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Ireland (Historical Counties) => Ireland => Cork => Topic started by: skippy on Wednesday 26 April 06 03:15 BST (UK)
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Hi,
I have a John Ford born Cork 1831.
I believe Henry Ford did some research into his Ireland heritage around 1930's and I have a couple of separate accounts of visitors in large black limos
calling at my Ford ancestors houses requesting info about the family.
Has anyone any ideas how to trace or confirm this possible connection - my grandmother always maintained that she was a second cousin.
My aunt (Grandmothers daughter says the connection was through a cousin of a cousin).
Any help would be appreciated
thanks,
Skippy
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Hi
You can view Henry Ford's family tree on genealogy.com
http://www.genealogy.com/famousfolks/henry-ford/
However, it is very sparse, and gives no info on places of origin.
Cheers,
Mags
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This has a little snippet too:
http://www.umd.umich.edu/fairlane/fordfamily.html
Mags
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Ok, this is better!
http://www.hfha.org/younghenry.htm
Mags
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Here's a link to Lisselan Estate in Clonakilty, Co. Cork where the Ford's were. It's a golf course now, but their is a Ford Museum as well, set up by Henry. My gr-grandfather was a butler there in 1907.
http://www.lisselan.com/
Karen
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Hi Mags,
Thanks very much for links to info on Henry Ford's Irish connections. I did search Google but didn't manage to filter out the pages you found.
My Gran always said she was related but it wasn't until a couple of years after my Dads death that we visited his elder sister in New Zealand and whilst chatting she confirmed that the family was visited (she thinks sometime 1930's) by somebody looking into Henry Fords ancestors who told the family that they were cousins. Up until then I hadn't taken my Grans claim seriously. I have found my grandfathers parents on UK census from 1861 onwards.
The connection (if any) probably lies with the family that stayed in Ireland and would most likely stem from Henry Fords grandparents or even further back.
Again, many thanks........at least I have a starting point now. I'll let you know if I manage to get any further.
Cheers,
Skippy
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Karen,
Thanks for Lisselan.
Just checked 1861 census whilst replying to Mags and John Ford (Gt Gt grandfather) was born 1831 (circa) so the connection may be through Henry Fords grandfathers parents. ....
Can see I still have a lot of digging to do.
Skippy
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Look at this Skippy - they came from Somerset originally ..... !!
Ford was born on a prosperous farm in Springwells Township (now in the city of Dearborn, Michigan) owned by his parents, William Ford (1826-1905) and Mary Litogot (c1839-1876), immigrants from County Cork, Ireland. The Ford family has its origins in western England - the family was evicted from their land in Somerset and 'planted' in Ireland. His siblings include: Margaret Ford (1867-1868); Jane Ford (c1868-1945); William Ford (1871-1917) and Robert Ford (1873-1934)
Annie :) :)
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Hi Annie,
Thanks for info.
Does the article say when the family was 'planted' in Ireland or give any info as to who was evicted.
My John Ford was born in 1831. Reading through posted sites I get the impression that family connection was through Henry Fords grandparents or a generation further back so your info may be relevent. The family were catholic although my dad couldn't have been too staunch as I am C of E.
Any insight would be appreciated.
Cheers,
Skippy
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Hi Skippy !!
Here's his autobiography on e-books !! you can download ..... that might be interesting ......... !! ::)
http://www.gutenberg.org/etext/7213
and heres Wikipedia - where I got the piece I posted !!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Ford
Annie :) :) :)
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Cheers Annie,
Now got a bit more info............ many thanks.
I think at least one of John Fords (Henry's Grandfather) brothers stayed in Ireland and thats prob the connection.....gawd knows how I am going to find it but Henry's researchers did .. my gran always said he was a cousin...... so the info must be available (somwhere????).
Thanks again
Skippy
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Good Luck Skippy, who knows, maybe you'll be able to get a family discount on a Ford Vehicle :)
Karen
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Once owned a 'Ford' Escort and that broke down frequently................
bit like my research into Ford ancestors.
Driving a Honda at the mo ..........................
Skippy
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Well, you know what they say FORD stands for??
Found On Road Dead
But don't tell my husband, he thinks
First On Race Day
LOL :)
Karen
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Good one...................
Teflon Tony would say 'Ford' stands for:
'for our resurrection day'
or
'first out reconstructs disenchantment'
or even
'forever omitting relevant details'
we may have a new censuswhack surname topic here related to current events
how about 'FORD'
finding out relevant disasters
feeling our reclusive desires.
Bet the oldies never knew what fun we could have with their names
Skippy
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Hi Skippy,
Finbarr Slattery's article "Henry Ford made an enduring mark on this passing life parade" which was published in The Kingdom in June 2003 mentions Grandmother Ahern who emigrated from Cork when she was in her late sixties. Her grandaughter married Ford's father
The Ulster American Folk Park website has an article about Henry Ford which gives the names of his parents ... William and Mary Ford who emigrated from Clonakilty, Co Cork during the Great Famine. Henry was their eldest child. www.folkpark.com/childrens_corner/Emigrant_Stories/Henry_Ford
The father of the Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, came from Cork but I'm not certain whether the relationship between his family and the Ford family has been established. The comment which was made by Finnbarr Slattery in his article "it's on the cards he could be a relation" isn't sufficient. www.the-kingdom.ie/news/story/?trs=sngbqloj
Christopher
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Thanks for the info Christopher, much appreciated.
Also apologies for delay in replying. I've been away
and although arrived back Thurs have only just got
around to reading my email.
best regards,
Skippy
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Hi Skippy,
I too am looking for a Ford family from Co. Cork. My Great Grandfather, John Ford, was born in the Kinsale area of Co Cork, c. 1834. His father was called Daniel.
The family maintained that John and his parents lived in the same village as Henry Ford, but how true this is I have yet to find out.
The information on John came from the 1861 census for Stroud, Glos: He was living in Stroud, a Tailor by trade, along with his wife, Mary, who was born in Queenstown, Co. Cork. They had a 4 year old daughter, named Mary Ann, born 1857 in Newport, Wales.
Mary, the wife of John, died late in 1861 and John remarried in 1862. This marriage took place at The Church of the Immaculate Conception, Beeches Green, Stroud. The information on the marriage certificate gave the occupation of Daniel, John's father, as a Farmer, but he was deceased. I have no idea if Daniel ever came across to the UK.
John and his new wife, along with Mary Ann, moved to Trowbridge in Wiltshire, more children were born, Charlotte, Lily, John, and Percival, (my grandfather) Sadly, John Ford senior died 5 months before my grandfather was born. The family returned to Stroud, but after the 1871 census I lost trace of what happened to Mary Ann. I do know that she worked in the tailoring trade.
I found a photo of Henry Ford on the Internet and was surprised to see that his features were very similar to that of my Great Aunt Lily Ford. See attachments. This is probably a sheer coincidence!
I do not know whether John had siblings, but I should imagine he did.
Strangely, John's eldest son was named John Daniel Percival Ford, and my grandfather was called Percival John Daniel Ford, Maybe the reason for this was because John's widow was still in a state of distress due to the death of her husband and decided to give the baby the same names as her oldest son but changing them around a bit. Just a guess on my part!
Hope you find this useful,
Regards,
Jane.
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Hello Jane,
Thanks for your reply and info.
1861 census shows Gt.Gt. Grandfather John Ford
to also be a Tailor b. Ireland
Will PM you Sun.
Cheers,
Skippy
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Re: Carroll
« Reply #9 on: Today at 03:58:41 »
Hey guys I know this was posted a whole ago but I'm trying to prove/ disprove a family urban legend,
My great grandmother always swore she was related to Henry ford, I think she said they had the same grandparents or her grandmother was his sister, her family was originally Irish however they moved to south Wales.
She swore he came over and visited, she remembered this vividly as at that time motor are we're not available and she lived in a little village and he took her for a ride with everyone in the village waving at her, recently I have found an old photo with her writing on puttin the family tree saying her family name in Ireland was co'hern, however after looking at his family tree I realise we may have read it wrong as there is a o'hern.
Sorry I don't have more details, the info is at my grandmothers, but I just wondered if anyone had any info on family moving to Wales her maiden name was Williams, they were miners (but everyone in Wales was), if anyone has any info this would be awesome! The dates of Henry visiting seem to line up with those above, she was born in the mid 20s and said she was quite young when he visited so the 30s would seem about right
Hope someone can help!
Thanks
Jess x