O'Connor, Lawrence - O'Connor/Shea Genealogy

Lawrence & Mary Fitzpatrick O'Connor

Lawrence CONNORS was the first born of John and Margaret Connors. He was born in Kilmacomma County Waterford on May 5, 1858. A Baptismal record from St. Mary’s Clonmel Parish, County Tipperary shows a baptismal date of 7 May 1857. Although the 1857 baptism date and the 1858 birth date don’t fit, it’s possible it was a transcription mistake.

When Lawrence was 22 years old, he left Ireland for the United States. He arrived in New York 25 Apr 1882. Later, his brother, Maurice, also emigrated to the United States.

In the United States, Lawrence began working in a Woolen Mill where he became a cloth fuller. A fuller was the person who cleaned and thickened freshly woven cloth, especially wool, in order to remove impurities (grease, dirt, etc.) and make the cloth ready to use. To “full” the cloth meant to clean and thicken it. He resided at 96 Apricot St. in Worcester, Massachusettsand he became a naturalized U.S. citizen on Nov. 18, 1896.

On 8 Aug 1889, Lawrence married Mary A. FITZPATRICK in Leicester, Massachusetts. He was 31 years old and she was 28 years old. Mary was the daughter of Philip and Rose GAFFNEY FITZPATRICK. To learn more about the Fitzpatrick family, click here.

In the early years of their marriage, Mary and Lawrence moved from Apricot Street to 35 Shirley St. in Worcester, Massachusetts where they raised five children. Birth records for all but the youngest child had the O’CONNOR surname. For some reason, the youngest child, Katherine’s birth record had the surname CONNORS:

1. Mary Theresa O’CONNOR b: 04 June 1891 d: 07 April 1975
2. John Thomas O’CONNOR b: 09 Jan 1892 d: 10 May 1940
3. Margaret O’CONNOR b: 16 Jan 1894 d: Feb 1976
4. Philip Joseph O’CONNOR b: 06 Aug 1895 d: 14 Feb 1955
5. Katherine G. CONNORS b: 30 Aug 1897 d: 26 Jan. 1976

In 1910, Lawrence’s brother, Maurice (age 40, single) was also living with Lawrence, Mary and their children. Within 4 yrs or so, Maurice married Delia KELLY and moved out.

Lawrence and Mary’s eldest daughter, Theresa, married John Peter SCOTT and had three children: John Peter, Jr., Mary Elizabeth and Margaret Anne. They lived at 35 Shirley St. in Worcester, MA in the triple decker where Lawrence and Mary also lived. Mary died of a cerebral hemorrhage on Sept. 20, 1929.

After his wife’s death, Lawrence lived with his daughter, Theresa, her family, and his youngest daughter, Katherine. Katherine joined the Parish Visitors of Mary Immaculate order and became Sister Mary Euphrasia. Lawrence died 14 January 1942 at St. Vincent’s Hospital in Worcester, MA.