BIRTH NAME: Thomas O'Neill
BIRTH: 1832 09 - Rosbercon, Kilkenny, Ireland
FATHER: Morgan Neill b.1810 Kilkenny, Ireland
MOTHER: Mary Carroll
SIBLINGS: John O'Neill b.1835 Kilkenny, Ireland
Patrick O'Neill b.1835 Kilkenny, Ireland
Catharine O'Neill b.1837
Edmond O'Neill b.1842
Laurence O'Neill b.1844
Anne O'Neill b.1846
Margaret O'Neill b.1848 Kilkenny, Ireland
MARRIAGE: date unknown, Canada
SPOUSE: Anna Hannah Donahue b.1835 Ireland
CHILDREN: Mary O'Neill b.1858 Canada
Margaret O'Neill b.1862 Canada or Ohio
John O'Neill b.1864 Huron County, Ohio
Thomas O'Neill b.1866 Huron County, Ohio
Edward O'Neill b.1868 Huron County, Ohio
James A O'Neill b.1869 Huron County, Ohio
Francis D O'Neill b.1875 Huron County, Ohio
Charles P O'Neill b.1873 Huron County, Ohio
Joseph B O'Neill b.1874 Huron County, Ohio
Albert D. O'Neill b.1877 Huron County, Ohio
VOCATION: Railroad worker
MILITARY: none known
RELIGION: Roman Catholic
DEATH: 1905 03 19 Newark, OH
EMIGRATED: 1850 from Ireland to Canada,
1861 from Canada to US [census 1900]
Most of what I will tell you is factual and based on census records and other documentation offered
below. Some is conjectural, weaving the facts into a cohesive history of the man and his life.
His ancient O'Neill ancestors likely came from north lands of what today is called Scandinavia. There may
be mythical persons in the ancient lineages but the fact is that real persons invaded and settled. The
most well known original "O'Neill" is he of the Red Hand - Neil phonetically among English speakers but
more accurately Njal. These seafaring wanderers came across Alba [Scotland] into Dal Riada [Ireland] many
centuries ago. Ua Neil, son of Neil, is believed to be the first of the line. He was ensconced in Antrim,
part of modern Ulster or Northern Ireland in the United Kingdom. The descendants of Ua Neil spread across
the island in ensuing centuries. Some members settled in Rosbercon, Kilkenny, Ireland, which is where Thomas
was born in 1832, according to him in the US census enumerations.
Ireland was struck by a terrible famine in the mid 19th century. Many were driven to seek relief in the
New World of North America. Thomas, at age 18 or 19, made the journey in 1850 [or 1851] through the Port
of New York then traveled overland to either Quebec or Ontario, Canada. The uncertainty is due to his first
child Mary being born in Canada about 1858. There were many Mary O'Neills born in 1858-59 in both Ontario and
Quebec. Some records say he married Anna [Hannah] Donahue in Ireland 1858. If so, they migrated while she was pregnant.
Extensive searches do not turn up anyone with a name like Anna/Hannah Donahue in North America so it is plausible
she was already Anna O'Neill when they arrived. A child named Mary O'Neill was baptized December 2, 1858 in Quebec.
Her parents are listed as Thomas O'Neil and Hannah [illegible] of Quebec. A Mary O'Neill is listed in the
Canadian Genealogical Database born 1859 in York, County, Ontario, Canada. One of these is likely our Mary.
The family remained in Canada until 1861 when they migrated to Peru Township, Huron County, Ohio, based on
various family trees stating their children were born in Huron County. By 2000 they were in
Newark, Licking County, Ohio. Thomas was employed by the railroad, which in Newark is synonymous
with the B&O [Baltimore & Ohio]. The 1890 census being destroyed by fire, I have yet to discover
when Thomas & Anna moved from Huron to Licking County. Thomas and Anna lived in Newark for the
remainder of their lives; he until 1905 and she until 1917.
In 1860, while Thomas & Anna were still in Canada, Thomas's brother Edward emigrated from Ireland
to America, followed in 1861 by his future wife Catherine. In 1864 their brothers John and Patrick
arrived. A year later John's future wife Mary Byrne arrived from Ireland. By 1880 they all were
living in Huron County, Ohio. Many of the men were railroad employees. Census lists and newspaper
reports indicate quite a bit of visiting among the three O'Neill families.
The "Great Potato Famine" in Ireland more or less ended in 1849 so the pressure to get out was
probably not what motivated John and Patrick. More likely were letters going back and forth
concerning life in America and jobs available on the railroad. The agricultural crisis was not confined to Ireland but
rather engulfed Europe for sveral years. Life must have been difficult and opportunities few.
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The ancient clan of O'Neil was founded by Niall Noigiallach in the area known as Antrim.
Whether Niall was of Celtic or Nordic origin is disputable. He was descended from
Conn, as was the founder of the McConnell Clan.
From Canada, Thomas & Anna migrated
to Huron County, Ohio in 1861 where they lived until
1878/9 when the family moved to Newark in Licking County, Ohio.
Thomas was employed by the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad. Perhaps they assigned him to the Newark shops
which necessitated the move.
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Passenger & Census Records
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Author notes: In the US census of 1900 Thomas said he was born
in 1832. That would have made him age 19 in 1851. The New York passenger list fragment above
displays the list header and portion of page 10 showing a 19 year old Thomas O'Neil coming
from Ireland. The list is for arrivals March 3 1851. The 1851 census of Canada shows several
Thomas O'Neills but only one with a birth date near Thomas's 1832 birth. Not certain but very
likely these are his records. Later, in Ohio, it becomes evident that his brother John also
emigrated from Ireland and settled in Huron County, Ohio where Thomas spent his first years
in America from 1861 until some time after 1880 when he moved his family to Newark, Ohio.
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1851 Census of Canada East, Canada West, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia
All Census & Voter Lists Results = 11
Name Home in 1851
(Province, District, Sub-District) Estimated Birth Year & Birthplace
Thomas Oneil Canada East (Quebec), Ottawa County, Hull abt 1831 Ireland
Thomas Oneil Canada East (Quebec), Québec County, Notre Dame abt 1839 Ireland
Thomas Oneil Canada West (Ontario), Carleton County, Fitzroy abt 1814 Tipperary, Ireland
Thomas Oneil Canada West (Ontario), Carleton County, Torbolton abt 1836 Ireland
Thomas Oneill Canada West (Ontario), Northumberland County, Hamilton abt 1827 Ireland
Thomas Oneill Canada West (Ontario), Peel County, Toronto abt 1823 Ireland
Thomas O'Neil Canada West (Ontario), Renfrew County, Horton abt 1797 Carlow, Ireland
Thomas Oneil Canada West (Ontario), Victoria County, Emily abt 1816 Ireland
Thos Oneil Canada West (Ontario), Victoria County, Emily abt 1827 Ireland
Thomas H Oneill Canada West (Ontario), Wellington County, Pilkington abt 1840 Ireland
Thomas O'Neille Canada West (Ontario), Hamilton City, St Andrew abt 1838 Ireland
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Author notes:
Using a wild card search for Tho* O'Nei* born in Ireland yielded only the eleven matches
shown above. The only match close to our Thomas O'Neill is the first on the list by virtue of
the the birth date 1831. Thomas gave his year of birth as 1832 in the 1900 US census.
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Ontario, Canada: Roman Catholic Marriages, 1827-1870
Given Name: Thomas
Surname: O'Neil
Year of Record: 1854
Comments: York County - marriage
Event Description/Source Reference:
Roman Catholic Marriage Registers; Office of the Registrar General (RG 80-27);
Archives of Ontario, Toronto: microfilm group MS 248, reel 21, volume 2
Page #: page 547
A marriage record in 1854 for a Thomas O'Neill in Quebec supports his presence but the online
information does not name the spouse. Searches for Anna or Hannah Donahue in Canada have come
up empty.
Exact Search Results - Quebec Vital and Church Records (Drouin Collection), 1621-1967
You searched for Mar* O'Neil*
All Birth, Marriage & Death Results = 6
Name Event Event Year Place of Worship or Institution Religion
Name: Mary Oneil
Event Year: 1858
Event: Naissance [birth]
Religion: Catholique
Place of Worship or Institution: Québec (Saint Patrick)
Province: Québec (Quebec)
Mary Oneil Naissance 1858 Québec (Saint Patrick) Catholique
Mary Ann Oneil Naissance 1858 Québec (Saint Patrick) Catholique
Mary Christine Oneil Naissance 1858 Québec (Saint Patrick) Catholique
Mary Oneill Naissance 1858 Québec (Saint Patrick) Catholique
Mary Oneill Naissance 1858 Québec (Saint Patrick) Catholique
Mary Jane Emery Oneill Naissance 1858 Lacolle (St-Bernard) Catholique
Thomas and Anna's first child, daughter Mary O'Neill, was supposedly born 1858 in Canada. Of all
the Mary O'Neills found in Canada, the six shown above meet the criteria.
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