Looking for other descendants or relatives of my Great grandparents William Porter, fitter (b.c1853, probably whiteabbey area, father Francis Porter, engineer) and Harriet Crawford (b. c1854, father Thomas, labourer).
They married in Alexandra Presbyterian Church Belfast on 10 March 1874.
Witnesses were William Bell & Sarah Jane Crawford (presumed sister) who married same church 6 months later. They (Bells)are found on Cregagh Road 1911 census when William is a brewery traveller.
All known about William & Harriet Porter is "they went around singing together" and their families disowned them when they married.
William, an engineer in Whiteabbey Mill, died about 1884 aged about 31 and Harriet 4 years later leaving the oldest child Sarah aged 12 to raise herself, her sister and 4 brothers with only the help of a neighbour. Somebody had to make her a box to reach the sink.
The respective families did not, apparently, want to know. Harsh times.
Children were;
Sarah, never married,
Frank Porter, labourer, married Margaret McCready 1918
William Porter my grandfather, army bandsman & labourer, married Sarah Elizabeth Toland 1911
Harper Crawford Porter married Margaret Moore 1913
Thomas Porter, bricklayer, married Ruth Neilly, Ballymena 1911,
Martha Porter. It is thought Martha must have died young as my mother did not know about her
photo shows from left, William, Sarah, Harper c1950's
peter
