Patrick Orr is a reminder of the slogan of 1798, “Remember William Orr.” Many useful citizens of the Granite state bear this name. It is not now so common as it was fifty or seventy-five years ago. John Orr served seven terms in the state senate, his legislative career ending in 1804.
Patrick Griffin represented a name as common here now as it is in Ireland. Simon G. Griffin, brevet major-general, was a New Hampshire soldier with a fine record in the Civil War.
Cornelius Connor represented a name famous in Ireland’s annals and familiar to the readers of New Hampshire state and provincial papers.
It is first mentioned in 1710. The occasion was the payment of a bill presented by him for moccasins, so it is fair to presume he was a shoemaker. The name Connor, or Conner, has been well known in the town of Exeter for nearly 200 years. An Exeter man, possibly a descendant of Cornelius, was Col. Freeman Conner, who commanded the Forty-fourth New York regiment in the Civil War. He was also assistant postmaster of Chicago under the late James A. Sexton, during the administration of President Benjamin Harrison. J. M. Connor, of Hopkinton, is one of the prominent grangers in New Hampshire, and an authority on agricultural matters.
James O’Conner, a native of Ireland, and a surgeon in the Continental army, was among the first settlers in the town of Sanbornton. One of his descendants went to the East Indies and was traffic manager of the Ganges canal in 1869. Cornelius Connor is the first of the name to appear on the provincial records. The family has been prolific—for the Connors are numerous—and is looked upon now as a distinctive New Hampshire name.
Another of the “Cons” was Cornelius Driscoll. His name appears first in 1715, attached to a petition praying for the settlement of a minister in Dover. The name is spelled Drisco, but there is no question about it being Driscoll, for two reasons: first, the given name Cornelius, as well as there also being a Teage Driscoll; “Tim” is the English of Teage; and second, the word Bristol is spelled Bristo. The name is still spelled Drisco by people bearing it. Later it appears spelled properly, “Driscoll,” in the state papers, but an interrogation mark is placed after the name, which is evidence of the mutilation of Irish names by those not conversant with their character. Teage Drisco’s name appears on the records of the town of Exeter in 1664, Cornelius Driscoe in 1725, and John Drisco in 1710. “Driscoll Hill,” in Francestown, is a locality spoken of in the Granite Monthly for August, 1897. Cornelius Drisco was one of the proprietors of the town of Gilmanton in 1727. Still another “Con,” who appears often in the records, is Cornelius Lary. He was in Exeter as early as 1674. Like other old Irish surnames, it was twisted out of shape by the English scribes, so that in various places it is spelled O’Leary, Lary, and Lear.
As is well-known, this is one of the great south of Ireland names. It would be of great interest to “Con’s” countrymen had he kept a diary relating his experience in those days. “The Curse of Crummill” was on the lips of many at that time, perhaps on his. Thirty-six years later, in 1710, the names of Daniel, Samuel, Thomas, and Cornelius Lary appear, perhaps the sons of the emigrant. It is still common in Maine as well as in New Hampshire as Lary. Col. Tobias Lear, of Portsmouth, was Washington’s secretary. Whether his name was Leary originally, cannot be determined. He married a daughter of Col. Pierse Long. The latter was the son of Pierse Long who came to Portsmouth from Limerick, Ireland. Colonel Long was with Sullivan at the capture of Newcastle, and commanded a regiment in the Continental army.
McDuffee has been a well-known New Hampshire family name for one hundred and fifty years. Col. John McDuffee commanded a regiment in the Continental army and some of the most substantial business men in the state are of the same clan. The “Cons” were also represented in this family in the person of Cornelius Duffee, whose name appears in the index of the provincial papers.
Of the Michaels, the most distinguished was Gen. Michael McClary. He was the grandson of Andrew McClary, who came over in 1726, to Epsom, and the nephew of Maj. Andrew McClary, who fell at Bunker Hill, and of Lieut. John McClary, who was killed in action at Saratoga. He was an ensign at Bunker Hill, and was appointed captain in the Continental army later. He filled many positions in civil life. He was the first adjutant-general of New Hampshire under the new constitution, and also served as United States marshal. The family was prominent in state affairs. John McClary was a member of the governor’s council five years before 1785, and of the senate six years. Michael McClary served in the senate twelve years, and James H. McClary, two years; Michael was elected, but resigned, and James H. was chosen in convention to fill the vacancy.
The original emigrant, Andrew, came over on the same vessel with James Harney. Their friendship was carried down to the third generation in the name of James Harney McClary. There were others of the same name in the state, but not of the same family. Whether as Cleary, Clary, or Clery—with or without the Mac or the O—the name is as Irish as the shamrock.