He was born in 1835/36, in Galway, Ireland. [sources: date: 4 (25 in 1861). place: 4]
He married Hannah [unknown family name]. She was born in 1837/38, in Ireland. They had one child under sixteen in 1866:
[sources: 9, 10]
When he enlisted, he was a lab[orer]. [source: 4]
When he enlisted, he was 5 feet 6 inches tall, and had a dark complexion, blue eyes, and brown hair. [source: 4]
He enlisted and was mustered into service on 23 December 1861. He was enlisted for three years, at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, by Captain Casner. He was mustered in, at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, as a private in company K, by L T Matlock [?]. [sources: 1, 4, 11, 12, 13, 14]
On 26 June 1862, he was in Prince-Street Hospital, Alexandria, Virginia. He was wounded. [source: 6]
He was killed on 3 May 1863 at Chancellorsville, Virginia. On 7 May 1863, he was reported as missing in action. The regiment still had him listed as missing in action on 30 June 1864. He was a private in company K. [sources: 1, 2, 3, 6 (missing), 7 (missing), 11, 12, 13, 14]
Hannah Connolly, Michael Connolly's widow, applied for an increase in pension under the Act of 25 July 1866. Her application was accepted, retroactive to 3 May 1863, for $8 per month, with an additional $2 per month for each child less than sixteen years old. Her pension was paid at the New York City agency. [source: 9]
In 1870, his widow, Hannah Connolly, was living in ward 6, New York, New York. She was living with their son Peter, and with Kate Flaherty. She was a laundress. [source: 10]
On 15 January 1876, James Gill, guardian of a minor dependent, applied successfully for a pension. [sources: 5, 8]
On 28 January 1876, Hannah Connolly's pension file was consolidated with the application for a pension for his minor (apparently also filed from New York). [source: 9]
1 Bates, Samuel Penniman. History of Pennsylvania volunteers, 1861-5. Harrisburg: B. Singerly, state printer, 1869-71. 5 volumes. 'Ninety-first regiment', volume 3, pages 186-233. (In the roster)
2 letter, Gregory to Breck, 30 June 1864
3 consolidated morning report, 91st PA, 7 May 1863 (Michael Connelly)
4 company K, descriptive roll (Michael Connelly)
5 pension index, by regiment, 91st PA Infantry, company K (Michael Connolly)
6 'The ninety-first Pennsylvania volunteers', Philadelphia Press, Wednesday 13 May 1863, page 2 (Michael Connelly)
7 'The sick and wounded Pennsylvania soldiers in Washington', Philadelphia Press Saturday 28 June 1862, page 1 (Michael Connelly)
8 pension index, by name (Michael Connolly)
9 widow's pension certificate file, National Archives and Records Administration, record group 15, widow's pension certificate 101, 299 (Hannah Connolly widow of Michael Connolly)
10 1870 US census, New York, New York, ward 6, election district 4, microfilm series M593, film 978, page 255 verso = 8 handwritten (FamilySearch) (Hannah Connolly)
11 index to compiled service records of volunteer Union soldiers who served in organizations from the state of Pennsylvania (Michael Connelly)
12 index to compiled service records of volunteer Union soldiers who served in organizations from the state of Pennsylvania (Michael Connelley)
13 index to compiled service records of volunteer Union soldiers who served in organizations from the state of Pennsylvania (Michael Conoley)
14 index to compiled service records of volunteer Union soldiers who served in organizations from the state of Pennsylvania (Michael Conoly)
| line | 9 | 10 | 11 |
| Dwelling-house number | 13 | ||
| Family number | 57 | ||
| Name | Flaherty Kate | Connolly Hannah | - Peter |
| Age | 60 | 32 | 9 |
| Sex | F | F | M |
| Color | W | W | W |
| Occupation | Keeping house | Laundress | |
| Real estate value | |||
| Personal estate value | |||
| Birthplace | Ireland | " | New York |
| Father foreign born | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Mother foreign born | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Birth month if born within year | |||
| Marriage month if married within year | |||
| Attended school past year | 1 | ||
| Can't read | 1 | 1 | |
| Can't write | 1 | 1 | |
| Deaf, dumb, blind, etc. | |||
| Male US citizen at least 21 years old | |||
| Male US citizen at least 21 years old who can't vote ... |