Our great grandfather, Patrick Bresnehan lived in E. Dorset for a time before moving to Proctor, Vt. We have found his father's grave (we believe) in the cemterey you have a picture of - the one off Dorset Hill Rd. - John Bresnehan, d. 4/8/1871. We know that Patrick lived as a young boy with his mother's sister, Catherine Shea Flynn in E. Dorset. The Flynns are buried in St. Jerome's cemetery. His mother, Mary Shea Bresnehan we believe might have died in childbirth on 12/6/1859, but we aren't sure and haven't found her grave. Bresnehan is often spelled different ways and in the one source we found it was spelled Brusneham. We have been to Dorset a few times, but haven't found out much else. I also do a lot of Proctor history, and John McDevitt lived in Proctor in the 1880's and after. He ran a livery stable and was constable for a time. His daughter, Bessie McDevitt never married, but was a school teacher, and it was often noted in the Rutland Herald that she went to Dorset to visit relatives. She lived just down the road from us when I was growing up. If you have any information on the Flynns or Bresnehan's we would love it. If you'd like me to send you some information on John and Bessie as I find them, I'd be glad to do that. Thanks! Maureen Dobart from Proctor
John Flynn born Dorset June 22, 1854, son of James and Catherine (Shea) Flynn, educated in district schools. By 1876 he was farming in South Burlington. He went on to along career as a businessman and entrepreneur in Burlington and became perhaps the wealthiest man in Burlington, involved in everything from power companies to street railways to real estate to banking.
Remembered among other things by the Flynn Theater,Burlington's premier performing arts center, Flynn Ave, The Flynn School and The Starr Farm Beach Summer Cottage Development, his own cottage having one of the most scenic views on Lake Champlain.
If you find any material on the McDevitt family I would to hear from you. My father was born in Dorset. His name was Matthew Edward McDevitt. His father was also born in Dorset. His name was James McDevitt.
Hi
I'm writing from Tasmania, Australia. I found your info while googling my grt grt grandfather John Bresnehan who was transported from Tipperary, Ireland to Van Diemans Land (now Tasmania) in 1845. By incredible coincidence and with no knowledge of the above connections I named my daughter Shea Louise Bresnehan. She was born in 1984 and is now living in Melbourne.
I'd love to find out more of our distant connection.
Regards
Peter Bresnehan