One of Newfoundland's FIRST FIVE HUNDRED to enlist for service in World War One.

CONNORS,THOMAS J. (1885-1951).born Placentia; first voyage as master of the Portia 1912;died St. John's 6 Oct.
Connors was a mariner in the employ of the Reid Newfoundland Co., perhaps best known for his command of the coastal steamer, Portia. In 1914 he made the last known sighting of the sealing steamer Southern Cross. Connors joined the Newfoundland Regiment in 1915 and later transferred to the Royal Navy. On returning to Newfoundland in 1919 he again assumed command of the Portia and subsequently commanded virtually every ship in the government coastal service. In 1942 Connors was in command of the Kyle and participated in the rescue of some of the crew from the American naval vessels Pollux and Truxton off St.Lawrence. (RHC) see Dictionary of Newfoundland and Labrador Biography

CONNORS, THOMAS J. (1885-1951) Mariner. Born Placentia. In 1904 Connors joined Bowring's Marine Department, and in 1912 became captain of the S.S. Portia. He was on board the Portia in the spring of 1914 when she made the last known sighting of the Southern Cross qv. In 1914 he enlisted in the Royal Newfoundland Regiment and sailed on the Florizel qv as a lance-corporal with the First Five Hundred. Connors transferred to the Royal Naval Division in 1915 and was commissioned as a lieutenant in the Royal Naval Reserve. While in the Mediterranean on H.M.S. Duchess of York, the ship was lost through enemy action and Connors rescued, spent ninety-four days at the Sisters of Grace Hospital in Malta. In 1919 he returned to Newfoundland and resumed command of the S.S. Portia and subsequently commanded practically every ship in the coastal service until 1949. While commanding the S.S. Kyle in 1942 he participated in the rescue operation of the U.S. naval vessels Pollux and Truxton. In 1950 Connors retired from the Marine Department of the Canadian National Railway. He died at St. John's in 1951. (GL) see Encyclopedia of Newfoundland. One of his sons William Bill Connors authored several books on Newfoundland

Captain Thomas J. Connors, uncle to my father and brother of my grandfather Louis Joseph Connors (1899-1982) was born in 1885 in Dunville near Placentia Bay, Newfoundland to Michael Connors (1850-1935) and Mary Fitzpatrick Connors of Jerseyside. His brother Father Joseph Connors and parents are buried in Mount Carmel Cemetery. Louis Joseph left Newfoundland after the death of his twin sister "May" Mary Josephine (1899-1916) joining the Merchant Marine and serving as a crew member on the SS Rosalind. While working the Merchant Marine Louis Joseph Connors met the Kennedy family of Harbor Grace, he emigrated to Brooklyn, New York and married Agatha Kennedy and had five children (2 sets of Twins) Robert , Jean and Louis "Joe," and James Joseph and John "Jack" Kennedy Connors. Captain Thomas J. Connors returned from his Mediterranean duty to Newfoundland shortly after his young brother Lou emigrated to the States. Captain Tom married Margaret White and had a large family in St. John's, Newfoundland.

1. Joachim oConnor (born ? educated Dublin, teacher buried Marquise, Newfoundland married Margaret McGrath (born died Argentia, Newfoundland)

2. Thomas Connors (abt. 1815-?) married Ann Casey (Casay) in 1835 dau of Catherine Casey & step dau. of Richard McGrath (both born Carrick, Tipperary died Argentia, Nfld) Catherine Casey was a widow husband unknown Casey. Catherine was said to be a relative of Newfoundland Bishop Michael Anthony Fleming of Carrick Beg, Waterford.

....3Patrick J. Connors (b.1853 Placentia, NL-d.) married Esther Dunphy

Daily News August 19, 1921 (Friday) SJDN
Dunville, P.B. ...
News has been lately received that Mr. Thomas Connors, son of Mr. Patrick Connors, of Dunville, having passed successfully his examination at New York, and of his having been awarded a master's certificate of competency. We congratulate Mr. and Mrs. Connors on their boy's success in the land of Uncle Sam, more especially in view of the fact that Capt. Thomas is only twenty-three years old. This is the second son to obtain a master's certificate. "Willie" as he was familiarly known, having passed his examinations, a few years ago under the efficient tuition of Mr. Francis Doyle, of St. John's, and is now making good in the land of the "brave and free", having lately been appointed Superintendent of the Munson Line at New York. Captain Thomas has recently been married to Miss Mary Healey, of Holyrood, and she is now paying a visit to her friends at Dunville. The writer also extends congratulations to Mrs. Capt. Connors on the success of her young husband, and predicts for her a pleasant voyage over the Matrimonial Sea.

...4 Thomas Connors

...4 Annie Connors

....4 Margaret Connors

....4 John Connors

....4 Captain William J. Connors "Will" (b.1884 Dunville, Placentia Bay, NL) married in 1914 Gertrude Lundrigan (born Placentia Bay, NL) appear in 1920 US Census>New York>Kings County>Brooklyn>District 22 . A master mariner, Will worked for the Munson Line in New York.

....5 Rt. Rev Bishop Ronald Gerard Connors d. Dominican Republic 2002

....5 Rev. William Connors

.....5 Alfred Connors (Cleveland, Ohio)

......5 Mary Connors married Burke

....4 Allan Connors (b. 1891 Dunville, Placentia Bay) married Gertrude's sister Marcella Lundrigan

....5 Kevin Joseph Connors aka "Chuck Connors, the Rifleman" married Betty

.....6 Michael Connors Nov. 6, 1950

......6 Jeffrey Connors July 30, 1952

.....6 Steven Connors Sep. 4, 1953

.....6 Kevin Connors June 9, 1956

..Gloria Connors

....3Joachim Connors married the sister of Esther Dunphy, Mary Josephine Dunphy

...4

....3 William Connors (born died in England at a young age )

....3 Mary Connors (born 1839 Placentia Bay, NL married Alyward line of St. Lawrence NL

....Hon. Justice Fintan Alyward Supreme Court Justice NL

......3 Catherine Connors b. 1840 Placentia Bay NL ?

.......3 Thomas Connors b. 1841 married Fleming

....3Grace Ann Connors born 1849 Placentia Bay, Newfoundland

...3 Michael Connors born April 1854 Argentia, Newfoundland died Oct. 31, 1935 married Mary Fitzpatrick, born Nov. 1859 Jerseyside died January 13, 1946 both buried Mt. Carmel

.....4 Hugh Connors died young March 1897

.....4 Pierce Connors

.....4 Alicia Connors married MacCormack (one child) all buried Mount Carmel

.... 4 Thomas Joseph Connors (b. Placentia Bay, NL 1885-1951) Captain married Margaret White St. John's Newfoundland 1919

....5 William Connors b. 1925 St. John's NL married Florence Murphy

...6 Margo Connors married Robert Stack St. John's NL

.....4 Father Joeseph Connors buried Mt. Carmel Cemetery with parents

.....4 Louis Joseph Connors (Oct. 10, 1899-1982) married Agatha Kennedy of Harbour Grace, Newfoundland emigrated to Brooklyn 1916

....5 Robert Connors married Helen "Terry " Keane

...6 Christopher Connors

...6

...6

...6 Kathleen Connors

....5 Louis Joseph Connors married Margaret

...6 Brian Connors

...Mary Kay Connors

....5 Jean Connors Married Walter Tomitz

...6 Kevin Tomitz

...6 Michael Tomitz

....6 Tomitz

....6 Mary Lynn Tomitz

....5 James Connors married Nancy Pullman

...6 James Connors

....6 William Connors

....6 Thomas Connors

....6 Julie Connors

.....5 John Kennedy Connors married Margaret O'Gorman

....6 Laurie Connors

...6 John Connors

....6 Daniel Connors

....6Louis Connors

....6 Joanne Connors

.....4 Mary Josephine Connors (Oct. 10, 1899-1916) "May" twin of Lou died age 16 Placentia Bay, NL