Died
3 July 1916
Born
22 October 1890
Sources
Ancestry
CWGC
Family documents
Place
Walks
Private James O'Neill, Canadian Infantry
(Saskatchewan Regiment)
Son of William & Bridgett (sic) O’Neill 7D Blake St CWGC
Born 22/10/1890 in Manchester, New Hampshire. Cook. Joined up May 15th 1915 at Saskatoon.
His address is given as ‘Norfolk War Office, Thorpe St. Andrew’ (a suburb of Norwich) in the Barrow Cemetery Burial Register.
The grave is unusual in that his mother Bridget (died 1940), and niece Norah Brocklebank d 1919) are also commemorated on the gravestone. This is because it was originally a private family grave, taken over by the Canadian War Graves organisation some time ago.
A letter received by his mother after his death reads:
Dear Mrs O’Neill,
You will have been informed from the War Hospital Thorpe of the death of your son James. But the last request he made to me was that I should write to you “my mother” as he said, in order to tell you that he had had a priest, and I promised I would do so.
I visited him several times, & gave him all the last rites of the Church. I may say that he died in the best of dispositions, and although no doubt you will naturally feel his loss, still it ought to be a consolation to know that he had a good death. R.I.P. I remembered him in mass this morning at the War Hospital, & asked the prayers of those present for the repose of his soul.
Yours in sympathy, E. Scott, Chaplain. (Letter kindly lent by his great-niece)
440858 PRIVATE
J. O'NEILL
5TH BN. CANADIAN INF.
3RD JULY 1916 AGED 25
ALSO HIS MOTHER BRIDGET
9TH JULY 1940 AGE 83
& NIECE NORAH BROCKLEBANK
14TH DECEMBER 1919 AGE 6
Papers in his war records on Ancestry show that James died of Septicaemia having been shot in both legs and the right arm.
His Attestation Paper © Library and Archives Canada (LAC) is reproduced left:
He was actually born in Barrow (Cumbria BMD B/53/385), so perhaps Manchester, New Hampshire was his last address before enlisting.
1891 Census
On Ancestry he can be found in the 1891 Census at 20 Emlyn Street, with the O’Neill family occupying two rooms (The McBride family at the same address have 3). The family is father William O’Neill (49), a shipyard riveter, born Belfast, Ireland; mother Bridget (32), born Dundee, Scotland; Jane O’Neill (11), scholar, born Barrow; Mary E. O’Neill (9), scholar, born Barrow; Sissie (or Lissie) O’Neill (5), born Barrow, and James O’Neill (5 months). It is difficult to marry these up with information on Cumbria BMD. There is a Jane O’Neill born 1879, mother’s maiden name McCann; a Mary Short O’Neill born 1881, mother’s maiden name O’Neill; a Rose Mary O’Neill born 1886, mother’s maiden name O’Neill; and a James O’Neill born 1890, mother’s maiden name Martin. Are these our family? A William O’Neill married a Bridget Martin in Barrow in 1890. Perhaps this was William’s second marriage.
1901 Census
In the 1901 Census the family have moved to 7 Emlyn Street, where they still share the building with the McBride’s. Bridget O’Neill (44), widow, Spinner Jute Hemp. Born Dundee, Scotland is Head; and the following children (all born Barrow) are living with her: Mary E. O’Neill (17), Spinner Jute Hemp; Elizabeth (15) Jute Factory Shifter(?); James (10); Margaret (8); Catherine (6). Checking on Cumbria BMD the last 3 children have a mother maiden name Martin.
Jane O'Neill
1881 Census
Searching for Jane O’Neill, she can be found on the 1881 Census living with father William (39, ship’s riveter, born Belfast, at 12H Devonshire Buildings. Mother is Jane O’Neill (33), born Greenock, Scotland. There is also an elder brother, Robert (12), born Greenock, scholar; grandfather John O’Neill (66), widower, Boilermaker, born Ireland, and 3 boarders, all shipyard workers from Scotland.
