muckypup
Hi, I don't know anything about the Carson family in Belfast, but a Duffin CARSOn was in the Belfast newspaper in 1879. Looks like there was a ding dong battle involving some neighbours called Carroll, because this was in the newspaper then;
The Belfast News-Letter Saturday, July 26, 1879
Maliciously wounding
DUFFIN CARSON was charged with maliciously wounding John Carroll and Felix Carroll, jun., on the 17th March (1879). John Eagleson was charged with maliciously wounding John Carroll and Samuel Sutter, and with maliciously wounding Felix Carroll. There were second and third counts against each of the prisoners for assaults occasioning actual bodily harm and common assault.
Counsel for the prisoners-Mr. Kisbey (instructed by Mr. J.K. Currie)
The alleged assaults were committed in a row which occurred near the house of the father of the Carrolls on the night of the 17th March, and the prisoners, with three others, charged the previous day with riot and unlawful assembly, but acquitted on that charge. The evidence for the prosecution was to the effect that on the evening of 17th March John Carroll left the house of a neighbour named Blaney, about nine o’clock, in consequence of a message which he received in reference to some stone throwing at his father’s house. He took a pair of tongs in his hand, and on reaching the place a fight took place in a field belonging to the father of the prisoner Carson, in which the Carrolls were seriously assaulted, and injury being inflicted on the head of John Carroll with some weapon by James Eagleson.
It appeared from the evidence of the defence that Felix Carroll said he was the best man in the field, and Robert Carroll, his brother, said he would have some one’s life that night. John Carroll struck DUFFIN CARSON, who up to that time had not struck anyone. They then commenced to fight, and after going some distance down the field DUFFIN CARSON fell, when John Carroll was about to kick him, when a man named Wm. Campbell caught him, and prevented the kick being given. The jury acquitted the prisoners.
Looks like Duffin Carson's father owned a field in Belfast where they had the fight. Do you think that this is the same Duffin Carson?
Tom
