How to find 20th Century Ferris in Castlecomer ?

[MBR1965]

Just wondering how you folks go about tracing more recent descendants (some of which are still alive !!)
I am going to Castlecomer this summer and would love to knock on a couple of doors and annoy them with a visit to tell them I am a cousin 23 times removed !!! (kidding)

The male ancestors of my family both moved to Gateshead England in 1900 leaving behind 4 sisters (2 of whom died young) and the only one I can find who married was Catherine "Kate" Brennan , who married Thomas Ferris in 1899. He was a coachman at Ardra House in the 1901 census.

They had 6 children

John (1900 - emigrated to Australia in 1916)
Mary (1902)
Eizabeth/Lizzie (1904)
Catheline/Catherine (1906)
Abraham (1908)
Thomas (1910)

I found John no problem thanks to a family tree produced in Australia but I can find no trace of the other five.

I know my grandfather Abin went across to Castlecomer to visit relatives in 1947 and assume it was his Aunt Kate and her family. I presume all contact was lost after his death in 1962, years before I was even born.

The only recollection anyone in my family has is that he was supposed to have stayed in a place called Daisy Bell Cottage in Castlecomer while he was there.

Can anyone suggest where it would be best to look to trace these Ferris descendants ? It seems that online, records dry up after 1920 and none of them would have married before 1920 !

Thanks again

[nanny jan]

Hi,

A very long shot.......but you could try sending a letter to the local newspaper.  My father did this (in Wales) and all he had was an address from a  1947 marriage certificate;  it worked and he managed to get back in touch with his cousin!

Good luck!


Nanny Jan

[myluck!]

FERRIS family in 1901 in Coolbaun and
in Ardra 1911 census
There were subsequent children born to this family; Micheal mentioned below in 1920
and there is one living sister, the youngest, detail shown in death notice also below

This link shows the names in the graveyard at Castlecomer
including some named FERRIS

It looks as if Thomas Snr died in 1931 and Catherine in 1957
and are buried with their grandchildren Thomas, John and Geraldine;
I am presuming that Abraham is Abban, who died in 1992
Photo 12 of 20 on this link; third row down, second in

Based on Thomas being aged 12 in 1969
I looked for a birth in 1957 and found
Thomas FERRIS Kilkenny Jan-Mar V3 P323 giving the mother's maiden name as RYAN

There is a marriage in 1955 in Castlecomer between a Michael FERRIS and a Mary RYAN
but unfortunately there are also two recent death notices
that, if the same couple, show they have recently passed away.
(on re-reading death notice the three deceased children buried in the grave in Castlecomer are listed)

Recent death notice of
Michael FERRIS and
Maureen FERRIS
However, you can see their family's names and that some are still based in Castlecomer

Hope that this is of help
Have a wonderful trip

[conahy calling]

http://www.eircomphonebook.ie/     

   link for on-line phonebook     Look under Residential (see top right "Business" or "Residential")

[MBR1965]

Thank you everyone for all your kind help - it is greatly appreciated.

[conahy calling]

Have a look in Facebook, definitely someone of interest there 

[saddles]

Check your PM, I have sent you current names and addresses.

[MBR1965]

Have a look in Facebook, definitely someone of interest there 

You're right thanks, found him yesterday , that is my second cousin once removed apparently. I found the address & telephone number of his eldest brother so hopefully I can make contact now

[MBR1965]

Check your PM, I have sent you current names and addresses.

Thank you, I have those - I think there are about 80 - 100 of them in total around the Kilkenny area now , my great-great Aunt who married a Ferris in 1899 had 11 children and most of them seem to have been very productive :p

Can't wait to get over there now this summer , it's going to be great fun - I have been wanting to do this for about 20 years now !

Thanks to everyone who answered this thread for all their kind help, between you, you have saved me about 3 to 4 months hard slog and expensive internet detection work and ensured that when I get over there it will be simply to meet & chat instead of hunting and researching