This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/an/Hi1.2ACEB/58.59.77.1.1.1 Message Board Post: Carol, Not only was he a boxer - 2 time world champion bare-knuckles - he was also a 2 term state senator in New York and a 2 term US Congressman. Yes, he was an enforcer for the Tamany Hall bosses in New York. This was immortalized in the film "The Gangs of New York". Leo DiCaprio played uncle John. He was given a gambling hall in New York City and one in Saratoga, New York by the Tamany Hall bosses. He is credited with bringing gambling and prostitution to Saratoga. He also started horse racing at Saratoga. There is an annual horse race in Saratoga every August called the John Morrissey. Yes, I did say uncle John. According to family history, he is the brother of Joseph Morrissey, my gr gr gr grandfather. The odd thing is that Joseph was supposedly born in County Limerick, while John was born in Templemore, County Tipperary (according to his bio). Joseph went and settled in St. John's Newfoundland, while John went to New York.