Hannah O'Sullivan O'Connor of Loughane

Unfortunately, I know very little about Hannah O'Sullivan and less about her family.

Hannah is 5 years old in the 1911 Irish Census so she was likely born about 1906. She is the 4th child from Ellen Leary's second marriage to Michael Sullivan, and the first of their two daughters. 

The census states that Ellen Leary is 45 years old so she was not young when she had Hannah, and she had Bridget when she was about 44.

It is interesting that Hannah and especially Michael are not going to school yet.

Hannah O’Sullivan emigrated from Sneem but where did she go? New Jersey? New York? Boston? I haven't found any immigration records for her yet.

I found a naturalization index for Hannah Mary O'Sullivan at 3945 65th Street in Woodside. She was 29. Date of order of admission was June 20, 1933. The naturalization certificate was issued the same day - June 20, 1933 - by the U.S. District Court at Brooklyn, N.Y. Petition No. 178381. It is signed by Hannah Mary O'Sullivan. Is this our Hannah O'Sullivan?

Hannah eventually married John O’Connor, who was a policeman in New York. 

They had 2 children – Mary Ellen O’Connor and Fr. John O’Connor. 

I found the family listed in the 1940 U.S. Census of the Bronx. They are one of 22 families renting apartments at 1265 Nelson Avenue - so it must have been an apartment building. The O'Connors were paying $45 per month rent.

Thirty-eight year old John O'Connor answered the questions for the census. He reports he is 38, was born in Eire, and attended school through the 6th grade. He is a naturalized citizen. The family was living in the same place in 1935. For the week March 24-30, John worked 48 hours. He has worked as a police officer for the last 52 weeks and made $3000. This was his only income.

John O'Connor reports his wife Hannah is 34 years old. She was also born in Eire and also went through the 6th grade. She is a naturalized citizen. She did not work outside their home.

There is a 5 year gap between young John O'Connor and his sister Mary. John is 6 years old and attending school; Mary is 11 months old. I wonder if there were other children or maybe miscarriages.

It is interesting reading the names of the O'Connor's neighbors. This was not an Irish enclave like we have seen with other relatives. It seems like there are quite a few Jewish names. I wonder where John was going to school?

Below is a picture of 1265 Nelson Avenue - can you see that little purple icon on the left? It looks like an apartment building. 

Nelson Avenue is located in the Highbridge section of the Bronx. Highbridge is an area of about 1 square mile and is very hilly. It acquired its name from High Bridge which was built across the Harlem River by Irish immigrants in 1848. Up to the 1960s the population was mostly Irish and Eastern European Jews.

I found the Sacred Heart School at 1248 Nelson Avenue - not so far from where the O'Sullivans lived. I presume John went to school there. The Sacred Heart Church was located on the next street over - 1253 Shakespeare Avenue.

Looks like the Church was built on a hill.

Not exactly sure who the two on the left are - is the woman in the black coat Aunt Hannah? I am trying to remember - I think someone told me that this was Patsy O'Sullivan on the far left - Uncle Pat's daughter. Then there are Mary Ellen O'Connor, Ma, Hannie Keohane. This picture must have been taken in New York or New Jersey. Looks like they are standing on a sidewalk with buildings and cars in the background.

Would this be Aunt Helen and Aunt Hannah with Uncle Pat O'Sullivan and Ma. This picture seems to have trees and bushes in the background.

Hannie spent a summer in New York with Aunt Hannah when Fr. John was small. I think Ma was in the hospital with TB. My mother went to New Jersey to Uncle Pat, and Peggy and Rita were sent to camp.

I think this might have been the time when Ma put my mother and Hannie on the bus to New York. Aunt Hannah was to meet them when the bus arrived at the station. But there was a cow somewhere on the track and the train was delayed. I guess Aunt Hannah was beside herself over the delay. Remember there were no cell phones in those days. Imagine Aunt Hannah wondering what happened to her two nieces!

Hannie said Aunt Hannah was very fussy about Johnny O’Connor – he was a baby - keeping him clean and polished all the time. His white shoes had no scuffs on them!

Aunt Hannah thought Hannie was very thin and could not believe Hannie was allergic to potatoes. She took Hannie to get a bathing suit. Hannie said Aunt Hannah was very embarrassed when the clerk saw how thin Hannie was.

Uncle John O’Connor took Hannie to the beach and for a walk over the Brooklyn Bridge. She liked him because he was nice to her. But she still wished she was in New Jersey with my mother who was helping Aunt Helen who was going to have another baby. 

Aunt Hannah died May 21, 1965. The memorial card is from Buckley Funeral Home. 

Father John O'Connor was ordained a priest on June 11, 1960.

Father John came for a visit to Watertown in 1994. I drove him, my mother, and Hannnie to JFK’s birthplace in Brookline. We toured the house and walked around the neighborhood. 

Father John would call my mother periodically to stay in touch. He died young and unexpectedly. I think it was Father John who told my mother that his sister Mary Ellen was married but to a man who had problems with alcohol. It sounded like a very difficult life for her. The last I heard was that she was in a nursing home.

So this is it for Hannah O'Sullivan O'Connor.