Encyclopedia of Connecticut biography, genealogical-memorial ...

in 1 169, went thither with Strongbow and
his followers. Like many other foreigners
they adopted an Irish surname and title
—Branaghs, from Breatrach, which, in
Irish, signifies "a Briton," in allusion to
their having come from Wales. Their de-
scendants settled in various counties, becoming
so numerous that it was said
"their numbers were equal to the nobility
of their origin." Members of the family
won distinction in the Stuart cause in
1688, and in the eighteenth century, or
earlier, a branch was transplanted to the
American colonies. Here, as in their an-
cient home, many of them have achieved
eminence in law, politics and divinity,
many famous ecclesiastics having borne
the family name. The escutcheon of the
Walshes is as follows
Artns—Argent, a chevron gules between three
broad arrowheads, points upward, sable.
Crest—A swan pierced through the back and
breast with a dart, all proper.
John Walsh, father of John J. Walsh,
was born in County Cork, Ireland, and at
the age of eighteen emigrated to the United
States, settling in Randolph, Massachusetts,
where he learned the shoemaker's
trade, which he made his lifelong occupation.
In 185 1 he removed to Norwalk,
Connecticut, and followed his trade there
and in New Canaan until the outbreak of
the Civil War. Like the loyal citizen he
was, he enlisted without delay in the 12th
Regiment, Connecticut Volunteer Infan-
try, and, with the exception of one thirtyday
furlough, was out the entire period of
his three-year enlistment, reenlisting upon
its expiration. While in service he was
temporarily disabled by a sunstroke. In
November, 1865, he returned home and
moved from New Canaan to Norwalk,
where he engaged in business on his own
account as a custom shoemaker. He was
a member of Buckingham Post, Grand
Army of the Republic.
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ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
46c
Mr. Walsh married Rose Burke, like
himself a native of County Cork, Ireland,
her father at one time superintendent of
schools of the city of Cork. The Burkes
were a literary family and some account
of their origin is appended to this biography.
The following children were born
to Mr. and Mrs. Walsh: i. Margaret,
widow of James Cole ; of their children
two are living: James and Thomas. 2.
Anna, died unmarried. 3. John J., mentioned
below. 4. Rose, married James
Hamilton, and has three children: Flor-
ence, Mary, and Augustin. 5. Catherine,
widow of James Boyle. 6. Annie, mar-
ried Patrick Haugh, and has one child
now living, Harry. 7. William, died leaving
no children. 8. Francis, also died
without issue. John Walsh, the father,
died in 1892, at the age of seventy-seven.
John J. Walsh, son of John and Rose
(Burke) Walsh, was born October 5, 1857,
in Norwalk, Connecticut, and until his
eighth year attended the public schools
of New Canaan. From that time until the
age of twelve he was in the public schools
of South Norwalk. He then went to
work in the woolen mill, but had been
there only nine months when the new
child labor law became effective and he
was taken out. After attending school
for nearly a year he was instructed two
evenings a week by a tutor, H. B. Wiggin.
This continued for three years and
at the end of that time he applied himself
to the study of shorthand.
While receiving instruction from a tutor
and also while studying shorthand, Mr.
Walsh was learning the stonecutter's
trade. It may seem that much mental
progress was scarcely compatible with
application to manual labor as strenuous
as that of stonecutting. Mr. Walsh, however,
has always been a man with whom
an intention is rarely suffered to remain
an intention. Unless conditions render