The Samuel Smyth ca. 1833 [aged 60 in 1901 census] you mention married Martha Bolton 3 Feb 1870. Their marriage record shows Samuel's father was William Smyth. Because of my recent discovery of a DNA match to a granddaughter of one of Samuel and Martha Bolton's son, John Smyth (17 Jan 1873 Dullaghey, Desertoghill Parish-28 Nov 1941 New York City, NY), I believe John's mother, Mary Jane (died 11 Dec 1889 in Ballywilliam Townland, Macosquin Parish) was Mary Jane Cochran(e), daughter of Samuel, who was born in the townland of Moys(e), south of Limavady, and baptized at Ballykelly Presbyterian Church (8 April/29 April 1810). One of the witnesses at the wedding of Samuel Smyth and Martha Bolton was Samuel Cochran(e) who I believe was the eldest son of James Cochrane (1814-1894). This Samuel Cochrane (1848-19 Mar 1915 Tompkins Co., New York USA) immigrated to America in the late 1860's. Samuel Cochrane's youngest sibling was James Cochrane (1864-1947). In 1921 relatives from America visited Limavady and a snapshot proves they visited James Cochrane. One of the stories taken back to America was the unfortunate death of an "uncle" who died of a lightning strike. I believe the August 26, 1858 issue of the Londonderry Standard provides the key to mystery of the Cochran relative struck by lightning. "Poor Smith of Ballyrisk" who was stricken to the ground...whilst parking his load of turf upon the mountain" was very probably William Smyth, father of Samuel Smyth who married in 1870. The man who told the story to his American cousins in 1921 would have been William Smyth's nephew by marriage (William Smyth was married to the Cochrane boys' aunt). Ballyrisk More and Ballyrisk Beg had only 13 families in the 1831 census -- only one Smith - Robert, who was probably the father of William of the lightning strike...
Cheers!
Richard M Cochran
Big Rapids, Michigan
