Robert John Carson (1884 - 1963)

Born 21 Feb 1884 in Sloan Street, Lisburn, County Antrim, Ireland

Ancestors

Husband of Mary (Kennedy) Carson — married 4 May 1907 in Cookstown, County Tyrone, Ireland

Husband of Lavinia Lucinda Lilian (Black) Carson — married 18 Jan 1932 in Cookstown, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom

Died 15 Jan 1963 at age 78 in Magherafelt, County Londonderry, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom

Biography

Robert was born 21 February 1884 at Sloan Street, Lisburn. He was the son of Jacob Carson and Jane Craig. ^[1]

Jacob was a flax-dresser; originally from Cookstown but was living in Lisburn for work. Robert's mother passed away in 1887; and Robert was living with his grandmother Margaret Mockler in Cookstown in 1901.

Robert worked in the flesher business from the age of 14, as a butcher and counter-hand. ^[2]

On 4 May 1907 at the Cookstown registry office, he married Mary Fitzsimons nee Kennedy (widow) of 36 Oldtown Street, daughter of Henry Kennedy, labourer. Witnessed by Joseph Park and Lizzie Montgomery. ^[3]

Mary had four surviving children by her previous husband; all born in Dungannon. However, they seem to have all emigrated to the United States, with Mary starting a new family with Robert in Cookstown.

Robert served in the First World War with the R.I.F., seeing over four years of service. ^[2]

Their children were Robert, Jane and Edward. There was also Jacob who was born about 3 months into the marriage, however the registered mother was "Elizabeth Carson formerly Greer". The children born before 1911 all appear on the 1911 census as siblings.

Robert attended the funeral of "cousin" (actually 1C1R) Samuel Bell (1877-1936).

His wife Mary passed away in 1930, and Robert remarried in 1932 to Virginia Black (also known as Violet). ^[4] They had another four daughters (at least). ^[5]

He passed away 15 January 1963 age 78, at Mid-Ulster Hospital; late of St. Jean's Cottages, Cookstown. He was survived by his wife, three sons and five daughters. He is buried at Cookstown New Cemetery. The chief mourners were: ^{[2] [6]}

• Jack, Robert and Edward Carson (sons)
• grandsons Carson and Jackson
• George Ruddell, John Stewart, James Armstrong (sons-in-law)
• Samuel Johnston, Desmond Rankin, Joseph Hill, Bobbie Creighton (relatives)

Research Notes

According to GMaps and placenamesni, Sloan Street is in Largymore townland, Blaris parish, County Antrim.

The cemetery record has entries we haven't got profiles for:

• Baby Carson (d. 12 Jul 1914) - no civil records identified.
• Baby Carson (d. 16 May 1922) - no civil records identified.
• Eunice "Unie" M. Carson (d. 12 Oct 1941) - age 0^[7]

Sources

1. ↑ Robert Carson, 1884, Lisburn at Irish Civil Registration - Births
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2} "Obituary", Mid-Ulster Mail - Saturday 26 January 1963, Page 2
3. ↑ Robert Carson, Minnie Fitzsimons, 1907, Cookstown at Irish Civil Registration - Marriages
4. ↑ GRONI search: M/1932/L1/1132/4/4 Virginia Black + Carson 18th January 1932 Cookstown; called Violet in death notice.
5. ↑ Her death notice names four daughters; and three step-children Jack, Jean and Ned.
6. ↑ GRONI search: D/1963/182/1022/36/235 Robert Carson 15th January 1963 78 Male Magherafelt. Record matched by the death date on the cemetery record.
7. ↑ D/1941/99/1009/30/7 Eunice Carson 12th October 1941 0 Female Cookstown

• 1901 Ireland census - Residents of a house 32 in Coagh St, (Cookstown, Tyrone). Margaret Mockler(59), Robert Carson(16, grandson, b. Antrim)
• 1911 Ireland census - Residents of a house 13 in East Bread Street (Pottinger (part of), Down). Jacob Carson(53, yarn dresser), Robert(25, son, butcher), Mary(30, dil), Jacob(4, gs), Robert(3, gs), Jane(3, gd) all Presbyterian born Tyrone. Note incorrect birthplace given for Robert.