BioSheet for:

Thomas Nash McCann

Born:August, 1808 Kilkenny, Ireland

Died: June 8, 1883 Nantucket, Mass.

Burial:Prospect Hill Cemetery, Nantucket, Mass.

Occupation:Carpenter, Cabinet Maker, Contractor.

 

Marital:Anna Langly

Margaret Nuns Alley, June 27, 1841 Nantucket, Mass.

Children:   Sarah C. (Aunt Sadie) McCann.

Comments:

In early 1841, after the death of his first wife during childbirth, TNM left his two children with his sister and emigrated to Maine.  His plan was to work as a carpenter for his uncle for a year, and then go back for his kids.

However, while en route, a storm ship-wrecked him off the coast of Mass. and he was rescued by a whaling ship run by Cpt. George (?) Fisher and his nephew/first-mate, Edward Alley.  Thomas and Edward became pals.  Thomas applied for a job on the ship, and, while waiting for the next voyage, stayed at the Alley house on Nantucket.  This is where he met Edward's sister, Margaret Nuns Alley.  They fell in love very quickly.

The problem was that Thomas was a Methodist and the Alleys were Quakers.  Margaret and Edward's father, John Alley, forbid the romance to no avail.  This was a big deal back then.  Margaret had to leave her church and her father disowned her.  But love prevailed and on June 27, 1841, they were married after only two months acquaintance. 

Some time after his marriage to Margaret, Thomas got a letter informing him that his two Ireland-born chilldren had died of a disease and his sister was left a cripple.  So he never went back to Ireland.

The religious/family issue made life on the tiny island tough for Margaret so TNM moved the family to the mainland while he took on public building projects in southeastern Mass.  Over the next 20 years, they bounced from Nantucket to Flamouth to New Bedford to Canton to Randolph before they would move back to the island.

TNM was a deeply religous Methodist.  He was the stand-in Minister at his church on Lyons Street, which he would eventually buy and become the family homestead.  He was you classic 19th century affluent businessman who strutted around with a top hat and cane.  He was also a strict disciplinarian when it came to child-rearing.