O'Neills of Witless Bay

NL GenWeb

Avalon South Region ~ Southern Shore District

The O'Neill family of Witless Bay

Items from MUN CNS, PANL & The Evening Telegram (now The Telegram). Collected by Sheldon O'Neill and Sue O'Neill (for research purposes only)

The Evening Telegram, St. John's
Thursday, December 7, 1946

The death of Chief of Police P. J. O'Neill
Chief of Police O'Neill Enters Into Rest

The death of Chief of Police P. J. O'Neill, O.B.E., which occurred yesterday evening at St. Clare's Mercy Hospital where he was taken a few days ago for a surgical operation, will be learned with regret by his numerous friends throughout the country and abroad. He was the son of Katherine and the late James O'Neill of Witless Bay and was born March 10th 1883. He was educated at the Public School in his native town and joined the Constabulary in October 1903. Fourteen years later he was promoted to Sergeant and became Head Constable in 1920. In 1922 he was again promoted becoming Superintendent.
During World War I, he performed important missions, being sent to Labrador in 1918 to report on the possibility of assistance being given the enemy or supplying stations being established for enemy submarines. One year later, he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Newfoundland Regiment, placed under orders of the Admiralty, and given command of a patrol ship. Promoted to the rank of First Lieutenant in 1917 he was commissioned as a Justice of the Peace for the Colony, and was again in command of a patrol ship, serving under the command of Commodore Sir Charles Croke.
In 1918 saw him again in command of a patrol ship, and commissioned to hear exemption cases on Labrador under the military Services Act. He was also commissioned to perform magisterial work on the Labrador.
After hostilities had ceased he received through Commander McDremot, R.N., the thanks of the Canadian Naval authorities at Ottawa for the manner in which the patrol work was performed.
On August 18th, 1919, his name was brought to the notice of the Secretary of State for War for valuable services rendered in connection with the war.
In May 1934, he was sent to England to attend a conference of the heads of police in the British Empire at London and to take a special course at Scotland Yard. In August 1934 he was appointed an officer of the Order of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire.
The Chief of Police was a great lover of horses and for a number of years had been President of the S.P.C.A. He was also an honorary member of the Regatta Committee and a member of the old St. John's Rifle Club. It was through his efforts that the Rifle Range at the Sandpitts was built just prior to the present war.
He was married on June 18th 1917, to Miss Theresa O'Neill of Harbour Grace, who survives him. Besides his wife he leaves to mourn a son, James Patrick and a daughter Mary Loretta, his mother and three sisters.

The Evening Telegram, St. John's
Thursday December 7, 1944

Supreme Court Tribute to the Late Chief of Police

In Supreme Court to-day His Lordship Chief Justice Hon. Sir L.E. Emerson, Mr. Justice Dunfield and Mr. Justice Fox expressed the regret of the court at the death of Chief of Police P.J. O'Neill. The Chief Justice said:
Before the Court rises I feel that I should express on my own behalf and I feel sure in conjunction with my brother Judges our deep regret of the death of Mr. P.J. O'Neill, Chief of Police. Mr. O'Neill has had a very distinguished career. He was successful all his life with the administration of the law, risen from the rank of policeman to that of head of the Force. He was an extremely efficient officer who took a keen interest in training the Police Force and the Fire Department. From his early youth he displayed great ability and skill. Whilst bringing his force to a state of great efficiency he taught the members of that Force, what he himself believed, that the policeman was the friend of the public. He was a man of great diplomacy, a man of fine character, and I feel sure that he country has suffered a great loss in his passing. I have been associated with him officially during two separate periods, first as Minister of Justice and then as Commissioner of Justice, covering in all about ten years, and I speak with intimate knowledge of his great qualities.
I wish to express my sincere sympathy to his widow and children on his sudden passing and the hope that they will find some consolation in the knowledge that they have the sympathy of a vast number of the people of this country, which he served so faithfully.
Mr. Justice Dunfield and Mr. Justice Fox, who said he had lost a personal friend, spoke with deep feelings, concurring in all that had been said by the Chief Justice.

The Evening Telegram, St. John's
Saturday, April 20, 1946

WOMAN OF THE WEEK

Dr. Florence O'Neill, B.A., M.A., Ed.D

Dr. Florence O'Neill, now Asst. Director of Adult Education, received her early education at the Presentation Convent, Witless Bay, where she was born. Graduating from High School at an early age, she began her work in that field in which she was destined to make her career. For six years she taught various outport schools. It may be significant that she too, made her beginning where the late Lord Morris began his career on the Island of Oderin.
"From my earliest childhood" said Dr. O'Neill "I had an insatiable thirst for knowledge. My love of people in all walks of life prompted my desire to acquire the necessary information and to utilize it in the best interests of my country." "Oh, but the road was not easy" said Dr. O'Neill. "During my undergraduate years I never had the opportunity of doing two consecutive years at college, but by alternating two years teaching and one year college, by saving, working summers with the Playground Association, marking papers and doing all sorts of odd jobs, my dreams of graduation were finally realized."
Dr. O'Neill graduated from Dalhousie University in '36 with a B.A. in Education. However, before taking her final year, that same interest in humanity prompted the desire to learn something of the unpleasant side of city life. Accordingly, she became the first woman stenographer of the Central District Court, having previously worked up a business-course on her own. Adult classes held at night for a small group of advanced pupils contributed in a small way to her ultimate ambition.
On graduation from Dalhousie Dr. O'Neill joined the Adult Education staff her and by special request was sent to some of the most isolated sections of the country. She continued this work for six years. Concerning her work during this period she says "I would not have missed this opportunity for the world. I t has given me invaluable information, appreciation of people generally, a deeper understanding of their way of life and a background of experience, otherwise impossible to acquire. Furthermore it has confirmed my faith in Adult Education as an important factor in promoting a positive social change."
Dr. O'Neill, having convinced herself of he importance of Adult Education on a much broader basis, attended a Summer School at Columbia University, New York in 1939 which only whetted her appetite. She says "I was still hungry for the opportunity to do uninterrupted study and so in 1942, returned again to Columbia to do further work towards my Master's Degree." The longed-for opportunity eventually arrived. Dr. O'Neill enjoyed the distinction of being offered a Carnegie Fellowship as well as Rockefeller Fellowship and three Dean Scholarships from Columbia University.
"This made it possible for me to study for my Doctor's Degree," continued Dr. O'Neill, "and at this point, I may say I could hardly believe that my goal was in sight. It was my first really lucky break." "The work was hard", Dr. O'Neill admitted, "and it was one continual grind, working through summer school and intersessions, but there was always the incentive of having a great hope realized. During my studies I met many stimulating people
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