Thomas Conner, born 1765
Hello. I am an American living in Ireland and my ancestor was Thomas Conner (1765 - 1828), a Catholic, of Kilrane Parish. We believe his parents were James Conner and Patricia Stafford Talor.
He emigrated from Kilrane Parish and settled in western Pennsylvania in what is now Clarion County. By the year 1800 he had become the founder of a town known locally as Conneration. He eventually was the patriarch of large Conner family. I remember visiting the Conneration cemetery with my parents and grandparents when I was little. There has always been great interest in this ancestor, and one of my cousins has book called "Conneration" written by another Conner descendant.
While searching further I've found that some of my family's stories about Thomas Conner could not be true. We believed he emigrated in 1798 as a result of the rebellion. But I've learned that he got married in Pennsylvania in 1796, so that must be wrong.
These are questions that I have, although I understand it may not be possible to answer them:
1. When did he emigrate and why?
2. Did Thomas Conner have brothers and/or sisters, and do we have distant cousins now in County Wexford?
3. Was his mother's surname really "Talor"? There are only of handful of Talors in the 1901 and 1911 census records and these could be misprints. Is this another way of spelling of "Taylor"?
Any clues would be greatly appreciated!
Lee Ann
