GEOFFREY O'Connell 1760 : Short Biography

Dr. Geoffrey O’Connell circa 1750 – 1760  died  circa  1813 – 1817

Places inhabited -  Hillgrove ( near Cahirciveen)

Caher / Waterville  -  Possible parishes

Married -  Elizabeth Ross circa  1803    -  1804.  Parents of Elizabeth Ross: Hugh and Sarah Cross from Kent.

Events – 3 children were born and baptised at Hillgrove.  Michael 1804, John 1811, Elizabeth Ann 1813

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He had a medical practice in France during the Reign of Terror 1793, mistakenly captured and held in the Bastille but through the intervention of presumably , Count Charles O’Connell and Daniel O’Connell, he was released and returned to Hillgrove, Ireland to his family.  We as South African family presume that he was the brother of Honora O’Connell who was married to John Primrose who owned Hillgrove and was a land agent of Daniel O’Connell. Their son John Primrose and his wife Ricarda occupied the Hillgrove House from 1830 when he became bankrupt. (Photo of house attatched).   Old man Geoffrey O’Connell of Ballybrack Lodge, Waterville born 1728 d 1820 was possibly family, could be Dr. Geoffrey’s uncle. After DR. Geoffrey’s death  his widow remarried a Charles Eager, emigrated to South Africa circa 1819-1820.  We are in possesion of the death certificates of the 3 O’Connell children whereupon their place of their birth are given as Hillgrove,Kerry, Ireland and on the thombstone of his wife Elizabeth here in South Africa the inscription reads “the relict of Dr. Geoffrey O’Connell.

Dr. Geoffrey attended a wedding  at the house of James O’Connor (brother-in-law-of Mary O’Connell, Daniel’s wife) at Dame Street, Dublin on 23rd June 1802.  1792 sponsor at Baptism at St. Audeons, Dublin.  1801 sponsor at Baptism of FITZGIBBON in the St. Andrews Congregational, Dublin.

Marié de Vries  daughter of Margaret O’Connell descendant of Dr. Geoffrey O’Connell.