We’ve got a family album
Like a family tree
A thrill to turn the pages
The pictures we can see
Starting off with grands and greats
Then slowly down the line
Like a book of history
A journey through the time
Fashions start to alter
Mustaches come and go
Ladies skirts skip up and down
A proper fashion show
Top hats change to boaters
To caps then none at all
Ladies bonnets disappear
And so does grannies shawl
Picture’s change to colour
Black and white has gone
A different place, a different time
So much to look upon
But what is so amazing
Is the likeness we can see
Showing up the genes
Right through our family tree
—Olive Walters

Tracing teaghlach roots back through generations can help a person connect more deeply with a sense of self by learning about their family’s past—where they came from, who they were, what they did, the trials they overcame, the accomplishments they achieved, and the leanaí they bore.
Never ever did I think when I started my research journey that I would uncover some of the heart wrenching life stories that I have. That I would discover so much pain, loss, and heartbreak, and that each of their troubles would affect me so emotionally as they have. I am the first to admit I wear my heart on my sleeve and feel deeply, most possibly too deeply, but I never once thought that the pain my ancestors endured would effect me the way they have and continue to do so.
I have shed more tears than I care to admit, my heart aches continuously for their losses but my heart also overflows with love, honour and pride for the beautiful souls whom gave us life and the strength to conquer any battle that has and will be thrown at my family and I.
We come from strength, a beautiful strength that I am beyond proud of and I sincerely hope, my ancestors look down upon me with pride in their hearts and know that my family and I, try our upmost to be as strong as they were. That we face our struggles, with the almighty strength they gave us.

I wish to share with you the life story of one extremely strong lady, My 4th Great-Grandaunt, Mary Connor/O’Connor.
By all accounts, Mary is the definition of strength and I couldn’t be more proud to call her my family.
Even though there are many gaps in her story, especially the early years, the strength she must have conjure up after a horrific event in her life, brings me to my knees. There are no words to express the love and pride I have for her and her husband. Their story has marked my soul and I can not let them be forgotten.

But before I begin, let’s look at her name Mary Connor.

Mary / Marie has long been a popular given name for Irish girls. According to Wolfe, one-quarter of the population of Ireland was christened “Mary” in 1923. 
Mary /ˈmɛəˌri/ is a feminine given name, the English form of the name Maria, which was in turn a Latin form of the Greek name Μαρία, María or Μαριάμ, Mariam, found in the Septuagint and New Testament. The latter reflects the original Hebrew pronunciation of the name מרים (Masoreticpronunciation Miryam), as attested by the Septuagint. The vowel “a” in a closed unaccented syllable later became “i”, as seen in other names such as “Bil’am” (Balaam) and “Shimshon” (Samson).
In Roman Catholic baptisms (traditionally recorded in Latin) the Gaelic name Máire was often recorded as Maria / Mariae or Mariam. 

There are many Mary name variants used throughout history.

Gaelic	Notes	Anglicised
Máire	Old Irish	Mary, Marie, Maura, Mare, Mar
Máire	Modern Irish	Marie, Mari, Moya, Moira, Moyra
Maria	Latin	Mary, Marie, Maria, Miriam, Mariah
Máirín	Little Mary	Maureen, Móirín, Moreen, Minnie, Marina
Muireann	Modern Irish	Mary Anne, Marianna, Mariana, Marion, Marian
Molly	Nickname	Molley, Moll, Mo, Moe, Mally, Mollie, Polly
May	Nickname	Mae, Mia, Mame, Maisie, Maisey, Mamie, Mamsie, Memsie

As for the surname Connor/O’Connor, O’Connor, with its variants Connor, Conner, Connors etc., comes from the Irish Conchobhair, from the personal name Conchobhar, perhaps meaning “lover of hounds” or “wolf-lover”. This was one of the most favoured of early Irish names, and gave rise to the surname in at least five distinct areas, in Connacht (O’Conor Don), in Offaly (O’Conor Faly), in north Clare (O’Conor of Corcomroe), in Keenaght in Co. Derry, and in Kerry (O’Connor Kerry).
The surname Connor was first found in Connacht. There were six different septs of this famous name scattered throughout Ireland, of which four continue to boast many members. However, the most important O’Connors were those of Connacht, divided into three main branches: O’Conor Don; O’Conor Roe; and O’Conor Sligo. 
The Connacht O’Connors were direct descendants of Conchobhar, King of Connacht, who died in 971 AD. Furthermore, this family produced the last two High Kings of Ireland: Turlough O’Connor (1088-1156) and Roderick O’Connor (1116-1196). It was the invasion of Leinster by Roderick O’Conner on behalf of the Prince of West Brefney that caused the King of Leinster, Dermod MacMorough, to flee to England for aid. This resulted in the Strongbow Invasion of 1168, the beginning of English domination over Ireland. 
The O’Connor Kerry were chiefs of a large territory in north Kerry, displaced further northwards by the Norman invasion to the Limerick borders, where they retained much of their power down to the seventeenth century. Today, the descendants of these O’Connors are far and away the most numerous, with the majority of all the many O’Connors in Ireland concentrated in the Kerry/Limerick/Cork area.
Despite remaining stubbornly Catholic, the O’Connor family continued to maintain their elite position among the Irish nobility throughout the entire period of British dominance.

Pronunciation, rather than spelling, guided scribes and church officials when recording names during the Middle Ages. This practice often resulted in one person’s name being recorded under several different spellings. Numerous spelling variations of the surname Connor are preserved in these old documents. The various spellings of the name that were found include Connor, Conner, Conor, Connors, O’Connor, Connores, Conner, Connar, Connars, O’Connar, O’Conner, Connair, Connairs, Connaire, Connaires, Cawner, Cawners, Caunnor, Cauner, Cauners and many more.

In the United Kingdom, the name Connor is the 439^th most popular surname with an estimated 14,686 people with that name. However, in Australia, the name Connor is ranked the 548^th most popular surname with an estimated 7,038 people with that name. And in New Zealand, the name Connor is the 658^th popular surname with an estimated 1,085 people with that name. The United States ranks Connor as 1,077^th with 27,357 people.

The Connor motto. – The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.
The motto on the O’Connor family crest reads

‘O Dhia gach an cabhair’

which means ‘From God Every Help’.
Another version of the crest has a motto that states

“Nec timeo, nec sperno”

which means ‘I neither fear nor desire’.

The Connors family crest, to me seems perfect, especially the oak tree meaning.
The green signifies hope, joy and loyalty in love.
The oak tree symbolises the ancient origins of the family.
And of course it displays the Connor/O’Connor motto, “Ó Dhia gach aon cabhair.”

Without further ado, I give you,

The Life Of Mary Connor,
Through Documentation,
1831-1895

Mary Connor, was born in Ireland, around the year, 1831, to farmer, Patrick O’Connor and ?
The census give her birth year and birth location as,
1861 – 1834, Ireland.
1871 – 1831, Ireland.
1881 – 1833, Ireland.
1891 – 1834, Ireland.
And from the age on her death certificate, it gives her birth year as, 1837.

Ancestry member Rs2312, has Mary Connor’s date of birth as, Monday the 30th of December, 1833, in Castle Island, Kerry, Ireland. 🇮🇪
I have messaged Rose, to ask if she can kindly share the source of information, especially the Castle Island, link.🤞

I have found a baptism for Mary, going off the information from Rose, Ancestry member Rs2312.
It states that Mary was the daughter of Daniel Connor (which I already knew) and Ellen Connor nee Gna.
And that Mary was baptised on the Monday the 30th of December, 1833, at Castle Island, Co Kerry, Ireland and was from Knocknaboul, Co Kerry, Ireland.
Her sponsors were David Leahy and Sara Connor.
Of course I need to do further research into this, before I can confirm.

I believe Mary came over from Ireland somewhen between 1851 and 1854 and went to stay with her Brother, Thomas Connor, and his family, at 5 Shorts Alley, Woolwich. Thomas was residing their in 1851 (see census) and Mary was residing their in 1854, when she got married.

Speaking of her marriage, Mary Connor, a spinster of full age, married bachelor Alexander Lindsay, a full aged Labourer, on Monday the 21st of August, 1854, at St Mary Magdalene, the Parish Church of Woolwich, Woolwich, Kent, England. They left their mark. They gave their fathers names as Peter Lindsay, a Labourer and Patrick Connor, a farmer. Mary was residing at 5 Shorts Alley and Alexander at, 39 Red Lion Street, at the time of their marriage. Their witnesses were Marys brother Thomas and sister In-law, Margaret Cook nee Carroll. Her brother and sister in-law Thomas and Honora Connor nee Carroll, we’re siding at 5 Shorts Alley in 1851.

St Mary Magdalene, Woolwich, is an 18th-century Anglican Church, not Catholic, which makes us suspect that her husband was a practicing protestant. But later documentation throws a spanner into the works on this theory.

The site of St Mary Magdalene church is at the extremity of a spur reaching northwards towards the Thames. The church is brick-built, with  Portland stone plinth cappings, copings, window surrounds and the principal cornice. The bell tower, protruding from the west front, is topped off rather bluntly, without a balustrade, spire or lantern. The 1894 brick chancel features Bath stone buttress capping, band courses and a pedimented gable top.
The church consists of a five-bay nave flanked by colonnades (similar to St Nicholas, Deptford), two side aisles with galleries and some 19th-century additions: the chancel, the Lady Chapel to the south (containing the rare iron-cast tomb of Henry Maudslay, designed by himself) and the organ chamber to the north. The interior is painted pale blue and white, including the large red stone columns flanking the chancel and the small columns framing the east window. The royal coat of arms from 1740 once hung above the sanctuary but is now kept in the porch beneath the tower. The pipe organ was made by John Byfield in 1754 and was originally installed in the west gallery. After the building of the new chancel in 1894, the reredos of the old chancel (made of oak) were adjusted to be installed in the south chapel. Above is a stained glass window by Herbert Hendrie from 1922. A rail-mounted moveable pulpit (walnut, with inlays) was installed in 1899, funded by a public subscription on Queen Victoria‘s Diamond Jubilee.

It wasn’t long before Mary was expecting their first child.
Mary gave birth to Alexander’s and her daughter, Elinor Lindsey, on Wednesday the 13th of June, 1855, at Number 25 Queen Street, Woolwich Dockyard, Woolwich, Kent, England. Mary registered Elinor’s birth on Friday the 10th of August 1855 in Greenwich. She gave her Husband and Elinor’s father name as Alexander Lindsay, a Labourer at the Dockyards and their adobe as Number 25 Queen Street. Mary left her mark. Her baptism records show her birth date as, the 11th July 1855.

Mary and Alexander baptised their daughter, Elinor Lindsay, at St. Peter the Apostle Roman Catholic Church, Woolwich, Kent, England, on Sunday the 22nd of July, 1855.
Her godparent’s were her Uncle Thomas O’Connor & Margaret James.
Elinor was baptised Eleanora Lindsay.

St Peter’s Church is a Roman Catholic church in Woolwich, South East London. It is situated between Woolwich New Road and Brookhill Road, the main entrance being on Woolwich New Road. The church was designed by Augustus Pugin in 1841–42 in the style of the Gothic Revival and is one of only three Pugin churches in London. Pugin’s design remained unfinished as the projected tower and spire were never built. The parish of St Peter the Apostle serves the Catholic community of central Woolwich and surrounding areas, and is part of the Archdiocese of Southwark which is in the Province of Southwark.
In the late 18th and early 19th century, Catholic emancipationgave Catholics in Britain and Ireland more freedom to worship and establish schools and churches. Early on, the Catholic mission in Woolwich mainly served the needs of Catholic prisoners held on prison hulks moored in the Thames near the Royal Arsenal. In 1793 the mission consisted largely of poor families, some of them employed at the Arsenal, as well as Irish soldiers stationed at the Royal Artillery Barracks and other Woolwich barracks. At first, the mission used a small chapel in Greenwich; from 1816 an unauthorized chapel in Sun Alley (now Sunbury Street) in Woolwich. By then, the Woolwich congregation had its own priest: Father James Delaney. In 1818 a former Methodist chapel opposite the current Woolwich Arsenal station was rededicated. It had a capacity of 400. Ten years later a Catholic school was established. In 1838 a young priest named Cornelius Coles, London-born but probably of Irish or Belgian origin, was stationed in Woolwich. His principle tasks became establishing a new church for the growing congregation (estimated at 3,000 in 1841) and a school for its children which even in 1855, according to Coles, suffered persecution in the barrack schools.
In February 1841 a plot of land on Woolwich New Road, next to The Gun public house, was made available free of charge to the Woolwich Catholics by the Board of Ordnance. In September of that year the commission for the design of the new church was given to the young architect Augustus Welby Northmore Pugin (1812-1852). It is possible that Coles knew Pugin from his previous post at Holy Trinity in Bermondsey, where the architect had built a monastery in 1838. Few of Pugin’s letters mention St Peter’s (he was working simultaneously on St George’s Cathedral, Southwark, a much more prestigious commission). However, his published correspondence includes extracts from letters of Father Cole, indicating Pugin’s keen interest in the furnishings.
The foundation stone of the Catholic church was laid on 26 October 1842, the first time in London that such a ceremony was performed openly since the Reformation. Only a year before, the foundation stone for St George’s Cathedral in Southwark had been laid in secrecy at 7 in the morning, since a Protestant backlash was feared. Perhaps the knowledge that there would be a large number of Irish soldiers attending the ceremony in Woolwich gave the priest and the congregation confidence. The church was built in 1842-43 by local builder George Myers. Myers used yellow London stock brick with Bath stone dressings and slate roofs. Because of the limited budget, the church was built in phases and the architectural design had to remain sober – no transept, no clerestory, with limited dressings. The initial cost for building the nave and aisles was £4,000, of which Thomas Griffiths, Vicar Apostolic of London, paid £1,000.

Mary and Alexander welcomed a baby girl, into their family, on Thursday the 28th of May, 1857, at Number 21, Upper Harden Street, Woolwich, Greenwich Dockyard, Greenwich, Kent, England.
They named her, Margaret Jane Lindsay.
Mary registered Margarets birth on Wednesday the 8th of July, 1857, in Greenwich.
She gave her husband Alexander’s occupation as a Labourer in the Dockyard and their abode as, Number 21, Upper Harden Street, Woolwich.
Mary left her mark.

I haven’t come across a baptism for Margaret, which is strange as all Mary’s and Alexander’s other children were baptised.
I scowled through the St. Peter the Apostle Roman Catholic Church, Woolwich, Kent, England, baptisms and found the below entry which I believe could be her, even though her middle name is different. It wasn’t uncommon for children to be baptised under a different name given on their birth index’s.
Disappointingly not dates or details of godparent’s are given.

Mary was once again expecting.
Mary gave birth to hers and Alexander’s son, whom they named, Samuel Lindsay, on Tuesday the 12th of July, 1859, at their home, number 20 Georges Place, Woolwich Dockyards, Woolwich, Greenwich, Kent, England.
Marys Husband and Samuels father, Alexander Lindsay, registered Samuels birth on Saturday the 20th of August 1859.
He gave their abode as, 20 Georges Place, Woolwich, and his occupation as a Labour at Royal Arsenal.
The Woolwich Royal Arsenal was a British armaments manufacturer and supplier based in Woolwich, southeast London. The site was originally established in the 17th century as a royal laboratory for the manufacture of ordnance and expanded over the centuries to become the largest munitions factory in the world by the early 20th century.
Alexander left his mark.

Mary and Alexander baptised Samuel at, St. Peter the Apostle Roman Catholic Church, Woolwich, Kent, England, on the 31st July 1859.
Alexander’s Godparents were Honora Connor nee Carroll and John Gallaghan.
He was baptised as Alexander Samuelis Lindsay.

The year of the census 1861 soon rolled around. Queen Victoria was on the throne.  Henry John Temple, 3rd Viscount Palmerston (Liberal) Was Prime Minister. It was the 18th Parliament.
Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, visited Ireland. They visit the Curragh Camp where Albert Edward, Prince of Wales, serving with the Grenadier Guards, had taken the actress Nellie Clifden as his first lover.
Storms damaged the Crystal Palace in London and caused the collapse of the steeple of Chichester Cathedral.
John George Adair of Glenveagh Castle evicted tenants at Derryveagh in County Donegal.
Thomas Cook ran the first package holiday from London to Paris.
Mater Misericordiae Hospital was opened in Dublin by the Sisters of Mercy (architect: John Bourke). The Sisters of Mercy is a religious institute of Catholic women founded in 1831 in Dublin, Ireland, by Catherine McAuley. As of 2019, the institute had about 6200 sisters worldwide, organized into a number of independent congregations. They also started many education and health care facilities around the world.

And on Sunday 7th April 1861, the United Kingdom census was taken, which shows Mary residing at, Number 1, Sarah Place, Plumstead, Lewisham, London & Kent, England, with her husband Alexander and their children, Eleanor, Margaret and Samuel. Alexander was working as a Stoker in the Royal Arsenal.

The Royal Arsenal, Woolwich is an establishment on the south bank of the River Thames in Woolwich in south-east London, England, that was used for the manufacture of armaments and ammunition, proofing, and explosives research for the British armed forces. It was originally known as the Woolwich Warren, having begun on land previously used as a domestic warren in the grounds of a mid-16th century Tudor house, Tower Place. Much of the initial history of the site is linked with that of the Office of Ordnance, which purchased the Warren in the late 17th century in order to expand an earlier base at Gun Wharf in Woolwich Dockyard.
Over the next two centuries, as operations grew and innovations were pursued, the site expanded massively. At the time of the First World War the Arsenal covered 1,285 acres (520 ha) and employed close to 80,000 people. Thereafter its operations were scaled down. It finally closed as a factory in 1967 and the Ministry of Defence moved out in 1994. Today the area, so long a secret enclave, is open to the public and is being redeveloped for housing and community use.

Mary gave birth to Lucy Lindsay on Saturday the 25th of January, 1862, at their home, Number 16, Godfrey Street, Woolwich Dockyards, Woolwich, Greenwich, Kent, England.
Marys husband and Lucy’s father, Alexander registered Lucy’s birth on the 1st of March 1862, in Greenwich. He gave his occupation as a Labourer at Arsenal and their abode as, 16 Godfrey Street, Woolwich.
Alexander left his mark.

Mary and Alexander baptised their daughter, Lucy at, St. Peter the Apostle Roman Catholic Church, Woolwich, Kent, England, on the 16th February 1862. Her godparents wew her aunt and Uncle, Honora Connor nee Carroll & John Connor. She was baptised Lucia Lyndsey, but was known throughout her life and documentation as Louisa.

It wasn’t long until Mary was expecting again.
Mary gave birth to Patrick Alexander Lindsay on Tuesday the 19th of March, 1867, at their home, Number 2, Rose’s Cottage, Woolwich Dockyards, Woolwich, Greenwich, Kent, England.
Patrick’s father Alexander, registered his birth on 20th of April 1867.
He gave their Abode as, 2 Rose’s Cottage, Woolwich and his occupation as, a Labourer at the Royal Arsenal.
He left his mark.

Mary and Alexander baptised Patrick Alexander Lindsay, on Sunday the 7th of April, 1867, at St. Peter the Apostle Roman Catholic Church, Woolwich, Kent, England. His god parents were his Aunt and Uncle, Honora Connor nee Carroll and John Connor.

Mary’s brother, Thomas O’Connor/Connor, died on Friday the 25th of February 1870 at Number 2 Lower Pellipar Road, Woolwich Dock Yard, Woolwich, Kent, England, when he was 50 years old. Thomas died from Bronchitis. Their brother, John O’Connor, of Number 3, William Street, Woolwich, was present and registered his death the same day. He gave Thomas occupation as a Labour Pensioner at Woolwich Dockyards.

Thomas was laid to rest on Friday the 4th of March 1870, at Woolwich Cemetery, Woolwich, Kent, England, in section X, grave 778. He was buried with his wife Hanorah and Patrick Bradley.

That following year, 1871, Queen Victoria was holding her own, sitting proudly upon the throne. It was the 20th Parliament and William Ewart Gladstone(Liberal) was Prime Minister.
The Westmeath Act was enacted allowing arrest and detention without trial.
Sir John Pentland Mahaffy was appointed to the Chair of Ancient History at Trinity College Dublin at the age of 32.
The Durham Miners’ Gala was first held.
The Victorian burlesque Thespis, first of the Gilbert and Sullivan light opera collaborations, premièred at the Gaiety Theatre, London. It does modestly well, but the two composers will not again work together until 1875.

The disestablishment of the Church of Ireland by the Irish Church Act 1869 came into effect.
The Welsh-born journalist Henry Morton Stanley located missing Scottish explorer and missionary, Dr. David Livingstone in Ujiji, near Lake Tanganyika, and allegedly greets him saying “Dr. Livingstone, I presume?”
The native-bred red kite became extinct in England.
And the 1871 census in the United Kingdom, the first to record economic and mental status, was held.
It shows, Mary and Alex Lindsay and their children, Eleanor, Margaret, Lucy, Samuel and Patrick Lindsay, were residing at, Howard Buildings, Woolwich Dockyards, Woolwich, Kent, England, on the eve of Sunday the 2nd of April 1871 when the census was taken. Alexander was working as a labourer in a factory.

This census was a little bit of a nightmare to find, as their surname was spelt as Linzey instead of Lindsay or Lindsey.
I reported the error to Find My Past and Ancestory. Find My Past, replied and have amended their surname so hopefully others can find it a little easier.

Jumping forward again to the year 1879
Mary and Alexanders daughter, Spinster Margaret Jane Lindsay, daughter of Alexander and Mary Lindsay nee Connor, married Bachelor, Daniel Haggarty, a labourer, son of John Haggerty, a labourer, on Saturday the 21st October 1876, at St Mary Magdalene, The Parish Church Of Woolwich, Woolwich, Kent, England. They were both minors and were residing at, 10 Myrtle Place. Their witnesses were, J Hodge and Mary Ann Drikall. Margaret and Mary Ann left their mark.

Mary and Alexander’s daughter Eleanor aka Ellen, married James Dymott, son of Stephen Dymatt, on Saturday the 16th of June, 1877, at St Michaels Archangel Parish Church, East Wickham, Kent, England.
Elinor and James were of full age and residing at East Wickham.
James was working as a Turner, at the time of their marriage.
They gave their fathers names and occupations as, Stephen Dymott, a Wheelwright and Alexander Lindsay, a Forgeman.
Their witnesses were, W. Harrison and H. Cooke.

St Michaels was founded in 13th century, initially as a chapel of ease to the ancient parish of Plumstead. In 1933 a new church was opened  in the same grounds and the old church once again reverted to a chapel of ease. The od building was declared redundant in 1973 and was taken over subsequently by a Greek Orthodox Church.

On the 17th of January 1880, the unthinkable happened. While Mary was away from home, her husband Alexander decide to tar the fences at their home, 50 Raglan Road, Plumstead, Woolwich, Kent, England. While her was heating up the tar on his stove, the tar boiled over and caught fire. In Alexander haste to stop their home from burning down and to save the four children of their lodger whom were upstairs. Alexander returned to their home twice while it was burning, to rescue the children. Alexander was severely burnt, totally exhausted and I imagine was in severe pain.

Alexander terrifying accident was featured in the Deal, Walmer & Sandwich Mercury Newspaper on Saturday the 24th of January 1880.
It reads,

PLUMSTEAD.
SERIOUS ACCIDENT WITH BURNING TAR. – A
man named Alexander Lindsay was preparing
to tar a fence at 50, Raglan-road, Plumstead, at
half-yast nice o’clock on Saturday morning, and
placed a pot on the kitchen fire to heat it.
Whilst his attention was otherwise engaged the
tar boiled over and ignited, and Lindsay,
hoping to save the house from destruction, took
the blazing vessel in his hands and carried it
out the doors. His hands, face, and head were
fearfully burnt, and, the tar splashing over
his clothes, he was aflame from head to foot until
the neighbours came to his assistance and
drenched him with water. The burns having
been judiciously covered in flour and cotton
wool, the unfortunate man was conveyed in a
cab to the Union Infirmary, where he remains
in a precarious state. Meanwhile the fire had
entirely destroyed the back portion of the
house. and rendered the whole of it untenantable.
Lindsay is a labourer in the Royal Gun Factoy,
and about fifty years of age.

Also on the 24th of January, 1880, the Kentish Independent – London Newspaper reported,

It’s reads,

SHOCKING ACCIDENT AT PLUMBSTEAD.       

On Saturday morning last the 17th inst, at
about half-past nine o’clock, a terrible affair took
place at, 50 Reglan Road, Plumstead’s, whereby a
man named, Alexander Lindsay, aged about 50,
and who has been employed for the last eighteen
years in the Royal Arsenal, was dreadfully burnt,
and and a portion of the house entirely destroyed. It
appears that lindsey who is a forgeman in the
Royal Gun factories, had a holiday on the day in
question and determined to utilise his time by
tarring the fence in his back garden. He accord-
ingly procured some tar, and placed it in a pot on
the fire in the back kitchen of the house. Here
the tar boiled over, and instantly became a mass
of flame. Lindsay as the poor fellow himself
says – only thought of saving the house and the
“children” of whom there were four in an adjoin-
ing room, three being idiots, snatched the pot of
burning tar off the fire, and ran with it out into
the back yard. The flames must have completely
surrounded him, for his hands, face, and legs were
horribly burnt. His clothes caught fire, and it
was with great difficulty that they and the burning
tar were quenched by the neighbours and his own
family, who soon came to his assistance. The
flames in the house by this time had taken a good
hold, and burnt to cinders the woodwork in the
back room, and the door separating the room from
the passage and staircase. The latter was rapidly
becoming ignited, but a number of people and a
body of police, under the charge of Inspector
Ahern, having reached the scene, the fire was put
out by buckets of water, and although the engines
from Sun street, and Shooters Hill were quickly
on the spot, their services, fortunately were not re-
quired. All this time, the poor fallow Lindsay, had
been standing in the back yard, but he was now
brought in, and Mr.  C. Jolly, who happened to be
passing, immediately went to Dr. Frank. Smith’s,
Burrage Road, and procured a roll of lint, and
from Mrs. Allen, draper, in Burrage Road, a
quantity of cotton wool and with the assistance
of Police Constable Grillham, covered lindsey’s,
scorched, and black and face and hands from
which the flesh was peeling with flour and bound
them up with lint and wool. Dr Smith’s
assistant had by this time arrived and rendered
valuable assistance in completing the bandages,
so as to exclude the air from the wounds. A
cab was the procured, and the poor fallow, who
kept saying, “I could have saved myself, but I
only thought of the house and children.” was
taken to the Infirmary of the Woolwich Union,
where he received every attention and care from
the medical superintendent, Dr. Rice, and his
assistant. The scene at the house beggars de-
scription, the wife and daughters of Lindsay were
blackened with smoke, and stood wringing their
hands and uttering the most heartrending cries.
The front windows had been broken in, and the
furniture, the “bits of things” as Mrs Lindsay
called them, were thrown in a heap in the front
garden, crushed and broken, while in the front
room were the four little children of a lodger,
spoken of above, crouched up in a wretched bed
on the floor, but in a short time they were removed,
and Mrs Lindsay and her family sheltered
in the house of a neighbour, their own being un-
tenantable. From enquiries made at the Infirmary
the sufferer is going on as well as can be expected.
A committee has been formed at the Lord Reglan,
Burrage Road, for the purpose of collecting sub-
scriptions to replace the household goods destroyed,
and to relieve the immediate wants of the dis-
tressed family. The Rev. Stilton Henning has kind-
ly offered to assist in any way in which he can be
useful, and Mr. Tucker has given the use of his fine
assembly room for a concert on the 4th of Feb-
ruary. In the mean time subscriptions sent to Mr.
C. Jolly (Secretary of the Relief Committee), at
“The Kentish Independent” Office, Thomas
Street, Woolwich, will be thankfully received and
acknowledged in that paper.

The horrific accident was reported in many newspapers over the coming days, which I’ve included below in a slide show, which you can pause to read.

Tragically, Alexander died at a quarter to five on, Saturday the 7th of February, 1880, at Woolwich Infirmary, Plumstead Woolwich, Kent, England.
He died from Exhaustion consequent on severe burns received accidentally. George Collier deputy of C. J. Carter coroner for Kent, registered his death on Wednesday the 11th of February, 1880.
An inquest was held on the 9th February 1880.
He was a true hero, he risked his life to save others and I am extremely proud of him. I’m sure even though Mary was heartbroken, in shock and beyond devastated, she was super proud of her husband. God bless his soul.

An Inquest into Alexander’s death, was held at the Rose and Crown, Plumstead, on the evening of Monday the 9th February 1880.

He was declared a hero after saving the lives of four when sacrificing his own. The inquest verdict was that Alexander had died from the effects of injuries accidentally received.
(A quick side note, I have come across the Rose and Crown before in my family history research. If my memory serves me right, I believe one of my Willats relations, husband, was landlord at some point. Which is very interesting as Mary’s brother Thomas’s Great Granddaughter, Eileen May O’Connor married Reginald Willats. Could the Connor/O’Connor’s and the Willats family’s have known each way before we thought possible?)

Alexander’s inquest was reported in the Woolwich Gazette, on the 14th February 1880.
It reads,

A LIFE SACRIFICED TO SAVE OTHERS AT PLUMBSTEAD.

An inquest was held at the Rose and Crown,
Plumstead, on Monday evening, before Mr. Collier, on
the body of Alexander Lindsay, who died from the
effects of burns received whilst heroically saving the
lives of some children at a fire which occurred at, 50,
Raglan Road, on January 17th.
Patrick Lindsay, a lad, son of the deceased, at
present living at 61, Raglan Road, Plumstead, identi-
fied the body in the absence of the widow of the
deceased. The latter, when she heard on Saturday
evening that her husband had died at the Infirmary,
sank into a state of despondency and insensibility,
and had continued in a very distressing and critical condition.
Deceased’s son stated that his father was 44 years
of age, and a labourer in the Gun Factories. About
half-past nine a.m. on Jan. 17th, deceased was boiling
some tar on the kitchen fire, preparatory to tarring
his garden railings. He left it a moment whilst he
went to fetch a brush, and on returning found the tar
had boiled over and ignited. The tar set the house on
fire, and he lifted off the vessel containing it, which
was all in a blaze, and hastened out of the house with
it. As he was carrying it, the tar boiled over on to
his clothes and set him on fire. Some bystanders
threw water over him, and notwithstanding his severe
burns, he said that there were four children belonging to a
lodger upstairs, and that he must save them. The
fire had got well hold of the house, but he rushed
through the flames and brought out two children,
one under each arm. He then went back for the other
two, and brought them out the same way,
but sank on the floor of the passageway with the
children in his arms, being thoroughly, exhausted.
In this way he saved four lives. The burning tar
had inflicted injuries chiefly about his legs; but
the act of rushing through the flames had caused
severe burns to his face, and both arms and hands.
Mr. C. Jolly, reporter, went to the house of Dr.
Smith, Burrage Road, and brought a supply of
lint and other appliances for dressing the wounds,
and deceased was taken to the Union Infirmary.
P. C. Gilgam, 328 R, said that he received informa-
tion of the fire and if the man being burnt, and,
accompanied by Inspector Ahern, he went to 50,
Raglan Road. He found the deceased in the front garden,
very severely burnt. He had him put in the front
room, where he and Mr. Jolly dressed his wounds.
He afterwards took him to the Union Infirmary. On
the way Lindsay told him how the accident
occurred, which was the same effect as given in the
son’s evidence.
A married women, a neighbor of deceased’s with-
out being sworn, gave a thrilling description of the
heroic conduct of the deceased in facing the flames
in his anxiety to save the children, one being a cripple
and unable to move. 
Dr. Rice, medical superintendent of Woolwich
Union Infirmity, said that deceased was admitted at
nine on January 17th, without an order, it being
a case of emergency.  He was suffering from severe
burns at both extremities, including arms and hands.
He rallied a little, and witness tried to pull him
through, but was not successful, and he died at a
quarter to five on Saturday afternoon, from exhaustion
consequent on the burns.
The Coroner, in summing up, said that the deceased
behaved in a heroic manner by saving the lives of
four children at the sacrifice of his own. Their ver-
dict would evidently be “Died from the effects of
injuries accidentally received.”  The jury endorsed
the verdict, and the enquiry terminated.
It may be added that a subscription was in progress
when deceased died. The sum thus realised will be
handed over to the widow.

Two other reported about his accident, death and inquest, were published in the Kentish Independent Newspaper on the the 14 February 1880.
They read,

CORONER’S INQUESTS.
THE FATAL CALAMITY AT PLUMSTEAD. 
An inquest was held at the Rose and Crown,
Plumstead, on Monday evening, before Mr. Col-
lier, on the body of Alexander Lindsay, who died
from the effects of burns received whilst heroically
saving the lives of some children at a fire which
occurred at, 50, Raglan Road, on January 17th.
Patrick Lindsay, a lad, son of the deceased, at
present living at 61, Raglan Road, Plumstead,
identified the body in the absence of the widow of
the deceased. The latter, when she heard on
Saturday evening that her husband had died at
the Infirmary, sank into a state of despondency
and insensibility, and had continued in a very
distressing and critical condition. Deceased’s son
stated that his father was 44 years of age, and a
labourer in the Gun Factories. About half-past
nine a.m. on Jan. 17th, deceased was boiling some
tar on the kitchen fire, preparatory to tarring his
garden railings. He left it for a moment to
procure a brush, and on returning found the tar
had boiled over and ignited. The tar set the
house on fire, and he lifted off the vessel contain-
ing it, which was all in a blaze, and hastened out
of the house with it. As he was carrying it, the
tar boiled over on his clothes and set him on
fire.Some bystanders threw water over him, and
notwithstanding his severe burns, he said that
there were four children belonging to a lodger
upstairs, and that he must save them. The fire
had got well hold of the house, but he rushed
through the flames and brought out two children,
one under each arm. He then went back for the
other two, and brought them out the same way,
but sank on the floor of the passageway with the
children in his arms, being thoroughly, exhausted.
In this way he saved four lives. The burning tar
had inflicted injuries chiefly about his legs; but
the act of rushing through the flames had caused
severe burns to his face, and both arms and hands.
Mr. C. Jolly, reporter, went to the house of Dr.
Smith, Burrage Road, and brought a supply of
lint and other appliances for dressing the wounds,
and deceased was taken to the Union Infirmary.
Police Constable Gilgam, 328 R, said that he
received information of the fire and if the man
being burnt, and, accompanied by Inspector
Ahern, he went to 50, Raglan Road. He found
the deceased in the front garden, very severely
burnt. He had him put in the front room, where
he and Mr. Jolly dressed his wounds. He after-
wards took him to the Union Infirmary. On the
way Lindsay told him how the accident
occurred, which was the same effect as given in
the son’s evidence.
A married women, a neighbor of deceased’s
without being sworn, gave a thrilling description
of the heroic conduct of the deceased in facing the
flames in his anxiety to save the children, one
being a cripple and unable to move. 
Dr. Rice, medical superintendent of Woolwich
Union Infirmity, said that deceased was admitted
at nine on January 17th, without an order, it
being a case of emergency.  He was suffering
from severe burns at both extremities, including
arms and hands. He rallied a little, and witness
tried to pull him through, but was not successful,
and he expired at a quarter to five on Saturday
afternoon, from exhaustion consequent on the burns.
The Coroner, in summing up, said that the
deceased behaved in a heroic manner by
saving the lives of four children at the sacrifice of
his own. Their verdict would evidently be “Died
from the effects of injuries accidentally received.” 
The jury endorsed the verdict, and the enquiry
terminated.
A subscription is in progress for the benefit of
the deceased’s family, and the sun thus realized
will be handed over to the widow.

And

THE FATAL CALAMITY AT PLUMSTEAD.  –

Alexander lindsey who is so nobly, lost his life
in rescuing four children from a burning house
at Ragland Road, Plumstead on the 17th ult.,
will be buried this day Saturday at Woolwich
Cemetery. A full account of the catastrophe
will be found in the report of the coroners in-
quest in another column. Deceased leaves a
wife and two children totally unprovided for,
and we trust that the people of Woolwich and
Plumstead will liberally assist the committee
formed for the purpose of collecting subscrip-
tions. We shall be happy to receive and
acknowledge any sums sent to us at the office
of the Kentish Independent for that purpose, for
we think it is most deserving case.

Thankfully for Mary, there was a glimmer of hope and happiness on the horizon as, Mary and Alexanders daughter, Lucy Lindsay aka Louisa, married Alfred Emmanuel Everson in Woolwich, Kent, on Tuesday the 9th of November 1880. 

Even though it would have been a day of celebration, I’m sure sadness would have been a very strong emotion throughout the day. Alexander of course should have been walking Lucy down the aisle and giving her away. I’m sure as we mothers do, Mary put a brave face on, only wanting happiness, light and love for her daughter. But I’m sure as sure can be, her heart would have been breaking as she held back the tear that threaten to overflow. My heart and soul truly ache for her, as I know my mum felt all those emotions, when I married my soul mate, my one and only love. I felt it all to, the longing, the what’s ifs and the heartbreak of my daddy not being by my side,on one of the 4 most important days of my life. (My wedding, the birth of Con, the birth of Cal and our vow renewal.) He should have been there for all four, as Alexander should have been at all his children’s weddings and major events in their lives. Life can been so devastatingly cruel. 💔

Jumping forward to the following year, 1881, Queen Victoria was still on the throne.
William Ewart Gladstone(Liberal) was Prime Minister.
It was the 22nd Parliament.
The Sunday Closing (Wales) Act prohibited the sale of alcohol in Wales on a Sunday. This was the first act of Parliament of the United Kingdom, Great Britain or England since the 1542 Act of Union between England and Wales whose application was restricted to Wales.
The submarine “Fenian Ram” (Holland Boat No. II), designed by Irish-born John Philip Holland and financed by the American Fenian Brotherhood, was first submersion-tested in New York City.
Charles Stewart Parnell was imprisoned for to his part in land agitation in Ireland. He was arrested on the 13th October 1881, together with his party lieutenants, William O’Brien, John Dillon, Michael Davitt and Willie Redmond, who had also conducted a bitter verbal offensive. They were imprisoned under a proclaimed Coercion Act in Kilmainham Gaol for “sabotaging the Land Act”, from where the No Rent Manifesto, which Parnell and the others signed, was issued calling for a national tenant farmer rent strike. The Land League was suppressed immediately.

Robert Cecil, Marquess of Salisbury, became the Conservative leader in the House of Lords following the death of Benjamin Disraeli.
The first performance of the Gilbert and Sullivan opera Patience, a satire on aestheticism, at the Opera Comique in London, was performed.
The Irish National Land League was proclaimed as an unlawful association.
William Ewart Gladstone‘s second Land Act secured the three “f”s (fair rents, fixity of tenure and freedom of sale), and gives the courts the authority to reconsider judicial rents every three years and to adjust them in line with shifts in agricultural prices.
And the 1881, census in the United Kingdom was held. It shows, two-thirds of the population were urbanised; one-seventh live in London. Mary being one of them.
Mary thankfully had moved from their home of horrors and was residing at, 14, Mount Street, Woolwich, London & Kent, England on Sunday the 3rd of April 1881, which her sons, Samuel and Alexander. Alexander was working as a Laborer in the iron works.

A good few years later, Mary and Alexander’s son, Patrick Alexander Lindsay married Ellen Jane Spratt in Woolwich, Kent, in June 1887.

Jumping forward to the year 1891, Queen Victoria was on the throne.
Robert Gascoyne-Cecil, 3rd Marquess of Salisbury (Conservative) was Prime Minister.
It was the 24th Parliament.
Baptist Union of Great Britain was established by merger of the General and Particular Baptists.
Rachel Beer took over editorship of The Observer. She was the first woman to edit a national newspaper.

The Great Blizzard of 1891 in the south and west of England led to extensive snow drifts and powerful storms off the south coast, where 14 ships sunk and approximately 220 deaths attributed to the weather conditions.
February was the driest month in the EWP series with an average of only 3.6 millimetres (0.14 in) of rain.
Deptford Power Station (designed by Sebastian Z. de Ferranti for the London Electric Supply Corporation) was fully commissioned, pioneering the use of high voltage (10 kV) alternating current, generating 800 kW for public supply.
The first street charity collection in the UK was held in Manchester in aid of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution.
And the 1891 census was held.
It shows that Mary, was residing at Claremont Street, East Ham, West Ham, London & Essex, England with her daughter Lucy/Louisa Everson nee Connor and her family, on Sunday the 5th April 1891.

This is we’re Mary’s life story comes to a sad end, as the next documentation I have for her is her death index which states, Mary Lindsay nee Connor, died in the January to March quarter of the year 1895, in West Ham, Essex, England.
The death index gives her age as 58, meaning she would have been born about 1837.

Mary’s death certificate shows, she died on Wednesday the 16th of January 1895, at 19 Charles Street, Canning Town, West Ham, Essex, England.
She died from Senile Gangrene of arm, 14 days.
Marys son, Alexander, of number 18, Kate’s Place, North Woolwich, was present and registered Mary’s death on Thursday the 17th of January, 1895.
He gave is mothers age as 58 years and the widow to Alexander Lindsay, a Furnaceman.

There seemed to be only one possible burial for Mary, on deceasedonline.com. The location and date are off but I thought I would purchase the information just for peace of mind.
As you can see it isn’t our Mary.
This poor soul was 85 when she died.
Our Mary, was only 58 years old.

I very much wish, I could have met Mary, Alexander and their family.
I have always been proud of my Irish roots but more so now than ever before. They sincerely have touched my heart and my soul, and I am honoured to call them my teaghlach.

The dead has always been within us,
its just the graveyard where we lay to rest.
Suaimhneas Siorai
Mary Connor/O’Connor.
1831-1895

If you are a descendant of our Mary Connor/O’Connors, or her parents and siblings, please feel free to join our Facebook group, “Descendants Of John O’Connor”. You can find it here. We would love to see and hear from you there.
Until next time,
Too-da-loo for now.

🦋🦋🦋

I have brought and paid for all certificates,
Please do not download or use them without my permission. 
All you have to do is ask.
Thank you.