My Families

[Home]
[Wall]
[O'Connell]
[Hanley]
[Tansey]
[Cronin]
[Lundstrum]
[Crane]
[Feeney]
[Matty's Page]
[About Us]
[Contact Us]

O'Connell

Duggan

CHARLES O’CONNELL was born circa 1820 in Ireland.  He married MARY DUGGAN circa 1840, probably in southwest Co. Cork, Ireland.  She was born circa 1825 in Ireland.  There are four known children of Charles and Mary (see below), although it is likely that there were others.

JOHN C. O’CONNELL was born February 20, 1843 in Co. Cork, Ireland and died December 22, 1895 in Brockton, Massachusetts.  He apparently immigrated January 1, 1860 to Boston, Massachusetts.  He became a naturalized U. S. citizen October 17, 1882 at the U. S. Circuit Court in Boston, Massachusetts.  He was a carpenter.  He married ELLEN DONAHUE; she died before 1880.  He remarried MARY A. (CASEY) DONAHUE.  Surviving children of John O’Connell and Ellen Donahue were as follows:

CHARLES O’CONNELL (1869-died between 1880-1895) ® Born in Ireland ® Reportedly died at sea

PETER O’CONNELL (1871-died after 1895) ® Born in Ireland ® Last known residence Hartford, Connecticut

TIMOTHY MITCHELL P. O’CONNELL (1874-died after 1918) ® Born in Brockton, Massachusetts ® Cook at Bellmore Lunch in Brooklyn, New York in 1918 ® Last known residence Lynn, Massachusetts

JAMES JOSEPH O’CONNELL (1877-died between 1910-1920) ® Born in Massachusetts ® Married ANITA E. CHABOT ® Their children were Anita and Catherine ® Last known address residence Lynn, Massachusetts

John O’Connell and Mary A. (Casey) Donahue apparently had no children.

Peter O’Connell, circa 1910

PETER O’CONNELL was born April 1856 in Clondrohid parish, Co. Cork, Ireland and died December 29, 1919 in Peabody, Massachusetts.  He was a laborer with the City of Lynn.  He immigrated between 1885 and 1888 and apparently did not become a naturalized U. S. citizen.  He married NORA BURKE January 30, 1879 in Clondrohid parish, Co. Cork, Ireland; she died in Ireland.  He remarried ELLEN (NELLIE) M. CRONIN, June 3, 1891 at St. Mary’s Church in Lynn, Massachusetts.  Surviving children of Peter O’Connell and Nora Burke were as follows:

MARY JOSEPHINE O’CONNELL (1879-1942) ® Born in Co. Cork, Ireland ® Married JOHN W. McCARTHY ® Their children were Arthur John and Ralph Phillip (physician of the Boston Red Sox) ® Died in Peabody, Massachusetts

CHARLES E. O’CONNELL (1881-1943) ® Born in Co. Cork, Ireland ® Owned and operated restaurant on Mill Street in Chelsea, Massachusetts ® Married MARY R. RIDDIOUGH ® Their son was Francis Edward ® Died in Chelsea, Massachusetts

BRIDGET LOUISE O’CONNELL (1884-1916) ® Born in Co. Cork, Ireland ® Married ORRIN A. MARTIN ® Their children were Mildred and Ruth ® Died in San Francisco, California

JOHN F (JACK) (BIG TOP) O’CONNELL (1886-1936) ® Born in Co. Cork, Ireland ® Highly popular Lynner ® Joined the circus at 14 years old and became a prominent circus man with Barnum and Bailey, Sells Floto, Miller Brothers, and Ringling Brothers ® Rose from a water pourer in the mess tent to general superintendent ® Successful promoter, whose promotions included wrestling champion Frank Gotch, and heavyweight champions Jack Dempsey and Jess Willard ® Frequent after-dinner speaker and lecturer ® Did not marry ® Died in Tyler, Texas while awaiting the arrival of the circus

Big Top O’Connell with Sells Floto circus

Circa 1930

"Big Top" O'Connell with Jack Dempsey, circa 1920

The children of Peter O’Connell and Ellen Cronin were as follows:

ELLEN G (NELLIE) O’CONNELL (1892-1942) ® Born in Lynn, Massachusetts ® Worked at Freese’s department store ® Married JOHN S. CHADWICK ® He was a farmer and guide in the Rangeley area of Maine ® Their children were Eleanor Louise and Lewis Peter ® Died in Eddington, Maine

TIMOTHY P. O’CONNELL(1894-1961) ® Born in Lynn, Massachusetts ® World War I veteran, U. S. Army, serving overseas with the American Expeditionary Forces, Battery A, 301st Field Artillery ® Foreman in the Lynn Park Department ® Apparently did not marry ® Died in Lynn, Massachusetts

DANIEL J. O’CONNELL (1896-1970) ® Born in Lynn, Massachusetts ® World War I veteran, U. S. Army, serving overseas with the American Expeditionary Force, 320th Machine Gun Battalion, in France and Germany ® Patrolman for the Lynn Police Department ® Married MARGARET M. MEADE ® Died in Lynn, Massachusetts

PETER JOSEPH O’CONNELL (1899-1988) ® Born in Lynn, Massachusetts ® World War I veteran, U. S. Army, serving overseas with the American Expeditionary Forces, 3rd Division, 10th Field Artillery, in France ® Awarded Purple Heart medal ® Crane operator at the General Electric Company (River Works) ® Married MARION J. SHANAHAN ® Their daughter was Phyllis Marie ® Died in Lynn, Massachusetts

DENNIS FRANCIS (FRANK) C. O’CONNELL (1900-1986) ® Born in Lynn, Massachusetts ® World War I veteran, U. S. Army, as a mess sergeant with the 21st Aero Squadron ® Guard at the Lynn Gas and Electric Company ® Married ELSIE M. LONGMIRE ® Their children were Virginia Louise, Frank Dennis, and Robert James ® Died in Lynn, Massachusetts

WILLIAM A. O’CONNELL (1905-1960) ® Born in Lynn, Massachusetts ® Served in the U. S. Army ® Married DOROTHY B. CHADWICK March 31, 1929.  She was born circa 1903 in Holden, Maine ® Died in Lynn, Massachusetts

 

Timothy O’Connell

Field Artillery

 

Daniel O’Connell

Machine Gun Battalion

Peter O’Connell

3rd Division, 10th Field Artillery

 

Frank O’Connell

21st Aero Squadron

 

The Fighting O’Connells in World War I

TIMOTHY O’CONNELL was born January 1858 in Clondrohid parish, Co. Cork, Ireland and died April 23, 1913 in Lynn, Massachusetts.  He immigrated circa 1882 and apparently did not become a naturalized U. S. citizen.  He was a brass finisher at the General Electric Company.  He married ELIZABETH (LIZZIE) DEVINE, June 6, 1886 at St. Mary’s Church in Lynn, Massachusetts; she died February 19, 1893 in Lynn, Massachusetts.  He remarried ELLEN (NELL) BARRETT, July 21, 1896 at St. Mary’s Church in Lynn, Massachusetts.  Surviving children of Timothy O’Connell and Elizabeth Devine were as follows:

CHARLES J. O’CONNELL (1887-1932) ® Born in Lynn, Massachusetts ® New England 100-yard dash champion ® Member Pioneer Baseball club ® World War I veteran, U. S. Army ® Mail clerk at Lynn post office ® Married MARGARET J. CORCORAN ® Died in Lynn, Massachusetts

TIMOTHY EDWARD O’CONNELL (1890-1947) ® Born in Lynn, Massachusetts ® Worked at Henry Breed Leather Company and F. M. Page Company ® Married MARY FLORENCE MARKS ® Died in Swampscott, Massachusetts

Surviving children of Timothy O’Connell and Ellen Barrett were as follows:

MARY E. O’CONNELL (1897-1977) ® Born in Lynn, Massachusetts ® Married THOMAS J. QUINN ® Died in Concord, New Hampshire

CATHERINE BRIDGET O’CONNELL (1898-1945) ® Born in Lynn, Massachusetts ® Head clerk of bakery department at J. B. Blood Company ® Did not marry ® Died in Lynn, Massachusetts

PATRICK JOSEPH O’CONNELL (1901-1961) ® Born in Lynn, Massachusetts ® Married MARGARET C. MORRISON ® Died in Lynn, Massachusetts

NORA GERTRUDE O’CONNELL (1903-1985) ® Born in Lynn, Massachusetts ® Worked at General Electric Company ® Married EDWARD C. VASSALLO ® Their children were Arlene Marie and Esther Katherine ® Died in Concord, New Hampshire

JOHN FRANCIS O’CONNELL (1906-1963) ® Born in Lynn, Massachusetts ® Bus driver at the Eastern Massachusetts Street Railway Company ® Married MILDRED JOSEPHINE CAREY ® Their children were Pauline Frances and John W. ® Died in Lynn, Massachusetts

NORA O’CONNELL was born circa February 21, 1861 in Gorteennakilla, Inchigeelia Parish, Co. Cork, Ireland and died September 29, 1924 in Lynn, Massachusetts.  She immigrated circa 1882.  She married JOHN JOSEPH WALL October 11, 1884 at St. Joseph’s Church in Lynn, Massachusetts.  See John Joseph Wall

Articles, Obituaries, and Other Items

Four Brothers in the Service of Uncle Sam, Lynn Daily Item, April 30, 1918

Charles J. O’Connell obituary, Daily Evening Item, December 27, 1932

John F. O’Connell Begins 33rd Year in Circus Life, Daily Evening Item, April 14, 1933

Jack O’Connell, Lynn Circus Man, Dies in Texas, Daily Evening Item, September 29, 1936

Noted Peabody Doctor, Red Sox Physician, Dies, Salem News, February 7, 1963

Peter J. O’Connell, Veteran of WWI, Retired from GE, Daily Evening Item, August 2, 1988