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Ford or Forde family of Skull/Schull, County Cork

CorkSkull (Cork)

I am trying to find the home parish, and familyof my ancestor, Jeremiah "Jerry" Ford and his brothers William and Cornelius.

Jerry was born in about 1823 in Skull, County Cork. He came to the United States in orbefore 1852, and ended up in Toledo, Lucas County, Ohio. His death certificate names his parents as John Ford and Mary Driscoll. I have searched every database I can think of, and have yet to find a couple bearing those last names together in the correct time frame. I also know that this is not the John Ford, father of car maker Henry Ford.

Our Ford's were very much Roman Catholic, and carried on their Religion here in the States. Some info in Jerry's brothers; William, born April 6, 1831 and also who came to Toledo, Ohio before 1856, when he married his first wife. William, in his sons baptismal record, is noted as coming from "Skull, in Cork Ireland." Hence, why I believe this is the home area of this family. (Back then, who lied to their priest, and especially of their home place that they miss and are proud of?) Cornelius was born about 1833 and came to the US about 1856.

The brothers always lived within one or two blocks of each other, sometimes even sharing a dwelling. The most interesting fact I noticed, however, is that all three men named their first born son Daniel.

any help at all would be very much appreciated. This has been a HUGE brick wall, and I just cannot seem to move past this point. I have been in contact with descendants of William Ford, who Ancestry found matching DNA between me and them. Cornelius family line has died out, so we cannot test against him as well but there is a definite relation between Jeremiah and William.

Thank you so very much! Jacki Wilson Jacki502b@gmail.com

Jacki502b@gmail.com

2 replies

Hi Jackie,

sorry, I have no good news for you. I spent all of last evening and until 12.45 am checking through 1,915 baptisms and 277 marriages in the diocese of Cork & Ross from 1800 - 1900 for Jeremiah, William, Cornelius and John Forde/Ford and also for Mary Driscoll marriage to John but without success. I also looked for a Daniel because in Irish naming patterns, first born male child would be called after the fathers father and in many cases the fathers grandfather but again no success here.

I dont know why, they should not be turning up as these records are fairly complete. Unfortunately, Civil records do not begin until 1864 so are no good in thie case. I was using irishgenealogy.ie as I have found this to be the most comprehensive for the area of Cork generally.

I will continue to look buit do not hold out much hope of finding them. If there is anything else I can do for you, please do nopt hesitate to ask.

Hope you stay safe and well in these stressful times.

Frank Fahy

frankfahy054@gmail.com

Abbeystrowry CorkIrelandXO Volunteer

Frank,

I want to thank you for all your hard work, I very much appreciate it. I'm telling you, this family has been harder to track down than any others I have researched in over 30 years! It is so hard because the Ford(e) and Driscoll/O'Driscoll names are so common in Cork. I did come across  some records that sounded like it would possibly fit, but, again, they are scattered and not in Skull, where the family is supposedly from. They are for sure from County Cork, I'm wondering now if maybe  just in a different area? 

Here's what I found:

1) From the book of excerpts from the In Search of Relatives ads in American newspapers during the famine: In search of Jerry and Timothy Ford, brothers, of Coachford, Parish Magourney, County Cork. Jerry, shoe maker by trade, left Liverpool on ship Home. Landed in NY spring of (18)49. Timothy landed in fall of same year in Philadelphia. Contact: Sisters husband, Maurice O'Connor of LaSalle, Illinois.

2) Letters of Admin of Effects 1859-John Forde of Kilbrogan in County Cork, deceased. He was a farmer, leaving his effects worth under 100pounds to his widow, Mary Forde. Death of John Mar 03,1847.
 

3) young famine orphans sent to Sydney, AU lists Margaret Ford, daughter of John and Mary, deceased abt 1850, of Drumtarnie or Drumdowny in County Cork on the ship R.C. Maria arriving in Sydney on Aug 1, 1850.

On my end, I have found records of arrival for both Tim and Jerry, but nothing proving that this is "my" Jerry. Also, worth mentioning, is that if he were a shoe maker in Ireland, wouldn't he have done that here too? My Jerry was a Drayman in every single record I have. Does any of this sound like it could be mine to you, or could be something to dig farther into?
Thank you, I appreciate your help, two heads are always better than one. Jacki

 

 

Jacki502b@gmail.com

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