John Flynn

Who was Mr John Flynn?

Mr John Flynn was a 48 (forty-eight) year-old Irish farm labourer who tragically perished in the sinking of the RMS Titanic on April 15, 1912. Born in Carrowhekeen, Clonbur, Co Galway, Ireland around 1864, Flynn’s life journey took him from the rural fields of Ireland to the bustling steel mills of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, before his fateful return voyage aboard the ill-fated Titanic.

Early Life and Family Roots

John Flynn was born into a farming family in the picturesque region of Galway, Ireland. His parents, John and Catherine Flynn, were hardworking farmers who instilled in their son the values of perseverance and dedication. Growing up alongside his two sisters, Bridget (born 1851) and Mary, young John was no stranger to the demanding life of agricultural work.

The Journey to America: A New Beginning

When did John Flynn first arrive in America?

The exact date of John Flynn’s initial emigration to the United States remains a point of historical ambiguity. While the 1910 census suggests he arrived in 1889, other sources indicate he had been a resident for 28 years as of 1912, placing his arrival around 1884. Regardless of the precise date, Flynn’s journey to America marked a significant turning point in his life.

Upon arrival in the United States, John Flynn found shelter with an uncle in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The steel city, with its booming industrial sector, offered ample opportunities for hardworking immigrants like Flynn. He quickly found employment in the local steel mills, trading the open fields of Ireland for the fiery furnaces of Pittsburgh’s industrial landscape.

Family Life in Pittsburgh

John Flynn’s personal life flourished alongside his professional endeavors in Pittsburgh. In the summer of 1891, he married Mary Cassidy, a fellow Irish immigrant from Cornamona, Galway, who had arrived in America in 1885. Their union was blessed with six children:

• Catherine (born 1893)
• Marie (born 1894)
• Edward (born 1899)
• John (born 1904)
• Elizabeth (born 1908)
• Dolores (born 1910)

The growing Flynn family became a testament to the American dream, with John working tirelessly to provide for his wife and children.

A Return to Irish Roots

In early 1912, John Flynn made the decision to return to his native Ireland. This journey was prompted by a family obligation – to visit his widowed sister Bridget. Bridget’s husband, Martin Mannion, had passed away in 1910, leaving her to manage the family farm alone. John’s visit served a dual purpose:

1. To offer support and assistance to his grieving sister
2. To assess the possibility of taking over the family farm

During his stay, John helped Bridget with the farm work, rekindling his connection to the land of his youth. However, his time in Ireland was cut short when he received a summons to return to the United States, though the exact reasons for this recall remain uncertain.

The Fateful Titanic Journey

What were the details of John Flynn’s Titanic voyage?

For his return journey to America, John Flynn boarded the RMS Titanic at Queenstown (now Cobh) on April 11, 1912. He traveled as a third-class passenger, holding ticket number 368323, which cost £6 19s (6 pounds, 19 shillings). On the passenger manifest, Flynn was described as an agricultural labourer, though his age was erroneously listed as 32 rather than his actual 48 years.

The Tragic End and Legacy

John Flynn’s life was cut short when the Titanic struck an iceberg and sank in the early hours of April 15, 1912. Like many third-class passengers, Flynn was unable to secure a place on a lifeboat and perished in the frigid waters of the North Atlantic. His body, if recovered, was never identified, leaving his family without closure.

How did John Flynn’s family cope after the tragedy?

The loss of John Flynn had a profound impact on his family. His widow, Mary, never remarried and faced the challenge of raising six children alone in Pittsburgh. By the time of the 1920 census, records show that Mary had resorted to taking in lodgers to make ends meet, a common practice for widows of the era.

Remembering John Flynn

In 2012, to mark the centenary of the Titanic disaster, a memorial was erected in Clonbur, Galway, to honor John Flynn’s memory. The inscription reads:

IN HONOUR OF JOHN FLYNN CARROWHAKEEN WHO PERISHED ON THE TITANIC 15TH APRIL 1912

This memorial stands as a poignant reminder of the human cost of the Titanic tragedy and ensures that John Flynn’s story, like those of many Irish emigrants, continues to be told. It serves not only as a tribute to Flynn but also as a symbol of the countless dreams and aspirations that were lost beneath the waves on that fateful night in April 1912.