Family Graham/Hewitt

Griffiths Valuation for 1864 lists a Joseph Graham in Duvernagh townland. He had plot 37 which was a 12 acre farm. However your Joseph was a Tailor (according to the 1866 marriage certificate) so I am not sure it’s the right Joseph. I searched death records 1864 onwards (that’s when they start) for Newry registration area but could not find a Joseph who was a tailor nor a spouse Ann. Both might have died before 1864 of course or may have lived elsewhere.

In the 1901 census, all 17 Grahams in Divernagh/Duvernagh were Presbyterian. Was David also Presbyterian? (I know he married in the Church of Ireland but tradition was to marry in the bride’s church so that may just have been her denomination). The nearest Presbyterian church to Divernagh is Bessbrook. However unfortunately it’s records only start in 1854 so not much help. 

I looked for possible siblings marriages around the same time but did not see any where the father was a tailor. 

If they were Presbyterian, you are in Kingsmills Church catchment. I have Graham's in my line related to Kings in that area. 

Both Grahams and Irvines are listed as the church's earliest recorded communicants in 1864. 

There is an amazing book  - History of Kingsmills Church 1788 1988 which has lots of local and family history and records I have not found anywhere else. 

On the wedding registration of David to his first wife, Joseph is a "tailor" but on the registration to Margaret Hamilton, David's second wife and my G grandmother, his father, Joseph is described as a "farmer". This has confused me somewhat.

There is a Rachel Graham noted on the death registration of Bessie and David's child Isabella in 1874. Isabella died at 5 months, Bessie having died earlier of pulmonary tuberculosis.  I can find a Joseph Graham who married a Rachel Ross. ?? second wife?? but am unable to find anthing more about Joseph.

Thank you for the information about the book of the History of Kingsmills Church. I shall seek that out.

I also wonder what happened to Bessie's children on David's re marriage. Margaret and David removed to Scotland with their family but there is no mention of the children David had by Bessie. They were James born 13 Dec 1867, David George born 1869, Sarah Jane born 1872 and Isabella born 1874.  I do realise that there may be no way of finding them.

On the other side of the family, the Cassells, George Greer (born about 1831) married Sarah Brown and their daughter Martha born in 1854 was my G grandmother, my father's mother's mother. I know George was a carpenter and his father was also a George but again, I find I'm having difficulty finding out more. 

I am again most grateful for any assistance.

Deirdre

Joseph and David were in the Church of Ireland so I do agree that Kingsmills would have been the obvious choice.  Thank you again Sarah for the suggestion of that book. 

Deirdre