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I am looking for the Commons family in the Thurles/Moycarkey area.

My ggg Grandmother Mary Commons married Timothy Ford, teacher before 1830. Their first child was born 1830 in Cappawhite and within 2-3 years they moved to New Birmingham and taught school there/reared their family 1834-1880. Mary died at her daughter Anne Meagher's home in Graine, Kilkenny, Ireland.

I have searched the records in Moycarkey (my friend from Glengoole recalls the Commons/Cummins family of teacher lived in or near Moycarkey). I found parish records the 1820s for marriages (Timothy and Mary) were missing/burnt around edges.

I want to know where Mary Common was baptized, who her parents were and where Timothy Ford and Mary were married.

Thanks,

kathleen from Oregon

Katy

Tuesday 19th Jun 2018, 03:36AM

Message Board Replies

  • Hi Katy.

    Commons, was also known as Coman,   they were mostly  in central Tipperary in Griffiths valuation  www.askaboutireland.ie

    You will also  see them in the 1901 census www.census.nationalarchives.ie.

    Best if luck, let me know how you get on.

    Christina.

    Christina, IrelandXO Volunteer ☘

    Wednesday 20th Jun 2018, 04:43AM
  • Thanks for following through on my query, Christina!

    Mary Common (Commons, Cummins, Cummings....depending upon how the priest spelled it in her children's baptismal records).

    I have searched parish records in Cappawhite and surrounding parishes to no avail. Because her first child (I presume 1830 was her first child born) was baptized Cappawhite that's where I looked. I thought generally folks stayed fairly close to the same area most of their lives. Although I think her husband Timothy Ford(e) was a blow-in....not too many in Tipperary. Have no clue where he was from pre- 1830. He was born about 1800. There is a record of a Timothy Ford from Cork but I think I've followed that Tim to his death in Cork. Ford is a bit rare.

    Back to Mary: Looking in the Inspector's books at the National Archives, when Mary applied to teach needlework in her husband Tim's school New Birmingham/Glengoole, the application (1844) recorded her age at the time to have been born about 1810-11. This lines up with her first child's birth year. 

    No Birth record for Mary. No marriage record for her and husband Timothy.

    Would you be able to give me some parish names where the Common/Comon name would have been found in central Tipperary? I have possibly found a match in Boherlahan but I'm not convinced.

    Many, many thanks!

    Katy

    Katy

    Thursday 21st Jun 2018, 05:17AM
  • Hi Katy.  They were mostly  in Boherlahan.  If you look up Griffiths Valuation, www.askaboutireland.ie  for Coman in Tipperary you will see where they were. Did you manage to see the baptism in Cappawhite, on Roots, or the new free site,  www.registersnli.ie.

    Christina .

    Christina, IrelandXO Volunteer ☘

    Friday 22nd Jun 2018, 04:55AM
  • Thank you Christina and Thank you Thomas!

    You've given me much to ponder and explore.

    Christina - the 1830 baptismal find for daughter Bridget Ford was our first big find! This record was the first record to connect an ancestor from Ireland with the same in the U.S. I love this document (found Dec. 2015)!

    I think my next move is to approach TFHR if cost is not too dear, to find record of marriage for Timothy Ford and Mary Common(s), 1828-1830. Daughter Bridget is not listed as illegitimate so I believe that range might be reasonable. Also, on their applications to teach at the NS in New Birmingham from the Inspector's book, Timothy ("not educated in a model school; educated in a respectable house") is listed in 1834 as age 35 and Mary in 1844 is listed as age 34.

    I thought that generally folks during that time period 1800-1830 didn't move very far from 'home'. Would Tim have traveled all the way from Cork to Cappawhite to teach? How would Tim and Mary have ever connected? Did Hedge School teachers travel between counties or areas with  what kind of radius 1815-30?

    I sometimes think I'm getting close and then the mystery eludes me! Thanks Thomas for the attachments as well-

    I so appreciate both of your research suggestions- getting me out of my circular research path!

    Your help is not in vain. I am taking on a project to show people their U.S. immigrant ancestry hopefully to demonstrate most of us here came from immigrants. Trying to use the past to enlighten the present and future! Peace

    Katy

    Saturday 23rd Jun 2018, 06:29AM
  • Hi again  Katy. And Tom.

    Tipperary  family history  resesrch  TFHR, is a very good choice, they  do a great job are friendly and  helpful.

    For  30 Euro they  will go through all the parishes  in the Diocese of Cashel and Emly, for  the marriage,  and The  baptisms, and sponsors  of all the children.

    I will go through some  of the Headstone ins. For the area  and get  back to you

    Christina.

    Christina, IrelandXO Volunteer ☘

    Sunday 24th Jun 2018, 02:21PM
  • I  did not find headstone  to a Ford  in either Ardmayle  or Dualla graveyards,  Headstone ins. for Glengoole  New   Birmingham don't seem to be on line,

    I presume  you saw Timothy  Ford  in the National School in lot  16 in Glengoole  south village  of New  Birmingham, in Griffiths Valuation.

    There were lots  of Ford 's in Co Cork,  in Griffiths, some in Donoughmore, where Thomas found marriages for  two Ford's.

    Perhaps  some research on School teachers,  and Hedge school teachers  would help 

    Best  of luck , let  me  know  how  you get on.

    Christina. 

    Christina, IrelandXO Volunteer ☘

    Tuesday 26th Jun 2018, 05:14PM

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