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]
James Ferguson
Grandfather of Harry Ferguson (1884-1960) of tractor fame; see
Harry Ferguson
Memorial.com
- 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 a LOWRY between 1849 -1850]
- Jane FERGUSON b. 8 Jan 1847, Loughaghry Presby d/o James
FERGUSON & MCCLELLAND; m. James CLELAND
- Agnes FERGUSON b. 18 Feb 1849, Loughaghry Presby d/o James
FERGUSON & MCCLELLAND
- James FERGUSON b. 25 Aug 1850 Loughaghry Presby s/o James
FERGUSON & LOWRY; m. Mary (Minnie) BELL 1 Jul 1879, Parish Church Newry, Co
Down; d. 27 Apr 1937
- Joseph Bell FERGUSON b. 24 May 1880 Growell; d. 28 Dec
1967, New York NY
- Joseph Bell "JB" FERGUSON b.~1922
- Bruce M. b. 22 Oct 1922; d. Oct 1993, New York, NY
- James Patterson FERGUSON b. Jun 18 1881; d. 22 May
1954
- Margaret "Maggie" Elizabeth FERGUSON b. May 19 1883; d. 10
Jan 1909
- 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
- Mary Agnes FERGUSON b. 1st quarter, 1886, district of
Lisburn (vol 1 p 61);
- Norman Priestly FERGUSON b. Mar 3, 1888; d. 4 Jul 1940
- William Edwin Persis FERGUSON b. Oct 27 1890; d. 23 May
1959
- Sarah Ludley Agnew (Sadie) FERGUSON b. Aug 26 1891; d. 4
Apr 1920
- John Victor Stanley FERGUSON b. Sep 2 1893; d. 25 Aug
1935
- Edgar McKnight FERGUSON b. Jul 16 1896; d. 7 Dec 1943
Newark, NJ
- Hugh Fisher FERGUSON b. Nov 28 1903; d. 18 Dec 1943
- Eliza (Elizabeth) FERGUSON b. Apr 4 1852, Loughaghry Presby
- Thomas FERGUSON b. May 2, 1854, Loughaghry Presbyterian; m.
Hannah E. (Eleanor, Ellen) JAMISON Sep 21, 1881, Dromore 1st Presbyterian
- William Henry FERGUSON b.~1885, Co Down
- Thomas John FERGUSON b. 26 May 1888 Ballykeel, Dromore,
County Down; d. 8 Sep 1968 Newton, Middlesex, MA
- James FERGUSON b.~1890, Co Down
- Mabel FERGUSON b.~1893, Co Down
- Albert FERGUSON b.~1896, 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.
Probate
- The
Will of James Ferguson late of Growell County Down Farmer
deceased who died 5 March 1871 at same place was proved at Belfast 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.
- Ferguson James of Growell Dromore county Down farmer died 27 April
1937 at Ballyellough Magheragall Lisburn county Antrim Probate Belfast 5
December to Robert Ferguson and Samuel Smyth farmers. Effects £40
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 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]
David Ferguson
Courtesy of Robert Herbert Ferguson
- David FERGUSON, a farmer from Growell of the Dromore parish; d. 23
March 1878
- John FERGUSON b. 17 May 1830, Growell, Down; m. 1870 Esther
KELLY
- 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
- Jane FERGUSON b. 05 Mar 1835, Growell, Down
- Thomas FERGUSON b.~1845, Co Down; m. 1870 Mary MCKEON
- Robert FERGUSON m. 1876 Eliza CARGIN
- 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
Probate
- 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 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 Samuel's daughter Jane
Freeholders
- 1781
- David FERGUSON, Growell;
- William FERGUSON, Growell;
- 1790
- 1824
- David FERGUSON, Growell; Names of Lives or other Tenure: David,
James and David Ferguson
- David FERGUSON, Growell; Names of Lives or other Tenure:
William, Anne and Sarah Ferguson
- William FERGUSON, Growell; Names of Lives or other Tenure:
William, Anne and Sarah Ferguson
Probate
- David FERGUSON, senior, of Growell, will probated 1836,
- The
Will of
John Ferguson late of Growell County Down Farmer who died 12 June 1881 was
proved at Belfast by William Kelly of Ballysallagh said County Farmer surviving
Executor.
- 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.
References
- US Social Security Death Index
- R.S.J. Clarke,Gravestone Inscriptions, County Down, vol 19,
Ulster-Scot Historical Society, Belfast.
- Irish Civil Registration Records
- Gertrude Thrift (ed), Index Irish Wills Vol 4; Dromore,
Newry & Mourne, Phillimore & Co. London, 1918, p42
- Harry
Ferguson, Inventor And Pioneer By Harold Gibson
- The Jensen FF Story
- Gordon Pennock, Purdue University, private communication.
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