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Ireland (Historical Counties) => Ireland => Topic started by: halfkiwi on Thursday 16 March 06 09:47 GMT (UK)
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I'm trying to trace my Northern Ireland family name (Follas) and there have been indications (not to mention family mythology) that it may originate with the Huguenots - possibly from La Rochelle.
I know the general history of the Huguenots' flight from France to various parts of Europe, Britain and Canada, BUT has anyone done any specific research into their settlement in Northern Ireland.
Follis (with an 'i') is an unusual name in NI but spelt with an 'a' it is even more unusual.... although they may have the same origins.
Any comments and help appreciated.
Hilary
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Hello Hilary,
There's been a reasonable amount of research into Huguenot families in the north of Ireland. In 1997 the Lisburn Historical Society published E. Joyce Best's book which was titled " The Huguenot's of Lisburn. The Story of the Lost Colony." (http://www.lisburn.com/books/huguenots/huguenots.html) The book was edited and compiled by Kathleen Rankin.
In the Huguenot Society's proceedings written over a hundred years ago there's an entry on Page 352, Volume III, No. 11 referring to "The Lost Register of the French Church of Lisburn, Ireland" by Mr. George Gilligan, J.P., of Turret House, Reading.
The extracts of Griffiths Valuations of Ireland 1848-64 on John Hayes failteromhat.com website show a number of families named Follis ... the majority of them were listed in Co. Kilkenny ... the only families with that surname in the northern counties at the time were from Co. Armagh and Co. Cavan ....
Richard Follis, Township of Lurgan, Avenue Road, Shankill. Armagh
James Follis, Red Bog, Corporation Lands, Annagh. Cavan
George Follis, Dunaweel, Killashandra. Cavan
There was one listing for Follas in Co. Down ...
Joshua Follas, Tullyherron, Donaghcloney. Down
The Fianna Guide to Irish Genealogy website contains a list of Hugenot Surnames (http://www.rootsweb.com/~fianna/surname/hug1.html) which are used on their site with the kind permission of Pat Traynor. A site that I spotted the other day said that strictly speaking Huguenot surnames don't exist ... they're French surnames.
Christopher
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Hello Christopher,
Thank you very much for your comments ..... I'll go through them carefully later today.
Joshua Follas of Tullyheron is my ancestor - either my ggg-grandfather, or my gg-grandfather's brother, as they had the same christian name. The house at Tullyheron may have been leased to the elder Joshua before 1864 and continued on in the name of his son until just before 1901. (The habit of passing on family christian names may have seemed a good idea at the time, but it caused a lot of confusion aterwards!)
Before starting research I thought the family spelling was Follis, as my mother spelt her name that way, but going back a generation I found it reverted to Follas (which my great aunt insisted was the correct spelling). I realise that allowance must be made for mis-spelling/aural mistakes, etc but it was pretty consistent. I also investigated families with the Follis spelling and they don't seem to have any direct family link.
As I'm in New Zealand it is more difficult (even with the wonderful www) to find the data so I had the Ulster Historical Society do my iniital research some years ago. They went back about 4 generations and basically gave me back a family I knew little about.
Once again, many many thanks for your most helpful comments,
Cheers, Hilary
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Hi Hilary,
Surname: Follas. Ulster Covenant 1912.
Belfast, Co. Antrim
Jane Follas, 1, Geoffrey Street
Katie Follas, 14, River Terrace
William Follas, 14, River Terrace
Surname: Follis. Ulster Covenant 1912.
Co. Armagh
John Follis, Hill Street, Lurgan.
Maggie Follis, Lurgan
Mary Ann Follis, 96, Hill Street, Lurgan
Samuel Follis, 96, Hill Street, Lurgan
Sarah Follis, Brownlow Terrace, Lurgan
Sarah J. Follis, Charles Street, Lurgan
Thomas Follis, George Street, Lurgan.
Belfast, Co. Antrim
Annie Follis, 6, Edenderry Gardens
Ellen Follis, 5, Edenderry Gardens
George S. Follis, 5, Edenderry Gardens
James Follis, 30, Moscow Street
John Follis, 5, Edenderry Gardens
Co. Cavan
George Follis, Caldra
Co. Fermanagh
Kate Follis, Boheveny
Christopher
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Hi Christopher,
that was very kind of you. I've already been through the Ulster Covenant, looking particularly for the Belfast pages, and downloaded all the relevant signatures. Also checked some names who were friends/relatives by marriage, eg, Laverty, Turkington and Chisholm.
Annie Follis (Edenderry Gardens) is my g-grandmother (I note the spelling!!)
Ellen (Auntie Nellie) is one of her daughters and my beloved great aunt (the only one I knew).
George, and John are two of her brothers (there were 8 children - 4 boys & 4 girls in that generation)
I'd need to check my records on the William FollAS but he could have been a 3rd brother.
Not sure about Kate, but I think Jane may be one of the daughters - I will check this.
I'll also check all the others listed in case the names pop up somewhere in my researches.
By the way, do you know anything about the surname QUAN?
George (above) married Mary Louisa Quan on 2/2/1920 and she's also listed in the Covenant along with her ?mother; but I've never been able to find out anything more about the surname. Its such an unusual one! My interest was roused as a witness at the wedding was Abraham, my grandfather, and 4th son of that generation.
Thanks again Christopher. Your help is greatly appreciatedl.
Regards, Hilary
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Hi Hilary,
I'm having the same problem as you. It's proving difficult to find the origin of the Quan surname. As far as I'm aware it's not an Irish name as there are not too many of them
listed in telephone books or trade directories
There's a list of Co. Donegal Landowners, 1876, on the Ulster Ancestry website which shows .... Patrick Quan, address Gortcormecan, owned 315 acres
Christopher
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Hi Christopher,
you've pretty much confirmed my own conclusions..... Ah well, that's life - and genealogy!! I'll put her on the back in the box with the other queries and get on with the main family.
Many thanks for your help, Hilary
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Hi Hilary,
I knew the name Follis was ringing a bell for me ... it's just come to me ...
Julie Follis is a popular jazz / blues singer in Northern Ireland.
Hear her singing on www.myspace.com/juliefollismusic
There are lots of people named Quan from Ireland on www.familysearch.org
Christopher
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Hi Christopher,
I looked up Julie Follis - thank goodness we're finally getting broadband next week! It took a long time to download but she's a lovely girl; actually looks a bit like my daughter (also a Julie) except that my Julie's hair is more red than blonde. I'll have a further listen in when the broadband arrives.
There certainly are a LOT of Quans in familysearch....
Thanks for that,
Cheers, Hilary
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I'm trying to trace my Northern Ireland family name (Follas) and there have been indications (not to mention family mythology) that it may originate with the Huguenots - possibly from La Rochelle.
I know the general history of the Huguenots' flight from France to various parts of Europe, Britain and Canada, BUT has anyone done any specific research into their settlement in Northern Ireland.
Follis (with an 'i') is an unusual name in NI but spelt with an 'a' it is even more unusual.... although they may have the same origins.
Any comments and help appreciated.
Hilary
BIRTHS
Record Type Civil Birth
Date of Birth 17 Aug 1870
Name Jane FOLLAS
Gender F
Fathers Name William FOLLAS
Mothers Maiden Name Margaret SWINDLE
Civil District Belfast
Sub District Belfast No 10
County Antrim
Record Type Civil Birth
Date of Birth 11 Oct 1871
Name Margaret FOLLAS
Gender F
Fathers Name William FOLLAS
Mothers Maiden Name Margaret SWINDLE
Civil District Belfast
Sub District Belfast No 10
County Antrim
Date of Birth 20 Dec 1872
Name John FOLLAS
Gender M
Fathers Name William FOLLAS
Mothers Maiden Name Margaret SWINDLE
Civil District Belfast
Sub District Belfast No 10
County Antrim
Date of Birth 21 Apr 1875
Name William FOLLAS
Gender M
Fathers Name John FOLLAS
Mothers Maiden Name Ann TURKINGTON
Civil District Belfast
Sub District Belfast No 3
County Antrim
MARRIAGES
1846 richard BURNS
margaret FOLLAS
Lurgan Armagh
1846 thomas FOLLAS
elizabeth MCDOWELL
Lurgan Armagh
1848 william BAIRD
anne FOLLAS
Lurgan Armagh
1854 john KERR
jane eliza FOLLAS
Banbridge Down
1874 john CAMPBELL
isabella FOLLAS
Belfast Antrim
1874 john FOLLAS
anna TURKINGTON
Lurgan Armagh
1880 william FOLLAS
rebecca FINLAY
Belfast Antrim
1895 james MULLAN
margaret FOLLAS
Belfast Antrim
1898 francis DAWSON
jane FOLLAS
Belfast Antrim
1900 george LAVERTY
ellen FOLLAS
Belfast Antrim
1901 CENSUS
1901 Edward Follis 27 Enniskillen Town Enniskillen Fermanagh
1901 Frederick R. Follis 20 Roosky Devenish Fermanagh
1901 Maggie Follis 13 Derrygonnelly Inishmacsaint Fermanagh
1901 Maggie E. Follis 46 Bohevny Cleenish Fermanagh
1901 Margaret Follis 60 Roosky Devenish Fermanagh
1901 Margaret Jane Follis Minran Inishmacsaint Fermanagh
1901 Gabriel Follis Minran Inishmacsaint Fermanagh
BIRTHS
Birth Year Name/s Gender Fathers Forenames Mothers Forenames Civil District County
1866 Mary Ann FOLLIS F George Elizabeth Lurgan Armagh
1869 Christiana FOLLIS F Gabriel Mary Jane Enniskillen Fermanagh
1870 Sarah FOLLIS F George Eliza Lurgan Armagh
1872 Francis George FOLLIS M George Eliza Lurgan Armagh
1874 James FOLLIS M Moses Margaret Belfast Antrim
1875 Lucinda FOLLIS F William Sarah Jane Lisnaskea Fermanagh
1875 James FOLLIS M Martha Belfast Antrim
MARRIAGES
Year of Marriage Groom Bride Civil District County
1857 george FOLLIS
elizabeth NEWELL
Belfast Antrim
1869 william FOLLIS
margaret SWINDLE
Belfast Down
1873 george FOLLIS
margaret BELL
Lurgan Armagh
1873 william VAUGHAN
mary FOLLIS
Lurgan Armagh
1882 robert GRAHAM
charlotte FOLLIS
Lurgan Armagh
1882 john FOLLIS
lizzie HAMILTON
Belfast Antrim
1885 george FOLLIS
jane eliza JENNINGS
Lurgan Down
1891 henry CUNNINGHAM
margaret FOLLIS
Lurgan Armagh
1892 david ARCHER
margaret FOLLIS
Lurgan Armagh
1896 george FOLLIS
margaret PARKS
Lurgan Armagh
1896 richard FOLLIS
sarah TATE
Lurgan Armagh
1896 james FOLLIS
mary anne SMITH
Belfast Antrim
1898 william MCCULLOUGH
jane FOLLIS
Belfast Antrim
1901 joshua FOLLIS
sarah jane CAMPBELL
Lurgan Armagh
1905 thomas edward FOLLIS
sarah MORROW
Enniskillen Fermanagh
1906 samuel GLASS
margaret FOLLIS
Lurgan Armagh
1907 william FOLLIS
sarah CORDNER
Lurgan Armagh
1908 john FOLLIS
emma PATTERSON
Lurgan Armagh
1913 edward EVANS
mary sylvia FOLLIS
Belfast Antrim
1915 alexander HOWE
kate FOLLIS
Enniskillen Fermanagh
1916 william ROBINSON
margaret FOLLIS
Lurgan Armagh
1909 robert BENTLEY
eliza FOLLIS
Lurgan Armagh
1912 william john CHISHOLM
margaret FOLLIS
Belfast Antrim
Good luck
OTTO
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Hi Otto,
and very many thanks for your efforts. Some of them I recognise right away as my great-aunts & great-uncles (4 of each); and I will sift through the rest to see where they fit into my family.
Again, many thanks,
Hilary
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Hi Hilary,
Have a look at the website of Stan Follis ... it mentions Fallis and Follis families ... http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~sfollis/follis/follis_families.html
Christopher
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Hi Christopher,
Thanks for that link .... I'll start wading through it tomorrow. I've not heard of a family member who emigrated to America early on, but my grandfather, Abraham Lunn Follas, was a engineer in the British merchant navy; the story goes that he went to USA at some stage and won a massive lottery - and, of course, went through it quickly! BUT, as you know, family history lies a lot, so I'm not holding my breath on that one. All I really know about him is that he handed my mother over to HIS mother to raise when his wife died after childbirth and then apparently went back to sea.
Meantime, I think I've found the death registration of my g-grandmother on my father's side of the family. I always assumed they came from the London area - Tottenham until a search showed that G-gran Hardy first pops up in the 1871 Census as Mary Hardy (widow plus 5 children) all from Co. Clare. I just recently found what I think is the right notice and am now waiting (impatiently) for the certificate to arrive in the mail.
If its right, I MAY get some more info about Mary Hardy or her husband. At present I don't even know his christian name. However, there's a lot of ifs and buts in this - even for an optimist like me!
Thanks for your continuing help. I'm slowly working my way through it all but its taken a bit longer than anticipated due to work, family illness etc. I'll get there in the end.
Cheers, Hilary.
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1892 david ARCHER
margaret FOLLIS
Lurgan Armagh
Which you have mentioned are ancestors of mine I wanted to know any other information you may have on them , also to note david archer married before he married maragret Follis , and I wanted to know who he married before this? I hope you could help.?
thanks David
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Hi David,
The Archer/Follis marriage was one of many sent to me as possible connections - unfortunately, I've not been able to find any connection or mention of an Archer in the family (so far). If I do, I'll certainly let you know.
Meanwhile, have you looked at the NEW Mormon website which they are running as a pilot, as it has info on the bmd registrations for Ireland. You'll find it at
http://pilot.familysearch.org/recordsearch/start.html#p=home
It's worth a look.
Cheers, and good luck,
Hilary
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Hi
Just discovered this site and the information on the Follis name.
I'm researching my family through the Chisholm's and Margaret Seaton Follis is (was) my grandmother.
She married William John Chisholm on 6th September 1912 at Carnmoney and died on 24th August 1971. She is buried in Knockbreda graveyard.
If anyone has any further information on the direct line of Follis's or Chisholm's I would be delighted to hear from you.
David
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Thank-you to all who replied especially by PM
I hope to reply individually but am unable to send PM until I have posted at least three times (here's no 2)
Have found the Follis family in the 1911 cencus and it ties up with family history (and heresay).
The possible Huguenot connection is interesting!
Thanks and I'll get back to you asap.
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I am looking for a Richard Follis of Northern Ireland , he was born around 1830.He married a Charlotte Thompson. Apparently they were in the 1901 census, I would love for someone to look-up the 1901 census for them. They would have been in their 70s and living in Co Armagh.
Cheers David ;)
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I am looking for a Richard Follis of Northern Ireland , he was born around 1830.He married a Charlotte Thompson. Apparently they were in the 1901 census, I would love for someone to look-up the 1901 census for them. They would have been in their 70s and living in Co Armagh.
Cheers David ;)
The National Archives hope to add the 1901 census details to their website in early 2010 - see : http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/about/futureplans.html
there looks like there may be a match for the death of Richard on the civil index :
Name: Richard Follis
Registration district: Lurgan
Record type: Death
quarter and year: Apr - Jun 1903
Age: 69 (est birth year: 1834)
Volume: 1 / Page: 531
Shane
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There is also a death for Charlotte Follis in Lurgan Registration District.
Jul-Sept 1910
Estimated birth 1839
Age 71
Vol 1/Page 441
Regards
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I may be able to add something to this topic.
I unfortunately cannot comment on the possible Follis/ Huguenot connection but I was born and brought up in Co Armagh, in Lurgan, and I note there are some earlier queries on an Archer/ Follis marriage in Lurgan
My late father (born 1917, died 2010), one of whose christian names was Archer (it was very common in N Ireland to use a family surname as a Christian name), was from 88 Hill Street, in Lurgan and he had a distant cousin who was a Follis, and was also from Hill Street Lurgan. I believe there were several families of that name in Hill Street at that time.
I live in England now but was born on the same day, in the same hospital and, subsequently, went to school with a male Follis descendant who (or so I was told by my parents) was a distant relative of my father's family. He still lives in or near Lurgan and could possibly contact him if it helped?????
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Hi halfkiwi
Just been looking up my mothers maiden name, Follis. Her parents were George S Follis and Mary Louisa Quan. I think the S was for Seyton.
My mother, Joanna but called herself Jean Follis, used to live in Tudor Place off the Crumlin Rd, Belfast. We went to Belfast in 1956 to visit my mothers relatives. Most memorable was a a farmhouse in Lurgan with a peatvfire for cooking on after catching the chicken in the farmyard!
We must be relatives.
Regards
Dai Owen
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Dai,
2 Feb 1920 George SEATON Follis married Mary Louisa Quan in Oldpark Presbyterian Church, Shankill, Belfast.
Regards
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Realised after posting that I got the spelling wrong for Seaton.
Thanks for the quick response.
Dai
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Must find an old photo of my grandmother. She has a very similar face shape to mine, uncanny
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Wow, i don't come across my last name ever, only if its from my siblings...I am a Follas...I to am doing family reseach. I am a descendant of Thomas Follas and Elizabeth Orr, who travelled to New Zealand on the "ANN" , they joined the ship on 21st October 1847 but did not set sail to NZ until 25 December. Would anyone have a photo of the Ship Ann?. or a copy?. Thomas was born in the parish of Shankle in or near the town Lurgan in the country of Armagh, Northern Ireland in 1803. On the 23 November 1820 he married Elizabeth Orr at Banbridge, Country Down. On thee 27th day of January 1821 he enlisted in the British Army at Newry, Country Armagh. Anyone doing the Follas research and are descendants of this side, I'm more than happy to try and help here in New zealand. From Thomas and Elizabeth, my great grand father was their son James (1835) who married Mary Ann Shine (1840) and my grandfather was their son Reginald Follas (this is the part of the family research that I'm stuck on) - Rumors in my family are - My grandfather is the biological son of James, but was adopted by James and his wife Mary Ann. His mother was the Maori maid. But i can find no information and them having a maid. But photographs indicate the family connection. Also my grandfather is thought to be born on 16 June 1894, my grandfather put his age up to serve in the NZ army by a few years, We can not locate a birth certificate . I am carrying on from my fathers research on his father. Any Follas out there or reading this, any help is much appreciated. Thanks
Kristine
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Hi,
I'm interested in finding out more about William FOLLAS, son of Thomas FOLLAS and Elizabeth ORR. He was my 2G grandmother's second husband. Harriet MAYNARD married William in Wellington in 1866, two years after her first husband John Ward MCKAIN died. She is buried in Masterton as Harriet FOLLAS but I can't see a death for William, unless there was a variant spelling. I don't know anything about her life between 1866 and 1899.
Pam
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Lurgan First Presbyterian has the following
Joshua Follas and wife Jane McKague of Lurgan baptizing George Sept 8, 1832 but later saying he was born Nov 7, 1832. Francis was baptized Dec 19, 1835 and Joshua's wife was Jane McTeague then.
On Sept 1, 1843 Samuel Folsa and Margaret McKeag had dau Margaret Jane. I assume that is Folas and don't know if Samuel married a sister. They lived in Portadown. 'J' and "S' look very much alike and I am reading from someone's transcription. It is a strech to say this is Joshua again, but it might be.
Thomas Folless and Elizabeth McDowell, Lurgan weavers had dau Mary April 17, 1846
Richard Fellis and Charlotte Thompson had Elizabeth Mar 31, 1861 and Sarah ann Feb 28, 1863, baptized together
A very early baptism of Eleanor to Thomas Folleur or Felleur born and bapt Aug 20., 1769 might be a Follas, but there isn't another similar name before the early baptisms end.
Not at that church:
The above Richard and Charlotte were the parents of Margaret who married David Archer. It was my understanding David married Ellen McCullough in Shankill area on Dec 23, 1877 and had Mary Ann in 1878. I thought this was the David Archer who remarried a Follis. If you have the marriage record, whom do you have as a father?
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Also baptized at Lurgan First was Moses born Dec 4, 1773 to Francis Follis and baptized Dec 26.
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Slaters Directory of Ireland; 1846
Follas Thomas; Provision dealer; 69 North Queen st.
Antrim, Belfast.
1870;
Follas Henry; Grocer; Enniskillen, Derrygonnelly, Fermanagh
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1881 England census;
Follas George; 18
Born; Cavan Ireland
Lodger
Cooper worker
125 Peasley lane, Prescot St Helens Sutton Lancs.
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Jack
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Hello Christopher,
Thank you very much for your comments ..... I'll go through them carefully later today.
Joshua Follas of Tullyheron is my ancestor - either my ggg-grandfather, or my gg-grandfather's brother, as they had the same christian name. The house at Tullyheron may have been leased to the elder Joshua before 1864 and continued on in the name of his son until just before 1901. (The habit of passing on family christian names may have seemed a good idea at the time, but it caused a lot of confusion aterwards!)
Before starting research I thought the family spelling was Follis, as my mother spelt her name that way, but going back a generation I found it reverted to Follas (which my great aunt insisted was the correct spelling). I realise that allowance must be made for mis-spelling/aural mistakes, etc but it was pretty consistent. I also investigated families with the Follis spelling and they don't seem to have any direct family link.
As I'm in New Zealand it is more difficult (even with the wonderful www) to find the data so I had the Ulster Historical Society do my iniital research some years ago. They went back about 4 generations and basically gave me back a family I knew little about.
Once again, many many thanks for your most helpful comments,
Cheers, Hilary
Hi HalfKiwi, I am totally new to this forum so forgive me if I have not sent a clear response....Joshua Follas is my GGG-Grandfather and my GG-Grandmother is his daughter Margaret Follas (In some Irish records it has her name as Follis) I just stumbled on some info about her yesterday which led me to this link and conversation in this forum. You have all been very helpful and look forward to learning more. Thanks Jen
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Hi Kristine, I've just come across this on my friends computer - so it'll be her user name you see- my g/g/grandmother was Jane Follas who was 12 when they arrived in 1848.
Her daughter, Mary Elisabeth Jamison married Charles Guillum-Scott.
I've been trying to find her mother Elisabeth's parents (Orr) no luck yet.
I have a small booklet about our Irish Connection - written by Glenise Rolfe.
By the way I'm on a group page on FB - New Zealanders of Irish Descent -
Cheers Helene
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Is this the Scottish name Foulis which has been subject to the usual ill-treatment after crossing the North Channel? Various spellings in Scotland, including Fowlis, Foulds & Follis in the 1400's. Not a Huguenot name as goes back to the 13th century and has its origin in the place-name Foulis of which there are a few!
Skoosh.