John M. Morrarty was the son of Edmond Augustus Morrarty and Ann Denison. He married in 1826 Mary Maria Griswold, the daughter of Benjamin Griswold and Fannie Marie McIntosh. According to family and military records, John M. was born in Eastport (Washington Co.), Maine, but an affidavit filed by him with a petition to the Connecticut Assembly in 1840 for permission to own land in East Haddam states that he was born in Horton, Kings County, Nova Scotia and came to the U.S. in 1813 [though it is more likely that this refers to his father]. John M. was a shoemaker, and was living in Norwich, CT in 1850 where he appears with his large family on the federal census. In 1860, he was with wife and four of his children, living in Plainfield, Windham Co., CT.

John M. enlisted in the Union Army for service in the Civil War. His certificate of Disability for Discharge, dated 11 Feb 1863 at Campbell Hospital, Washington DC, stated that Private John M. Morrarty of Lieut. P. F. Falcutt's Co. (K) of the 21st Regiment of Conn. Vols. was enlisted by Lieut H. S. Wilson of the 21st Regt at Plainfield, CT on 9 Aug 1862 to serve three years; that he was born in Eastport, Maine; was 45 years of age [he understated his age by 15 years], 5 feet 8 inches high, with dark complexion, hazel eyes, gray hair, and a farmer by occupation when enlisted. The signing physician stated that "[I] find him incapable of performing the duties of a soldier because of Sciatica and impaired constitution resulting from old age being 60 years of age at the time of enlistment. Not entitled to a pension."

On 14 Feb 1863, while temporarily residing in Washington DC, John M. Morrarty filed an invalid's pension for his service. He called himself a resident of Sterling Stone factory, Windham Co., CT, and said he had enlisted in the Army at Plainfield [CT] on 9 Aug 1862 as a Private in Co. K commanded by Capt. J. M. Shepard in the 21st regiment of Infantry commanded by Col. A. H. Dutton of Conn. Vols. He continued that he was honorably discharged on 8 Feb 1863 [a Casualty Sheet gives the date as 4 Feb], with the following conditions: spinal affection, lame hip caused by getting hurt along bridge in Washington DC about 20 Sep 1862 by a team running over him while on the march to Arlington Heights. A deposition made by his company commander on 26 Aug 1864 adds more detail:

This is to certify that John M. Morrarty was a private in Co. "K." 21st Conn V. marching with his company over Long Bridge Washington D.C. enroute for camp Chase, was run into and knocked down by a pair of runaway horses - he was for a short time insensible - from that time until his discharge he was more or less off duty - because of a lame back - he was sent to hospital the morning after the army of the Potomac under Burnside entered Falmouth Va - and from that time forward was permanently disabled and finally discharged on Surgeons Certificate
J. M. Shepard
Capt. Co. "K." 21st Conn. Vols.

Morrarty had been admitted to the Campbell U.S. Army General Hospital, Washington DC, on 30 Dec 1862 and discharged from the service 12 Feb 1863 because of "sciatica and impaired constitution resulting from old age," according to a 24 Nov 1864 surgeon's report.

On 10 Dec 1877, John M. Morrarty appointed G. Kessler of New York his lawful attorney to prosecute to completion his claim to original invalid pension No 12587 filed in 1863. The outcome of this action is not known. Sometime shortly after the death of John Morrarty (in 1882), his widow made declaration for pension, giving her address as "c/o Dr. Dan O. King, Pontiac, RI." On 13 Dec 1890, Mary Morrarty was residing in E. Douglass, Worcester Co., Mass when she made another declaration for widow's pension. Here she stated that she and John M. were married on 31 Dec 1826 by Samuel S. Mather at Lyme, CT. Shortly after the preceding instrument, an affidavit was made by Jesse B. Sweet of E. Douglass, Mass., stating that Mary Morrarty had no real or personal property and no income, that she is eighty years of age, and too old and infirm to do work of any kind, and that she is dependent upon charity for her support.

John M. is buried in the East Thompson Cemetery, at the north end of the section on the west side of the road. His marker gives his Civil War service, and there are many other family members buried in the same plot. There is no marker for John's wife, but her death certificate states she was buried in E. Thompson, CT, so it is likely that she is also buried here.

John and Mary had 15 children, two of whom are buried in this cemetery, and one in the same plot as their parents. Child not linked below:

*Edmond Augustus, b. Norwich 17 Sep 1849, d. 26 Nov 1866. His birth and death dates come from a family record, but the 1850 census gives his age as 9/12 year, when he appeared in Norwich, CT with his family. The date of census enumeration was 16 Nov 1850, suggesting his birth date to be Feb 1850, which does not mesh particularly well with the stated birth date given in the family record. Perhaps when the family was visited by the census taker, it was closer to summer time, which would make his age and recorded birth date to be much more consistent. He does not appear in the 1860 census with his parents, making the stated death date somewhat suspect.

Adopted child:

* Ella Green, b. Providence 28 March 1863, m. 5 July 1888 George GARDNER, d. 1934. She appears on the 1870 census in Thompson, CT with John and Mary and their two youngest sons.