAIRNES in memory of his brother Thomas died at Belfast Jan 10, 1866 at 36: his sister Ann wife of CAPTAIN C BECK died at Belfast March 25, 1866 at 26’
I also found another interesting gravestone inscription in the same Graveyard:
‘By Michael KEARNS of Drumhilla in memory of his father Thomas died Dec 26 1837 at 63: his mother Ann KEARNS died March 29 1840 at 60; his brother Patrick died Nov 08 1847 at 39’
I know that Cairns could have different spellings (Cairnes, Kearns, Kearnes) and wondered if this Patrick in St Mary’s Graveyard could have been my Great Great Grandfather as the same family names seemed to be repeated? As both Thomas and Anne, who died the earliest, were buried in the graveyard of the Church of St Mary, Latnamard, I believe the family probably came from there originally. My Great Grandfather and his other brother who died later were buried in Belfast.
| Additional Information | ||
|---|---|---|
| Date of Birth | 1st Jan 1841 (circa) | |
| Date of Death | 12th Sep 1897 | |
