Monday 29 April 2013
Mary Pickford visit to Kerry
Read entry in relation to Mary Pickford in 'The Master, Bryan Mac Mahon' today. States that she arrived in Listowel to trace her roots in St. Mary's Church. This trip proved fruitless. I also found a photo of Mary in the Kennelly collection. Luckily this is dated. Her visit was 1955. The photo entered in the Kerry's Eye newspaper at that time states that she was researching her ancestry in the records of St. John's church Tralee. See www.kennellyarchive.com/sendtofriend/LBZ003/
Saturday 27 April 2013
The Pickford Link
A search for Pickfords in Kerry led me to a Charles Pickford in Knappogue, Ballyduff. Websites also mentioned that Mary Pickford's ancestral home was in this area. More information could be found from staff at the North Kerry Museum, Ballyduff http://www.kerrygems.com/kerry_places_of_interest.html
No phone contact could be made with the Museum. I started to suspect it was closed down. I decided to drive there myself and was assured this was correct!
On advice from the local post man I called into neighbouring houses to see if they knew anything about the museum. They affirmed it was shut down. I then asked if they knew where the Pickford home was and luckily the grandfather of the family was able to let me know that it was Boyles down the road. This very welcoming and friendly family led the way in their car and left me at the gates.
I was greated at the Boyle home by the daughter of the house, who was looking after her 90 year old father. He told me how Mary Pickford had arrived at his house one day. He was busy in the fields on the same day and so when called by his wife to come and talk to the visitor he declined. Little did he know that he had refused a meeting with the star Mary Pickford. He received a lot of mocking from the local village for this!
On leaving the house the daughter approved photos could be taken of the old house on the land where Charles Pickford lived.
Research showed that Charles Pickford was born around the same time as John Pickford Hennessey. It could be possible that Elizabeth was related to George Pickford (Charles' father). The answer to this assumption will hopefully be found next week.
I have also become aware of a historian in the Listowel area who has undertaken research into the Hennessey family and has indicated that they lived in Glounaphuca. A dvd has been made in which this historian delivers a speech on same outside the ancestral home. A colleague who lives in Listowel is following this up for me. I hope to receive the DVD next week and/or else make direct contact with the historian.
No phone contact could be made with the Museum. I started to suspect it was closed down. I decided to drive there myself and was assured this was correct!
I was greated at the Boyle home by the daughter of the house, who was looking after her 90 year old father. He told me how Mary Pickford had arrived at his house one day. He was busy in the fields on the same day and so when called by his wife to come and talk to the visitor he declined. Little did he know that he had refused a meeting with the star Mary Pickford. He received a lot of mocking from the local village for this!
He continued to tell me how his family had married into the Pickfords. That the land he lived and worked on once belonged to a Charles Pickford. Charles died the year that he was born (1923). He noted that Mary Pickford had visited the local cemetry to find Charles' headstone but was unsuccessful. From previous searches I was concerned that there was no direct connection to be found between Charles and John Pickford Hennessey. The daughter of the house also supported this. She then stated that further research into the family tree had been undertaken by her brother and a local neighbour and this had provided the evidence needed. A phonecall was made to her brother who was working and I have stated intent to follow up with him next week.
On leaving the house the daughter approved photos could be taken of the old house on the land where Charles Pickford lived.
Research showed that Charles Pickford was born around the same time as John Pickford Hennessey. It could be possible that Elizabeth was related to George Pickford (Charles' father). The answer to this assumption will hopefully be found next week.
I have also become aware of a historian in the Listowel area who has undertaken research into the Hennessey family and has indicated that they lived in Glounaphuca. A dvd has been made in which this historian delivers a speech on same outside the ancestral home. A colleague who lives in Listowel is following this up for me. I hope to receive the DVD next week and/or else make direct contact with the historian.
Outlining the Family Tree
This family tree was developed from info from ancestry.co.uk (and canada), Irish genealogy.com and internet websites.
Thomas Hennesey & Elisabeth Pickford seem to be from North Kerry. They had 6 children.
Their son John Pickford Hennesey travelled to Toronto, Ontario, Canada. I was unable to find a birth cert for John Pickford, however his marriage certificate provides the names given. Denis Faeley has been noted as a milliner from Tralee. I have no current information. Catherine Faeley also travelled to Toronto where she met and married John. A death certificate was found for John Smith but no marriage cert. I am also finding it difficult to find certificates for Charlotte Pickford Hennessey. Some have noted she was born in Listowel but in 'The Master' by Brian McMahon, he states that Mary Pickford travelled to Listowel to find this record but was unable. It is also mentioned by an author that she could have been born in Queen st. Toronto but I cannot find a cert. A birth cert is said not to exist for Gladys Smith (Mary Pickford). However I have found a census report that shows 3 generations living together, these include Catherine, Charlotte and Gladys.
Their son John Pickford Hennesey travelled to Toronto, Ontario, Canada. I was unable to find a birth cert for John Pickford, however his marriage certificate provides the names given. Denis Faeley has been noted as a milliner from Tralee. I have no current information. Catherine Faeley also travelled to Toronto where she met and married John. A death certificate was found for John Smith but no marriage cert. I am also finding it difficult to find certificates for Charlotte Pickford Hennessey. Some have noted she was born in Listowel but in 'The Master' by Brian McMahon, he states that Mary Pickford travelled to Listowel to find this record but was unable. It is also mentioned by an author that she could have been born in Queen st. Toronto but I cannot find a cert. A birth cert is said not to exist for Gladys Smith (Mary Pickford). However I have found a census report that shows 3 generations living together, these include Catherine, Charlotte and Gladys.
Reason for Blog
Last week I started reading 'The Emeralds in Tinseltown' and was delighted to read about the Kalem silent movie studios that were based in Beaufort Kerry and the Tralee ancestry of the infamous Mary Pickford. Based in Kerry, I was surprised that I had not heard about this. On further investigation I uncovered that the University of Galway had researched the Kalem film company and a DVD had been released of their work in Ireland. However, while Mary Pickford claimed a Tralee heritage in a CBC radio interview, it was not as easy to clarify. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VMfrwNQ_Ntk This link intrigued me, and others whom I spoke to, so I have started to search for this evidence myself.
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