Patrick James O'Neil : Short Biography

Patrick James O’Neil was born 30 Jun 1868 in the Parish/Districk of Loughgall, County Armagh, Ireland to Henry O’Neil and his wife Mary (Prunty) O’Neil.  The address on his birth certificate is Gallrock.  Present at the birth was Phoebe Prunty.  Pat O’Neil was baptized in the Roman Catholic Church, 12 Jul 1868, Parish/District of Loughgall, County Armagh, Ireland.  https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/birth_returns/births_1868/03432/2259577.pdf

Patrick’s parents Henry O’Neill, Weaver and Mary Prunty, weaver , both of Gallrock, were married 1 May 1867 in the Roman Catholic Chapel of Maghery by T. McVarry, County of Armagh, SRD, Lurgan, Parish/District, Tartaraghan, Roman Catholic, Ireland.  Henry’s father is listed as Henry’Neill, weaver and Mary’s father is listed as Patrick Prunty, dead. https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/marriage_returns/marriages_1867/11495/8226215.pdf

Henry and Mary O’Neil had a second child Margaret born 18 Dec, baptized 19 Dec 1869.  Sadly Margaret died 22 Dec 1869 in Gallrock, Armagh, Ireland.  Tragedy struck again when Mary Neil died of consumption on 26 Jan 1871 in Gallrock.  Her age is listed as 17 years.  Phoeby Prunty is listed as informant, present at death, Gallrock. https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/birth_returns/births_1869/03376/2237391.pdf https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/deaths_returns/deaths_1871/020787/7291639.pdf

Patrick’s father Henry O’Niel, widower remarries on 25 Jul 1872 to Elizabeth McAnany, spinster, both of Gallrock, in the Parish/Districk of Loughgall Roman Catholic, County of Armagh. They are married in the Roman Catholic chapel of Tartarghan by Rev P Mooney.  Henry’s father is listed as Henry O’Niel, weather and Elizabeth’s father is Daniel also a weaver. https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/marriage_returns/marriages_1872/11312/8150749.pdf

Patrick O’Neill, 4 years old, birth abt. 1869, is listed on the ship Baltic’s passenger list arriving 26 May 1869 at the Port of New York, New York having sailed from Liverpool, England and Queenstown, Ireland. Patrick is accompanied by Henry O’Neill, 26 and Phoebe Prentice, wife, age 56.  Perhaps Phoebe Prentice is Phoebe Prunty Henry’s former Mother-in-law?  Family lore is that Patrick was raised by his paternal grandmother.

Henry and his wife Elizabeth are found in Adams, Massachusetts, USA, 20 Nov 1876  when their daughter Margaret O’Neil is born.  The couple go on to have 5 additional children in Adams, MA.  There is no sign of Patrick living in the US or with Henry and Elizabeth in Adams, MA until the 1887 Adams, MA City Directory lists Henry O’Neil, emp R. Mfg. Co., h 65 Renfrew Blk Columbia, R and two lines down from Henry is Patrick O’Neil, emp R. Mfg. Co,. bds 78 Renfrew blk, Columbia, R.  The 1889 Adams, MA City Directory lists Patrick O’Neil as Removed to Clinton.  Elizabeth (McAnany) O’Neil dies 17 Oct 1911 in Adams, MA and Henry O’Neil dies 23 Dec 1919 in Northampton, MA.

Patrick O’Neil is found in the 1890 Clinton, MA City Directory listed as emp Lancaster Mills bds 6 Green Street.  On 29 April 1890 Patrick O’Niel, age 21, weaver, born in Ireland, parents Henry and Mary marries Winifred Gibbons, no occupation listed, born in Ireland, parents Austin and Kate.  They are married in St. John Catholic Church, Clinton, MA by Rev. D.B. Kennedy.

Patrick James and Winifred (Gibbons) O’Neil live in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and eventually settle in the Norwich, Connecticut area.  The couple have 10 children with 7 living into adult hood.  Patrick works his way up as a textile worker from a laborer, to weaver, and eventually to a loom fixer one of the most skilled jobs in the mill.  Winifred dies 23 Aug 1918 in Norwich, CT and Patrick dies 11 May 1933 living with his daughter Laura in New London, CT.  They were hard working, loving parents who valued education.  Their children were all successful owning their own businesses, working as nurses, and active community members.

Patrick and Winifred O’Neil and a number of their children are buried at St. Joseph’s Catholic Cemetery, Norwich, CT. Find-A-Grave memorial ID 185449424: Patrick J. O'Neil (unknown-1933) - Find a Grave Memorial