Their Parents Thomas Connor & Mary Kinney Married in Birr in June 1840.
Nicholas Connor (1841-1863) – Find a Grave Memorial
PVT John Connor (1843-1861) – Find a Grave Memorial
It was while reading through the pension records of John Connor that we accidently discovered his link to Birr in County Offaly, Ireland. In June of 1863 his Mother Mary, who was then a widow with no income, was applying to the Pension Offices for assistance and it is this file that helps to confirm the details and circumstances of her family. Her son, John Connor, was barely 18 years old when he died on the 23rd July 1861 of Typhus Fever at a Military Hospital in Washington DC.. John had enlisted into the 33rd New York Infantry as a Musician in May of that same year and had only been attached to his Company for a few weeks prior to his death.
Mary’s husband, Thomas Connor, had also died a few months previously and as a result she had to provide documentation to the Pensions Committee proving her marriage was valid. Within some of the handwritten notes in the pension file is a declaration that Mary Kinney had married Thomas Connor in June 1840 at “Birr, Kings County Ireland” and we then had a connection to what is now called County Offaly, Ireland. It would seem from the available records that Thomas and Mary Connor had left Ireland for New York soon after their marriage and all later records currently indicate that each of their children were born in New York City.
US, Civil War “Widows’ Pensions”, 1861-1910 – Fold3
**Note: Kings County, Ireland
John Connor was buried in the now famous Arlington Cemetery and his gravestone confirms his regiments details. It was while searching online for the grave of John Connor that we became aware of his Brother Nicholas. Further research revealed that Nicholas Connor enlisted in September 1862 near the family home at Covington, New York and joined the 136th New York Infantry Regiment. His brother had been dead over 6 months at this time and it is likely his Mother did not approve of the then 21 years old Nicholas also joining the Union Army.
The New York Register of Soldiers who enlisted at this time helpfully reveals more details of both Connor Brothers service and while it confirms the earlier mentioned death of John Connor it reveals that his brother Nicholas Connor was wounded on the 3rd July at the famous Battle Of Gettysburg. This battle was a huge turning point in the US Civil War and took place between the 1st and 3rd of July 1863. Nicholas Connor was shot and wounded on the final day of the battle and was moved to a field hospital at York in Pennsylvania. He remained there over the next few months but sadly died as a result of his wounds in December of 1863. His body was returned to his home town of Covington in New York and he was buried in the Connor family plot beside his Father Thomas. His Mother Mary who passed away in 1891 is also buried here with her family. The headstone of Nicholas Connor is in itself a very interesting piece of history as it is inscribed with the exact details of how and where he died and includes his full regimental details.
Nicholas Connor (1841-1863) – Find a Grave Memorial
It is estimated that about 200,000 Irish born soldiers fought in the US Civil War but how many children of Irish born parents were also involved is impossible to say. The story of John and Nicholas Connor is one that helps to shed light on this aspect of the huge Irish involvement in that bitter war.
While records do indicate that the Connor brothers were not born in Ireland their family heritage does link them to the town of Birr in County Offaly, Ireland and their forgotten stories deserve to be remembered with the many others recorded here on Americasoffalyheroes.com.
Kevin Guing, 12th December 2025
Other Soldiers Born in Birr – Civil War Soldiers – Americasoffalyheroes
For further reading on the Offaly connection to The Battle of Gettysburg –
