“The Napoleon of the Ring,"

   "Jack McAuliffe is one of only fifteen world boxing champions to retire without a loss"
By Gerard Murphy

Image ref:  http://boxrec.com/media/index.php/Jack_McAuliffe
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​    John (Jack) McAuliffe “The Napoleon of the Ring” was born in Cork City on March 27th, 1866 his parents were Cornelius McAuliffe & Jane Bailey their address was 5 Christ Church Lane. Cornelius McAuliffe’s occupation was recorded as a Labourer. Jack’s birth location is recorded as Lying in Hospital which was a benevolent institution in Cork City for maternity at the time.

​       Jack McAuliffe’s birth certificate ordered from General Register’s office of Ireland
 
     Jack’s parents were married on September 15th, 1861 in the Parish of Holy Trinity in the City of Cork. This was a Church of Ireland Church. It is likely that Jane was Church of Ireland and McAuliffe’s were Roman Catholic. Jack’s parents were only nineteen and seventeen by the marriage certificate. Which would make Jack’s father Cornelius born approximately 1842. McAuliffe’s were listed as Fenian’s in several sources 

Marriage of Cornelius McAuliffe & Jane Bailey sourced from General Register’s office of Ireland
     This plaque in Bishop Lucey Park Cork City in honour of Jack McAuliffe was unveiled in 1997 by members of the Cork Ex-Boxers Association. (Fenian reference also in link)
 http://www.corkpastandpresent.ie/places/grandparade/bishopluceypark/

      ​Jane McAuliffe nee Bailey appears to have arrived in Boston, Massachusetts on December 5th, 1871 on the Samaria. Her husband Cornelius is not listed on the ship manifest. But Jane’s three children Harriett, Cornelius (Connor) and John were listed.
Ref: Boston, Massachusetts. Passenger Lists of Vessels Arriving at Boston, Massachusetts, 1820-1891.Micropublication M277. RG036. 115 rolls. National Archives, Washington, D.C.

     Some sources claim that Jack McAuliffe had a very close connection to Newmarket, Co.Cork and possibly even a connection to the townland of Glenamuckla (Glennamucklagh) were my own McAuliffe’s originate. We know his father and grandfather were both called Cornelius McAuliffe and his father was born c.1842.
    To try and establish this connection I looked for records on Cornelius McAuliffe Jack’s father. He died on February 10, 1888 in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, New York with his birth year recorded as 1843.
​Ref: Ancestry.com. New York, New York, Extracted Death Index, 1862-1948 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2014. 

Obituary sourced from the sports pages of New York Herald Saturday, Feb 11, 1888
The family were in the 1880 Census in Kings New York and by 1900 Jane was  widow on the census which again confirms the above. The family first lived in Maine before moving to New York. Cornelius snr occupation in 1880 is recorded as a Cooper.
Ref: 1880 Census Ancestry.com and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 1880 United States Federal Census[database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2010. 1880 U.S. Census Index provided by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints © Copyright 1999 Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved. All use is subject to the limited use license and other terms and conditions applicable to this site.
Ref: Ancestry.com. 1900 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2004.
 
The following record is the U.S. Naturalization Record for Jack’s father Cornelius McAuliffe. His arrival year is given as 1867 

Ref: Ancestry.com. U.S. Naturalization Record Indexes, 1791-1992 (Indexed in World Archives Project) [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010. This collection was indexed by Ancestry.com
The following naturalisation record was also sourced for Cornelius McAuliffe which states he arrived in 1867 and spent 3 years in the regular army and was honourably discharged. 

Ref: Ancestry.com. Maine, Federal Naturalization Records, 1787-1952 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2012.
 
There is an army enlistment record for a Cornelius McAuliffe born 1843 that joined the Army in 1867. His record states he was a Labourer from Cork, Ireland and was honourably discharged on June 24th, 1870. Nearly a year and half before Jane arrived with the children.
Ref: Original data: Register of Enlistments in the U.S. Army, 1798-1914; (National Archives Microfilm Publication M233, 81 rolls); Records of the Adjutant General’s Office, 1780’s-1917, Record Group 94; National Archives, Washington, D.C.
     No recorded source can be found from my research yet on what Cornelius McAuliffe born c.1842 mother’s name was. Assuming he was baptised Roman Catholic. There are two possible baptisms in the Roman Catholic parish registers. One from Ballyclough & Kilbrin parish March 27th, 1842 Cornelius son of Cornelius McAuliffe and Ellen Cashman I have found enough evidence to show that this is not the correct Cornelius McAuliffe as he died in 1923 much later than Jack’s father. He is also recorded as admitted to Almshouses and Poorhouses in New York on October 4th, 1915.
Ref: Ancestry.com. New York, Census of Inmates in Almshouses and Poorhouses, 1830-1920 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011.
Ref: Ancestry.com. Ireland, Catholic Parish Registers, 1655-1915 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2016.
 There is a Cornelius McAuliffe that was baptised on Jan 17th, 1843 son of Cornelius McAuliffe & Jane Grogan in Newmarket (Clonfert) parish, Co.Cork.
     This is a possible candidate but more research will need to be carried out to confirm. Possibly ordering the death record of Cornelius in 1888 might assist but death records for that time period didn’t give much details; and may not have his mother’s maiden name listed. There is also a possibly that his baptism wasn’t recorded as a lot of records from 1840’s are missing. My search will continue and any assistance appreciated. 
A book written by one of Jack McAuliffe's nephews JE McAuliffe called "Uncle Jack World Champion: Heart of the Champion Jack McAuliffe"
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Uncle Jack World Champion

America had settled her differences, the bloodied battles of the Civil War setting brother against brother were now fading to memory. Rising from the embers of the 100-year-old nation new desires looking for an identity searched for their future.