Very little is known about these two brothers, whose families were influential in the early days of Detroit, Michigan. While articles about them suggest that they came from County Cork, Ireland, they are clearly part of the larger Maybury family in adjacent County Kerry. See William Maybury (ca1640-ca1715), emigrant to County Kerry in 1671.

The Kerry Mayburys lived, for the most part, in the eastern part of the County near Kenmare and Kilgarven but also spilled over into County Cork to the east. It was there that the Mayburys were first acquainted with the ancestors of Henry Ford, the Detroit automaker. When Henry Ford’s grandfather, John Ford, came from Ireland to Michigan in 1847, one of the first people he met was an old friend from Ireland, Henry Maybury. It was Maybury who sold Ford the 80 acres in Redford Township which gave the Fords their start in America. By 1858, William Ford, John’s oldest son, was able to buy half of his father’s farm. Three years later when William married Mary Litogot, it was Thomas Maybury who opened his home for the wedding ceremony.

As the years went by the Fords and Mayburys continued to be friends and neighbors, both families prospering in Dearborn Township. Thomas Maybury was listed in the 1870 census as a “sewer contractor”. Ten years later his occupation was given as “capitalist”. Maybury was a widower with one son and three daughters. His son, William Maybury was listed in the 1870 census as a “law student”. William Maybury received his law degree from the University of Michigan in 1871. By 1876 he was Detroit city attorney. In 1883 he was elected to the United States Congress where he served two terms. Returning to Michigan, he served as Mayor of Detroit from 1897 until 1905. Mayor William Cotter Maybury is pictured at left.

William and Mary Ford’s son, Henry was born in 1863. He grew up the son of a prosperous farmer and was able to devote his attention to other interests, most of all things mechanical. He experimented with steam engines and became fascinated with watches. Later he determined to become a machinist. By 1893 Henry Ford had built his first internal combustion engine and three years later he was driving about the outskirts of the city in his “Quadracycle”, powered by another of his engines. In his first term as Mayor, William Maybury heard about the difficulties of the young inventor, Henry Ford and personally helped Ford pay the bills, also helping to line up investors for Ford’s first company. Maybury said to city officials that, "the fast developing automobile . . . is bound to be a feature of the century on which we are about to enter" and predicted that "it will extend and revolutionize the existing modes of transit in cities . . . ."

Thomas Maybury was born in Bandon, Cork Ireland about 1807 or 1809. His wife, Margaret Cotter, was also born in Ireland about 1813. They were married in County Cork in 1832 and then emigrated to Detroit, Michigan in 1834. They are listed in the 1840 census of Detroit and all of their children are listed in the 1850 census as having been born in Michigan. The same census lists related families from County Kerry including that of Samuel Kingston. Margaret Cotter Maybury died 9 Jun 1851. In the 1850 census Thomas gave his occupation as "boilermaker". The children of Thomas and Margaret Maybury were:

1. Unknown child, born in Ireland and died on the voyage to America
2. Henry Maybury, born about 1832 in Ireland; moved to Florida
3. Eliza Maybury, born about 1835 in Michigan; m James Denton
4. Catherine Maybury, born about 1839 in Michigan; m John Guiness
5. Thomas Maybury, born about 1841 in Michigan
6. Mary May Maybury, born about 1843 in Michigan
7. Jane Maybury, born about 1845 in Michigan
8. William Cotter Maybury, born about 1848 in Michigan. U. S. Congressman and later Mayor of Detroit.
9. Margaret Maybury, born about 1850-51 in Michigan

Henry Maybury was born in Ireland about 1813 and may have come to Michigan after his brother, Thomas, was already established there. In the 1850 census of Detroit, Henry is listed as age 37 and born in Ireland. Elizabeth Maybury, age 75, probably Henry's mother, was living with him as was Mary Ann Tegan, age 18, who was likely the daughter of William Tegan who was living next door. About 1856 Henry Maybury married a woman named Ann _____ (born about 1825 in Ireland). Their known children are:

1. Elizabeth Maybury, born about 1857 in Michigan
2. William H. Maybury, born about 1858 in Michigan; never married; made a fortune in real estate and was a philanthropist.
3. Mary Maybury, born about 1862 in Michigan; m Mr. Berkery.
4. Jane Maybury, born about 1865 in Michigan.

April 2007