Hi Joe,
Were you related in any way to Paddy Graham the boxer from the market.
I used to go to the Ulster hall a lot on Saturday night and he was a regular on the bill. I loved to see him on the bill because you knew you were in for a good fight. He was a slugger who always went toe to toe. I always thought if he had a good coach to tell him to box his way out of trouble he would have went as far as the British title. He had a big heart. If I remember right he was on the same bill as John Kelly fighting Bunty Doran for the title. I had a lot of respect for John that night because he carried Bunty (who was in the twilight of his boxing career)to a points decision without hurting him real bad. Later on John went on to beat Peter Keenan and give him a boxing lesson into the bargain for the british title in the kings hall. Peter made the unfortunate mistake when earlier a reporter asked Peter would he give John Kelly a shot at the title and he responded "who's John Kelly" Well that night of the title fight the Kings Hall resounded with chants of "who's John Kelly" while John was giving him a boxing lesson he would never forget. Those were great days never to be seen again. Great memories.

Exactly...they told the census taker "We're Grahams" which sound like "Grimes."

Hi Brendan

The Graham families from Fermanagh and their kinsmen in Antrim were freuently recorded by Officials as Grahams Greeme and Grimes. (and at least 80 other variations are listed)this is an accident of the pen. The real family name is Graham.

anyway im keen to contact any Grahams particularly any from Ahoghill and Ballymena circa 1800

Is see your accessing Rushlight.

Joe Graham does a magnificent job promoting his local heritage worldwide.

Phil Graham

Dear Joe, As I understand it three Graham brothers arrived in America and one settled in Ohio another in Madison County Indiana another lived in Tazewell,Tennesee. I understand I am from the Madison County Grahams.My father told me as was passed on to him that we were Scots that migrated to Ireland and he considered himself more of an Irishman than a Scotsman .He passed away in 1974 . Was always proud of his Irish heritage.My wife and I have 5 children ,4 daughters and 1 son. My son is a career soldier in the US Army. He is 27 yrs old and was married last November. My hope is for some little baby Graham's crawling around soon.I found it interesting you have a brother named Hugh and I was told one of the three brothers was named Hugh, however from a previous generation.Thanks for your website Joe. It has helped fill in some of the blanks that have occured over the years and may God Bless you and your family.Gordon L Graham

No I am not related to Paddy Rusty , although I have met him a few times , great craic he is , a great sense of humour. He lives down in the Market.
So Peter Keenan found out who "John Kelly was " Rusty lol

My great grandfather was born Frank Graham, when he entered the army he didn't have a birth certificate because he was born at home in the late 1800's. The army gave him a birth cert. but they put Frank Grimes, he couldn't read so he put an X next to the name. Louisiana kennygrimes0@gmail.com

Chris Writes 13th January 2014

Good day
I'm trying to make two links with 19th century Antrim.

First is a young daughter of Gawn and Maggie Graham of Connor: Martha Graham died 20 December 1908 aged 7 years 5 months, so she did not appear in either the 1901 census or the 1911 census. My family kept a memorial of her death.

Second is Janet Graham my great-great-grandmother (died July 1870, wife of old Sam Hill of Carnmoney Presbyterian church) - she gave her Graham name to various descendants, some of them well documented in Carnmoney, but there is not much about Janet herself.

Does anyone know more about them? All help appreciated!


Chris

Hi Brendan,

Good to see your query and the responses it generated. I've been doing this " Family Tree and Graham Origins " Study for around seven years the
'noo, and the more I study , the more I find I have to learn. ! Somewhere in my collection of notes, I have ( iI think ! ) four pages of some 100 + ways of spelling Graham ....I'll E.Mail it to you if you like . Joe Graham said in his response , the we were under sentence of Death once for just having the " wrong " surname ! He's quite correct. One thing I read was that some of those of our Ancestors who chose to change their name , chose Maharg, which does'nt take a lot of figuring out is Graham spelled backwards ! Others went McHarg so I've read. I checked this out, and one Correspondent said :- " My Grand-dad said our name , Maharg, was changed from another surname , many years ago" , and I found by Googling :
"btinternet. residential numbers" that there are Mahargs in the UK Phone book. I have , by the way , got Lists of our Clansmen who in 1605 sent to Holland , by King James, and the following year , whole families who were Exiled to Ireland....if you want them ...just add thet to the list ! I am also in touch with two Scots Grahams whose Ancestors returned to Scotland from Ireland Generations ago. If you want assistance with your Family Tree studies, I could put you in touch with them. I don;t go to this Website very often, but I'm best contacted at :- bruros@clear.net.nz; which shows you what country I live in ! Look forward to hearing from you, Cheers the ' noo, Bruce Graham !