Dorchester Illustration no. 2315 Harry Erving Morrissey
At the Dorchester Historical Society, we are in the process of a year-long project to commemorate the 100-year anniversary of World War 1. Using a collection of photographs we have of World War 1 Dorchester residents, we will be featuring servicemen and women in a number of short biographies throughout the year. At the culmination of the project, we hope to produce an online exhibit which highlights these men and women and their service to our country.
Our next biography features Harry E. Morrissey:
Harry Morrissey (he also signed his name “Morrisey”) was an immigrant, born January 31, 1890, in Waterford, New Brunswick. He arrived by train with his mother Mary and three older siblings in Boston on April 15, 1906, a young man of medium height, dark complexion, with black hair and blue eyes. His statement on the border crossing registration was “no relatives in Canada,” so his father may have been deceased. He gave his full name and his occupation as plumber, a trade he followed throughout his life. Their original address was on Hamilton Street in Dorchester, where his mother is listed as head of household.
Harry registered for the WWI draft on June 5, 1917, having announced his intention to become a US citizen. At that time, he had already married Catherine V. McGuire and had two children, living on Mattapan Street in Mattapan. He served with the American Expeditionary Force, QMC, Chief Purchasing Office.
By 1920, they lived on Cypress Road, Brighton, with three daughters and two sons. By 1930, he had remarried to a woman named Margaret Costello, with whom he had a daughter and son.
At the time of the the WWII draft, Harry was working for J.P. Landers, plumbers, on Bowdoin St., Dorchester, and living on Torrey St., Dorchester. There’s no evidence he was called to serve in that war. He died May 2, 1972, while living in Dorchester. His funeral was at St. Ambrose in Dorchester and he is buried in Braintree. He was survived by 27 grandchildren and 7 great-grandchildren.
Do you know more about Harry E. Morrissey? We would love to hear from you! All material has been researched by volunteers at the Dorchester Historical Society, so please let us know if we got something wrong or you think a piece of the story is missing! You may contact us through the Dorchester Historical Society website in the box at the bottom of the home screen www.dorchesterhistoricalsocietyblog.org
References:
Ancestry.com:
Massachusetts State and Federal Naturalization record, 15 April 1906.
US Border Crossings from Canada to U.S., 1825-1960
US Draft registration, WWI, WWII
US Census, 1910, 1920, 1930, 1940