James C. Connor Will, 1889

James C. Connor signed his will on February 15, 1889, the same day he applied for his passport to go to the Holy Land.  It appears he was getting his "house in order" in anticipation of the trip which was only a week away.

In the name of God Amen. I James C. Connor of the Village of Evanston in the County of Cook and State of Illinois of the age of Forty two years do make and publish and declare this my last will and testament.  I being at the time of the making thereof of sound mind and memory.

First
I give and bequeath to my wife Hannah Connor all the property of every kind nature and description of which I shall die seized, the above including all the real estate, personal property choses in action.  Life insurance and everything I have at the time of my death to be and remain hers in fee simple - absolutely and forever.

Second
I hereby appoint Hannah Connor my said wife, sole executrix of this my last will and testament, and request that no bond shall be required or demanded of her, from any court as such executrix, or for the carrying out of the provisions of this my will.

In witness whereof I have herewith set my hand and seal this 15th day of February in the year of our Lord Eighteen Hundred and Eighty-nine (1889)

(Signed) James C. Connor (Seal)

The above and foregoing instrument consisting of one page was at the date thereof signed, sealed, published and declared by the said James C. Connor as and for his last will and testament in presence of us who at his request and in his presence and in the presence of each other have subscribed our names as witnesses thereto.

Thomas Bates, 330 Maple Ave. Evanston, Ills.
Thomas B. Brougham, 5131 Washington Ave. Hyde Park, Ills.

Dunbrody (Dunbrodie) Famine Ship

On James Charles Connor's 1889 passport application, it states he "emigrated to the United States, sailing on board the 'Dunbrodie' from Queenstown or Liverpool, on or about the 1st day of May 1856."

In New Ross, County Wexford, a replica of the famine ship is anchored.  They even have a Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/dunbrodyfamineship

I have written them to see if they have any information regarding the trans-Atlantic crossings of the ship in 1856.

There is also a webpage for the ship: http://www.dunbrody.com/ 

Images from various Dunbrody websites.

James C. Connor Goes to the Holy Land, 1889

When the 1889 passport for James Charles Connor was applied for, it was requested that the completed passport be sent to Rev. Charles A. Vissani.  Fr. Vassani. O.S.F., was a Franciscan who organized the first Holy Land Pilgrimage from the United States.  James Connor and about 100 others participated in the event.  This article from the New York Times outlines their travels.  Unlike the article in the Industrial Chicago: The Building Interests noted in a previous post, there is no mention of Mr. McCann being a part of the Holy Land Pilgrimage.

James C. Connor, Passport Application, 1889

James C. Connor applied for a passport on February 15, 1889 in anticipation of a European trip.  He was 42 years old and planned to travel with his business associate, Mr. McCann, as mentioned in the write up of his travels noted below.

This passport application states the ship he traveled on coming to America, the "Dunbrodie," embarked from the ports of Queenstown/Liverpool, on or about the first day of May 1856.

Further, he states "I was naturalized as a citizen of the United States before the District Court of the United States at Chicago, Illinois on the first day of November, 1860 as shown by the accompanying Certificate of my Father's Naturalization; that I am the son of James Conners, the identical person described in said Certificate and having been 14 years of age at the time of my father's naturalization."


"In 1889 Mr. McCann, accompanied by Mr. James C. Connor, enjoyed a European trip, visiting the Mediterranean, Rome, Naples, Alexandria and Cairo, passing through the Suez canal to the Holy Land, where they spent some time visiting the principal historical spots.  They were with a party of tourists known as the First American Catholic Pilgrimage, and were gone six months.  On his return he visited his native land, passing also through England and Scotland."
Industrial Chicago: The Building Interests, Chicago: The Goodspeed Publishing Company, Vol. 1, 1891, page 746-747.

When the passport application was first viewed, it seemed odd that the "applicant desires passport sent to the following address:" area noted it was to be sent to a priest in New York City.  But, now knowing he was participating in the "First American Catholic Pilgrimage" this accounts for the passport being sent to Rev. Charles A. Vissani, No. 309 52nd St., New York, N.Y. and why it says "please forward at once."

The Pilgrimage group left Hoboken, NJ aboard the ship the Wieland on February 21 and planned to return to the US by the middle of June.  However, the article above states James Connor continued on to Ireland, England and Scotland, so he probably didn't return until at least July.  See the article: Off to the Holy Land: Pilgrims from this Country to Jerusalem, February 17, 1889, New York Times.

With the above information, it is time to find his passenger list and, hopefully, his father's Naturalization papers.  How exciting.

James and Anastasia Connor Bible

Lori Reiss, wife of Chuck Reiss, great, great grandson of James and Anastasia Connor, shared the Connor Bible with me today! 

Marriages -- Page 1.  In the lower right hand corner it reads: "Written by Mary, Aug 13th 1877"

Births - Page 2

Deaths -- Page 3

Miscellaneous -- Page 4

Title Page, Published 1871

What was the occasion for this Bible?  My Theory.........

The first entry on the Family Record page reads:
"Mr. James Connor and Anastasia Colfor was (sic) joined in holy Matrimony By Rev. Fr. Scalyon in the parish of Tagamon (sic), County Wexford, Ireland in the year 1842 Aug 7th"

At the bottom of the first page it reads: "Written by Mary, Aug 13th 1877"

Mary was James and Anastasia's youngest daughter and the date of their wedding and the date the information was provided by Mary in the Bible is almost exactly 35 years apart.  So, my theory is, Mary, or possibly all of James and Anastasia's children, gave the Bible to senior Connors as a 35th anniversary present with Mary providing some historical information on the Marriages, Births and Deaths pages.

It seems somewhat unlikely that James and Anastasia would purchase a bible and have it embossed in gold with their names at this point in their lives.  However, it seems very reasonable that someone would give them a bible, with their names embossed, as a gift.

Lori Reiss kindly brought the Bible to my home so I could photograph and scan the pages which included genealogical information.  Lori, thank you so much.