Edward Cushnaghan and Mary Cullen (parents unknown) lived in County Antrim, Ireland and had a son Edward J. Cushing in 1829. Another son, Daniel, was born in 1838. We are not sure, but think a daughter Jane was born in 1832. (There may be two families).

In 1851 his son, Edward Cushing came to the United States, landing in New York but settled in Boston, Massachusetts. He married Mary Savage (daughter of Robert Savage and....Welch) in 1854 in Boston, Massachusetts.

The name Cushnaghan was originally a Gaelic name up to around 1800. The name Cushnaghan and Cushnan can be traced back to the old Irish name Cosnach (Gaelic for "defender"). Apparently the family were probably guards or soldiers to the old Gaelic Chieftain O'Neill before the Gaelic lords lost the battle of Kinsale in the 1600's. Also look at the names of the neighbors in the area like McAteer, Kennedy, McCann and there's a pattern. They were all part of the old Celtic clan of the O'Neill's. After the battle of Kinsale, their land was confiscated and given to English gentry and military officers in part payment for their services in the subjugation of Ulster. The rest of Ireland by this time had already been lost to the English but Ulster held out a while longer. The original Gaelic families were pushed down to the edges of the original territory to the less fertile and bog areas. The clumping of the old surnames together in the same small area around the mid-1700's suggests that the Cushnaghan/McAteer/McCann/Kennedy families etc. were part of that land upheaval, and they probably originated in Gaelic times further north to mid or north Antrim in the pre-plantation of Ulster days.

They were relatively well-off Catholic farmers. Most people had one acre while the Cushnaghans had about 20 or so. They were still very poor but much better off than their neighbors. Most likely the men farmed and the women did linen weaving.

Sources:
1. The Buckman/Cushing Genealogies, Peg Buckman, DavePeg@ix.netcom.com
2. Cushing-Connolly Family Tree, Rootsweb.com, Rob Cushing, rob@robcushing.com

• Married: 1828 in Randalstown, Country Antrim, Ireland

1. Edward John (Cushman, Cushnaghan) Cushing b: 11 Mar 1829 in Randalstown, County Antrim, Ireland
2. Daniel (Cushnaghan) Cushing b: 30 Apr 1838 or 1843 in Randalstown, County Antrim, Ireland
3. Patrick (Cushnaghan) Cushing b: 1842 in Randalstown, County Antrim, Ireland
4. Patrick Cushnaghan b: 18 Mar 1827 in Randalstown, Antrim, Ireland
5. Bernard Cushnaghan b: 27 Jul 1831 in Drummaul Parish, Barony of Upper Toome, Randalstown, Antrim, Ireland
6. Margaret Cushnaghan b: 27 Mar 1833 in Randalstown, Antrim, Ireland
7. Sarah Cushnaghan b: 7 Sep 1830 in Drummaul Parish, Barony of Upper Toome, Randalstown, Antrim, Ireland