Tatnuck Cemetery O'Flynn's work

[worcmik]

Everyone,
 I took a look (another look?) at Richard O'Flynn's folio #2 (College of the Holy Cross archives, it has been rebound since I last looked at it, very nice.), specifically his work, with his 14 year-old son, to collect the epitaphs from the Tatnuck Cemetery in 1876. I knew Holy Cross had a copy but I don't think I have ever looked at it until yesterday. Worc. Historical Museum has a chronological copy of the list (I've got a marked-up copy of that), but the Holy Cross list was alphabetical. It was entered in to what had been a blank journal by Richard O'Flynn. As the WHM Tatnuck list by O'Flynn seems to be in a different hand, I am not sure who created it. The Holy Cross Tatnuck transcription pages contain some info that is missing in WHM's chronological list, such as notations on some, only some, that indicate of what the material the marker was made.  They said things like: "wood"; "marble"; "slate." One said: "(note  The epitaph was cut with some sharp pointed instrument, such as a knife or a nail, on a small smooth stone."
    I found a woman that, according to the WHM list, died in 1827 (before Tatnuck was est. 1835). It turns out that she died in 1837. That makes more sense. I found that the two "Yren" children, Franz and Amelia, were actually named "Thren." Patrick Sheehan seems to be Patrick Coleman. O"Flynn noted (just as I had on my WHM copy) that he and Michael Higgins, both of Castletownrock, died on the same day: Jan. 1,1846. They shared a marble marker.
        It is an interesting document. I have a copy, I will make it available for loan to any of you.   John
   

[worcmik]

Patrick Coleman, aged 32, was listed as Patrick Sheehan on the chronological list (WHM). He is one of two men (the other is Michael Higgins aged 52) that were from Castletownrock in County Cork, and died on the same day (Jan. 1 1846).
I looked in the Worc. Weekly Spy for the first weeks of 1846 and found that Mrs. Coleman was escorting her husbands remains to Worc. fro burial when she found out that her father was also killed in the same Railroad accident in Chester. The train she was taking to Worc. was involved in an accident, and her daughter was thrown onto a hot stove, but was not seriously harmed. So the two men were in-laws, and Mrs. Coleman (nee Higgins) buried them at Tatnuck

[worcmik]

more research shows that it was not the same accident, but another that claimed the woman' father. Michael Higgins died in NH.

[merski]

I'm planning to start researching the "where they were from" for the Tatnuck presentations in the Fall.  I thought I'd do maybe six people from different counties.  John, do you have any favorites?  Thought I'd pick John Brosnihan who was from Kerry, but who else?
Perhaps we can get together on a Sat. afternoon at the WPL or at the AOH to see what's transpiring.  Mary Ellen

[worcmik]

Very good, I would like to visit Worc Public Library, Sat. afternoons are fine. This comming or a week from the would be good, (If that seems soon, it's because I would like to discuss you ideas an work, so that I can work on the outline).