Thomas Grannell

  General Notes:

From a statement given by Guy Grannell in the early 1930's
"Enniscorthy, in county Wexford, ireland was the scene of warfare in the year 1798. The town was burned, and the battle of Vinegar Hill was fought nearby. `Shot and piked on Vinegar Hiill, Dead and buried, but living still' This rhyme, which was remembered by Mary Collins, commemorated the exploits of a soldier who was wounded in the battle and left for dead, and even buried after a fashion (probably thrown down a well with other soldiers who really were dead), but he recovered consciousness and escaped. It was some time after these scenes of violence tht Thomas Grannell and Mary Collins were born. They became ancestors of the Grannells now in America. As a boy, Thomas Grannell lived on Slaney Street in Enniscorthy. It was in that town that Thomas Grannell and Mary Collins were married. Later they emigrated to America, probably soon after 1850. But they did not go to America together. In fact, neither of them knew that the other wsa in the United States when they met one day in a church in Cleveland, Ohio. After this strange accident, they did not spearate again, and eventually they moved to Huron County, Ohio. They resided for a time in Greenfield Township and later moved to the Five Points, near Norwalk. During the Civil War, Thomas Grannell served for a short time in 123rd O.V.I. By trade he was a quarry man and stone cutter. he was a quiet maxi, would not argue much about anything, and was noted for his great strength A miller once offered hm a barrel of flour, if he could carry it home. The astonishment of the spectators, Thomas Grannell took up the barrel and walked home with it, without any apparent difficulty. The death of Thomas Grannell was quite sudden. In November 1882, there was a 'Mission' at St. Mary's Church in Norwalk. He attended the morning and evening services each day, driving to them frm his home (more than three miles distant) with a horse and buggy. During the daytime, he kept up his work in the Bronson Stone quarry. He died in January 1883. It is said that on the day of his death, he walked to the door to breathe some fresh air, then returned to his chair was dead in less than ten minutes. Thomas and Mary Collins were very loyal members of the Catholic Church. Their marriage certificate is now in the possession of Paul Powers of Los Angeles, California. Their children in the order of age were : charles, Anna, William, Bessie, Thomas F., Alberta, and Ellen. All of these married and had families. Only one, Thomas Jr., was married twice. None was ever divorced. Three of Thomas Grannell's sisters also came from Enniscorthy to America. Their names were Jane, Ellen, and Ann. Later they became Mrs. Robert Cooper of Norwalk, Mrs. John Holden of Norwalk, and Mrs Patrick Breen of Cincinnati, Ohio."

Thomas married Mary Collins about 1849. (Mary Collins was born about 1829 in Enniscorthy Co., Wexford, Ireland and died about 1899 in Norwalk, Huron, Ohio, USA.)