In 1991, on the anniversary of my grandfather John James Sinnott's 100th birthday, I set out to learn more of my paternal line. My father had told me he would ask his father what his life was like growing up in Newfoundland. All he would say was "it was miserable and he hated it." Life was tough. John lost his father to complications from a mining accident when he was eight or nine years old. His family was evicted from their home that was owned by the mine, no worker, no home. A few years later, John took his father's place in the mine, before leaving to fight in Flanders in World War I. Not much of a memorable childhood. In 1953, I was born. My father called his father to say his first grandchild was born. He asked a boy or a girl, and Dad said a grandson. Grampa asked and what did you name him, and Dad said David. There was a long silence, and Grampa was crying. Dad asked what was wrong. He said that was my father's name and hung up the phone. At 27 years of age, this was the first time he knew anything of his grandfather! Twelve years later, Grampa wrote Dad and his siblings a letter* touching only on the death of his father and the eviction. The rest of his life he took to his grave. It is said; "If a life is worth living, it is worth remembering." I have taken on this project to unravel and honor David John Sinnott's life and preserve his heritage. I need to know his whole story; and his father's, and his father's, and his father's.... There is that part of his life and those before him I feel are missing in me; I want to know, to remember, to pass on...............
David John Sinnott
Ar dheis Dé go raibh a h' anam
John James Sinnott
John Frederick Sinnott
David Wayne Sinnott
David Michael Sinnott
Ryan Matthew Sinnott
* view this letter in the stories section; a poignant look into a few years of Grampa's life in Tilt Cove Newfoundland
.....My Paternal Roots
Of man's roots, which is the stronger?
It is a Shaolin belief that the paternal line controls. What is a man without roots?
What is a tree without roots? The deeper into the earth the roots reach, the stronger the tree.
A name, a face in my mind, a place; these are all I know of my great-grandfather. One half of myself an emptiness, a mystery.
Therefore, I seek to discover it then, for it is this thread that holds me to the past, and binds me to the future, to fix my place for all time in eternity.
***********************************************
Our Life's Journey
Such is the journey through life.
It begins, it ends.
Yet fresh journeys go forth. Father begets son; who becomes, in turn, father, who begets son.
Then the roots I have are me. And I am they.
***********************************************
“Our mothers and fathers helped us come to be and, even now, they continue to give us life." Thich Nhat Hanh
"I saw behind me those who had gone, and before me those who are to come. I looked back and saw my father, and his father, and all our fathers, and in front to see my son, and his son, and the sons upon sons beyond.
And their eyes were my eyes. Richard Llewellyn
***********************************************
***********************************************
Maireann an chraobh ar an bhfál ach ní mhaireann an lámh do chuir
"The branch lives on the hedge but the hand that planted it be dead."
"My great-grandfathers are long gone, as are my grandfather and father; but I live, and my son lives, and my grandson lives. And in time, their sons, and grandsons will take their place. Each time a new son is born, he carries a bit of his father, and his grandfather, and all of his many grandfathers before him in him. In that way, even though we are gone, we continue to live on in each new generation. Such is the way of life; a new branch grows, and the hedge lives on." David W. Sinnott; aka Daithi Sionoid, given me by my Irish ancestors
"To forget one's ancestors is to be a brook without a source, a tree without a root." Chinese proverb
Descendants of David John Sinnott
Generation 1
1. David John Sinnott was born ABT 1851 in Placentia, NL and died Apr 02 1899 in Tilt Cove NL. He married Annie Patterson. He married Mary Henderson. She was born 1855.
Children of David John Sinnott and Annie Patterson:
i. Nicholas John Sinnott was born Nov 12 1888 in Queensbury, York, NB Canada
ii. Mary Sinnott was born ABT 1889 in Tilt Cove NL and died ABT 1928 in Fredericton NB
iii. 2. John James Sinnott was born Apr 29 1891 in Tilt Cove NL and died Mar 15 1965 in Brockton, Plymouth, MA USA
iv. Peter W Sinnott was born ABT Jul 09 1892 in Tilt Cove NL and died BEF 1899 in Tilt Cove NL
v. Ellen W Sinnott was born Aug 24 1893 in Tilt Cove NL and died Aug 24 1893 in St John NB
vi. Katherine Sinnott was born ABT Feb 26 1896 in Tilt Cove NL and died ABT 1970 in NB
vii. William Hoskin Sinnott was born Jul 07 1898 in Tilt Cove NL and died Jul 04 1964 in Halifax, Plymouth, MA USA
Generation 2
2. John James Sinnott was born Apr 29 1891 in Tilt Cove NL and died Mar 15 1965 in Brockton, Plymouth, MA USA. He married Ida Ermina Vennor May 27 1925 in Fredericton, York, NB. She was born Jun 08 1896 in Southampton, York, NB and died Apr 06 1976 in Fredericton NB.
Children of John James Sinnott and Ida Ermina Vennor:
i. 3. John Frederick Sinnott was born May 08 1926 in Marlborough, Middlesex, MA USA and died Jul 07 1988 in Brockton, Plymouth, MA USA
ii. 4. William Nicholas Sinnott was born May 27 1928 in Brockton, Plymouth, MA USA and died Feb 26 1998 in Randolph, Norfolk, MA USA
iii. 5. Marion Loretta Sinnott was born Nov 06 1933 in Brockton, Plymouth, MA USA and died Sep 10 2013 in Whitman, Plymouth, MA USA
iv. Patricia Joan Sinnott was born Jul 21 1936 in Brockton, Plymouth, MA USA and died May 01 1995 in Weymouth, Norfolk, MA USA
Generation 3
3. John Frederick Sinnott was born May 08 1926 in Marlborough, Middlesex, MA USA and died Jul 07 1988 in Brockton, Plymouth, MA USA. He married Shirley Ann Lambert May 05 1951 in Springfield, Windsor, VT USA. She was born Dec 29 1930 in Springfield, Windsor, VT USA and died Dec 29 2012 in Brockton, Plymouth, MA USA.
Children of John Frederick Sinnott and Shirley Ann Lambert:
i. 6. David Wayne Sinnott was born Feb 13 1953 in Brockton, Plymouth, MA USA
ii. 7. Sherry Lynn Sinnott was born Jun 21 1954 in Brockton, Plymouth, MA USA
iii. Kathy Ann Sinnott was born Jun 23 1957 in Brockton, Plymouth, MA USA
iv. Tammy W Sinnott was born Dec 31 1965 in Brockton, Plymouth, MA USA and died Jan 01 1966 in Brockton, Plymouth, MA USA
v. Julie Ann Sinnott was born Apr 19 1968 in Brockton, Plymouth, MA USA and died Apr 20 1968 in Brockton, Plymouth, MA USA
vi. Girl Sinnott was born Jun 24 1974 in Brockton, Plymouth, MA USA and died Jun 24 1974 in Brockton, Plymouth, MA USA
vii. Amy Brooke Sinnott was born Apr 06 1976 in Brockton, Plymouth, MA USA
4. William Nicholas Sinnott was born May 27 1928 in Brockton, Plymouth, MA USA and died Feb 26 1998 in Randolph, Norfolk, MA USA. He married Elizabeth Joan Kaidel Nov 29 1958 in West Roxbury, Suffolk, MA USA. She was born Jan 10 1938 in Brockton, Plymouth, MA USA and died May 29 2014 in Randolph, Norfolk, MA USA.
Children of William Nicholas Sinnott and Elizabeth Joan Kaidel:
i. 8. Richard Steven Sinnott was born Jul 31 1960 in Weymouth, Norfolk, MA USA
ii. Jeanne Marie Sinnott was born Jan 18 1963 in Weymouth, Norfolk, MA USA
5. Marion Loretta Sinnott was born Nov 06 1933 in Brockton, Plymouth, MA USA and died Sep 10 2013 in Whitman, Plymouth, MA USA. She married Donald Stewart Bois Jun 07 1953 in Brockton, Plymouth, MA,USA. He was born Jan 05 1930 in Brockton, Plymouth, MA, USA and died Sep 20 2000 in Whitman, Plymouth, MA, USA.
Children of Marion Loretta Sinnott and Donald Stewart Bois:
i. 9. Donna Elaine Bois was born Jan 03 1956 in Brockton, Plymouth, MA, USA
ii. 10. Karen Michelle Bois was born Feb 01 1958 in Brockton, Plymouth, MA, USA
iii. Steven Donald Bois was born Jan 26 1963 in Brockton, Plymouth, MA, USA
iv. 11. Pamela Jill Bois was born Nov 21 1965 in Brockton, Plymouth, MA, USA
Generation 4
6. David Wayne Sinnott was born Feb 13 1953 in Brockton, Plymouth, MA USA. He married Donna Marie Mitchell Nov 09 1973 in Brockton, Plymouth, MA USA. She was born Jan 28 1955 in Brockton, Plymouth, MA USA. They divorced Nov 06 1997.
Children of David Wayne Sinnott and Donna Marie Mitchell:
i. 12. Karen Marie Sinnott was born Jan 15 1974 in Middleborough, Plymouth, MA USA
ii. 13. David Michael Sinnott was born Mar 21 1975 in Middleborough, Plymouth, MA USA
7. Sherry Lynn Sinnott was born Jun 21 1954 in Brockton, Plymouth, MA USA.
Children of Sherry Lynn Sinnott:
i. Chad Stephen Sinnott was born Jul 31 1980 in Stoughton, Norfolk,MA USA
8. Richard Steven Sinnott was born Jul 31 1960 in Weymouth, Norfolk, MA USA. He married Karen Lapore Oct 27 1990 in Pembroke, Plymouth, MA USA. She was born 1962 in Brockton, Plymouth, MA USA.
Children of Richard Steven Sinnott and Karen Lapore:
i. Gregory James Sinnott was born May 05 1993 in Weymouth, Norfolk, MA USA
ii. Jennifer Alyes Sinnott was born Jun 27 1995 in Weymouth, Norfolk, MA USA
iii. Alyssa Catherine Sinnott was born Nov 04 1998 in Weymouth, Norfolk, MA USA
9. Donna Elaine Bois was born Jan 03 1956 in Brockton, Plymouth, MA, USA. She married James Anthony Bergeron May 21 1988 in Brockton, Plymouth, MA, USA. He was born Jul 23 1962 in Brockton, Plymouth, MA, USA.
Children of Donna Elaine Bois and James Anthony Bergeron:
i. Shawn Steven Bergeron was born May 14 1989 in Brockton, Plymouth, MA, USA
ii. Nicholas James Bergeron was born Jan 21 1994 in Brockton, Plymouth, MA, USA
10. Karen Michelle Bois was born Feb 01 1958 in Brockton, Plymouth, MA, USA. She married Peter Joseph Santilli Dec 31 1987 in East Bridgewater, Plymouth, MA, USA. He was born Feb 01 1960 in Brockton, Plymouth, MA, USA.
Children of Karen Michelle Bois and Peter Joseph Santilli:
i. Baby Boy Santilli was born Jul 24 1989 and died Jul 24 1989
ii. Casi Lyn Santilli was born Jun 06 1990
iii. Tory Leigh Santilli was born Jan 01 1992
iv. Gabriella Rose Santilli was born Oct 12 1995
11. Pamela Jill Bois was born Nov 21 1965 in Brockton, Plymouth, MA, USA. She married William B Dawson Apr 18 1998 in Whitman, Plymouth, MA, USA. He was born Nov 13 1968.
Generation 5
12. Karen Marie Sinnott was born Jan 15 1974 in Middleborough, Plymouth, MA USA. She married William James Macdonald Aug 18 2001 in St. Edward`s Church, Brockton, Plymouth,. He was born Mar 28 1970 in Brockton, Plymouth, MA.
Children of Karen Marie Sinnott and William James Macdonald:
i. Matthew John Macdonald was born Sep 22 2011 in Brockton, Plymouth, MA
ii. Christopher William Macdonald was born Nov 19 2013 in Brockton, Plymouth, MA
Where I am now looking for a connection
After years of searching various genealogical websites, countless public records, online family trees, and finally in to multiple (and expensive) DNA tests, I'm still no closer to finding paternal family beyond David John Sinnott. I have been working with groups like the Ireland yDNA Project, the E-M35 Project, the S_NN_TT One Name Study, the Rex Sinnott Site, to name a few. While there have been a hint here or there, I am not much better off than I was back when I first started in 1991. My y67 dna test results did offer a few, but distant possibilities, and I am sure in the future if more people continue to test, there finally may be a connection of our family to a point back in Ireland. The question is: "Will I live to see it?"
Looking back again at my ancestry.com results, there are only six matches to me with Sinnott's in their trees. Most of the trees have little to no sources, and what I consider to be, too many common sense errors. There are however, trees that seem to contain many of the first names that run through my family. Then again, what Irish family didn't do that! I am now going to concentrate on some of these trees and see if I can validate any of this information to make a legitimate tree.
From time to time, I have received comments from ancestry.com that I may be related to a John Kelly. Looking into this, I found this tree (below) where a John Kelly married an Ellen Sinnott. Some of the above mentioned trees above have an Ellen Sinnott as a match in those trees. A few of those trees also listed Peter Laurance Sinnott as an ancestor. Looking at the above trees, I can trace Ellen back to Peter, but the road back is full of problems; children born before parents, children born to 14 year old fathers, and the like. Maybe these are just typos, but it will take some work to straighten out. It is a place to start.
Looking at this tree below, Peter b. 1803, is the son of Peter Laurance Sinnott. I have a strong interest at the moment with David b. 1826. He is listed as the father of Ellen, at 14 years old??? Beyond the dates (typo??) it seems strange David only had two children over a thirteen year period. Perhaps David had a son before Peter and named him after himself; David (John). I estimate David John to be born in 1851 so he would fit into this time frame. Many first sons were named after their fathers back then. Looking at the names in his family, Catherine, Mary, John, Peter, David, Ellen, these were all names of David John's children, except David, he did not name a son after himself. I may be way off with this thought, but it is something new to look at.
I have reached out to some of the families below who died recently, like Stanislaus Sinnott (1907-2008) to see if they have any surviving males who may be willing to take a ydna test to see if I am indeed connected with them. So far, no one has replied.
níl siad ag fás d'aois, go ndiúltófar go leor an phribhléid
"Do not resent growing old, many are denied the privilege." Irish proverb
