The 1810 census for Franklin County: Montgomery Township is the earliest census that we can conclusively identify as our John Forney (Johann Karl Forney). In this census our John Forney (Johann Karl Forney) is identified as "John Foney" Junior age twenty-six to forty-five. Living next door to him is his father "John Foney" senior age forty-five years and upwards.

By 1816 John Forney (Johann Karl Forney) and his wife had moved with the rest of the family to Stark County Ohio, where they are listed in the 1820 Jackson Township, Stark County, Ohio census. "John Foney" senior did not move to Stark County, Ohio, he remained in Warren Township, Franklin County, Pennsylvania where he is listed in the 1830 census.

We know that the children of John Forney (Johann Karl Forney) associated for generations with the Clapper, Ettleman, Study, and Benner families hence the name of Charles Forney book: Forney's five family records. Charles Forney claimed that John Forney (Johann Karl Forney) and his wife Mary M. Benner were married in Maryland. He also speculated that Catherine their first child may have been born in Maryland. We know John Forney and Mary Benner's family were in Franklin County, Montgomery Township, Pennsylvania, August 6, 1810 as they were enumerated that date in the 1810 census. Catherine was born February 23, 1810 so it is entirely possible she was born in Maryland. Clues to exactly where in Maryland they may have been are sparse but there are a few. Henry Beard the husband of Catherine we know was born in Hagerstown, Washington County, MD. Based on the 1880 census Henry Beard's parents were both born in Maryland as well. Barbara, the second child of John Forney and Mary Benner was married to Jacob Clapper who was also born in Washington County, Maryland. Evidence shows the Forney's were in an area called "Little Cove". "Little Cove" lie in disputed territory between Washington County, Maryland and Frederick County, Pennsylvania, which explains the constant debate over whether the early children were born in Maryland or Pennsylvania. This land dispute was not fully resolved until 1820.

Searches for the Forney family in Maryland was fundamentally fruitless, however knowing the five families stayed together we soon find the Clapper, Ettleman, Study, and Benner families living in Maryland. A search of the "Little Cove" area for Forney's bares significant results.

In a book published in 1967 by Harry Foreman titled "HISTORY OF THE LITTLE COVE" he cites an August 29, 1791 Road Tax list initiated by Benjamin Williams and William Alexander. Of the 34 names listed on this tax list we find these significant names: James Balla; grandfather of Jonathon Balla, the husband of Hannah Study, sister of David C. Study, second husband of Mary M Benner. - William Huston; father or grandfather of James Huston, husband of Magdalena Ettleman daughter of Jacob Frederick Ettleman and Anna Clara Benner. - Christian Study; father of David C. Study, second husband of Mary M Benner. - Christopher Swank; father of Henry Swank, husband of Elizabeth Study brother of David C. Study, second husband of Mary M Benner. - Lastly, we find "John Forney". Since in 1791 our John Forney (Johann Karl Forney) was only seven years old he was not the one listed in these tax rolls but would have been his father John Forney aka Johannes Farny.

In addition to the 1791 Tax List Harry Foreman also cites an 1807 Business List for "Little Cove" Again among the significant names on the list are: Christian Study, grist Mill; Michael Divilbiss, Jr., saw mill; Jacob Zimmerman, distillery; William Huston, Nothing Listed; John Forney, distillery.

Given the fact that we can place our John Forney aka Johannes Farny in "Little Cove" between 1791 and 1810 and clearly the name "Forney" was consistently spelled differently we look to the searches for the same family groups found in Little Cove. Most of the same families are found in the 1800 census for Warren Township, Franklin County, Pennsylvania taken August 4, 1800. There is but one page for Warren Township and on it we find: Francis Jemison; grandfather of William Henry Jemison who married Sarah Forney, granddaughter of John Forney aka Johannes Farny; Michael Devilbiss; John Devilbiss; Jacob Devilbiss; Christopher Swank; Henry Swank; Casper Swank; Christopher Study; William Huston; Thomas Mardis. All these people are in some way related to our John Forney aka Johannes Farny or one of the associated families. Among these people enumerated in Warren Township, Franklin County, Pennsylvania were two candidates for our John Forney aka Johannes Farny. The handwriting is poor and it is obvious the spelling is not correct.

The translation by Ancestry dot com of the names are John Fann and John Farlin. Translation of the names by USGENWEB are John Fauen and John Fortin.

The names as written are below you be the judge:

Ancestry dot com USGENWEB		John Fann John Fauen
Ancestry dot com USGENWEB		John Farlin John Fortin

The enumeration of John Farlin/John Fortin was 1 male under the age of 10; 1 male between the ages of 25 and 45; 2 females under the age of 10; 1 female between the ages of 25 and 45.

We know that "Johann Karl Forney" was baptized January 10, 1784 which would have made him age 16 at the time of the 1800 census. John Farlin/John Fortin had only 2 males in the household, one under ten and the other which would have been head of household between the ages of 25 and 45. He therefore does not fit to be our John Forney aka Johannes Farny and "Johann Karl Forney". Leaving the only other possibility as John Fann/John Fauen who had two males, one age 15 - 26 and one male head of household between the ages of 25 and 45. Both John Forney aka Johannes Farny and "Johann Karl Forney" fit this profile. It also suggests that our "Johann Karl Forney" had five sisters. The enumeration would also suggest the mother of John Forney aka Johannes Farny or his wife's mother may have been living with them in 1800. Lastly it also indicates he lived between Jacob Devilbiss and Casper Swank.

Given the wide variation of spelling in the Census, an error that has occurred for years we can only apply some degree of logic to determine which entry in the 1790 Bedford County, Pennsylvania, Census is that of our John Forney aka Johannes Farny.

There are three candidates for John Forney:

  a)  John Funey (as transcribed by Ancestry Dot Com)
  b)  John Fore (as transcribed by Ancestry Dot Com)   
  c)  John Ferry (as transcribed by Ancestry Dot Com)  

  a)  John Funey is listed on page 7 of the 34 pages of the 1790 Bedford County, Pennsylvania, Census. He is listed under the heading is "Free white males of sixteen years and upward including head of families" a "1" indicating one male, this would be John Funey. The Next heading is "Free white males under sixteen years" and there is a "1" indicating one male child under the age of 16 living in the home. The next column is "Free white females including head of families" enumerated with a "5". One of these females is presumed to be the mother of the children, and wife of John Funey, and would therefore suggest there were four female children.

Of interest is the fact that in the previous page (page 6) is a Jacob Funey same spelling. This might indicate census taker used the same spelling that they may be brothers.

On the same page as John Funey is William Hughston (William Huston). William Huston would have been a contemporary of John Funey. He was the father of James Huston who married Magdalena Ettleman daughter of Jacob Frederick Ettleman and Anna Clara Benner. All of these people were related to our John Forney aka Johannes Farny. Also on the same page is Frederick Ettleman, discussed above.

  b)  John Fore is listed on page 9 of the 34 pages of the 1790 Bedford County, Pennsylvania, Census. He is listed under the heading is "Free white males of sixteen years and upward including head of families" a "1" indicating one male, this would be John Fore. The Next heading is "Free white males under sixteen years" and there is a "5" indicating five male children under the age of 16 living in the home. The next column is "Free white females including head of families" enumerated with a "5". One of these females is presumed to be the mother of the children, and wife of John Fore, and would therefore suggest there were four female children. This would mean John Fore had as many as nine children. This would be inconstant with the information on our John Forney aka Johannes Farny in the 1800, 1810, and 1820 census.

On the same page as John Fore there is a George Fore again suggesting he may be a brother. There are no other family group members on this page.

  c)  John Ferry is listed on page 29 of the 34 pages of the 1790 Bedford County, Pennsylvania, Census. He is listed under the heading is "Free white males of sixteen years and upward including head of families" a "2" indicating one male, this would be John Ferry and one additional male child over the age of sixteen. The Next heading is "Free white males under sixteen years" and there is a "1" indicating one male child under the age of 16 living in the home. The next column is "Free white females including head of families" enumerated with a "2". One of these females is presumed to be the mother of the children, and wife of John Ferry, and would therefore suggest there was one female child.

In the case of John Ferry it is likely he had a son over the age of 16 making him too old to be consistent with the 1800, 1810, and 1820 Census data. Again there are no other family group members on this page.

In conclusion the most likely candidate to be our John Forney aka Johannes Farny is a) John Funey.