The chaplain's lady

John O'Brien was born in Ireland (possibly in Kilkenney, southwest of Dublin). He attended college in Dublin until 1827 and emigrated "in deacons' order" shortly thereafter. He was ordained a minister in the U.S. in 1833 and became the 1st rector of Trinity Church in Monroe, Michigan Territory. In 1836, he married Charlotte Tull (1812-1855) who was born in Lockenge, England and immigrated with her family to Monroe in 1832. They had four sons: Lyster Miller (b. 1836), Allen Henry (1839-1855), Noel Cooper "Nony" (b. 1843) and Herbert Leigh "Bertie" (b. 1845). In 1842, the then family of four left Monroe and settled at Fort Mackinac where John was the first chaplain. In 1855, Charlotte and Allan died of unknown illnesses a few months apart. The family remained on Mackinac Island until 1861, when troops were withdrawn from the fort. John eventually obtained a parish in Pontiac (Zion Episcopal Church) where he served until his sudden death in 1864.