A question on Lairs

Kathy · Post by **Kathy** » Wed Apr 02, 2008 9:39 am

I have recently received information on where my GG grandmother was buried in 1901, the information is as follows.

Quote: "Martha Graham Interred Greenoch Cemetery Lair 640 along with William Smith. Interred 15 May 1882 and Edward Smith 12 May 1890. Title holder of lair is James Brown Smith."

I don't think there is any connection between Martha McNeil nee Graham and the Smith's, so why would she be interred in the same Lair? or is this a common occurance?

Can anyone shed some light please.

Kathy

Post by **AndrewP** » Wed Apr 02, 2008 10:10 am

Hi Kathy,

As the lair is owned rather than common ground (pauper's grave), I would expect the people buried there to be related, or at least known to the lair holder. It may be worth a look at the death certificates of at least one of the Smiths and see if any of the other names (parents?) or the address on their certificate(s) are known to you.

All the best,

AndrewP

Kathy · Post by **Kathy** » Wed Apr 02, 2008 12:59 pm

Thank you AndrewP for the reply, it stated the obvious, but as I have found no Smith's to complicate the already complicated Irish backgrounds, it did not occur to me that there may be a connection.

I have just spent a small fortune on SP, but I came up trumps.

James Brown Smith is the husband of Martha Jane McNeill, a daughter of Martha Graham that I was not aware of, William & Edward Smith were Martha Graham's grandchildren.

Also, I now have James & Martha Smith with their 7 children in the census of 1881 & 1891.

Kathy