References
| Ireland |
Thomas Connors was born 1 Jan 1841 in Portarlington, Queens County/Laoise the son of Michael Connors and Margaret Maher. He was the youngest of their 4 children, the others being Mary Anne b.4 Jan 1833, Michael b.13 Sept 1835 and Margaret b.3 Oct 1839.
Thomas emigrated to New York on the ship SWITZERLAND, arriving 15 Mar 1859. His brother Michael, who had, on 27 July 1859, married Jane Dempsey in Portarlington, followed Thomas to New York to try to persude Thomas to return home, but Thomas refused. Michael & Jane returned soon afterwards to Portarlington, had a total of 10 children, and lived and died there.
Back in New York, Thomas met Judith/Johanna Bowden, born 2 April 1839 in Ballydoole, Freshford, Co. Kilkenny, daughter of Philip Bowden and Judith/Johanna/Judy Darmody. They married on 15 Sept 1863 at Saint Michael's RC Church, Flushing, Long Island, New York.
Thomas joined the Union Army, New York state Volunteers, and in November 1862 - just 2 months after his marriage - his outfit became involved in the Civil War. On the 1st of July 1863, Thomas was injured at the Battle of Gettysburg and during the night he died from his injuries. He is buried at Gettysburg National Cemetery. His daughter Margaret was born on the 28th of June 1863, in Stratinport, New York, just 3/4 days before Thomas was killed. Tragically, Thomas never knew that he had a daughter, but his brother Michael and his Mother, both in Portarlington, did as they kept up a correspondence with Johanna/Judith and her daughter Margaret for at least 40 years after Thomas's death.
Thomas's sister, Mary Anne Kennedy (nee Connors) is my great-great-grandmother.
| Additional Information | ||
|---|---|---|
| Date of Birth | 1st Jan 1841 | |
| Date of Death | 1st Jul 1863 | |
| Father (First Name/s and Surname) | father ...MICHAEL CONNORS (died ... date unknown, but before Oct 1844 when wife Margaret re-married) mother ... MARGARET MAHER (died 3 June 1888 in Portarlington) | |
