This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: BarryTaylor39 Surnames: Toorish O'Donnell Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/localities.britisles.ireland.tyr.general/7474.2.1.2/mb.ashx Message Board Post: Hi again Susan! I did a really quick extract of TOORISH families in the 1901 Census of Ireland. There are only two Michaels in the lot, a Mick Joseph born abt 1897 and a Michael born 1846. I strongly believe that this letter was written by Joseph (probably Joseph Michael), son of John TOORISH and Catherine O'DONNELL. Two of the four brothers in this family (Joseph and John McConalogue) served in the Canadian military in WWI. >From his Canadian military attestation paper I learned that Joseph was recruited quite late in the conflict, 18 Dec 1917 to be exact. His N.O.K. was John TOORISH of Strabane, Ireland. It appears that he proceeded overseas in or about June 1918 as a member of a reserve battalion, but the war probably ended before he was ever due to be sent to the Front. Here is his obituary from the Toronto Daily Star, 8 Sep 1942: FOLKLORE AUTHORITY JOSEPH TOORISH DIES Requiem high mass will be sung at St. Basil's Church Wednesday morning at 10:00 o'clock for Joseph Toorish, who died Saturday. Mr. Toorish, a native of Strabane, County Tyrone, was considered an authority on Irish folklore and literature, and until recently was a frequent contributor of Irish witicisms to the press. He was one of the last of the old school of Irish patriots who, for a quarter of a century, kept ever green the memory of the Emerald Isle in Toronto. He was also a pianist, and his repertoire of Gaelic melodies was a feature of March 17 concerts. Mr. Toorish loved horses, and the stables his family maintained were among the most notable in the north of Ireland. He was an accountant, and prior to his retirement he had been connected with several of Toronto's largest business concerns. He is survived by his widow, Mary Watson Toorish, one son, Frank, and a daughter, Enda. Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board.