Cronin - Scraps of Family History


CRONIN


The name in Irish means brown or swarthy. It is a sept of the Corca Laoidhe. The leading family were erenaghs of Gougane Barry in Co. Cork. The name is still very numerous in counties Cork and Kerry. One of the best known bearers of the name was the author of the famous novel "The Citadel", A. J. Cronin. Another Cronin worth mentioning is the recently retired veteran pilot of Aer Lingus whose daughter is the first woman trained to pilot a Jumbo Jet. Motto: Fortune helps the strong.



The first of this name of our family that has been found is John Francis Cronin Sr. He lived in County Kerry, Ireland, in Castleisland. Not much is know about him, other than the fact that he had at least 2 sons, John Francis and Cornelius.


Upper Main Street, Castleisland

John's son CORNELIUS married JOAN SULLIVAN, in Castleisland, County Kerry. Con and Joan had 7 children:

JOHN CRONIN, b. 1881, Castleisland, Kerry, IR; d. 1960, NY.

NORA CRONIN, b. 1884, Castleisland, died New York

JEREMIAH CRONIN, b.1879, Castleisland, died USA

ANNA CRONIN, b.1892 Castleisland, died USA

CORNELIUS FRANCIS CRONIN, b. November 27, 1898, Castleisland, Kerry, IR; d. October 15, 1959, Bronx, NY.

MARY CRONIN, b. Unknown; d. Aft. 1967.

WILLIAM CRONIN, b. Unknown; d. Unknown


Main Street, Castleisland, probably about the time Con departed for America

Con and Joan's children were living in difficult times for Ireland was in a struggle to gain independence from Great Britain. In order to police Ireland, England took prisoners from English jails and put them in uniform to patrol (or terrorize) the Irish countryside. These "patrolmen" were known as the Black and Tan’s, named from the color of their uniform. The times, as well as the economy of Ireland were tough, so some of their children decided to come to America and make their way here.

While searching Ellis Island records for Con Cronin, it was recorded he arrived on November 24,1924, on the ship Cedric, Port of Departure: Queenstown, Cork. It is also listed that he came to his sister, Nora, who lived at 318 E 27th Street, NYC.

The 1920 census was checked for 318 E. 27th Street and the following were listed as living there:

Nora Cronin Head of House age 36 yrs, single, arrived USA in 1902 or 1912

John Cronin, brother, age 39 yrs, single, arrived USA 1902

Jeremiah Cronin, brother, age 41, single, arrived USA 1904 (no Ellis Island Rec)

Anna Cronin, sister, age 28 single, arrived USA 19?? (no Ellis Island Rec)

 

 

THE CRONINS AND THE BROSNANS

John Cronin, Con's brother came first to this country at age 22, arriving at Ellis Island on April 17,1902 from Castleisland. John is listed as going to a cousin, Cornelius Brosnan, who resided at 144 W. 48th Street NYC. Listed below John was a Michael Brosnan, age 24 who was also from Castleisland and is listed as going to the same person Cornelius Brosnan. Both were listed as laborers. They sailed together on the ship Teutonic which sailed from Queenstown on April 10, 1902.

How the Cronin's and Brosnan's are related at this point is unknown. John Cronin listed this Cornelius Brosnan as his cousin. Irish marriage records for Castleisland in the late 1800's list numerous occasions when Cronin's and Brosnans are married, so what the relationship between John Cronin and Cornelius Brosnan is is unknown. 

These families would join at least 2 more times. Nora Cronin and her brother Con Cronin both marry Brosnan's.

1) The 1930 Census was checked for 318 E. 27th Street and we find a Nora Brosnan, aged 46 or 48 married to a Cornelius Brosnan aged 59. It states that both were 45 at the time of their first marriage. It would appear that this Nora Brosnan is the same person as Nora Cronin.

2) Con Cronin b.1898 married Ellen Brosnan, b. 1897.


 

CORNELIUS FRANCIS CRONIN was born November 27, 1898 in Castleisland, County Kerry, Ireland. He, as well as his future wife attended Chron’s schoolhouse in Castleisland. He married his former schoolmate, ELLEN BROSNAN in 1917 in Castleisland. Ellen, or Nell (or Nellie) as she was called, was the daughter of JOHN BROSNAN and MARGARET SULLIVAN. She was born June 12, 1897, also in Castleisland.

Con and Nell Cronin must have decided that America held some opportunities that Ireland didn’t. Who came over first, we are not sure. Family stories had Nellie coming over first, but Ellis Island records show that Cornelius Cronin, arrived on Nov 24, 1924. Ellis Island records indicate that his age was 26, and that he was married. He came over on the Ship Cedric and his port of departure was Queenstown, Cork, Munster, Ireland. Nellie’s passport states that she came over in 1925. The Cronin’s may have also come over & back a few times.

 

The children of CORNELIUS CRONIN and ELLEN BROSNAN are:

ANN CRONIN, b. 1918, Castleisland, Kerry, Ireland; d. 1918, Castleisland, Kerry, Ireland.

JOAN CRONIN, b. July 09, 1921, Castleisland, d. Unknown, IR.

JOHN JOSEPH CRONIN Sr.


Con worked for the Railway Express Company in Long Island City. Nell worked as a nurse's aid in the maternity ward of St. Francis Hospital, in the Bronx. The family lived almost all their lives in America in the Bronx.

Con died October 15, 1959 in The Bronx. Nellie died November 22, 1967 also in The Bronx , NY.



Con and Nell's Son JOHN CRONIN married EILEEN ELLEN MARIE FLYNN. Their children are:  

MICHAEL CORNELIUS CRONIN, SR md. MARION FARRELL:

MICHAEL C. Jr.

PATRICK

TIMOTHY JOHN CRONIN

JOHN JOSEPH CRONIN Jr. md. THERESE NOVINSKI