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John Smyth
18?? - 18??
John Smyth was Calum's and Jamie's great great
great great grandfather.
In his son Thomas' wedding entry on January 5th 1888,
John was listed as a farmer.
It is known that he had at least two children.
CHILDREN of JOHN SMYTH and (UNKNOWN):
Thomas Smyth
b: 1859 approx
Calum's and Jamie's great great great grandfather
- see below.
Margaret Smyth
b: 18??
All that is known about Margaret comes from her great niece, Margaret
Lynch (nee Smyth). According to Margaret Lynch, her great aunt Margaret died at a young age after
an accident involving a horse. Margaret was named after her great aunt in memory of her.
Thomas Smyth
1859 (approx) - 19??
Thomas was Calum's and Jamie's great great
great grandfather.
It is not yet known when Thomas was born, all
that is known as yet is that he was born in Belfast, Ireland, in approximately 1859.
On January 5th 1888, Thomas married Elizabeth
Bell, daughter of labourer David Bell, at Berry Street Presbyterian Church in Belfast. Thomas was listed
as a labourer, and his father as a farmer. The witnesses to the wedding were George Green and Mary
Green, with the officiating minister being the Reverend J. D. Crawford D.D.
From 1900, the the Smyths were
living at 87 Canmore Street in Belfast, where they stayed until 1904. At the time of the 1901 census, Thomas' age was listed
as 42, and he was born in the City of Belfast. He was a Presbyterian who could read and write, and he worked as a bleacher
in the mills and as a labourer.
What little more is known of Thomas comes from
the Belfast Street directories from the early Twentieth Century, where we learn that the family remained at Canmore Street
until 1904. Their name is recorded in these voumes as "Smith".
It is not yet known when Thomas died.
CHILDREN of THOMAS SMYTH and ELIZABETH BELL:
Mary Elizabeth Smyth
b: 1889 d: 19??
As a child, Mary worked as a corder in one of Belfast's linen mills. In 1912,
a Mary Smyth signed the Declaration of Loyalty in West Belfast. This may have been our Mary, as she was living at 8 Dewey
Street, with a Maggie Smyth, which may have been her sister. This however remains unconfirmed for now.
Maggie Florence Smyth
b: 1898 d: 19??
Nothing is as yet known about Maggie, other than that she was born in Belfast.
It may well be that she too went to work in one of the city's linen mills. In 1912, a Maggie Smyth signed the Declaration
of Loyalty in West Belfast. Again, this may have been our Maggie, as she was living at 8 Dewey Street, with a Mary
Smyth, which may have been her sister. This however remains unconfirmed for now.
William McKeever Smyth
b: 10/7/1899 d: 18/5/1980
Calum's and Jamie's great great grandfather
- see below.
William McKeever Smyth
10/7/1899 - 18/5/1980
William was Calum's and Jamie's great
great grandfather.
William was born in Belfast, Ireland, and in 1901 is listed in the census as living at
87 Canmore Street in the north of the city. On 19/6/1905 he started attending Wilton Street School, as evident from the surviving
school register held at PRONI.
During the First World War, at some point after July 1915, having reached the
required minimum age, William joined the British army. From the medal card at the National Archives in London, it is known
that William signed on as a private in the Royal Irish Rifles, and later did duty as part of the Royal Irish
Fusiliers and the Royal Irish Regiment. For his services to his country, William was later awarded the Victory Medal. According
to his son William, there is somewhere in existence (still to be traced) a photograph of him with two horses
and a uniform that includes two ammunition belts worn across his upper body.
After the war, William settled into civilian life,
and on Christmas Eve 1920 he married Annie Evelyn Lesley Watton in Belfast (GRO Dublin: Belfast 1 295 - 4th qtr 1920). The wedding took place at St Anne's parish church
in the city, the officiating minister was Reverend A. George Johnston, and the witnesses were Archie Mullen and Mary Bill.
William in fact worked as a decorator for Annie's father, Cochrane McLaughlin Watton, along with Cochrane's
brother William.
In 1922 the couple had their first child, Martha,
who later became Calum's and Jamie's great grandmother.
From 1927 to 1944 William and his family lived at 25 Liffey
Street in Belfast. Whilst here, the couple ran a grocery business from the front room of their house. William used to order
up all the produce (vegetables and the like) and at weekends used to make deliveries of these throughout the Old Park area
of Belfast using a horse and cart. William's main job though was working as a house painter and interior decorator, working
for a small local firm called Nelson's, whilst Annie looked after the day to day running of the shop. Their youngest
daughter Margaret recalls that her father closed the shop after complaints from the neighbours
that he was using this as a main source of income.
And according to his son William, if his mother mentioned to his
father that the front room could do with redecorating, when she would get up the following morning, she would find that the
room had been done overnight. William junior also recalls how when working with his dad, they would occasionally go for a
drink after work. His father would order himself a pint of Guinness, 'a working man's pint', and would order his son a bottle
of Guinness to wind him up, i.e. not a working man's pint! His sister Margaret further remembers that her father would only
have a drink on a Friday night, and on no other day of the week.
According to his son William, William
senior may have rejoined the British Army during the Second World War, as a member of the Royal Ulster Rifles, and it is believed
that he may have been at Dunkirk, although this still needs to be confirmed.
In 1944 the family moved again to 25 Roe Street
in Belfast, where William continued to live until his death in 1980. Whilst living here, he continued to work in his job
as a painter.
William was in the Orange Order in Belfast and was a member of the Royal Black Preceptory, and a grand
master of one of their lodges. According to his son Tommy, William also was responsible for the setting up
of the Ulster Accordion Band in Belfast, as part of his work in the Orange Order. But William was apparently asked to leave the
orders when one of his daughters married a Roman Catholic man and moved with him to the Ardoyne area of the city. William's daughter Margaret does not recall her father walking on an Orange march
in her childhood at all, so presumably his exit from the lodge happened prior to 1947.
William died in 1980, and was buried in the old cemetery
of Carnmoney Church of the Holy Evangelists (Church of Ireland), Newtonabbey, Co. Antrim. His wife Annie died the following
year and was buried alongside him. Their graves do not carry a headstone, and in 1997, they were joined by their
daughter Beatrice.
William's granddaughter Cherie, Calum's
and Jamie's grandmother, recalls her grandfather fondly, describing him as the salt of the earth. He always made a point of
referring to her by her proper name of Charlotte, saying that Cherie was a name for a dog! Cherie also remembers that he used
to make the Sunday soup every Saturday night, and that he loved his bottles of baby stout, which she also remembers
having to go to an off license in Belfast to get refilled for him. Cherie also remembers that he was the kind of man
who would always encourage people, telling her that if she worked hard for what she wanted she would get it. The kind of man
you would always run to meet - unlike his wife, who you always wanted to run away from!
The Belfast Telegraph
recorded the following tributes from friends and family:
Tuesday May 20, 1980
SMYTH,
William - May 18, 1980, at his residence, 32 Roe Street, dearly loved husband of Annie. House private. Funeral from his residence
, tomorrow (Wednesday) at 10.30am to Carnmoney Churchyard. Deeply regretted by his sorrowing wife Annie, Daughter Sadie, and
son Christopher, abroad. A bouquet of beautiful memories, sprayed with a million tears, wishing God had spared you just for
a few more years.
SMYTH, William McKeever - May 18 1980 - deeply regretted by his sorrowing daughter Martha and grandchildren,
Carrickfergus and Australia. Softly from the shadows he heard a gentle call, taking the hand of Jesus, he quietly left us
all.
SMYTH, William McKeever - May 18 1980 - Deeply regretted by his sorrowing son Tommy and daughter in law Margaret
and grandchildren; also great grandson. Two tired eyes are sleeping, two willing hands are still, the one who worked so hard
for us is resting at God's will; what he suffered he told so few, he didn't deserve what he went through, tired and weary
he made no fuss, but he tried so hard to stay with us; forever in our thoughts, God bless, Dad.
SMYTH, William - May
18 1980, beloved father of William McKeiver Smyth - deeply regretted by his sorrowing son and daughter-in-law, William and
Betty, Scotland. Also his granddaughters and husbands. Never selfish, always kind, these are the memories he left behind.
SMYTH, William - May 18 1980 - deeply regretted by his sorrowing daughter and son-in-law, Margaret and Benny; also
grandson Bernard. If roses grow in Heaven, Lord please pick a bunch for me and place them in my father's arms and tell him
they are from me.
SMYTH, William McKee - May 18 1980, at his residence, 32 Roe Street, loving memories of my dear
father. Deeply regretted by his sorrowing daughter and son-in-law, Evelyn and Gerald and grandchildren. Rest after suffering,
peace after pain, we would not waken you dear father to suffer again.
SMYTH, William - May 18, 1980, at his residence
32 Roe Street. Deeply regretted by his sorrowing daughter and son-in-law Beatrice and Jim Cahoon, also his granddaughter Phyliss.
He sleeps in a beautiful garden, free from all sorrow and pain and when life's journey is ended please God, let me meet my
father again.
SMYTH, William - May 18 1980, beloved grandfather of Christine - deeply regretted by his sorrowing granddaughter
and husband, Christine and Alan Haskins; also great grandson. You were someone special, grandad, someone kind and true, you
will never be forgotten, for we thought the world of you.
Wednesday May 21, 1980
SMYTH,
William - May 18 1980, deeply regretted by his his sorrowing daughter and son-in-law, Lesley amd Tommy Morgan and grandchildren,
Carrickfergus. I hold back the tears when I speak your name, but the ache in my heart is still the same, my voice is sad and
I whisper low, God bless you dad, for I love you so.
CHILDREN of WILLIAM McKEEVER SMYTH and ANNIE
EVELYN LESLIE WATTON:
Martha Jane Elisabeth Watton Smyth
b: 4/3/1922 d: 22/7/2001
Calum's and Jamie's great grandmother - see below.
William Cochrane Smyth(e)
b: Jul-Sep 1924
William was born in the third quarter of 1924 in Belfast (Belfast Urban 3, p.190).
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| Willy Smythe at home in Ayr, Scotland, April 2001 |
As a young man, William worked with his father in the painting firm, but
left to join the RAF in 1945, where he worked for 12 years as a member of the RAF police. Willy changed his name to Smythe
after he joined the RAF, as there was apparently another gentleman with the surname Smyth in his squadron. He pronounces it
'Smithe', but we all know he is a Smyth!!!
Whilst serving as a corporal in the RAF, William married Elizabeth
McKie, a departmental stores supervisor living in Ayr, Scotland, on December 12th 1955. Elizabeth was the daughter
of farm labourer Thomas McKie and his wife Agnes Miller, a farm servant. The wedding took place at St Quivox Parish Church
in Ayr, with the witnesses being T. Curran and Isabella D. Bryson.
Willy then left and worked as a hamcurer's boner, and later in a hospital
in Ayr as a porter.
Willy and Elizabeth are now retired and living in Ayr.
CHILDREN of WILLIAM SMYTHE and ELIZABETH McKIE:
Janet Elizabeth Sim Smythe
b: 11/11/1957
Janet (aka Janice) was born at 11.05pm on November 11th 1957 at Thornyflat Maternity
Hospital in Ayr. She married James Alexander Hutcheson in 1977, and had two children with him. The couple
were divorced in 2006.
Janet continues to live in Edinburgh to this day.
CHILDREN of JANET SMYTHE and JAMES HUTCHESON:
Nicola Hutcheson
b: 14/8/1980
Nicola was born at Simpson Memorial Maternity Hospital, Pavilion, Edinburgh, Scotland, on August 14th
1980.
Christopher Hutcheson
b: 1988
Christopher was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, in 1988.
Ann Evelyn Smythe
b: 1/10/1963
Ann was born at 7.55pm on October 1st 1963 at Thornyflat Maternity Hospital.
She married Archie McDonald in 1992 and the couple continue to live in Scotland with their two sons, and
still maintain contact with their relatives in Carrickfergus, County Antrim, Northern Ireland.
CHILDREN of ANN SMYTHE and ARCHIE McDONALD:
Gary William McDonald
b: 15/3/1996
Gary was born at Ayrshire Central Hospital, Ayr, Ayrshire, Scotland, on March 15th 1996.
Darren Archibald Smythe McDonald
b: 22/11/1997
Darren was born at Ayrshire General Hospital, Irvine, Ayrshire, Scotland, on November 22nd 1997.
Beatrice Smyth
b:
4/5/1930 d: 16/12/1997
Beattie was born in Belfast, Northern Ireland, on May 4th 1930.
Beattie married James Cahoon in the first quarter of 1951 (1951, Q1/0/424).
The couple went on to have two daughters, Phylis and Christine.
Beattie died on December 16th 1997 after developing cancer, and was buried in the old
Church of Ireland Cemetery at Carnmoney Church, Newtonabbey (1997/Q4/Death Ref D1997/B1/3001).
CHILDREN of BEATRICE SMYTH and JAMES CAHOON:
Christine Y. Cahoon
b:1962
Christine was born in the first quarter of 1962 at St. Georges (St. Georges, No. 1/p.423).
It is known Christine married Alan Haskins and that the couple have at
least one child.
CHILDREN of CHRISTINE CAHOON and ALAN HASKINS:
(Unknown) Haskins
b: ????
Phylis J. Cahoon
b: 1956
Phylis was born in Cookstown in the 3rd quarter of 1956 (1956/Cookstown/p.478).
Christopher Smyth
b: 19??
As a youngster, Christie and his brother Tommy were in
the TA together, training at the weekends. At one point the two of them were sent off on an expedition. Upon their return,
Tommy returned to Ireland, but Christie remained in Britain, where he joined up with the Royal Scots Fusiliers. He was soon
sent to Malaya on a tour of duty, and upon his return he settled in Essex and married a woman called Christine,
with whom he had a daughter. His family in Ireland have not heard from him since, and hence his current whereabouts are
unknown.
CHILDREN of CHRISTOPHER SMYTH and CHRISTINE
(UNKNOWN):
Christine (or Karen) Smyth
b: 19??
Sadie Smyth
b:
19?? d: Oct 2001
Sadie married on three occasions. The first gent was called Cyril, surname
unknown, the second had the surname Owens and the third Williams.
From the three marriages there are three children - Maureen and Steven
(Owens or Williams), and Lesley Smyth.
Sadie's last known whereabouts were in Liverpool, England, several years ago. She died six
months after her eldest sister Martha in 2001.
CHILDREN of SADIE SMYTH:
Maureen (Unknown)
b: 19??
Steven (Unknown)
b: 19??
Lesley (Unknown)
b: 19??
Lesley was not raised by her mother Sadie, but by her grandparents. She married twice, the
first time to a gent as yet unknown, and the second to Thomas Morgan.
CHILDREN of LESLEY (UNKNOWN) and THOMAS MORGAN:
Thomas Morgan
b: 19??
It is believed that Thomas was born in Carrickfergus.
Zoe E. Morgan
b: 1979
Zoe was born in Carrickfergus in the third quarter of 1979 in Carrickfergus, County Antrim, Northern Ireland
(1979/Q3/CENTRE 2/p.47).
Andrea Morgan
b: 19??
It is believed that Andrea was born in Carrickfergus.
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| Tommy Smyth and wife Margaret on Colin Paton's wedding day, Carrickfergus, 1969 |
As a youngster, Tommy worked at Edenderry Mills in
Belfast, and then joined ICI in Carrickfergus, County Antrim. He married Margaret Brown in Belfast in
the third quarter of 1946 (1946/Q3/BELFAST/)/802), and the couple went on raise a family of eight children.
In
1981, after many years employment at ICI, Tommy was made redundant. Shortly after, he was responsible for setting
up the Snooker Club in the Northgate Bar in Carrickfergus, and is currently the chairman of the club.
Tommy and Margaret still live in Carrickfergus
to this day.
CHILDREN of THOMAS SMYTH
and MARGARET BROWN:
Jacqueline Smyth
b: 1946
Jacqueline has at least one son. It is not known if she is married (Belfast Telegraph
obits 24/7/2001).
CHILDREN of JACQUELINE SMYTH and (UNKNOWN):
Ryan (unknown)
b: 19??
Linda Smyth
b: 1955
Linda is married to Roy and has at least one son (Belfast Telegraph
obits 24/7/2001).
CHILD of LINDA SMYTH and ROY (UNKNOWN):
David (unknown)
b: 19??
Nigel Smyth
b: 19??
Nigel is partnered by Valerie with whom he has one son (Belfast
Telegraph obits 24/7/2001).
CHILD of NIGEL SMYTH and VALERIE (UNKNOWN):
Darryl Smyth
b: 19??
Glenn Smyth
b: 19??
Glenn is married to Lesley-Ann and has at least two children
(Belfast Telegraph obits 24/7/2001).
CHILDREN of GLENN and LESLEY-ANN (UNKNOWN):
(Unknown) Smyth
b: 19??
(Unknown) Smyth
b: 19??
Joyce Smyth
b: 19??
Joyce is married to William Wilkinson and has
at least two children (Belfast Telegraph obits 24/7/2001).
CHILDREN of JOYCE SMYTH and WILLIAM WILKINSON:
Warren Wilkinson
b: 19??
(Unknown) Wilkinson b: 19??
Steve Smyth
b: 19??
Stephen is either married to, or partnered by, a woman called Mary
(Belfast Telegraph obits 24/7/2001). They have at least one daughter.
CHILDREN of STEVEN SMYTH and MARY (UNKNOWN):
(unknown) Smyth
b: 19??
Darren Smyth
b: 19??
In 2001 Darren was partnered by a woman called Linda (Belfast
Telegraph obits 24/7/2001).
Graeme Smyth
b: 19??
Graeme is married to Alison and has at least two children (Belfast
Telegraph obits 24/7/2001).
CHILDREN of GRAEME SMYTH and ALISON (UNKNOWN):
(Unknown) Smyth
b: 19??
Evelyn Smyth
b: 1940
Evelyn married Gerard (Gerry) Marshall in the first quarter of 1965
in Belfast (1965/Q1/BELFAST/0/868) and went on to have four children.
In the 1960s, Eveline and Gerry lived for a period in the Castlemara estate of Carrickfergus,
before returning to Belfast, where the couple now stay in the Ardoyne area of the city.
Evelyn has recently undergone treatment for cancer, and we wish her well in her recovery.
CHILDREN of EVELYN SMYTH and GERRY MARSHALL:
Shirley Sarah Marshall
b: 1966
Shirley still lives in Belfast close to her parents. Her cousin Cherie
McKeown (formerly Paton, nee Graham) recalls that her nickname as a baby was "Bubbles"!
Karen Marshall
b: 1967
Karen was born in Court in the third quarter of 1967 (1967/Q3/COURT/0/174).
Yvonne Marshall
b: 1969
Yvonne was born in Court in the second quarter of 1969 (1969/Q2/COURT/0/314).
Gerard Dominic Marshall
b: 1973
Gerard was born in Court in the first quarter of 1973 (1973/Q1/COURT/0/325).
Gerard still lives in Belfast.
Margaret Smyth
b:
1947
Margaret was named after her great aunt, Margaret Smyth, who died
at a young age from an accident involving a horse.
Born and raised in Roe Street, Belfast, Margaret also stayed with her
sister Martha for a time in Carrickfergus. Her niece Cherie McKeown (formerly Paton, nee Graham) recalls how she would have her beehive hairstyle done by her aunt Margaret before heading to the local YMCA disco.
Margaret returned to Belfast and worked in Edenderry Mills as a flax and yarn
spinner. In the first quarter of 1971 she married Bernard (Benny) Lynch in Belfast, and had one
son with him. She continues to live in the city, in the Ardoyne area.
In August 2004, Margaret's great nephew Chris Paton contacted her for the first time and was able to find out much from her about the Smyth side of the family, and
for this he is eternally grateful.
CHILDREN of MARGARET SMYTH and BENNY LYNCH:
Bernard Lynch
b: 1974
Bernard was born in Belfast in the second quarter of 1974 (1974/Q2/BELFAST/4/597),
and at birth it was discovered that he had a serious kidney disorder. In December 2000, Bernard successfully underwent
a kidney transplant.
Bernard is married and has one son. He continues to live in Belfast.
CHILD of BERNARD LYNCH and (UNKNOWN):
Pearse Daniel Lynch
b: 23/3/1997
Pearse was born in Belfast, Northern Ireland (1997/Q1/BELFAST/ref.U1997/B1/0891).
Martha Jane Elisabeth Watton Smyth
4/3/1922 -
22/7/2001
Martha was Calum's and Jamie's great grandmother. She
sadly died on 22nd July 2001 and is missed by all who knew her.
Martha was born in Belfast in 1922, the eldest
daughter in the Smyth family.
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| Martha Jane Elizabeth Watton Smyth, 1953 |
Martha attended school in Belfast until
the age of 14, after which, like most young working class girls at that time, she took up work in the Edenderry linen mill, just off the city's Crumlin Road. Also working
alongside her at the mill was her sister Beattie and brother Tommy. Martha's job was
to work as a doffer, one of the many young girls whose job it was to clear the frames of the empty bobbins, with a doff
being the term used for a bobbin that was full of yarn. Martha remained at Edenderry for about six years, eventually leaving
when she got married in 1943.
To hear more about life as a doffer in Belfast, the BBC's Legacies website
has recorded a series of audio interview of various mill workers. Click on the following link (requires Real One Player):
The linen processes and the doffers routine
And a traditonal doffer's song can be found at the following link:
You will easy know a doffer
During the Second World War Martha was also a songster
in the Salvation Army, and learned how to play the harp as a hobby on the Shankill Road.
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| Martha dn Ernest, with kids Edna and Billy, Belfast, approx 1946 |
On 10th July 1943, Martha married boilermaker Ernest
Graham, son of Ernest Graham and Charlotte Harper Montgomery, in Belfast, and after returning from their Dublin honeymoon, the couple went on to raise a family. Tragically,
Martha's pregnancy with her first son ended prematurely when she miscarried. The child was named Ernest
Graham, and was buried in the Smyth family plot at Carnmoney Church of Ireland Cemetery, near Whiteabbey.
Happily, Martha then went on to give birth
to Edna and Billy in the city, and just prior to 1950, the family moved to Carrickfergus,
County Antrim, where they set up home at Salia Avenue in the Sunnylands estate. Settled in Carrick, Martha further extended
the family by giving birth to Charlotte and Michael.
After her husband left
his employment at Harland and Wolfe in Belfast, disgusted at their policy of sectarian employment which discriminated
against Roman Catholics in favour of the country's larger Protestant community, Martha and Ernie moved to South Africa in
approximately 1953, where Ernie had gained employment with a company called Wesso. They lived there for six to eight months,
but when unrest in the country over apartheid became too much, they left the country and returned to Ireland.
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| Martha with her 2 children and a neighbour at Chichester Square, Carrickfergus - approx 1953 |
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