Mary Theresa Robinson Driscoll

CONNECTICUT MARRIAGE RECORD:
"Town of New London, 9 Jan 1894; Marriage License. GROOM: John Driscoll age 30; residnce: Portland OR; b. IR; occupation: marketman; single white; father b. IR; mother b. IR; BRIDE: Mary T. Robinson age 27; residence: New London, CT; b. New London, CT; single white; father b. IR; mother b. U.S.; I hereby certify that Mr. John Driscoll and Miss Mary T. Robinson the above named parties were legally joined in Marriage by me at St. Mary's this 10th day of Jan 1984; [signed] Thos. __, Rector."

CONNECTICUT BIRTH RECORD:
"Certificate of Birth: I certify from the best information which I can obtain, that: not named; place of birth: New London, CT; born: 15 May 1865; female; father: John Robinson age 35 b. England; mother: unnamed age 34 b. England; residence: New London, CT; white; occupation of father: Huckster; 4th child of mother; dated 1 Jun 1865."

CONNECTICUT DEATH RECORD:
"Mary T. Driscoll died 15 Feb 1955 at Portland, Multnomah Co., OR; residence: 50 years; residence: 708 N. W. 20th Av., Portland, OR; female white; widowed; husband: John; born 13 May 1865 in CT; age 89; father: John Robinson; mother: Anna Kane; at home informant: Marie C. Driscoll; cause: basilar artery thromosis 1 hour due to cerebral arteriosclerosis due to senility; buried at Mt. Calvary Cemetery, Portland, OR; filed 21 Feb 1955."

FATHER'S BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH:
"JOHN ROBINSON, who as shipbuilder, merchant and real-estate man, was for many years prominently identified with the business life of New London, was born in County Antrim, Ireland, son of Jeremiah and Alice ROBINSON, of that county, the former of Scotch descent and the latter of Irish. There were eight children in the family, three daughters, Ann, Margaret and Mary; and five sons, George, Alexander, William, John and James. Alexander, William and John came to America, as did also one sister, Ann, who lived in California. James died in Australia. John ROBINSON secured his education in the schools of Ireland and later in New London, where he attended the Truman street school and also, for a time, a night school. In the Truman street school he had as companions Ex-Governor Thomas M. WALLER and Hiram D. HARRIS. He came to New London when he was about seventeen years old, to join his brother, William, who had sent for him. He apprenticed himself to a Mr. MILLER to learn the trade of ship carpenter, and after completing his term of service with him, began working at his trade by the day. When the Civil war broke out, Mr. Robinson, in company with Aleck and Goerge DAVIDSON, took contracts for building government ironclads; their yards were located at Noank, New London county, and the venture proved very profitable, giving the young man his real start in life. He went next to Norwich, Conn., and engaged in a mercantile business there with John DOYLE, but after some years he sold out, returned to New London and built a store and house at the corner of Smith and Walback streets. This store, with another at the corner of Walback and Goshen streets, has been the property of the famiy for about twenty-eight years, and they have been in the mercantile business as long as any family in the city. Mr. ROBINSON became interested in real estate, and owned the land from Shaw street part way up to Montank avenue. He cleared it and built a number of houses in that section, his own residence being in that neighborhood. While a Democrat in his political views, and always interested in the success of his party on national issues, he was enought of an independent to follow the dectates of his own judgement on local questions. He was often solicited to take public office, but his own affairs were too engrossing to allow him time to participate in municipal matters. A Roman Catholic in his belief, he was a member of the church in New London. On July 13, 1856, John ROBINSON was married to Miss Anna Leva KANE, daughter of Patrick and Ann KANE, of New York. Nine children blessed this union, viz.: William M., born July 18, 1857; John, May 5, 1859; John D., Aug. 25, 1861; Ann H., Nov. 10, 1863, who married Thomas McLAUGHLIN, Aug. 13, 1887; Mary T. R., May 13, 1865, who was married Jan. 10, 1894, to John DRISCOLL; Catherine A., March 2, 1867; James Augustine, deceased, born Jun 14, 1869; Alice R., Oct. 20, 1872, who became the wife of Edward COMSTOCK, Sept. 12, 1899; James C., Sept. 17, 1874, who was married April 30, 1902 to Miss Catherine MAHER. Mr. ROBINSON was in the strictest sense of the word a self-made man, of much ability and of exemplary character, and his death, which occurred Oct. 31, 1895, was deeply regretted, not only by his family and personal friends, but also by his business associates and all who enjoyed an acquaintance with him." --GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT, Chicago; J.H. Beers & Co., 1905; p. 4--.

Photo of Mary Theresa Robinson Driscoll (1865-1955) with her siblings:

FROM L to R:
John D Robinson (1861-1909);
Alice Robinson (1872-1945) (seated child);
Ann H Robinson (1863-1943);
Mary Theresa Robison;
Catherine A Robinson (1867-1895) (standing);
James Cornelius Robinson (1874-1937) (seated child);
William M. Robinson (1857-1920).

Picture taken about 1878 (tintype).

(Photocopied by my dad, Robert W. Driscoll (1926-2004) from collection of his aunt Marie C. Driscoll)