Patrick Cunningham and Sarah Casey with their family moved to Aberdeenshire from Westport, Co Mayo, Ireland in the 1830s. Patrick then worked as a Coastguard at Rattray Head where the family lived in the Coastguard cottages. By 1871 the family had all moved to Peterhead where their son John was in turn a shoemaker, a market gardener and a hotelier. Bridget married James Henderson, a house painter and Elizabeth married James Black, a gig trimmer and later a coach builder. Thomas, who had been a medical student but was later a lawyer's clerk, never married, nor did his sister Sarah. Thomas and Sarah lived together for most of their lives.

The following generations mostly moved to Aberdeen with a few exceptions. George and Sarah Black both moved to Ontario, Canada. Caroline Horne, daughter of Caroline Deans moved to Winnipeg, Canada and was later joined by her mother. George and William Deans moved to London. Alfred Deans, son of John Deans also moved to Ontario, Canada. George and Thomas Hutchison moved to Glasgow.