Hi Janice,
I will see if I can add anything to your research. I have access to grave transcriptions from Knockbride graveyards, on perusing them I found a Cunningham family from Beglieve buried in West Knockbride (Tunnyduff). If I am available, I can take you there when you get here. James died in 1934, no age given but his daugther Margaret was 92 when she died in 1990. This family are in the 1911 National Archives and with them are 4 children, 2 were born in Scotland, Roderick & Barbara. However when you look at the details on this census, you will see that Mary the wife of James states that she is married 7 years and that she had 2 children and that 2 are living. This indicates to me that the older children born in Scotland belong to her husband. Might I suggest that Maggie in the 1911 Census, born in Scotland is the same one buried with her father, however the ages do not match. Those death records are not online. I used RootsIreland.ie (subscription site) and found a marriage for James Cunningham to Mary Lynch On 18 May 1904. His address was 70 Stephen S., Edinburgh and he married Mary Lynch d/o James Lynch. James' father was Peter. Was Maggie that was with Philip his niece or his step niece? If she is his niece, it may be the case that James Cunninghams's first wife died in Scotland and he returned back to Ireland and married his sister in law, it has not been unheard of, however there is no mention of this in the church record. Now it gets stranger when you look at the civil registration on irishgenealogy.ie, it states that he is a widower, but their addresses are reversed and it does indicate that both their fathers are alive. With this information I found Peter in 1901 in Beglieve with his daughter, they appear to be the only Cunninghams in Beglieve. In the Tithe Applotments there was a James Cunningham & Francis Patton in Beglieve. Tulllawaltra and Beglieve are not too far apart see map below. Peter got married on 24 April 1855, it does not state his fathers name on Roots Ireland. Could it be possible that Peter & Thomas were brothers? I seen another marrige for a Mary Cunningham, in 1846, address Cyfin, this is Seefin,(which is also close by) also a Michael in 1853,
Have you ever looked at Scotland's peoples site it is a pay per view site. I have been very lucky in finding some of my family on this site and additional details that are not on other sites and indeed one of my relatives kindly put their townland down on their census return, even though it was crossed out. Do utilise all the resources on https://genealogy.nationalarchives.ie look for wills, you may be lucky.
You can also contact Cavan Genealogy Centre they undertake commissions and may be able to help you further.
Cavan Genealogy
1st Floor, Johnston Central Library, Farnham St., Cavan
Tel: +353 (0) 49 4361094
Email: cavangenealogy@eircom.net
Janice, I have just realised that I cannot add the photos.
I hope I have given you a little more direction by widening the scope and possibilities.
Best Wishes Carmel O'Callaghan
