This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list.
Surnames: Cairns, Watson, Leanney, Leaney, Kennedy, Sampson, Dynes, Hainsworth, Fauls,
Bain, Brennan, Ervin, Sullivan, Stewart, Henry
Classification: Query
Message Board URL:
http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/CMH.2ACEB/248
Message Board Post:
Here is what I know about my Cairns line.
Archibald Cairns had a son Alexander Cairns born in July 1848. Alexander Cairns married
Mary Watson (born November 1852, daughter of John Watson) in 1870 in Newtownards, County
Down, Ireland. Their son John Watson Cairns was born in Newtownards in 1871. The Cairns
came to America about 1872. I do not know where they first settled, but they eventually
came to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Alexander and Mary's other children include James (born 1884), Anna M. (born May 11,
1886-AKA Annie), Archibald (born April 9, 1888), and Alexander Cairns (born December
1890). They likely had other children from 1872-1884 and it is possible that one was
Edward, but I am no certain of this. Anna married Robert Kennedy on May 23, 1904 in
Philadelphia, PA. Archie married Anna M. Ervin on June 7, 1911 in Philadelphia.
John Watson Cairns married Elizabeth Kennedy on January 7, 1905 in Philadelphia. She was
born 4/8/1871. Their children were William (December 1894-Jan 17, 1960), John Kennedy
(likely born December 5, 1897, died March 1965), Alexander (May 1899-June 1958), George
(born after 1900, died March 3, 1930, and Elizabeth (1905-1905). Elizabeth died with her
daughter in 1905. William married Isabelle Leanney (AKA Isabella and Bella), John Kennedy
Cairns married Alice, George married Mary Veronica Bain, and Alexander married Emma
Sullivan and Lillian M. Brennan after Emma's death.
John Watson Cairns married Mary Ann Leanney (also listed as Leaney) on 12/16/1907 in
Camden, NJ. Mary was born in County Derry, Ireland around Moneymore. She and her first
husband Joseph Sampson lived in Gortagilly before coming to Philadelphia in 1904 aboard
the SS Noordland. They came with their daughter Elizabeth Jane. In Philadelphia, Joseph
and Mary, they had a daughter Margaret Roberta Josephine Sampson in 1904. Joseph died in
February 1905. Mary's parents were William Leaney (or Leanney) and Jane Henry.
John Watson Cairns and Mary Ann Leanney's children were Robert J. (1908-2/12/1969),
Albert (7/13/1910), Mary W. (died 2002), and Florence. Robert married Anna M. Fauls.
Mary W. married Joseph F. Abrams. I have information on all of these descendants.
Mary Ann Leanney's siblings were John, James, Robert, and Margaret. I imagine there
were more. Robert moved to Philadelphia. He married Annie and had two daughters:
Elizabeth and Annie. Margaret married Robert Dynes in Ireland. They had one daughter
Elizabeth, born in Philadelphia in 1896. Elizabeth married Edward Hainsworth and had 5
children. John married Minnie Stewart in the Magherafelt district of Ireland and had a
daughter Isabella (listed above). Isabella moved from Ireland to Philadelphia and married
William Cairns.
I know all the descendants of John Watson Cairns and Mary Leanney's marriage. I also
know all the descendants of Mary Leanney and Joseph Sampson. I do not know all of the
descendants of John Watson Cairns and Elizabeth Kennedy. I also do not know any of
John's brother's descendants.
I would really like to find out more information on Archibald Cairns, John Watson,
Alexander Cairns, Mary Watson, William Leaney, Jane Henry. I also want any other
information that can be provided.
I have other information, including much burial information. I do not know where
Alexander Cairns and Mary Watson Cairns are buried, or any of the Leanney family (except
for Margaret).
Thank you.