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Samuel McKeown and Elizabeth Jane Cassells © No record of Samuel or Elizabeth’s birth or baptism has yet been located, but it is believed they were both born in County Armagh Northern Ireland. Samuel around 1835, in Derrytagh which borders Lough Gullion, a shallow lake lying between the River Bann and Lough Neagh in the heart of the Montiaghs, and Elizabeth about 1845 in Derryadd, a small village on the shores of Lough Neagh. Samuel and Elizabeth were married by Licence in the Parish Church Moyntaghs Armagh Ireland on the 26th November, 18641. Samuel, a Bachelor of Derrytagh, gives his age as 28, his occupation as Weaver and his father as James McKeown, a Fisherman. Sarah, a Spinster of Derryadd, gives her age as 20, there is no occupation recorded, but her father is given as Richard Cassells, also a Fisherman. Samuel made his mark in the Register, but it appears Elizabeth signed her name as did the Witnesses James Kilpatrick and Thomas Cassells. It is assumed the witness Thomas Cassells is Elizabeth's brother. The officiating minister was John E Lewis. According to Samuel and Elizabeth's death certificates their mothers were Katherine McKeown (nee McConachie) and Isabella Cassells (nee McCanna)4. Situated on the southern shore of Lough Neagh, and bounded on the south-west by the River Bann, Moyntagh is in the Barony of Oneilland East, in the County Armagh. It is in the same general area as Derrytagh and approximately 6km from Lurgan. It is not known where Samuel and Elizabeth resided in Ireland, but it is known their first daughter, Sarah Ann's birth was registered in Lurgan on the 27th September, 18672. On this record Samuel is recorded as a Weaver of Derrytagh. Samuel and Elizabeth had several more children: Mary Ann 1870; Richard 1873; Isabella 1874; James Alfred Edward 1879; and Elizabeth 1881, all born in Ireland, but places are unknown. It is also thought there may have been two other children, as Samuel and Elizabeth's death certificates record 1 male and 1 female deceased, but names, dates and places of birth are not known. It is also not known what their living or social condition's may have been, but something must have prompted Samuel to look towards a better future for his family. As in 1883, Samuel age 40, his wife Elizabeth 36, and children: Sarah 16; Mary 12; Richard 10; Isabella 8; James 6; and Eliza 1, are found on the Shipping Index of the Immigrant Ship the R.M.S. Roma, bound for Australia. It is not known how, or if, Samuel may have discovered the schemes that hinted at a better life, or how he and his family got to England. It is also not clear why Samuel decided to take his family to Australia, but it is believed they paid their own way as free settlers. It is known that Ireland was mainly dependent on agriculture, subject to extremes of climate and was long among Europe's poorest regions, which was a principal cause of mass migration from Ireland, especially during the 19th and early 20th Centuries. Leaving Plymouth on 28th February, 18833, carrying Samuel and his family, along with many more migrants, the Roma reached Cooktown, Queensland, Australia in April of the same year. As in earlier journeys when bring immigrants to Australia, it is possible the Roma dropped passengers off all the way down the coast from Cooktown through to Brisbane, where Samuel and his family disembarked. It is assumed Samuel settled his family quickly into the Fortitude Valley area, where a son, Robert Samuel John, was born in 1885. Elizabeth died from Hemiplegia Epileptic Convulsions and Exhaustion on the 12th February, 19035. It appears she died at her home in Bowen Bridge Road, and her death was certified by her son Richard at the same address. She was buried at the Toowong Cemetery on the 13th February, 1903, in Portion 9, Section 28, Grave 1/2. The minister was J Spooner, Church of England and the witnesses John Melville and Thos H Brown. Both Hemiplegia and Epilepsy are neurological conditions, which means they are conditions that are caused by something that goes wrong in the brain. Hemiplegia means severe weakness, or paralysis, of the limbs on one side of the body, and in some cases can be caused by a stroke. Epilepsy is a disorder of brain function that takes the form of recurring convulsive or non-convulsive seizures. Samuel is found on the 1903 Queensland Electoral Role6, living in Bowen Bridge Road, Fortitude Valley, his occupation is given as Labourer. Son Richard, a Boot-maker is also listed as living at the same address. The 1905 Queensland Electoral Role6, shows he was still in Bowen Bridge Road, with son Richard. Still in Bowen Bridge Road, in 1908, he is now shown as apparently living on his own6. A search of the records of Applications for Pensions, indicate that on the 27th July, 1908, Samuel McKeown of Lutwyche, was awarded a Pension of 10shillings a week, payable at Fortitude Valley4. It is not known what occupation Samuel followed before he applied for this pension, but he is recorded as a Labourer on his death certificate. By 19136, he is living in Newfarm with his son, Samuel Richard John, a Boot-maker. At the age of 79years 10months, Samuel died at the Royal Brisbane Hospital on the 29th September, 19155. The cause of death is recorded as Bronchitis, Myocarditis, and Heart Failure. The informant was daughter Sarah Russell of Stratton Street, Fortitude Valley. Bronchitis often occurs during the course of an acute viral illness such as the common cold or influenza. Myocarditis or inflammatory cardiomyopathy is inflammation of heart muscle, and is also most often due to infection by common viruses. Samuel was buried on the 1st October, 1915, at the Toowong Cemetery, in the same grave as his wife. The Funeral Director was W Cannon, the Minister Isaac Brandon of Joyful News Mission and the witnesses were J L Melville & H W Paget.
References:
1. Marriage Certificate via LDS Film
Other Sources: Discover Northern Ireland http://www.discoverloughneagh.com/Heritage/
Encyclopeadia Britannica
http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9106328/Ireland WebMD http://www.webmd.com/ |
