Dennis “Denny” O’Brien was born in Kilrush, County Clare in Ireland on 15 April 1828 (records show sometime between 1828 and 1835). According to his death record (28 JAN 1903, Rheumatism, Fall River, MA.) his parents were John and Elizabeth (maiden name unknown).

He went to Oughterard in Galway and enlisted with the 88th Regiment of Foot at the age of 17 on 16 MAR 1846. The military record shows a John O’Brien from Kilrush who enlisted about the same time, and the two served together for quite a while, brother possibly? In April of 1849 Dennis was in Grenada with the 88th foot until March 1850. By October 1850 he is in Bury, Lancashire, England with the regiment. On January 9, 1854 he marries Ellen Cummings (Cummins).

September 20, 1854 finds Dennis and his Regiment at the battle of Alma on the Crimean Peninsula in the Ukraine. On the 5th of November 1854 Dennis is wounded at the battle of Inkerman. He (and John O’Brien) are awarded the Crimean War Medal with “Alma” and “Inkerman” clasps.

February 12, 1856 Dennis is discharged from the 88th Foot, “Unfit for service from lameness of the left leg after gun puncture of the Femur, ball cutting the buttock – also gunshot wound of the left elbow joint – both wounds received at Inkerman.”
By December 25, 1858 Dennis is employed in Stockport as a “Cotton Mixer” two years later his occupation is listed as “Overlooker of cotton mixers.”

According to the 1861 Census, the O’Briens lived at 53 Water st. in Heaton Norris, Stockport with their daughters Catherine (b. 25 DEC 1859, Heaton Norris) and Mary Ann (b. 28 NOV 1860, Heaton Norris), and Ellen’s mother, Catherine (nee McGlynn) Cummings (b. 1809, Ireland)
On 17 FEB 1863 the O’Briens and Catherine Cummings arrived in the port of New York and went on to Providence, Rhode Island. Elizabeth M. O’Brien was born (1865-1934) followed in 1870 by Dennis Joseph O’Brien (1870-1962)

By 1880 the family had moved to Fall River, MA. To work in the mills. Catherine Cummings passed away possibly around 1883, her daughter and Dennis’ wife, Ellen died 20 JAN 1890 at the age of 63. She was buried in St. Mary’s cemetery in Fall River, at some point remains were removed from St. Mary’s and placed in St. Patrick’s Cemetery, no records were kept as to who was moved or where they were moved to.
Catherine O’Brien married Thomas Boyle (1855-1893) she passed away 18 JUL 1909.
Mary Ann O’Brien married a widower, Anthony G. Caton (1861-1910) on 24 OCT 1901 in Fall River, MA. Anthony was born in Lancashire, England and worked for the railroad. His children and home were in Atchison, Kansas (the home of Amelia Earhart). Mary Ann (O’Brien) Caton passed away on 28 FEB 1928, she is buried in Atchison.

Elizabeth O’Brien, as far as I know, never married and passed away in Fall River on 20 APR 1934.
The only child of Dennis and Ellen that I know for a fact married and had children of their own was Dennis J. O’Brien. Dennis graduated from B.M.C. Durfee High School in Fall River in 1888. He married Matilda Lowe (1876-1944) on 3 JAN 1893. Dennis worked as a meat cutter for the Hudner Market in Fall River for many years. Dennis passed away in 1962.
Dennis and Matilda had nine children. Dennis J. O’Brien (1893-1972), Mary M. O’Brien (1898-1985), Michael Louis O’Brien (1905-1927), and Kathryn M. O’Brien, none of whom are known to have married.
Michael graduated from Durfee High School 25 JUN 1924 and died by drowning shortly after graduating from law school.
Margaret E. O’Brien (1900-1988) married Alfred Ault (1899-1978) they had no children.
James Francis O’Brien (1911-1974) married Beatrice Bourgeois (1914-?) to my knowledge they also had no children.
George Lowe O’Brien (1896-1977) Married Mary V. Brady (1895-1962) and they had three children that I know of, George L. O’Brien Jr. (1925-2009 – no marriage record), John F. O’Brien (1926-1939 – Brain Tumor) and Maureen C. O’Brien (1928 – Living)
Maureen O’Brien married Robert W. Guilmette, their children are Maureen and William Guilmette.
Charles C. O’Brien (1909-1945) married Julie Ouellette (1910-?) their children were Charles M. O’Brien (1941-living) and Robert W. O’Brien (1943-1988) (I believe they had a daughter also, but I don’t have her information)
John Anthony O’Brien (1903-1933), my Great Grandfather married Mildred Rigby (1902-1957), they had two children, Mildred L. O’Brien (1923-2013) and John W. O’Brien Sr. (1928-2000) John Anthony died of Pulmonary Tuberculosis at the age of 30, I believe his occupation was listed as “Brick layer” Mildred Rigby O’Brien was remarried to Henry J. Legendre about 1951.

Mildred married Gilbert Rapoza (1922-2003) and they had children and grandchildren.
John married Beatrice M. Caouette (1927-2012) they had five daughters and three sons, one son, David James O’Brien was born with congenital heart disease (possibly had a cleft lip and palate also) and only lived from May-August 1955. He was laid to rest in St. Patrick’s Cemetery with John Anthony O’Brien.
John and Beatrice’s 7 surviving children spawned them 20 grandchildren (of which I am currently the oldest) and at last count, 15 great-grandchildren.
Dennis J. O’Brien ran the Gage Hill Riding School in Fall River, he passed away in Claremont, NH at the age of 78 and is buried in St. Patrick’s with his family.
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It seems pretty clear that the "famine" (Irish holocaust) drove Dennis to join the British Army, he lost some pay for being absent on at least on occasion. Life for Irish Catholics was tough in Heaton Norris and Stockport, England as well due to protestant animosity (and their burning of the catholic church where Dennis and Ellen were married)
I can't imagine the courage it took for Dennis and Ellen to move their family to a country undergoing a civil war. I think if i told my wife we were going to be moving with our 3 children to Egypt, she'd shoot me!
I have more information than what I've presented here, further details, occupations, obituaries, etc. In general, the O'Briens had many friends in Fall River and were well liked and well connected to the community.
Ellen's family, the Cummings also came over and settled in Fall River alongside the O'Briens. Her Brothers John and William and sister Catherine Cummings married and had families. John's son John William Cummings was a popular lawyer and two time mayor of Fall River. i haven't verified this but i have seen some records that claim the Cummings' came from Strokestown, Roscommon, Ireland.