We are seeking out people who believe that they may be related to Mother Jones (Mary Harris Jones). As people will know, Mary lost her own children, four of them and her husband George Jones in an outbreak of yellow fever when the family was living in Memphis, Tennessee, so there are no direct descendants alive, however there must be people alive today in both Ireland and the United States who are related either through the Harris and Cotter families in Ireland or the siblings of Mother Jones. We know that Mary’s eldest brother, Richard, became a Catholic priest but she had another brother, William, and two sisters, Catherine and Ellen.
Regarding the Harris family in Ireland , Mother Jones grandparents on the Harris side seem to have been: William Harris & Mary White.They were the parents of Richard Harris, Mary’s father.Richard seems to have had a sister Hanorah Harris, b 1805 and a brother John, b 1798. Mary’s father Richard Harris was from Cork and her mother was Ellen Cotter from Inchigeelagh in the Lee Valley, West Cork.
If you believe you are related to Mother Jones, or that there may be a family connection, we sould love to hear from you. Send us an e-mail or telephone Jim on (086) 3033576.
I recently discovered a picture of Mother Jones. And immediately sent it to my sister laughing because she looks just like my mother and grandmother. Then when we found out she was from Cork and we were always told our family was from Cork and Dublin… I kept wondering. But I am not sure how to find out. And i just found about your group and thought I would reach out to you.
Hi Deanna,
Perhaps you might have a read of a story of Mother Jones which is on our website and see from the history of the life of Mary Harris (Mother Jones) to determine if there is any possible family connection, either to the sisters or brother of Mary Harris who also went to Canada after the Great Famine in Ireland.
Let us know if you find any further information.