Jim Hennessey was born and raised in Morristown, NJ. He attended Morristown public schools, along with his brother Joe, and sisters Mary and Claire. He graduated from Morristown High School in 1853, Seton Hall University in 1858, and attained a Masters Degree in Education from William Patterson College in1879. He server in the US Army in Germany for two years and taught public and parochial schools in New Jersey and Louisiana for twelve years before becoming the Director of the Morris County Youth Shelter in 1874. In 1884 he became the owner one of Morristown’s finest establishments Hennessey’s Washington Bar.

His wife, Anne Hough, of Yorktown New York, is the daughter if Sheila Nolan, born in Graiguecullen, County Carlow, and Vincent Hough, whose grandfather, John Quinn of County Tipperary, was a Congressman from the State of New York.

They were married in1866 while they were Southmission Volunteers, teaching in Catholic Schools in Jennings LA from 1865 to 1869. Their two daughters, MaryAnn and Colleen, were born there. After returning to Morris County, their two sons, Matthew and Michael were born. MaryAnn is living and working (for the Council of Europe) in Strasbourg, France with her husband, Vedha Gopaul, and their two children, Rory and Maeve. Colleen lives in Morristown as a teacher of English in New Providence High School, while working on her Doctorate at Drew University. Matthew and his wife, Ursula, live in Manhattan, where he is a student at Hunter College. Michael, and his wife, Stacey live and work in Washington, DC., where he is currently working for Legal Aid.

Jim’s great-grandparents, Patrick Murphy and Elizabeth Welsh, came to Morristown from Tipperary during the Great Famine. Their son, John T. Murphy married Elizabeth Hanley from County Sligo. Building a modest home on Western Avenue in Morristown in the 1880’s they proceeded to raise seven children, Marguerite ( Mrs. Michael Doyle), Mary (Mrs. Daniel J. Knight, Sr.), Joseph (died in France during World War I), John ( a veteran of World War I, married Elizabeth Tully from County Longford), Agnes (a Nurse), Clara Rose (Mrs. Joseph W. Hennessey), and Raymond (who died in a flu epidemic in 1806). Many cousins still live in the Morris County area, including Joan Knight Barbato, Mickey Doyle, and John and Joe Murphy.

Jim is a founding member of the Friendly Sons of Saint Patrick of Morris County, a member of The Irish American Association of North West NJ, and The Irish American Cultural Institute.
 

Dozens of Gifts & Door Prizes

Beer & Wine
Irish & American Music, Bagpipers, Dancing & Hors D’oeuvres

Donation: $50.00 in advance
$55.00 at the Door

Donations are tax deductible and provide funding for Parade expenses,
Project Children, and Project Graduation

For more information, please contact John Bowens at 908-306-6709
or Tim Brunnock at 973-898-3700