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Reverend Morgan O'Brien

Reverend Morgan O'Brien

Posted: 20 Apr 2015 6:00PM GMT
Classification: Query
I am looking for a birth date, death date and the parents of Reverend Morgan O'Brien who was the first parish Priest at St. Cecilia's in Merrickville, Grenville, Ontario in 1885. I believe that Reverend Morgan O'Brien was born in Douro, Peterborough County, Ontario. Any help greatly appreciated. Thank you.

Re: Reverend Morgan O'Brien

Posted: 21 Apr 2015 6:31AM GMT
Classification: Query
I couldn't find a Morgan O'Brien on any census that was a priest.
Perhaps the church in Merrickville would have some information on him.
Do you know anything else about him? Age?

Re: Reverend Morgan O'Brien

Posted: 21 Apr 2015 10:24AM GMT
Classification: Query
Probably not your Father O'Brien due to his age.


The Perth Courier Death 13 Jun 1902 Rev Fr O'Brien, priest at Madoc, died in Belleville, from pneumonia, June 9, aged 32. Born Loughboro twp

Re: Reverend Morgan O'Brien

Posted: 21 Apr 2015 12:24PM GMT
Classification: Query
Edgar Boland's book, "From the Pioneers to the Seventies: A History of the Diocese of Peterborough, 1882-1975." wrote the following: "In it's history, the Douro Parish has given more than twenty priests to the service of the church...Another native son ordained to the priesthood was Morgan O’Brien who became Pastor of Merrickville in Grenville County."

I do not know the Morgan O'Brien Boland is referencing in his book. I was hoping someone on this message board may know.
There is a Morgan O'Brien who was born in Douro around 1844. He is the son of Morgan O'Brien(an original Peter Robinson settler) and Catherine Reardon. This couple went to Saginaw, Michigan with their family and settled there. I cannot find their son, Morgan with them. He is only in the 1852 Canada census. I do not know if this is the Morgan that became the priest though.

Re: Reverend Morgan O'Brien

Posted: 22 Apr 2015 8:54PM GMT
Classification: Query
Surnames: O'Brien
Searching for O’Brien living in Merrickville in the 1891 Census, finds Rev. Moyne C. O’Brien, age 36 (born ~1855), Roman Catholic, a clergyman. It looks like Ancestry has misinterpreted his name. Both his parents were born in Ireland.
http://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?db=1891Canada&...

The RC priest O’Brien, age 32, that died in Belleville, Hastings County on June 7, 1902 was Patrick O’Brien.
http://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?indiv=1&db=on...

Is a priest given a new Christian name when he is ordained? Might explain why there is no little Morgan.

Re: Reverend Morgan O'Brien

Posted: 23 Apr 2015 12:26AM GMT
Classification: Query
Thank you for this. It was great of you to include the ancestry records. I do not know for certain if priests are given new Christian names, but nuns are definitely given new Christian names. It would explain why Rev. Morgan is so elusive.
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