William O'Brien (abt. 1800 - abt. 1855)

Born about 1800 in Ennis, County Clare, Ireland

Son of John O'Brien and Eliza McMahon

Husband of Marcella Burke Browne — married about Jan 1834 in Newgrove Cottage, County Clare, Ireland

Husband of Sarah Grace (Taylor) O'Brien — married 14 Feb 1849 in Athenry, County Galway, Ireland

Died about 1855 at about age 55 in New York, United States

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Biography

In June 1841 - in the midst of the Famine - Marcella and William O’Brien were hired as Master and Matron of the Scariff Workhouse.

Despite losing four of their children to various fatal diseases while at the Workhouse, the couple has been hailed as “Heroes of the Famine” (ANNALS OF THE POOR by Gerard Madden)

Unfortunately, on 19 November 1847, Marcella died from fever caught in “the discharge of her duties”.

When her remains were being removed from the Workhouse, “the cries and lamentations of the poor inmates were loud and heart rendering. She died as she lived - a true Christian.”

After the death of his wife, William tried “to maintain his post ...... in the midst of the devastation, but in May 1848, he vacated his situation.

He married Sarah after his first wife died and they immigrated with his sons to America - leaving one daughter, Attie O'Brien and a son - William McMahon O’Brien - with their Burke-Browne grandmother, Nancy O’Grady Burke-Browne.

Eventually, William was reunited with his father and later volunteered as a soldier in the American Civil War.

Sources

• *Ireland, Catholic Parish Registers, 1655-1915

National Library of Ireland; Dublin, Ireland; Microfilm Number: Microfilm 02471 / 05 First Marriage to Marcella Burke Browne

• Ireland, Select Marriages, 1619-1898

FHL Film Number: 101308 Marriage to Sarah Grace Taylor February 14, 1849 • Loughrea, Ireland at Athendry Church, William O'BRIEN Esq Peafield, co Clare, to Sarah Grace TAYLOR, daughter of the late John TAYLOR, of Mulpit, and niece of the late Lt-Gen TAYLOR of Castle Taylor

• New York, State Census, 1855

New York, New York City, Ward 15, E.D. 4

• A Guide to Irish Fiction 1650-1900 by Rolf Loeber and Magda Loeber,

Publisher : Four Courts Press (October 1, 2006)