A First Ballymoney Presbyterian!

Posted on August 28, 2016 by CJ Murdoch

Interred at the Western Necropolis in Maryhill, Glasgow…

She was a daughter, sister, wife, mother and aunt – she is my third great aunt and sister to my 2nd great grandfather William.  She was the third child and first daughter of six children born to John Murdock and Sarah MacMillan.

Sarah Jayne Murdoch was born on 12 May 1857 in my paternal home town of Ballymoney Co. Antrim.  Like many of my family before and after her, she was baptized in the First Ballymoney Presbyterian Church.  The Church is said to be the oldest building in the Borough having opened in 1777 – it is still in use today.

RocketLife doc

On 1 May 1883 at the Agherton Church of Ireland in Portstewart, Co. Londonderry in the presence of Samuel Gilmore and James McCurdy, Sarah Jayne Murdoch of Flowerfield, Portstewart was wed in Holy Matrimony to John Henry Burkhill, a labourer of Cappagh, Portstewart.  The Church Marriage Record confirmed her father was John Murdock, a labourer, as was John’s father William.  Sadly, Sarah Jayne’s mother had passed away before seeing her daughter marry.

Prior to her marriage, Sarah Jayne worked as a cook to Colonel, Lord and Lady Knox and Major and Mrs. Molyneux William Shuldham of Ballymulvey, Co. Longford.  Molyneux William Shuldham at the time held the office of Justice of the Peace and the office of Deputy Lieutenant.  Upon leaving their employ to marry, she pledged to call her first son Molyneux William Shuldham in memory of the couple’s son of the same name who died at a very young age.

RocketLife doc 2

Molyneaux William Shuldham Burkhill was born on 10 Feb 1884 in Burnside, Port Stewart and baptized in the Agherton Church of Ireland on 4 May 1884.  At some point between Molyneux’s birth and the birth of Herbert, their second son, the couple had relocated to England.  The 1891 Scottish Census revealed the family had grown once again; the couple had two daughters – Henrietta and Walterina.  The ever expanding family was now living at 64 Montgomerie Lane, Ardrossan, Ayrshire – an ancient town which can be found in a map of Scotland as early as the thirteenth century.

The 1901 Scottish Census disclosed that, yet again, the family had relocated and were now living at 46 Hutcheson Street, Maryhill, Lanarkshire.  They had another addition to their family – a daughter named Lillias.  Census records are a wealth of information and verified that two of Sarah Jayne’s nephews, Alexander and Archibald Murdock (the sons of her brother Alexander) were living with the family.  In 1911 the census documented Sarah Jayne and John living at 246 Main Street, Maryhill with their two youngest daughters along with Elizabeth McCafferty, a 14 year old domestic servant.

RocketLife doc 3

Described as a “strong and hearty man” John was a Steam Manager and Engine Man who was required to travel extensively throughout the British Isles due to his career.  Initially he worked for Lawson & Sons and later MacAlpine & Sons Contractors.

The 1903 Slater’s Royal National Directory of Scotland revealed another clue about Sarah Jayne and the life she led.  It stated: “Burkhill, Mrs. Sarah, refreshment rooms, 154 Wyndford Street, Maryhill.”  It is my understanding that the restaurant was funded solely by compensation received by John Henry after an accident at work where he lost both an arm and an eye.  This is a Twisted Limb that I will continue to follow to gain more clarification and verification.

Sadly, Sarah Jayne met with a violent and untimely demise.  A True Copy of Declaration made by The Reverend H. Otley Mayne, Vicar of St. John the Evangelist Church, stated (in part):  “After spending most of her life at Maryhill, Glasgow, Scotland she was knocked down by a motorcycle and her skull was smashed on the 7 Nov 1926.  She was unconscious until she died the following morning.”  On 9 Nov 1926 a death notice published in the Lancashire Evening Post clarified her death and simply stated: “Sarah Murdoch, or Burkhill (69), who was knocked down by a motor cycle in Maryhill-road, Glasgow, died yesterday.”

RocketLife doc 4

My third great aunt Sarah Jayne Murdoch Burkhill is interred at the Western Necropolis in Maryhill, Glasgow.  In her remembrance, one day I hope to lay flowers on her grave.  May She Rest In Peace!

Note:  The two different spellings of Murdoch/Murdock are completely intentional.  To this day my various family lines spell it both ways!

About CJ Murdoch

Looking For "Dead People"! My Journey Back In Time - Tracing my ancestors and researching the counties, cities and towns where they resided. Taking a “Glimpse” into their lives and stories and the times in which they lived; all in an effort to learn about their “Dash”! “I read of a man who stood to speak at the funeral of his friend. He referred to the dates on her tombstone from the beginning – to the end. He noted that first came the date of her birth and spoke of the second with tears, but he said that what mattered most of all was the dash between those years.” I have always been interested in researching my family tree and “hanging out” in cemeteries. Like most of us... I didn't ask enough questions when elderly family were still living. Oh, what I would give for 24 hours and a camera with my ancestors… just to sit and listen! I'm researching many family lines, including: Murdoch, Wilson, Berry, Love, Scott, Beattie/Beatty, Hendren, Sweeney, Robinson and Elvin; just to name a few. My families are predominantly from counties Antrim, Donegal and Londonderry. However, it seems that many of them, both maternal and paternal lines, originally hailed from Co. Donegal. I was born and raised in Northern Ireland and now live in Ottawa, Canada, making frequent trips back home to visit with my family. Of course those visits also include treks to the many burial grounds of my ancestors. My most recent trip back home was during the summer of 2019! Looking forward to August of 2020 when I will return. If you are interested in help tracing your ancestors I’d love to hear from you!
This entry was posted in Family History. Bookmark the permalink.

21 Responses to A First Ballymoney Presbyterian!

  1. Elaine Holmes says:
    August 28, 2016 at 10:21 am

    Hi Colleen

    I always look forward to your blogs, they are so well informed and the pics are wonderful!
    The family resemblance between Sarah and my Great Grandfather Piper Archie is uncanny.
    Sincere thanks for all your hard work and dedication in compiling your family tree, I am so happy to be part of it.

    All the best

    Elaine x

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    • CJ Murdoch says:
      August 28, 2016 at 10:32 am

      Hi Elaine, thank you so much. I do believe there is a very distinct look with some of our Murdoch/k’s – and yes, a big resemblance in looks between Archie & Sarah! BTW I’m happy you’re part of my “tree” too! ❤

      Like

      Reply
  2. Elaine Holmes says:
    August 28, 2016 at 10:43 am

    Colleen, I should have said “Piper Archie, my 2nd Great Grandfather” – I’m not that old! 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  3. GP Cox says:
    August 28, 2016 at 1:56 pm

    Great to see you back – and with an outstanding post too!! Thanks.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  4. Su Leslie says:
    August 28, 2016 at 4:43 pm

    Lovely post Colleen; but such a sad death.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  5. Amy says:
    August 29, 2016 at 8:50 am

    What a ghastly way to die. Awful. And I love those names—Molyneaux, Lilias, Walterina. Are those fairly common Scottish names?

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    • CJ Murdoch says:
      August 29, 2016 at 3:47 pm

      Molyneux is a surname which seems to be connected to a Norman family that settled in Lancashire, England. I’m not sure where Walterina originated from and hasn’t reappeared in my family (so far!). Lilias/Lillias has run through the family for generations and it seems to have originated in Scotland. I think what bothered me most about Sarah Jayne’s accident was the way the minister described it in the declaration – he left no room for imagination! Thanks for reading and I hope you are well. Colleen

      Like

      Reply

  6. Pingback: 2nd Bn Highland Light Infantry! | TWISTED LIMBS & CROOKED BRANCHES

  7. Pingback: A Ballymoney Hero! | TWISTED LIMBS & CROOKED BRANCHES

  8. Sarah Anderson says:
    June 16, 2020 at 10:19 am

    Sarah Jayne Murdock was my grandmother on my morthers side my mother was Lillias and the baby my grandmother is holding is Babs unfortunately Babs died when she was just 12 years old I wasnt born until 1934 so sadly never knew babs or my grandmother.

    I am so pleased to have found this web site I have been trying for so long .
    By the way I have this same photo of Sarah Jayne Murdock holding he gtandaughter Babs.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    • CJ Murdoch says:
      September 8, 2020 at 3:44 pm

      Hi Sarah, lovely to hear from you. Sorry, I missed your post completely due to the businesses of my ‘real job’! 🙂 I will try to reach you via email. I would love to compare notes. Colleen

      Like

      Reply

Leave a comment