Worcester Talk

Genealogy => Worcester Irish Genealogy/History => Topic started by: fivegenirish on February 09, 2011, 07:59:11 AM

Title: Thomas J. Finneran
Post by: fivegenirish on February 09, 2011, 07:59:11 AM
Looking for any Info on Thomas, born Ireland@1855, lived in worcester until 1878 moved to Boston, Married a Annie M. Lyons 1 Aug 1878, daughter of Thomas & Ellen Lyons. Thomas died after 1901. His parents were Peter F. & Catherine Finneran that's all I have .....
Title: Re: Thomas J. Finneran
Post by: merski on February 10, 2011, 04:18:51 AM
5gen- I have  from O'Flynns transcription of stones from St. John's Cemetery
Finneran, Thomas died 1863 Loughmaconnell Roscommon
              John 1804-1864 Roscommon
 

from search for missing friends  Worcester related
Finneran, James   Cloonecalthry Taughmaconnell Roscommon  these are also related to Boston Finnerans!   Patrick & Cecelia kids Patrick James Andrew Ellen

Does any of this ring a bell?
Do you have his death date?  I can try to look it up.... :)

It appears he had a brother John who married Mary Ann Sweeny in 1875 in Worcester.  He was born c. 1854 in irelandson of Peter & Catherine
Title: Re: Thomas J. Finneran
Post by: fivegenirish on February 10, 2011, 07:37:36 AM
merski,
           I have nothing on Thomas.  I knew he was John's brother as John & Mary are my Great Grandparents! I believe most of the Worcester & some of the Boston Finneran's are related... I am trying to make that connection! John Finneran is the one that Capecodcollen told me was hit by the train in Worcester ..and died .... I had his death as a broken rib! I would love to put these guy's together ... both John and Mary's obit's say that Andrew, Patrick, Thomas and Michael among other Finnerans are related they just do not say how! John died in 1901,  Thomas was still alive then.... That'a all I have other than Thomas married Annnie Lyons,
Thanks Fivegen
Title: Re: Thomas J. Finneran
Post by: merski on February 10, 2011, 01:20:50 PM
So, were they all were Taughmaconnell Roscommon?  Have you tried Genforum for the name Finneran?  There were folks connected to Taughmaconnel named finneran passing info to each other.
Title: Re: Thomas J. Finneran
Post by: merski on February 11, 2011, 05:04:34 AM
Are they from Roscommon?  It seems pretty compelling to guess that from what I found...

Just tabulated all of the Fineran deaths in Worcester making note of parents names of any adult Finnerans who were born in Ireland.
Will now do the same for Worcester Marriages since parents are usually given.
There were two pre-famine Finnerans-Hugh and Jane who were born in the 1790's
Since there may have been kin connections when people emigrated into Worcester, there two may have been Uncle and Aunt to all of the young men immigrating there. 

More stuff forthcoming!
Title: Re: Thomas J. Finneran
Post by: merski on February 12, 2011, 12:22:34 PM
John's brother Thomas was a real estate broker in Boston, correct?
His son Thomas A. Finnegan born c.1879 married Agnes Bourke.
He was a civil engineer for the city of Boston.  He also had brothers Fred P. and Francis but I couldn't find out anything about them. 

Found Thomas & Agnes Finneran in the 1930 census.  He is still a civil engineer for the city of Boston  abiding in Boston or West Roxbury
also had kids
Evelyn 22
Thomas B. 18
Pauline C. 16
Edward V. 14
Eleanor 11
Joan 10
Kevin L. 7   Maybe you could do boston city directories to find the boys.   If you want to call and talk, I think we spoke before.  Is your last name O'Leary as I saw something on Genforum with the query about John & Thomas.
Perhaps if you contact the civil engineering dept. of Boston they may have an archive so you can find a death date and burial location to really get you on your way.
Please respond on this board so I know you've seen this.
Title: Re: Thomas J. Finneran
Post by: fivegenirish on February 12, 2011, 02:19:20 PM
Thank you ... this is great ... I'll take your advice and do the Boston checks.... I would love to find were they came from and if there are more of them! Thanks again 5gen
Title: Re: Thomas J. Finneran
Post by: merski on February 12, 2011, 03:11:22 PM
Will check on naturalization tomorrow.  It said he was.  Happy to help!
Title: Re: Thomas J. Finneran
Post by: merski on February 13, 2011, 03:18:57 AM
There is a record for Thomas J. Finneran born Ireland 7 Feb. 1856  residence Boston
USCC Boston record 127-14
nat. date 25 Aug 1880

This may or may not be him.  Check with the National Archives in Waltham to see if they hold these boston records...it's only $7.50 to send for one.

His brother John was not naturalized alas!
Title: Re: Thomas J. Finneran
Post by: merski on February 13, 2011, 04:15:45 AM
OMG 5gen!!! Just saw a 19 sept. 2009 post on the messageboards of ancestry.com by pascie1 about your Finnerans..."Roscommon to Boston".buddy you just won the genealogical lottery!!!  There WERE from Roscommon!!!  You have cousins!!!
I left them a message to look at this board.  Do you know anyone with ancestry.com or can you go to the WPL and use their computer?  This person had a pretty terrific family tree but was missing your great grandfather's brother Thomas in Boston.
PLEASE let me know that you've seen this!  If anyone can cut and paste the message into this messageboard for 5gen, you're a better compuer person than I!
Title: Re: Thomas J. Finneran
Post by: merski on February 13, 2011, 10:27:29 AM
Helen, you're the BEST!!!!
Title: Re: Thomas J. Finneran
Post by: unndunn on February 13, 2011, 01:46:20 PM
Hi Merski,
I joined this site after I saw you mention it on the genealogy.com forum for Finnerans.  I'll write more info a little later tonight, but I've been doing a lot of research on my paternal grandmother's family.  Her name was Katherine Ann Finneran and she was born in Coolfree, Taughmaconnell, Roscommon, Ireland in 1903.  She came to Boston in 1922 with her older sister Della to work.  She told me that she came to the Boston area because that's where a lot of people from her village were working.  Later she and her sister moved to the NYC area and ended up marrying and starting their families in Stamford, CT.  I remain in touch with several of my Irish Finneran cousins from Taughmaconnell.  Together we have been working on filling in the blanks for our family tree.  In our family Bible there is a Thomas Finneran who was my grandmother's grandfather and who was listed as a member of the Irish parliament.  Has anyone found any info that might correspond with that bit of info?  I'll post his info later tonight. 
Thanks
Title: Re: Thomas J. Finneran
Post by: merski on February 13, 2011, 03:05:54 PM
Welcome undunn to this board.  Who were Katherine and Della's parents?  Were they listed in the extensive family tree that Helen downloaded?
Title: Re: Thomas J. Finneran
Post by: merski on February 14, 2011, 08:03:46 AM
1850 census in Worcester Mass.  Finnerans born Ireland 1792-1810
1) James b.c. 1805 wife Bridget 2 children Mary b. Ire. & John b. Mass.  (His parents might have been Patrick & Mary (Fallon)

2) Hugh born c. 1792 (wife's name was Jane) Widower Daughters Mary & Margaret both born in Ireland

3) Michael b.c. 1800 wife Mary & two boys Patrick & John both born in Ireland

4) John b.c. 1810 and wife Catherine (Graham?) and son John born in Mass.

Hugh Michael & John all live within a few households of each other which may indicate kin relations brothers or cousins.

This is the older generation for your Great granddad 5gen, these men could have been uncles!
Title: Re: Thomas J. Finneran
Post by: fivegenirish on February 14, 2011, 03:10:09 PM
I would like to check their sources .... it would be a great find if it is my family .... I am a little leary (no pun intended) of internet genealogy ... lots of people just grap like names and throw them together .... I have been taught to follow the sources check and double check .... but if it is   ...it is the find of my research life!!!!! :) 5gen
Title: Re: Thomas J. Finneran
Post by: merski on February 14, 2011, 03:34:12 PM
Proceed with caution...I hope you get to communicate with this poster and I hope very much that it is true.  I'd feel the same way if I got this material.  You know I'd practically kill to know where My Worcester Dennis O'Connor and his wife Julia Donahue were from in Ireland and their parents' names....
Title: Re: Thomas J. Finneran
Post by: merski on February 15, 2011, 03:04:46 AM
5gen-I would go for the naturalization papers Of Thomas J. Finneran and then also get his obituary or one of his sons' obits.  That would be a great help.
Title: Re: Thomas J. Finneran
Post by: fivegenirish on February 15, 2011, 11:58:05 AM
Thank you all! I will follow up on Thomas ..... :)
Title: Re: Thomas J. Finneran
Post by: fivegenirish on February 15, 2011, 05:04:42 PM
Capecollen .... thank you..... John T Finneran's obit was my Grandmothers nephew........... I have not tied in the others but I will keep digging ....  ;D
Title: Re: Thomas J. Finneran
Post by: merski on February 16, 2011, 01:47:25 AM
Helen, would you mind sending me that obit or posting a link to it here?  Thanks!
Title: Re: Thomas J. Finneran
Post by: merski on February 18, 2011, 04:02:04 PM
5gen, will you let us know what you find?? 
Title: Re: Thomas J. Finneran
Post by: fivegenirish on February 19, 2011, 02:36:09 AM
Will do Mary Ellen! I went to St John's Friday and got more info on the Finnerans buried there ... off to WPL to look up more obits.
see if I can find the tie between them ... lot's to do  ;D
 Jack
Title: Re: Thomas J. Finneran
Post by: merski on March 05, 2011, 07:52:59 AM
Hey 5gen...have you uncovered anything yet????
Title: Re: Thomas J. Finneran
Post by: fivegenirish on March 05, 2011, 07:54:15 PM
 No hard facts yet ... I have been down with that bug so I have not done much researching... I did send for Thomas Finnerans NA papers just yesterday ...wait and see what they may have for me.
5gen
Title: Re: Thomas J. Finneran
Post by: merski on March 06, 2011, 02:17:59 AM
ooooooooh! The waiting is killing me....sorry you weren't well.
Title: Re: Thomas J. Finneran
Post by: fivegenirish on March 25, 2011, 03:30:58 PM
In my mailbox this afternoon was an envelope from the National Archives Center.... enclosed was Thomas's record!  In shrot it stated:  Thomas J. Finneran  of Boston a Teamster, an Alien, and a free white person; that he was born in Roscommon Ireland the seventh day of February 1856 and is now about 24 years; that he arrived at New York on or about the 1st day of May 1870.  On 25 August 1880 Thomas took the oath and was admitted to become a citizen of the United States! So  I am of the Roscommon Finnerans ..... now the next task is  to find the town they cam from! Always more digging ...... I love to find out this info soon ..... I am going to Ireland this summer ... would love to check out the homeland!  ;D
Title: Re: Thomas J. Finneran
Post by: merski on March 26, 2011, 02:52:14 AM
Who were the witnesses?  Great find!  Are you certain that this is your relative?  Does the birth year fit?  I'm very happy for you!  Even if you go to roscommon and know that it was your ancestor's county of origin, the should be enough, though I would check out that Taughmaconnell connection to Worcester Finnerans.
Title: Re: Thomas J. Finneran
Post by: fivegenirish on March 28, 2011, 01:02:47 PM
I am almost 100 % sure this is John's little brother; I had his birth date as June 1856 this paperwork gives his birth as February 1856 ... the two witnesses were  a Peter last name I can't make out and a Thomas J. same thing on his last name unreadable ... Peters looks like Carin ... still working on them! sorry ... Anyone have access to New York Passanger Lists? (1 May1870). I believe Thomas died some time between 1920 &1930. .............I'll keep on digging  :)
Title: Re: Thomas J. Finneran
Post by: fivegenirish on March 29, 2011, 01:42:09 AM
witnesses are peter gavin ...still can not make out thomas's,,,,,,,,,,,, ???
Title: Re: Thomas J. Finneran
Post by: fivegenirish on March 29, 2011, 04:59:43 PM
I found more on Thomas  :) ... He died in April 1917 @ 60 years old ... He was hit by a runaway horse & wagon ... he was a Forester and Tiara has his records ... he was a AOH member! He was a contractor, the head  superintendent of the street watering under Mayor Quincy .. his brother in law was the Assistant Corporation Counsel Joseph P. Lyons.  He leaves his wife  and five children Thomas  an engineer  in the sewer dept., Francis , editor of the Forester  and presidant of the Ward 23 Democratic Club, Ella, Mable and Annette he lived in west roxbury ... taken from the Boston Journal; 21 April 1917. I will send for the Tiara records ... maybe I'll find a  hometown or his Mothers last name ... like I say ...  keep digging! ;D
Title: Re: Thomas J. Finneran
Post by: merski on March 30, 2011, 01:51:43 AM
His death certificate or marriage license may have his mother's maiden name on them.  Did he marry and whom and about when and I'll look it up on NEHGS.  If other siblings married, give me their info in case the maiden name isn't on one.  This would only work for Mass. records.
Title: Re: Thomas J. Finneran
Post by: fivegenirish on March 30, 2011, 05:06:19 PM
He married in Boston, 01 Aug 1878  Annie Lyons daughter of Thomas & Ellen of Watertown, Ma. He died in Boston April 20, 1917.
Title: Re: Thomas J. Finneran
Post by: fivegenirish on April 14, 2011, 07:30:52 AM
The information from the Forester report arrived today ..... not alot of help.... listed his birth place as Ireland,  He did list that his father was dead and his mother was alive and well (age 75) .... he also listed he had six brothers and two sisters, no names only ages and that one of the brothers was dead. (date of this report was 15 Jan 1885).  The death report listed his wife, two son's Thomas & Francis and three daughters Ellen, Annie & Mable were still alive (20 April 1917).  Maybe I should send for the death record from Boston, it may tell me his mother's name and birth place? Would be nice if I could find his obit ... I checked on genealogybank and found nothing.  :(
Title: Re: Thomas J. Finneran
Post by: merski on April 15, 2011, 02:57:21 AM
See if worcester library  has the boston papers from that time on microfilm or go on random acts of genealogical kindness to look up obit at the BPL or contact the BPL directly.
Title: Re: Thomas J. Finneran
Post by: fivegenirish on April 17, 2011, 06:23:27 AM
I checked with both Worcester & Boston libraries ;Worcester's holding of Boston Newspapers only go back to 1960 .... Boston found two death notices one in the Saturday Boston Post & one in the Sunday Globe [they were the same],  but not the obituary .. the notice listed the church where the funeral mass was held, it might have been his parish ... maybe I'll drop them a line to see if they have any info on him or his family.
Title: Re: Thomas J. Finneran
Post by: merski on April 17, 2011, 11:38:42 AM
Perhaps there was an irish catholic newspaper (the Pilot?) that you could ask if the BPL owns.  Worcester had the Messenger...why wouldn't Boston???
Just checked and the Boston Pilot was ressurected in 1909 as the voice of the archdiocese of Boston...don't know if it had obits in it or not...
Also the Irish Echo was a newspaper published in Boston Thanks to brophy genealogy blog
Title: Re: Thomas J. Finneran
Post by: fivegenirish on April 18, 2011, 03:29:44 AM
Thanks for the tip on the Catholic newspapers, I'll give them a look .....