John Patrick Farrell was a resident of Mansfield on August 12, 1862 when he enlisted as a Private in Co. D of the 21st Regiment Connecticut Volunteer Infantry. He was wounded July 1, 1864 in Petersburg, Virginia and discharged for disability February 9, 1865.

The descriptive muster roll of the 21st Regiment Connecticut Volunteer Infantry lists his age as 29 and his occupation as farmer.  He is described as being 5’ 9” tall with a light complexion and light hair and blue eyes.  His marital status is single.

He was born about 1834 in Currick on Suir, Waterford County, Ireland to Patrick and Elizabeth ( _____). Farrell.  The family immigrated to the United States when he was a small boy and first settled in Hartford, Connecticut. He moved to Mansfield as an adult and in the 1860 U.S. census in Mansfield, he is a 20 year old farmer in the household of Millen Crane. John worked for Olin S. Chaffee and Bridget “Delia” Kennedy worked as a personal maid to Mrs. Chaffee; John and Bridget were married on November 11, 1866.  Between 1867 and 1888 they had fifteen children, including two sets of twins.  Children: William Olin Farrell, born July 28, 1867; Anne Agnes and May Jane Farrell, born January 16, 1870; Margaret Matilda Florence Farrell, born November 3, 1871; Bridget Delia Farrell, born April 23, 1873; Martha Jane Farrell, born August 28, 1876; Katherine Farrell, born December 19, 1878; John Henry and Peter Matthew Farrell, born May 21, 1881; Ellen Francis Farrell; born June 15, 1882; Elizabeth Farrell, born July 21, 1883; John Joseph Farrell, born September 2, 1884; Annie Farrell born June 27, 1886 and Paul Raymond Farrell born February 27, 1888. 

John Farrell purchased 54 acres of land from Alvin Bosworth in the North Society of Mansfield on February 3, 1869 and started his own farm. The house and surrounding property was on the corner of Hanks Hill and Farrell Roads. He added to the property over the years until it became a sizable farm that included five barns; the original house and one barn are still standing. Farrell Road is named after John Patrick Farrell and three of his great-great grandchildren still live on land that was part of the farm.

On January 3, 1866, he applied for an invalid pension, No. 99,164 that was granted under certificate No. 61,944. According to the list of pensioners on the roll in 1883, he was receiving $6 per month for a wounded head and injured left knee. His widow applied for a pension after his death. John Farrell died on August 3, 1902 in Mansfield and is buried at St. Joseph’s Cemetery in Windham, Connecticut.