"O'Flynn, a sept in Munster deriving their name from Floinn, descended from the ancient kings of Connaught; the chieftain of the sept lived at Ardagh Castle, in a territory between Skibbereen and Baltimore, County Cork. Arms: a wolf pass as in chief three bezants. Crest: a dexter hand erect, couped, holding a serpent, tail embowed, head to the sinister all ppr." (Burke's "General Armory.") The arms of the O'Flynns of Connaught: "Ar, a dexter arm couped between two swords in pale all ppr." Cuornan of Uadach, son of Aodh the eighth Christian King of Connaught, was the ancestor of O'Flainn anglecized O'Flynn, Flynn, Lynn and Blood (of Connaught) (O'Hart's "Irish Pedigree.") Twelve generations from Cuornan of Uadach. The giving of both Christian and surnames began with Feach O'Flynn.
(I) The founder in America of the Flynn family of Waterford here considered was John Flynn, born in Turbrugh, county Mayo, Ireland, in 1727, died November 3, 1817. He was in the United States in 1749 and it is thought that he came at an earlier date. He served in the English army during the colonial wars preceding the revolution. He is named in the first census, taken in 1790, as a freeholder and head of a family. Beginning in 1753, he kept a hotel on the river five miles above Waterford, New York, on what is known as the "Flynn farm," part of the "Van Schaick patent" and still owned in the family. He married Mary Davis, born in county Armagh, Ireland, in 1749, died in Half Moon, Saratoga county, New York, on the "Flynn Farm," August 22, 1831.
(II) George, son of John and Mary (Davis) Flynn, was born in the town of Half Moon, Saratoga county, New York, April 14, 1800, died June 2, 1853. He was a very successful and prosperous farmer. Married Jane McCarthy, born in Ounslow, county Cork, Ireland, 1806, died March, 1884.
(III) Daniel, son of George and Jane (McCarthy) Flynn, was born in the town of Half Moon, Saratoga county, New York, 1832, died in Waterford, New York, November, 1906. He was an active, successful farmer of the town, a member of the Masonic fraternity, a staunch Democrat, and held several of the town offices. He was a man of quiet tastes and habits, very energetic and much liked by his neighbors. He married, 1863, Ellen McEvoy, born in Montgomery county, New York, 1841; died 1889. They were the parents of nine children, of which John W. was the eldest. Ellen McEvoy was a daughter of Francis McEvoy, born in Ireland, married, came to the United States and settled in Montgomery county, New York. He caught the "gold fever," started for California in 1849, and was never again heard from. He married Jane, daughter of Hugh McAram, one of the first woolen manufacturers in the United States.
(IV) John William, eldest son of Daniel and Ellen (McEvoy) Flynn, was born in the town of Half Moon, Saratoga county, New York, January 2, 1864. He attended the public schools until he was thirteen, then began clerking in a grocery store. When fifteen years of age he had a small grocery store of his own on the canal of Flynn's Lock, five miles north of Waterford. It was a most profitable store and he continued in business there until he was twenty-three. He then began learning the stone-cutting and mason trade, and took contracts for work in that line. He was in the employ of several firms in different capacities, from foreman to superintendent. He was employed on railroad, canal, bridge and tunnel work. In these years, as employee, he was gaining valuable experience and business capacity. In 1897 he began contracting similar work for his own account. He secured the contract for double tracking the Boston and Maine Railroad from Troy to Melrose, also for building several of the large docks in Troy. He built the roadbed of the Hudson Valley Railroad, from Fort Edward south ten miles, the dam at Greenwich Pond, Saratoga avenue, Waterford, and many other large undertakings. In addition to his contracting, Mr. Flynn is a large dealer in real estate, buying and selling for his own account only. He is a successful business man, with a wide experience and keen judgment to guide him. He is self-reliant and full of energy. He is a supporter of the Republican party and is occasionally a delegate to conventions, but not an office seeker. The Flynns were in the early days Presbyterians, then for two generations Roman Catholics, but Mr. Flynn is not affiliated with any church. He is a member of the Waterford Club. He cherishes some ancient relics of his great-grandfather, among others an account he kept in Half Moon, showing entries made in 1766, and some valuable old maps.
He married, June 21, 1896, at the Church of the Sacred Heart, Albany, Emily, born at Waterford, New York, daughter of Charles and Margaret (Manogue) Furlong. The Furlongs were originally of England, settled in Ireland, and in 1840 came to the United States. Charles Furlong was a cousin of General Charles Furlong, who served on General Grant's staff, and a nephew of Colonel Standish, of the British army. He was a veteran of the civil war, serving in the Sixth Regular United States Cavalry, engaged in many of the severest battles of the war, and was wounded at the battle of the Wilderness. He was in charge of the guard at the prison in Washington when Captain Wirtz, of Andersonville infamy, was executed, and an orderly to General Hancock when Mrs. Surratt paid the penalty of her life, shortly after the assassination of President Lincoln. Many persons tried to bribe Mr. Furlong with large sums to be allowed to witness her execution, but all were rigidly excluded save those whose duty compelled them to be present. A short time before his death, in 1907, Mr. Furlong said, in speaking of the hanging of Mrs. Surratt, that it was one of the most "painful memories of his life." His wife Margaret died at Watervliet in 1883. Children: Thomas Furlong, of Elizabeth, New Jersey; Joseph, of Poughkeepsie, New York; Emily. The latter was born at Watervliet, New York, 1870, died October 21, 1909. Children of John W. and Emily (Furlong) Flynn:
- Anita Mary, born in Oswego, New York, April 27, 1897.
- John, born in Waterford, New York, 1898, died 1900, aged one year, eleven months.
- Furlong, born in Waterford, New York, December 27, 1901.
- Robert, born in Waterford, New York, October, 1904, deceased.
The Flynn home has been in Waterford, New York, since marriage.