Raphael, John and Eliza

Searching for information about members of the Raphael and Montgomery families in County Antrim in the nineteenth century.

January 2020

My great-grandmother Margaret Moore (1854-1927) was born Margaret Montgomery the oldest daughter of Robert Montgomery (1829-1873) and Elizabeth (aka Eliza) Raphael (1839-1916). Robert Montgomery, son of David Montgomery born in 1829 married Eliza Raphael at Ahoghil, Antrim Ireland on 1st September 1853 when he was aged 24. The certificate states that the bride was 21, however it is believed she was just 18, having stated her age as 16 at the 1851 census. Roberts father David and his brides parents, John and Eliza Raphael, were present.

When Margaret married William John Moore on 6 July 1872 in Port Glasgow her age was given as 18, which puts her birth around 1854 in and most likely in Craigs Antrim, Ireland where her parents married the year before, but a record has not been found.

The birth records in Port Glasgow for younger brothers John ( born 1862) and David Montgomery born 1865 both give mothers maiden sirname as Raphael. While the Montgomery family moved to Glasgow in the later 1850s, I believe that Elizabeths parents John and Eliza remained in Ireland

Based on the 1851 census of England and Ireland, copy attached) they were aged 40 and 39 and had 11 children all living in Craigs Parish. This puts the parents estimated years of birth as 1811 and 1812. To date I have not found a matching record. According to the 1851 census for Craigs nr Ahoghill John Raphael and Eliza were married in 1830 and their first son Samuel was born at Craigs. Later children may have been born at Portglenone although Elizabeths birth is shown as Craigs.

Without a family name for Johns wife Eliza or definite dates of birth and death for John, I am unable to clearly separate our John, the flaxwinder from John Raphael Esq born in 1808 and also living in Craigs Parish, who may have been the son of Henry Newton Raphael and Jane. This other family would appear to have been associated with Galgorm House and generally better off.

The will of John Raphael Esq, of Craigs Parish in the County of Ireland dated 2nd May 1876 appoints his son William as executor and sets out bequests to his wife, four sons and three daughters including Eliza and Margaret. The wife is not named. His son David is appointed as Executor. I think this will and also the entries in Griffiths Valuations for a John Raphael may be the other family.

There are Raphael burials at Kirkinriola, Trinity Presbyterian Church, Ahoghill and the Old Churchyard Ahoghill. I have not yet been able to relate any of these epitaphs to a John Raphael born about 1811/1812, date and place of death unknown.

Any information about this John Raphael and his wife Eliza would be appreciated.