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Unknown Graham
b: 17?? d: 18??
Nothing is as yet known about the father of Thomas Graham
(below). From Brian Graham, who passed away in August 2007, it is believed that the family may have originated from the
plantation village of Caledon, Co. Tyrone (on the border with Armagh and Monaghan), before migrating to Belfast. It is also
believed that in addition to Thomas, this earliest member of the Graham family had a daughter called Margaret.
Children of Unknown GRAHAM:
Thomas Graham
b: abt 1820
See below.
Margaret Graham
b: 1809 d: 21/5/1878
Margaret Graham was listed as resident at 206 York Street, Belfast, in the parish of Shankill, at
the time of her death in 1878. The grave owner was Thomas Graham, believed to be her brother. No marital
condition was listed for Margaret, but the cause of death was consumption, essentially tuberculosis. Margaret was subsequently
buried in the City Cemetery. She was stated to be Church of Ireland by denomination and the cost of the burial was 7 shillings
and sixpence.
 Thomas Graham
b: abt.1820 - bet 1881 and 1904
Thomas was Calum's and Jamie's great great great great grandfather.
Thomas was from Ireland, and from his grandson Brian Graham (see below), who sadly
passed away in August 2007, it is believed that he and his family may have originated from the plantation village
of Caledon in County Tyrone (bordering counties Armagh and Monaghan).
Thomas was married to Eliza Taylor at some stage prior to 1862. In an 1850 Belfast
street directory, he was listed as a carding master, and family tradition
has it that he had originally been a reelmaster, before being made up to a carding master (a
step up the ladder) because he was above average intelligence. He had also done some teaching because he had appeared
to be very clever. This may be backed up by the 1861 directory for Belfast, which has a Thomas Graham schoolmaster listed
as resident at 53 Christopher Street.
From his daughter Wilhelmina's birth certificate in 1871 it is noted that he was a railing master
resident at 38 Ship Street in the Shankill District of Belfast, Ireland, and was Church of Ireland by religion. On September
6th he is noted as living at 2 Canning Street in the death certificate of his 1 year old daughter Alice. In the 1877 street
directory for Belfast Thomas was then noted as a 'reeling master' at 206 York Street, and in 1880 he is still there but listed
as an 'overlooker'.
It is known that Thomas, like his sons and grandsons in the shipping industry regularly
travelled across the Irish Sea to look for work in the Barrow in Furness, Liverpool and Belfast. From
the 1881 census for Barrow in Furness, Lancashire, England, Thomas was listed as a 60 year old clerk from Ireland, married
to a 50 year Eliza, also from Ireland. This would place his birth year in either 1820 or 1821. The marriage certificate of
his son Edwin on 27 JUN 1881 in Barrow also lists Thomas as a clerk.
There were three children present with him at his house at 82 Marsh Street, being Calum's 19 year
old great great great grandfather Edwin Graham, a shipwright, his 16 year old brother William
Graham, also a shipwright, and their 10 year old sister Wilhelmina Graham (RG11/4291/55/p.11).
Thomas and the family regularly worshipped in St. Pauls Church of Ireland on the York Road, Belfast. As well
as living at 206 York Street, the family also possibly resided at some point at Brougham Street.
Thomas would seem to have died beore 1904, as his son Edwin buried an Eliza Graham, presumably Thomas' wife
and his own mother, on February 12th 1904 at Belfast City Cemetery. Eliza was stated to be a 76 year old widow resident
at 57 Ship Street in the Shankill parish, and as having died of bronchitis. The cost of her burial was 7 shillings and sixpence.
From a document now held by Thomas' grandson Brian, concerning a grave purchased by Thomas in 1871,
it is believed that there were further children, as listed below. There are probably more, as these graves obviously indicated
just those children who did not survive their early years.
CHILDREN of THOMAS GRAHAM and ELIZA TAYLOR:
i) Albert Graham
b: 1856 d: 30.11.1871
Albert is listed on a grave lair paper held by Renee Fisher as a 15 year old child buried by Thomas
at Belfast City Cemetery on December 2nd 1871. The corresponding death entry from the Ulster Historical Foundation database
shows his date of death as November 30th 1871, and that Albert was resident at 206 York Street, Thomas' home, and with no
occupation. Whilst it is not specifically stated, it seems almost certain that Alert was Thomas' son. No cause of death
is stated.
ii) Edwin Graham
b: 1862 d: 1943
Calum's and Jamie's great great great grandfather - see below.
iii) William Graham
b: 18/11/1864 d: after 1881
According to the IGI, William was born at hospital in Belfast on November 11th 1864.
William worked in life as a shipwright and boilermaker, and is located at 82 Marsh Street in
Barrow in Furness, Lancashire, in the 1881 English census (RG11/4291/55/p.11).
William at some stage married Margaret. In the 1901 street
directory for Belfast, there were two boilermakers called William Graham listed, one at 7 Shandon Street, the other at 46
Dee Street.
On June 15th 1904 Margaret passed away, though the certificate does not list a reason for her death.
At the time of her death, Margaret was 39 and lived at 32 Ballynure Street, Belfast. From family burial papers held by Thomas
Graham's granddaughter Renee Fisher, it is known that Margaret was buried in the
Graham family plot at the City Cemetery on the 18th. The costs of her burial was 7s 6d, as noted on her death entry, and the
owner of the grave was stated to be William Graham, which would seem to confirm that Thomas was by now deceased.
In the 1907 street directory for Belfast, William was still listed at 32 Ballynure Street, and as
a boilermaker. In the 1911 census, William was still on Ballynure Street, though by now at number 17. He was listed as a 45
year old boilermaker and a widower, born in Belfast City, and could read and write. Also present were his three daughters
Hessie, Margaret and Mary, and son John. The census also records that
William had eight children, with seven still alive in 1911.
It is not yet known what became of William after this.
Children of William Graham and Margaret:
Hessie Graham
b: abt 1887
In 1901, Hessie was noted as residing at 14 Ballynure Street, Belfast, along with John Graham,
noted as a labourer, and almost certainly her brother. She was still there in the 1910 directory, though John was not at this
stage recorded.
Hessie was then listed in the 1911 Belfast census at 17 Ballynure Street, Clifton, and as a biscuit
packer at the local factory. She was born in Belfast, and could read and write.
John Graham
b: abt 1890
In the 1901 street directory for Belfast, John was noted as a labourer residing at 14 Ballynure
Street, along with Hessie Graham, his sister. John was recorded in the 1911 Belfast census at 17
Ballynure Street, Clifton, and as a machine tender at a factory. He was born in Belfast, and could read and write.
Margaret Graham
b: abt 1892
Margaret was recorded in the 1911 Belfast census at 17 Ballynure Street, Clifton, and as a flax spinner
at a mill. She was born in Belfast, and could read and write.
Mary Graham
b: abt 1894
Mary was recorded in the 1911 Belfast census at 17 Ballynure Street, Clifton, and as a flax doffer
at a mill. She was born in Belfast, and could read and write.
b: 22/2/1871 d: after 1881
Wilhelmina was born at 38 Ship Street, Belfast, Ireland on February 22nd 1871, and christened
at St. Anne's Church of Ireland in the Shankill by the Reverend Henry Alexander Burrowes on March 31st just a few weeks later.
Her father was listed as Thomas Graham, a railing master, whilst her mother was Eliza Taylor.
Wilhelmina is located as a scholar at 82 Marsh Street in Barrow in Furness, Lancashire, in the
1881 English census (RG11/4291/55/p.11).
It may be that Wilhelmina was the only survivor of twins, as the Emerald Ancestors website lists a female unnamed Graham daughter to Thomas and Eliza born two days after Wilhelmina on the 24th. The fact she
is unnamed may imply that she was stillborn, and therefore not christened. Alternatively, this second child may be Alice
Graham (see below).
v) Alice Graham
b: 1871 d: 8.9.1872
Alice is listed as a 1 year old child who died on September 6th 1872, the cause of death not
listed. Her address was 2 Canning Street, and no religion was listed for her either. She was buried at Belfast City Cemetery
just two days later, at a cost of 7s 6d (Source: IFHF deaths: Antrim).
She may be the Unnamed Graham listed on the Emerald Ancestors website as born on
Feb 24th 1871 in Belfast to Thomas Graham and Eliza Taylor.
Edwin Graham
1862 - 31/1/1943
Edwin was Calum's and Jamie's great great
great grandfather.
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| Edwin, aged 76, and second wife Sarah Ann, taken in Belfast 1939 at his son Brian's wedding. |
The earliest record discovered so far regarding Edwin is the 1881 census
for Barrow in Furness, England, where he was listed as a 19 year old shipwright living at 82 Marsh Street, the house of his
father Thomas and mother Eliza. Also present were his younger brother William
and sister Wilhelmina (Eng 1881 census: Barrow, ED23, RG11, piece 4291, folio 55, p.11).
Edwin married twice in his lifetime, the first time to Florence
Teresa Halliday, on June 27th 1881. In this record Edwin is again noted as a 19 year old rivetter from 82 Marsh Street, and
the marriage took place at Trinity Presbyterian Church, Barrow-in-Furness. The minister was the Reverend William Ferguson,
and the witnesses were Samuel and Annie Lunn (GROEW: M 1881 Q2 Vol 8e p.119). The 1881
Census for Barrow shows that Samuel and Annie were also resident at 82 Marsh Street, though as a separate household, implying
that the property may have been a tenement. They were also Irish, with Samuel working as a ship's wright.
With Florence he had seventeen children, though only eight of these survived
infancy. Not long after their marriage the couple moved to Partick in Scotland, where Edwin would have taken up work in the
shipyards - in the birth certificate of their son Edwin, born in February 1884, Edwin senior is again listed as
a rivetter. Within the next two years the family were back in England, likely in Barrow again, where in approximately 1886
another son, Robert was born. From 1888, the family appear to have resided mainly in Belfast.
From Edwin's granddaughter Renee Fisher, it is known
that he regularly travelled from one side of the Irish Sea to the other to take up shipbuilding work at both Belfast and Barrow-in-Furness.
At one stage in his life he also travelled to Boston in the US state of Massachussetts to find work in the shipyards, but
returned after an unknown period away.
In 1890 Edwin is listed in the Belfast and Ulster Street Directory as residing
at 12 Garden Street in Belfast. The 1892 and 1895 directories record him at 44 Upper Canning Street, but by 1896 he had relocated
with his family to 35 Upper Canning Street.
The 1901 street directory for Belfast records Edwin at number 35
Upper Canning Street, but the 1901 census has the family listed as living
at 30 Upper Canning Street. The family were still there by January 1905, as that address was listed by the authorities
for Edwin on his daughter Florence's death certificate, she having died tragically at the age of ten from enteric fever.
In 1907, Edwin is recorded as living back at 35 Upper Canning Street in the
Belfast Street Directory, but by the 1910 directory, Edwin is found
to have relocated to 67 Duncairn Gardens. It is here that the family were recorded in the 1911 census for Belfast, with a
49 year old Edwin listed as a rivetter, able to read and write, and as an adherent of the Church of Ireland.
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| Florence's grave at City Cemetry, Belfast |
On September 18th 1911, Edwin's first wife Florence died, leaving him as
a widower. The cause of her death was chronic nephritis, basically a kidney disease, and from her statutory death register
entry, it is known that the family were still resident at 67 Duncairn Gardens. She was buried in Belfast's City Cemetery,
and it is noted in her death entry that she was Church of Ireland by way of religion. Edwin's great niece Renee
has grave papers dated September 20th 1911 concerning Florence's burial in the City Cemetery of Belfast, some two days
later. Renee very kindly visited the cemetery in January 2009 and located the grave (which also contains the couple's daughter
Florrie) and photographed the headstone to her grave which has unfortunately fallen over - see right.
The inscription on the headstone reads as follows:
FLORENCE
The Beloved Wife of
EDWIN GRAHAM
Died 18th Sept 1911
Also FLORRIE their daughter
Died 3rd Jan 1905
A year later, Edwin signed the Ulster Covenant, on Saturday, September 28th 1912, also known as "Ulster
Day". This document was signed by almost a quarter of a million adult Protestant men, whilst a further quarter of a million
women signed an equivalent document, a declaration of loyalty to the Crown. Edwin signed the covenant at the North East Unionist
Association Rooms on Brougham Street, in the district of Duncairn. At this time, he was recorded as living at 70 Mountcollyer
Street, just off York Street in North Belfast. The fact that Edwin senior signed it, as opposed to his son Edwin, is
confirmed from the signature itself, which matches Edwin senior's signature on a letter to the Tank Corps in 1920 (see below).
His son Ernest also
signed the document(PRONI:D1327/3/4339).
BEING CONVINCED in our conscience that Home Rule would be disastrous
to the material well-being of Ulster as well as of the whole of Ireland, subversive to our civil and religious freedom, destructive
of our citizenship, and perilous to the unity of the Empire, we, whose names are under-written, men of Ulster, loyal subjects
of His Gracious Majesty King George V, humbly relying on the God whom our fathers in days of stress and trial confidently
trusted, do hereby pledge ourselves in solemn Covenant, throughout this our time of threatened calamity, to stand by one another
in defending, for ourselves and our children, our cherished position of equal citizenship in the United Kingdom, and in using
all means which may be found necessary to defeat the present conspiracy to set up a Home Rule Parliament in Ireland. And in
the event of such a Parliament being forced upon us, we further solemnly and mutually pledge ourselves to refuse to recognise
its authority. In sure confidence that God will defend the right, we hereto subscribe our names.
And further, we individually declare that we have not already signed
this Covenant.
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| Mountcollyer Street, Belfast - Feb 2006 |
A further member of the Graham family also signed the women's
equivalent to the Covenant, the Declaration of Loyalty, and at the same premises and on the same day. This was Matilda
Graham, and it is believed that this might have been his daughter-in-law.
In the 1913 Belfast street directory, Edwin was again listed
at 70 Mountcollyer Street, with his job description given as a riveter, and was almost certainly working at Harland and Wolfe
at this point, like his son, and may therefore have worked in the previous years on the Titanic.
At some stage prior to 1914, Edwin went to Passage West shipyard
in Cork, Ireland, but by 1915 was most definitely living in England again, living at 7 Grey Street in Bootle. It was from
here that some of his sons went to war, signing up in different regiments. He remarried to a widow and mother of two
by the name of Sarah Ann Wilson. Her previous husband, James McLean Stitt,
had died in 1905 aged 29, just a month before her second child had been born. The couple had married at Saint Patrick's
Church of Ireland, Ballymacarrett, Knockbreda, Belfast, on July 6th 1902 (source: Emerald Ancestors website). At the time of James' death, Sarah-Ann was only 23, and was left to bring up her two young
children by herself for the next 10 years.
In 1915 Sarah-Ann sailed with her two small children aged 10 and
8 to Liverpool to be married to Edwin, and was fortunate to reach him alive. On the night
she sailed from Belfast to Liverpool in 1915, the Lusitania was sunk by German U-boats just off the south coast of Ireland
with a huge loss of life. The Lusitania had also been heading
for Liverpool docks.
After joining the Grahams (Edwin and the younger boys, the older boys
being at War) at 7 Grey Street, Bootle, Sarah Ann and Edwin were
married in Liverpool, and shortly after had three children in Bootle.
On July 2nd 1919, Edwin was again listed as a riveter on his son Ernest's
marriage entry in the Belfast register.
On July 31st, Edwin wrote to the Tank Corps with regards to his son John's
medal entitlement. The following is the letter, in which Edwin mentions that his son was cuirrently at sea, in fact on his
way to the United States:
The family later returned
to Belfast in approximately 1923/1924, but at this point they were no longer Irish citizens, but Northern Irish citizens,
the island having been partitioned by the British just a couple of years prior to their return.
By this stage, Edwin and Sarah were heavily involved with the Ulster Christian Spiritualist Association, a highly controversial
body at the time with its beliefs in the power of mediums to contact the dead. It may well be that Edwin and Sarah became
interested in the discipline whilst living in England. The following article from the Irish Independent on Wednesday July
28th 1926 records a remarkable occurrence involving Edwin:
Wednesday, July 28th 1926
SPIRITUALISM IN BELFAST
Unusual scenes were witnessed at the Belfast city cemetery at a service
under the auspices Belfast Christian Spiritualists' Association. The service was held around the grave of Mrs M'Dermott, mother
of Mr John M'Dermott, medium of the Association, who died three weeks ago.
Upwards of a hundred Spiritualists were present. Some of them had cameras,
and photographs were taken, as an official stated, of the spirits of the departed friends of those around the grave. The service
was conducted by Mr M'Dermott, and consisted of prayers, singing, and an address.
Mr. Edwin Graham, secretary of the Association, said it was a very hard
thing to obtain spirit photographs, and he added that the plates would be developed in a day or two, and they would then see
if they had been successful. Mrs M'Dermott was a native of Glasgow, but had been in Belfast for the past year.
The story was also covered by Irish Times on the same day, in an almost word for word copy of the above:
Wednesday, July 28th 1926
PHOTOGRAPHING SPIRITS
Remarkable
Service in Belfast Cemetery
Our Belfast correspondent states that unusual scenes were witnessed at
a Service held yesterday at the City Cemetery under the auspices of the local Christian Spiritualists' Association. The Service
took place around the grave of Mrs McDermott, mother of Mr John McDermott, medium of the Association, who died about three
weeks ago. Upwards of a hundred spiritualists, some of them carrying cameras, wre present and during the singing photographs
were taken. Mr McDermott conducted the Service, which consisted of prayer, singing and an address.
Mr. Edwin Graham,
secretary of the Association, explained that the Service was purely evangelical, and that many photographs had been taken
with the object of photographing the spirits of departed friends of persons present at the grave. "It is a very hard thing,"
he added "to obtain spirit photographs". He added that when the photographs were developed, in a day or two, they would know
whether they had succeeded in their object. Mr Graham explained that a special Service for Mrs McDermott had been held previously
in the Hall. She was a native of Glasgow but had been in Belfast for the past year.
However, the Times also
followed up the story in August:
Wednesday 18th August 1926
PHOTOGRAPHS IN A CEMETERY
Belfast Spiritualists Claim
The photographs taken in Belfast City Cemetery during the burial of Mrs McDermaid, wife of
Mr John McDermaid, President of the Ulster Christian Spiritualist Association, with the object of recording the spirit forms
of relatives which were believed to be hovering over the grave, were produced in Belfast last night.
The photographs,
say our Belfast correspondent, are apparently out of focus. They show small white clouds over the people assembled round the
grave. Mr McDermaid claims that in the photographs he can see the spirit forms of three departed relatives. Mr Edwin Graham,
the Secretary of the Association, is convinced that he can see his brother. The Association invites inspection of the photographs.
It should be noted that in July 1926, John McDermott was also prosecuted in Belfast for fraud! The following
is to be found at the Glenravel Family History Project website's Belfast Timeline section:
John McDiarmad, of Ava Street, who is president of the Belfast Christian Spiritualist Association was
charged that he “did pretend to tell fortunes to deceive and impose on his Majesty’s subjects.” He was put
under bail of £10 for his future good behaviour.
Nr was tye story confined to Ireland! In the Manchester Guardian, on the 28th July 1926 (p.9), we get some more detail
about the extraordinary meeting:
SPIRIT PHOTOGRAPH IN CEMETERY
(From our Correspondent)
BELFAST, TUESDAY
The Belfast City Cemetery was the scene of a remarkable incident yesterday.
About one hundred members of the local branch of the Christian Spiritualists' Association gathered round the grave of one
of the members who died three weeks ago, and after a short service a dozen of the Spiritualists produced cameras for the purpose,
they said, of taking photographs of the spirits of the people interred in the graves around. While the cameras clicked hymns
were sung.
In the history section of the current Belfast Christian Spiritualist Association ( http://belfastspiritualistchurch.com/id18.html), the following brief summary is listed, with what is believed to be a reference to Edwin's wife Sarah:
Spiritualism in Northern Ireland started amid the furore of religious and
political activity surrounding the covenant of 1912. Although war was brewing in Europe, a few people in Belfast were quietly
but earnestly seeking another very important aspect of human expression much frowned upon, especially in the intense
atmosphere that prevailed in a country of such deep religious feelings.
In the area of the Custom House steps, renowned for many years as the Speakers
Corner of Belfast, various people gathered to discuss almost every subject under the sun, those few initial pioneers of the
Spiritualist movement - Mr Morrison, Mr Moore, Mr McCormick and Mr Skelton got together to discuss the many aspects surrounding
psychic matters.
They eventually rented a room in Victoria Street to study, practice and
investigate psychic phenomena, thus the Spiritualist movement was born in Belfast and Ireland.
Their little gatherings continued to grow as they merged with similar groups
to become known as the Belfast Spiritualist Alliance, holding regular Sunday meetings aswell as mid-week activities
in a top floor room at 39 High Street.
As interest in Spiritualism spread, they moved first to Chichester Street
and then to Central Hall in Rosemary Street where the group flourished until the property was bombed in the Easter Monday
air raid in 1941.
The Alliance then accepted an invitation from a group meeting at 45 May
Street which was functioning well under the leadership of a truly excellent Medium of high spiritual character, Sarah
Graham.
Edwin eventually died in Belfast on January 31st 1943, aged 80 years of age, and was buried in the City Cemetery
on February 2nd at plot F2 Class 4, number 145. The plot was previously bought by Sarah Ann for her first husband's (Unknown
Stitt's) funeral on June 23rd 1905, and is shared also by her niece May Greer who died at the age
of just 17 hours. The cause of Edwin's death was myocrditis senility, and he was noted as a bolilermaker resident at 39 Upper
Frank Street. The cost of his burial was 15 shillings.
Sarah Ann survived in the city until her own death on November 4th 1967, aged 85, and was also later buried in ther same
plot.
CHILDREN of EDWIN GRAHAM and FLORENCE HALLIDAY:
Edwin Graham
b: 12/2/1884 d:
Edwin was born at 11.50am on February 12th 1884 at 54 Merkland Street, Partick, Renfrewshire, Scotland.
His father was noted as a rivetter, married to Florence Halliday at Barrow-in-Furness on June 27th 1881. Florence registered
the birth on February 25th, at Partick (GROS B 1884 646/03 252).
In the 1911 census for Belfast, Edwin is noted with his family as
a 27 year old brass moulder living at 67 Duncairn Gardens, a member of the Church of Ireland, and able to read and write.
His birthplace was recorded as Scotland, and his occupation as a rivetter.
Robert Graham
b: 1886 d: 19??
Robert was born in England in approximately 1886, as noted in the 1911
census for Belfast. It is likely that he was born at Barrow-in-Furness, though this has still to be checked.
In the 1911 census for Belfast, Robert is noted with his family as a 25
year old brass moulder living at 67 Duncairn Gardens, a member of the Church of Ireland, and able to read and write. He is
also noted as being deaf and dumb.
It is believed that Robert married a girl by the name of Brown
and that the couple had a daughter, before Robert died, aged 40. He lived on Dock Street, Belfast and worked in life
as a copper print writing expert.
CHILDREN of ROBERT GRAHAM and (UNKNOWN) BROWN:
(Unknown) Graham
b: 19??
All that is known at present is that this child was female.
John Graham
b: 16/9/1887 d: 19??
John, or Jack, as he was better known, was born in Belfast, Ireland, in 1887.
In the 1911 census for the city, John was noted as an unmarried 23 year old painter,
a member of the Church of Ireland, and able to read and write.
John was an enlisted soldier during the First World War, having joined the Army Service
Corps in Liverpool at the Old Haymarket on September 8th 1914. The Long, Long Trail website describes the Corps as follows:
The unsung heroes of the British army in the Great War -
the ASC, "Ally Sloper's Cavalry" - were the men who operated the transport. Soldiers can not fight without food, equipment
and ammunition. In the Great War, the vast majority of this tonnage, supplying a vast army on many fronts, was supplied from
England. Using horsed and motor vehicles, railways and waterways, the ASC performed prodigious feats of logistics and were
one of the great strengths of organisation by which the war was won.
In his attestation papers, John's age was listed as 26 years and 356 days, placing his
birth at 16 SEP 1887, and in Belfast. His occupation was noted as a painter and decorator, he was unmarried, had never
been an apprentice, had never been sentenced to prison, was Church of England by religion, and had never before been in the
armed forces. When enlisiting, John took the following oath:
I, John Graham, swear by Almighty God, that I will be faithful
and bear true Allegiance to His Majesty King George the Fifth, His Heirs, and Successors, and that I will, as in duty bound,
honestly and faithfully defend His Majesty, His Heirs, and Successors, in Person, Crown, and Dignity against all enemies,
and will observe and obey all orders of His Majesty, His Heirs and Successors, and of the Generals and Officers set over me.
So help me God.
His medical examination papers show that John was five feet
three and a half inches tall, had a 33 inch chest, and vaccination marks on both his left and right arms (having been vaccinated
as an infant). His physical development was noted as fair. On a separate document, he was noted as having fresh complexion,
blue eyes, and brown hair. His next of kin was his fater Edwin, mistakenly listed as Edward, and resident at 56 Dryden Street,
Bootle, Liverpool.
His service papers show
that John joined the 2nd New Army, as part of the Army Service Corp's 106 Company, part of the 9th Divisional Train attached
to the 9th (Scottish) Division, on September 9th 1914, and on May 8th 1915 he was promoted to Lance Corporal.
On May 10th 1915, John embraked on the S.S. Maidon
from Southampton, arriving at Havre in France the following day, and from there to his first theatre of war, where
he worked as an office clerk. On July 22nd he joined 104 Company of the 9th (Scottish) Divisional Train. This division
was involved in some of the most notorious battles of the entire war, including the Battle of Loos (1915), the Somme Battles
of Albert, Delville Wood and Le Transloy (1916), the Arras Battles of Scarpe (1st and 2nd) and Passchendale (1917). It
is not yet known if or how much John was involved at or near the front, through on October 27th 1915, he got into a spot of
bother "in the field" for "having lost his way making own attempt to front", for which he was severely
reprimanded.
From January 12th to 20th 1916, John was on leave, and again
from August 3rd to 15th in 1917, where he was still noted as part of 3 Company, 9th Divisional Train. On November 6th
1917, John was injured when a horse kicked him in the knee, sending him to hospital until the 24th, at which point he rejoined
his company.
The records are feint, and at some stage after this he voluntarily
asked to be reverted back to the rank of private. He was compulsorily transferred to the Tank Corps on January 7th 1918 and
on the 30th was noted as posted at the Depot. On February 23rd 1918 he was posted as a gunner to "Tanks No. 5 Ad. W.
R. Coy". On March 21st 1918 John was vaccinated, though the document is too feint to see against what! He was sent back to
Britain shortly after, sailing to Southampton on board S.S. Huntscraft on June 27th 1918, his total overseas service
in France having been 2 years and 242 days. A character reference on his file from this time states that he was of good
sobriety, reliable, intelligent, and a good clerk - "Pte Graham was a very reliable man and extremely trustworthy"
was the comment from Captain Walter, the officer in charge of the 9th Divisional Train. However, on July 2nd 1918, John
was deprived 8 days pay for having overstayed a leave of absence, as noted by the Captain of the Reserve Unit Tank Corps.
John was moved to "Tank 7d Btn" on November 16th 1918. On
November 20th 1918, John was again promoted to the rank of Lance Corporal, but from January 4th to 20th 1919, he was hospitalised
with the flu. On January 21st 1919 he was back at a Depot.
On March 29th 1919, John was demobilised and transferred
to Class Z, Army Reserve. His home address was recorded as 7 Gray Street, Bootle, Liverpool, but a note on his service record shows a
later address as 119 South Homan Avenue, Chicago, Illinois, USA, the first clue that showed John emigrating after the war.
Upon demobilising, John signed a form stating that he did not wish to make any claim regarding any disability that may have
been incurred during war service.
On May 7th 1920, John arrived at Ellis Island, New York.
He sailed on board the S. S. Celtic from Liverpool, and on the manifest was listed as a 32 year old unmarried painter who
could read and write in English. He was a British citizen, though Irish (born in Belfast), and was last noted as having resided
in Liverpool. The next of kin was noted as his father, Mr. E. Graham, 7 Gray Street, Bootle, Liverpool, England, and his intended
destination was 112 Sacramento Boulevard, Chicago, Illinois, the home of his brother Thomas. He paid for the ticket himself,
was carrying a sum of at least $50, and was intending to remain in the United States and to naturalise. Her was not a polygamist
or an anarchist, and had no intentions of overthrowing the United States Government! He was in good health with
no disability, was five foot, six and a half inches tall, of fresh complexion, fair hair and blue eyes, and with no identifying
marks.
In August 1921, John obtained three medals for his military service, being the 1915
Star, the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.
Alexander William Graham
b: 7/9/1889 d: 1958/60
Alexander was more colloquially known as William thoughout his life. He
was born on September 7th 1889 in Belfast, at 12 Garden Street (Belfast Urban No.2), with his father noted
as Edwin Graham, rivetter, and his mother as Florence Halliday. Florence informed the registrar, signing herself as Florence
Graham. (The fact that he was christened Alexander William would seem to confirm that his mother's father was of the same
name, despite being noted in one record as William Alexander Halliday).
In the 1911 census for Belfast, William was noted as an unmarried 21 year old boilermaker, a
member of the Church of Ireland, and able to read and write.
William grew up to become a plater/boilermaker and worked at Harland
and Wolfe. His brother Brian recalls that he lived at Lilliput Street in Duncairn and was married and had one son, named after
himself.
CHILDREN of WILLIAM GRAHAM and (UNKNOWN):
William Graham
b: 19??
William lived in the Braniel Estate in Castlereagh, Northern Ireland.
Thomas Graham
b: 1891 d: 19??
Thomas, or Tom, as he was better known, was born in Belfast in 1891,
as noted on the Irish Family History Foundation's online index.
In the 1911 census for Belfast, Thomas was noted as an unmarried 19 year old grocer, a member
of the Church of Ireland, and able to read and write.
On September 5th 1913, Tom arrived at Ellis Island in the United States, having crossed the Atlantic
from Liverpool on board the S.S. Adriatic. He was a 22 year old unmarried grocer, could read and write, was born in Belfast,
and for his nearest of kin in his home country, he listed his brother Edward Graham, residing at 190 Nelson Street, Belfast.
Tom's destination was Brooklyn, where he was going to stay with his father Edwin, who was residing at 912-40 Street in the
New York district. Tom had $24 to his name and it was his first trip to the USA. He was not a polygamist or anarchist,
and was not up for overthrowing the government. He was in good health, was not disabled, was five feet three inches tall,
had a fresh complexion, auburn hair and blue eyes, and had no distinguishing marks.
Tom was believed to have been an enlisted soldier during the First World War.
On May 7th 1920, Thomas was noted as residing at 112 Sacramento Boulevard, Chicago, on the Ellis Island
immigration record of his brother John. In the 1920 US Federal Census for Illinois, Thomas is decribed at
the same address as being 28, alien (not naturalised), and born in Ireland, with his parents noted as having been born
in Ireland and Spain. His occupation was noted as a foreman in a papery (?) company. Thomas was married to Alice,
who was 25 and born in Illinois, with both parents listed as being French. Also present was Donald,
their son, aged 3 years and eleven months, and born in Illinois.
In 1930, the family are again found in Chicago, with Thomas mistakenly listed as a 36 year old amn
born in New York. His 33 year old wife Alice is noted again as born in Illinois, but her father is this time German, and her
mother French. Thomas is no a salesman in laundry. Their son Donald was listed as 12 yars old and bor in llinois.
Ernest Graham
b: 1893 d: ????
Calum's and Jamie's great great grandfather -
see below.
Florence Graham
b: 1895 d: 3/1/1905
The existence of Florence is known from a family grave paper, and from a surviving headstone.
Florrie was born in 1894, and died tragically at the age of ten from enteric fever in
January 1905. She was buried in the Graham family plot at Belfast City Cemetery on January 4th, and was joined in the same
plot in 1911 by her mother.
The inscription on the stone reads:
FLORENCE
The Beloved Wife of
EDWIN GRAHAM
Died 18th Sept 1911
Also FLORRIE their daughter
Died 3rd Jan 1905
Gerald Graham
b: 11/3/1895 d: 19??
Gerald was born on March 11th 1895 in Belfast, County Antrim, Ireland.
In the 1911 census for Belfast, Gerald was noted as a 15 year old messenger, a member of the
Church of Ireland, and able to read and write.
|
|
| Gerlad's first ship, HMS Blenheim |
On April 10th 1919 he joined the Royal Navy, spending an initial period
of training at HMS base Vivid II at Devonport, before taking his first assignment as a rating on board HMS Blenheim. On June
9th 1920 he was promoted to the role of stoker on board HMS Iron Duke, an occupation he maintained right through the
Second World War until the point when, according to family history, he was captured at Zeebrugge by the Germans
and spent the rest of the war as a POW.
The National Archives in England hold a service card for the first twelve
years of his service, and provide a wealth of information on Gerald's early naval career. He was described as being five foot
five inches in height, with a 35 inch chest, blonde hair and blue eyes, with a scar on his forehead above his nose, and faint
tattoo marks on his hands and arms.
A list of ships on which Gerald served is then listed:
HMS Vivid II base, Devonport - Apr 10th 1919 to May 28th 1919
HMS Egmont - May 29th 1919 to Jan 14th 1920
HMS Iron Duke - Jan 15th 1920 to Mar 8th 1921 (becoming a stoker on June 9th 1920)
HMS Vivid II base, Devonport - Mar 9th 1921 to Aug 14th 1921
HMS Blenheim (Torch) - Aug 15th 1921 to Sept 11th 1921
HMS Diligence - Sept 12th 1921 to Aug 31st 1922
HMS Egmont - Sept 1st 1922 to May 31st 1923
HMS Diligence - June 1st 1923 to June 30th 1923
HMS Egmont - July 1st 1923 to August 12th 1923
HMS Woolwich - Aug 23rd 1923 to Aug 29th 1923
HMS Vivid II base, Devonport - Aug 30th 1923 to Oct 23rd 1923
HMS Glorious (Dartmouth) - Oct 23rd 1923 to Jan 31st 1924
HMS Dartmouth - Feb 1st 1924 to May 27th 1924
HMS Thunderer - May 28th 1924 to Sept 26th 1924
HMS Vivid II base, Devonport - Sept 27th 1924 to Jan 5th 1925
HMS Carysfort - Jan 6th 1925 to Sept 7th 1925
HMS Cornus - Sept 5th 1925 to Jan 5th 1927
HMS Vivid II base, Devonport - Jan 6th 1927 to at least Jan 1st 1929 (when his record was transferred)
There are also listed annual appraisals for his character and ability, recorded on December 31st
of each year between 1919 and 1928. Every one of them records that he had very good character, and his ability from 1921 to
1925 was recorded as 'superior', with 'satisfactory' noted for the other years. He was also paid a war gratuity whilst on
board one of his two tours on HMS Egmont.
Gerald's brother Brian recalls meeting him when
his ship HMS Malaya docked in Bangor Bay in 1936.
Family tradition has it that Gerald married a woman called Ellen (Nellie) Yardley in Litherland on Merseyside, and then returned
to live in the Sydenham area of Belfast. It is not known yet if the couple had any children.
Harold Graham
b: abt 7/3/1900
Harold unfortunately did not survive for very long. He was born in Belfast in early March 1900 but
died aged just ten days. He was buried in the Graham family plot at the City Cemetery on March 17th. The fact he was Edwin's
son is confirmed from the index to the Irish Family History Foundation's online database.
Frederick Graham
b: 6/7/1901 d: Mar 1902
Frederick was born on July 6th 1901 at 35 Upper Canning Street, belfast (Urban No.2)
and later baptised on July 29th. His father was noted as Edwin Graham, rivetter, and his mother as Florence Halliday, though
Florence appears to have witnessed the registration, signing herself as Florence Graham.
Frederick tragically did not survive long, dying at the age of seven month in March
1902. He was buried in Belfast City Cemetery on March 24th 1902, as noted on a lair paper held by Renee Fisher, his niece.
Harold Graham
b: 1903
This second son called Harold was born in Belfast in 1903,
as noted on the index to the Irish Family History Foundation's online database.
In the 1911 census for Belfast, Harold was noted as an 8 year old scholar, a member
of the Church of Ireland, and able to read, but not yet write.
Harold was a member of the Royal Scots Fusiliers in about 1925/26.
From his Scottish death certificate in 1964, it is known that Harold eventually became
an assistant laboratory assistant to the Natural Coal Board and married Sarah Jane Boyd, though not in Scotland
as a record could not be found there for the event. He was resident in Old Cumnock and died at 64 Bryce Avenue at 0.30am on
November 28th 1964. His father was listed as Edwin Graham, boilermaker (deceased), and Florence Halliday (deceased). No cause
for his death was listed. The informant to the Cumnock registrar on December 3rd was his daughter Florence Graham,
residing at 46 Bodney Road, Newport, Monmouthshire (GROS:1964/610/A/34).
CHILDREN of HAROLD GRAHAM and SARAH JANE BOYD:
Florence Graham
b: 19??
Florence was resident at 46 Bodney Road, Newport, Monmouthshire, Wales in November 1964,
at which point she visited Scotland to record her father's death in the Cumnock register.
George Graham
b: 1904
George was born in 1904 in Belfast, as noted on the Irish Family History Foundation's online database,
which also shows Edwin to be his father.
It is not yet known what became of George.
Edward Graham
b: 1??? d: ????
Our cousin Renee Fisher informed us that her father Brian had a brother
called Edward, better known as Ned, who was better known, was an enlisted soldier during the
First World War. After the war ended, he came back to Belfast and lived in the York Street and Docks area. He married
and had at least one son.
CHILDREN of EDWARD GRAHAM and UNKNOWN:
Edward Graham
b: 19??
All that is known of Edward is that he was known more colloquially as Eddie.
Matilda Graham - unconfirmed
b: 18?? d: ????
|
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| Matilda Graham's signature in 1912 |
This Matilda Graham signed the Declaration of Loyalty in 1912, and was also resident at the Graham
household of 70 Mountcollyer Street at the same time. It is believed that she was his daughter,
but this remains unconfirmed at present.
CHILDREN of EDWIN GRAHAM and SARAH-ANN
WILSON:
Maureen Graham
b: 1916
Maureen is married to a gentleman by the surname of Cavan, and has two
children. She currenly lives in Belfast, Northern Ireland.
CHILDREN of MAUREEN and (UNKNOWN) CAVAN:
Patricia Cavan
b: 19??
Terence Cavan
b: 19??
Terence currently lives with his family in Carrickfergus, County Antrim, Northern Ireland.
Brian Graham
b: 1918 d: 21/8/2007
|
|
| Brian and his wife Eileen in Belfast on their wedding day in 1939. |
Brian was born in Bootle, Merseyside, in the second quarter of 1918 (GROEW West Derby, Lancashire,
Vol 8b, p.561). He was christened at St. Leonard's Church on August 3rd of that year, and then returned with his family to
Belfast in 1923/24 at the age of about 5 or 6.
As a youngster, Brian visited Calum's great great grandfather Ernest Graham
and his wife Charlotte at their home in Esmond Street, Belfast, and remembers playing on the street with
Ernest junior, the boys' great grandfather.
Brian grew up to become a draughtsman at Harland and Wolfe and joined the
Trade Union movement, becoming an official within it. He married Alice Eileen Mary (1920 - 2003) and
had three daughters, and a son, who tragically died in infancy.
Brian spent his retirement living in Belfast, and at the age of 70 he completed
a degree at Queens University Belfast.
Brian sadly passed away at home in Belfast, surrounded by his family, on August
21st 2007, and was duly buried two days later. He had been suffering from kidney, bowel and lung cancer, which had
only discovered at the start of the year. We are forever indebted to Brian for the information that he was able to share with
us, without which the Graham side of our tree would never have been anywhere near as developed.
CHILDREN of BRIAN GRAHAM and EILEEN (UNKNOWN):
i) Brian Graham
b: 6/1/1940 d: 18/4/1940
Brian was the couple's first born, but tragically died in infancy in Belfast, Northern Ireland,
the cause being gastro-enteritis, of which there was a epidemic at the time. According to Brian's sister Renee, his death
broke his parents' heart.
ii) Eileen Graham
b: 19??
Eileen is married to Thomas Elkins and has two children, the family currently
residing in Norwich, England.
CHILDREN of EILEEN GRAHAM and THOMAS ELKINS:
Catherine Elkins
b: 19??
Michael Elkins
b: 19??
iii) Renee Graham
b: 19??
Renee currently resides in Drumbeg, Northern Ireland. She is
married to Harry Fisher and has two daughters, and currently works as a CAD/IT manager.
Renee contacted Calum's and Jamie's father in September 2006 and it is from her that much
of the Graham family's earlier years have been worked out, for which we are eternally grateful.
CHILDREN OF RENEE GRAHAM and HARRY FISHER:
Karen Fisher
b: 19??
Karen is married to Thomas Nolan, better known as Tommy, and
has children.
CHILDREN of KAREN FISHER and THOMAS NOLAN:
Kelsey Nolan
b: 1995
Kelsey lives in Northern Ireland and regularly competes in the Scottish Open figure skating
championships.
Jamie Nolan
b: 2000
Jamie currently resides in Northern Ireland.
Lara Nolan
b: 2002
Lara currently resides in Northern Ireland.
Julie Fisher
b: 19??
Julie is married to Declan (Dex) McKearney and has two children.
CHILDREN of JULIE FISHER and DECLAN McKEARNEY:
Kai McKearney
b: 16/9/2003
Jayden McKearney
b: 2005
iv) Joan Graham
b: 19??
Joan lives in Carnmoney, County Antrim, Northern Ireland. She is married to Ronald
Thompson and has five children.
CHILDREN of JOAN GRAHAM and RONALD THOMPSON:
Ronald Thompson
b: 19??
Darren Thompson
b: 19??
Neil Thompson
b: 19??
Gary Thompson
b: 19??
Joanne Thompson
b: 19??
Desmond Graham
b: 1920
Desmond was born in the 3rd quarter of 1920 in West Derby, Lancashire (GROEW 1920 Q3 W. Derby
Vol 8b p.735).
Desmond grew up to become a chief engineer in the Merchant Navy, but sadly died of lung cancer.
CHILDREN of DESMOND GRAHAM and (UNKnOWN):
Colin Graham
b: 19??
Little is yet known of Colin, except for the fact that he trained to become a doctor.
Ernest Graham
1893 - 23/8/1942
Ernest was Calum's and Jamie's great great grandfather.
|
|
| Ernest's signature on the Ulster Covenant of 1912 |
The earliest record we have to date of Ernest is of his signature to the Ulster
Covenant on Saturday, September 28th 1912, also known as "Ulster Day" (see above). Ernest signed the Ulster Covenant
at the North East Unionist Association Rooms on Brougham Street, in the district of Duncairn. At this time, he was recorded
as living at 70 Mountcollyer Street, just off York Street in North Belfast (PRONI:D1327/3/4339).
Ernest worked as a
painter for Harland and Wolfe shipyard in Belfast.
|
|
| St. Matthew's Church of Ireland, Belfast, Northern Ireland |
Ernest married Charlotte
Harper Montgomery on July 2nd 1919 at St. Matthew's Church of Ireland in Belfast, just three years prior to the partition
of Ireland. At the time of the wedding, Ernest was resident at 7 Grey Street, Bootle (on Merseyside, England), whilst Charlotte
lived at 14 Esmond Street. The officiating minister was the rector, Robert Walker, whilst the witnesses were Hugh
Gibson and Lilian McCracken.
Between 1934 and 1942,
Ernest and Charlotte lived at 14 Esmond Street in Belfast, and after Ernest's death, Charlotte continued living at the
same house until her own death in 1974. Whilst living at Esmond Street Ernest was occasionally visited by his younger brother
Brian, who describes him as having been quite a responsible man who was very particular in the way that he dressed.
Ernest's granddaughter
Cherie, grandmother of Calum and Jamie, recalls how her grandfather Ernest and his wife Charlotte were
both spiritualists, both being members of the Spiritualist Church on the Shankill Road.
Ernest died in the
Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast of acute pulmonary oedema and carcinoma of the lungs, at the early age of 49. His death
was registered at the General Registry Office in Belfast by his son John on 24th August 1942 (Belfast urban
district number 9, book 81). Ernest's wife Charlotte was buried at the city cemetery, it is believed that Ernest was also.
CHILDREN of ERNEST GRAHAM
and CHARLOTTE MONTGOMERY:
Ernest Graham
b: 17/3/1922 d: 23/10/1972
Calum's and Jamie's great grandfather - see below.
John M. Graham
b: after 1922
John was the second oldest and known as "Jackie" colloquially. John worked
at Harland and Wolfe shipyard in Belfast, and married Margaret "Meta" Kirker and had two children, their
names both unknown.
Irene Graham
b: after 1922
|
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| Irene and Stanley Gamble outside their home in Belfast - date unknown |
Little is known of Irene at present. She was born and raised in Belfast and went
on to work as a floor supervisor in Gallaghers cigarette factory in the city.
At some point, fairly early in her adult life, she married Stanley
Gamble, and the couple went on to have at least two children.
CHILDREN of IRENE GRAHAM and STANLEY GAMBLE:
Lynn Gamble
b: 19??
Lynn was born in Belfast. She is currently married and living in the Shankill
area of the city.
Eileen Gamble
b: 19??
Eileen was born in Belfast. She is currently married and living in the Shankill
area of the city.
Florence Graham
b: after 1922
Florence was the youngest of this branch of the Graham family. She worked
as a personal secretary at Gallaghers cigarette factory in Belfast. She married a Londoner, Gordon White,
and had two children, their names both unknown. It is believed that Florence lived in London for some time, but that she eventually
returned to Belfast.
Ernest Graham
17/3/1922 - 23/10/1972
Ernest was Calum's and Jamie's great grandfather.
Ernest was born at 14 Esmond Street, Belfast,
Northern Ireland, on March 17th 1922. The informant to the registrar on the 29th was a neighbour, Elizabeth
Patterson, who resided at 19 Esmond Street, and who was also present at the birth. In Ernest's birth entry,
his father was listed as a painter (GRONI:T9856/Belfast Urban No. 10/Bk 46/#450).
Ernest, more colloquially known as Ernie, worked
his apprenticeship as an electric welder at Harland and Wolfe shipyards in Belfast. During the Second World
War, he could not join the British Army as his work was protected as a restricted trade, the government viewing his ability
to help build ships to be more of a priority than going to fight as a soldier.
On July 10th 1943, Ernie married Martha Smyth, daughter of William McKeever Smyth and Annie Evelyn Lesley Watton. Their first child, Ernest Graham, tragically died in 1943 shortly after birth, but the couple
went on to have another four children together. The couple settled in the town of Carrickfergus, nine miles north east of
Belfast on Belfast Lough, and according to his second son Billy, Ernie's local pub was in the town's North
Street.
In early years, Ernie's home church was St. Matthew's Church of Ireland near Esmond
St on the Shankill Road, although in later years he became an atheist. According to his son Billy, Ernest refused to join
the Orange Order and the Masonic Lodge, as he did not like secret or sectarian organisations. And according to his daughter
Cherie (Calum's grandmother), he was fascinated about outer space, just like Calum's father! Cherie also remembers that he
was interested in art, and that her mother always described Ernie as being a good artist himself.
Back in the Belfast shipyards, Ernie's dislike of religious bigotry led to his disagreement with Harland
and Wolfe's policy regarding the treatment and employment of Roman Catholics in the predominantly Protestant workplace. Ernie's
closest friend in Belfast was a man called Michael, who was a Roman Catholic, and the religious discrimination
he found in the shipyards against his religion was enough to cause Ernie to leave to seek employment elsewhere in England. He
once told his son Billy that he would never work in Ireland again, because of such discrimination. And he always
referred to his homeland as Ireland, and not Ulster!
|
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| Ernie with wife Martha, son Billy and daughter Edna, Belfast |
Ernie's daughter Charlotte, later
to be Calum's and Jamie's granny, has many fond memories of her father. She remembers how he always used to lift every
child in the house up and kiss them and hug them before he left for work, and remembers how he would never let anyone go to
bed with a dispute unresolved, believing that you should "never go to bed on a bad note". She also remembers that at their
house of 2 Chichester Square in Carrickfergus, Ernie built a small rockery in the back garden.
After seeking employment in England, Ernie and
Martha moved in approximately 1953 to South Africa, where Ernie had gained employment with a company called Wesso. They lived
in both Durban and Johannesburg for about three months, but when unrest in the country over apartheid became too much, they
were forced to leave the country and return to Ireland. Ernie's son Billy has vivid memories of being awakened in
the middle of the night to be evacuated from their home because of this unrest.
In the following year, another contract was
to take Ernie to Saudi Arabia, to work as a boilermaker on the oilfields there, though on this occasion Martha put
her foot down, deciding to remain in Carrickfergus with the family. The Board of Trade passenger lists at the National Archives
in Kew (BT26) record his eventual return to London on September 10th 1954, with his address of future permanent residence
recorded as 2 Chichester Square, Carrickfergus. Ernie's job was listed as an electric welder on the document, and he was stated
to be a one class passenger, having sailed from Aden.
Ernie's work overseas saw him away from
home for considerable periods at a time, and it was shortly after his time in Saudi that things were to deteriorate
in the marriage. According to Billy, his father returned home after a long period away to find that his wife had had two children
that were not his (Nicole and Mark). Calum's grandmother Charlotte remembers that the couple had a meeting to discuss their
future, at which she was sent upstairs out of the way. The meeting did not resolve their situation and she recalls him
leaving, never to be seen again. Billy recalls that Ernie stayed in the town for a few more days after this, after
which he then took his things and left Ireland forever.
|
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| Ernie relaxing on the beach in Aden |
Ernie subsequently went to Carlisle
in northern England to take up a further contract as a welder. Whilst here, he ended up having an affair with a woman
by the surname of Bains. Martha and Ernie soon after divorced. Ernest then moved
to Cumberland in England, settling in the town of Egremont. It is not known whether he continued his relationship with
Mrs Bains, but it is known that he lived for a while at 76 Kings Drive in the town. In approximately 1954, however,
Ernie further moved south to Wales, taking up residency at the Alexandra Hotel in Pembroke Dock, where he remained a guest
for the next eighteen years. On October 24th 1972, Ernie died tragically in an accident at Pembroke Dock
in Wales, whilst welding inside a huge oil container on the new Amoco terminal. Just prior to the accident, his
daughter Charlotte had started writing to him in Wales, and both she and her husband Colin Paton had been on the point of going to visit him, but it was, however, too late. The following articles
made the front page of the Haverfordwest edition of the Western Telegraph and Cymric Times on Thursday, October
26th 1972, reporting the initial news of the accident:
Thursday, October 26th
1972
TWO PLUNGE TO DEATH IN REFINERY ACCIDENT
Two men died after falling from scaffolding
on an oil storage tank under construction on the new Amoco Refinery site in Milford Haven on Tuesday morning.
The accident occurred at 10.55am. One
of the men died instantly, while the other initially survived the fall only to die in the ambulance while being rushed to
hospital in Haverfordwest.
Shortly after the accident workers at
the nearby Esso Refinery stopped work and walked off the site in sympathy with the relatives of the dead men, as did the men
on the Amoco site.
The dead men were employees of Procon,
the main contractors involved in the construction of the refinery, who employ the majority of the thousand construction workers
on the Robeston West site.
H.M. Coroner was immediately informed
of the fatalities and H.M Inspector of Factories was also advised, and is understood to conduct an investigation.
The men, one a welder, the other a steel
erector, fell a distance of 36 feet to the inside base of the steel tank after scaffolding on which they were standing collapsed.
Late yesterday afternoon, police at
Milford haven released the name of one of the men, Mr Trevor Phillips, a young man with a wife and child, of 52 Lindsway Park,
Cardigan Road, Haverfordwest.
Mr Phillips formerly resided with his
parents at St Isell’s Avenue, Merlins Bridge.
The other man who was named was Mr.
Ernest Graham, of the Alexander Hotel, Diamond Street, Pembroke Dock, where he had stayed for eighteen years.
Mr. Graham was very well known in the
town and was a popular figure in the R.E.O.C. and R.A.F.A. clubs. He had no relatives living locally but was understood to
be a divorcee with a married daughter.
Aged 48, he was a native of Ireland
and had spent part of his life in Egremont, Cumberland.
In the aftermath of Ernie's death, his son-in-law
Colin Paton was able to obtain leave from his naval base at Faslane in Helensburgh to travel to Pembroke
Dock to collect his personal effects from the Alexandra Hotel. At the same time, the following obituaries
were recorded in the Belfast Telegraph after Ernest's death:
Thursday October 26th 1972
GRAHAM - Oct 24, 1972 (result of an accident
in Wales), ERNEST, beloved son of Charlotte and the late Ernest Graham, 14 Esmond Street - deeply regretted.
GRAHAM
- Oct 24, 1972 (result of an accident in Wales), ERNEST, deeply regretted by his sorrowing family circle, 10 Chichester Square,
Carrickfergus. In Heaven you rest, no worry or pain, God bless you daddy, till we meet again.
Shortly after, on Monday, December 11th 1972, an inquest
was held into the two deaths, and the Western Telegraph and Cymric Times of Thursday, December 14th again
reported the proceedings of the coroner and the jury's verdict into the inquest:
Thursday, December 14th
1972
A
WELDING FAULT CAUSED MEN’S DEATHS, CORONER’S STATEMENT
A scaffolding clip which had not been
fully welded was said at a Milford Haven inquest on Monday to have been the cause of the accident in which two men fell 35
feet to their death at the Amoco Refinery site at Milford Haven.
The man who had done the welding had
left the firm three days prior to the accident to return home for personal reasons, and the inquest was told, had not been
seen since.
The inquiry was on 29 year old James
Trevor Phillips, a steel erector, of Lindsay Park, Haverfordwest, and 50 year old Ernest Graham, a welder, of the Alexander
Hotel, Pembroke Dock.
After listening to two and half hours
of evidence, the jury returned a verdict of accidental death in accordance with medical evidence. Before retiring, they were
told by the South Pembrokeshire Coroner (Mr. J. F. Johnson) that it was not often they could come to a clear and quite unequivocal
cause of death on accidents, but in this accident the cause was the clip breaking away from the side of the tank. And it was
quite clear that it was badly welded.
"THAT IS LIFE"
“It was sheer chance that the
man who put it there was not one of the deceased,” he commented. “But that is life”.
The Coroner in his summing up also stressed
that in the case of Phillips, who was still alive when put into the ambulance, “no treatment on this earth” could
have done him any good, even if he could have been taken to a top class hospital.
The Coroner said that on the day of
the accident, October 24th, the men were engaged in removing distortions, from the shell of Tank No. 44, high up
on the side of the tank. They were working on staging fastened to the inside of the tank by means of clips and angle brackets
and scaffolding planks. One of these clips had broken away from the side of the tank as a result of which the two men were
thrown to the ground a distance of some 35 to 40 feet.
The Factories Inspector had, in fact,
been able to identify positively the clip which had broken away and it broke away because it was badly welded.
The clip was produced at the inquest.
PATHOLOGIST'S EVIDENCE
Dr. C. L. Hollick, consultant pathologist,
said that in Phillips’ case the cause of death was circulative failure due to torn blood vessels in the chest.
Describing Mr. Graham’s injuries,
Hollick said that the cause of death was multiple fractures of the skull due to cerebral contusions.
Mr. Cyril Wardle, North Park Farm, Wiston,
a welding supervisor at the Amoco site, said their scaffolding was erected at the tank by Mr. Kenny Page, Mr. Trevor Phillips,
Mr. Adam Jeffrey and Mr. Gordon Matthews. All the clips inside the tank would have been put in by Mr. Matthews.
On the Friday before the accident Matthews
did not turn up for work, and Graham was put in his place.
“Matthews has not been heard of
since,” continued witness.
Witness said he visually checked all
the clips and they all appeared to be satisfactorily welded on.
Mr. Adam Jeffrey, 80 Spring Gardens,
Haverfordwest, a clipper employed by William Neill at the Amoco site, said he was working in Tank Number 44. He and Page went
to the scaffolding above Phillips and Graham. Later, Phillips and Graham started to come up to their level and the staging
suddenly collapsed.
“They were thrown to the floor
of the tank”, he said, “We got down to the floor level and I sent Mr. Page for an ambulance.”
Mr. Kenneth Page, 31 St. Lawrence Avenue,
Hakin, a steel erector employed by William Neill, said the staging in Tank Number 44 had been erected about ten days earlier
and the clips had been welded on by a welder he knew only as Gordon.
Describing the accident, he said he
heard “a clatter” and looked down to see Phillips hitting the floor.
When he got down to ground level he
found Mr. Graham lying near the tank wall, and Mr. Phillips a few feet away.
Mr. Page said he had worked on other
refineries and had seen clips like these coming away on “three or four occasions”. He said it had not resulted
in a fatal accident, however.
Mr. Donald James Ellis, of 14 Latham
Avenue, Cheshire, area erection manager for William Neill said he went to the tank, where the accident had occurred, on November
2nd, to try and ascertain how the accident had happened.
During his examination, he found the
clip which had pulled away from the tank. He examined the clip and agreed with Mr. George the Factories Inspector and Mr.
Boswell, the metallurgist present, that the clip had not been a full weld.
“The majority of the welding was
still adhering to the tank wall and there was little welding on the clip itself”.
With the inquest over, a death certificate was finally
issued for Ernie on December 15th 1972. The cause of death was listed as multiple fractures of the skull with cerebral contusion.
Curiously, the occupation and usual address has Ernest described as a welder of 76 Kings Drive, Egremont, Cumberland, England
- yet Ernie had left Cumberland some 18 years previously. The informant was J. F. Johnson, the Coroner for the County
of Pembrokeshire (GRO:1972/Haverfordwest/no:89).
Ernie was cremated in accordance with his wishes, and his
ashes interred in a cemetery in Pembroke.
In 1977, five years after Ernie's death, his eldest son
Billy, on a visit from Australia, decided to go to Pembroke to try and pay his respects and to find out more
about his father's life there prior to his death. The following recollection tells us a good deal about Ernie's life
in his last years:
In 1977, I went over to Pembroke and took Michael
with me. When we arrived at the Hotel Dad had been living in, quite a few people virtually headed for the hills when they
saw Michael. Looking at Michael, you can be forgiven for mistaking him for Dad (apart from the red hair). Dad was extremely
popular with the local clientelle of the hotel. Aparentally, the life and soul of the party. They told us that he could sing
a song or two (something I don't think I ever heard) and was always full of mischief and fun. He was very much missed. We
paid the cemetery a visit and I cannot remember if we actually saw the urn containing the ashes or not (so long ago).
CHILDREN of ERNEST GRAHAM and MARTHA SMYTH:
Ernest Graham
b: 10/7/1943 d: 5/1944
Ernest died at the age of ten months and was buried
at Carnmoney Church of Ireland graveyard, with his grandmother and grandfather.
Edna Smyth Graham
|
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| Edna enjoying a night out - late 1980s. |
Edna was born in Belfast, County Antrim, Northern
Ireland, and was duly christened in St. Matthew's Church of Ireland on Belfast's Shankill Road.
As a young child, Edna was raised initially in Belfast, then moved to 53 Chichester Square
in nearby Carrickfergus, before moving to 2 Chichester Square. She attended Sunnylands Primary School, and at the age of eleven
was a member of the Girls Life Brigade. After finishing primary school education, she then attended Carrickfergus Intermediate
Secondary Modern School on the town's North Road.
Edna had three children with her partner Reg
McKim, a sewing machine mechanic, the first being their daughter Cheryl, born in 1966.
With Edna only seventeen at this stage, the decision was taken by her mother Martha to raise Cheryl as if she was her
daughter, and not as her granddaughter. Edna continued her relationship with Reg McKim and soon had two more children
by him, Paul in 1970, and then Warren in 1972.
When Edna left school, she worked at Woodburn Weaving Mill, and then at a series
of other factories in the town, such as Amblers, Albion, Getty Connections (in Kilroot) and Carreras.
Edna continues to live in Carrickfergus today, a grandmother with seven
grandchildren.
CHILDREN of EDNA GRAHAM
and REG McKIM:
Cheryl Graham
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| Cheryl at the reception on her wedding day |
With her mother only 17 years old when she was born,
Cheryl was raised as one of her grandmother Martha's daughters at 2 Salia Avenue, Carrickfergus, County Antrim, Northern Ireland,
and took the surname Graham. She was subsequently christened at St. Nicholas Church of Ireland in Carrickfergus,
with the christening coincidentally performed by the Reverend Mitchell, who had christened her uncle Billy many years earlier
in Belfast. Her godparents are her aunt, Charlotte, and her uncle, Billy.
Cheryl has spent most of her life living in Carrickfergus,
although in 1978 she lived for a year in Plymouth with her aunt, Charlotte.
Cheryl attended Sunnylands Primary School and then Carrickfergus Intermediate School, although
whilst in Plymouth she attended Laira Green Primary School, with her cousins Chris and Colin,
and her aunt, Nicolle.
As an adult, Cheryl had a long term relationship with Nigel Wade,
with whom she had four children, and then married David McCullough in the mid-1990s, holding a reception
afterwards at the Knockagh Lodge Hotel.
Cheryl initially worked as a chip shop attendant in Carrickfergus, but now works
at an old people's home in the town.
Cheryl continues to live in Carrick to this day.
CHILDREN of CHERYL GRAHAM and NIGEL WADE:
Lindsey Victoria Graham
Lindsey was born in Carrickfergus, County Antrim, Northern Ireland.
After completing her A-levels at Carrickfergus
Grammar School, Lindsey went on to do a degree at Queens University, but dropped out after a year.
Lindsey still lives in Carrickfergus.
Melanie Elisabeth Graham
Melanie was born in Carrickfergus, County Antrim, Northern Ireland.
Mark Graham
Mark was born in Carrickfergus, County Antrim, Northern Ireland.
Kelvin Graham
Kelvin was born in Carrickfergus, County Antrim, Northern Ireland.
Michael William Paul McKimm
Michael is known more colloquially as Paul, and was born
in Carrickfergus, County Antrim, Northern Ireland. Paul joined Carrickfergus Borough Council in about 2000, and works
with them to this day.
Paul married Michelle prior to 1995, with whom he had two
children, Stuart and Leah, but the couple separated in about 2002.
Paul has since struck up a relationship with Linda Telfair, who he describes as "a
dream". Linda gave birth to his third child Joel in about January 2006, and the couple intend to marry
in November 2008.
(NB: one of Calum's and Jamie's father's earliest memories was on staying with his aunt Edna at her
home in Maple Gardens in the early 1970s, on a trip from Plymouth to see his Irish family. Whilst there he had to sleep in
the same bed as his cousins Warren and Paul, and each morning all three would sneak downstairs early to make jam sandwiches,
and then sneak back up to the bedroom again to eat them, without waking anybody up!)
CHILDREN of PAUL McKIMM and MICHELLE (UNKNOWN):
Stuart McKimm
Stuart is believed to live in Carrickfergus.
Leah Charlotte McKimm
Leah is believed to live in Carrickfergus.
CHILD of PAUL McKIMM and LINDA TELFAIR:
Joel John McKimm
Joel lives in Carrickfergus with his parents and is known colloquially as "JJ".
Warren McKimm
Warren was born in Carrickfergus, County Antrim, Northern Ireland, where
he still lives today, working for a packing firm in the town.
William Graham
Billy is Calum's and Jamie's great uncle, and by a very
long mile the most successful member of the Graham household from Carrickfergus.
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| Billy with his parents Martha and Ernie, and elder sister Edna - Belfast 1948. |
Billy was born in Belfast, Northern Ireland and was then duly christened
in St. Matthew's Church of Ireland on the Shankill Road, Belfast, by the Reverend Mitchell.
Billy lived initially in Belfast and then in the Sunnylands estate
of Carrickfergus, Co. Antrim, Northern Ireland, residing at 53 Chichester Square, 2 Chichester Square, and from 1966, 2 Salia
Avenue. With his father taking up work abroad as a boilermaker, Billy also spent some time in 1953 living in South
Africa, before returning with the family back to Ireland after a few months living in both Durban and Johannesburg. He vividly
recalls being awakened in the middle of the night to be told to leave, as rioting had begun in the area where they lived,
the cause being tied to the apartheid regime currently in place at that time.
Along with the other Graham children, Billy was sent every Sunday to
Joymount Presbyterian Church's to attend the morning and evening services and to attend Sunday School. According to his sister
Cherie, Billy apparently used to open his offering envelope up every week, lift out the money and put back in a penny, though
he himself claims this to be untrue.
|
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| Billy, with sister Charlotte (Cherie) mother Martha, and neighbour - Sunnylands, Carrickfergus, 1953 |
As a young lad, Billy attended Sunnylands Primary School, and then moved to secondary education at Ardlee Grammar
School in Greenisland. However, he hated going to this school, and in 1952 transferred to Carrickfergus Intermediate Secondary
Modern School, the school at which his sisters were attending.
Life in Carrick provided Billy with many fond memories, and many not so fond. One of his pet hates as a
result of living there is snow. Whenever it snowed, his mother Martha would get him to dig out the front path to allow
her to get out of the house, an activity he absolutely hated. Another not so fond memory is the label of "The Fighting Grahams"
that was applied to his family, due to its extraordinary gift of being able to make two stones fight if they could. It
was a label that Billy was particularly determined would never apply to his own family.
Billy was also a member for six years from age 11 to 17 of the 2nd Carrickfergus Boys' Brigade Company (Joymount
Presbyterian Church), the same company which Calum's and Jamie's father Chris and uncle Colin
would later briefly join in 1980.
Along with three friends, including one called Sonny Alexander, Billy created a football
team in Carrickfergus called the Red Stars, which was based at the town's Barn United ground, and with whom they both played.
Billy was also involved with the organisation of the local YMCA on Lancastrian Street, as well as working voluntarily with
a local deaf and dumb school in Greenisland. As a part of his YMCA escapades, Billy recalls achieving one thing that
many besieging armies over the centuries failed to do, in that along with a friend, he broke into Carrickfergus Castle after
it had closed. Having gained access, they flew a large YMCA banner from one of the 800 year old fortress's windows, all
of which have subsequently been fitted with bars!
To earn money as a teenager, Billy worked at a fish and chip shop on West Street called Alexander's (also
known as the "middle chippy"), and still jokes to this day that he makes better fish and chips than Calum's and Jamie's
grandmother Cherie! He recalls the boys' grandfather Colin Paton coming into his shop on many occassions to get "a chip", and that he had a "bit of a swagger"!
Upon leaving school, Billy took up an apprenticeship at Courtaulds, where he started to train to become
an industrial plumber.
In 1968, Billy went on an Outward Bound youth trip to Moscow, Russia, making
him to date the most internationally travelled of the Graham clan. The trip was a junior youth leaders tour,
with his name having been put forward by Carrick YMCA youth leader Jim Weir. Billy was one of only
two from Ireland to be chosen, the other being a lad called Charlie Caslakes. Several others from Scotland
also went, along with one from Wales and the rest from England. The group set sail for Russia on the S.S. Estonia, and
upon arriving in the country they visited many cities including Moscow and Leningrad. One of Billy's many memories was of
seeing an embalmed Lenin in Red Square, with whom he would in later years share a similar hairstyle. Billy's recollection
of Russia was that "you could not breathe without permission in those days in Moscow", the secret police following them
everywhere. He also remembers Russian girls being worthy of attention!
In August 1969, Billy signed up in Belfast to emigrate to Australia
on an assisted passage scheme known as the "ten pound pommy ticket", fed up with the sectarian atmosphere of Northern
Ireland life. As a condition of his trip, he was to remain in Australia for at least two years - if he returned before then
he would have to repay his passage to the British Government. Billy flew out to Australia, the flight taking two days, and
arrived at Sydney where he was put up in a youth hostel for a few days, a place that he thoroughly despised, so much so that
he was out of there within a week. Billy had intended to find work as an industrial plumber, which he had been told was something
that the country was crying out for, but upon his arrival he was suprised to discover that the country had stopped working
with lead some ten years earlier, forcing him to seek work elsewhere.
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| Billy, right, with younger brother Michael - Carrickfergus, Northern Ireland, July 2001 |
A few months later Billy moved to Melbourne, where he has remained ever
since. After spending several years working in a plastics company, Billy eventually bought a company called Ezibinder
in 1980 with a business partner, and successfully continues to run the business until this day. (The company website at http://www.ezibinder.com.au/ will help you cater for all your Australian plastic stationery needs!)
Not long after arriving, Billy met and subsequently married Australian
girl Beth in the early 1970s. Beth hails from Ballarat, where her parents still live, and has a brother
and a sister. One of her fanilies claims to fame is that in 1910, Beth's grandfather Arthur E. Loveland was
asked to chauffeur Lord Kitchener around the town whilst he was on tour in Australia to get the country prepared
for a forthcoming possible war against Germany.
In 1977, Billy and his wife Beth returned for a visit to Ireland and England to visit family. As well
as visiting his sister Cherie and her family in Plymouth, Billy also visited Pembroke, where his father had
worked and ultimately died five years earlier in an industrial accident in 1972. The following are his recollections
of the trip:
In 1977, I went over to Pembroke and took Michael
with me. When we arrived at the Hotel Dad had been living in, quite a few people virtually headed for the hills when they
saw Michael. Looking at Michael, you can be forgiven for mistaking him for Dad (apart from the red hair). Dad was extremely
popular with the local clientelle of the hotel. Aparentally, the life and soul of the party. They told us that he could sing
a song or two (something I don't think I ever heard) and was always full of mischief and fun. He was very much missed. We
paid the cemetery a visit and I cannot remember if we actually saw the urn containing the ashes or not (so long ago).
Billy and Beth today have a family of three children, Bradley,
Roslyn and Alison, as well as two grandchildren, Mikayla and Brock
(named after racing car driver Peter Brock, who died in 2006) both of whom are Bradley's.
In Melbourne, Billy also took up an active interest in the scouting movement, working with
young people in the area, whilst his wife Beth (nicknamed Gecko because of her fascination with her many
pet lizards) has been working with the Joey Scouts age group since approximately 1991. In 2000, Bill took up a three year
stint as District Commissioner of Scouting for Greater Dandenong, his term ending in May 2003. Since then, he has gone
back to advising the Lord Casey Rover Crew.
Billy still returns to Carrickfergus in Ireland every few years to catch up with
the family, his last visit in July 2001 sadly to attend the funeral of his mother, Martha Graham (nee Smyth).
Billy has never regretted his move to Oz, and was invited to become an Australian
citizen in the late 1990s, which he proudly accepted. Today he continues to work at Ezibinder, is a keen supporter of the
AFC club St. Kilda (go on the Saints!), and a regular drinker at the Corkman, the Quiet Man and the Celtic Club of Melbourne,
where he discusses his republican Australian views and gets to judge the odd musical seisiun or three!
When Billy's sister Charlotte, Calum's and Jamie's grandmother, went on holiday to visit him
and his family in 1998, she was the first member of the family to have gone over to see him in Australia since his settling
there.
Billy has been revisited in Australia by his sister Charlotte
in 2006, and in July 2007 was visited for five days by his nephew Chris Paton, along with his wife Claire,
and boys Calum and Jamie, where a great time was had by all!
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| L to R: Rosalyn, Beth, Brad, Alison, and Billy - July 16th 2007 |
CHILDREN of WILLIAM GRAHAM and BETH:
Bradley Mark Graham
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| Bradley and Lauren, Melbourne city centre, July 21st 2007 |
Over Christmas 1999, Bradley spent three months working as a deckhand
with Fanta Sea Tours at Airlie Beach in Queensland, and then joined Mack Towing and Transport in March 2000, attending routine
breakdowns and the like, including one visit to a broken down hearse, complete with coffin!
In 2001 Brad moved onto interstate driving along the eastern Australian
seaboard, before deciding in December 2001 to settle in Eaglesby, South Brisbane, Queensland,
a twenty hour drive away from Melbourne. In 2002 he took up work with Trewin Transport, delivering boats and caravans, but
later worked in and around Brisbane as a truck driver for Coastline Vehicle Transport, where he delivered hire cars between
depots. As a trucker, Bradley developed an interest in country music, having bought various tapes by artists at different
truck stops on his many routes.
On December 22nd 2002, Bradley became a father to wee Mikayla,
born to his girlfriend Lauren, turning his parents into doting grandparents for the first time! The
family continue to live in Brisbane, and in October 2006 were further joined by their next creation, baby Brock.
The family continues to live in Brisbane, where Brad has taken a temporary break from trucking. In July 2007 Calum and Jamie
(along with their parents) got to meet Brad and his family in Melbourne for the first time, after they flew down
from Brisbane for a visit.
Top bloke...!
CHILDREN of BRADLEY GRAHAM and LAUREN (UNKNOWN):
|
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| Mikayla Graham, July 2007 |
Mikayla Lillian Jane Graham
Mikayla lives in Eaglesby, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
In July 2007 Mikayla's parents brought both her and her wee brother Brock to Melbourne, not
only to visit her grandparents, but also to see her cousins, Calum, Jamie and Chris, on their first trip to Australia. At
first a bit shy, Calum, Jamie and Mikayla soon hit it off! As part of the trip, Mikayla, the Grahams and the Patons visited
Healesville wildlife park, where she and her cousins were able to touch lizards, to watch koalas being fed and to see a raptor
display. None of them were disappointed!
Brock Lindsay Graham
Brock was named after Peter Brock, the racing car driver, who was killed in an accident.
Rosalyn Elizabeth Graham
In 1999, Roslyn started a degree in Swinburne University in psychology
and psychopysiology. Complementing her studies, she also worked part time as a technician in the Neurology Department
at Monash Medical Centre (where her mother works), helping with EEGs, as well as a job at Dandenong Central Pharmacy.
In her spare time she also played women's hockey.
Also in 1999, Roslyn visited Carrickfergus in Northern Ireland with her
father and sister Alison, to meet her father's family.
In July 2001, Roslyn accompanied her father back to Carrickfergus for
the funeral of his mother, Martha Graham (nee Smyth), her grandmother, where she met her cousins Chris and Robert Paton for the first time, as well as wee Calum, her first cousin once removed. Although it
was a sad occasion, it was good to meet her for the first time, and to watch her tragically fail all the Australian questions
in the Dobbins Inn pub quiz!
Roslyn graduated in March 2002, and no sooner had she done so than
she went on a ten week trip to Europe, initially doing a three week Contiki tour on the Continent, followed by a three
week tour travelling around the island of Ireland, and then spending the last four weeks torturing herself again with family
in Carrickfergus (with her aunt Edna), in Scotland (where she stayed with her cousins Chris, Robert and
Calum Paton), and finally in England (with her aunt Cherie).
Upon her return to Oz, Roslyn signed up to do a Diploma in Accounting
at Chisholm TAFE, which she finished in 2004.
Roslyn became engaged to her long term boyfriend Daniel on October
8th 2005, marrying soon after. She currently works for Artwrap and lives with Daniel in Narre Warren.
Alison Nicole Graham
Alison is the baby of Billy and Beth's family...!
At school in Melbourne, she learned to play the piano and the flute,
as well as hockey, her real passion. Outside of school she was a member of the Venture Scouts, and worked part time in
the Big W store at Parkmore Shopping Centre.
In 1999, Alison went with her parents on a visit to Carrickfergus in
Northern Ireland, to meet her father's family.
After completing her Year 12 VCE exams in 2002, Alison started a degree
in Science in 2003 at Monash University in Melbourne, particularly enjoying Biology. Like her elder sister Roslyn,
she also took up doing shifts at Dandenong Central Pharmacy to earn a little extra pocket money during her studies.
And like her father, Alison is a keen follower of Antrim in the Gaelic, but
unlike the rest of her family, has been trying to learn some of the basics of Irish Gaelic, and probably learning the
hard way why few people bother any more!
In 2005, Alison finished her degree in Science at Monash. followed in
2006 with an Honours in Biochemistry there. She impressed the hell out of her family with her thesis entitled
"Coexpression
and potential interaction of the nuclear transporter importin 3 and nuclear pore complex component nucleoporin Nup153 in mouse
testis". The first line from the thesis abstract makes exciting reading:
Spermatogenesis involves multiple cellular transitions to form mature sperm from germ line stem cells,
steps which require changes in transcription factors (TF), chromatin remodelling factor and cell cycle regulator action within
the nucleus...
Indeed it does, but rather than list the whole abstract, it is suffice to say that Ali has
spent a lot of time and effort to successfully prove beyond any scientific, theological or ethical doubt that St. Kilda is
quite simply the best AFC club, not only in Melbourne, but in the whole of Australia!
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| Paton and Graham cousins - Healesville, Victoria, July 2007 |
Charlotte Harper Graham
Calum's and Jamie's paternal grandmother - see
below.
Ernest Michael Graham
|
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| Michael in Carrickfergus, 1999 |
Michael, as he is more colloquially known, was born at 2 Chichester Square,
Carrickfergus, County Antrim, Northern Ireland, and was duly christened at Joymount Presbyterian Church in Carrick, where
he was named after his father's best friend, a Northern Irish Roman Catholic also by the name of Michael.
Michael was eductaed at Sunnylands Primary School and then Carrickfergus Intermediate
Secondary Modern School, although spent much of his time mitching off classes!
Upon leaving school, Michael worked at the local Crazy Prices superstore. At the age of 16,
in January 1971, he made his way to Helensburgh, Scotland, for the christening
of his godson, Chris Paton, Calum's and Jamie's father, which took place aboard HMS Churchill, a nuclear submarine berthed at the Clyde
Submarine Base at Faslane.
After leaving Crazy Prices, Michael then took up work at Standard Telephones
in Whiteabbey, where he met, and subsequently married a girl called Lynn Andrews. However, the marriage only
lasted a short time, and the couple are now a long time divorced, having had no children.
From the 1980s, in the Castlemara estate of Carrickfergus, Michael lived
with his mother Martha Graham (nee Smyth), looking after her until her death in July 2001.
Michael still lives in Carrickfergus, where he continues to work as a
decorator. He plans to remarry soon to his current partner.
Additional:
Martha Graham (nee Smyth) had a further two children after splitting with Ernie, Nicole Elizabeth Graham
and Mark Cahoon Graham, and a further three grandchildren by Nicole.
Although they were both given the Graham surname, because
they are not Ernie's children, I have included their stories with Martha on the Smyth page.
Charlotte Harper Graham
Charlotte is Calum's and Jamie's
paternal grandmother.
Cherie's mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA)
profile has been established following analysis of her son Christopher's DNA in 2007. This form of DNA was passed to her from
her mother Martha Smyth, her mother's mother Annie Watton, etc along the maternal line. Her haplogroup is H, meaning
that her maternal ancestors eventually go as far back as an ancestor that the boffins in white coats have named Helena. The
sample of DNA was matched against the Cambridge Reference Sequence by the Sorenson Molecular Genealogy Foundation, and the
following differences (mutations) to the sequence were noted:
HVR1: 16519C HVR2: 263G HVR3: 315.1C
If anybody has the same mtDNA mutations as Cherie, it will be
extremely likely that they share a common maternal ancestor somewhere in the last 500 years. Cherie's mtDNA profile is shared
by her four children, and her brothers and sisters. The children of her sisters Edna and Nicole also carry this same DNA profile,
though not those of her brother Billy, as men cannot pass on mtDNA to their children (it is inherited from the mother only).
Charlotte was born at 53 Chichester Square in
Carrickfergus, County Antrim, Northern Ireland, and was shortly after christened at Joymount Presbyterian Church in the
town. Named after her grandmother Charlotte Harper Graham (nee Montgomery), Charlotte became more colloquially known
as Cherie, a pet name given to her by her father, Ernie.
In her early years, her brother Billy nearly killed her...! Whilst in the pram, Billy decided to keep stuffing
Cherie's face with chocolate, until the point where it was almost life threatening, as she started to choke with so much chocolate
in her mouth! Billy received a hiding for his "attempt" on his sister's life!
Just two years after Cherie was born, she
and her family moved to the nearby house of 2 Chichester Square in the town, and it is from here that she has a fond
memory of her father building a rockery in the back garden of the house. Cherie also recalls that the kids
were not allowed to play in the garden by their mother, Martha, when the washing was put out on the line to dry. She also
recalls that she had a tricycle as a we'un which eventually was passed onto Michael when she outgrew it.
|
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| Cherie in approximately 1953 at 2 Chichester Square, with brother Bill, mother Martha, & neighbour. |
In the early 1950s Cherie went with her parents to live
in South Africa for a few months, as her father, Ernie, was an electric welder working on an overseas contract there. When
they returned, her father was soon off again, this time to Aden, but without the family, as Martha had not wanted to
travel abroad again.
When Cherie was only a toddler, her mother and father separated, after
it was discovered that Ernie was having an affair with a Scottish woman over in England, and the family were then raised in
Carrickfergus by Martha alone. At one point the couple nearly got back together again, and Cherie remembers that she
was sent upstairs in the house when they tried to discuss patching things up. But things soon fell apart at the meeting, and
when Ernie went upstairs to say goodbye to Cherie and the other children, that was the last that she would ever see her
father alive, as he shortly after moved back to England.
As a young girl, Cherie attended Sunnylands Primary School until 1961.
Her first teacher was Mrs. Baxter, who Cherie adored, and who taught her to read, followed by Mrs. McAlister, Mrs. Horscroft,
Mr. Joiner (known as "Jolly" Joiner), and then Miss Skelton, who was involved with the Boys Brigade at North Street Presbyterian
Church. The headmaster was Mr. Gorman.
Whilst in her primary school years, Cherie remembers going over
by ferry to Liverpool, England, to see her aunt Sadie for a short holiday with her mother, and also
recalls another holiday with her brother Michael, when they went to see their aunt Beattie in Wigan,
England.
Cherie recalls her early years as a young girl in Carrickfergus
as being one raised by a strict mother, but full of fun. She recalls how her mother used to sing Salvation Army songs to her
as a child, and also remembers how every Saturday Martha used to give her sixpence pocket money, which she used
to go to the picture house in West Street. Martha also bought her three comics every week, the Bunty, Judy and Mandy,
as well as magazines and comics for the rest of the children. Whenever Cherie would go for messages for other people
to the local shops, she was not allowed to receive money for going, as Martha always told her that she should not be paid
for doing a good turn for someone.
On one occasion going for messages for her mum, Cherie nearly
got into some serious grief with her. Having bought the messages, she got a penny chew in the change, and on walking home,
and realising that she would get in trouble, she returned to the shop and asked for the money back for the chew. The shopkeeper
gave her the money back, but allowed her to keep the chew anyway, impressed with her honesty, but when Martha saw her daughter
walking in the house with a chew she nearly tore strips off her, until Cherie quickly explained what she had done, after which
she was let off!
As a young girl, Cherie was terrified of going to sleep in the dark, and so to make her
feel better, the landing light was always left on for her. On one occasion, her elder sister Edna called her downstairs
to do the dishes, but their mum had always said that Cherie was too young to wash up. Edna was having none of it, and when
Cherie refused to come downstairs to wash the dishes, Edna bullied her by switching off the light on her and then banging
the ceiling with a brush to terrify her. She was soon downstairs crying her eyes out...! A fonder memory she has of bedtimes
is that of her father making sure that everyone went to bed with any disagreements sorted before going upstairs, believing
that you "couldn't go to bed on a bad note".
Cherie also has fond memories of Christmas. Every year the kids would
each be given an apple, and orange and a silver coin from Santa, and then their presents, which in Cherie's case would usually
be some books. However, with the kids knowing where the presents were hidden before Christmas Day, the books were usually
already read by the time they were opened! Dinner would then be eaten before the Queen's speech was palyed on the radio in
the afternoon. Cherie remembers how the routine changed from Hallowe'en 1960, as the family obtained a brown boxed
black and white Decca television, meaning that the Queen's speech could now be watched rather than listened to. Cherie's favourite
programme as a youngster was "Journey to the Holy Land", and she remembers innocently placing a damasc table cloth over
her head as she watched it, playing at being a nun herself, oblivious at that stage in her life to the fact that she was actually
a Protestant and not a Catholic! Cherie's favourite actor as a child was Vincent Price, her favourite actress was Dianna Durban,
and her favourite singers were Elvis Presley, Jean Vincent and Gene Pitney.
Cherie went onto secondary level education at Carrickfergus
Intermediate Secondary Modern School, where she stayed until 1966. She loved studying French, English and History, but
hated shorthand and typing. She is proud of the fact that in her last year at the school she came first in the class
with English, Maths, French, History, Geography, Science, Domestic Science and Religious Education. As an enthusiastsic netball
player, Cherie also went on many netballing trips around the country playing for the school team, and her photo is still on
the wall of the school today as part of the 1964 team.
Life as a teenager saw Cherie joining the Girls Brigade at Joymount Presbyterian Church,
which she attended every Tuesday night for five years, until she turned 14, whereupon she left and joined the Girl Guides,
purely because her friend June Fleming was a member. On every Wednesday she also attended the church's Good News club.
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| Cherie at the age of 16 outside her house at Salia Avenue, Sunnylands, Carrickfergus - 1966 |
Cherie was sent by her mother Martha every week to Joymount Presbyterian Church,
along with her brothers and sister. Martha was very strict about their religious upbringing, they had to go to Church in the
morning, Sunday School in the afternoon, and back to Church again in the evening.
As she grew older, Cherie would occasionally babysit for a Scottish girl who lived across
the road from her, earning fourpence on top of her pocket money. With her money, she would attend the dances at the town hall
in Carrickfergus every Saturday night.
At the age of thirteen, Cherie had her first boyfriend, a young lad called Bobby Fenton
who lived in the town's Woodburn estate. Her first date with him was at the Ideal Cinema on West Street, and she remmebers
that shortly after he went on holidays and brought her back a shell encrusted jewellery box, with her name written on it.
He didn't last!
In 1966, Martha moved the family to 12 Salia Avenue in Sunnylands, Carrickfergus, the
first house for the family to have central heating installed, which was necessary because of Cherie's disabled brother
Mark. Cherie has fond memories of Mark, stating that he was the only thing in their lives that the family
never fought over, as all of them equally adored him. On one occasion, she remembers taking Mark out in a pram, and a neighbour
called Mina Bailey coming up to her and taking pity on Mark. Cherie defiantly told her where she could take her pity, and
within minutes Mina was round at Martha's front door to complain about her. Martha knew that it was unlike Cherie to
be so defiant, but when she heard the reason for the outburst, Martha stood up for her daughter and also told her
where she could go!
As she grew older, and with her father not on the scene, Martha began to rely more on
Cherie for help with Mark in the family home. It was because of this that Martha vetoed Cherie from joining the Queen Alexander's
Nursing Corps, within the Royal Navy, saying that she was needed at home to help with Mark.
Aged sixteen, Cherie underwent an immense trauma, when her sister Edna binned her teddy
bear!
Also at sixteen, Cherie left school and took on a job as a shop assistant at
Simpson's Drapery Store on West Street in Carrickfergus, where she sold wool, buttons etc, working five days a week, Mondays,
Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, with Wednesday off. She remembers that with her wages, the first item of clothing
that she ever bought for herself was a turquoise blue dress with beige zigzag stripes on it. After three years working in
the shop, she left and took up work in Belfast's prestigious Robinson Cleevers store, on Royal Avenue. However, when the Troubles
started up in 1969, she quit the job, finding that Belfast was too dangerous a place for her to work in.
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| Charlotte on her wedding day - August 30th 1969, Carrickfergus |
A couple of days
after her close brother Billy had emigrated from Ireland for Melbourne in Australia, Cherie married a Carrickfergus
man, submariner Colin Paton. The engagement had only been a few days, and she had had to obtain special permission from her mother Martha for a sheriff's warrant, being under 21 years old.
The wedding took place at Joymount Presbyterian Church, and the witnesses were her aunt Margaret and her
uncle Tommy. The only other family member in attendance was her new mother-in-law Jean Paton. For their wedding
presents she received a fibreglass tray from her aunt Margaret, a set of bedsheets from her mother, and some cake plates from
her new mother in law Jean Paton. Cherie's funniest memory from the day was after they had all gone for a meal at the Coast
Road Hotel. Colin's mother was about to wash her son's shirt, when Cherie stopped her, telling her that she was Mrs.
Paton now!
For their honeymoon, the couple spent two days in Bangor in County Down. On the way the taxi driver carrying
them offered to let them stay at his house, which the two accepted. On the first night, the Saturday, they went to see The
Magnificent Seven at the local cinema; on the Sunday night they went to the Royal Naval club, the only place in town that
would serve drink on a Sunday. When the honeymoon finished, Colin went off to sea for six weeks. With Colin away,
Cherie had started a new job at Carreras cigarette factory, but had to stop after only three weeks when she received a message
from Colin that he was to be posted to Barrow on Furness, and that she would have to come over. She moved over, and the couple
set up their first home together at 5 Torridge Way, a three bedroomed house in the town's naval accomodation.
Shortly after moving to England, Cherie
took up work at a sewing factory in Barrow, and then at a men's drapery shop, but soon found herself pregnant with her
first child Chris. Towards the end of her pregnancy she returned to Carrickfergus to be looked
after by her family. She remembers of her time in Barrow that she would socialise at a local pub called The Periscope.
After Chris's birth in Larne, Cherie
and Colin moved to 12 Nelson Place in Helensburgh in Scotland, on the north side of the Clyde, with Colin now based at
HMS Nelson in Faslane. Cherie worked at a
hotel (now Queens Court flats) and she used to take Chris with her to work in a pram, leaving him sleeping quite happily in
the pram beside the radiator in the hotel kitchen, whilst she merrily worked away.
On one occasion she took Chris shopping
with her and as a part of this she went to a butchers shop. She parked her pram, went inside, bought her messages, left the
building, got onto a bus and made her way home. Forgetting one thing, of course - Chris! When she got home, she suddenly realised
what she had done, and in a mad panic, made her way back into town, to find him outside the shop where she had left him.
The following year, her second son Colin was born,
followed a couple of years later by her daughter Dawn. The family moved to Plymouth, initially staying at
a Naval housing estate, and then at 53 Wycliffe Road in the Laira district. It was whilst in Plymouth that Cherie decided
to try and get in touch wih her father again, with him now being based in Pembroke Dock, not far away in Wales, She wrote
to him to let him know that she was now married and had three children, and he replied favourably, sending her some
money to buy presents for them and indicated that he was keen to meet up with her to see his grandchildren. A meeting was arranged,
but tragically, just two weeks before it would happen, Ernie was killed in an industrial accident in Pembroke Dock,
having arranged to cover for a welder friend on his day off, and then subsequently falling from a scaffold that collapsed in
the oil storage unit that he was working on. Cherie was devastated at the news, and Colin went to Pembroke to sort out his
father in law's affairs for her. If there was some consolation, it was the fact that Ernie was obviously proud enough to be
keen to see his grandchildren, and had at least died with the happy knowledge that his daughter had re-established
contact with him.
Whilst in Plymouth, Cherie worked in a chip shop in the town centre,
whilst Colin was often away on duty. Her third son Robert was soon born.
However, Cherie's and Colin's relationship had turned sour, and they
decided to split up. Cherie took Dawn and Robert, the two youngest, with her back to Carrickfergus in Ireland, whilst Colin
took custody of the two eldest, Chris and Colin, returning himself to Carrick some six months later.
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| Charlotte outside her Glenfield home in Carrickfergus, just prior to her move to England in 1999 |
Cherie lived with Dawn and Robert initially in North Street, in a flat
over the butcher's shop, and then in a house at Rosebrook Avenue. She continued to work in chip shops in the town, initially
in Castle Chippy across the road from Carrickfergus Castle, then the chippie at the end of West Street, and eventually the
chip shop beside Crazy Prices superstore in Woodburn, where she worked for many years.
In the early 1990s, Cherie lived in a house in the Glenfield
estate, obtained with the aid of the MP, and recently former head of the Alliance Party, Sean Neeson, where she lived until
June 1999. Whilst living in Glenfield, she became an enthusiastic member of the Church of the Nazarene, and worked as a youth
leader in the church's Caravaners organisation, teaching children on weeknights and then taking away them on annual camps
in Northern Ireland.
When her son Chris went to university in England without any grant aid
whatsoever in 1991, Cherie gave him £200 to help him through the first weeks there. At that time she did not have
much money, and had been saving hard for months to try and give him at least some help. Very grateful for her help, he promised
her that when he graduated from university, he would send her to Australia to see her brother Billy as way of saying
thanks. In the summer of 1999, he finally sent her off on the trip of a lifetime to Melbourne, Australia,
to see her big brother Billy, his wife Beth, her nieces Roslyn and Alison,
and nephew Bradley - the first of Billy's relatives to have ever visited him from Ireland. She stayed
with them for three weeks and both she and they had an absolute ball, attending barbecues, sight-seeing, and just plain catching
up with the whole Aussie experience. She brought Chris back a pair of Aboriginal sticks as souvenir - he still hasn't got
a clue what they are supposed to be used for!
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| Cherie, unwilling guest star in "The Birds"! - Australia 1998 |
The Aussie trip proved to be quite
a life changer for Cherie, for no sooner had she returned to Ireland than in June 1999, she decided to move to Wolverhampton
in England to start life afresh with her new partner Jim McKeown. She settled in Bristol Street, across the
road from her daughter Dawn, who has been in Wolverhampton since she left university in the mid-1990s. Initially she worked
in a sandwich shop in the city, but with the increase of Dupertron's Disease, a hereditary condition that seizes up the fingers
and toes, she had to give up the job. She decided to take up foster caring, and has now a long list of children who have spent
successful periods being looked after by both her and Jim.
Cherie became a grandmother for the
first time, with the arrival of Calum Graham Paton. The excitement was obviously too much for her, as in January 2002 she suffered a mild heart attack (she'll kill
me for saying that!), although she has fully recovered from it now. She continues to spoil the wee critter!
Cherie married Jim McKeown in Beckminster Methodist Church, Pennfields, Wolverhampton, with the reception held at the
West End Club in the evening.
In the summer of 2006 the couple
relocated to Manchester, where they continue to foster children on short term placements from broken homes.
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| Cherie marries Jim McKeown in Pennfields, Wolverhampton, England - September 28th 2002 |
CHILDREN of CHARLOTTE GRAHAM and COLIN PATON:
Christopher Paton
Colin Paton
Dawn Paton
Robert Paton
Connecting to Calum and Jamie
Charlotte Harper Graham married Colin Paton
in 1969
Son, Christopher Mark Paton, married Claire Patricia Giles in 2000
Sons, Calum Graham Paton and Jamie
Christopher Paton
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