McGRATH, John ¹

   Other names for John were McGRA, John ⁴ and McGRAW, John.²

  General Notes:

In the 1841 census return for Aitchison Street, Airdrie, there was a John McGra sharing a household with James Cavanagh, Elizabeth Cavanagh's brother. John was said to be aged between 20 and 24 years, worked as an iron miner, and was born in Ireland. This young man was the one who became Elizabeth's husband.

In January 1842, Bess Cavanagh and John McGrath were witnesses at the marriage of James Cavanagh and Mary Smith in St Margaret's Airdrie.

The 1851 census for New Monkland parish recorded John McGraw, his wife, and their two children living at 39 High Street Airdrie. John was recorded as 34 years of age and his birthplace was noted as Newry, Ireland. He worked as a miner.

A son, James, was born to John and his wife in 1855. The longer format of birth certificate used in 1855 provides some additional details about the family. John was a collier, aged 40 years, then. He had been born in Banbridge, County Down, Ireland. He and his wife married in Airdrie in 1842.

John notified the registrar when his wife, Elizabeth, was killed in an omnibus accident in 1857. He was described then as a coal miner at Braehead. He made his X mark before the registrar.

The 1861 census for the Western District of Old Monkland recorded John McGraw, now a widower recorded as aged 45 years and born in Ireland, living with his four children in Baillieston and working as a miner. ^{3 4 5 6}

  Research Notes:

BRAEHEAD PIT

Braehead coal mine was situated in Baillieston, south of Bargeddie, Lanarkshire, part of Old Monkland parish then. It was owned by Charles Tennant and Co.

John married Elizabeth CAVANAGH, daughter of Michael CAVANAGH and Mary CAMPBELL, in March 1842 in New Monkland, Lanarkshire, Scotland.¹ (Elizabeth CAVANAGH was born in 1821 in Newry, County Armagh, Ireland,^{2 7 8} died 22 October 1857 about 9.00 pm in Bishopsburn, Near Drumpellier, Old Monkland Parish, Lanarkshire, Scotland ^{9 10} and was buried in Old Monkland Churchyard, Coatbridge, Lanarkshire, Scotland.). The cause of her death was very severe and extensive injuries received by an omnibus passing over her body from which she died immediately.

  Marriage Notes:

The banns of marriage are recorded in the New Monkland parish register for the first Sabbath in March 1842, but no record has been found in the Roman Catholic records for this time and later. ¹