starrs story

The Starrs' Story
I am having great difficulty tracing my ancestors on my father's side. The only thing my father, who was born in 1920, knows about his father's origins is that he arrived in Ballymena on a motor bike and side-car!His name was Joseph Starrs and he married Jeanetta Higgarty. All that is known about Jeanetta Higgarty is that her mother married twice. Her children from the first marriage were Jeanetta Higgarty (my grandmother) and Bob Higgarty. She had at least two children from her second marriage, John Burns and Archie Burns of Moat Road, Ballymena.John Burns was married three times, firstly to Mabel with whom he had a son, Bobby Burns. I am unaware of his second wife's name but he was married for a third time to Annie Leekie. Archie Burns had at least four children, Elsie, Violet, Robert and Archie.

My grandfather, Joseph Starrs (died 27 October, 1959 aged 73 years) and grandmother, Jeanetta Higgarty, had five children, Violet, Joey, Robert (born 1910), Allan and John (born 1920).
Violet Starrs married Samuel Smith and they had three children, Uel Smith, Allan Smith and Shirley Smith. Uel is the only one to have married and is now living in Omagh, County Tyrone. Allan Smith lives in Larne, Country Antrim. Shirley Smith remains living in her grandparent's home in Ballycastle.
Joey Starrs married Emily Mooney and they had two daughters, Jeanette Starrs and Joan Starrs. Jeanette married John Terence Doherty and they had three children, Joanne, Collette and Colin. Joanne married Nigel McGarrity and they have two children, Emma and Carl. Collette married Burt Klein and they have two children, Victoria and Jonathan. Colin Doherty is married to Yvonne Maguire and they have two children, Geri and Kiara. Jeannette re-married Jackie McIlwaine. Joan Starrs married Nigel Lynn and has two children, Simon Lynn and Susan Lynn. Simon Lynn is married with two children Sophie and Zoe.
Robert Starrs (born 24th July 1910, died 21st October 1991) married Elizabeth McBride (Died 1st March 1988). They had no children. Two poems mentioning Robert Starrs are published here.
Allan Starrs married Josephine Hyland and they had five children, Kenneth, John, Noreen, Eileen and Austin.Kenneth Starrs is unmarried and is currently teaching somehere in Africa. John Starrs was unmarried when he died as the result of a road accident on 14th September, 1971.Noreen Starrs married Charles McCarthy on 5th April, 1968 and they have five children, Siobhan, Aidan, Brian, Fiona and Orla. Siobhan is married to Tony O'Brein and has two daughters, Emma and Aisling. Eileen Starrs married Harry Kennedy and they have two children, Bronagh Kennedy and David Kennedy. Austin Starrs married Jackie Glass and they have three children, Andrina, Allan and Derren.
John Starrs married Jean McMullan and their descendants can be found here.

Trying to get any more information about my grandfather's parents is proving impossible. They are thought to have had at least three children, my grandfather Joseph Starrs and two other boys, John and Tommy Starrs. John Starrs is thought perhaps to have lived in Greenock, where he had an adopted daughter Jean. Tommy Starrs lived in Belfast and had at least two sons and possibly daughters. The sons were Joseph Starrs and Tommy Starrs. Joseph Starrs is thought to have had some connection with caravan sites in County Down and may have been in the navy. Tommy Starrs worked at servicing lifts.My great grandfather is thought to have deserted his family and may have gone to America. At any rate it would appear that his wife was left to bring up the three children on her own.

If anyone can add anything to this very scant information I would be very grateful.

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