The following information was assembled from numerous sources and cannot be used directly as proof of Qualifying Service or Lineage.
It is considered a research aid and is intended to assist in locating sources that can be used as proof.
Author: Richard Schneider
Timothy Connor was born in Ireland on 27 AUG 1751 and immigrated to the Colony of Pennsylvania as an indentured servant in 1772. He arrived in Philadelphia, PA on April 29, 1772 on the brig Pattie. He had sailed from Cork. On 14 MAY 1772, he was indentured to a Mr. Abraham Holmes and his assignees from Donegal Township in Lancaster County, PA for a period of two years and six months. Holmes had a 300 acre plus farm plus several cattle and horses. His passage to cross was ten pounds.
He was released from his indenture in late 1774 and in July, 1775 he joined Col. William Thompson's Battalion of Riflemen. He was in one of two companies that had been raised in Lancaster County that was made up of expert riflemen, his company being commanded by Capt. Matthew Smith. He enlisted for a one year period to begin with and undertook a strenuous march of twenty-six days to join the Continental Army troops under General George Washington outside Boston. He participated in some battles in the Boston area and his company was assigned to join the forces of Benedict Arnold in his illustrious and grueling campaign through the rugged Maine wilderness that resulted in a vain attempt to seize Canada.
The expedition ended with an unsuccessful attack against Quebec City on 31 DEC 1775. Most of Smith's riflemen were captured by the British. They were detained until the next August when they were paroled and taken to New York City where they were exchanged for prisoners taken by General Montgomery’s troops at St. Johns in 1775. Two accounts of his capture are printed in local county history books. One was written by his grandson, Timothy (of John) that tells of an escape attempted during that winter where he and another soldier, Bernard McGuire leaped from a high wall down into a large snowdrift. The other was written by his daughter Elizabeth Shannon who said that he was in custody for six months. Later research has uncovered the fact that he was released in New York City in exchange for British prisoners.
It was said that he had a brother, William who had followed from Ireland and learned the trade of shoemaker in Philadelphia, but settled in Boston. Timothy apparently visited his brother in Boston and while there he signed up to sail on a privateer ship as a part of the American Navy and shipped out to the English Channel to intercept British merchant ships and they were captured and held prisoner of war in England until at the end of the war, Benjamin Franklin assisted in their release from England to France and on to America after the War.
He eventually returned to Pennsylvania where he joined the Lancaster County Militia. He remained in the local militia where he was a member of the 4th Battalion and served as Quartermaster.
He married Eleanor McCullough who was also an immigrant from Ireland having arrived in Philadelphia on 17 MAR 1772 and bound out as an indentured servant to John Tolbert of Philadelphia for three years. Eleanor was only 11 years old at the time. They were both indentured on the same day, 14 MAY 1772. Timothy owned a tavern having been licensed in 1783. They made their home in Elizabethtown until 1796 when they moved to Derry Twp., Westmoreland County, PA.
He died on 29 AUG 1815 and is buried in an unmarked grave at their family parish cemetery, namely St. Vincent's near Latrobe, PA. Of their nine children, seven were born in Lancaster County and the other two in Westmoreland County.
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