Hi Monica,
Thanks for your interest. The newspaper announcement was very brief and gives the place of death as Greenock Infirmary. I viewed the death that Don found on Scotland's people but I already knew it wasn't him as the age was 85 and my great, great, great, grandfather was only in his early fifties. However, I now know this is not his date of death. The record has his name as John Ferres and date of death is 24th May 1874. The announcement is two days later. Cause of death is Typhus Fever.
The interesting thing is that his residence was Drumfrochar Road where incidently one of the Ferries children was born - Robert Ferries born 1882. There may be a family connection so I need to look at this further. The announcement said John Ferries father of John Ferries so I assumed it was him,
The youngest child was as you say Mary born 7th January 1866 - later to become Mary Mitchell. Her mother died at her house in 1911. She is with them on the 1901 and 1911 census and they are indeed living at 1 St. Andrew's Square in 1881. John Ferries is alive in 1871 as he is on the census living with wife Mary, and children John, Robert and Mary. His occupation is given as labourer. I found this census on Find My Past though as it's not on Ancestry. He first appears on the 1851 Census living at 13 Cowgate, St. Lambs Land, Greenock (shoemaker). With them are 2 lodgers from Ireland. In 1861 they have moved to 1 Buccleigh St (shoemaker). He married in 1844 but is not on the 1841 census so I think he left Ireland between 1841-1844. John, his son, married my great, great grandmother on March 30th 1875 but I haven't been able to find their actual marriage record so don't know if his father was alive at that time.
Therfore, I can only conclude that he died some time between 1871 and 1881. His death record must be somewhere!
Regards Julie
