Look up help Benjamin Joseph O'Connor

[duffyfarrell]

Hi Lookings for help with Benjamin Joseph O'Connor who during the first world was in the 38th Engineers,  Co.B.  (Based on a postal address 38th Engineers Co B, USA, PO747, AEJ, France)He was born in Dublin in the mid 1800 I have no date and went to America around the 1880/90's but I cant find a listing for Ellis Island.  His mother lived there too in Chicago.  He may have joined the Canadian Army, as we have a picture of him in what looks like a Canadian uniform. 
His sisters name is Tess (Teresa) and I think sister in law Maryanne all O'Connors
Any information or confirmation of where this company was based is welcome, I keep getting dead ends. Thanks

[aghadowey]

Ellis Island was for New York arrivals but only opened in 1892- earlier entries were via Castle Garden but most passenger list for that period will only list name, age, occupation and country of origin.

He could have gone to other ports- Boston, Philadelphia, Montreal or Quebec for example.

"born in Dublin in the mid 1800" is rather vague and you haven't indicated a possible date for that postal address.

[jim1]

Is it possible he was in the American Army, in one of their Engineer Battalions?
Their 38th. A Coy. was part of the 2nd. Battalion.
This is as close I can get as to what you might be looking for:

http://www.20thengineers.com/ww1-bn13.html

[mleroux]

I think you can rule out the Canadian Expeditionary Force. There were no Benjamin OC's or Joseph B or B Joseph that served. Both the CEF and O'Connors being interests of mine

[Dundee]

He was born in Dublin in the mid 1800

Wouldn't he have been too old to enlist?  Who was his mother in Chicago? 

Debra 

[heywood]

I can't see any Benjamins. Could he be Bernard or Brian?
Did his sister stay in Ireland?
Who was the brother married to Maryanne?
Were they in U.S. or Ireland?

[heywood]

Looking at your thread http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=739774. , you ask there about 'Radley' O'Connor.
You have replies there which you are unanswered, by the way.

There are published trees which have Benjamin Radley O'Connor living in Chicago. Is Benjamin Joseph the same person as Benjamin Radley or are they two individuals?

[duffyfarrell]

Thanks everybody,  I am afraid that the dates are vague although having gone through the papers I have here, we think he sailed to the US in 188i, but I do not know where to I was hoping it was Ellis Island but not to worry  Thank you Aghadowey.

Haywood, William.Radley O'Connor is his brother, we think he went to Australia with his family in 1884 form london (no record found), then went to america (Freson City, Cal.  but that is not showing up anywhere) then back to Australia before returning to the US. Thanks for letting me know as I did not realise there had been other posts on him and one looks good. This man liked to travel.  I do know on one of his trips to the US he only brought 4 of the 7 children with him and came via the Pacific Ocean and went to San Francisco.

Back to Benjamin O'Connor,  Jim1, Thank you so much for sending me to 20th engineers, it seems it could be very promising and the uniform matches.  I will send them some of the photos we have and I might be able to get some more information there.

Mierous  and Dundee, thank you for looking,  having read some of the history of the 20th Engineers, it is a possibility that he was working for a logging company with Canadian connections as they were recruited for their experience rather then age and some came from Canada.

His sister (My GGGrandmother), Josephine O'Connor stayed in Dublin, and died in 1887  in childbirth. His other sister joined him in America in 1886 from dublin via liverpool to chicago,  His other brother Joseph/Joe and wife went to Chicago in 1886.  Joseph and Mary-anne possibly had a child called Ben/Benny or Benjamin, and at the age of 19 he was injured in ww1 and sent to ypres hosiptal, where he met my grandmother who was a nurse there between 1917/1918

A possible address I have for , Benjamin Sr is 6522 Loomis Blvd, Chicago possibly early 1900.  For Joseph O'Connor 3949 Atlantic St, Town of Lake Ill, Chicago in 1887.

That is all I have for the present, Thank you so much as I feel I have made some progress.

[aghadowey]

If he did travel to New York in the 1880s (or earlier) you can check www.castlegarden.org but there will be few details given from passenger lists.

You certainly aren't making it much easier for us to help you-
His sister (My GGGrandmother), Josephine O'Connor stayed in Dublin, and died in 1887  in childbirth.
  Well, when was she born or how old was she when she died?
His other sister joined him in America in 1886 from dublin via liverpool to chicago,
   Her name? when was she born? have you found her in any census records?
His other brother Joseph/Joe and wife went to Chicago in 1886.  Joseph and Mary-anne possibly had a child called Ben/Benny or Benjamin, and at the age of 19 he was injured in ww1 and sent to ypres hosiptal, where he met my grandmother who was a nurse there between 1917/1918
   When was Joseph born? when was his son born...

You've already been asked about Benjamin's mother but I can see anything further posted about her-

Who was his mother in Chicago? 

You need to clearly explain all the information you have so far so that we can try to help you.