Volume II, Number 1 Irish-American Historical Society January-February 1990 Priest and Clan na Gael had showdown at church door Irish immigrants to America general­ the church with their badges on, ne 'unerals there and wore our regalia. We ly clung to the Catholic religion fiercely, would refuse to celebrate the funeral ilso attended two in St. John's, two in but there were times when their nation­ Mass. St. Patrick's and three in St. Mary's. alism clashed with their religion. In­ The widow burst into tears and Jo­ "No one ever attempted to interfere deed , sometimes the nationalism seph Taylor, brother of the deceased, with us before except once. That was proved even more important to the asked the Clan na Gael members to the last time we went to a funeral in St. Irish than their religion. remove their badges. They refused, but Mary's. Father Lawlor forbade us to Such a case occurred in New Haven they did agree, out of respect for the enter the church with our badges on, in 1884 when an Irishman named family, to remain outside the church but we refused to obey him and went Thomas J. Taylor died. Taylor and his during the Mass. In. family were devout Catholics, but he However, after Mass had ended, the "It would be a different thing if there also was an active member of the Sars­ members marched up the center aisle of was any regular rule against our doing field Chapter of the Clan na Gael, an the church to the casket and then ac­ so, but as it is now we can go into one organization devoted to Irish freedom . companied it to St. Bernard's church unmolested, while the pastor of The Clan na Gael raised funds for Cemetery. another will stop us at the door. various secret projects and expeditions After the funeral, O'Connor dis­ "Our members are all good Catho­ designed to abolish English rule in Ire­ cussed the situation with a reporter. lics and we have no secret beyond keep­ land and, while not formally con­ "We would have gone into that church ing our society business to ourselves. demned by the church, it was frowned this morning no matter what Father The same rule has been enforced upon by many clergymen under the Mulcahy said , or whether he celebrated against the Ancient Order of Hiber­ church's general prohibition against se­ Mass or not ," he said , "if the relatives nians in this city. In some other places, cret organizations. of Mr. Taylor had not asked us to pur­ this latter organization is not only per­ Thus it was that on the day of Tay­ sue the coursewe did. We do not think mitted to enter the church with their lor's funeral, Saturday, Dec. 13, 1884, that he has any right to stop us as our regalia on, but they are also allowed to there occurred a classic standoff in organization is not condemned. receive communion in a body and front of Sacred Heart Church where the "During Father Sheffrey's time as wearing their full regalia." funeral was to take place. pastor of that Church we attended two (New Haven Register, Dec. 13, 1884) Taylor's casket was escorted from his home on Prince Street to the church by about 60 members of the Clan na Gael wearing the insignia of the organi­ Don't forget to renew your membership zation. The pastor of the church, Father Included with this issue of Mulcahy, met the procession at the The Shanachie is a 1990 mem­ church door. bership renewal envelope. "Gentlemen," said the priest, "you Your $10 and $15 dues made must take off your badges if you wish to It possible for our society to do enter here." the things we did in 1989 ­ Patrick O'Connor, a captain in the publication of six issues of our organization and leader of the funeral neWSletter, holding an Irish heri­ contingent, replied, "We will not take tage program with former New off our badges and we propose to go Haven Mayor Richard C. Lee as into the church." our guest speaker, conducting "You cannot go in; you know it is an oral history workshop and against the rule of the church," said the sponsoring an exhibit at the priest. --­ - two-day New Haven County Irish "We understand the rules of the Festival. that we continue to do what we church," said O'Connor, "and when If we are to continue and to all want to do - preserve our our society is condemned by the proper expand these programs this Irish heritage. authority it will be time enough to keep year, we need your continuing While the Individual member­ us out." support through your 1990 ship remains $10 and the family "Would you go in in spite of me?" dues. Please fill out your membership remains $15 per asked the priest. renewal envelope and mail It year, we welcome additional do­ "Yes, we would," answered O'Con­ back to us with your 1990 dues nations. Donations of $100 or nor. "I think it is disgraceful and scan­ as soon as possible. Doing so more In memory of family mem­ dalous for you to act this way." will guarantee your being kept bers or friends will be formally The priest then turned to Taylor's on our mailing list for The Shan­ recognized In our book of me­ widow and told her that if the Clan na achle and will also guarantee morials. Gael members persisted in going into Page 3 State railroads were built at frightful cost to Irish laborers Whil e the boast is often made that of quick sands, suddenly gave way and the Irish built the nation's railroads, the several hundred loads of earth were toll of that construction in human lives precipitated to the bottom burying in and suffering is sometimes forgotten. its way two Irishmen to the depth of Items in Connecticut newspapers in three or four feet. the early days of railroad construction "Those who were so fortunate as to starkly portray that cost. escape the avalanche immediately set The following items, for example, to work to rescue the unfortunate men appeared in the Connecticut Courant, from their dreadful situation. So sud­ published in Hartford, on Jul y 21, den was the fall of sand that they could 1849: not tell precisely where to commence "Death by Cholera. John Murphy, a digging for them. They happily succeed­ laborer on the Hartford and Providence sufficient to pay the expense of the ed in exhuming one of them before life Railroad. was taken with cramps, &c. burial, and for the privilege of a grave was quite extinct, but the other when about 8 o'clock Sunday morning and in the Roman Catholic grounds." found was dead having been under­ died at 12 o'clock in the night. This "Two workmen on the Hartford and ground nearly 45 minutes ... man in company with another who Bristol Rail Road died on Thursday "The deceased was the son of a died of the same disease on Saturday, from the effects of the heat and drink­ wealthy citizen of Cork. Two years ago, came to this city on Thursday of last ing cold water. They were Irishmen. he was a young man of very intemper­ week from Northfield, Mass. , where One was working on Mr. Catlin's ate habits, but having signed the tem­ they left each a family and expected to grounds, the other above Asylum perance pledge he had reformed and return for them this week. TIley had Street." was one of the steadiest and most in­ been boarding in a shanty of about 14 "More Deaths from the Heat. On dustrious men on the road. by 20 feet in company with some thirty Friday afternoon two Irishmen working "The other man was not employed others, and sleeping on the same floor on the Hartford and Bristol Rail Road on the railroad but had come that with all their dirt and filth." died from the effects of the heat - one morning from New Haven in search of "Affray at the Burying Ground. As at a section in West Hartford, - the a job. He came very near getting a long the sexton was about to bury on Mon­ other in Newington." one .. . He said that when the sand day, the men who died of Cholera the A similarly melancholy item in the struck him , he placed his hands over night previous. some Irishmen who fol­ Derby Journal of June 14, 1848 reads: his mouth in such a manner as to retain lowed to the grave. forbid his doing it, "Landslide, Loss of Life. On Thurs­ a small quantity of air. Having and were determined to have the gra ve day last as the workmen employed on breathed this over once, he began to be dug in such place as they should select. the railroad about a mile above the vil­ in great pain, was sensible for a few The Town officers were called upon to lage were digging through a hill to a moments of what was going on above quiet the disturbance and the matter depth of 28 feet, the bank on the west him, but soon lost all consciousness. He was finally settled by their contributing side , which is compounded principally was underground nearly half an hour." New Haven visitor saw devastation in Soviet Union in 1923 A New Haven Irishman. William J. ing Riga that we would cross the Rus­ across no-man's land, which is the McGuire, traveled extensively in post­ sian-Latvian frontier during the night name of the 25 versts separating Zilupe World War I Europe and left an inter­ and so I filled up on hot coffee in order from Sebesh, the Russian frontier sta­ esting description of the Soviet Union to keep awake and not miss anything. tion, takes an hour. At Sebesh, I had during the early years of Bolshevik But, as usual , my information was mis­ my first glimpse of the Red army, the control. taken and the next morning found me Soviet customs authorities and several A student at Hopkins Grammar at Zilupe, the Latvian frontier station other officials or those trying to be. School when World War I broke out. "As a member of the A.R.A ., I was McGuire served in the Navy. After the "Zilupe is a genuine dyed-in-the­ extended courtesies not accorded to the war, he worked briefly with the War­ wool one-horse town . One never leaves ordinary mortal and escaped with a wick-Mitchell accounting firm in New the train in order to see this place for it cursory search at the border by the Haven before joining the American Re­ can easily be done from the platform of customs officials. The Red soldiers ac­ lief Administration which was then op­ the car. The inhabitants might be companied the customs ... and they erating various relief programs dubbed squatters, for that's all they are , attracted a great deal of attention not throughout Europe. with their adobe shacks and tumble­ only from me but from the hetercogcn­ McGuire became chief accountant down shanties. eous collection of passengers that filled and disbursing officer of the relief "These squatters are, in reality, the sleeping car. administration's North-Western Rus­ many fortunate people, who have es­ "The soldiers, as I not iced them, ap­ sian District which had its headquarters caped Russia. Refugees of every sort ­ peared to be very young and proud of at Riga in Latvia. refugees from famine. from Bolshe­ the uniform they wore despite their In March of 1923. McGuire recount­ vism, some even from crime, and all frayed condition. The newest thing ed for the Register some of his experi­ seeking a hav en of rest aeross the near­ about their att ire was the hats with the ences. "I had an opportunity during the est border. towering spear-shaped crowns and the past summer to take a flying trip to "Many of these people stop here big red star in the middle of the crowns Moscow, the seat of the Soviet govern­ only for a day or so on their journey to just above the visors. ment, and the headquarters of the the Baltic states and in fact to almost "Sebesh was very much like Zilupe American Relief Administration's oper­ every other part of the civilized world . as far as a quick survey would permit, ations in Russia," he wrote. "A stop of several hours is made at but had many more dwellings and even "Needless to say the trip was a most Zilupe before the Soviet engine arrives a new wooden station in process ofcon­ delightful one and brimful of experien­ from the other side of the border to struction. I attempted to enter what was ces. Someone told me just before leav­ hook on to the express train. The trio Please turn to page 4 Page 2 Scotsman received Family history a very painful lesson In early New Haven, foreigners were h:8'L\ DLl8U.I!:D 18 ~:l. not looked upon with great kindness and a foreigner who got into trouble New Haven Rooting Co. with the law could expect the harshest treatment. Such was the case with a Scotsman JAMES E. KELLEY, named John Campbell. At the Superior Court session in New Haven in February 1769, Camp­ bell was sentenced "to be whipt, Etcet­ Warren's Felt, Cement and Gravel Roofing, era" for burglary. The sentence was carried out in early AND NATIVE TRINIDAD ASPHALTOM FOR ROOFING, CELLARS AND VAULTS, March and the Connecticut Journal contained a description of the proceed­ FOIt N~W HAVEN, BRlDGEPORT, ANU VWINITJ~S. ings, taking obvious satisfaction in Campbell's predicament. When the sheriff came to take H b n DI 10 8< 00 I O~II J U C Itubt.ur Co. 8~rK unL bI""llr~ CLorllll: Oo.• 11.",..Iohu II. Le cds ; Campbell, apparently from his home, °llnrtke." & 'Uo ORrrll~~ ~ Manufacrurers ; o. B, 'N orth ~ o e.: New Ha ven 1~lIll1nl{,MI." co. , nrld~. U·~ryM'I~~llbru I'{)II 'Co, ; Wheulur 8< wuso» Mlk oo.: Unt ou bIdullle CurLnJ l:6 Co . • Uun . 'V. . he resisted both vocally and physically n:lIhU~, ~~dtA:~fil' \V llL ~r -l"r u o( and the newspaper even attempted to pac~~~l~~~;;'~ and r-.E . 8 ~nl. El ndlic PniliL. ''''alcr.tlgh t F )uurl llj; for Brewerlea , Bllll.lJlcl, recapture his Scots' brogue. "I'm laith c'"'Ordera to New Huvcn l'uItL·Office wUl receiv e prU1lA.(lt uu euuo u, [0 part sae soon fra my auld Harne," he told the sheriff, "and I can stay alone, I Residence, 14 Elliott St..Office.rj State St., New Haven am very weel and want na bad Company." BRIDGEPORT OFFICE, OPP. DEPOT, BRIDGEPORT, CONN. When the sheriff and his men pushed open the door, Campbell "was so kind as to salute one of the Atten­ City directories can be helpful to anyone interested in family ~istory .­ dants with the Weight of a Bludgeon from beginners to experts. Not to be confused with telephone directories, which felled him to the Ground." city directories are hardcover volumes that are published annually and t~at Campbell gave the sheriff and his contain a listing ofall- or at least most - ofthe resld~nts ofa co~mumty. men a good fight, kicking, biting and In the past, city directories usually cou!d .be ~ecogmzed by lh.elr orange scratching, according to the newspaper covers, while today many of them have distinctive blue and whl.te c~vers . account, as he was dragged to the place One of the greatest advantages of city directones for the family history where he was to be punished. buff is that they are usually easier to get at than many other types of records, The punishment included a whip­ such as census returns, military records, etc. . . ping of 15 strokes, the branding of Most public libraries keep copies of city directories for the community In Campbell's forehead with the letter "B" which they are located. And specialty libraries. such as the. New Havep for burglar and the cropping of his right Colony Historical Society can often fill any gap In the collections of public ear. libraries. . . The sheriff, the newspaper said, "put The Connecticut State Library in Hartford has an entire section devoted on the Letter B and took a Piece from to city directories of Connecticut communities. And ~ very ~mportant for the West Side of his Head .. . The Paint the beginner who doesn't know exactly what he or she IS l?okIng for - t~e being now ready for his back, the Sher­ entire collection is on open shelves where any patron can Just browse to hIS iff put it on to the Satisfaction of the or her heart's content. Bystanders; John took it with a great City directories provide a lot of information that is. not easily found deal of seeming Content, without mut­ elsewhere about residents of a community. Residents are listed In alphabeti­ tering a Word, in short, he bore it like a cal order and the listings include not only street addresses, but occupations Christian." , and, in many cases, relationships of people living at an ad~ress. If a person The detailed account of the punish­ moved, married or died during the previous year, t~at fact IS often ~ecorded. ment was obviously meant as a lesson What makes the directories especially valuable IS that by following them to other foreigners for the newspaper year by year, it is possible to virtually put together a family history. . concluded its account with the admoni­ The first year in which a person's name appears In a city directory WIll tion both to Scots and to Irishmen that normally be the year that person moved .into the community or rea~hed "this may prove a timely Warning to adulthood, although in some cases even children are listed WIth the designa­ other Sawnies and their near Neigh­ tion "student." bours the Paddies, who may travel this By following a person from the first mention of his ?r her name, It IS Way, to be careful of their Company." possible to go along year by year plotting changes of residence, changes ~f (Connecticut Journal, March 10, occupation, changes in marital ~tatus, etc., all ,the ~ay ul? to the person s 1769) death and then to continue plotting that person s children In the same way. City directories also contain advertisements and sometimes these can be Editor's note: In recognition of the sources of much information about a family. TYPIcal of such advertisements bond between our historical society and is that shown above of James E. Kelley, a roofer. in the 1885 New Haven the other societies in the Ethnic History directory. Among the valuable information in the advertisement is the fact Center and to foster appreciation fOr all that the company was organized in 1852. the fact that I~ had offices both ~n ethnic groups, we print in each issue of New Haven and Bridgeport and the names of companies for whom It did our newsletter at least one story about work. another ethnic group. Page 4 . New Haven Irishman toured Soviet Union In early 19205 Continued from page J down the platform gazing at the for­ someone in the car began to point out eigners in the train. signs tending to show that we were al­ said to be a first-class buffet, but the most due. We saw even at that distance odors emanating from it made me beat "At the stations, we saw endless the top of the wireless station and the a hasty retreat. This cured me for all numbers of freight cars bound west. outskirts of the city and as we ap­ time of Russian railway station lunch­ These always seemed to be carrying hu­ proached nearer, I had a peculiar feel­ rooms. man freight bound for they knew not ing of pleasantness at seeing with that "We finally were on the way at dark where, but with the knowledge that clear blue sky as a background, what almost 24 hours from the time we had traveling burnpety-bumpety over many appeared to be thousands of golden pulled out of Riga. We passed many miles of roadbed was taking them out spires flashing their welcome to me. stations and .. . at every stop it seemed of Russia. They were a sorry looking lot These were the steeples and crosses of as if the entire population of the town and my heart went out to them despite the Russian Orthodox churches, one of had ' turned out to meet the tra in. the many similar scenes I had the most beautiful sights in all Europe. "Everybody appeared to be in holi­ witnessed. "So this was Moscow, the most cos­ day attire and seemed to derive a great "About 25 versts outside of Moscow, mopolitan cit y I had seen east of Berlin . deal of enjoyment walking up and The station was filled with refugees , ~Briefly many of whom were lying about in noted dirty heaps apparently trying to get a THANKS - Our thanks to former New Haven Mayor Richard C. Lee few hours rest before starting on their who gave us an interesting, inspiring and humorous perspective on New long dreamed of journey to liberty. Haven's Irish people at our Celebration ofIrish Heritage in November at the "I thought of the immigrants at sta­ Knights of St. Patrick. Thanks also to Johnny Moran for providing the tions along the way with their gruesome music. heaps of daily dead, their squalid filthi­ WELCOME - Our new members include J im and Pat Acton, Amalgam­ ness and utter poverty. These people, ated Transit Union Division 281, Margaret B. Ciecko, James and Betty many of them, would in all probability Dinnan, Mr. and Mrs. William T. Donahue and famil y, Dan and Peggy go the same way and not a few wou ld Dunn and family, Michael Faherty, John M. Fitzgerald, Edward F. and find their freedom in death. Sarah Foley, David Gormley, William M. Kinnare, Jerry McDonough and "Nearly all of the refugees were of a family , George and Marian McWeeney and family, John and Sheila Peck­ distinctly peasant class . The women ingham, James P. Shanley, Michael S. Shea Jr., Sisk Brothers Inc., Jane wore rags tied tightly over their heads Sullivan, Anne Dempsey Tidgewell, John and Rosemary Waldron, Harold J. as though fearing to show their hair, Walsh. while the men wore something ap­ MEMORIALS - Several members have made gifts to the society for the proaching the Cossack-shaped hat. Bits establishment of memorials in honor ofdeceased family members. They are : of rags of all descriptions were utilized "In loving memory of John C. and Delia Murphy," by Francis P. and for clothing. Child ren wore flower bags Elizabeth Murphy; " In loving memory of Patrick J. and Catherine Barry ingeniously made into garments. No Roche," by Thomas P. Roche. Memorials will be established for gifts of$IOO ' one wore shoes .. . or more to the society. "We finall y steered our way through DONATIONS - We thank the following people for donations: Am algam ­ the human mass and were escorted to ated Transit Union Division 281, Rita Breese, Eleanor M. Connelly, law­ the waiting automobile which quickly rence and Mary Joan Kilbride Coyle, Mr. and Mrs . Will iam T. Donahue, rushed us through crowded steets, past Edward and Sarah Foley, Patrick Hogan, George and Marian McWeeney, innumerable churches and deposited us James W. Moore, Francis P. Murphy, Thomas P. Roche Sr., Thomas and at A.R.A. headquarters. Noreen Slater, Tom Dillon and Jim Reardon. "I was struck by the rundown ap­ pearance of the city all the way from the station . The streets were badly in need IRISH AMERICAN HISTORICAL SOCIETY of repair. Here and there our car would P.O. Box 12~20 swerve wildl y to one side to avoid some East Haven, Connecticut 06512 deep depression in the roadway. Great stones and boulders were strewn about, "We have kept faith with the past; we have handed a tradition to the filth and refuse littered the street . . . future." Padraic Pearse " Of course, after seven years of war coupled with civil strife, lack of exports President: Neil Hogan, 26 Crestview Terrace, Wallingford 06492. 269­ and imports and last, but far from least, 9154. the most terrible fam ine in modern his­ Vice President: Joan Moynihan, 157 Harrison Road, Cheshire 06410. tory, one could hardly expect in any 272-0118. degree of fairness to see Moscow flour­ Secretary: George Waldron, 69 Pardee St., New Haven 06513. 468­ ishing or prosperous. 6948. "Absolutely no signs of repairs of Treasurer: Michael Lynch, 171 East Grand Ave., New Haven 06513. any kind were in evidence. I recall par­ 467-5307. ticularly one house of evident previous Membership Chairwoman: Jeanne Hickey, 58 Florence Ave., New Ha­ beauty which had its roof completely ven 06512. 468-0426. caved in due apparently to negligence Membership: $10 individual, $15 family. Send name and address and in allowing a great limb of a tree to fall checks made out to Irish American Historical Society to Box 12~20, upon it. The thing had apparently hap­ East Haven, CT 06512. pened a long time before and nothing had been done to remedy the (The Shanachie: In Ireland, a shanachie is a folklorist, storyteller and conditions." keeper of the people's traditions.) (New Haven Register, March 18, 1923.) Volume II, Number 2 Irish-American Historical Society March-April 1990 Bridgeport worker lost his job for honoring St. Patrick An Irishman once lost his job at a flag,' he said, 'or I will take it down .' I stick the flag on the engine and I was factory in Bridgeport because he flew never made a move to disturb the flag satisfied that it was not patriotism that an Irish flag on St. Patrick's Day. and he told me that unless I took it prompted the person to put it there. A native of Ireland, William Allen down I would be discharged. I would After I had ordered the flag taken down came to Bridgeport in 1887. In 1899, he not take it down and he discharged me. and no heed was paid to my order, I went to work for the American Ord­ "I had been working in the factory told Mr. Allen that I would remain in four years and there was no other rea· the room until it was taken down. 'It'll nance Co. son for discharging me than that I float­ come down if I get my time,' said Mr. On St. Patrick's Day, 1903, Allen ed the Irish flag which nettled Mr. Sea­ Allen. 'Very well,' said I, 'go up to the told a reporter, "I paid 15 cents for a vey. I did not want to say anything office and get your time.' small Irish flag and went into the shop about the affair, but my friends have "That's all there was to it, but I sup­ and stuck it on the engine. taken up the matter and all through pose they have made a deal more of it. "Mr. (John W.) Seavey, the boss, East Bridgeport the incident is the chief There was no question of nationality came in the room and saw the flag. He topic of conversation. about the order on my part. It would asked who put it there and I told him. Seavey had a somewhat different not have made any difference to me He ordered me to take it down and I story. "I did not discharge Mr. Allen," what flag was on the engine. I should refused. He left the room and said he he said. "He left of his own free will. It have ordered it removed just the wanted to have it removed before he is true he stuck an Irish flag on the same." came back. engine and I ordered him to take it Whatever the case, no one denied "I could not-see where the flag was down, but I did not do it because ofany that Allen lost his job because of his doing any harm and I paid no attention hatred for the flag or the island it repre­ devotion to the Irish flag. to his order. When he cam e back the sents. flag was at full mast. 'Take down that "I just thought it was a tomfoolery to (Bridgeport Herald, March 22, 1903) Juvenile delinquents kept two Irish truant officers 'busy In the early years of the 20th centu­ "Number ofcomplaints investigated ry, truancy problems in New Haven pertaining to school matters, 1,385. were handled by two Irish cops, Peter "Dixwell Avenue school ungraded E. Dargan and John J. Healy . room, whole number registered, 63. The city was split into east and west "Transferred from other schools to districts by a line runing down Whitney this school for truancy and misconduct, Avenue and Church Street, · George 30. Street and State Street to Long Wharf. "Transferred from the streets, 8. Dargan, said the New Haven Regis "Promoted to other schools for good ter, "looks after the good behavior of conduct, 8. the schoolchildren in the section lying "Withdrawn to go to work, 21. west of this irregular line and Officer "Committed to State School for Healey that to the east. Both have large Boys at Meriden, Conn., I . territories to cover, but they do the "Number of boys registered, Dec. work most satisfactorily as far as the 24, 1902, 33. school authorities are concerned and "Fair Street school, ungraded room, they have received several pretty com­ number of boys transferred to this mendations for the manner in which school from schools in the western dis­ they have cleared up disagreeable cases. trict, 16. "Through all their careers of "Committed to State School for truancy, the boys have a wholesome Boys in Meriden, Conn., I. dread of the policemen. Once they real­ " Whiting Street school, ungraded ize that the cops are after them, they room, whole number registered, 88. begin to see visions of the ungraded "Transferred from other schools for room and the reform school. " truancy and misconduct (boys 21, girls The report Officer Dargan submitted 3), 24. to Superintendent of Schools F.H. Bee­ "Committed to State School for be for the year 1902 gives a good view Boys, Meriden, Conn., 2. of the work handled by the two truant officers: Please tum to page 4 Page 2 Italians took census to get their own priest

In the summer of 1883, a census of A few words the Italian Catholics in New Haven was undertaken with the object of convinc­ about Irish surnames ing the Diocese of Hartford to provide an Italian priest. The census was conducted by Paul Russo, one of the city's most prominent There's an old and oft-quoted rhyme about the surnames of Ireland: Italian immigrants. Apparently it was "By Mac and 0 you'll always know true Irishmen, they say; undertaken to provide statistical sup­ "But if they lack both 0 and Mac, no Irishmen are they." port for a request that the city's Italians The rhyme IS cute, but leaves us in great confusion when we think of all the names that we know are Irish that have neither a "Mac" nor an "0" had made to Bishop McMahon for a prefixing them: Donnelly, Connelly, Nolan, Clancy, Dempsey, Reilly, Do­ priest who could speak Italian. herty, Murphy, Kelly, to name just a few of hundreds. While some of the priests in New How are we to explain this seeming contradiction? To understand it, we Haven apparently could understand must go back into Irish history. some Italian, none of them was fluent The use ofsurnames came about gradually throughout Europe. In Ireland, enough to be able to minister to the a personal name together with the identification of the clan to which a immigrants. person belonged was sufficient for centuries. Then people began to use The New Haven Union printed patronymics, identifying themselves by a combination of their personal some of the results of the census on names and their fathers' names. This was accomplished by using the person­ al name followed by the word "rnoccu" or, as we know it today, "mac," Oct. 6 of that year. The tallies provide meaning "son of." an interesting look at the city's Italian Thus, as early as A.D. 800, there appear in ancient Irish chronicles such community in that period. names as "Torbac MacGormain." meaning "Torbac, son of Gorman." "Mr. Russo finds, " it said, "that These patronymics were not surnames in the sense that we know them there are 145 families in New Haven, today because they were not handed down beyond one person. If Torbac numbering between 700 and 800 per­ MacGorman had a son. the son would not have been known as Conor sons. The largest number in anyone MacGorman, but rather as Conor MacTorbac. family was found in State Street, there About the 10th century, there began a trend throughout Europe to adopt being 20 in it. Another family was surnames. The trend began because of the increase in population and the found wherein there were 15 persons. greater mingling of people and the need to identify people more exactly. In Ireland. surnames were formed in one of several ways. One way was to Dozens of families were discovered simply continue with the practice of using "mac" to designate a son, but to which had 10 and 12 individuals in continue the name generation after generation. Such names as McGrath, them. McDonald, McGuire and McMahon are examples of this method of forming "The majority of the Italians are res­ surnames. idents ofSt. John's parish. Oak Hill. St. There is a common misconception, incidentally, that "mac" designates a John, Hamilton, Wallace and East Scottish name, while "me" designates an Irish name. In truth, "me" is streets are the principal thoroughfares merely an abbreviation of "mac" and all the early Irish records use "mac" containing Italians. rather than "me." "Mr. Russo said that in all probabili­ A second, and even more common method of forming Irish names was to ty there are 1,000 Italians of the Catho­ attach the prefix "0" which means "grandson," or merely "descendant" to a name. Thus, someone who is an O'Brien is a grandson or descendant of lic persuasion in this city, the 150 or Brian. Someone who is an O'Connor is a grandson or descendant ofConnor. 200 which he had not down on his list While "mac" or "0" are the most common ingredient of Gaelic or Celtic being employed in the country during Irish names. they are not the only ones. Another prefix that was employed the summer season. They return to when surnames came into use was "gilla," which means "follower or ser­ New Haven when the cold weather vant." Thus the name Gilbride means "follower of Bride." In some cases the begins." "mac" and the "gilla" were used in combination. The name Macgillacuddy, "Of those whom Mr. Russo talked for example. means "son of the follower or servant of Cuddy." with," the paper continued, "not one A similar prefix is "rnaol" which also means "servant or follower," and is raised the slightest opposition to the found in such modern names as Muldoon or Mulryan,the servant or project of having an Italian priest locat­ follower of Doon or Ryan. A special prefix often was used to designate a female member ofa family : ed here. When the appointment is "ni" or "ny" meaning "daughter 0(" Thus, it is not uncommon in research­ made, the priest probably will reside in ing old Irish records to come across a reference to a brother and sister St. John's or St. Patrick's parish. referred to as "John 0 Kelly" and 'Mary ni Kelly ." "It will not be long, it is said, before While most Gaelic Irish names are patronymics, that is formed from the a church for the Italian Catholics in this name of an ancestor, many of them have a descriptive element too in that city will be needed ." the name of the ancestor may have come from a particular characteristic. Editor's note: In recognition of the Thus, the name Finnegan comes from the Irish word "fionn," meaning "fair­ bond between our historical society and headed." the other societies in the Ethnic History A few Irish names also were formed from geographical designations. Center and to foster appreciation for all Thus , "Lynagh,' means "Leinsterrnan.' and Meade signifies "Meathrnan." ethnic groups. we print in each issue of The loss of "mac" and "0" from Irish names can be traced to the our newsletter at least one story about Please turn to page J another ethnic group. Page 3 'Benefit societies helped immigrants in sickness, death

Establishment of societies to aid the assessment of $1 on each member. Fif­ families of sick and deceased members ty-four members were lower paid work­ was an important concern for all immi­ men and the other six were in business. grant groups. Knights of Tara: Located in Wal­ Realizing this, the state Bureau of lingford, this society was founded in Labor Statistics in 1891 conducted a February 1891 and had 40 members survey among various ethnic groups to and a $145 account in a savings bank. d etermine the number of benefit socie­ Dues were $3.60 per year. Sick benefits ties established by each group and to were $5 per week for 13 weeks with a gather statistics on the members, dues, maximum yearly benefit of $65. The payments made by the va rio us groups. death benefit was $50. Thirty of the The survey listed six Irish-American members were lower paid workmen. benefit societies. That seems to be a eight were well paid mechanics. and small number given the number of two were in business. Irish-American immigrants and second generation Irish-Americans in the state For the year 1891. the Ansonia soci­ at that time. Nonetheless, the statistics this Hartford society. In 1891, it had 40 ety had receipts of $393 and paid out gathered from the six societies are inter­ members and a bank account 01'$1,000. $127 in sick benefits. nothing for death esting for what they tell about the status Dues were $4.20. Sick benefits were $5 benefits and $75 for management. The of Irish-Americans in Connecticut in per week for 13 weeks with an annual Seymour society took in $150 and paid the 1890s. The six societies included: limit 01'$65. The death benefit was $50. $45 in sick benefits. $195 in death ben­ Friendly Sons of St. Patrick: This Twenty-eight of the members were low­ efits and $10 for management. St. Ansonia organization was the oldest of er paid workmen. eight were well paid John's Society took in $240 and paid the groups, having been instituted on mechanics and four were in business. out $150 for sickness and $100 for May 5, 1863. At the time of the survey, United Irishmen's Benevolent and death benefits with no management ex­ the Friendly Sons were in decline for Burial Aid Society: Instituted in New pense. The United Irishmen's Societv membership had dropped from 63 in Haven on Jan. 30. 1890. this society took in $215 and paid out $150 for sick 1887t035in 1890andjustl9in 1891. had 60 members with an average age of benefits with no payments for death The average age of the m embers was 45 30 in 1891. It had $200 in a savings benefits or management. The Knights years. The society's funds. rotalli ng bank account. Dues were $4.20 per of Tara had receipts of $1 16 and paid only $100.17. were kept in a savings year. Sick benefi ts were $5 per week for only $10 for management. No figu res bank. Dues for the society were $4.20 12 weeks with a limit of $60 per year. were provided for the Emerald Benevo­ per year. Sick benefits were $5 per week The death benefit consisted of a special lent Society. for 13 weeks with a yearly limit of $65. The death benefit was $50. Of the members, 10 were categorized as "low­ New London marriage made for smooth sailing er paid workmen," four were "well paid The Irish-American historian. Mi­ London on Nov. 5. 1675. Rogers wa s a mechanics." three were "in business" chael J . O'Brien recounts this interest­ master of a vessel that 'brought 0\"Cf a and two were "clerks." ing anecdote of Irish immigration taken number of rcdernptioncrs from Ireland. Friendly Sons of St. Patrick: from Frances M. Caulkins' book. "His­ among them the Jordan family. and in Founded in Seymour on Nov. 2. 1872, tory of New London": after vears he was accustomed to sav, this society had 41 members in 1891 "The town historian says that Mary sportively, that she (his wife) was the and had $800 in an account in a savings Jordan. daughter of Jeffry Jordan of richest cargo he ever shipped and the bank. Dues were $4.20 per year. Bene­ Ireland. married James Rogers at New best bargain he ever rnadc.": fits were more liberal than most of the other societies: $5 per week for 12 weeks and then $3 per week for as long A few words in explanation of Irish surnames as needed with a maximum 01'$180 per Continued {rom page :! year. The death benefit was $50 from centuries of English occupation of Ireland. Throughout those centuries. the society's funds and $1 from each pressure was exerted on the Irish to drop their distinctive surname prefixes. member. Sick watching was also an ob­ In addition. it was the English who kept most of the records during those ligation of membership. Forty of the centuries and it was cu stomary tor them to either omit the prefixes or attach members were ' listed as lower paid them to the name itself. Both in Irish and in American records. the results of workmen. the other member falling these practices can be seen. into thc classification of well-paid In American records. it is not uncommon to come across names like mechanics. Okelly or Oreilly. which arc really mangled versions or Irish names. In I\)th Emerald Benevolent Society: Insti­ century American reco rds another mangling is often not iceable when the tuted in 1875 in Hartford. this was the prefix "0" is changed into a middle initial in such names as Michal'! O. largest of the Irish societies surveyed Kane. Little wonder that after a generation or two Irish famil ies simply with 165 members. The average age of dropped the "0" completely. the members was 31 years and the soci­ ety had $4.000 invested in a savings In some names, the "0" has never been restored although in others it has comeback . example. found bank. Dues were $4.:W per year and made an amazing In Ireland. tor a study in 1866 sick benefits were $5 a week for 13 that only 4 percent of those named Sullivan used the prefix "0:' By IlNO. the weeks with an annual limit of $65. The percentage had risen to 13 percent and hy I \)44. a full 60 percent of that farnilv used the full name "O'Sullivan." death benefit was $200. No breakdown Similar statistics arc evident tor some names. hut lor others. such as of the membership was given. Kcnncdv. Gavin and Dovlc. there has been tiulc movement toward are­ St. John's Sick and Burial Society: surnption of the prefix. . No date was given for the founding or Page 4 Street superintendent 4 brothers served in different services in Great War was Galway native During World War I, the Mallo. Commenting on the family, the Reg­ family of West Haven contributed four ister said , "The four young men are Patrick Doyle was a longtime super­ young men to the American armed well known in New Haven, where they intendent of streets in New Haven and forces, each of them to a different spent the major part of their lives, be­ one of the city's best known stone service. ing natives of the Hill section. masons. Walter Malloy served with the U.S. "These young men figured promi­ Born in County Galway in 1844, Navy. His brother Peter was assigned to nently in athletics about New Haven, Doyle came to New Haven in 1862 and a machine-gun company. Another especially football, while Arthur and formed a partnership with John A. Dib­ brother, Arthur, was with an aerial Peter have established themselves as ble. Later he worked alone as a journey­ squadron and the fourth brother, John, singers of no small ability and have man mason and in partnership with was with the field hospital corps. They performed in many entertainments and William Townsend. were the sons of Michael Malloy, chief minstrel shows about New Haven." During his career, he built St. Fran­ engineer at the Sperry and Barnes plant. (New Haven Register, May 6, 1918) cis Orphan Asylum , St. Patrick 's Hall on Wallace Street and a new front and spire for the Grand Avenue Congrega­ ' ~B r i ef l y noted------.....,.. tional Church. In 1878, Doyle was appointed super­ ELECTION OF OFFICERS. The next meeting of the society will be on intendent of streets for the city. He held Tuesday, March 27, at 7:30 p.m. at the Gaelic Club, Venice Place, East that position continuously - except for Haven. The evening will begin with a short business meeting at which the year 1890 when he was in business officers will be elected for the com ing year. Following the business with Connor Brothers contractors ­ meeting, Jeanne Hickey will present a slide show and talk on genealogy until his death in 1895. entitled, "Searching Your Attic For Clues." We hope to see you then. • Doyle resided at 210 Ferry St. When Doyle died on March 18, 1895, he left WELCOME. Our new members include: Joseph and Susanne O'Connor his widow "a sister of Alderman Walter Bowery, John C. and Helen A. Farrell, Judith E. Johnson, Charles J. and J. Connor," and six children: Lizzie, Theresa O'Hagan, Philip and Angelina Paolella, Helen K. Quinn, Mary Ella, Richard , Walter, Frank and A. Walters, Joel Wasserman, John J. White. Vincent. (New Haven Register, March 19 MEMORIAL. A memorial has been donated in memory of Michael and 1895) Mary Murray Donahue by Raymond J. Donahue. Our thanks. Juvenile delinquents DONATIONS. Thanks to all the members who have included donations with their dues for 1990: Rita Breese, John J. Burke, John R. Casey, Continued from page J Lawrence T. and Mary Joan K. Coyle, John J. and Ellen Donahue, "Entered from street (boys 24, girls William and Jane Healy Dunn, John G. and Leonora Farley, Patricia A. 21), 45. Heslin, Ann C. Kritemeyer, Finbarr and Joan Moynihan, James T. "Number of cases settled for losing Smith, George A. Waldron, Frances C. Winston. Thanks also to all or mutilating school books, 8. members and non-members who made donations at our Irish Heritage " Number ofchildren found on street program in November. Special thanks, too, to the Irish-American not attending any school and taken to Community Center and the New Haven Gaelic Football and Hurling school, 19. Club for their very generous and continuing support of our efforts. "Found employed under 14 years of age and sent back to school (boys 8, girls 3), II. IRISH AMERICAN HISTORICAL SOCIETY "Brought before the honorable city P.O. Box 120-020 court, sitting in chambers, for truancy East Haven, Connecticut 06512 and misconduct (boys II, girls I), 12. "Boys committed to State School at "We have kept faith with the past; we have handed a tradition to the Meriden, Conn, 4. future." Padraic Pearse "Girls committed to Industrial School at Middletown, I. President: Nell Hogan, 26 Crestview Terrace, Wallingford 06492.269­ "Number of boys sent back to State 9154. School at Meriden, Conn., for violation Vice President: Joan Moynihan , 157 Harrison Road, Cheshire 06410. of parole, 2. 272-0118. "Number of storekeepers arrested Secretary: George Waldron, 69 Pardee St., New Haven 06513. 468­ for selling cigarettes to boys under 16 6948. years of age, 3. Treasurer: Michael Lynch, 171 East Grand Ave., New Haven 06513. "Parents arrested for failure to send 467-5307. their children to school, 3. Membership Chairwoman: Jeanne Hickey, 58 Florence Ave~, New Ha­ "Complaints from principals of the ven 06512. 468-0426. parochial schools have also been inves­ Membership: $10 Individual, $15 family. Send name and address and tigated and the authority of the truant checks made out to Irish American Historical Society to Box 120-020, officer has been used when necessary. East Haven, CT 06512. Many other complaints have been re­ ceived from teachers and parents for (The Shanachle: In Ireland, a shanachle Is a folklorist, storyteller and various offenses. These have been in­ keeper of the people's traditions.) vestigated and such action taken as seemed necessary." Volume II, Number 3 Irish-American Historical Society May-June 1990 Pennies and dollars supported Land League agitators

In the 1880s, the Irish throughout tached was a list of more than 80 con­ America rallied to support the Land tributors from Fair Haven. League in Ireland where tenants were Those giving $1 included: D. Law­ demanding reductions in the rents that lor, J. Lawlor, W. Kelley, J. Landers, J. held them in virtual servitude. O'Brien, M. Conners, F. Scott, John The Irish World, a radical newspa­ Clyne, P. Kent, J. Duhen, P. McGuire, per published in New York City, be­ A. Butler, P. White. J. Dwyer, P. Ryan, came a clearinghouse for assistance to D. Scott, F. Harson, M. O'Connell, the people in Ireland. John Foley, L. Myers, John Maher, M. Irish groups across the nation raised The Land League was founded Scally, Wm. Weber, M. O'Connell, P. money from their members - 50 cents in County Mayo in August 1879 King, Ed. Dillon, Jas . Cusack, John and a dollar at a time - and sent it to by Michael Davitt and 150 Irish Tierney, John Keyes, John Joyce, M. the Irish World for transmission to Ire­ farmers to fight evictions and to Keyes. Wm. Britt, P. Foley, Miss A. land. The Irish World, in turn, printed demand reductions in rents. On Foley, Jas. Joyce, E. Tobin, J. Kennedy, the names of individual contributors Oct. 21 of that year, the move­ J. Mc.Govern, W. Donahue, M. Egan, from the various local Irish groups. ment was organized as the Na­ M. Kindall, Wm. Killian, M. Condon, The pages of the paper at that time tional Land League of Ireland M. Nolan , P. Delaney, P. Cullen, D. are a gold mine of the names of Irish with Charles Stewart Parnell as Healy, John Cooke, T. Hughes, R. Con­ people living in various American com­ Its president. ners , P. Bree. Mrs. L. Myers, J. Dene­ munities in the I880s. They also are a hey. J. Connors. moving testament to the love of Irish Fifty cent donations were made by that in towns of Massachusetts and M. Hurban, T. Coleman, J. Hines P. immigrants for their homeland and Connecticut thousands of dollars are their willingness to sacrifice for their McVeety, M. Conners, Miss B. Ber n, only waiting to be asked to help the Miss M. Welch, John Casey, Miss H. kinsfolk left behind. good cause of free lands and happy Connecticut was well represented in Pow's, W. Landrag'n, Wrn. Clark, John homes for the long-outraged people of Kendell, A. Joyce, J. Briody, E. Jen­ the contributions. On Feb. 5, 1882, for Ireland." example, the Irish World printed this nings, J. Byrne, Mrs ...., T. Duhin, P. The letter was signed by J. Clyne, P. letter from Fair Haven: O'Brien, B. Kuelahen, M. Callahan, J. Kent, J. Foley, J. Maher and P. King of "Enclosed $83.75 were collected Cullen, F. Healy, M. Ba naher, M. the Solicitation Committee and at­ from the following patriotic men and Please turn to page 2 women of Fair Haven for the Land League that has already accomplished so much for Ireland and whose promise New society president outlines plans of good will stop, we hope, at nothing less than Irish independence of robber Britain. The banner Michael Davitt ctcYill~&~ threw to the breeze in lrishtown (Mayo) t-f,' &0 two years ago has been perhaps the most grandly successful ofany that his­ tory records. Editor's note: The following mes­ hard work . "The Land League is everywhere sage is from Jeanne Hickey, the Our future depends on partici­ and indestructible. The people of Ire­ new president of our society. pation by our members in activi­ land will neither starve nor pay rent ties such as genealogy lectures, and the Irish World will find its way I thank the members of the oral history tapings, photography into their cabins to cheer and encourage Irish-American Historical Society workshops and other historical them. We feel we are doing a fair share for placing their confidence in and cultural events. in this country, but we could do more me. Implicit in my election, I be­ The projects we have planned and not hurt ourselves. lieve, is the responsibility to con­ for the months ahead include: "Hundreds and hundreds of Irish­ tinue the work begun by my Oral History Project: The Con­ men have not yet given a dime, simply predecessors. necticut Humanities Council has because they have not been asked to do The founders of our society: indicated that funding may be so. Towns and parishes ought to be can­ Joan and Finbarr Moynihan, available for a program to tape vassed. We collected this $84.25 in a Mike Lynch, George Waldron record the recollections of Irish small portion of our parish (another and Neil Hogan have created a people. I have attended a work- solid foundation on which to committee took another portion). We Please turn to page 3 met no refusal, and we feel confident build. I thank them all for their Page 2 Connecticut Irish came to aid of Land League protesters

Continued from page / Tim Crowley Sr., James O'Brien, Michl mantic League, French and Irish lovers Mcveety, P. Moran and J. Begadon . McCarthy, Luke McAllister, Daniel of liberty, to aid our friends in Ireland Other donations included: C. Duhin, O'Connell, John P. Connell, John D. who are so nobly and successfully strug­ 75 cents; P. Clark, $10; M. Egan, $2; P. Kelly, Tim. Crowley Jr., Wm. Luby , gling against the inhuman savagery of Scott, $2; W. Coughlin, $2. Thos. F. Cooke, Denis T O'Brien, Cor­ the brutish British Government. Another Connecticut group which nelius Lynch, Mark Collins, John Hag­ Patrick O'Grady, James Carney, contributed was the Robert Emmet gerty, John Gilmore, John Sullivan, Patrick McGlone, Daniel Culliane, Branch of Meriden. In a letter pub­ Henry Dunny. Thos. Ronan, Timothy O'Regan." lished in the Irish World on June 24, The same issue of the newspaper list­ The Willimantic subscribers' list in­ 1882, Treasurer John Shiels and Re­ ed donations from four Irish societies cluded: G. Harrington, Wm . Gorry, cording Secretary James H. Kenny stat­ in Hartford. "Please acknowledge the Tim O'Regan, TA. Favero, PJ. Coffee, ed, "In looking over the report of our following contributions from four Irish E. O'Loughlin, J. Archambault, Ja s. meeting in this week's issue, I find that societies of this city for the benefit of Maxwell, Thos. Foran, John P. Shea, I have omitted Mrs. Denis O'Brien's the Land League," wrote M. Donnelly, Michl. Shea, Denis Shea, Jas. E. Mur­ name through mistake. She occupied a treasurer. "St. Augustine T.A.S., ray, John F. Clune, Bridget Shea, Patk seat on the platform at our meeting. We $31.15; 1st Div., A.O.H., $35; Father Reynolds, Thos. Maxwell, M.A. Max­ voted to attend the festival of the la­ Mathew TA.S., $16.62; St. John's Sick well, John Slavin Jr., James Carney, dies Land League, although they boy­ and Burial Society, $10.75; total , Patk. O'Grady, Tace Owens, Patk. cotted us on our lecture. We heartily $93.52. With the hope and trust that Moriarity, Danl. Cullane, Rich. Brown, endorsed the action taken by Miss triumph will soon crown our efforts, I Mrs. Sweeney, Patk. Ronan. Rowland of Cleveland, Ohio. remain your friend and admirer." "Since writing the foregoing, I am President John Slavin of the St. Also, John Foy, Michl. Clurey, A. instructed to say that the principles of Mary's T.A.B. Society of Middletown Heffernan, Ann Wornick, Mrs. B. the Robert Emmets are founded upon sent $11.50 collected from the following Grady, Michael Casey, Michl. Sullivan, the programme laid down by Michael members: David Dunn, C. Collins, Jas. Tighe, Widow Coyne, Jas. Clancy, Davitt in his speech at Liverpool. Wm . Collins, John Donovan, D.J . Mrs. Nash , P. Cunningham, John Hick­ "Enclosed find $60, first installment, Leary, Thos. Foster, Jas. D. Robinson, ey, Bdgt. Shugrew, Johanna Casey, M. but not the last." James Conroy. John Slavin and John Brennan, P. Fitzpatrick, Julia White, Members of the Meriden Emmet H. Griffin, $1 each ; William McGuire John Driscoll, Mary Sullivan, Mag Branch included: President J.H. Potts, and M. O'Keefe, 50 cents each ; P. Wha­ Donnelly, John Hagerty, John Connor, 1st Vice President M. Luby , 2nd Vice Ion and R. Commerford Jr. , 25 cents Mart Sullivan, E. Cunningham, Ed. F. President D. Noonan, 3rd Vice Presi­ each. Casey , Mary McCarthy, Maggie Roo­ dent Wm. Cross, Recording Secretary J. The donations from Willimantic had ney, Levi A. Frink, Mrs. Devine, Cor. Kenny, Financial Secretary P. Brazil, an interesting international twist. In Sullivan, John Kelly, Mary Sullivan, Corresponding Secretary W. Gilligan; their letter to the Irish World, members Nellie Leary, Hannah Driscoll, John Treasurer J. Shiels, Wm. Ryan,Michael of the Collecting Committee in that city Murphy, Michl. Collins, Patk. Casey, F. Kelly, Roderick Whelan, Thos. Der­ stated, "Enclosed find $86.50 collected Mrs. Rooney, Mary McGarry, Mrs. gan, Wm. Horrigan, MJ. O'Callahan, by the following members of the Willi­ Clancy, John Murphy, Mgt. Moynahan. Colonial newspaper's satire portrayed Irish crudely and cruelly

The prevailing prejudice against Paddy Broglegan has been violently ill very carefully wrapt up in a rat trap, Irish people in early Connecticut is ob­ of a fit of sickness, the occasion of with some food in a snuff-box, coming vious in occasional crude and cruel sa­ which was eating the liver ofa Bullock's free of all expences only paying the tires which appeared in colonial news­ Kidney stuffed with Horse Beans, Net­ Captain of the Dublin Yatcht for its papers . For example, the Connecticut tie-tops and Gravy; and notwithstand­ passage. Journal published in New Haven ran ing the Doctors, Surgeons and Apothe­ I am very sorry to hear of the death the following fictional letter in its issue cary attended him eleven months, he of his royal highness the Prince of ---, of Oct. 30, 1767. died suddenly for want of help, and the which was confirmed in our Dublin "Extract of a Letter from Dublin, day of his death was on Sunday night Journal, by his being buried; but faith from over against the Brickwall Gate, last. The whole bulk of his estate he left as it still remains a doubt with us, pray near the Common Shore in Dirty Lane , to an only dead child of the family . send me word in your next whether it is near Moll Downey's. "Darby Logan the chairman, has him or his wife. "My dear Child, taken a lease of the house that was "Pray send me a Cheshire Cheese, a " I thought it my duty incumbent burnt down, and has never been built dark lanthorn and the news-paper, upon me to let you know that your up since, and has now let it upon a wrap them up in a frank and send them sister Macfoster Okerflumbugerer has repairable lease. directly, but pray don't stay for the post been violently ill of a fit of sickness and "Your sister Judith has made a pres­ and direct for me at the Bishop and is now dead, therefore we can have lit­ ent of a diamond ring to Mr. Oharro Beef-Stake, opposite the Moon and Fry­ tle or no hopes of recovery. She is to be the great Small-beer brewer for thirty ing-Pan, next door to a surgeon that buried by herself, close to her Uncle guineas and a note of hand unpayable destroys in men, women and children. Paddy Thellock the Foot-Soldier, who on demand thirteen months before it is So no more at present from your dutiful was wrongfully executed for a murder due. mother - Candogan Cavenaugh and robbery he committed on the high­ "I have likewise sent you a nine shil­ Okerflumbugerer. way about seven years hence. lings piece by the Chester waggons, the "P.S. Pray excuse my not sealing the "Terernas Kelly has left Dublin on charges of which comes only to one letter, for faith I was afraid somebody purpose to find you there. Your Gossop guinea: Likewise a Dublin Canary Bird would open it." Page 3 Many Irish settled in early New London YALE BUREAU OF PATENTS. An early resident of New London, ANDREW O'NEILL,

Justice of the Peace Joshua Hempstead, A~IMr Q/ liN LaID qf COtln.for 7;-a,l. Mark. a lld Luhd., kept a diary that is filled with details .4cl 0/ Murch ~{j. 1880. about people and events in that section of the state in the early 18th century. Attorncy I Counscllor J and Solicitor of Patents, Historian Michael J. O'Brien discov­ Owner at thlrty.•1x P.lcuLi and 1'r.de !dorko. ered many entries in the Hempstead Thirty yeon' expertenc• . diary about Irish people. Wy IInl volenl obtalned Oct, I~, 18~6 , On Jan. 4, 1724, in the earliest refer­ Our Washington Oorrespondeaoe hourly In ence to Irish people, Hempstead re­ lIle Patent Offioe. corded the marriage of Isabel Maconnel Box 96, Pittaburg, PlI. 539, Ansonia. Conn, and Samuel Irwin. There apparently P. O. Addreu, { Hegldlel'• d M"y 6, 1880, uudcr I... "t was a whole family of McConnells in 274, Waahlngton. D. C. Woreh 26, 1880. New London at that time for a year Patentee o( O'Neill Put uut Plnnldbe,l Bhcct Oopper, IIr ... lind Nickel. Aldo. O'Neill Patent later, on Jan. 10, 1725, Hempstead not­ KlectrO-CoppcreJ. UIIJ 'I'Iuned uud Nickel Ptt.lcut PJulIJdh utl ami nul I'Iuntebed ~(:lIow MetaJ 8heoL•. ed the baptism of Mary, "the daughter )lUI. lot AOlouln, Oouu ., Dud l 'IUrtLurg, rio. of Ed. Meconnel." General Office, No. 48 Church St., next P. O. Building, On April 17, 1730, Hempstead noted "Willm Kelly died of a consumption," Box 602 NEW HAVEN, CONN. and the next day , Hempstead wrote U1")o'108 nUURS. B A. M. '0 a 1'. M., "",1 7 to 10 1'. M. that he attended Kelly's funeral. On Jan. 21,1748, Hempstead wrote of the With his home base in Ansonia and offices in New Haven, Pittsburgh funeral of another Kelly: "Elizabeth and Washington, inventor and attorney Andrew O'Neill was a busy Kelly, ye wife of Ben Kelly, was bur­ man indeed as indicated by his advertisement in the 1885 New Haven ied." And on May 20, 1752, he noted County Directory. that he had purchased two pair ofgrind stones from Captain Kelley for eight pounds. On July 7, 1732, Hempstead attend­ New society president outlines her plans ed court where a case was being heard Continued from page / necticut's Irish people published in which an Indian named Sam was shop sponsored by the council as by our society. charged with stealing from "Stephen your representative and will write Connecticut Irish Festival: Cosley, an Irishman." a proposal for a grant Again this year , we will partici­ Wolfe Tone; Joel Wasserman, an Irish bibliography and operate a bakery in Falmouth, Va., near book; Jim and Betty Dinnan, an im m igration record. Fredericksburg. When the Union army was driven MATCHING GIFTS - Thanks to the generosity of members and of the out of the Fredericksburg area, Root Southern New England Telephone Co., we have received $400. Gifts of$1 00 removed his bakery to Arlington by Thomas P. Roche and Raymond J. Donahue were matched by the Heights, near Washington. telephone company. As is the case with all memorials and gifts, the funds are being used to publish The Shanachie, give small honorariums to those who His military service was cut short present workshops at our meetings, prepare exhibits for the Connecticut when he contracted malaria and had to Irish festival and conduct other programs. return to New Haven. WISH LIST - Some things we need: copier and paper, paper cutter, slide Eventually the immigrant baker re­ projector and screen, file cabinets, computer paper and discs, microphone, gained his health and returned to New office supplies, all kinds of Irish history books. We are designated a non­ York City where he ran a bakery at profit corporation and all gifts are tax deductible. l49th Street and 4th Avenue in the Harlem section. He then came back to New Haven and joined his son , Freder­ IRISH-AMERICAN HISTORICAL SOCIETY ick, in a bakery on Grand Avenue. P.O. Box 120-020 East Haven, Connecticut 06512 Root was married to Sarah Jones, a native of Virginia whom he met while "We have kept faith with the past; we have handed a tradition to the she was living in Connecticut. The future." Padraic Pearse Roots had four children: Sarah, Freder­ ick, Ellen and Florence. President: Jeanne Hickey, 58 Florence Ave., New Haven 06512. 468­ In later life. Root was troubled with 0426. heart disease and he died at his home at Vice President: George Waldron, 69 Pardee St., New Haven 06513. 857 Grand Ave. on Aug. II, 1893. after 468-6948. suffering a "paralytic shock which ren­ . Secretary: Betty Gubicza, 126 Geneva Terrace, Fairfield 06430. 255­ 1343. dered him unconscious." Treasurer: Michael Lynch, 171 East Grand Ave., New Haven 06513. (New Haven Daily Morning Journal 467-5307. and Courier, Saturday. Aug. (2, 1893.) Membership: $10 individual, $15 family. Send name and address and checks made out to Irish-American Historical Society to Box 120-020, Editor's note: In recognition of the East Haven, CT 06512. bond between our bistoricel society and Shanachie Editor: Neil Hogan, 26 Crestview Terrace, Wallingford the other societies in the Ethnic History 06492. 269-9154. Center and to foster appreciation for all (The Shanachie: In Ireland, a shanachie is a folklorist, storyteller and ethnic groups, we print in each issue of keeper of the people's traditions.) our newsletter at least one story about another ethnic group. Volume II, Number 4 Irish-American Historical Society July-August 1990

Iri h woman lawyer pleaded harp case In city court

Superior ou rt in I ' ~ \\ Ha ven was lagher had purchased her harp and crowded on Ja n. 20. 1903. with lawvcrs. Fra nk Tipaldi of ew York ity, who cit y an d county fficials. Yale law" stu­ had bee n. reported the Register. "a harp dents: fI minists a nJ curiosity-seekers, repairer since he was 9 years a ld." a ll 0 1 who m had co me to see and hear Lydecke r tes tified tha t the harp had two Irish women. origina lly cost $500. but that the no r­ O ne o f t he wo me n was Susan mal improvement in tone d ue to agi ng O' cill, the first female lawve r ever to had ad ded a nothe r $ \0 0 to its value. argue a ca e in a New Haven co urt ­ Both wit nesses test ified tha t in its pre­ room. The o the r was the plaintiff in the sent conditio n the harp was worth case. the wcll-kno vn m usic teacher an d scarcelv $50. musician. My ra Loui se Ga llagher. O' ei ll asked the co urt to award her Att esting to the nu m be r of ci ty clie nt $ 1.000 including the cost of the lawyers ob erving the cas . the Register ins trument and the losses in reve nue com men ted. " Laymen in need of legal suffered by Gallagher who was force d advice po sibly had far t seek this to ancel concerts and lessons a ter the morn ing as a large proportion of the harp was damaged. "Miss O' cill, un­ local bar was assemb led in the Su perior terrified by the stares a nd whi spe red ourt , following with interest and ap­ comme nts. quietly read the pleadings ," prehen sion the inroad ' of wo men into said the Register. its chosen fi eld." Rep resenting the exp ress compa ny. Fittingly, the q uestion at issue in the firm of O'Neill and O'Nei ll. sued the attorney Edmund Zacher d id not co n­ case be fore J udge ilas A. Robinson Adams Express o. for damages. he test the company 's liabi lity in the case, was typicall y Irish: a harp. told the court that the gilt on the harp but arg ued that the harp co uld be re­ The harp , whic belonged 10 Gal­ had been knocked off, the pedals stuck, paired for $ 100. lagher. had bee n damaged in December the sounding board cracked a nd the After hearing the testimony. the j ury 1900 hile bei ng shipped fro m New neck broken while in the care of the fou nd in favor of Gallagher. bu t award­ Haven to Middletown , wh -re Gallagher express company. ed her only $ 150 plus court cos ts. was to give a concert, As witnesses. O'Neill called Peter J. (Ne w Haven Register a nd New Haven n beha lf of ia llag he r, a ttorney Lydecker of Paterson, N.J .. a n em ploy­ Morning Journa l and ouricr, Jan. 20­ . eill, a member of the Waterbury ee of the company from which Gal­ 22. 1903.) Thousands came to New Haven for O'Connell centennial

Few Irishmen toad as high in the birth of the man known as "The Libera­ It was one of the largest Irish events estee m of their couni rv mcn a. Daniel tor" wa celebrated on Aug . 6. 1875. in the history of the state. " At least O'Connell, who 10 the early 191h centu­ tho usa nds of immmigrant Irish fro m three thousand men were in line:' re­ ry led the successful ight to restore ba­ throughout onnecticut gathered in po rte d the Da ily Mo rning Jo urn al a nd sic ci vil rights 10 Irish a tholics. ew Haven to honor his memory with Co urier, "representing devotion to the When the 100lh a nniversary of the a parade. name of O'Connell in nearly e ery sec­ tion of the sta te, a nd ban ners bearing inscription s and paintings in honor of Pic ures, artifacts needed for census exhibit the grea t agi tator. a nd flags. both the Sta rs and Stripes and the flag of Erin. As part of the New Haven Ethnic Heritage Ce nt er, th e Irish-American float ed gaily in the August breeze fr rn Historical So ciety is going to participate in the exhibit In honor of the vario us po ints in th processi n. whi le 200t h anniversary of the U.S. Census. ma ny res idences a nd sto res' responsive Th e exhibit will begin in September in c onn ection with the grand em blems waved as the long lin mo ved re o pening of the renovated New Haven Public LIb ra ry downtown. by. We are looking for photographs, documents and artif ac ts ha vin g to do " From a ll parts of the line ba nds of with Irish im migran ts to use in this exhib it . We want photographs of m usic gave additio nal life and sp irit to immigrant o n board ship or at Ellis Island or with luggage - the type of the occasion. and the sidewa lks in the pict ure that clearly marks them as Im migrants. And we want ship passen­ ce nter were lined with thous: nd , gath­ ger li s s, shIp tickets, visas, letters written to those back home, etc . ered wit h ne common impulse t pay We will rephotograph all Items so that the owners do not have to part ho mage to the mem o ry of the eloque nt wi t h t he original pictures or documents. cha m pion of freedom and of the G recn Anyone who can help us out please c ontact Nell Ho gan, 269-9154. Please tum to page 2 Page 2 O'Connell centennial drew thousands to city

Continued from page I , hrec], \ Second Reglmenl Band of New Haven. 21 P;''CCS. Charles Schreck. leader. Isle of the Sea. dea r to their hearts. l hird Div ision. A,O.t1.. New H:I'el1. 140 memo bers; Prcsr dent T .J. Delevan; Vice President John "The steamer Laura brought a heavy Ross: Recordin Secretary Patrick MeDe rmol1: Fi· load of passengers from Bridgeport and nan cia l Secretary Denni s Lucy : Treasurer Michael the City of Lawrence another from Mah er. Norw ich and New London, while hun­ St. Franc is Band , Fa" Haven. 10 pieces . Fourth Division. ....0.11 .. New Haven, '10 me m dreds more came by the Air Line, Hart­ be rs: President John Kinner: VIce Pres ident Terrence ford. Canal and Derby railroads. until Cla ncey: Recording Secretary Michael MIlligan: Fl' the streets at ten o'clock resounded na ncia l Secre ta ry Patri ck Rogers; Treasurer James with the mus ic of bra ss ban ds, the rattle Cook. Douglass Band. Seymou r. III rncccs. MIchael Har­ of drums and hundreds of Hibernians n s, leader. dressed in black suits and wearing the -lli h Divivron. ,-\.0 .1-1 .. New Haven, 150 mem­ ~~ Hibernian black hat with green leath er ber s: President Willran Brennan: V ice Pres ident and the regalia of their O rder were Morgan Mea ny: Recording Secretary James McCor· rmck: Finan cial Sec rcta rv James Tracv, Treas ure r 11.1 ,. marching through the streets to the chael Maroonv • Born on the 4th of July point of rendezv ous." Finl DIVI;lIlI1. ,\. 0. 11 .. Ansoma. 30 members ; One of New Hav cn's Irish cop was The parade stepped off from the President Jo seph Murphy; VICc Presrdcnt Thomas F tru ly a Yankee Doodle Dan dy. His Green onto Chapel Street at I p.rn., led Lean : Recording Secretary Mich acl Cr()W~ Financial Sec retary Michael Ha yes ; Ireasurer Peter Larkin, name was Bicey Beegan and he was by Chief Marshal P.F. Lyons of Meri­ SI,th DI\·l>Ion. A.O .I t., New Haven. 30 members: born in Ireland on the 4th ofJuly, 1836. den and Assistant Marshals Pat rick F. President John J. "',em.ln ; VICe Pre Ident l iehael Beegan immigrated to Massachu­ K iernan of New Haven and P.J. Wnnn: Recording Sec reta ry Darnel ( arroll; Financial setts as a young ma n and worked as a O'Connor of Norwi ch. Secretary M ich ael Doherty; Trea su rer W ill iam Wn nn. steamboat hand on the Mississippi Riv­ The New Haven Register listed the Fla hert y's Band. Walerbun'. -"3 pieces , Shc ndan er before coming 10 New Haven. He following units am ong those in the line Hahcrtv . leader worked a few yea rs in tannard's iron of march: FlrSl Drviston. A.O. I I.. Walerbu '). 125 members: foundry in New Ha ven and joined the Fairfield Count. -\nd -nt Order " f Hibernians Di­ President Michael Rcil lv: VICC Pres ident Dennis KII· rector Ja me W halle). mounted . d UIT: Recording Secretarv Ja mes Maher: Financial city police force on 0 c. 4, 1874 Augustine Band . Hndgcpori, -"0 pieces. Jo hn Secretary Jame s Ca rriga n. Treasurer Michael Daley Beegan died on May 14. 1900. after a W hile leade r First O" 'I' ''lIl "' nCle nl O nder uf Hibcr­ Bra nford Co rne t 8: nd . 16 pieces. George Ter ­ long illne s. He left two daughter. Mrs. nian s. Hndgcport. 180 mem bers. Preside nt John hanc, leader. John W. King and Mrs. John Regan. Scrcy, Vice Prcsidcru Jurnc H. Q ui!',I,'Y: Record rng Firsl DIVISion. A.n.H.. Branford. 4S members: Secrerarv Jo hn . Malone: Finan 'a l Secre ta') Jo seph President Darnel O 'Bncn: Vice Pres iden t Ed ward and thre sons. John. Lawrence and Wood, : Treasurer h <'h"c1 Osbo rn . . Rice: Recordi ng Secrela') Wil liam Farrell; Fmancial Thomas Beegan, all 0 whom were in First Divisron . A.O.H.. Danbury, 40 membe rs: Secretary M it' b a el Kenn y . Trca: ur er John the plumbing busines . President Wi lliam Costello; Vice Preside nt Da niel McDermott. O' Manlcy: Record ing Secretary PT Mattigan: Finan­ Firsl Divisron . A.O H.. Mount Ca rm el. 10 mcm­ cral Sec re ta ry, D.T. "'kl arthy: Treasurer Co rnelius bcrs: Presrdcnt Mi.-had Farre ll: Vicc President Fran­ Ukrainian convention Deloughry. Cl5 Ea rly: Recording . x retarv Patrick Maher: Finan, More than 500 Connecticut Ukra ini­ Hart ford CUUn l) D ir ec to r Maru n Conway. cia l Secretary C h a r l e ~ Nich ols. Trea surer Patrick mounted. Nolan. ans traveled 10 Ansonia on Sunday. 51. Peter's ba nd . Hartfo rd . .:!O pieces. Cha rles M id,lle s,", (ollnl y Drrect ur Owen J o yce . Nov . 3. 19_9, to form a sta tewide Challing. di rector, mo unted. organization. F'rs t Di vision. .O. H.. Hart ford. 140 me m bers: Do uglas Corm' l Band. Mrddlctown , 20 pieces. J I' Presi de nt Patrick Da lev; Vice President John M . Lar­ Sta rk , leader. The con ention was called to order krn, Recording Secreta ry Dennis Graves: Fina nc ia l Fim Di vision. ....O .H .. M idd let own, 75 members: by Wasyl Kalyna of the Anso n ia ecretar y Patrick La ughli n: Treasu rer W ill ia m President J.I'. Nolan: Vice Presid ent Thomas KIIl­ League of Ameri an Citizens of McG urke. sella: Recor d ing Sec retary T. C 'Brien. Financial Sec­ Ukrainian Descent. . Maruschak of cw Britain 'Temperance Band. .:!O pieces, w u. retary T. Dwyer: Treasurer John Ha zel ton. lia m Bowma n. leade r. First Div ision. A () H . Port land: 50 members: New Haven was elected president of Firsl D ivision. " .0 .11.. New Brilain. I! O mem ­ Presid en t Jo hn Bransf ield. Vice PreSident Pal nrk "'l­ the state organization: M. Dolhey of bers : Pr<'sident Mic hael O 'Co nn ell: Vice Pres ide nt ley; Record ing Secrclary Peter Meagher: FinanCIal Ncw Haven. secretary; A. Meres hchak Ja mes SlOrey. Reco rd ing s.:cf<' ta ry Phil lip Rya n; .,­ Sccrctar; Thomas Galligan; Trea5urer Danid Mull en . of Ansonia, finan cial secretary; and D na ncial Sec retary James s..·anlan: Trea sure r Oa ruel Lllehlield ('ount ) niH'ct or John lIiggi n, . Bysch of Bndgeport. treasurer. lXma hu<·. mounted. c'w Have n . o unlry Dif<'clrdlllg Secrela') James oogan; "Oppression has failed to uproOl the First D "· I ~ lO n . o\.O .H.. Meridc n. ':1 5 mc m b...,s; Fina nc ial Senelar; J. O 'Connor; Trea~ur er J . O·Hea. spirit of independence: ' he said . " West­ Presld cnl P."tn ck llarlen: Vice President John Kee· Firs t DiVISion. A.O.H.. NorwICh . 4S mcmhcrs; em Ukraine lives and struggles with a ga n; R<'Cordlng See rela') MIchael I.ubby. Fina nCIa l President 1'.W Pral\ ; V,c<' Presidenl I~Jln ek ol;ln : Secreta ry MIch ael Do hertv: Trea slln:r Joh n Cla ncey. I{ecord ing Secretary John F /-o1oran: maneia l Secrc· live hope in her heart that the day is not First DIVision . A.O.H :. Walli ngford . 50 mcmbe':;. 1;lry P."trick Kelly : Treasurer P.T Murphy. far when he will be free agai n and uni t­ Pres ide nt Thomas Ken ned y: Vice Pres ide nt J am c ~ 'Irsl DI\'lSlon. " .O.H .. Jewell Ci ty. 25 mcmbers: ed with othcr Ukrainian provinces into K<'nned y: Rl"t'o rd ing Secretary. Jo hn J. Myers : Fin an · Presidenl Palnck Doolan; Vice "n"ldent James Mul­ ne undivided Ukramian republic." ei a l Seere la r y. Marsha ll Fecle y: Treasurer M. le n: Rc<:ordmg Seerelar;' Jeremiab Sulltvan; Financial O 'C ali . han . Senelar)' Jo hn weeney: Trea su n'r Daniel F,nn, Ediror's note: In recognition of the St Patrick's T. A.lI. Band o f Ne w Ha ve n. 21 Fi"t )iv;sion . •\ 0 .11.. Occum . 35 me mb...,,: bond between our historical society and pieces . John Lyon. Itade r, Presidenl Henri Camg.:m; Vice PreSident I'a lrick the other socictic ' in the Ethnic Ht.'ri­ Second D iv i~i on . A.O .H .. New Ha ven. 140 mem · Reed: Record.ng S<.'C relary ' John C. 113l1son . maneial bers; Pfl'Sidenl Daniel Ca hi ll; Vice Presid ent William Sec retarv J . Fit7sllnmons: lrcasuH'r James lIurlcy. tage Center and to foster 81?preciation Costiga n: Rccording Seere lary J oh n M I aughlin : fi ­ for all ethnic group. we pnnt In each na ncial See n' la r; William Higgi",; Treasure r Jam es (Ne w Ha vl.'n Register, New Ha ve n Mo rn ing Jour­ issue ofour newsletter at least one stOT} Ca m pion. nal and Co urier. AuS- 7. 1875 .) about another ethnic group. Page 3 Gaelic League envoy spoke of importance of Irish language

The resurgence of Irish nationalism "And in those days Ireland spoke back again to their old position. darker in the early years of the 20th century her own language. And so well did she and more scowling than ever, and there was in large measure an achievement of succeed through its use in all the arts is very little of the light of former days an organization known as the Gaelic and sciences, in enlightenment and in that they have not completely shut out League. Christianity, that her scholars and mis­ from the Irish skies .. . Founded in July 1893. the League sionaries traversed the ignorant, babar­ "On many occasions during the long played a leading role in reviving the ous nations of the Europe of the Dark years of Ireland's thralldom. she has Irish language. in rekindling pride in all Ages to spread the light that only shone sent out envoys to foreign land s to ap­ things Irish and in laying the cultural from the Emerald Isle in the western peal for aid ofone kind or other. At one foundation for the political movement seas in those medieval days. time, they were sent to Rom e, at anoth­ which succeeded in freeing Ireland "But, my friends, Ireland was not er to the sunny lands of Spain or of from British rule. destined to live in the happiness of dis­ France and very often their appeals On April 24, 1914. a representative tinct nationhood for all lime. The light were generously responded to ' " of the League . Thomas Ashe, visited of learning and distinction which had "The Gaelic League. in the name of New Haven to give a lecture on the burned bright was fated to grow dim Ireland and in the cause of language League goal and programs and to ap­ and perhaps to disappear. and nationality, sends out envoys to peal to the city' and state's Irish-Amer­ her friends in this country. We are not icans for support. "In the 12th century, a Cloud came sen t to the chivalrous French or to the Local Irish societies represented at up from the astern horizon and looked generous Spanish. We are sent to you. the meeting included the Emmet Club. lowering and dismal in the distance. It sons and daughters of Ireland. I have Wolfe Tone Club. Henry Gratton lub, was a small cloud at first, but, as the already experienced your hospitality Auxiliaries 12. 16 and 45 of the Ancient years rolled by. it gathered strength and and your generosity and Ireland may Order of Hibernian. Kcrryrnen's Asso­ thickness by degrees and slowly it rest assured that my appeal to you will ciation and eight city divisions of the threatened to shut out the light of our not be made in vain ." A.O.H. greatne s and to stifle and smother the Those attending the lecture agreed to ..It is not necessary in a country free national life of our people. form a committee comprising two rep­ from foreign influence to explain the "Sometimes a strong wind blew resentatives from every Irish society in value of a national language." Ashe be­ again t it and cleared the atmosphere the city to raise funds for the Gaeli c gan. "There i no ociety for the preser­ for a while. but then there followed a League . M.F. McGann was chosen trca­ vation of the rench language in calm and these foreign clouds came surer of the committee. France. nor of Spanish in Spain nor of German in Germany. nor in any Family history'------,­ country where a free people exist . _. "There was a time when Ireland and the Irish language stood in a similar NOGGINS - From an cient position. Foreignism worked none of times, a common ani fact in the its sini ter influences n the nationality Irish home was the wooden nog­ of Ireland. gin used as a cup for drinking "Her people obeyed no laws save milk or eating porridge. Noggins those that emanated from her own hi ­ were constructed of oak staves torie capital on ancient Tara. They with one stave projecting above looked nowhere abroad the four shores the others to be used as a handle. of their own country for anything that The staves and the base of the could be found within them . Ireland in noggin were held together by a a word was self-supporting, elf-con­ thin band of ash wood joined by teredo self-sufficient. interlocking tongues. Noggins were made by skilled craftsmen Real estate offering known as noggin weavers. ("Irish Folk Ways," by E. Estyn lhe following advertisement ap­ Evans) peared in the onnecticut Journal, pub­ lished in New Haven . on Aug. 13, 1800: COUNTY DOWN NAMES - Following is a list of some Irish surnames which "Half of a very convenient House to have roots in County Down: MacGennis, O'Donlevy, DeBurgo, DeCourcy, let, situated on the Green. opposite the Delacy. MacCartan. O'Neill, Savage, MacRory, O'Garvey, 0'Hcogh y, Episcopal hurch, consisting of a spa ­ O'Hoey. O'Kelly. O'Lawry, O'Moore, Aud ley, Copeland, Fitzsimon, Jordan. cious cool, airy kitchen, with an oven, a MacGilmore, MacGowan, Mandeville, Martell. O'Colgan, O'Coltaran, front room on the arne floor. calculat­ O'Connell. O'Corrnac, O'Florry, O'Hanvey, O'Largnan, O'Lawlor, O'Lon­ ed for a store or retailing shop. two gan . O'Loughnan. O'Lynch. O'Macken, O'Mahan, O'Moran, O'Regan. commodiou. rooms on the second O'Rooney, Lcf'ocr, Riddell, Russell, myth. Staunton. White. floor. besid es a good garret with a glass window, lit for a lodging place for BOOKSHELF - An excellent new book for those searching for their Irish boarders. a complete cellar in two divi­ ancestors is "Irish Records: ources for Family & Local History," by James ions, floor d , a fireplace in each room G . Ryan. The author has written chapters on each county in Ireland listing cellar and garret excepted. For further myriad 'ources for research. In addition to the usual sources uch as pansh particulars. enquire of the proprietor. record , he provides frequently overlooked sources like the names and dates Terrence O'Brien. now re iding in said of newspapers which can contain valuable clues in familv research and the house." names. addresse and telephone numbers of organizations devoted t local A research project for some enter­ and family history. The book ca n be obtained for $34.95 from Ancestry prising member: Who was Terrence Publishing 0., P.O . Box 476. Salt Lake ity, Utah 84110. O'Brien? Page 4 Hartford Irishman was state's foremost dance instructor An Irishman named P H arva rd Street. on Tuesday, Oct. 3, 186 5. The Reilly wa Con nectic ut's fo re most quarter consists of 24 lessons. Terms ­ dance instructor during the secon d half Payable half in advance , young ladies, of the 19th century. at 3 p.rn., $12: m isses and masters, 4 Reill y was born "in Hartford around 1/2 p. m .. $10: gentlemen. 7 p.m., $12. 1845. In the 1860s. he es tablished Reil­ Private Ie ons, Ist lesson. $3; 10 les­ ly's Dancing Academy in th e Harbison sons, $15; 12 lessons , $20. building at Main and Sheldon st ree ts in "The following are my teach ings and that city. class instru ctions lor the public and pri­ Described as a man "of fine per .onal vate ball rooms and I pledge to my appearance and a graceful dancer," pupils that all the enumera ted dances Reilly "soon built up an en ia ble repu­ will be introduced during the term of24 tation" as a dance instructor. lessons: rudiments and posi tions in An item In the Hartford ouran t of dancing: the bow a nd courtsy ; descrip­ Oct. 25. 1869. stated. " Pro fe sor P.ll. port. Springfield and even New York lion of the first et or plain Q uadrille Reill y, the po pula r teacher of da ncing. ity, Conducting classes d uring the fall and all its combinations; the latest and is not only meet ing With fine success at and wmtcr m onths. he spent the tourist most fashionable Quadrilles. as the his beautiful acadcrn in th is cuv. but season serving as da nce Instructor t Lanciers. Calidonias, Morse Guards, has flourish ing sch ools In Wat erbu ry, such fash te nable resorts as Newport, Princess Eugenic; Royal Horse G ua rd Middletown. M -ride n and New Brita in. fU .. .md Saratoga, N. Y. Lancers; Prince Imperial. The people of those places may b as­ n advertise men t In Ihe Bridgeport "Revolving dances are also taught. sured thai as a n inst ru ctor In the an of Evening Standard o f Se pt. 21 . 1865, de­ among whi ch are the Pol ka . Schot­ dancing. Professor Reilly ha s no u peri­ scribes lu las > : "P.H. Re illy. teacher tiachc, Galepade, -m era ld a. Danish or in Connecticut. He adopts the mod­ of dancmg and quadrille prompter , will Dance. Polka Redowa, Varsovienna, .rn chool and is th orou ghly up with open during the coming cason dancing Polka Masourka. Plain Waltz, Redowa the limes." academ ics a t Hart ford, Ne w Haven and Waltz, along with a number of other Reill y later expa nded his net work of Bridgeport . The class lo r Bridgeport dances 100 numerous to mention. For schools to include Nev Haven . Bridge- will open at La fa yette Hall. Main further particulars. address P.H . Reill y, New Haven Post Office." Recitals by Reilly's students became Briefly noted important social events in Connecticut CONNECTICUT IRISH FESTIVAL - Ma rk Sa turday. Ju ne 30. and Sunday, cities. On May 5. 1882, th e Hartford July I. n your ca lenda r for the an n ua: onnccticut Ir ish Festi val at Yale Courant reported. " The an n ual recep­ Field in cw Ha ven . Ho urs arc Sa turday from noon 10 10:30 p.m. and tion of the dancing classes of Professor Sunday from 9 a .m . 108 p.m . O ur ocicty will have an exhibit in th e cultural Reilly was held held at the First Regi­ tent and a table whe re people can sign up for membershi p. A · u ual. the ment Armory last evening. and was festival will feature Irish m usic , da ncing. arts and crafts, 10 d and dnnk and largely attended by the frie nds and par­ an Irish hopping village . ents of the scholars. "The music was furnished by the J UNE MEETING - O ur June: meeting will be on Tuesday, June 26. at 7:30 Gennania Band of Bos to n a nd was o f p.m. at the Gael ic lub. Pla n. will be fi na lized for o ur pa rti ci pation 10 the an artistic order. For a ha lf hour previ­ annual onnccucut Irish est iva l at "ale Field We will nee d people to ous to the first dancing number on the attend our exhibit for several hour " at a urn c during the fcsuva l. programme. the band played attractive WELCOME - ur new members include Denise ROll O• .la mes K. Bradley. concert elections. ug me Fappiano. iertru de T. Hines. Hugh and Josannc Kli ne . Joh n and "There was no fancy danci ng. as Mary Roche. James 11. iullrvan. usual. at Professor Rei lly's reception, but pupils and friends joined in the gen­ eral programme. The re were a hundred IRISH-AMERICAN HISTORICAL SOCIETY couples in the pupil's promenade, a ma­ P.O. Box 12 0-020 jority being masters and litt le misses, East Haven, Connecticut 06512 some of them very d imi nutive . The programme ofeig hteen dances included "We have kept faith with the past; we have handed a tradition to the the favorite Reilly lanciers which has fu ture." Padraic Pearse been d a n ced a t a ra toga several seasons. PI' sident: Jeanne Hickey, 58 Florence Ave .. New Haven 06512. 468­ "The present has been Mr. Reilly's 0426 . most successful year in Hartford and Vice President: George Waldron, 69 Pardee St., New Haven 06513. the ea e and finis'h shown by the you ng 468-6 9 4 8 . ladies and gentlemen as they executed Secretary: Betty Gubicza, 126 Geneva Te rrace, Fairfield 06430. 255· the variou movements of the dances 13 43. last evening were substa ntia l evidence Treasurer: Michael Lynch, 171 East Grand Ave ., New Haven 06513. of the care taken in their instruction." 467·5307. Around 1900. Reilly was forced to Membership: $10 individual, $15 family. Send name and address and give up his dance classes becau se o f checks made out to Irish-American Histor ical Society to Box 120-020. declining health and eventually he re­ East Haven, CT 06512. tired t a farm in Lexington. Ky., where Shanachie Editor: Neil Hogan, 26 Cre stview Terrace, Wallingford he died Jan. 31, 1905. 06492. 269-9154. (Hartford Courant, Oct. 25, 1869, (The Shanachie: In Ireland, a shanachie i a fo lklo ris t, storyteller and May 5, 1882 . Feb . 4, 1905; Bridgeport keeper of the people's tradltlcns.) Evening Standard, Sept. 21 . 1865.) Volume II, Number 5 Irish-American Historical Society September-October 1990

If a group of Connecticut Irishmen against the violence and public clamor Five delegates each from Bridgeport, had their way back around the tum of grew so great that President Theodore Hartford, New London, Ansonia, Wal­ the century, the major autumn sport in Roosevelt summoned the top collegiate lingford, Meriden and New Britain at­ the state's high schools today might be coaches in the nation to the White tended the meeting along with 25 repre­ Gaelic football. House and demanded that reforms be sentatives from five New Haven Gaelic At that time , there was considerable made in the game. football teams : the Sarsfields, the Hi­ public concern about the violence of At a meeting in Emmet Hall, 739 bernians, the O'Connells, the Sham American football. Punching, scratch­ Chapel St., in New Haven just after rocks and the Young Irelands. ing, biting and kicking were an accepted Christmas 1909, the Gaelic Athletic As­ The delegates received numerous ap­ part of the game and each year the list sociation of Connecticut proclaimed plications for membership and heard of athletes maimed and even killed that the answer to the violence of reports about the growing enthusiasm grew longer. American football was to switch to the for Gaelic football throughout the state. Clergymen and educators railed Irish version of the game. After the meeting, Walter Crawford Jr., a Hartford resident who was presi­ dent of the association, told a reporter, Sometime patriot died defending New Haven "It is the intention of the association to On the list of 22 men who died de­ it was voted, "To appoint Joel Elderkin introduce Gaelic football into the pub­ fending New Haven against the British and Nath Wales jun, Esq., to examine lic schools and high schools throughout invasion in July 1779 is the name of into the truth of a representation that the state. John Kennedy. Capt. Kennedy of a ship loaded out "The game is not halfas rough as the Little has come down to us about from New York with wheat, bound to American game of football and it is Kennedy , who likely was an Irishman. France, is manned with captives and much more scientific and better for the The few records that do exist suggest prisoners taken by privateers and that players. A man must be an athlete to that he was a reluctant patriot who died said Captain Kennedy is of a suspected play the game in its entirety. We know in the revolutionary cause after earlier character and it is supposed that said what we are talking about and we in­ getting into trouble with the patriots. ship and cargo will in all probability fall tend to play the game before the public Kennedy's name, if indeed it is the into the hands of the enemy. Said El­ and have them decide on its merits and same Kennedy, appears in October, derkin and Wales to take such affida­ see what they think of it." 1771 , in the records of Connecticut vits and other evidence as they think Crawford continued, "There are when the colonial legislature voted "to proper and material, and make reports very few accidents in Gaelic football. It establish John Kennedy to be Ensign of to the Governor and Council of Safety is a greater game for physical develop­ the second company or trainband in the with all convenient speed." ment than the American game. We are town of Groton." Kennedy seems to have satisfied the going to play the game in a number of When the Revolution began, Kenne­ officials of his patriotism for at another different cities. dy, a seaman by profession, apparently meeting of the council and governor "The number of teams in the associ­ fell under immediate suspicion of har­ just three weeks later, on Dec. 6, 1776, ation is constantly increasing and the boring loyalist sentiments. it was resolved: sentiment of the people seems to be On Nov. 15, 1776, at a meeting of "There being a large fleet of men of growing in favor of it. the governor and the Council of Safety, Please turn to page 4 Please turn to page 3 Page 2 Doctor from County Tyrone became legend in Norwich One of the most renowned Irish dOC­ "During the smallpox epidemic in when his team defeated the team of Dr tors in Connecticut was Patrick Cassidy 1883 at Norwich. he vaccinated over a Witter Kinney Tingley in a 13-mile ra~ of Norwich. thousand persons within a few weeks. between New London and Norwich. Dr. Cassidy was born Feb. 22. 1839. "~o~ the cures by Dr. Cassidy. In 1917. Cassidy went to Europe to in Annaloughan, County Tyrone. a descnbed m the New York Medical Re­ recuperate from a severe illness and cousin of John Hughes who later be­ cord. one ofthe most remarkable is that when he returned he was greeted, "by a came archbishop of New York. In 1852. of a severe X"ray injury of a well- pu~lic procession of men, women and Cassidy's parents came to America and known physician who is still living and children. headed by a band and with settled in Pawtucket, R.I. active." torch bearers. which escorted him to his After studying in Canada. Cassidy The Irish doctor was a member of home where welcoming addresses were returned to Rhode Island where he the Norwich and Connecticut medical ' ~ad~ by promment residents of the served an internship with Dr. Clark, a societies and in 1870.was elected a fel­ Cl~Hartford Courant, June 19 1921) noted physician and surgeon. He com­ low of the state society. In 1892. he • pleted further medical studies at the represented the New London County medical college in Albany. N.Y.• and at Medical Society at the centennial meet­ Greek Club offered the University of Vermont, where he ing of the Connecticut Medical Society ' graduated in June 1865. in New Haven. cooking 'from home Shortly thereafter. he began a medi­ At one time in his career. he was cal practice in Norwich that was to span surgeon general on the staff of the state In early 1915, New Haven's Greek more than half a century. governor. residents banded together to rent meet­ In 1921. when Cassidy was 82 and ing rooms in a building on Temple still practicing, the Hartford Courant Cassidy was also active in civic af­ Street near Crown Street. commented. "He is credited with hav­ fairs. being a founder of the Norwich The Greek Club, as it came to be ing performed almost every operation Board of Trade. a promoter of the known. soon attracted more than 150 that would fall to the lot of a surgeon Broadway Theater in Norwich. a long­ members and became a center ofactivi­ and has often been called in consulta­ time member of the Norwich Board of ty for the city's Greek community. tion in various parts of Connecticut Education and a prime mover in locat­ One of the functions of the club. ac­ and in neighboring states by other ing the state hospital in Norwich. cording to an article in the Register on practitioners. The doctor also was an ardent horse­ Sept. 19, 1915, was to provide Greek "For over 30 years. his list of birth man and loved to race his horses at the cuisine to the immigrants. returns has averaged from 150 to 175 Norwich Fair and on the Thames River "The United States," said the Regis­ each year and he is now ,hearing the when it froze over in the winter. ter, "is a beef eating nation, but this to first cry ofthe third generation in some On March 25. 1898. he was the win­ the Greek is decidedly untasteful. He families. ner of a famous sleigh race on the river desires lamb three times a day and sev­ en days in each week and it must be Tolland County AOH auxiliary held convention absolutely fresh ... At his club he gets lamb cooked in various manners just as The Irish World for Nov . 25, 1916 "The report of the Credentials Com­ often as he desires and what is more he contained this item under Connecticut mittee, consisting of Miss Nellie Maher gets it freshly killed. news: of Rockville and Miss Alice Murray of "Then agam the Greek craves plenty "The Tolland County Convention of Stafford Springs, showed eighteen dele­ of salt in his food and is also fond of the Ladies' Auxiliary to the Ancient Or­ gates present. tomatoes cooked with whatever he eats. der of Hibernians was held in Rockville "The following officers were elected The Greek cheese he cannot procure in a week ago. The convention was called for the ensuing term: County President, the ordinary restaurant, as it must be to order by Miss Neilie Maher, presi­ Miss Elizabeth Reed of Rockville; imported from Greece and there would dent of the Rockville Auxiliary. Miss County Vice President, Miss Alice be no call for it except for Greeks. Here Maher introduced Miss Elizabeth Reed, Murray of Stafford Springs; County the club gratifies him, procuring the the county president, who took charge Secretary, Miss Julia O'Keefe of Rock­ cheese from the' old country. Fried of the convention. ville; County Treasurer, Mrs. Rose squash cut up in pieces an inch or so "Following a prayer by the Rev. Scheuy of Rockville; County Chaplain, long and half an inch wide is a delicacy M.H. May, pastor of St. Bernard's the Rev. M.H . May of Rockville; Board which cannot be procured elsewhere. Church and the county chaplain of the of Directors, Miss Nellie Maher, Rock­ "Accordingly, the Greeks who do auxiliary, the report ofthe county presi­ ville, chairman; Anna Cascardon, Staf­ not have their families here eat at the dent showed that the order had gained ford Springs; Nellie Reed, Rockville; club and get everything that they were 55 members during the last term. Bessie Roach , Stafford Springs; " accustomed to on the other side, ,cooked in the proper manner and after­ ward all he needs is a pipe. This too is a strictly Greek affair - a water pipe . .. CREEPIE - In Ireland, the word "creepie" "After such a meal and the finishing refers to a stool often found by the hearth in Y6i".S pipe the Greek is again transported cottages. The creepie has three legs to give it home and is happy." firm footing on uneven floors. It was built Editors note: In recognition of the low to the gound so that it could be brought bond between our historical society and in close to the warmth of the fire, while at the the other societies in the Ethnic Heri­ same time keeping its occupant's head out of tage Center and to foster appreciation the peat smoke. lOr all ethnic groups, we print in each issue ofour newsleuerat least one story 8l!out another ethnic group. Page 3 Marble, Cars put blacksmith out of business AT E I. Y difcoven-d by the Sub(eriber, (Mr. I'L !'l,ck.clro~) at New-MilforJ, in this St;UI.", "cry inle Jnrcno~. if not equal to the Iml iun, ill (]CX)t!­ Oral history is history as told by nds and y.nel): of COIOll" : he opened the ~arry those who lived it. at grc:lt hx.pcncc. and has procured the ben EIlr:lr~':ln . Today, the usual way to gather oral .~:lt \Vorkmc." In Brunch. Th.c Curious a ud T.dlv ~story ~ay be Im~~dl:1[ely (orr.lied with the f('l!lowing 1\1:_ IS to tape record the recollec­ ',~l('s. \'1;: l'ornb-Tables double or ling-Ie. with or nons of older people. Even when pe0­ ~vllhour.11II'" : Head-Stones (rom 18 1nehes ~i h ple died long before the era of the tape .~ fiX Fect ; Hearths, Mantle .Preces , and J::J.m~' ~rder, ~Ide- ~ables [or the Parlour or Dining.Room, )0: however, it is sometimes pos­ lifhed In the b.elt Manner : 1)ru~gin, Monarslo( Sible to recapture their actual words if any common Size, or any other Mauer Or 1 1hin in ~ot their voices, in diaries, letters'or the Marble, may ~c Iud :lot. the OlClrtcll Nerice, ~lIJ (•.hhough Labour" cxcccdinp J\igh in this Countr),) interviews. ),,-4Ai.-'-: will come much cheaper than rhe i.nponcd. - ~- ,,"" ~- . Su~h is the case with a July 1922 - Samples 10 be [ecn at Capt. Robert Faircl ild' ':'_ ~--.: ',' .::", J and Mr. Abel Duel's. in New-Haven. • 11 5 mterview done by the Hartford Cour­ Run-away from [aid guarry the ant Sunday Magazine with one of the "I have shod as-many as 20 horses in ~rJi'e area's old-time blacksmiths James P 6,h inn. Andrew McDonagh, and Thomas Sullivan. ,. one ~ay. That was a winter when we both fione cutters by trade, rrrt ives of Ireland : d. a~u nad ICy roads and the horses wore thin hove I.he brogue o( that country in thei r (peeeh, . ~e Courant reporter found Sullivan areadifted llTOn;:liquor. McDonagh is a flout the caulks on their shoes and had to be '0 10 fellow, about five rC'~t ten inches high, ted Olon hair , his shop repairing a tractor and re­ t;ho~ghts 'sharped.' again so they wouldn't skid. and a (car :J.:cro.fs hi,:'! red nofc, he is an indented fcr­ corded his on the passing of Some winter days I have been at work ~lInt.-,?r:llge IS :J. tmJII fellow, about five feet two the blacksmithing trade and some bits .nchcs high. anu talks very when in li­ here from 5 in the morning until II 'deliberate of.family history too. It's the next best quor. had on a London brown fecond qu .t lily double o'clock at night with hardly a chance to b~eaned broadcloth coot, (m.1I oval buttons plated thing to actually being able to interview w~th eat. , gold. ofivc colour'd velvet jacket and breeches, ~Iacksmith wnh ouut)n! the fame fort as on the coar , an old bca­ the" and get him on tape: "One ofthe reasons I decided to give a~ut v~r or caflor hal. cockr up. and wis afiigneu in {Cf4 I m trn:ough. I have given up up horseshoeing was because I had in­ vice ... All pcr(on' ore forbid·ro employ [aid (ervants horseshoeing entirely. I started in this :l.t .thelr.penl. ~hocYcr returns' 'them to the rub~ creasing difficulty getting help. The o~d shop, let me it was when I was a Jfcnhc~ rn New-Milford ; fh:lIl" receive tlJru nDllars see, boys don't want to become blacksmiths for.MeDonal:h andfx ·,Mlars· (or Cr'ige. and .nll kid of about 16 or 17. nowadays. Well enough in Longfellow's rea(onabIe chorges from "The shop was built 60 years ago for . . ANGUS NICKELSON. dayperhaps, but today instead of per­ Ne\y-Mil(or~, Nov. 10, '78+. Ed'!1und Blackman, a blacksmith who o~nally spmng under a 'spreading chestnut tree' had his shop where the Meth­ the young fellow prefers a job in a ga­ odist While It I. generally accepted Church now stands. He moved to rage patching inner tubes or draining that IrI.h labore,. built many of Waterbury, then returned to Vernon crank. cases. I can't get a helper or ap­ and built this shop. the nation'. canal. and rail­ prentice so what's the use?" road., thl. advertlHment.how. "I became his apprentice. It was On the wall of Sullivan's shop was ~t that IrI.h workmen were ..bor­ thought a thing in those days to be an old poster for a circus. "That post­ Ing In American long before the a blacksmith s apprentice, and I felt er," he said, "makes me think of the era of the canalboat and the pretty smart when I first took hold the ClfCUS that came through here when I train. The ad appeared In the old-fashioned bellows handle and blew was a lad. They didn't call them circus­ up the fire for Mr. Blackman ConnecUcut Journal, publ..hed ho~ th~se es ~ose days. They called them mena­ In New Haven, on Dec. 22, 1784. "We worked long days, genes. fro~ early mornmg until late at night. "My father, Patrick Sullivan owned John and Patrick, two of my broth­ that big house you see on the ~rner by ers were also blacksmiths. It seemed to the trolley station. It was a tavern then Gaelic football run in the family. We were all big, hus­ and stagecoaches used to always stop ky fellows. John had a shop in Man­ from 1 on }he:l;f way to Bc;>ston or Hartford. Continued page chester, and Patrick had his shop in This menagerie stopped at our Windsorville. Both of them are dead house and gave a gala performance in "It is an individual game as well as a now. front. There was a big crowd and it was team one, for every man is a part of the "After I learned my trade I bought one of the events of the whole year game, and if one of them is out. it puts Mr. Blackman's business, sh~p and all kind~ Upstairs in the tavern they used to hold the ~e off till he returns just as a and settled down. I have had all lances ... machine would be out a little if one of of horses brought here to the shed ha~d~ "My father died in May 1895 at the Its parts are taken out, . "One big sorrel that stood 17 age of I00. He was said at the time to '~ of the best teams in the state high, kicked me cleat through the door be the oldest man in Tolland County. are gomg to tour the state and play in !ofthis shop one day. ~bout three years He was born in Armagh, County Kerry, the different cities before the board of ago, I was badly strained. A fractious Irela~d, March 23, 1805, 12 years after education and have them decide upon Ihorse tried to get the best ofme. But for Washington closed his term of presi­ the merits ofthe game.j: . the most part I have managed to come lency of the United States. Despite the enthusiasm of the Irish­ through with even the most vicious ani­ "None of my sons has indicated the men, however, Connecticut residents mals, unhurt, although I have had slightest desire to follow blacksmithing. remained loyal to the homegrown many close shaves. George IS the oldest of my children. ~ brand offootball and this autumn as in .. never shod oxen. That requires a Then com~ Mabel, Elsie, Evelyn, Clar­ the years since then state fims will turn I ~ apparatus called a rack. The ox ence, Hams and Marjorie. out to watch bifh- school and college IS hoisted onto the arrangement and the "Well, perhaps it is all for the best, I foot to be shod tied to a timber, as they ,teams play Amencan, rather than Gael­ l ~e autos myself in spite of the way ic, football carry an awful wallop in their powerful things have gone. There's mine in the (New Haven Journal-Courier, Dec legs and are apt to cripple a man if he garage. Wouldn't trade it for all the 27, 1909) . isn't careful in handling them. horses in the world either." Page 4 Briefly notedl- - - ....,..------. Reluctant ·hero killed WELCOME - Our new members include Joseph and Mary Bray, Patricia Continued from page 1 Borecki Mrs. Francis O. Cunningham, Art and Annette Corey, Nancy war and transports at anchor a little to Duffy, ihe Fox family, J. Philip Gallagher, Sister Anne Virginie Grimes, the westward of N. London harbour Patricia Hayden, James Hennessy, Roman (Ray) and Mary Hezzey, Patnck and their design not being known, it J. and Carol Hosey, Joseph P. Kelly, Shaun M. Kelly Sr., James W. Kelly, was determined to be a prudent step to Colleen Kissane, Michael and Sheila Laverty, Dr. M. Kathleen McGrory, remove the continental and colonial John and Joan Moriarty, Edward and Barbara C. Revay, Bob and Gen property at N. London up to Norwich Smith. ­ and also to take a quantity of wheat on board a ship in New London, com­ REMINDER - If you forgot to renew your membership, please do so quickly. manded by Capt. Kennedy for public We need all the members we can get to continue expanding our programs. use ... and removing the said wheat to the mills to be floured and the conti­ MEMORIAL - In loving memory of Helen (Nellie) Fox requested by the Fox nental and colonial ships stores etc. to family who have donated audio-visual equipment to our society. the places of the greatest safety that can be up Norwich River and to secure the DONATIONS - We thank Shaun M. Kelly Sr., James Reardon and family, same as well as they can ..." Edward and Barbara Revay for monetary gifts; John Boyle for St. Patrick's In August 1777, Kennedy got him­ Day parade items for our exhibit; Johnny Moran for pictures, tapes, histori­ self in trouble again when he and Rob­ cal data and books. ert Atkinson accepted, according to their own affidavit , an offer of "a large FESTIVAL EXHIBIT - Thanks to many members, our exhibit was again a sum of money to assist in transporting feature at the Connecticut Irish Festival in New Haven on June 30 and July over to the enemy on Long Island one 1, and at the Glastonbury Irish Festival later in the summer. Those who Geo. Smith of Middletown." helped included: Ed and Kay Ahern, Ann Boyle, John Boyle, Jim Condron, Jim Dinnan, Ray Donahue, Marguerite Flannery, Con Healy, Pat Heslin, For that offense, the two were hauled Norman Hickey, Neil Hogan, Mike Lynch, Eva Madigan, Johnny Moran, up before Superior Court, convicted Art Reinhart, Tom and Noreen Slater, George Waldron and Kathy Wynne. and sentenced "to be imprisoned twelve months and pay ten pounds ORAL HISTORY PROJECT - On Saturday, Sept. 8, Professor John Suther­ money . .." They were transported to land will give a workshop for interviewers who will work on our Irish oral Norwich jail to serve out their history project and the oral history projects of the Afro-American, Italian, sentences. Jewish and Ukrainian societies. The workshop will be at the Gaelic Club, The prisoners were in jail only a Venice Place, East Haven, from I to 4 p.m. month when they petitioned the legisla­ ture to be released. Listing their home ETHNIC HERITAGE CENTER - A request for assistance to hire a part-time as New Haven, they pointed out that director, to lease office space and to conduct several programs was submitted they had no money with which to pay to the New Haven Foundation on July 27 by the Ethnic Heritage Center. their fines. In their defense, they argued that ITALIAN NEWSLETTER - The Italian-American Historical Society of "having both of them at different times Greater New Haven has just published the first issue of its new newsletter, served in the army they hope is some La Storia . The editors are Anne Fraulo and Gene Fappiano. Our congratula­ evidence that they have no inclination tions to the Italian society. to injure the community." They also asked that they be bonded out to "some suitable person" so that they could work off their fines and that IRISH-AMERICAN HISTORICAL SOCIETY they be allowed "to enlist with one of P.O. Box 120-020 the battalions raised for the defense of East Haven, Connecticut 06512 their state or in some other way grant them relief." "We have kept faith with the past; we have handed a tradition to the The legislature did not think their future." Padralc Pearse crime too serious for they were forth­ with released. President: Jeanne Hickey, 58 Florence Ave., New Haven 06512. 468­ Apparently Kennedy, at least, went 0426. to New Haven and fulfilled his promise Vice President: George Waldron, 69 Pardee St., New Haven 06513. by joining one of the militia units that 468-6948. was called out when the British began Secretary: Betty Gublcza, 126 Geneva Terrace, Fairfield 06430. 255­ landing at New Haven in July two years 1343. later. Treasurer: Michael Lynch, 171 East Grand Ave., New Haven 06513. There seems to be no record of 467-5307. whether he fought with the militiamen Membership: $10 Individual, $15 family. Send name and address and who delayed the British advancing to­ checks made out to Irish-American Historical Society to Box 120-020, ward the city from West Haven or with East Haven, CT 06512. those contesting the landing on the East Shanachle Editor: Nell Hogan, 26 Crestview Terrace, Wallingford Shore. 06492. 269-9154. Somewhere in the skirmishing, how­ (The Shanachle: In Ireland, a shanachle Is a folklorist, storyteller and ever, John Kennedy, whatever his earli­ keeper of the people's traditions.) er loyalties, gave his life for his country. Volume II, Number 6 Irish-American Historical Society November-December 1990 Immigrant opened New Haven's first newsstand By Paul R. Keroack Edward also served as a ticket agent By the late I870s. the Downes News Michael Downes , a native of County for several passenger shipping lines as Co. was a partnership between Edward Clare who immigrated to the United well. The advertisements in the city di­ and George M, Downes and James J. States about 1828 and who moved to rectory after 1860 usually listed the ad­ Carr. Apparently because of personal New Ha ven in 1832, is first listed as a dress at 351 Chapel St., as a street re­ business reverses, Edward was forced to "paper carrier" in the 1842-43 New Ha­ numbering that year had given the probate court in 1878 for insolvency. ven city directory. In the few previous Exchange Building shops facing Chapel He had invested heavily in real estate city directories he had been listed as a the numbers 347 to 353, In the 1866-67 and owned a substantial new home on laborer. city directory, Downes claimed to be Whalley Avenue at Punderson Street. As a newspaper vendor, he sold the operating "the leading establishment of the present Winthrop Avenue . (neal and out-of-town papers directly its kind in New England." Please turn to page 4 on the street near the bus y Church and Chapel intersection. A newspaper arti­ cle nearl y a half-century later claimed I that Downes was New Haven's first Ethnic Kaleidoscope' will sparkle at NHCHS news dealer. Downes soon opened a shop in the Our society will participate in Glebe Building at the same corner and "Cultural Kaleidoscope: A View of the 1843-44 directory lists his " news New Havcn 's Cultural Heritage" at office" at 72 Church St. the New Haven Colony Historical He was an active member of the new Soc iety, 114 Wh itn ey Ave., Dec. 7­ Hibernian Societ y and belonged to New 14. Haven's first Catholic parish. Our photographic exh ibit will be Downes died on Sept. 16, 1845 at the on display in the society's ma in au ­ age of 52 of apoplexy, what we toda y ditorium along with displays by oth­ would probably call a stroke, leaving er ethnic groups. his wife, Bridget, and four sons. The The program will open Friday two eldest sons, William, 20, and Ed­ even ing, Dec. 7, with a recepti on ward, 16, who had probabl y been assist­ from 6:30 to 9 p.m. Refreshments ing their father, took over the shop. It will be served and there will be en­ was apparently a thriving business, for tertainment including recitations by Michael left real estate valued at $1,000 one of our members. Charles J. Thursday. Dr. Hcsung Chun Koh, and over $200 in cash . O'Hagan. direct or of the East Rock Institute, In 1848, William entered the book­ On Saturdav and Sunday. Dec. l:\ ­ will speak on " Challenges of Kor­ binding trade, leaving the newsstand 9. various ethnic acriviucs will take cans in New Haven ." solely to Edward. William likely had place from 10 a.rn. to 5 p.I11 .. includ­ On Friday, a program on " Pre­ wider ambitions for on March 17 that ing musi c by Johnny Moran of our ser ving Fam ily Photos and Mcrnora­ year, at the age of 23, he gave the St. society. presentations h\ the Abbcv bilia.' will I'll' presented by Lucinda Patrick' s Day address before the Hiber­ West Theater group' a nd Iri sh Burkpile and Lisa Broberg Qu intana nian Societ y. dancers. of the New Hawn Col onv Historical About 1850, Edward mo ved the Luncheon program s ha n' been SOCi l' IV . . scheduled Mondav through Fridav Thc' week's events also will fca­ newspaper shop a short distance to the On~ Exchange Building, a large, "modern " from noon to I p.rn. Mond ay. turc a bazaar with handcrafted items structure which had been erected at the architect Earl Carlin will discuss, on consignment and children's acti v­ northeast corner of Church and Chapel " Lost New Ha ven.' O n Tucsdav, iuc s, in 1832. His cit y directory listing for the Rev, Samuel Slic. asslKiate pas­ Plans also arc being made \0 1850-51 reads: ".; dealer in books, sta­ tor of the C hurch of Chris t at Yale. move the Ethnic Heritage Center's tionery, American and foreign per iod­ and Sherman Kramer, past president census exhibit from the publ ic li­ icals and newspapers. Ord ers tilled at of the Jewish Historical Socictv. will brarv to the historical socictv lor the short noti ce for theology, med ical. law discuss. " Memories of Oak 'Street Kale idoscope program. ­ and miscellaneous books, at the pub­ and the Hill ." Kale idoscope co-chairwomen arc lishers' prices ." On Wednesday, New Ha vcn Reg­ our President Jeanne Hickc v and Edward probably occupied an open istrar or Vital Statisti cs Michael Carolvn Westerfield. director-elect stall on the street level facing Chapel Lynch, who is our treasurer. will of the' New Haven Colonv Historical Street. His younger brother. George M. speak on "Births, Deaths, Marriages Society. Anyone who wishes to par­ Downes, soon joined him and the busi­ a nd Changing Famil y Paucrns." On ticipate should contact them. ness expanded as they hired carriers to deli vcr papers. Page :2 Doctor discovered high rate of tuberculosis among Irish In 1902, Dr. Louis S. DeForest of Irish-Americans. Together the two he pointed out. "Thus, from our pro­ New Haven did a study that seemed to groups comprised 44 percent of the portions, were the death-rate equal , for show that the city's Irish-Americans deaths of the 2,40 I total. every 100 deaths of Irish-born, we were particularly suscept ible to In cont rast , nat ive-born New Ha­ should expect about 240 deaths of Irish tuberculosis. veners of native-born parents repre­ parentage. But as far as our figures go, The study , ent itled "Tuberculosis as sented 495 deaths or 20 percent of the we get only about 125 deaths. The rate a Local and Contagious Disease in New whole; German-born residents repre­ for the Irish parentage, in spite of the Haven," analyzed reports of that dis­ sented 74 deaths of 3 percent of the high Irish rate , is less than for the na­ ease in the city for a 14-year period whole; German-Americans, 92 deaths, tive class. It would be difficult to ex­ from 1876 to 1890. 3 percent; English-born, 46 deaths, I plain this by the theory of heredity. The doctor, an instructor in clinical percent; English-Americans, 35 deaths, Instead, he suggested that perhaps medicine in the Yale Medical School , I percent; Negroes, 120 deaths, 7 change of climate had some bearing on researched the city's death cert ificates percent. the data: "Change of climate, especially during that period and discovered that "The Irish and Irish-American will from a somewhat warm to a somewhat 3,000 deaths were considered tubercu­ be seen to outrank all others in its tu­ cold one, undoubtedly is more or less lar. "Of this number," he wrote , "381 bercular death rate," DeForest stated, favorable to the development of con­ were not available for our purpose. The "more than the Negro and more than sumption. Thus, the native-born Ne­ rema ining 2,609 deaths were divided double the native." groes in this country, as a whole, have among the various forms of tuberculo­ DeForest discounted the theory 01 only a little higher death rate than the sis: phthsis pulmonum and heamopty­ heredity for the larger number of tuber­ whites; but Negroes born in Africa and sis, 2,401; tubercular meningitis, 95; tu­ transported to foreign countries die in culosis cases among the Irish. "The great numbers from tuberculosis." bercular peritonitis, 4; hydrocephalus, death rate for those of Irish parentage is (New Haven Evening Register, July 61; scrofuia, 44; hip joint disease, 4." very much lower than the Irish-born," 12, 1892) DeForest plotted the deaths on a city map and noted, "It will be seen that there are three principal districts ofcen­ Irish sailors served on good ship Cromwell tralization . First, in the southeastern A number of Irish seamen fought on William Higgins, captain of marines; part of the city, in the neighborhood of Connecticut ships during the Revolu­ Michael Holland, seaman; John Kelley, East, Wallace, Hamilton and Franklin tionary War. Ironically, many of them seaman; Henry Kennedy, coxswain; streets (Irish-American population); served on the state's ship , Oliver Crom­ Charles Kenny, seaman; Thomas Ken­ second, in the western part, in the well, an infamous name in Irish history. ny, seaman; James Lowrey, seaman; neighborhood of lower Oak Street and Timothy Lynch , seaman ; Patrick Congress Avenue (Irish and Irish­ Historian Michael O'Brien compiled McCaud, seaman; Peleg McGuire, the following list of Irishmen from the American population); and third in the seaman. payrolls and from other documents of Hugh McManus, landsman; John northern part, in the region of Eaton the Cromwell: and Webster streets (Negro popula­ McVey , seaman; William Malone, quartermaster; Peter Mollone, seaman; tion). These latter two regions are John Adair, seaman; Edward Bar­ rett, seaman; John Boyle, quartermas­ Michael Moore, seaman; Edward Mor­ somewhat loosley connected by a line ter; Thomas Burke, seaman; John ris, seaman; John Morrison, seaman; of infection running along Day and Or­ Bums, carpenter's mate; Daniel Butler, Frederick Murphy, marine; Timothy chard streets." landsman; William Byrnes, seaman; Murphy, seaman. Breaking down the totals by ethnic Daniel Carr, seaman; John Collins, sea­ Richard Nowlan , seaman; William group, the doctor found the highest rate man ; Patrick Conner, seaman. O'Dell, marine; Felix Quinn, seaman. among the city's Irish residents, whom Thomas Doherty, private of mar­ Nathaniel Riley, sergeant of marines; he broke down into Irish-born and ines; John Dority, seaman; John Dris­ Thomas Rice, mate ; George Rooney, Irish-American. Of 2,40 I deaths from coll, seaman; Philip Driscoll , seaman: seaman; John Slattery, seaman; Nicho­ phthisis pulmonum and haemoptysis, Michael Dwyer, seaman; William Fa­ las Taffe, seaman; Jeremiah Ward, ser­ geant of marines. he found 516 native-born Irish and 470 gan, seaman; Martin Ford, landsman. Of Irish ways The wearing of caps of plaited straw or of woven rushes was one of the folk customs of the celebration of Halloween In Ireland. The day was prI­ marily a commemoratIon of the dead and It was believed that It was a tIme when ghosts and faIrIes were unusu­ ally actIve and the Whole supernatural world was astIr. The wearing of the caps has a modern-day echo In chil­ dren's costumes worn on Halloween. (Irish Folk Ways by E. Estyn Evans) Page 3 Redmond lectured at Hypenon Theater about revolt of 1798 Ov er the years, Connecticut has memory of our great struggle with Eng­ been fortunate to play host to many of land only a little while after America's Ireland's renowned political leaders. In throwing off the yoke to the king is little January 1898 , John E. Redmond, remembered there and I am sorry to known as "the successor to Thomas say less remembered in America. Parnell," visited Connecticut. "The object of the centenary is to On Tuesday, Jan. 18, Redmond, a reawaken the memories of that gallant resident of Waterford and a member of and brave uprising, not only in Ireland, the House of Commons in the British but in the whole world . Its story should Parliament, arrived in- New Haven. It be known wherever freedom is loved or was a singular distinction for the city freedom yearned for. because Redmond, the great champion "We want American's help and sym­ of home rule for Ireland, had visited pathy, and we want a large number of only New York and Boston on his trip . our American Irishmen to revisit Ire­ Redmond's train from Boston was land in July and help us commemorate met at Union Depot by representatives the revolution. Our revolution was in­ of the Wolfe Tone Club, which was spired by America's in 1776, and we sponsoring his lecture that evening at hope Americans, who know what free­ the Hyperion Theater: James Healy, dom is, will help us to keep alive the Frank Foley and John P. Farrell. spirit of both struggles." The Irish guest was driven to the Col. N. G . Osborn, publisher of the Tontine Hotel where a reception was John E. Redmond Register was master of ceremonies at held in his honor and was later a guest the lecture and the audience included at the home of Edward M. Clark for revolution of 1798. Mayor F. B. Farnsworth and a number another reception. "The anniversary comes in Ireland of Yale professors in addition to the That evening, Redmond spoke be­ in July and in every place where battle city's Irish-Americans. fore a crowded theater on the topic , was given for freedom , in every city After the lecture, Redmond was "The Irish Revolution of 1798." He where some resistance was made, the guest of honor at a banquet at the Ton­ told the audience that his purpose in revolution will be commemorated. tine. He left for New York City the next visiting America was not political. In­ "You know how much can be forgot­ day and his return voyage to England stead , he said, "I wish to get a hearing ten in a century. We are a light-hearted for the opening of parliament. for the story of Ireland's fight in the people, wc love our country but the (New Ha ven Register, Jan. 18, 1898) East Rock reminded Civil War vet of Lookout Mountain New Haven's East Rock has been a brush, seated casually on a jet black horse but th is was enough and I was all notable landmark for centuries, but for steed and with the butt of a cigar in his attention in the flash of a second. It was one Irish soldier, the peak that towers mouth came a man who I immediately shortly after this that Grant took charge above the city was a continual reminder recognized from the description and (If the Army of the Potomac ... He was of his Civil War service. pictures I had seen as the great Grant certainly a wonderful leader of men; his James F. Brannigan served through­ himself. How stern and commanding very presence seeming to command the out the war in the 37th New York Regi­ he looked that day and the sight of him best that was in a man. " ment. Recruited in 1861 and at first made such an impression upon me that After the war, Brannigan became the stationed at Washington, the 37th later instead of coming to attention when he janitor at the Oak Street School in New was sent · to the Western theatre of aproached I stood like a rookie with my Haven and also was in charge of the operations. arms resting on the muzzle of my gun soldiers' burial plot at St. Brendan's There in November 1863, it partici­ awkwardly staring at him. General Cemetery. He was active in Henry Mer­ pated in the battles around Chattanoo­ Hooker noticing my unattentive posti­ vin Post, Grand Army of the Republic. ga, Tenn., and in the capture of the tion suddenly started toward me on his (New Haven Register. May 28. 1916) famous Lookout Mountain by Union forces under Gen. Joseph Hooker on Nov . 24 of that year. When he settled in New Haven after the war, Brannigan was taken with the resemblance of East Rock to the fam­ ous Tennessee mountain. He said the New Haven landmark was virtually identical to Lookout Mountain in every detail - from the cliffs leading up to its peak to the stream that flowed around its base. It was at Lookout Mountain that Brannigan also had a chance meeting with Gen. Ulysses S. Grant. "I was on guard duty," he told a reporter years later. "in a country thick with under­ brush when one of the men in our regi­ ment patrolling near me shouted, ' Here comes Grant.' Then out of the under­ F»age 4 Briefly noted Downes ran newsstana ORAL HISTORY - On Sept. 8, the Oral History Project Committee of our Continued from page 1 society hosted an oral history workshop presented by ~r. John Sutherland of His health may also have been de­ Manchester Community College. Sutherland emphasized the need for re­ clining. He sold or transferred his share cording oral histories of grass-roots men and women: Atten?ing.were repre­ of the news company to George, who was now joined in business by his el­ sentatives of our society, the Connecticut Afro-Amencan Historical Society, dest son, Arthur. Edward was able to the Italian-American Historical Society, the Jewish Historical Society of begin a new business shortly afterward Greater New Haven and the Ukrainian-American Historical Society. The down the street at 309 Chapel. The workshop was funded by the Connecticut Humanities Council. Former New Downes Literary Emporium advertised Haven Mayor Frank Logue assisted in preparing the proposal. We now.want that it had "no connection with the to compile a list of Irish people to be interviewed. Anyon~ who.would like to Downes News Co. " be interviewed or anyone who knows someone to be interviewed should Edward Downes died on Dec. 28, contact Jeanne Hickey, 468-0426. 1881 at the age of 52 of malaria: Twice widowed he was survived by hIS third WELCOME - Welcome to our new members: Dorothy E. Kavanagh and wife, Catherine, and eight children. His Richard and Bonnie Waraksa. eldest son, Edward, 21, who had Just graduated with honors form St. Charles College in Maryland, took over .the ~Jt . NEXT MEETING - 27, Tuesday evening, Nov. 7:30 p.m., at the Gaelic Club, erary Emporium in partnership ~Ith Venice Place, East Haven. The program will include a videotape, "John his sister, Mary Bridget, relocating It to Holland and the Fenian Ram." There will also be a business meeting and 829 Chapel St. refreshments. George Downes, owner of the origi­ nal news shop, died on Dec. 9, 1883 of THANK YOU - To Jim and Betty Dinnan, Pat Heslin, Jeanne Hickey, Paul consumption. Not having envisioned a Keroack, Francis Murphy, Tom Slater, Beverly Tabak, Mary Waldron and career in retailing, his son, Edward, George Waldron for items for the census exhibit. To Maureen Delahunt and sold the shop to his cousins, Arthur M. Jeanne Hickey for help at the Irish festival. and Edward J. Downes. Now called E.J. Downes & Co ., the family enterprise was again reunited at the Exchange Census exhibit featured at New Haven library Building, which, due to another street renumbering in 1884, now was 869 Two hundred years of the ethnic using data collected from census re­ Chapel St. history of New Haven is on display turns, traces the arrival of various at the New Haven Free Public Li­ As late as 1890. the newsstand fea­ ethnic and racial groups in New Ha­ tured its regular front cover advertise­ brary, which reopened Nov. 4 after ven since 1790. It includes about 70 ment on the city directory. However. several years of remodeling and photographs and drawings showing after 1892. the business was not listed expansion. New Haven residents of such varied at all. It is unclear whether business As part of the library's reopening ethnic backgrounds as Cape Verde reverses. competition or perhaps a lack festivities, the Ethnic Heritage Cen­ islanders, Lithuanians, Chinese. of interest on the part of the third gen­ ter, of which the Irish-American His­ Koreans and French-Canadians. torical Society is a member, is spon­ eration of owners was the cause of its soring an exhibit entitled, "The In all, stories and pictures about demise. Both Arthur M. and Edward J. Actual Enumeration: New Haven more than 25 ethnic groups are fea­ Downes remained in New Haven for a and the U.S. Census 1790-1990." tured in the exhibit which is located number of years, the former generally employed as a clerk in various stores The exhibit celebrates the 200th in the downstairs reading room at anniversary of the U.S. census and, the library. and firms; the latter generally as an in­ surance agent. Edward Jr. entered Yale Law School IRISH:'AMERICAN HISTORICAL SOCIETY in 1884. Not the first in the family to do P.O. Box 120-020 so , he followed his brother Alfred M.. East Haven, Connecticut 06512 his uncle William and William's son. Michael E. in that profession. "We have kept faith with the past; we have handed a tradition to the future." Padralc Pearse William, who had briefly run the newsstand. earned his degree later in life, having already embarked on a ca­ President: Jeanne Hickey, 58 Florence Ave., New Haven 06512. 468­ 0426. reer in politics and been elected city Vice President: George Waldron, 69 Pardee St., New Haven 06513. clerk in 1859. 468-6948. Edward was elected city clerk in Secretary: Betty Gublcza, 126 Geneva Terrace, Fairfield 06430. 255­ 1888 and later studied for the priest­ 1343. hood and was ordained in 1900. He Treasurer: Michael Lynch, 171 East Grand Ave., New Haven 06513. ended his career as pastor of Our Lady 467-5307. of Mount Carmel parish in Hamden. Membership: $10 IndiVidual, $15 family. Send name and address and dying in 1921. checks made out to Irish-American Historical Society to Box 120-020, (Paul R. Keroack is a member of the East Haven, CT 06512. Irish-American Historical Society. Shanachle Editor: Nell Hogan, 26 Crestview Terrace, Wallingford Most of the material for this article is '0649 2. 269-9154. taken from the Dana Collection, Vol­ (The Shanachle: In Ireland, a shanachle Is a folklorist, storyteller and ume 72, page 55, through the courtesy keeper of the people's traditions.) of the New Haven Colony Historical Society.)