Henry O'Brien

found in http://hagen.familyfiles.info/4534.htm

Emigrated Donegal Ireland, 1847 Name: Obrien, Henry Age: 30 Gender: Male Embarkation: Newry Ship: Nelson Village Occupation: immigrant Passengers: 85 Native Country: Ireland Destination: USA Arrival Date: 9 Jun 1851

From Daniel O'Brien: Henry O'Brien came to America from Donegal Ireland, most probably in 1847, the first year of the severe famine. His entire family emigrated with him on the Meg-Lee, leaving the port of Newry on the east coast of Northern Ireland. This could have been the ship's initial point of embarkment ,but the family may have boarded in Donegal. Listed on the ship were Edward O'Brien 40, Catharine 50, Henry 19, Edward 21, Terence 24, John 17, Rose 20 and another John, who may have been a cousin. The birth dates are inexact, but the first names of the family are so similar to Henry's family that the coincidence can not be ignored. In the 1900 census, Henry recalled that he left Ireland in 1847. There is no other Henry listed for that year, except several small children. Henry and his entire family arrived in New York April 20, 1847 and appeared in the 1850 census in Pittsburg, Penn. The first names are changed slightly in the 1850 census, and Henry is listed in another section, not with the family. He was probably "working on the railroad" or in a foundry and living in a barracks for young workers. The name differences may be explained by the use of second names in the census or by inaccuracies on the ship's roster.

Henry next shows up in Ironton in the 1860 census. He is newly married to Hannah Curran and they have one child, Daniel, the first of at least three Daniels from this clan. (I'm # 2 and John Patrick's son is # 3) By the 1870 census the family has grown to six children, with {Catherine to come in 1872.

The O'Brien's owned a home valued at $600 and lived the the Upper Township of Ironton. In 1880, the census has a no record of Hannah nor Katherine. In searching the Probate records, we (Marilyn and I) found her death notice July 13,1876. Katherine, the youngest girl, was not listed on this census and may have been living with a relative, or simply forgotten. The census of 1900 lists Henry, living at 85 North Second Street, Upper Township, Ironton. He is listed as a renter. The home was just about on the Ohio River bank , as Harry O'Brien recorded in his biography. There is now a large flood wall where the home may have stood.Henry died in 1902 at the age of 82 of Blight's disease, which is a type of kidney failure. There is a death notice in the Ironton Register. He was buried from St Lawrence O'Toole Church, probably in Sacred Heart Cemetery, but we could find no record of the cemetery he was buried in, nor a tombstone in Sacred Heart Cemetery. He had lived through famine and poverty (no doubt), had survived the untimely death of his wife, and survived to a ripe old age. He came to Ironton shortly after it was founded and lived there all his life. He was no doubt a strong person.

St. Lawrence Church was built in 1892 and was renovated recently. The Ironton O'Brien's attended the old St. Lawrence Church and School, on the same site. 6th and Center streets, Ironton. Ohio. Marilyn and I walked into the unlocked Church and found it to be a beautiful, clean, and recently painted place ~ with wonderful stained glass windows, donated by many an Irishman, We knelt and "said an Ave there" for the O'Briens of Ironton.

Henry O'Brien and Hanna Curran were married on 10 February, 1857 in St. Patrick's Church, Ptttsburg, Penn. Witnesses were Peter Gallagher and Margarita Ro ?. A dispensation was obtained for consanguinty in the third degree, i.e. they were second cousins. Henry was 36 at the time and Hanna was 24. The Diocese of Pittsburg provided this information.