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Full Story of the Knox’s of Raphoe Part three

William John is the President of the Madison Co. Farmers Institute.

John King Eaton is married and has one adopted child, to a son. King is quite

active in Agricultural and particularly as relates to the dairy business.

He was President for several years of the Sanitary Milk Producers of this part of

Illinois and Missouri.

The Association speaks for the dairy men in their dealings with the Re-tailors and

Whole Sale in the St.Louis, Mo. area.

King is now the Director for this part of Illinois, for the Illinois Agricultural

Association (I.A.A.).

He and his wife last December attended the National farm Bureau meeting in San

Fran cisco, California. They went down to New Orleans, La. across La. And

Texas, crossed over into Old Mexico, visited the Carlsbad Caverns in New

Mexico, Phoenix, Arizona, Los Angeles, California, San Francisco, California of

course, then back through the Royal George, etc.etc...and home.

Samuel West Eaton is married with daughter and she is a Registered Nurse, and

was in Europe, Belgium, Germany, etc. She was rated as 1st. Lieutenant I think.

A trio consisting of a Doctor from Chicago, Illinois, a Mexican’’ handyman’’

from Texas, and Lieutenant Eaton worked right behind the lines.

She is back in the United States of America now.

Samuel W. Eaton was a Second Lieutenant in the Field Artillery in Word War

One.

Thomas Marion Eaton, the youngest, was an Ensign in World War One, (neither

‘’ Samuel West’’ nor ‘’Tom’’ got over seas).

Thomas married a granddaughter of Aunt Mattie Blackburn Grey, and, of course,

a first cousin of his own once removed.

Tom was elected in 1934 Vice___ Mayor of Long Beach, California, Elected in

1936 as Mayor of that City, and in 1939 was elected as Congressman from his

district in California,

West died on September 16th, 1939, of Cancer of the Liver, aged 43 years in

August before he died, 12 days after a Tom's death his widow gave birth to a son

and she named him Robert Burdick Eaton.

Tom left two other children, Elizabeth Eaton, and Tom Summer Eaton. The latter

was in the Service in 1946. I do not know whether he was in it now or not.

John Knox, born in Ireland, Emigrated to the United States of America in 1850.

John went with his sister Martha Knox who was married to Sam Blackburn,

according to letters, Sam Blackburn went to United States of America first, and

then took the family out a year or so later. It was at this time John Knox went

out.

They went by Sailing boat and landed in New Orleans, in the United States of

America, John stayed in the South.

Martha and Sam heard from John from time to time. Then news stopped. A

violent epidemic of Yellow Fever swept through South America, and it is

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believed that John Knox died in that epidemic. No mention was ever made of

marriage.

Samuel West Blackburn, born , on August 6th

1858, in Edwardsville, Illinois,

United States of America, and was 88 years old in 1946, his wife as was also alive

at this time and was 93 years of age, five years older than he.

I am forwarding at copy of this letter to Lieutenant W. P. Eaton Q 873 452,

3032 I.S. Co. (Avon Prov) A.P.O.32, C / o. Postmaster, New York City. New

York. I would be glad to hear from you further, your cousin, Henry B.

Eaton.

Jane Knox born, and Emigrated to the United States of

America, married Thomas Henderson, this family

settled in the State of Maine, U.S.A... Jane’s sister

Rebecca Cullen (nee) Knox, Australia, corresponded

with Thomas Henderson, and Rebecca had a

Photograph of Thomas Henderson’s Mother.

Ann Knox born, Ireland (circa 1820) and Emigrated to the United States of

America, married James Mc. Clure (circa born) 1810. Ann Knox’s Sister Martha

also emigrated to U.S.A. and married Hussey McCoy and lived at Blue Mound,

Illinois U.S.A. Isn’t it strange that her niece Mary Elizabeth McClure were to

marry Anson Barnett at that address in 1890?

I think that this is the McClure Family from Trentibee, Convoy. Co.Donegal,

Ireland, This McClure family emigrated to the U.S.A. around 1842, they were

married in 1848. I don’t know if they were married in Ireland or the U.S.A. they

had a family of five children.

This next piece of information is from correspondence that I received from a

direct relation in Cochrane, Alberta, Canada, in October 2002, and it is the very

first contact that was made with this family in over One Hundred and Twenty five

Years. His name is Dennis Roll, a direct descendant of Ann Knox born 1820 and

James McClure born 1810 Convoy Ireland. This is taken from a Census Report of

1860,which I received on 27th

October 2002, and states that in Gibson County,

Patoka, Indiana, U.S.A.on the 16th

. July, 1860,the census report states that; Head

of household is James McClure, aged 50 years, farmer, born in Ireland, included

in the census were his wife Ann, aged 40 years, born in Ireland; Francis, female

age 11 years born in Patoka, William J. aged 10, born in Patoka, Richard, aged 8

years, born in Patoka, Mary Elizabeth, aged 5, born in Patoka, Martha Ann aged 2

years, born in Pakota, Rebecca Jane born May 1850, Pakota, Indiana, U.S.A.

Dennis Roll is absolutely sure that this is the family that came to the U.S.A. in

1842 and are our direct linage,.(his and mine)

What became of their children?

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One of the children named Mary Elizabeth, married William Anson Barnett and

came to Alberta, Canada, at a late age, together with two children, Jesse Ann

Barnett and James Thomas Barnett. Martha Ann McClure sister of Elizabeth

Mary Barnett (nee) McClure also came to Canada with them...

The picture left was taken

Strathmore Alberta Canada, in

1921. The tall man in the centre

with the grey hair is Anson

Barnett; the lady to his left in the

light sweater is Mary Elizabeth

McClure, his wife.

The elderly lady immediately to

her left and behind is Martha

Ann McClure.

The lady third from the right with white scarf is Jesse Ann McClure, my

grandmother

The young man to Anson’s right and behind is his son James.

The baby is my uncle Wallace, son of Jesse Ann.

James McClure died sometime between 1871 and 1880, he is

buried at the Bowling Green Cemetery, just South West of

the city of Effingham. After James McClure died the family

moved to Edwardsville Illinois.

The only McClure’s that moved to Canada were daughter

Mary Elizabeth McClure, who married Anson Barnett, and

Mary Elizabeth’s sister

Martha Ann McClure, she never married, and is buried at Strathmore, Alberta.

Jesse Barnett daughter of; Anson and

Mary Elizabeth Barnett (nee)

McClure, (nee) Knox’s daughter

Jesse Barnett married

Albert Millar in 1918 at Rockford,

Alberta,Canada.a small town North

East of Strathmore. He originally

came from North Germany as a baby

with his parents to Chicago in 1887.

He grew up there and out in Nebraska

before coming to Alberta in 1909 to homestead. In 1970 some of his relatives still

living on the farm in Germany that they had left way back in the late 1800’s

Jesse and Albert had four children; Wallace (b) 1920, Mary (b) 1924, Helen, (b)

1926 and James (b) 1930. Their mother Jesse died suddenly from Typhoid Fever

In September 1930 .Albert and their son Wallace were sick also at that time, but

survived.

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James Barnett son of; Anson and Mary Elizabeth Barnett (nee) McClure, (nee)

Knox, married Ezit. Blanche Sibley or Haskayne, she died in 1932, James married

the second time Mary Relinger. By this marriage they had two sons; Edward and

Bill. Edward lives in Calgary, (an electrician), and Bill lives on the original

homestead at Strathmore, He has a large and cattle feeding operation there.

Edward and Bill are both married and have children.

The family of Albert and Jesse Miller their daughter Mary; married Rudolf

Alexander Roll, father of Dennis Roll born 1946, and lives at Cochrane, Alberta,

Canada, now in the year of 2002. He says that his mother inherited an old photo

album that she believes belonged to her Mother and before that to her grand

mother Mary Elizabeth McClure, daughter of James and Ann McClure, (nee)

Knox 1820. Unfortunately most of these old photographs did not have captions,

so we don’t know who they are. There is one taken in Melbourne, Australia that

may have been of Rebecca. If Jesse had not died so young, I am sure I would

know today who they all were. Another one that I have is that of Rebecca

Blackburn (nee) Knox, b.1814 fact.

My mother Mary Roll, (nee) Miller, (nee) Barnett. Died December 2002. I have

two sisters and a younger brother; Bonnie, Lorelei and Kevin.

My Father Rudolf Alexander Roll, (born August 28th)

1923, died December 2nd

.

1995...

Wallace, Helen and James Miller are still living. Wallace is 82 now, he married

Milly Harriman and have a number of children; Carolyn, Weldon, Allison, and

Lyle.

Helen married Paul Peterson and live at Oliver, British Columbia, their children

are; Karsten, Kirk and Eric.

James, still farms the original home farm at Rockyford, it is a large farm and

includes amongst other things like Hoggs and Grain, the farm has also an

irrigation system. The original Barn that my grandfather built still stands,

measuring about 80 feet by 150 feet. It is of wood, built somewhere between

1918- 1828.

James and Mrs Miller have two children; Greg and Jeannie.

Elizabeth Mary Barnett (nee) McClure died January 29th

.1934,

William Anson Barnett died January 29th

. 1938.

Martha Ann McClure died December 22nd

. 1936.

They are all buried in Strathmore, Alberta, Canada.

Here is a piece concerning the death of Mrs. Anson Barnett found in the library

and archives in Calgary, Alberta, Canada It was on Micro Film, it was discovered

by Dennis Roll, and it reads thus.

DEATH OF MRS. ANSON BARNETT.

Mary Elizabeth McClure, Mrs Barnett’s maiden name, was born at Pittsburg,

Pennsylvania on the 13th

. April 1854.The family shortly moved to Princeton,

Indiana, and again to Effingham, Ilinois, where her father died, and thence to

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Edwardsville Illinois, where most of her childhood was spent. She was married to

Anson Barnett in 1890, and lived in the neighbourhood until 1909. In March 1909

the family came to Canada, and settled on land seven miles east of Strathmore

where have since resided.

Mrs Barnett’s life has been one of service and uplift to all those she came in

contact. She could do any work; she has mixed mortar and repaired plaster of her

house. She could apply a tourniquet and stop a bleeding artery. She could make a

silk dress and was an authority on the cutting and fitting of all women’s apparel.

Moreover she was a woman of strong and fearless personality and made her

presence felt for good in every group she joined.

About three years ago she became totally blind from an infliction called hardening

of the eye balls.

From her girlhood she had been a member of the Presbyterian Church until

coming to Canada when they joined the United Church.

In her younger days she was active in organizing Sunday school picnics and

church socials.

She leaves her husband and one son James Thomas and one elderly sister Martha

Ann McClure. And one grandchild at home and four grandchildren at Rockyford

to Mourne her loss. It can be said that she left the world purer and better for

having lived in it. Of such is the Kingdom of Heaven.

The funeral was held from the United Church Strathmore, on the 31st. January

1934 at two p.m.. The Rev. Brundage officiating.

Funeral arrangements in charge of Chase and Co. Funeral Home.

Pallbearers were Mr. S Garriott, Garriott. Bill Damen, Jim McCormack, Harold

Scheer and A. Weyer.

This Death notice first appeared on February 1st. 1934 in the Strathmore Standard,

Alberta, (they are still publishing a weekly paper in 2002.

Dennis Roll says that from this he is guessing that the Knox and McClure couple

that they disembarked at Philadelphia, Penn. When they came from Ireland.

The Dennis Roll, Connection.

Dennis Roll is a great grandson of Anson and Mary Elizabeth Barnett (nee)

Mc.Clure daughter of Ann Knox, born, Castletorrison, Convoy, Co.Donegal,

Ireland, 1820, and married James McClure from Magherahee, Convoy,

Co.Donegal, Ireland. I have some descendants of Martha Knox and Sam

Blackburn, through a Jerry Long,

Dennis was born in 1946, in Calgary, Alberta,

Canada. and began my early years at

Rockyford ,just North East of Strathmore,

Alberta, Canada. My parents moved to an

irrigated farm east of Vauxhall in southern

Alberta in 1954 where I grew up. I attended

University of Alberta and graduated in 1968

with a degree in Agriculture, specializing in

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soil science. I worked all my life with provincial and federal governments as an

irrigation specialist in Saskatchewan and Alberta. I retired this past April 2002

and moved to a house in Cochrane, overlooking the Rocky Mountains. I live with

a friend who was born in England and moved here when she was five years old

with her parents. Her father came from the forest of Dean in England. My sister

visited Ireland a few years ago, but I never yet gotten outside the continent.

Trina is a career councillor at Red Deer College Red Deer, Alberta. .Marty and

Alenda farms at Rumsey, Alberta. (Grain and cattle) By Dennis Roll, 27

th. October

2002.

Martha Ann Mc Clure a daughter of James and Ann Mc.Clure (nee) Knox

received £ 500. Sterling's by way of a Will from her Aunt Rebecca in Australia.

William Blackburn Eaton and his wife visited them in 1946 in Strathmore,

Alberta, Canada.

They met a James Thomas Barnett, Eaton’s second cousin through the Knox

Connection. He was a son of the late Anson Barnett.

James lives on a Ranch of some 1845 acres, farms almost 1100 acres, had 745

acres of wheat in 1946 at an average 20 bushels per acre.

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Easther Knox, born Ireland, married George Donnell, from Cunningham,

Clonleigh, Lifford, County Donegal. He was a widower, and a farmer.

This family emigrated to Australia, there was no issue to this family, and nothing

more is known of it.

Rebecca Knox, born Ireland married David Cullen, (see marriage

cert) Cottown, Raphoe, on the 1st July 1852, Rebecca was then 18

years old. They were married in the Presbyterian Church Convoy by

the Rev John P.Dickson, and emigrated to Australia, their was no

issue to this union, she left £ 500 Sterling to her niece in America

by way of a Will ,her name was Ann McClure, there is nothing

more known of this family.

Margaret Knox, born Ireland, nothing is known of this person

Joseph Knox born 1821 Castletorrison / Craigs, as the Knox’s had now moved

farm, but only by about half a mile, their new address became known as the

Craigs or Tom’s Croft, Convoy, County Donegal.

Joseph was the only one of this family not to emigrate, he stayed on at his home

place where he learned the arts and crafts of farming the 60 acre farm where he

lived with his father John Knox and mother( nee) Herron, from Donegal Town ,

Co.Donegal, Ireland.

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Then Knox / Sherland Connection.

Joseph Knox married Jane

Shirlow from

Maghreanappan, Convoy in

1856.

The had a family of four, 2

sons and 2 daughters. their

names were,

John Knox, born 1858,

Marthann Knox, born 1860, Catherine (Cassie) Knox, born 1861, James Knox,

born 1863.

Jane Sherland had one brother named James, born (circa) 1820. his wife’s

name is not known to me, and had one known son named Alexander ( better

known as Alec), born (circa) 1850, who married Elizabeth Quinton, born (circa)

1852, from Ballindraitt Lifford, and had a family of six who’s names were,

James Sherland, born 1880

married a lady by the name of

Hunter, born 1900, in

Rossgarrow Kerrykeel, County

Donegal.

They had three children. Their

names where, Alexander born,

1919, Cecil born, 1921, Mary

born, 1924, Alec and Cecil did

not marry,

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Mary married Robert Tait from the Bawn, Convoy, and now resides near Omagh,

County Tyrone, their five of a family. Elma (13), Thomas (11) Carol (10), Joyce

(9) & Valerie (3)

Picture taken18th July 1965.

James Sherland’s of the 1880’s, brother Sandy, went to New Zealand and very

little was heard of him, except that he never married and died there.

The family back in Ireland were notified of his death at that time by the lady who

looked after him; she acquired all that he possessed

James Sherland of the 1880’s, sister, Mary born, 1878, married Andrew Mc.Clure

of Magheranappan, Convoy. These Mc. Clures are long since extinct; a family

named Mc.Clintock lived there after them. I don’t know who lives there now

James Sherland of the 1880’s sister

Cathy born, 1886, married Mc.Pheters from the Strabane

area. This family went to live at Greencastle, County

Donegal. This family is also extinct.

Ivy & Kenneth Bates (nee) Blair, Ivy is a

granddaughter of Alex Blair Lagnam, and is related

to the Sherland Families.

James Sherland of the 1880’s sister Jenny, born,

1888, married Alexandra Blair, Lagnam,

Killygordon, in 1911; she died in August 1935 aged

47 years. There were no children to this union

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Alex Blair’s sister was married to Buchanan of Ruskey, Mrs Buchanan died

giving birth to their first baby Joseph Buchanan.

Alex Blair being Mrs Buchanan’s brother offered to rear baby Joseph and was

brought from Ruskey to Lagnam when only a few weeks old.

Joseph Buchanan’s name was changed some time later to Joseph Buchanan Blair

and remained in Lagnam, married Rebena Kee, The Round Knowes Altnapaste

and have five of a family, one of the children died in his infancy.

James Sherland of the 1880’s Sister Ann born 1889 married Mc, Kelvey from

Arbourlea,

Near Omagh, County Tyrone, and have three sons.

Ann died very young, and the Mc Kelsey Family brought up the three children,

nothing more is known of this family.

James Sherland of the 1820’s sister, Mary, married. Lee, Priestown Convoy, his

father was John Lee from Leestown, Convoy, and his mother was Isabel Graham,

from the Priestown, Convoy.

David was the only one of the family that I knew, but he had other family

members in Scotland...

David married Ann Smyth from Finnydork, Convoy, and had one known

daughter to me, her name was Mary.

Mary Lee married William Blair from Findrum and had three of a family named

Rebena, Noel and Ian this family still lives at the Priestown, Convoy in 2001.

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My Great grandfather Joseph Knox and his wife Jane (nee) Sherland were David

Lee’s Uncle and Aunt through the Sherland Connection.

The following occurrence was related to me by Mr Joseph Blair, Cavan Upper,

who is a direct relation of the Sherland family.

During the Ministry of the Reverend Scott who was Installed at Ballyboe

Reformed Presbyterian Church in 1891. Alexander Sherland and William Gregg,

both from Magheranappan Convoy, were Elders of this Church.

During Alexander Sherland Eldership, while on his way to Church one Sabbath

morning, a member of his Congregation was Pitching Half-pennies at Manny

Gallagher’s Corner in Convoy.

Mr. Sherland stopped with this young man and told him of the Great Sin that he

was committing, and had him put before the Church Session for the offence. The

young man was Severely Reprimanded by the Church Session and shortly after he

left for America.

After some time in the United States of America he wrote home to inquire if the

Reformed Church was still in Existence, and asked to be informed of its

condition.

This young man’s name is believed to be Jenkins, and it is thought that he may

have wanted to contribute to the Church’s Upkeep at that time.

Both Alexander Sherland and William Gregg were of very strong faith and

adhered to the Gospel.

Alexander Sherland’s wife Elizabeth Quinton from Ballindraitt had a brother who

was Lord Lifford’s personal coach man. When the coach driver died he was

interred at Meenglass, Church of Ireland Cemetery, Ballybofey.

Lord Lifford Erected a grand Headstone in his Coachman’s Honour Stating

,’’Sacred to the Memory of David Quinton, who died February 1911, for Half a

Century was a Faithful Servant to James the Fourth, Viscount Lifford ‘’. And a

small Inscription at the bottom of the Headstone reads from Isaiah chapter 61, and

verse 10,’’ Covered with the Robe of Righteousness’’.

here is also a Headstone Erected

to his wife Lucy, also by Lord

Lifford which reads, ‘’Sacred to

the Memory of Lucy Quinton,

born 1831, good wife, and loving

Mother and a Faithful Servant,

died 7th

May 1866, aged 35

years’’

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The James Knox Connection 1863.

And the Ewing families of Artikelly, Jane Ewing of Artikelly born (circa)

1795

Married Adam Tait Labadoo born (circa) 1785 were the grandparents of the wife

of James Knox, born 1863 in the Craigs, Convoy, Jane Tait born 1864, in

Labadoo and a daughter of Adam & Mary Tait, Labadoo, (nee) Roulston,

Magheracorn, a son of Adam & Jane Tait (nee) Ewing

James Knox’s Father was Joseph & his mother was Jane (nee) Sherland a member

of the Sherland Family of Magheranappin, Convoy going back for many, many

years.

Some of the Ewing Family names from1805 are

William born 1805 died 1889, age 84 years

His wife, Rebecca Ewing (nee) Rankin born 1833, died 1914 age 81 years.

And their family were, Robert George Ewing,

William John Ewing, born 1859, died 1946, age 87 years,

David Ewing, born 29th

July 1863, died 20th

March 1943 age 80 years,

Rebecca Ewing and Sarah Ewing

Joseph and Jane Knox Craig's, Convoy, (nee) Sherland, Convoy, were admitted

to Ballyboe Reformed Presbyterian Church, Convoy, County Donegal. Date of

Certificate May, 1894, together with son John, son James, James his wife Jane,

(nee) Tait, formally, Labadoo, Joseph and Jane’s daughters, Marthann, Catherine

(Cassie) Knox.

The had a family of four, 2 sons and 2

daughters. Their names were, John Knox,

born 1858, daughters Marthann Knox, born

1860, Catherine (Cassie) Knox, born 1861,

James Knox, born 1863.

John Knox married the Eliza Robinson it

1891, their daughter Martha Moody Knox

born, at the Craigs Convoy on the 25th

July

1893, and died at the Craigs Convoy, on the 28th

September 1910 aged 18 years.

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She was employed by Alfie Laird of Convoy to learn the trade of dressmaking,

one day on a way home from work she got an awful drenching with rain and

storm, she contacted the fatal disease of Tuberculosis, and died shortly

afterwards. Martha Moody Knox is laid to rest in the Presbyterian Church Burial

Ground, Convoy.

John Knox’s wife Eliza died probably at childbirth of 1893,

I know that John Knox was transferred from Ballyboe

Reformed Presbyterian Church Convoy to a Reformed

Church in Scotland and 1895 and remarried, he had one

daughter and two sons by his second marriage, their names

are Maggie, John, and Joseph Knox. I have not got any more

information on this family at this time.

John Knox’s wife Elizabeth is laid to rest in the Presbyterian

Church Burial Ground, Convoy.

Marthann Knox, born at the Craigs Convoy, no married, died at Labadoo, in

October 1927, aged 67 year’s, and as laid to rest in the Presbyterian Church

Burial Ground in Convoy.

Catherine (Cassie) Knox, born 1861 at the Craigs Convoy, not married, died at the

Craigs, Convoy, in 1911, aged 50 years, and is laid to rest in the Presbyterian

Church Burial Ground in Convoy.

James Knox born Craigs, Convoy in 1863, as a young lad went to school in the

village of Convoy, some three miles from his home, he went there and back daily

was his sisters and brother.

After leaving school, he got into the farming scene with his father

Joseph and remained in farming all his life.

It was from the Craigs that he as a young man went to his House

of Worship at the Presbyterian Church in Convoy,

Afters he got married in 1892 he along with his wife his father and mother and

brother and sisters joined the Reformed Presbyterian Church in Ballyboe, Convoy

in 1894 where he became the Presenter of the singing at Worship, and was elected

to the Session.

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Around the year 1930 after a dispute with the Reformed Church Body regarding

the proceeds of an Estate in Donegal Town in which the Testator bequeathed

money to the Reformed Presbyterian church body regarding the Reformed

Presbyterian Church in Stranorlar and the Reformed Presbyterian Church at

Ballyboe, Convoy, to this James Knox took exception to the way that the monies

were allocated. He resigned from the Session of the Reformed Presbyterian

Church at Ballyboe, Convoy, in protest at the decision of the church body, and

later left the Reformed Presbyterian Church altogether and rejoined the

Presbyterian Church in Convoy.

After he rejoined the Presbyterian Church, Convoy in the1930’s he was elected to

the Session and served as an Elder until his death in 1952.

A few years before his death his eyesight was failing slightly although he wore

glasses he asked the Reverend Eakin who was the minister of the Presbyterian

Church in Convoy at that time for a copy of the New Testament of the Bible of

which the Reverend Eakin presented to him of which it is still in our possession in

the year 2001.

In 1920 the ladies of the Reformed

Presbyterian congregation

presented him with this beautiful

inscribed Clock in appreciation of

his work and for the raising of

praise during his time with the

Congregation which is still in my

home today in the year of 2001,

and it is treasured very much by

the Knox families.

He was a man of great faith, he

prayed daily and always said Grace before his meals, he was a great lover of the

Bible, and read it daily.

He read the Bible from cover to cover several time, and was able to discuss any

part of the Bible with the most learned.

He was well into his Eighties and was able to walk to Church in Convoy almost

every Sabbath morning from his home at Labadoo, where he came to reside in

1917.

In the Agricultural scene, he could always see what work should be done, and had

no hesitation in telling you when to get on with it.

15

He was a very conceited man, and walked with the aid of a walking cane, and on

other occasions drove around in his very well turned-out Pony and Trap. He

always kept for use only in the Trap a Rug of very high quality, to keep himself

and would-be travellers warm during a drive, as it was called at that time.

He was a man of great stature, standing around 6 foot 2 inches tall and weighed

around fourteen stone at his best. He never drank any Illicit Spirits, or Smoked, or Chewed Tobacco, he said about

drink, that it was the most demoralising thing that you could do to your body, he

said when he met a neighbour on a day out to the fair or market, which he

regularly attended, if you want to treat your neighbour with respect and dignity

on these days out, asked them to join you in a cup of tea, or something like that,

and if you want to offend him buy him Alcohol although this he was never known

to have done.

He also said about Smoking, or Chewing Tobacco, that it was a filthy dirty habit,

and should not be condoned by anyone that thought anything about themselves.

Sunday or Sabbath as he called it, was a very special day for him, and often

referred to the Sabbath as the Lord's Day. on the Lord's day, one was not allowed

to whistle, listened to the Radio, although we only got our radio in 1946, reading

the newspaper, he said about reading the newspaper, if you want to read, then

read your Bible, and if you find your own Bible then read mine.

As regarding work on a Sabbath, he would allow you feed the Animals and milk

the cows, sweeping them down or bedding them was not classed as a work of

necessity.

all feeding material that you needed for the Sabbath was made ready on the

Saturday, as were your Shoes polished and what they ever clothes that you

required for attending your Church or Sabbath School were made ready the night

before.

In the years of the long and bad her harvest’s, no work was allowed to be a done

on the Sabbath day, even the Sabbath was the only good day there was that week,,

you had to wait up till midnight on a Sabbath before you could start saving the

harvest..

He was always held in high standing in the community, and would be always

available when someone would seek advice from him.

He dressed impeccably, always using a shirt with no collar attached during the

working week, but on the Sabbath, if you wanted to be dressed, you had to attach

the collar to the shirt, one just attached the little band with the butterfly wing on to

the shirt with the aid of two studs that was required for the job, the front stud and

the backs stud as they were better known, there was always a hole in the neckband

of the back of the shirt for this purpose.

The trousers or pants had very tight fitting legs, and buttoned half way up your

legs. The Boots was worn came half way up your legs also, the reason for such a

long leg, was that when walking along the roads of that time, they were always

very muddy, and the mud would splash onto your clothing, and that was one-way

of preventing this problems.

16

When the short legged books became fashionable the still kept the tight fitting

pants, but purchased very long socks instead, you just pull the socks over the

tight-fitting pants right up the knee and call them plus four’s.

There was another reason for them, and that was in those days there was always a

short cut to your neighbours or the home of your girlfriend that took you through

fields, and the long legged boots came in very useful for this purpose.

For as far back as I can remember him, he had a moustache which he kept very

neat, with the most unusual hair style, so unusual was his hair style, that I never

seen one like it before or since. See photograph of James Knox born 1863 for

hair style and moustache.

l remember when l was around 13 years old he needed to have his hair cut, and I

was the one that was chosen to do the job, that was all right by me as I had caught

his hair many time before to the satisfaction of all concerned.

After I was finished cutting his hair and doing all the curl that he always placed

with the aid of a very strong solution of sunlight soap, and teasing this wisp of

hair into the piece about four inches long and about as thick as a pencil at the

point, you then had to try and form a curl that sat on the very top of us forehead, a

most uncommon feature, and I must say of very striking one at that.

He then needed a shave; again this was no problem to me and all, for I had given

him a shave many more times than I had cut his hair, although I was only thirteen

years of age at that time.

He was 85 years old then, and always went to bed around seven old clock in the

evening, he would take these notions that he needed to have some of these things

go on for him. I think that it was some form of loneliness, and that was his way of

letting us know that he needed someone around.

I got him laid out on the bed with his head slightly raised up for the occasion, and

got him prepare with a good lather of soap, and with the aid of the old fashioned

safety razor and a good old fashioned max smile blade I got started on the final

job for that day.

When I had finished shaving him, he said to me and Ivan do you know that my

moustache as annoying me somewhat, do you think you could take a bit off it for

me to see if that would ease it.

I clipped some of it away, and I asked him, how's that granddad, he ran his fingers

over it and said, maybe a wee bit more off

I clipped away another little bit, and asked again; again I got the same reply.

he said to me then maybe if you could take as little bit of with the razor that

would help,

anyway, to please him I completely shaved of the moustache, that never in the

memory of the Knox family did anyone of them see him without his so well

manicured moustache before, and ‘’boy’’ what a difference did that make to him.

I then let him have a look at himself in the mirror and to get his reaction of what I

thought was a very well done job.

He looked at himself, then he looked away, then he suddenly looked back and

started to rub his upper lip, and then burst out laughing, and he said as only as

James Knox could say it, saying it own words ‘’boy’s a boy’s’’ it sure makes

some differs, what d'you think.?.

17

For the first time ever he started to examine the Cute

little Curl on top and after some deliberation with

himself decided to have something done with this Curl.

He says? do you think you could thin that peace of hair

out a wee but, and again with only the wit of a child

agreed to his request, and started with the scissors to thin

out some of the hair that formed the Curl.

Then things started to go wrong in a big way, and a curl

started to lose it shape and, before you could say Curl

again, it was gone.

I asked him who do you like your new look now Granddad as he stared into the

mirror that I had just handed to him, and to see for him what a good Barber I was.

Well he looked and looked again and exclaimed,’’ boy’s o boy’s’’ your daddy

will not know me the next time that he sees, I asked him did he like it, he said

that it was a great and well done job, and thank me very much for making such a

good job of it as I did.

I then put my it tools together and went downstairs, my father said, what we you

doing till this time of night upstairs, I said that Granddad needed his hair cut, and

then decided that he also needed as shave, which I gave him, and I said that he

was delighted with it, and said that Granddad thanked me for what I had done for

him.

My mother was preparing supper and had got Granddad supper ready as well, she

asked for someone to take Granddad supper upstairs, and my father's said that he

would go.

I sat at the table to take my supper, my father went upstairs to my Granddad room

with his, and the next thing that I heard was my father letting out this terrific roar.

What in the name off C...... did you do with my Father he we was shouting.

Good Lord you gave me an awful shock, what in the name of the Almighty made

you do that, get yourself up here immediately he was shouting from the top of his

voice at the top of the stairs.

I went along to explain myself, and eventually he gave over and cooled down, and

the issue was closed at that, but when anyone called at our home to visit us and

Granddad as well, they would be told of his appearance before they would be

allowed to see him.

I bet you that put an end to my hair cutting and shaving of granddad for some

time to come.

James Knox was also a great hunter and his greatest pastime was hunting foxes,

and would spend days and the wanted tracking hair or jack rabbits as they're

called in the U S A.

Foxes was a very sore point with him, so much so that if he saw a fox crossing a

fence at a particular point, he would go there with his double barrelled shot gun,

and sit and wait even till the sun sank to get a shot at the fox, he never was known

to miss in a fox by shooting.

18

He would take along an old rag dipped in

paraffin oil, for to wipe his face and his hands

with, when the midgets which started in the

evenings as he sat there quite motionless under

the large leafy tree, waiting for the fox to

return from whence it came earlier in the day,

or the day before, or whenever.

It was on a mission such as this, on a Morning

in September in 1950, when a fox was spotted

not too far from our home at Labadoo, it was

on a neighbouring farm, and within travelling

distance for the old man, now in his 87th

year, my father pleaded with him not to

go with the gun, but to no avail, he was not going to be stopped by a little old age,

O not this James Knox, another Knox maybe, but definitely not our James.

With his double barrel shot gun and a few rounds of buckshot, which is far in

away the best type of ammunition you can use on a mission such as this, and his

paraffin oil rag off he sets.

It took him about 20 minutes to arrive at the scene where the fox was spotted

earlier that day, it was around 11 am. When he arrived there.

He got himself well settled down under a big and Ash Tree that was growing in

the hedge between two fields, and got prepared to wait for the return of Jessie

Fox.

From what we called the Croft gate were my father and myself were watching

from, we could see far more than my Grandfather could see from has position

under the Ash Tree, where he always placed himself for a mission such as this

He did not wait for more than 10 minutes, when my father pointed out to me what

appeared to be a fox heading straight for the place where we spotted the fox

earlier that day.

Grandfather sat there and I would think breathless, never talk about motionless,

waiting, when suddenly the fox jumped out and through a hole in the hedge right

beside him, it took him by surprise, for it was not the usual way these fox’s work,

and James Knox had by then studied their overall pattern, and this was certainly

out of pattern.

He led the animal go on past him for about 50 yards or so, when we saw the

animal fall to the ground, and then we heard a just one single shot.

Good my father's said he's got him, that's another one out of the way, good

riddance, good for you dad he says. Then we saw the fox crawling into some

undergrowth and Grandfather after it.

We waited and waited, but no sign or anything happening, it was near lunch time,

we usually had launched around noon and two days was going to be no different

from any other, so we went and had lunch.

An hour or so later grandfather returned and my father asked what happened

there.

19

My Grandfather was never known to have missed shooting a fox; Grandfather

was in a very bad mood about missing animal, and not shooting it outright, that

after a lunch he went to visit his life long friends, John and Kathleen Lucas,

Cavan Upper, and to tell them his sad tale of woe.

In the mean time that my Grandfather launched, and then made his way to a

friend's place, a couple of hours had past, and the Lucas family were dealing with

a very badly wounded a dog that someone took a shot at earlier in the day, and the

poor dog managed to make its way home from the scene of the crime, were

shortly after it arrived home the poor dog died from his wounds.

James Knox entered the Lucas household and immediately

started to tell them about what had happened earlier that

day, and how he searched and searched for the dead fox,

and could not find it, and had to give up on ever finding it

and about how the poor fox was going to suffer now after

his bad work earlier on.

He was almost on uncontrollable with grief and the Lucas

family tried their best to console him.

The Lucas family by now new what had happened to the dog, and could not bring

themselves to tell him the story.

That being, that the Lucas family had a dog which resembled a fox, and had

gone missing earlier in the day, and thought that it was away hunting rabbits on its

own, but when James told them the story, they knew exactly what had happened

to their poor dog.

Mr and Mrs Lucas were so upset about losing the dog, and were of such good

friends with old Mr. Knox as they referred to him as. They could not bring

themselves to tell him what had really happened that day.

It was a year or so later, just shortly before he died that that told him what really

happened on that very sad day before him.

He was very upset when they told him, but he eventually said that it was good that

the did, for it set his mind at ease and apologised to the Lucas family for the

dreadful mistake that he made.

The Lucas family accepted his apology, and said it was a genuine mistake,

because the dog was so much like the fox that anyone could have made the same

mistake and all was forgiven.

James Knox of the Craigs Convoy, when the was in his mid twenties met Jane

Tait also in her mid Twenties, from Labadoo, a distance of some Eight miles from

the Craigs, Convoy.

James would go and visit Jane every Sabbath morning, after having walked the

eight miles or so, you then would have had tea, then both he and Jane would have

set of for Church in Stranorlar Reformed Presbyterian, the service would be at

noon, and would end and at one thirty P.M.. They would then go back to

Labadoo and have lunch, after they would have had eaten and rested a while,

they would then set out for evening prayer at Blackburn at Carricknamanna,

Killygordon, a distance of another two miles, this prayer session would last for a

couple of four, The would then walk back to Labadoo and have supper.

20

James would leave Labadoo and around 10 o’clock in the evening and walk back

to Craig's, Convoy. He would have travelled in total and distance of some 24

miles four the day, and would be ready for work on Monday morning.

When asked about all the walking that he did he replied, sure it's only a dander.

Jane Tait, and James Knox were married on 7th July 1892 I don't know what

Church they were married in as yet, but I suspect it was Stranorlar Reformed

Presbyterian Church.

James Knox, Craigs, Convoy, was appointed as Clerk of Session of Ballyboe

Reformed Presbyterian Church in 1901,

He returned to Convoy Presbyterian Church at that time in 1940, and died on the

12th

July 1952, and is laid to rest in the Presbyterian Church Burial Ground, in

Convoy.

21

The Cowan / Roulston / Tait’s and the Craiggs / Labadoo

connection.

Jane Tait born, 1864 at Labadoo, Killygordon. Died on that 22nd

September 1923

aged 59 years at Labadoo, and is laid to rest in the Presbyterian Church Burial

Ground Convoy.

She was one of a family of eight, five sons and three daughters.

Jane’s mother was Mary Roulston, Magheracorn; Convoy Jane’s father’s name

was Adam Tait of Labadoo.

Jane’s Grandmother was Elizabeth Cowan, Augheygawlt, Convoy, it is widely

held that this Cowan family of the 1795 period where related to the Boneparte

family of Corsica of 1746 / 1785, Napoloen is believed to be a direct descendant

of this Corsican family.

David Roulston of Magheracorn, Convoy, born 1779, died 1832 aged 53 years,

and his wife Martha born 1783, died the 28th

of October 1845 aged 62 years.

Their daughter Isabel born 1815, died on that 23 of August 1836 aged 21 years.

William Roulston of Magheracorn married Elizabeth Cowan (circa) 1835.

William Roulston

born 1809, died in

1885 aged 76 years,

his wife Elizabeth

Roulston (nee)

Cowan born 1814,

and died in 1897 aged

83 years, are laid to

rest in Convoy

Presbyterian Church

Graveyard, being of

that faith.

They had a family of three known sons and three known daughters, sons Robert,

John, and David.

Robert born 1839 married Eliza Patterson. He was their eldest son and went to

Brisbane in Australia. I don’t know where his wife came from. Robert died on

22

11th

May 1875 age 36 years and is interred in Brisbane; this is all I know of their

family.

John born 1845, died on 13th

March 1897 aged 52 years, I don’t know if he ever

married.

David born 1854 and died on that 10th

May 1907 aged of 53 years, I don’t know if

he ever married.

The three daughters of William and Elizabeth Roulston, Magheracorn were,

Annie Roulston who married James Wilson of the Garrison

,Killygordon, who was a brother of Sarah Wilson born 1835 at the Garrison,

Killygordon, who married James Harper, Killygordon, whose daughter Elizabeth

married James McKane, of Whitehall, Killygordon, whose daughter Sarah

(Cissies) married Joseph Knox, Labadoo, Killygordon, who were my father and

mother. My name is Ivan Knox, formally of Labadoo, now residing at Corcam,

Ballybofey, in the year 2001. This Wilson family of the Garrison went to United

States of America in the middle 1800’s together with other brothers and sisters of

the family.

The Wilson family home at the Garrison,

Killygordon, dates back to the 1700, and became

occupied by a Blackburn family after the Wilson’s

left for the U.S.A. in the mid 1800.

The house pictured above, which is much the same

now as it would have been then, is presently owned

by Mr and Mrs Samuel Bates

James Wilson and his wife who were of farming background

were the first Wilson’s to live here

They had another daughter Susan born 1833, who married,

Isaac Hamilton, Carrickcaughan, Teromiamongan, County

Tyrone, whose daughter Letitia born 1900 married William

23

Hamilton, Laught, Castlederg, County Tyrone. Their daughter Susan married

George Watson, Laught, Castlederg.

They had three of a family, one son and two daughters, the sons name was John

and never married, he died around 1980. Their daughters named Ruth and Letitia

born 1928 died Feb 2002.

Letitia their eldest married James Scott, of a farming family from Castlederg, and

have a family of six.

Their younger daughter Ruth married Jack Thompson,

Carndreen, Castlederg, County Tyrone, and have a family

of two. A son and a daughter. The son is married with a

family.

One of the Wilson family returned to his native

homeland around the beginning of the 1900 and

rented a house at Gortnamuck, midway off

Castlederg and Castlefinn, and lived there for

some time.

His next

door neighbour was Hugh Lecky. the

Lecky’s and the Wilson’s where related as

Hugh Lecky born 1810, married Jane

Wilson, Garrison, Killygordon in 1852,

their son also named Hugh married

Elizabeth Tait of Labadoo, they have as son whose name is John Wilson Lecky,

Elizabeth is a sister of Jane Tait who married Knox, and a sister of Mary Tait

who married McClean.

Mr.Wilson later bought a piece of ground in Castlederg and built a new house

there.

its main construction material what timber which he had imported from Toronto,

Canada, and he called the new house ‘’ Toronto House’’ to remind him of his old

home in Toronto where he spent his young life.

It was built next door to the Police Station in Castlederg, after his time the place

changed hands, and later it fell into disrepair and eventually fell.

A new building now stands in its place.

24

The Holmes Family.

Isabel Matilda Roulston, born 1830 who

married in 1860 Joseph Rankin, born

1828, from Rossgarrow, Keerykeel,

County Donegal, and had a family of five

daughters and four sons

Their names where,

Annie Rankin, born 1861, married in

1890 Thomas Holmes, Convoy, and had

six sons and two daughters, their names

where,

John Holmes not married.

William Holmes married Reida

Fletcher, Castletorrison Convoy,

without issue,

Thomas Holmes, not married,

Robert Holmes, not married, Victor Holmes, married Frances

Henderson with one son Thomas Holmes living in Belfast in

2001. Alfred Holmes not married. Annie Holmes not married. And

Jennie Holmes, not married.

Sammy Holmes Artikelly his mother was Ewing of

Artikelly, his Uncles on the Ewing side were either

not married or of them that were had no family, and

all the Ewing property was inherited by the Holmes.

Marjorie Rankin, married Robert Hastings, born

1855, Cornigillagh, Convoy, she was his second

wife, his first wife was Marjorie Calhoun Hunter,

born 1866 from Rossgarrow Kerrykeel, she was an

Aunt to Mrs James Sherland, of Magheranappan,

Convoy, and is a direct connection on the maternal side of the Knox’s of the

Craigs, Convoy, as Joseph Knox 1821 married to the same Sherland two

generations back from James who was born in 1880, his wife name was Hunter

from Rossgarrow, Kerrykeel born 1900

25

Robert Hastings born 1855 and Marjorie Calhoun, born 1866, their first family

Elizabeth Ann born 1883, Margaret born 1887, Mary Hunter born 1889, Sarah

(Tillie) born 1897, Robert John, no date of birth given, Joseph born 1898.

All I know of at this family of the Hastings is Elizabeth Ann married John Foster,

Elizabeth Ann died not long after they got married

.

Robert Hastings born 1855, after wife his died, remarried, his new bride was

Marjorie Rankin from Rossgarrow, Kerrykeel, and had a family of five, two

daughters and three sons, their names where

Isabel married to Tom Weir with a family of six their names are

William, Caroline, Jean, Robert, Thomas, and France’s.

Caroline died in her Youth.

Thomas born 1900, died 1999 at Cornigillagh, and there is laid to rest at the

Presbyterian Burial Ground in Convoy.

Joseph married S. Fulton, and has a family of two sons, Thomas not married, and

Roy married Isabel Whyte, Magherabuoy, Killygordon, and half family of three.

Roy and Isabel and family live near Ballindraitt, and are involved in dairying and

farming.

Hazlet born 1900, emigrate to New Zealand at the same time as Adam Knox in

1926, Hazlet went into agriculture and married a lady named M. Smiley in New

Zealand and have a family of one son Graham married Patricia, and one daughter

Marjorie. These Hasting family connections are still in New Zealand in 2001.

In 1997 the late Graham Hastings wife Pat lived at Hastings Road,R.D.I.

Tauranga ,New Zealand ,her phone number was 0754302146.

26

The Smyth / Rankin Family.

The Smyth’s thought to be Protestants Huguenots, were smuggled out of France

in a carpet. Smyth can’t have been their name in France at that time in 1800.

Robert Smyth of Porthall, Lifford married Mary Smyth of Ardgrey , no relation,

they had a brickworks factory in Porthall , Robert was also an Elder in

Presbyterian Church there.

Mary Smyth’s of Argrey’s brother married a daughter of Hugh Scott of

Mountcharles, they had a son named Dr. Samuel Smyth, Dr. Samuel Smyth had a

son named Dr. William Smyth who died in 1901 of Typhus Fever, and he saved

his patient Joe Gallagher from the disease but died himself. There is a book

entitled’ Hero of Donegal’’ about Dr.William Smyth of Burtonport and a Plaque

erected on Arranmore Island in his memory.

Robert and Mary Smyth (nee) Smyth of Porthall and Argrey; had a family of one

known son named Alexander (Addie) Smyth, born in 1830, married in 1858

Isabella Tait, and died in 1893. Together they had a son named Robert Smyth

born in 1861, and died in 1952, married Mary (Minnie) Rankin born 1867 and

died 1965, a daughter of Joseph Rankin born 1834 and died 1922 and Isabella

Roulston born 1843 and died 1936.

Mary (Minnie) Rankin had nine brothers and sisters. The name Rankin thought to

be French Huguenot --- also named Racine in French or first Rantcy, said to be

the son of the famous playwright Jean Baptiste Racine member of the Academy

Francuise--- Uncle Thomas Rankin Presbyterian Minister in Legacurry Church

youngest brother of Grandma Smyth had the Silver spoons with the crest on them.

Racine’s son Jean Racine called John Rankin in Ireland was smuggled out of

France in a barrel when he was fourteen years old, he landed in Fanad Head,

researched by Capt. Mortimer in 1668, John Rankin was raised in Seacor area

where the oldest of the descendants reached 108 years of age.

Mary (Minnie) Rankin married Robert Smith of Magheracorn, Convoy, and had

five of a family of seven children their names are,

Irene Henrietta Smyth born 1905, and died in 1985, congested heart failure, had

Arthritis also, married William Hasting, her own full cousin. and have a family of

two, their names are, Moya Rankin a Schoolteacher in Canada born (circa) 1940,

unmarried, comes home regularly to visit her uncle Tom. Hastings at

Cornigillagh, Convoy who is nearing his One hundredth birthday.

27

Mary Louise Smyth born 1908 and died in 1950,

had congested lungs and developed a Pleurisy,

Flu, married John McClean of Callin and had

three of a family.

Mary Louise Smyth married John McClean

Of Callan, Ballybofey, they are also related to each other.

Irene Henrietta Rankin and William’s son Robert married in Canada with two of a

family.

Robert Smyth born 1902 and died 1973, not married, lived at Magheracorn,

Convoy, was a farmer by trade.

Leslie Smyth, born 1900,and died in 1958 of cancer of the lungs from smoking

cigarettes, got treatment for bad arthritis , married and had two of a family, one

son Kenneth now married and living in Holland and daughter Morven married

and living in England, each with their own family

Addie Smyth born 1898 formerly of

Magheracorn, died in 1973 from a heart attack

weakened from cured T.B. then residing at

Trenboy, Convoy married Jean Gardner,

Castletorrison , no doubt the same Gardner

connection that married William Knox, of

Castletorrison around 1800. And had a family

of fourteen. Ten girls and four boys.

Addie or Alexander and Jean Smyth (nee)

Gardiner had a family of four, three girls and

one boy named Robert, the girl’s names were Maisie, and twins Irene and

Margaret.

Adie’s Smyth daughter Irene and her husband Lexi Scott and their 3 sons, Robin,

David, and Richard, born (circa) 1970, live at Magheracorn in Irene’s uncle Leslie

farm.

28

Maisie who married David Tait, Bawn,, Convoy, and have a family of three sons

named, Collin who is married with a family & lives in McKinney’s Place in

Calhame, Convoy only a short distance from his home at the Bawn.

Robert is not married, and lives at the Bawn with his Parents

Rosemary is a nurse and is working & living in Londonderry, she is not married

as yet.

Leslie the youngest Passed Away some few years ago and is Laid to Rest in the

Reformed Presbyterian Church family burial grounds, Convoy.

Margaret Smyth of the Trenboy died in her late teenage years, just three months

after her uncle Robert in 1973 and is laid to rest at the Reform Presbyterian

Church Burial Ground at Ballyboe, Convoy.

Addie & Jean’s son’s name is Robert and married Irene Hanlon, from the Mass,

Glen ties, they live at Starritstown, Convoy, and have a family of four three sons

and one daughter ,who is the eldest born in 1964 , married Derek Long. They

have a family of two daughters.

Robert & Irene twin boys named John & Andrew born 1966 are both married,

with John living in the Grandparents home place at Trenboy with his wife and

children of which there are three boys and one girl, two of these boys are twins

also.

Robert and Irene’s second twin is married and living at the Great grandfathers

home place in Magheracorn, with his wife and children of which there are four,

three girls and one boy.

And Jeffrey Smyth, Robert and Irene’s third son is not married and lives at home

with his parents.

Sadly Roberts wife Irene Smyth (nee) Hanlon, died on the 22nd

of November 2003

after complications resulting from an accident in 2001.

Annie Elizabeth Smyth, born 1896, died in 1922 after a bicycle accident, she also

had a weak heart, not married, daughter of Minnie Rankin and Robert Smyth.

Thomas Smyth, born 1910 and died from cancer in 1998 in Canada, married Mary

Ann Sharden; there is no mention of any family. Thomas was a son of Mary

(Minnie) Rankin and Robert Smyth.

Part of this old homestead in the mid 1800 was a country shop, and served a very

wide area of the country side. They were also very intensive farmers as well.

The remainder of the family of Isabel Matilda Rankin (nee) Roulston, and Tom

Rankin,

Rossgarrow, Kerrykeel, I don’t know any more about them other than their

names, which are

John Rankin not married, Matilda Rankin, Caroline Rankin, Robert Rankin, and

Thomas Rankin.

Mary Roulston who married Adam Tait of Labadoo is my great grandmother on

my grandmother’s Tait’s side of the family.

29

The James Knox / Jane Tait, from 1891

James and Jane Knox (nee) Tait had a family of five, their names are

Joseph Knox born 7th

December 1893, baptized on the 15th

of April, 1894 in the

Reformed Presbyterian Church Convoy by the Reverend W. Scott , died 1963,

aged 70 years, and is laid to rest in the Presbyterian Church Burial Grounds

,Convoy, he was received into the Reformed Presbyterian Church, Convoy , at his

first communion in 1908.

He was one of Carson’s men and joined the Ulster Volunteer Force in the early

1900’s in Convoy, Co.Donegal.

In 1921 when the Home Rule issue was at the Political forefront he was living

with his father's James Knox at Labadoo when a number of I.R.A. men

Approached the house, they wore masks and carried guns, their intentions where

to raid the Knox home and steal guns and ammunition, and money they could

find. But their attempt failed.

30

The FAMILY OF

Joseph and Sarah Knox (nee) McKane

Her favourite verses from the Old Testament were from The Book of Psalms, and

from Psalm No. 90. Verses 4—10 reads thus,

4. For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday when it is passed,

and as a watch in the night.

5. Thou carrieth them away as with a flood; they are as asleep; in the

morning they are like grass which growth up.

6 in the morning it flourishet, and groweth up; in the evening it is cut down,

and withereth.

7 For we are consumed by thine anger and by thy wrath are we trouble.

8 Thou hast set our iniquities before thee, our secret sins is the light of thy

Countenance.

9 For all our days are passed away in thy wrath; we spend our years as a tale

that is told.

10 The days of our years are three score years and ten; and if by reason of

strength the be four score years , yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for

it is soon cut of, and we fly away.

He married Sarah Jane McKane, born 16th

December 1901, and died 12th

October

1998, and is laid to rest in the Presbyterian Church Burial Grounds, Convoy.

Sarah Jane was from White hill, Killygordon.

They were married on the on the 30th

November 1932 in Donoughmore

Presbyterian Church by the Reverend James Black, minister at that time.

31

They had three of a family,

one son, and two daughters,

their names where, the

eldest daughter

Jean Elizabeth born 2nd

October 1933, their only

son Joseph James Ivan, born 8th

May 1935, and

Aileen Isabel, born 30th

May 1940.

Sarah better known as Cissie, was a Secretary in

her young life, and worked for Insurance

Company in Londonderry.

Cissie and Joseph set up

home at Labadoo, where

Joseph carried out duties in

farming, he also owned a

Steam Thrasher and carried

out thrashing operations in

the vicinity, this practice he

gave up in 1944 but

continued farming until his

death in 1963.

Cissie worked on the farm

with Joseph and her main

interests were butter making,

of which she was well known, during the War years she supplied country butter to

customers in the villages of Killygordon, Ballybofey, Stranorlar, as well as a local

trade.

Her other great interest was Poultry rearing. And in 1958, together with her son

Ivan the started to market their own Poultry to the Hotel and Restaurant business

throughout the County of Donegal, and it grew into what became widely known

as Finnview Poultry Products, a totally family owned Company which was

established in 1995 and is completely run by the Knox families in the year 2001.

32

Myself, my name is there son Ivan, was raised as a farmer and traded extensively

in pigs, cattle and sheep, and learned the trade of bantering and bargaining at the

early age of 12

On the 8th

of June 1947, the day that Sadie Patterson from Laurel Hill, Castlefinn,

married John Mitchell from, the Grove, Castlederg, that day I made my first

purchase, it was a one year-old donkey that I bought from Patrick Galvin, Cavan

Lower, a neighbouring farmer for £ 3-0-0.

When my father and mother came back from the wedding party at midnight they

were so surprised to find a new animal in the farmyard.

My father them took me to my first market in Ballybofey, where I sold my first

pigs , they were eight-week-old Bonham and I received £3-5-0 each for them, the

purchaser was a pig dealer from Raphoe named Patrick Clifford.

Later when my mother started the Poultry Business, it was left to me to sell the

chickens that she had reared, seeing that I could sell almost anything else.

So on the first Saturday the Fifth of September 1958, I sold her first chicken’s to

Mrs.Harry Kee, Kees Hotel, Stranorlar, for Two shillings and 6 pence per lb.,

killed, plucked, and delivered, which was considered a very good price in those

days.

From that date in September 1958 Finn View Poultry Products was born.

My name is Ivan Knox; I married Letitia Hardy, Ballybofey, trained in the

Medical Profession, and gained her S.R.N. Certificate and also her S. C.M.

Certificate in Hospitals in England.

Letitia is third daughter of Alexander and Letitia Hardy (nee) McConnell,

Camish, Ballybofey born 25th July 1943.

A Letter from the General Nursing Council for England and Wales, 23 Parkland

Place, London. Dated 27th July 1962 and signed by A. M. Henry S. R. N.

Registrar.

Dear Madam,

I have much pleasure in informing you that you have been successful in passing

Part 1 of the Preliminary State Examination held in June, 1962.

Yours faithfully, M. Henry, S.R.N.

Registrar.

Then on 23rd November 1962 she received the following letter, this time stating,

Dear Madam,

I have much pleasure in informing you that you have been successful in passing

Part Two of the Preliminary State Examination held in 19th October 1962.

Yours faithfully. Henry, S.R.N.

Registrar

33

Her father Alexander Hardy, Meenahorna, Welshtown, Ballybofey married Letitia

McConnell, Cappry, Ballybofey, on 4th July 1934, in Stranorlar Church of

Ireland, the service was conducted by the Reverend E. Foot, the best man was

Joseph Scanlon, and the bridesmaid was Margaret Jane Gallagher. Alexander’s

occupation was a labourer, while his father was a farmer.

Alexandra and Letitia Hardy had five of a family, their names are

James Alexander Hardy born 28th December 1934, Baptized on the 3rd March

1945 by the Reverend S. E. Foot, James Alexander Hardy, married Nancy

Walwyn with Three of a family, Elizabeth, Gillian and son David, this family

lives in Leek, Staffordshire, England, we hear from them from time to time.

34

Margaret Elizabeth Hardy born the 27th

of June 1937. Baptized on the 18th

July

1937 by the Reverend Joseph Dunlop, in the Church of Ireland Stranorlar.

Margaret Elizabeth Hardy went to England and married Les Sergeant and have

two sons Terence, David, and a daughter Carol, all of which are married and have

families of their own. We hear from them from time to time.

Mary Joan Hardy born on 25th May

1941, was Baptized on the 22nd June

1941 by the

Reverend Joseph Dunlop.

Mary Joan Hardy married Patrick

Glenn, Drumore, Killygordon. Joan

worked in Herdsman’s Factory in

Ballybofey, while husband Pat was

trading in second-hand machinery

such as Cars, Tractors and Trucks; he has a keen interest in antiques and has quite

a selection of them. Together they built their new home at Drumore, Killygordon.

They have no family. They visit our home quite regularly.

Letitia Hardy born at 25th July 1943. Baptized in

Stranorlar Church of Ireland by the Reverend Dunlop, got

married on the 23rd

day of April 1967, by the Reverend

Moore.

See further on regarding Letitia’s family

35

Ann Hardy born 1955 joined the Army’s Nursing

Corps; married Steve Hitchman 1977, Steve was an

Engineer in the Royal Air Force and served in the

Falklands War with the British Forces.

Their son Peter Hitchman born on the 27th

November

1978, he lives with his Mother and his Stepfather

Michael Mullins, London, England, as Ann and Steve

have divorced. Both have remarried, I don't know

Steve’s wife's name.

Ann married Michael Mullins from around Galway, Ireland, a

Builder's Construction Engineer, and has two of a family, daughter

Alana born 28th

November 1985,

And son Craig born in 1991, both are still at

school.

Ann’s son Peter by her first marriage also works

with Mike and hope's to qualify shortly. We visit

each other’s homes from time to time.

Letitia Knox’s , Aunt Margaret McConnell, Camish,

Ballybofey, a sister of her mother's, died on 17th April 1973

36

aged 64 years, she suffered from what was believe to be Cancer of the Breast.

James & Jane Knox’s son Joseph. Married Sarah McKane of

White hill, Killygordon and had three of a family, which were

Letitia and Ivan have four sons. Their names are.

Our first son Wesley John born on 29th

April 1968...

Our second son Joseph Alexander born on the 10th

of April 1969.

Our third son Andrew James born on 5th

of July 1970.

Our fourth son Mark McKane, born on the 18th

January 1973,

Letitia Knox’s father Alexander Hardy, Camish, Ballybofey, died on that 12th

October 1945 aged 38 years; he was a Diabetic and died from Blood Poisoning

off an infected wound.

Letitia Knox’s mother Letitia Hardy (nee) McConnell ,Camish, Ballybofey, died

on 16th April 1979 aged 67 years.

Wesley John, born 29th April 1967, educated at the Roberson school Stranorlar,

under the guidance of Mrs Curry, National Teacher.

Wesley then went to the Royal and Prior comprehensive school Raphoe where he

spent the next five years. Wesley’s main interest where in Engineering, and was

successful in the manufacture of Weighing Scales to be used in the weighing of

lambs for slaughter, he was also the first in the locality to manufacture a Creep

feeding system for lambs.

Wesley went in to the Breeding of Pure-Bred Sheep as a hobby, and has been

quite successful in this venture, he gained the second highest price in The

Republic of Ireland for a ram lamb in 1990 at the Yearly Sales of their Breed held

in Maynooth County Kildare, the price paid being £ 2600 Guineas, he has also a

few Championships of the breed as well.

Wesley is also a Main Shareholder in Finn View Poultry Products where he

derives his livelihood from He and his wife Lorna and son Aaron lives at

Mullanboy, Castle Finn, where he has a small farm of land and a bungalow.

They have just purchased a new home at Carrickshandrum, Killygordon, and it is

only a short distance from his brother Andrew's home, both these homes are about

four miles from the home in which they where born.

Wesley's wife Lorna is an only daughter of Samuel and Gladys Devenney (nee)

Laird, the Milltown, Convoy. She has no brothers.

Wesley and Lorna's first baby Adam Andrew, born the 21st

June 1998, but unfortunately, due to medical care during

labour, Adams oxygen supply was severed for some time,

causing cerebral damage. He lived for a 26 days and passed

away on 18th July 1998.

Wesley and Lorna requested that donations in lieu of flowers

be used to supply a piece of much needed equipment in

37

Memory of Adam, to the Baby Special Care Unit at Letterkenny General

Hospital.

The family and are indeed very indebted to everyone who gave so generously, as

there is now a special Detoxing lamp, in everyday use there, inscribed in memory

of Adam, there is also a water purification unit put in place also at the Baby Unit.

Wesley and Lorna’s second son born on 4th November 1999 he is

just 21 months old now and quite a handful at that. By then they

hope to have sold her home at Mullanboy, Castlefinn, and have

moved to their new home at Carrickshandrum, retaining the land

Castlefinn. Lorna is a full-time Homemaker now, and is kept quite

busy.

Ivan and Letitia’s second son Joseph, April 1969, spent his childhood school days

at the Robertson National School, Stranorlar, under the guidance of Mrs Cory,

National Teacher.

His Secondary education was gained at the Royal and Prior, Raphoe, the Head

Schoolmaster was Mr Cookman, where he obtained his Leaving Certificate , he

then for further studies and technology and was accepted into the College of

Technology, Bolton Street, Dublin , and then went on to gain his Degree in

Quantity Surveying in Trinity College, Dublin.

Joseph married Louise Kilpatrick from

Findrum Convoy in July 1995, and have

daughter Jessica born 7th February 1999.

They moved into their new home which they

had been building for some time at Miles

town, Dunboyne, County Meath. Where

their second daughter was born on the 16th

.

January 2002 and named her Victoria Louise

and Abigail, born 27th

Nov. 2004.

Joseph is currently a Partner with Cafferkey’s Developments

based in Kildare.

Louise trained as a Veterinary Nurse with Costello and Mealy

Veterinary Surgeons in Dublin, and spent some time with

Cafferkey’s Developments before Jessica was born.

Andrew is the third son of Ivan and Letitia, in his

schoolboy days he attended the Robertson National

School under the guidance of Mrs Cory the National

Schoolteacher, and he received his Secondary education

at the Technical School, Stranorlar, where he obtained

his Leaving Certificate.

Andrew worked for a few Months in Mulrain’s Mineral

Store, Ballybofey, from July until October, when he

joined Finn View Poultry Products, doing sales and delivery. In 1995 he became a

major Shareholder with the Company.

38

He married Hillary Russell, Bray Head, and Raphoe in 1996 and have daughter,

Shania Elizabeth born 19th July 1999.

Together 1995 they built a new home at Carrickshandrum, Killygordon, where the

now lives. Andrew has worked in the family business since he left school, and

Hillary worked as a Machine Operator with the Fruit of the Loom Factory and in

Raphoe, up until maternity leave.

Ivan and Letitia’s youngest son, Mark, attended the Robertson

School, Stranorlar, under the guidance of Mrs Cory. He received his

Secondary education at the Royal and Prior in Raphoe, where he

obtained his Leaving Certificate, he went on for further studies at the

University of Ulster, and obtained his Degree in Tourism and

Business Management at that University in Jordanstown, and is

helping to run the family business since his father's retirement in

1995.

Sarah (Cissie) Knox (nee) McKane and Joseph Knox’s eldest

daughter Jean,

Attended Cooladawson, National School, and for her Secondary Education

attended the Finn College in Ballybofey, by gaining a Full Scholarship of which

there was only six places at that time. The value of the scholarship was estimated

at £12 –0-0 per year.

After receiving her Leaving Certificate at this College, she went into the Drapery

business with Ernest Whyte and Co. Ltd. Ballybofey, and served her time there at

a wage of 15 shillings per week.

She was greatly interested in the Nursing Profession, and at 18 years of age joined

the Lurgan and Portadown General Hospital as Trainee Student Nurse, where she

received her Nursing Certificate as an S. R. N. Then transferred to Edinburgh

General Hospital for the first part of her State Midwifery training, and transferred

to Glasgow General Hospital where she obtained her S.R.M.in Nursing

Qualifications.

She then returned to Ireland, and took up a Nursing Post in a Maternity Nursing

Home in Londonderry, after some time there she transferred to the Waterside

Hospital in Londonderry as Sister in Charge of a Maternity Ward; she remained in

this charge until she got married in 1963.

Some years after Jean married and had her family reared she returned to Nursing,

and took up Nursing duties at St Joseph's Hospital, Stranorlar, she was given post

as Ward Sister and later became Matron, retained this Post until her retirement

in 1998.

39

Jean married James Wilson a farmer or from Magherahane, Raphoe, in 1963.

James was a dairy farmer or at this time but later changed over to the production

of beef animals. He was always interested in top-quality animals and had a system

set up for the production of beef and occupation which he followed until his death

on the 1st April 1998.

Jean and James had a family of four, daughter Lorna, born 1965, George

born1966, Harold born 1968, David born 1971.

Lorna education at the Roberson Primary National School, Raphoe, she obtained

her Secondary education at the Royal and Prior Comprehensive School Raphoe,

she received her Teachers Qualifications at the teachers Training College, Dublin.

Lorna married Lesley McSparron from Co.

Londonderry, where they now live. They

have two children, Zoe born, 1998, and Jamie

born 2001.

George, educated at the Roberson Primary

National School Raphoe, and his Secondary

education was obtained from the Royal and

Prior Comprehensive School, he also studied

at an Agricultural School where he received

His Green Certificate and farm management.

He married Hazel Watt in 2001, from Carnone, Raphoe, and is involved in

agriculture and dairying, he is also involved in purchasing prime sheep and cattle

for supplying Factories with livestock for Slaughter. Hazel helps out in the

milking of the Cows and looking after the livestock.

George and Hazel but their new home at Carnone, Raphoe, and went to live their

in the year 2001

Harold educated at the Roberson National School Raphoe, and received his

Secondary Education at Raphoe Royal and Prior Comprehensive School, after

gaining his Leaving Certificate he went into farming with his father at

Magherahane, he to went into sheep-farming, and also started buying lambs to

supply Factories with Prime lambs for slaughter. He also went into beef farming

also to supply Factories with Prime beef for slaughter as well.

40

He married Tracy

Johnson from

Letterkenny in 1998 and

has two children, Victoria

born 1999 and Christian

born 2001. Tracy is a

beautician, and has her

own Salon in

Letterkenny.

Harold and Tracey built

their new home at Magherahane, Raphoe, and moved into it in the year

David, who is not married, qualified as a Pharmacist, and is currently living and

working in Kilkenny.

The youngest of Cissie and Joseph children,

Isabel born 1940 had her Primary

education at Cooladawson National

School, under the supervision of

Miss Nellie Herron, National

Schoolteacher. After leaving the

National School she went to the

Technical School in Stranorlar and

was greatly interested in home

economics, after her time at the

Technical School she went to work at

Hayes Bank Hotel in Portrush,

County Antrim under the guidance of Mrs Adams. This work was for the summer

months only.

She then went to work in the Great Northern Hotel, in Bundoran, o learn the

business of Hotel management, after she spent some time there she returned to

Labadoo and would help our out in the production of the Broiler chickens with

her brother and her mother. In the summer months she would return to hotel

work, and in 1964 she was accepted as manageress of the Commercial Hotel and

Strabane

During the early years of the trouble the Hotel was blown up by the Provisional

I.R.A.

The owner of the Hotel, Mr Charlie’s Stevenson became her husband in 1965, and

they came to live at 29 Station Road, Ballymagorry after they lost the Hotel in the

bombing, where Charlie had a farm on which he raised Beef cattle. Charles

Stevenson died in 1995.

Isabel and Charlie have three daughters, Ann born 1966, Isabel born 1968, and

Dawn born 1972.

Ann trained as a Radiographer and spent some time working in Cork General

Hospital, before settling in Sligo General Hospital where she has recently bought

41

her home, Isabel and Dawn are both employed in the Civil Service, and are based

in Londonderry.

Isabel married Ian Robb, also from

Ballymagorry, and they have one daughter,

Sian born in 1999, Isabel Ian and are

expecting their second child in 2001.They

recently built their new home just outside

Ballymagorry.

Ann and Dawn is not married as yet.