John Francis Black was born on 12 January 1891 in Tarbert, Co. Kerry, to Michael Black and Bridget Black (Houlihan). At the time of his birth, John's father was a constable with the Royal Irish Constabulary, stationed in Tarbert.
After the family moved to Kilrush, Co. Clare in late 1893/early 1894, John attended the Christian Brothers School. In 1907 he successfully passed exams to become a Clerk in the War Office.
By 1911 John was living in London with two of his brothers, Daniel and Sinon, and was employed as an Insurance Agent.
In 1914, at the outbreak of WW1, John enlisted with the Royal Field Artilliery, and in 1915 he was deployed to the Mediterranean, followed by Mesopatamia (x2), India and Egypt. At the end of the war he resigned from the British Army in 1919 and headed back to Kilrush. He was given an excellent character record stating that "...his sobriety was excellent; he was reliable and he was intelligent".
During John's military career he suffered from a number of health issues, both physical and mental. While serving he suffered dysentery, food poisoning and life threatening pneumonia. His medical record from 1919 reported him suffering from Malaria, Melancholia and a gun shot wound to his foot (which was accidentally self-inflicted).
After returning to Kilrush he experienced a steady decline in his mental health and was regularly assessed by medical practitioners. He suffered greatly from what is now known as shell-shock and PTSD.
In May 1924, as a result of his "melancholia", he was certified 'insane' and was committed to the Our Lady's Insane Asylum in Ennis, Co. Clare.
Over the course of the next few years, John would have periods of what was recorded as "recovery", but he remained in the Ennis Mental Hospital until his death on 2 April 1950 at the age of 59. His cause of death was recorded as Generalised Tuberculosis, 1 year, certified.
John remained a bachelor all his life.
He was one of twelve children to Michael and Bridget:
• Catherine (Nagle) Black - 1881-1956
• Michael Costelloe Black - 1883-early 1960s
• Patrick Joseph Black - 1884-1943
• Sinon Black - 1886-1924
• Infant John (1888 at 6 days old)
• Sarah Black - 1888-1977
• Daniel - 1892-1966
• Martin [Mattie] Black - 1894-1958
• Mary Margaret [May] Black 1895-1919
• William James [Bill] Black - 1898-1971
• Bridget [Bridie](Howard) Black - 1901-1986
John Francis Black was born on 12 January 1891 in Tarbert, Co. Kerry, to Michael Black and Bridget Black (Houlihan). At the time of his birth, John's father was a constable with the Royal Irish Constabulary, stationed in Tarbert.
After the family moved to Kilrush, Co. Clare in late 1893/early 1894, John attended the Christian Brothers School. In 1907 he successfully passed exams to become a Clerk in the War Office.
By 1911 John was living in London with two of his brothers, Daniel and Sinon, and was employed as an Insurance Agent.
In 1914, at the outbreak of WW1, John enlisted with the Royal Field Artilliery, and in 1915 he was deployed to the Mediterranean, followed by Mesopatamia (x2), India and Egypt. At the end of the war he resigned from the British Army in 1919 and headed back to Kilrush. He was given an excellent character record stating that "...his sobriety was excellent; he was reliable and he was intelligent".
During John's military career he suffered from a number of health issues, both physical and mental. While serving he suffered dysentery, food poisoning and life threatening pneumonia. His medical record from 1919 reported him suffering from Malaria, Melancholia and a gun shot wound to his foot (which was accidentally self-inflicted).
After returning to Kilrush he experienced a steady decline in his mental health and was regularly assessed by medical practitioners. He suffered greatly from what is now known as shell-shock and PTSD.
In May 1924, as a result of his "melancholia", he was certified 'insane' and was committed to the Our Lady's Insane Asylum in Ennis, Co. Clare.
Over the course of the next few years, John would have periods of what was recorded as "recovery", but he remained in the Ennis Mental Hospital until his death on 2 April 1950 at the age of 59. His cause of death was recorded as Generalised Tuberculosis, 1 year, certified.
John remained a bachelor all his life.
He was one of twelve children to Michael and Bridget:
• Catherine (Nagle) Black - 1881-1956
• Michael Costelloe Black - 1883-early 1960s
• Patrick Joseph Black - 1884-1943
• Sinon Black - 1886-1924
• Infant John (1888 at 6 days old)
• Sarah Black - 1888-1977
• Daniel - 1892-1966
• Martin [Mattie] Black - 1894-1958
• Mary Margaret [May] Black 1895-1919
• William James [Bill] Black - 1898-1971
• Bridget [Bridie](Howard) Black - 1901-1986
Inscription
Erected
by MICHAEL BLACK
Kilrush
in memory of
his beloved daughter
MAY
who died January 11th 1919
aged 23 years
his son SINON died 19th July 1924
in London aged 37 yrs
his loving wife BRIDGET
died 9th Sept. 1924 aged 60 yrs.
MICHAEL BLACK
died 12th Dec - 1924 aged 81 yrs
MONA BLACK died 25. Dec. 1941
JOHN BLACK died 2. April 1950
CATHERINE NAGLE nee BLACK
died 20. Oct. 1956
BILL BLACK died in London
July 1. 1971
SARAH BLACK
died 13. Sept. 1977
R. I. P.
BILLY BLACK died in London 1969
JACK BLACK died in London 1970
MICHAEL BLACK died in Germany 1975
Family Members
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