The Clifford's

The Clifford's of Buttevant, County Cork

We can trace our Clifford's back to Michael Clifford, who was born on July 30, 1837, in the townland of Knockbarry, which is situated within the town of Buttevant, parish of Buttevant, province of Munster, County of Cork, Ireland. Buttevant, is situated on the Awbeg River. Michael's parents, John and Margaret Clifford, of Knockbarry, were probably born in the first decade of the 1800's.

The 'Topographical Dictionary of Ireland', written by Samuel Lewis and published in London in the same year of Michael Clifford's birth -- 1837, gives a detailed description of the area of Michael Clifford's birth.

That 1837 description of Buttevant is as follows:

BUTTEVANT, a post-town and parish (formerly an incorporated market-town), in the barony of Orrery and Kilmore, county of Cork, and province of Munster, 22 miles (N. by W.) from Cork, and 121 (S.W.) from Dublin; containing 5535 inhabitants, of which number1536 are in town. This parish, which is situated on the river Awbeg and on the road from Mallow to Charleville, was anciently called Bothon, and is said to have derived its present name from the exclamation Boutez en avant, "Push forward," used by David de Barry, its proprietor, to animate his men in a contest with the McCarthys,.....The town is situated on the western bank of the river Awbeg, over which are two bridges, one on the old and the other on the modern road from Cork to Limerick: it consists principally of one main street extending along the mail coach road, and in 1831 contained 204 houses.

On September 22, 1860, 23 year old Michael Clifford, entered the Port of Boston, aboard the immigrant passenger ship, the 'Sea King'.

Like so many Irish who fled their native land because of British oppression and hunger, Michael Clifford, found freedom and opportunity in America. Although the Irish who were papists (Catholics) still suffered from bigotry and discrimination in America, they could at least practice their Catholic faith openly in many places. In Lynn, Massachusetts, where he settled, Michael Clifford, was also able to find steady employment in the shoe industry.

At St. Mary's Church in Lynn, Massachusetts, Michael Clifford, the shoeworker, married Margaret E. Healey, who was five years younger than himself. Margaret Healey, was born in Ireland on September 24, 1841.

Lynn, Massachusetts

Lynn, Massachusetts, the American city where the Clifford and Healey families chose to settle, was a city bursting with economic opportunity for European immigrants. Small-scale shoemaking had become an important part of the community's economic base. With the opening of the Eastern Railroad Boston to Salem line in 1838 and the development of the shoe sewing machine in 1848, the shoe industry was revolutionized. Michael Clifford's future as a shoe worker was set.

There was a momentous event in Lynn, Massachusetts, that was occurring at the very time of Michael Clifford's arrival - the famous Shoemakers Strike of 1860. Twenty thousand of Michael Clifford's fellow shoe workers were engaged in the famous six week long labor strike. Boston police and the state militia were brought in to halt the 1860 strike. Those same workers, along with Mike Clifford, struck again in 1870. Historian Alan Dawley, writes that "Lynn children grew up seeing their mothers and fathers parading against industrial oppression and fighting with police."

Mike Clifford's family lived at 25 Waterhill Street in West Lynn. After his marriage to Margaret Healey, the couple moved around the corner to Murray Street. While Mike and Margaret were residing at 15 Murray Street, in Lynn, Massachusetts, Margaret gave birth to our ancestor, Michael E. Clifford, on August 14, 1870.

Tragedy struck the Clifford household only seven months later, on March 28, 1871, when 35 year old shoe worker Mike Clifford, died suddenly of 'consumption'. Seven month old Mike Clifford would never know his dad.

Margaret (Healey) Clifford, would be a widow for the next 44 years, until her death on October 24, 1915, while still residing at her 15 Murray Street, Lynn address. Margaret, was 74 years of age. She and her husband are interred at Pine Grove Cemetery in Lynn.

Seven months after the sudden death of shoe worker Mike Clifford, an Irish couple from nearby 31 Linden Street in Lynn, were celebrating the birth of a daughter, our ancestor Ann Daley. Ann, known as Annie throughout her short life, was born on October 10, 1871, to Irish-born parents, Michael Daley, who was 45 years of age and Bridget (White) Daley, who was 30 years of age. Michael Daley, was a day laborer.

In 1890, 20 year old plumber Michael E. Clifford, married 18 year old Annie J. Daley, at St. Mary's Church in Lynn. The Rev. Patrick Strain, married the young Irish couple. On December 3, 1890, while the couple were residing at 50 Hood Street in Lynn, Annie (Daley) Clifford gave birth to William J. 'Bill' Clifford.

The streets of West Lynn where the Clifford and Daley families lived: Waterhill, Murray, Linden and Hood streets, are all found within a few hundred yards of one another. It was a neighborhood of European immigrants, who lived in Lynn's tenement housing while most of those immigrants worked in Lynn's robust shoe industry.

The Irish of West Lynn, never owned their own housing, nor did they own horses or carriages like more affluent Lynn residents. They walked to their shoe factories or day jobs.

A topographical view of their Waterhill, Murray, Linden and Hood Street neighborhood, shows the Saugus River to their West with the Saugus Branch of the Eastern Railroad cutting through the heart of that same neighborhood. No matter what street the Clifford's or Daley's lived on, they were always "on the wrong side of the tracks."

Tragedy would quickly visit the Clifford Family once again. Just as Mike Clifford, would lose his father to 'consumption' when he was only seven months of age, 'consumption' would take the life of his 22 year old wife, Annie (Daley) Clifford, when his own son was only 39 months of age. Annie Clifford, died on March 27, 1894. The cause of death was Phthisis Pulmonalis, more commonly known today as 'consumption' or tuberculosis. In the 1800's it was simply known as Phthisis.

Mike Clifford, never remarried. He and his son Bill Clifford, moved to Brockton, Massachusetts. It was in Brockton that the Clifford Family would merge with the Burke's, the O'Leary's and the Lawton's.

Twenty year old William 'Bill' Clifford, married 18 year old Hannah Burke, on November 29, 1911, at St. Edward's Church in Brockton. Fr. Edwin J. Dolan, married the young couple. Prior to the wedding, William Clifford, was residing at 280 East Ashland Street in Brockton. Hannah, was living at 445 North Montello Street in Brockton.

William Clifford, known as Bill Clifford, worked in the bustling shoe industry in Brockton, Massachusetts, while he and Hannah began a family. Bill would later secure a job as a Lineman with Braintree Light and Power Company.

The children of Bill and Hannah (Burke) Clifford

Eight children would be born to Bill and Hannah (Burke) Clifford. The oldest child, who is also our ancestor, Anna Marie Clifford, was born in Brockton, on May 6, 1912. Catherine 'Honey' Clifford, was born in Brockton, March 18, 1914. Pearl Madelyn Clifford, was born in Brockton, on June 22, 1916. James Michael Clifford, was born in Brockton, on August 20, 1918. Helen Mildred 'Milly' Clifford, was born in Brockton, on August 17, 1921. William Leo Clifford, was born in Brockton, on February 13, 1923. Ruth Lorraine Clifford, was born in Brockton, on December 3, 1927; and, Patricia Jane 'Pat' Clifford, was born in Brockton, on October 16, 1929. (There is a wonderful 1950 photograph of seven of the Clifford children with their mother in the accompanying "Family Photo History' album. The photo was taken at the wedding of Helen 'Milly' Clifford.)

Bill and Hannah (Burke) Clifford, purchased their first and last home together in 1933. They purchased the home from Michael Clifford, Bill's father and Hannah's father-in-law. Bill, his wife and children had been living with his father for some time prior to purchasing the property from him. The home was located at 1 Mulberry Place in Brockton, an area affectionately referred to as 'The Tip' because of all the Irish families that resided there.

The Clifford house on Mulberry Place would stay in the family until 1980, shortly after the death William Leo Clifford, at the age of 57, in 1980. 'Leo', as he was known, was the youngest son of Bill and Hannah Clifford and the last Clifford to reside in 'The Tip', on Mulberry Place.

Robert A. Kane, in his book entitled 'The Brockton Irish: From the Tip to the Bush', wrote the following about that Mulberry Street/Mulberry Place neighborhood: 'The 'Tip' was known as a rough, tough neighborhood and it produced many fine athletes like the Mulligans, the Cliffords and the Sullivans.'

On August 2, 1942, a great tragedy befell the Burke/Clifford Family. Hannah (Burke) Clifford's 51 year old husband, William 'Bill' Clifford, died from a fractured skull he suffered from a fall from a telephone pole in Braintree, Massachusetts, on July 31, 1942. Bill was working as a Lineman for Braintree Light and Power Company. After the fall he was rushed to the Quincy City Hospital where he died two days later. Hannah Clifford, remained a widow for the next 35 years.

The oldest of the Clifford children, Anna Marie Clifford, married Joseph Francis 'Snub' O'Leary, on Easter Sunday, April 17, 1938. Fr. Leo O'Leary, performed the ceremony at St. Edward's Church in Brockton. Pearl Clifford, Marie's sister, was the maid of honor. Thomas Finbar O'Leary, 'Snub's' brother, was the best man. The bride was given in marriage by her father, William 'Bill' Clifford.

For a more expansive history of the O'Leary family, see the 'The O'Leary's'.

Snub and Marie (Clifford) O'Leary, would have three children. Timothy Francis O'Leary, was born on April 5, 1940. William Michael O'Leary, was born on October 9, 1941. The youngest of the three children, Patricia Ann O'Leary, was born on January 29, 1951. Tim and Bill were born while the O'Leary Family was residing at 398 Moraine Street. Patty was born after the family moved to their new home at 17 Tilton Avenue in Brockton.

On April 19, 1975, at Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Brockton, Patricia A. O'Leary, married Mark E. Lawton.

For a more expansive history of the LAWTON FAMILY, see the Chapter entitled 'THE LAWTON'S', set out above.

The Rev. Thomas Lawton, Mark's paternal uncle, performed the marriage on April 19, 1975. Richard Lawton, Mark's brother and Ellen Conlon, Patty's college roommate, were the witnesses. The church was filled that day with wedding invitees and between sixty and seventy students and their parents from the Hancock Elementary School, in Brockton, where 'Patty' taught the sixth grade. 'Patty', was an extremely popular teacher.

Mark and Patty Lawton, first resided in a second floor apartment at 103 Belcher Avenue in Brockton. They later moved to a second floor apartment on Morse Avenue, before finally purchasing their first home in 1979, a small Dutch Colonial, at 67 Winnifred Road in Brockton. All three addresses were within 300 yards of one another.

The three Lawton children would all be born while residing at that 67 Winnifred Road address. Patrick O'Leary Lawton, was born at the Brockton Hospital, on October 6, 1979. Timothy Clifford Lawton, was born at the Brockton Hospital on July 30, 1981 and Molly Burke Lawton, was born at the Brockton Hospital, on May 17, 1984.

Only months after Molly's birth, the Lawton Family moved to their last Brockton address at 19 Thorny Lea Terrace in Brockton. In January of 1992, Patty and her family moved from their Thorny Lea Terrace address to 225 Grange Park in Bridgewater.

The grandchildren of Bill and Hannah (Burke) Clifford

Including the three children born to Snub and Marie (Clifford) O'Leary: Timothy, William and Patricia O'Leary, a total of nineteen grandchildren would be born to William 'Bill' and Hannah (Burke) Clifford.

Catherine 'Honey' Clifford, died in 1923, at the age of eight. Pearl Madelyn Clifford, married James Philip Keenan, and had three children: Elizabeth Claire (Keenan) Nolan, James Michael Keenan and William Francis Keenan.

M. James 'Jim' Clifford, married Dorothy L. Chubbuck. They had two sons: Michael F. Clifford and William J. Clifford.

Helen Mildred 'Mil' Clifford, married Robert 'Gunner' Hayes. They had five children: Robert Hayes, Jr., Daniel, Timothy, Margaret 'Meg' (Hayes) Charlebois and Katherine 'Katie' (Hayes) Brown.

William Leo Clifford, who was born on February 13, 1923, had no children. Ruth Lorraine Clifford, married Henry J. 'Hank' Sullivan and had one daughter: Ann (Sullivan) Losak.

The youngest of the eight Clifford children, Patricia Jane 'Pat' Sarson, who was born in 1929, married John A. 'Jack' Sarson. Pat and Jack had five children: John 'Jay' Sarson, Jean M. Sarson, Thomas Sarson, Ruth (Sarson) Terry and Richard Sarson.