Hello all, I tried to find a set of rules as to how to use the forum so if I ask for something out of line, please let me know and I apologize in advance.

I have recently started trying to discover more information regarding my family and was very pleased to find a link to this beautiful island. I have been listening to NL music and reading books related for years so finding the link frankly has made my research worth while.

That being said, I have run into a bit of a wall with regards to getting past one couple in my family’s past. It has to do with my great great grandfather William O’Connell, born in Ireland and arrived St. John’s around the middle of the 1800’s. He married Ann(e) Walsh (also seen as Welsh and Welch) of St. John’s. We have found several of the birth certs of their children with the exception of Michael who is my great grandfather, and some speculation has come up that he may not have been naturally born to them as was known to happen in those days. The birth info I have for Michael comes from his naturalization paperwork not a birth cert, and I have seen other DOB’s for him on things like Census’s. The attached picture is of Michael.

Here is what I know so far:

William O’CONNELL, was born at an unknown date, died in 1892 in Harbour Grace .

Noted events in the life of William were:
• Residence: in 1860 in Harbour Grace.
Note: Possibly buried in the Roman Catholic cemetery Cathedral St. Harbour Grace

He married Anne WALSH of St. Johns (†1897) at an unknown date.

Offspring:
1) Nora WELLS, was born in 1863 in St. John’S.
She is the legitimate daughter of William and of Anne, above mentioned.

She married James WELLS (°1862), son of Matthew WELLS and of Theresa HAMILTON, on May 10, 1892 in Portland (Cumberland County). James was 30 and Nora was 29. No children were born to this family.

2) Michael O’CONNELL, Plasterer, was born on October 12, 1866 in St. John’S , died in 1942 aged 75 in Portland (Cumberland County).
He is the legitimate son of William and of Anne, above mentioned.

The following information is also recorded for Michael:
• He is listed as #16
• He can sign.

Noted events in the life of Michael were:
• Immigration: on December 3, 1888 in Portland (Cumberland County) .
• Occupation: on Aug 15, 1892 in Portland (Cumberland County) .
• Census: on June 11, 1900 in Portland (Cumberland County) .
• Naturalization: on February 27, 1901 in Portland (Cumberland County) .

3) Daniel O’CONNELL, Plumber, was born in February 1873 in Harbour Grace, died of Consumption on Aug 30, 1894 aged 21 in Portland (Cumberland County) , was buried two days later in Calvary cemetery in South Portland .
He is the legitimate son of William and of Anne, above mentioned.

4) John P O’CONNELL, Boilermaker, died on November 27, 1898 in Boston , was buried in Portland (Cumberland County).
He is the legitimate son of William and of Anne, above mentioned. He was also buried in Calvary cemetery in South Portland