Preface

As with all writings; recollections and understandings vary from person to person and generation to generation. The following letter by [my grandfather] William Gaston Lynskey contains information that has raised the curiosity of my cousin Jim Biller. Therefore, as always, in an attempt to provide all known views, I have prefaced the letter with his comments.

By: Charles A. Lynskey – February 20, 2000.

January 23, 2000.

I have read Gaston's letter about his Grandfather, which I also have a copy of, and I don't believe some of the tradition he wrote about. For one thing, I don't believe Martin Carroll Lynskey ever went back to Ireland. According to Celia Lynskey, who stayed at the home place all those years until her death, no one ever returned until I did in 1952. She could have been wrong but it is inconceivable that she wouldn't have known about a visit by him if he had returned. Also, since he was a poor dirt farmer, where did he get the money to make such a trip and why would he have. The trip over was enough to kill a lot of the people and few ever went back.

I think Gaston was told a story, and got some facts confused. I have an application for a loan of $25 from a bank from my Great Grandfather Lynskey, to buy seed with in the spring to be paid back in the fall after harvest. This was far more typical of their financial resources than putting together enough money for a two-way trip to the old country. Between you and me, I doubt very much he ever saw the old sod again.

By: James (Jim) Edward Biller

Martin Carroll Lynskey Roots

By: Wm. Gaston Lynskey

My grandfather, Martin Carroll Lynskey, was born in the year 1829, in Athenry, county Galway, Ireland. He came to America with his brother Patrick Henry Lynskey, when he was in his late teens or about twenty years old. He worked in Boston, Mass. with his friend Thomas O'Grady, who was an architect and drew up plans for cathedrals and churches. He became acquainted with my grandmother, Katherine O'Grady, who was a sister of Thomas, by correspondence. My grandfather never met my grandmother until they were engaged, after she came to America. She was six-teen years old and he was twenty-two years old when they were married. My grandmother and grandfather were born and reared in the same town within a very short distance of each other and they never met until she arrived in Boston.

After living in Boston for awhile, they went to New York. Then they decided to move south to Virginia. They traveled with all their possessions in an ox cart, passing through the green hills of Maryland and then stopping briefly in Lynchburg, Va. before going on farther south to Danville, Va., where the settled permanently. They rented the Hanning farm in Pittsylania Co. in the year 1851. They lived there until my grandfather bought 217 acres of land and a small farm house from Dr. Wilson for $2.00 an acre. This area was called Waddell Valley. My grandfather was a stone mason and he built a stone house for Dr. Wilson in payment for the farm.

Although, my grandfather was not a naturalized American citizen, he volunteered for service in the War between the states in 1861. He sold all his horses and cows, except for one cow. He gave my grandmother the money (confederate money) to feed and clothe herself and the two or three small children while he was away in the War. Dr. Wilson sent some of his slaves over to the farm to help with the gardening and the chores during his absence.

These were trying times as the confederate money was worthless. A gallon of black strap molasses, which ordinarily cost fifty cents a gallon, cost $11.00 for one gallon and material for a dress for my grandmother cost $140.00 in confederate money.

While my grandfather was fighting in the battle oat Gettysburg, Pa., he was captured and was a prisoner until the end of the Civil War. His brother Patrick, who fought in the battle with him, was able to escape from the enemy because he had longer legs than my grandfather. He was able to jump over a barricade of brush and tree limbs that had been set afire to hold back the enemy. My grandfather's short legs prevented him from jumping high above the blazing inferno.

My grandfather made several trips to Ireland after first coming to America. He brought back his brother William Emmett and also one of his sister Mary Katherine, when he returned from some of these trips. There were several more brothers and sisters of this family who remained in Ireland.

Martin Carroll Lynskey died Nov. 1, 1888.

by Wm. Gaston Lynskey