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The Journal of the Barbados Museum & Historical Society, JBMHS,
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Volume VI, page 54
JOSEPH CONNELL It is with deep regret that we record the death of Mr.Joseph Connell, a member of the Council of this Society, which tookplace in London on 19th October 1938. Descended from planter stockresident for several generations in Barbados, Joseph Connell, thefifth of that name, was born at Oughterson plantation., Barbados on 27March 1868, the son of Joseph Connell, the younger, and Ellen Mayers(Gittens) his wife. He was educated at Harrison College, Barbados,and later pursued a course of engineering in England, serving hisarticles of apprenticeship with Messrs. George Fletcher & Co., attheir engineering works at Derby. Eventually he was elected a Memberof the Institute of Mechanical Engineers. Returning to Barbados oncompleting his studies, he became associated with the late Mr. JamesJohn Law in a firm of Consulting and Mechanical Engineers, in a timeSucceeding Mr. Law as senior partner in the firm. During the lastforty years Mr. Connell was intimately associated with theconstruction and gradual expansion of several of the important sugarfactories in the Island as structural and consulting engineer. inmore recent times the firm of Law & Connell have also been engaged inthe design and construction of commercial buildings in the city, manyof which remain as monuments to Mr. Connell's genius and industry.Mr. Joseph Connell took a lively and sympathetic interest in theaffairs of the Society, personally performing the duties HonoraryConsulting Engineer and preparing the designs for re-constructing theOld Military Prison as the Society's headquarters. The new Museumbuilding was erected in 1935 under his personal direction andsupervision and in all subsequent operations at headquarters hisexperience and advice was at the disposal of the Council. Besidesbeing a prominent figure in the social life of Barbados Mr. Connelltook a keen interest in sports of all kinds. He was a member of thecity and country clubs, and President of the Savannah Club for severalyears. He is survived by his widow, who was a daughter of the lateMr. James Samuel Clarke of Coverly Plantation, and sister of Col. SirFrederick Clarke, KCMG., and the late Sir Charles Clarke, a formerAttorney General of Barbados. His eldest son Captain Joseph Connell,is a partner of the firm of Law & Connell, and his youngest son, Mr.Sydney Connell, is also with the firm. Mr. Harold Connell and Mr.Neville Connell, his other two sons, reside in England. Mr. NevilleConnell is a barrister-at-law and the author of a "life of Queen Anne"recently published. |
