Fergus(s)on DNA Project JB and Harry FERGUSON Automotive Pioneers The Fergusons of Growell could trace their family in Ireland back to the Plantations from Scotland some two hundred years previously, and they were proud of their long standing in the area. [Colin Fraser, Tractor Pioneer, 1974]

Auto Data Book edited by Edwin Hess

DNA

The DNA of this family is of Haplogroup: I2b - Clade: Isles/Sc based on the Haplotype of Joseph Clarence Ferguson.

Family Tree

• James FERGUSON, farmer, deceased before 1 Jul 1879
  [probably James FERGUSON b. 1818, d. 5 Mar 1871; m. Eliza; see SMYTH in Drumlough Presbyterian Graveyard; children named in will: James, Thomas, Jane, Agnes, Elizabeth]
  [It appears that James married twice, a MCCLELLAND prior to 1847 and Eliza SYMTH after 1849]
  • Jane FERGUSON b. 8 Jan 1847, Loughaghry Presby d/o James FERGUSON & MCCLELLAND
  • Agnes FERGUSON b. 18 Feb 1849, Loughaghry Presby d/o James FERGUSON & MCCLELLAND
  • James FERGUSON b.~ 1850/1; m. Mary (Minnie) BELL 1 Jul 1879, Parish Church Newry, Co Down; d. 27 Apr 1937
    1. Joseph Bell FERGUSON b. 24 May 1880 Growell; d. 28 Dec 1967, New York NY

       New York Times

       • Joseph Bell "JB" FERGUSON
         • >>Joseph Clarence Ferguson
       • Bruce M. b. 22 Oct 1922; d. Oct 1993, New York, NY
    2. James Patterson FERGUSON b. Jun 18 1881; d. 22 May 1954
    3. Margaret "Maggie" Elizabeth FERGUSON b. May 19 1883; d. 10 Jan 1909
    4. Henry George "Harry" FERGUSON b. 4 Nov 1884, Growell, Co Down; d. 25 Oct 1960, Stow-on-the-Wold, Gloucestershire, ENG; m. Mary (Maureen) Adelaide WATSON, Newry, Co. Down, 1913
       • Elizabeth M., b.1920; m. Anthony SHELDON, Dec 1950, Westminster
    5. Mary Agnes FERGUSON b. 1st quarter, 1886, district of Lisburn (vol 1 p 61);
    6. Norman Priestly FERGUSON b. Mar 3, 1888; d. 4 Jul 1940
    7. William Edwin Persis FERGUSON b. Oct 27 1890; d. 23 May 1959
    8. Sarah Ludley Agnew (Sadie) FERGUSON b. Aug 26 1891; d. 4 Apr 1920
    9. John Victor Stanley FERGUSON b. Sep 2 1893; d. 25 Aug 1935
    10. Edgar McKnight FERGUSON b. Jul 16 1896; d. 7 Dec 1943 Newark, NJ
    11. Hugh Fisher FERGUSON b. Nov 28 1903; d. 18 Dec 1943
  • Eliza (Elizabeth) FERGUSON b. Apr 4 1852
  • Thomas FERGUSON b. May 2, 1854, Loughaghry Presbyterian; m. Hannah E. JAMISON Sep 21, 1881, Dromore 1st Presbyterian
    • Thomas John FERGUSON b. 26 May 1888 Ballykeel, Dromore, County Down; d. 8 Sep 1968 Newton, Middlesex, MA
      • >>Thomas John Ferguson

Books & Articles

• Harry FERGUSON
  • Colin Fraser, Tractor Pioneer: The Life of Harry Ferguson, Ohio University Press, 1973.
  • Irelandseye.com
  • Raymond's County Down Website
  • Ferguson Family Museum
• JB FERGUSON
  • Photo of 1921 Fergus Sedan
  • The Irish Times

Census

• 1901 Census
  • house 9 in Growell (Ballykeel, Down)
    • Ferguson Thomas 53 Male Head of Family Presbyterian
    • Ferguson Agnes 17 Female Daughter Presbyterian Co Down House Maid Read write English Not Married -
  • house 10 in Growell (Ballykeel, Down)
    • Ferguson John 70 Male Head of Family Presbyterian Co Down Farmer Read and write - Not Married -
    • Ferguson Mary Jane 43 Female Wife Presbyterian
    • Ferguson William 21 Male Son Presbyterian Co Down Shoemaker Read and write - Not Married -
    • Ferguson Jane Eliza 9 Female Daughter Presbyterian Co Down Scholar Read and write - Not Married -
    • Ferguson Samuel John 2 Male Son Presbyterian Co Down - Cannot read - Not Married -
    • Ferguson Jane 60 Female Sister Presbyterian Co Down - Read and write - Not Married -
    • Ferguson Samuel 40 Male Brother Presbyterian Co Down Farmer Read and write - Married -
  • house 11 in Growell (Ballykeel, Down)
    • Ferguson James 50 Male Head of Family Christain County Down Farmer Read and write - Married -
    • Ferguson Minne 45 Female Wife Christain
    • Ferguson Margaret 17 Female Daughter Christain Co Down Farmers Daughter Read and write - Not Married -
    • Ferguson Henry 16 Male Son Christain Co Down Farmers Son Read and write - Not Married -
    • Ferguson Mary 15 Female Daughter Christain Co Down Farmers Daughter Read and write - Not Married -
    • Ferguson Norman 13 Male Son Christain Co Down Scholar Read and write - Not Married -
    • Ferguson William 11 Male Son Christain Co Down Scholar Read and write - Not Married -
    • Ferguson Sarah 9 Female Daughter Christain Co Down Scholar Read and write - Not Married -
    • Ferguson Victor 7 Male Son Christain Co Down Scholar Read and write - Not Married -
    • Ferguson Samuel E 4 Male Son Christain Co Down - Cannot read - - -
• 1911 Census
  • house number 8 in Growell (Ballykeel, Down)
    • Ferguson Thomas Head 66 Male Widower Weaver Co. Down
      • Crossed Out: Married 40 years, 11 children, 5 living children
    • Ferguson Agnes Dau 27 Single Co Down
  • house number 9 in Growell (Ballykeel, Down)
    • Ferguson Samuel Head 60 Male Farmer Co. Down
    • Fergason Mary Jane Wife 55 Female Co. Down
    • Ferguson William Son 29 Male Shoemaker Co. Down
    • Ferguson Jane Eliza Dau 19 Female Co. Down
    • Ferguson Samuel J Son 13 Male Co. Down
    • Ferguson David GrandSon 3 Male Co. Down
    • Ferguson John Brother 82 Male Co. Down
  • house number 11 in Growell (Ballykeel, Down)
    • Fergason James 60 Male
    • Fergason Minnie 55 Female
    • Fergason Sadie 19 Female
    • Fergason Hugh 7 Male

David Ferguson

Courtesy of Robert Herbert Ferguson

• David FERGUSON, a farmer from Growell of the Dromore parish. [The will for David Ferguson included that he bequeathed part of his estate to his son David of Growell, William of Greenock, Scotland, James and Thomas. And divided the farm, houses and equipment between the three sons that were living with him: John, Robert and Samuel of Growell and Samuels daughter Jane.]
  • John FERGUSON b. 17 May 1830, Growell, Down; m. 1870
  • William FERGUSON b. 02 Jun 1832, Growell, Drumlough Presbyterian; m. Agnes Nancy PATTERSON Nov 15 1861 Cargycreevy Presbyterian Parish
    • Robert Herbert FERGUSON b. 1888 Belfast; m. Doris Margurette CHILDS, 02 May 1920, Owosso, Shiawassee, MI
      • >>Robert Herbert FERGUSON
  • Jane FERGUSON b. 05 Mar 1835, Growell, Down
  • Thomas FERGUSON b.~1845, Co Down; m. 1870
    • Agnes b.~1884
  • Robert FERGUSON m. 1876
  • James FERGUSON
  • Samuel FERGUSON b.~1851, Down; m. Mary Jane MCCONE, 15 Aug 1879, Drumlough
    • William 12 Dec 1879, Drumlough, Co. Down
    • Jane Eliza b. 1891, Co. Down
    • Samuel J b.~1898; Co. Down

Drumlough Presbyterian Graveyard

• [In low-walled enclosure with SMYTH stone]. In affectionate remembrance of James FERGUSON of Growell who departed this life 5th March 1871 age 53 years. Erected by his widow and children. Also his infant son James. Also his beloved wife Eliza FERGUSON who died 11th Aug. 1888 aged 74 yrs.
  
• [Modern stone with the above]. In loving memory of James FERGUSON of Growell, died 27th April, 1937. And of his wife Mary Bell FERGUSON, died 15th June, 1934. And of their children:- Margaret died 10th Jan. 1909; Sarah died 4th April, 1920; Victor died 25th Aug. 1935, the result of an accident; Edgar died 7th Dec. 1943 in Newark, N.J. USA., Hugh died 18th Dec. 1943 in New York., U.S.A., James died 22nd May 1954; William died 23rd May 1959; Norman died 4th July, 1940; Harry died 25th October, 1960; Joseph died 28th December, 1967.

Growell Querries

• Stephanie Burns- John FERGUSON married Esther KELLY. Son Hugh Thomas FERGUSON b. 4 Aug 1878 in Growell, Dromore. He was baptized on 25 Sept 1878.
• Delores Ferguson Young - William John FERGUSON b. 26 Apr 1869, Growell s/o James FERGUSON b.~1840 and Eliza MCCULLY.
• Esther FERGUSON bc 1830 Dromore Parish, Co. Down, Ireland d 26 January, 1869 Corwar Mains, Colmonell Parish, Ayrshire the daughter of John FERGUSON, weaver, and his wife, Sarah SCOTT, both born in Ireland.

Tithe Applotment Books

• David, Dromore, Growell, 1834
• Widow Agness, Dromore, Growell, 1834

Griffiths Valuation 1864

James FERGUSON	Marquis Of Downshire	Growell	Dromore
William Moreland	James FERGUSON	Growell	Dromore
Gorman M'Ateer	James FERGUSON	Growell	Dromore
John Cauley	James FERGUSON	Growell	Dromore

Probate

• David FERGUSON⁴, senior, of Growell, will probated 1836,
• The Will² of James FERGUSON late of Growell, County Down, farmer, deceased, who died 5th March 1871 at same place was proved at Belfast 31st January, 1873 by the oaths of Francis MOORE of Magheraconluce, farmer, John RUDDOCK of Growell, farmer, and Eliza FERGUSON of Growell, widow, all in Dromara, said county, the executors. Effects under 1000 Pounds
• Administration (with the Will) of the estate of David FERGUSON late of Growell County Down Farmer who died 23 March 1878 granted at Belfast to Samuel FERGUSON Farmer
• The Will of James FERGUSON late of Growell County Down Farmer who died 31 January 1887 at same place was proved at Belfast by Richard M'CULLY of Growell and Richard SPENCE of Drumlough in said County Farmers the Executors.

Reports of the Deputy Keeper of the Public Records - PRONI

• FERGUSON Harry Co Down 4 photos. cl920-cl950 T 3336
• FERGUSON Harry (Motors) Belfast Business records 1912-1934 D3212add
• FERGUSON J.B. Ltd. Belfast Business records 1907 -1912 D 3129
• FERGUSON Joseph Bell Belfast Motor Veh. patents 1915-1917 D3129
• FERGUSON Harry Motors Ltd Belfast Business records cl935 D3212

Plymouth Brethren

The will of James FERGUSON mentions the names RUDDOCK, MOORE and he is buried with his wife amongst the SYMTHE. A common denominator amongst these names is the Plymouth Brethren.

• "The Ruddocks at Growell were part of the Plymouth Brethren movement which started in the 1820’s in Ireland and England. This would account for the unusually high number of marriages recorded at the Registrars’ offices rather than in the mainstream churches, since Brethren would not have been licensed to conduct marriages. It may also mean that some events are not recorded at all, especially those prior to the start of civil registration (1845 for marriages, 1864 for births and deaths). " [The Ruddock Family in Growell]
• "At that time the late James Ferguson had a vacant cottage, which he offered to the believers for conversion into a meeting place. This they did by removing the middle wall and fitting a new floor and ceiling. At the end of the building was a part known as the Turf House. It was in this house that the first Sunday School was started over 80 years ago. One of the first teachers in the school was Mr. John Ruddock who was the grandfather of John Ruddock now labouring as a missionary in Honduras. The present ‘tailor’ Smyth, already referred to, went to Sunday School in this very building. Mr. Smyth is now in his ninetieth year. Praise God that the work among the young, started over 80 years ago, still continues until the present time." [Growell Gospel Hall]

Miscellaneous

• James FERGUSON . Dromore of Growell ; leased land in 1790 FR

References

1. US Social Security Death Index
2. R.S.J. Clarke,Gravestone Inscriptions, County Down, vol 19, Ulster-Scot Historical Society, Belfast.
3. Irish Civil Registration Records
4. Gertrude Thrift (ed), Index Irish Wills Vol 4; Dromore, Newry & Mourne, Phillimore & Co. London, 1918, p42
5. Harry Ferguson, Inventor And Pioneer By Harold Gibson
6. The Jensen FF Story
7. Cartype: Fergus
8. Gordon Pennock, private communication.

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