Needless to say there are many photographs in Sam Carrothers' collection.

The previous page in this article refers to family members migrating to Canada. Well they prospered and multiplied over the years. So much so that in 1925 many of the Canadian Carrothers held a huge family reunion in Spring Bank, London, Ontario.

The photo is so large that it won't fit across a Browser window so it is split into two halves. Click on either thumbnail to see a larger version.

Canadian Photo

Thumbnail of Canadian photo - left half

Thumbnail of Canadian Photo - right half

Are you sitting in Canada at the moment looking at these faces staring out at you from the past? Are you a Carrothers? Do you recognize anyone?. These are the grandchildren of those early settlers and perhaps you are now another two or three generations further down the line. your place and mine would be delighted to hear from you if so.

Nathaniel Carrothers Nathaniel Carrothers (1852 - 1939) Another interesting family member who's details Sam has meticulously recorded was Nathaniel Carrothers who was a well known and respected botanist. He was a member of the Belfast Naturalist's Field Club. His obituary, written by Robert Lloyd Praeger in the Irish Naturalist's Journal, sheds light not only on the man himself, but also gives another insight into Farnagh, Lisbellaw, which was, and still is, the Carrothers' home farm.

An extract from Nathaniel's Obituary

His interest in Botany was inherited , for his father and grandfather displayed the same taste. The garden of his old home at Farnagh contained a large number of medicinal plants, and in his boyhood had an extensive local reputation. It was visited by people, many of whom came long distances to ask for herbs for cured and charms. He added Spiranthes stricta , most remarkable of all plants of the north-east, to flora of County Down, thus completing the circle of counties around Lough Neagh in which it is grown. In 1925 Nathaniel was awarded the club's Silver Medal in recognition of his distinguished service to science.

Apparently this was only the third time that such a medal had been awarded. Incidentally, Sam says that herb garden flourished for 150 years at Farnagh.