Locals

John Boyle O’Reilly

In 1869, O’Reilly staged one of the few successful escapes from a British prison in Australia. He’d been court-martialed from the British Army for recruiting fellow Fenians to revolt against British rule in Ireland. He then made his way to Boston and won fame as a journalist (Editor of the Pilot), poet and human rights activist.

He spent the warm weather months in a Hull cottage with his family, and in 1913, it became the Hull Public Library.

Peter Mehegan

The long time cohost of TV’s Chronicle, has many fond memories of childhood summers on Hull’s beaches.

John F. Fitzgerald

President John F. Kennedy’s grandfather, the colorful “Honey Fitz’, owned an opulent estate on Nantasket Avenue.

James Michael Curley

Mayor of Boston, Governor of Massachusetts, called Scituate his summer home. A saint to the Irish, a crooked pol to the Bay State aristocracy, Curley was the first and best known of a legion of Boston politicians to escape the city heat in seaside Scituate.

Daniel Webster

Marshfield’s Irish ties run deep dating back to the actions of the town’s leading citizen, U.S. Senator Daniel Webster, who led a campaign to provide food aid to Ireland during the potato famine in the mid-19th Century. His support aided in the dispatch of over 120 American ships that brought food and funds to the starving Irish people.

James Magee

James Magee was born in County Down Ireland in 1750, and came to America before the start of the American Revolution. It was during the Revolutionary War that James Magee commanded several ships; first the Independence and then the General Arnold.

Later, Magee was instrumental  in opening the China Trade and was given a magnificent punchbowl to commemorate his  arrival in China.

Patrick Charles Keely

Patrick Charles Keely is the architect of St. Paul’s Church, emigrated from Ireland at age 25, in 1841. When hired to design the Hingham church, Keely was already well-known as a prominent church architect in the U.S. (including Boston’s Cathedral of the Holy Cross.) St. Paul’s Church is one of the few remaining wooden churches of the more than 600 that Patrick Keely designed. Keely has been called “the most prominent American Catholic architect of the 19th century.”

“The Bridgets”

Historic records suggest that domestic service at hotels and in private homes accounted for about 70% of female Irish immigrant employment in the U.S. in the late 19th century. As written about in the book The Irish Bridget: Irish Immigrant Women in Domestic Service in America, 1840-1930. (Margaret Lynch-Brennan, Syracuse University Press, 2009,) many of these young, single hard-working Irish immigrant women were referred to here and elsewhere as “the Bridgets.”

This image depicts Ellen Kelly. Ellen Kelly was 13 years old when she left her family home in County Roscommon and came to the United States with her 15 year old brother, Patrick. Eventually she found work as a”Bridget” in Cambridge, MA where she worked until she married.

Ellen made $3.00 per week. One dollar she sent home to Ireland, a second she gave to the Catholic Church. Of the third dollar, $.90 cents went in the bank and a dime was left for tea and a sweet when she met her friends on Wednesday afternoon. When Ellen married, she had saved the down payment on a six family house.

Historians say that Bridgets civilized the Irish immigrants. Ellen learned about the finer things in life while working as a Bridget. She took in laundry for four years to save enough money to buy a piano so her daughters could learn to play. (They didn’t.) She stressed the need for education and had a son graduate from Harvard with honors and a daughter who was a Registered Nurse.

Like many other descendents of Irish immigrants,  Ellen’s family has flourished in their new home. Her grandchildren and great grandchildren are lawyers, professors (West Point), teachers, social workers, engineers, scientists, government employees, and entrepreneurs. Many of them maintain a strong Irish identity.

Maurice Tobin

Tobin was a summer resident of Scituate. He served as Mayor of Boston, Governor of Massachusetts and United States Secretary or Labor under President Harry S. Truman. He died a premature death and the Maurice Tobin Bridge was named in his honor. (May 22, 1901-July 19, 1953)

Catherine B. Shannon

Historians are an interesting lot and there are many professional and amateur historians in our town. Among them is internationally acclaimed Catherine B. Shannon, PhD, a prolific researcher, writer and educator. Dr. Shannon has also served as president of the Eire Society of Boston and the Charitable Irish Society of Boston. In 1982, Dr. Shannon organized the first Symposium on Northern Ireland that brought Irish and British representatives together to discuss the political issues of the time. The event was held at the John F. Kennedy Library in Boston. There were three symposiums held over the years and these events lead the way for peace in Northern Ireland.

In 1994 Dr. Shannon received an award from the Charitable Irish Society for her work as an organizer for peace for Northern Ireland. Also in 1994, Dr. Shannon received the annual achievement award from the Irish Immigration Center of Boston. She served as President of the Charitable Irish Society which was founded in 1737. She had been a member of the society beginning in 1985 and she also served on their board of directors.

In 1997 Dr. Shannon won the Phi Kappa Phi Lecture Series Competition with her essay “The Changing Face of Cathleen Ni Houlihan: The Status of Women in Ireland, 1960 to 1996.”

In 2015 Dr. Shannon was awarded a gold medal citation from the Eire Society of Boston. This citation was awarded for the accomplishments of those who exemplify the best in Irish culture and ideals.

Dr. Shannon retired from Westfield State College in 2000. She is now Emerita Professor of History. (Westfield State University Collection Guides, Catherine B. Shannon Collection 1979-1991)

Jeremiah Quinn

Jeremiah (Jerry) Quinn was born on December 11, 1846 in Weymouth, the son of Irish immigrants. He enlisted in the Union Army in 1862, age 16 years, and assigned to the Massachusetts 42nd Infantry, Company D. The Civil War, of course, was well underway and young Jeremiah Quinn endured it’s hardships and dangers as did so many young men engaged in the mighty struggle. He was taken prisoner by Confederate forces at Galveston, TX in the early Spring of 1863 and later released to officials of the Union Army in exchange for Confederate prisoners of war.

The story of Jerry’s heroism and legend would soon unfold. After his release from Confederate prisoner of war camps, he re-enlisted in the Union Army, this time assigned to Company H of the Massachusetts 4th Cavalry. Jeremiah was, on April 3, 1865, among the very first Union soldiers to enter the city of Richmond, VA—the Confederate Capital—and is singularly credited with removing the Confederate flag from atop the Capital building and raising the American flag in it’s place.

After the War, Jerry Quinn returned to his hometown of Weymouth, MA and served that town for many years as a Fireman. He died in March of 1913 and is buried at Fairmount Cemetery in Weymouth, plot #33.

The story of Jerry Quinn’s dramatic actions in Richmond, VA are best recounted in the “Military History of Weymouth” by Bradford Hawes:

“Monday, April 3, 1865, was an eventful day for the army of the Union. During the night, detonations of exploding gunboats could be heard for miles, the noise and shock of lurid lights adding to the wretchedness of those within the city and the anxieties of those who beheld its burnings from afar, among these the advancing army which was not without uneasy speculations lest Richmond be found as Napoleon found Moscow – in ashes. General Shepley of the United States Army describes the scene witnessed from his position near Petersburg as a most beautiful and awful display of fireworks, the heavens being filled with bursting shells, red lights, Roman candles, and falling stars. The morning light found the Fourth Massachusetts Cavalry under Major Stevens, at the gates of the city and in Company “H” of that regiment were many Weymouth boys, and as soon as it was daylight three scouts were sent into the city, one of whom was Jerry Quinn of Lovell’s Corner. Two of the scouts were captured by the rebel soldiers, but Quinn entered the city and went as far as the Franklin Hotel, but feared to go farther. He returned and reported the way clear as far as the hotel, and two companies “E” and “H” rode into the fallen city. As they reached the capitol building the revel flag was flying above it, and Captain Ray of Company “H”, together with Tommy Myers the color sergeant, and Jerry Quinn started to pull it down. Myers took with him the regimental quidons, and just outside the capitol he slipped and fell onto the slimy pavements. Instantly Quinn seized the flag and rushing to the top of the building pulled down the Rebel flag and raised the United States flag over the Confederate capitol. Thus, the honor of being the first Union soldier in Richmond, as well as the credit of pulling down the rebel flag and raising the Union flag, belongs to a Weymouth soldier.”

SOURCE: Weymouth Civil War Centennial Commemoration Booklet (Town, 1963)

Note: Follow the link above and scroll to pages 12/13. A picture of Jerry Quinn and the account by Bradford Hawes

Father – Thomas Quinn (1809)
Mother – Joanna (1810)

Daniel Ward

Irish immigrant, Daniel Ward is recognized as the father of the Scituate Irish Mossing Industry. He recognized the local moss was the same moss that grew and was harvested in his native Ireland. The moss itself has many uses. According to the Encyclopedia Britannica, “the principal constituent of Irish moss is a gelatinous substance, carrageenan, which can be extracted by boiling. Carrageenan is used for curing leather and as an emulsifying and suspending agent in pharmaceuticals, food products, cosmetics, and shoe polishes.” Ward established mossing as a thriving industry for nearly a century and a half. Until the late 1990’s.

Thomas Lawson

Known as the Copper King, Thomas Lawson was one of the richest men in America amassing over $50,000,000 before 1900.

Falling in love with Scituate while summering there, he built “Dreamwold” and became a permanent resident. The Tower he had built to cover the town water tower is much admired. According to the Scituate Historical Society: “Words cannot do justice to this massive, imposing, and elegant structure. One needs to visit Scituate, hear the bells peal, and climb all 123 stairs in order to gain the full experience of Thomas W. Lawson’s Tower. It is the most beautiful, most photographed, and most expensive water tower in the world!”

Lawson was born in Charlestown. His parents came from Nova Scotia and their ancestors reportedly came from Ireland.

Lt. Joseph P. Kennedy Jr.

Lt. Joseph P. Kennedy, Jr. was born in Hull at his grandfather’s home. Groomed to be the first Irish Catholic President of the United States by his ambitious father, the young Lt. Kennedy was Killed in Action in World War II. His death, while on a secret mission, ended Joe Kennedy’s dreams for his son. Joseph P. Kennedy Jr. was considered a hero and was posthumously awarded the Naval Cross. Another Kennedy son, John Fitzgerald Kennedy, went on to fulfill his father’s dream and became the First Irish Catholic President.

William Moran

The first Irishman in Weymouth was John Moran. Born in Ireland, he immigrated to the United States sometime before 1837, when he married Teresa Keough in Boston. In the 1840 census, John and his family were living in Weymouth. He was a laborer living behind the Weymouth Iron Works. John was in the Weymouth Militia from 1848 until at least 1855.

His son William was a bootmaker by trade and also served in the Weymouth Militia. During the Civil War, he enlisted in Company E, 3rd Mass Heavy Artillery, where he served from June 1863 to Sept 1865. After the war, William was a Commander in the Grand Army of the Republic, Reynolds Post 58. He died in 1931 at age 91 and was buried in St Francis Cemetery.

Thomas F. Fitzgerald

The son of an Irish immigrant, Thomas F Fitzgerald was a bootmaker until he joined the police force in 1884. He served the police department for 40years, 26 of which were as the chief. Thomas was a chief of the Weymouth Police Department as well as a member of the Massachusetts Police Chiefs Association and a director of the South Shore Co-operative Bank. He retired in 1924 and died in 1932 at the age of 79.

Top left: Patrick Butler, Chief Thomas Fitzgerald
Bottom left: Arthur Pratt, Isaac Walker, Oliver Houghton

Frederick C. Murphy

On the page People in History on the Weymouth website:

Private Frederick Coleman Murphy, a medic and Medal of Honor recipient in WWII – and the son of Irish immigrants. “He was a student at the University of Pennsylvania when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor. He tried to enlist but failed two medical exams and was classified 4-F. He underwent corrective back surgery and was able to enlist in November 1943.” The citation for his heroism is truly incredible to read. Grievously injured, having been shot and stepped on a mine and severing a foot, he nevertheless refused to be evacuated, dragging himself in order to administer to the wounded. Buried in Normandy.
https://ww2fallen100.blogspot.com/2018/07/ww2-fallen-medal-of-honor-hero-and_27.html

The National Archives facility in Waltham, Massachusetts is named the Frederick C. Murphy Federal Center to honor Pfc. Murphy’s service, heroism, and sacrifice.

A letter from President Truman posthumously awarding Murphy the Medal of Honor.

Genevieve Ash

Genevieve Ash, a professor and former assistant dean of students at Bridgewater State College, and trustee of Plymouth Public Library Corporation founded the Irish Collection at the Plymouth Ma. Public Library. Thanks to her generosity, the Plymouth Public Library has been able to stock works by a broad range of Irish playwrights, poets, historians, novelists, and filmmakers. This collection celebrates the literature and history of Ireland with a special collection of books and audiovisual materials A fund created in memory of reference librarian Lee Regan, has allowed the library to expand this section with a significant number of new books and DVDs. From Irish dancing, to poetry, cooking, genealogy, music, humor, language and more, stop by and browse the Irish Collection for all things related to the Emerald Isle. (wickedlocal.com)

“The Laborers and Factory Workers”

The Irish who came to America in the 1600 and 1700s, were known as Scots-Irish. These Ulster Protestants could read and write, were tradesmen, clergy, and professionals who could find work with relative ease. By contrast, the Irish Catholics from southern counties in Ireland who arrived during and after An Gorta Mór, were generally tenant farmers who were unschooled and unskilled. Many of the mid-to-late 19th century Irish immigrant men found work in South Shore communities as laborers—the mossers of Scituate among them–and factory workers. In the 1880 census for Hingham, Irish immigrant men were most often identified as laborers. They found “pick and shovel” jobs or worked as carpenters, farm workers, making rope at one of the town’s ropewalks or, like John Crowe, laboring as a moulder at an iron foundry near the town’s harbor. Many sons and daughters of Irish immigrants in Hingham, by their late teen years, walked to work at the town’s woolen mill, cord and tassel factory, or hatchet factory. Some found work at nearby shoe factories such as those in Weymouth which became busy supplying boots for Civil War soldiers.  Here the Irish found secure jobs that allowed them the luxury of building or buying their own home — an impossible dream in Ireland.  John Moran, the first Irishman in Weymouth was a laborer. His son William became a bootmaker. Jeremiah Quinn was employed at Stetson Shoe factory in Weymouth before and immediately after his Civil War service. Later he became a Weymouth Fireman. Other Irish immigrants lost their lives fighting in the Civil War in their new country and are memorialized on Civil War monuments in South Shore towns.

Mary F. Toomey

Mary F. Toomey was born and raised in Weymouth and served the town for some 40 years as a teacher in the Weymouth School system. Mary’s heroism is found not in military adventures and exploits, but in environmental and land conservation leadership, challenging fellow citizens to restore, preserve and care for the town’s parks and waterways. Mary Toomey was an ardent and fearless opponent of development which might harm or endanger the environment.

Her collaboration with Mary Sears, a world-renowned oceanographer from the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute, led to the restoration of the Back River and it’s estuaries from contamination and pollution. Today, the Back River Reservation is a refuge for wildlife and a welcoming parkland for visitors to enjoy.

Mary F. Toomey, a heroine of conservation and of environmental activism, died on April 16, 2009 at age 89. Mary was a life-long advocate and champion of civic engagement for the benefit of the citizens of Weymouth and beyond.

Charles Logue

Charles Logue, originally from Derry, was the founder of a prominent Boston construction company that built the iconic Lawson Tower in Scituate. The intent was to cover up a steel water tank built by the Scituate Water Company. A wealthy Scituate resident, Thomas Lawson, thought the tank spoiled the view from his nearby Dreamwold estate and commissioned the Irish-born Logue to enclose it with a shingled, wooden shell. The 153-foot tower offers expansive views of the South Shore coastline. Charles Logue also built Boston’s iconic Fenway Park and many area churches and buildings at Boston College and the College of the Holy Cross.