Irish or Uilleann Bagpipe Makers, North America, Before 1950

Anderson, Michael (1865-1947)
Boyle, Ed (active 1910-20)
Brennan, James E. (1879-1944)
Brown, Patrick A. "Patsy" (1872-1957)
Cahill, James (circa 1847-1908)
Carbray, James (1860-after 1917)
Carney, Michael (1872-1938)
Carolan, Michael (circa 1815-circa 1897)
Conner & Boyle (active before 1925)
Corcoran, Matthew (circa 1800-after 1885)
Crowley brothers (active circa 1915-before 1950)
Early, James (1846-1914)
Egan, Michael (d. circa 1860)
Green (active circa 1910-1950)
Harrington, Denis J. (active 1850-1860)
Henneberry, Michael D. (circa 1888-1950)
Hennelly, Patrick (1896-1978)
Hutton, Robert (1845-1930)
Mack, Samuel (1845-after 1909)
Morris, Joseph or Michael (20th century?)
O'Donnell, Charles (1854-1949)
Ryan of Nenagh (active 1897)
Scorgie, John (circa 1773-1822)
Smith, James Joseph (1855-1935)
Sullivan, Daniel (circa 1851-1912)
Taylor brothers (active before 1862-circa 1891)
White, Edward "Ned" (circa 1809-1877)

Introduction

These pipemaker entries are in a format taken from The New Langwill Index: A Dictionary of Musical Wind-Instrument Makers and Inventors (by William Waterhouse, published in London 1993).

Some entries have a link to another page with my comments and additional references. The link is found in the Bibliography section of the entry under my name.

Two names were mentioned as possible pipemakers for which so little is known that I mention them here, not in a full entry.

In 1972 Barry O'Neill was talking with Peter Broderick in Galway and Broderick mentioned a player and maker, back from America, named Joe or Michael Morris.

Ryan "of Nenagh [Tipperary] ... still carries on the business of a pipe maker in Thame Street, San Francisco." This from a letter to the editor in a Scottish newspaper, 1897. The only reference. There is and was no Thame Street in San Francisco.
Sloane, Henry "The Bagpipes." [letter to the editor] Inverness, Scotland Highland News Sep. 18, 1897 p. 9 column 3 From the British Library.

I hope this list gives a sense of what is known about these men as pipemakers. Perhaps it will be a starting point for more research. I would be happy to hear of more information about any of these men and the instruments they made.

Nick Whitmer
Ithaca, New York
nwhitmer@livesofthepipers.com
April-September 2020

Emigrated to US circa 1879, supposedly taught piping by and claimed to have apprenticed as pipemaker to the Taylor brothers of Philadelphia before William Taylor's death in 1893. Ad as "Manufacturer of Union Pipes," in NYC, 1900. To Ireland 1903-04 with intention of making pipes. Ads as "Manufacturer of the Irish pipes," in NYC, 1906, 1911-12. Trips to Ireland 1912, 1914, 1915?, 1930s. Engagements as professional musician in New York and Pennsylvania at least from 1901-18. Returned to Ireland 1946. His pipemaking tools sold or given to a resident of Ballymote, Sligo.

MAKER'S MARK: unmarked

ADDRESSES: 1900, Care of M. McLoughlin 96 Columbus Ave. NYC; 1906, 524 W. 51 St. NYC; 1911-12, 1956 2d Av., [near] 101st St. NYC; 1920s?, 1459 Amsterdam Avenue NYC; 1930, 780 Greene Ave. Brooklyn.

LOCATION: one set in the National Museum of Ireland, Dublin, "possibly mislabeled as Taylor;" other sets privately owned.

BIBLIOGRAPHY:

Lines, Rick "Piper Michael Anderson 1865-1947" An Píobaire vol. 4 no.16 July 2002 pp. 21-22
https://pipers.ie/source/media/?galleryId=1013&mediaId=26002

"Musical Instrument Making in Cork." [to US at age 14; apprenticed to the Taylor brothers] Dublin Ireland [Evening] Saturday Herald Nov. 28, 1903
Irishnewsarchive.com
Brought to my attention by Emmett Gill of NPU

Walstrom, Mark "Early Pipe Makers in America" Pipers' Review vol. 22 no. 3 Summer 2003 p. 20
https://pipers.ie/source/media/?galleryId=1036&mediaId=26390

Whitmer, Nick "Michael J. Anderson" Lives of the Pipers 2018
http://livesofthepipers.com/1andersonmichael.html

"Musical Instrument Making in Cork." [Anderson "whose portrait we reproduce herewith"] Dublin Ireland [Evening] Saturday Herald Nov. 28, 1903
Irishnewsarchive.com
Brought to my attention by Emmett Gill of NPU

According to his notebook, made at least three full sets, one with four regulators, and a practice set. His work in the style of the Taylor brothers. Crude measurements for 15 chanters by different makers in his notebook. Described as "pipemaker and repairer" in list of pipers compiled by Francis O'Neill, 1917. Met Patrick Touhey at least once, 1920. His father Patrick (1846-1932) from Ballyhaunis, Co. Mayo. James Brennan worked for most of his life for the gas company, a public utility.

MAKER'S MARK: J. E. BRENNAN PHILA. PA. MFR 732 BUTLER ST. [on one set, hand stamped on mainstock]; J. E. BRENNAN 732 BUTLER PHILA. PA. [on chanter C natural key]

ADDRESSES: 1900, 1632 Thirteenth St. Philadelphia; 1910, 3329 North Syndenham St. Phila.; 1917-30, 732 Butler St. Phila.; 1943, 2434 N Second St., Phila.

LOCATION: at least two full sets, one chanter privately owned.

BIBLIOGRAPHY:

Brennan, James E. The Book of Brennan. [circa 1920?] "Published by Philly Piper - Copyright 2013" Preface by Chris "Doc" O'Melvin, the publisher; introduction by Bruce Childress. 42 leaves, not consistently paged. This is a facsimile copy of pages from Brennan's handwritten pipemaking notebook, with added photos and clippings.

Walstrom, Mark "Early Pipe Makers in America" Pipers' Review vol. 22 no. 3 Summer 2003 p. 20
https://pipers.ie/source/media/?galleryId=1036&mediaId=26390

Whitmer, Nick comments and selected references

Made by Brennan for Thomas Coyne of Johnstown, PA after 1911. Originally left-handed. Shown with new right-handed mainstock. Photo by Whitmer, 2007.

Emigrated to US in 1892, may have spent 1892-98 in Chicago. To Boston about 1898. Met Boston piper Daniel J. Murphy and also began making pipes about 1908. In list of active pipers compiled by Francis O'Neill, 1917. Advised musicologist Nicholas Bessaraboff on M. Egan set of pipes in Boston Museum of Fine Arts, circa 1938. A 1942 article says "He has made five complete sets and about fifty chanters, but he won't sell any of them. His home is a heaven for Irish musicians, especially pipers." His work based on the style of the Taylor brothers. Made at least two chanters with piccolo-like keys covering all front finger holes. On some sets his regulator keys tend to be arched, Taylor keys flat in comparison. Worked as a bricklayer and electrician, retired in 1941.

MAKER'S MARK: P. BROWN [occasionally hand stamped on some parts; on bellows, on mainstock, on chanter stop key, for examples]

ADDRESSES: 1903-08, 6 Victor St. Roxbury, Boston; 1909-12, 15 Ellet St. Dorchester, Boston; 1913-57, 43 Clayton St. Dorchester, Boston.

LOCATION: sets, chanters, bellows privately owned.

BIBLIOGRAPHY:

"Double Chanter for the Uillian or Irish Pipes" NY Advocate March 21, 1942 p. 4 column 5
New York NY Irish American Advocate 1940-1942 - 0994.pdf

Hill, M. J. "unusual member of the double reed family" Crescendo (South Lancaster, Mass.) vol. 1 no. 2 Nov.-Dec. 1951 pp. 12-14
From New York Public Library Performing Arts Library.

"Patsy Brown" Wikipedia article accessed April 2020
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patsy_Brown

Walstrom, Mark "Early Pipe Makers in America" Pipers' Review vol. 22 no. 3 Summer 2003 p. 20
https://pipers.ie/source/media/?galleryId=1036&mediaId=26390

Whitmer, Nick comments and selected references

Set by Brown with original bass drone in front, stamped bellows. Photo by Whitmer, 2014.

In 1913 Francis O'Neill wrote Cahill "has turned out at least a dozen chanters-flat and sharp-equal to the best, and fully equipped with keys." Patrick "Patsy" Touhey, in a 1901 interview, described Cahill as a good player who made "first class chanters." Emigrated in 1869. At first probably worked as a carpenter. In 1883 began a 28 year service as a Chicago policeman, becoming sergeant by 1896.

MAKER'S MARK: none known

ADDRESSES: 1882-85, 2940 Dearborn Chicago; 1887-1903, 2930 [South] Cottage Grove Ave. Chicago; 1904-1908, 3034 [South] Wabash Ave. Chicago

LOCATION: none known

BIBLIOGRAPHY:

"The Irish Bagpipe. Its Present and Future Status as a National Musical Instrument." [interview with Patrick Touhey] Irish World July 13, 1901 p. 8 column 7
Reprinted in An Píobaire vol. 9 no. 5 Dec. 2013 pp. 27-28
https://pipers.ie/source/media/?galleryId=1018&mediaId=26059

O'Neill, Francis Irish Minstrels and Musicians 1913 p. 166

Whitmer, Nick comments and selected references

James Cahill, from the group photo "Irish Music Club, Chicago" in Irish Minstrels and Musicians by Francis O'Neill, 1913 p. 479 The photo was taken before 1904.

Francis O'Neill described Carbray as "an excellent musician and maker of musical instruments." In 1913 O'Neill wrote that Carbray "has devised reamers which bore out chanters as true in tone as any that ever came from the hands of Taylor. In evidence thereof it can be stated that Sergt. James Early and Bernard Delaney, our celebrated policeman piper, use Mr. Carbray's chanters in preference to those which belong to their sets of Taylor pipes." In list of pipers compiled by Francis O'Neill, 1917. Carbray a good violin player. In Chicago, employed as "landscape gardner" in the city parks.

MAKER'S MARK: none known

ADDRESSES: 1911-12, 2949 W Monroe Chicago; 1913-20, 3116 Colorado Ave. Chicago

LOCATION: none known

BIBLIOGRAPHY:

O'Neill, Francis Irish Folk Music 1910 p. 95

O'Neill, Francis Irish Minstrels and Musicians 1913 p. 166

Whitmer, Nick comments and a selected reference

Emigrated to US about 1891, spent first years at Hartford, Connecticut, working as millwright. Perhaps trained as machinist. To Brooklyn, NY about 1905. Paralyzed from waist down about 1910. According to his niece Anna Busby, he then "threw himself into pipemaking/reedmaking..." Chanters, bellows in the Taylor style. Tom Busby told Seán McKiernan that Carney "made four full sets," one for Paddy Lavin. Made a set for Hugh J. Cavanaugh, 1920. Made a set for Peter J. Gallagher, 1923, cost $300. For a time owned the Taylor set once used by Patrick Touhey and is likely the man who reshaped the regulator keys in a decorative way.

MAKER'S MARK: M. J. CARNEY [hand stamped on bellows], M. CARNEY [hand stamped on at least one chanter]

ADDRESSES: 1895-99, 92 Francis St. Hartford, CT; 1910, 135 Smith St. Brooklyn, NY; 1915-25, 90 Bergen St. Brooklyn, NY; 1930-38, 164 Pacific St. Brooklyn, NY

LOCATION: chanters and sets privately owned

BIBLIOGRAPHY:

"Irish Music Club Social" [makes set for Gallagher] NY Advocate Feb. 3, 1923 p. 2 column 3
New York NY Irish American Advocate 1922-1924 - 0524.pdf

McKiernan, Seán email Sep. 17, 2018 'Tom (Busby) told me that he [Carney] made four full sets - one was for "..the best piper in Ireland - Paddy Lavin..." '

News, Notes & Comments By James A. Hayden. "Michael Carney." [makes set for Cavanaugh] NY Advocate Nov. 27, 1920 p. 6 column 1
New York NY Irish American Advocate 1919-1921 - 0855.pdf

Walstrom, Mark "Early Pipe Makers in America" Pipers' Review vol. 22 no. 3 Summer 2003 p. 20
https://pipers.ie/source/media/?galleryId=1036&mediaId=26390

Whitmer, Nick "Michael Carney" Lives of the Pipers 2018
http://livesofthepipers.com/1carneymichael.html

Carney chanter. Photo by Whitmer.

Carney chanter once owned by Anna Busby. Photo courtesy Jimmy O'Brien Moran.

A good player, made pipes in Ireland, was living in Drogheda in 1856. Supposedly made Nicholas Markey's (1836-1914) first set of pipes. Left Drogheda in 1862, in New York City by 1864. Francis O'Neill says he "lived for many years at no. 842, Greenwich Street" and died in 1894. Presumably he made pipes in the US. The 1880 US Census has Michl Carland, age 60 (born about 1820), occupation "Turner" living at 842 Greenwich St along with his wife Ann, also age 60. Carolan was likely associated with this address 1875-96.

MAKER'S MARK: none known

ADDRESSES: 1867-71, 512 W. 33d St. Manhattan; 1875-1896, 842 Greenwich, Manhattan [see my comments]

LOCATION: none known

BIBLIOGRAPHY:

Breathnach, Breandán "Pipers and Piping in Louth" County Louth Archaeological & Historical Journal XIX 2 (1978) Reprinted in The Man and His Music An Anthology of the writings of Breandán Breathnach Na Píobairí Uilleann 1996 p. 59

O'Neill, Barry Notebooks 1 and 2, early 1970s. Copying from Séamus Ó Casaide's manuscripts in the National Library of Ireland. [In Drogheda 1862 and NYC about 1864; supposedly made Markey's first pipes]

O'Neill, Francis Irish Minstrels and Musicians 1913 p. 160

Walstrom, Mark "Early Pipe Makers in America" Pipers' Review vol. 22 no. 3 Summer 2003 p. 20
https://pipers.ie/source/media/?galleryId=1036&mediaId=26390

Whitmer, Nick comments

Probably Harry Conner b. Pennsylvania March 15, 1862 d. Wilmington, Delaware Jan. 25, 1933, Highland pipes player, and Edward Boyle b. Co. Donegal, Ireland 1862 d. Wilmington, Delaware Aug. 26, 1924, Irish pipes player, sometimes performing with his son Edward J. (1891-1918). Conner worked as a tinsmith for the Pennsylvania Railroad circa 1900-05, later was a grocer. Boyle immigrated to US about 1884, was foreman in a factory which made Morocco leather. Newspaper references to public performances on Irish pipes by Boyle 1903-20. Boyle in list of pipers compiled by Francis O'Neill, 1917. Two known chanters in the style of the Taylor brothers.

MAKER'S MARK: Conner & Boyle Makers Wil. Del. U. S. A. [on two chanters, hand stamped on metal]; E. Boyle. Maker Wil. Del. U.S.A. [full set, hand stamped on bass regulator mounting plate]; Edw Boyle. Maker. Wilm. Del. [on chanter with full set, hand stamped on metal].

ADDRESSES: For Conner: 1910-20, 45 Rockford Road Wilmington DE; 1930-33, 839 Dupont Street Wilmington DE. For Boyle: 1887, 937 Pleasant Street Wilmington DE; 1900, 1341 Chestnut Street; 1910-24, 1409 Chestnut Street Wilmington DE.

LOCATION: two chanters, one full set privately owned.

BIBLIOGRAPHY:

Walstrom, Mark "Early Pipe Makers in America" Pipers' Review vol. 22 no. 3 Summer 2003 p. 20
https://pipers.ie/source/media/?galleryId=1036&mediaId=26390

Whitmer, Nick selected references

Conner & Boyle chanter. Photo courtesy Jimmy O'Brien Moran.

A full set of uilleann pipes attributed to Matthew Corcoran of Dublin, made circa 1840, is in the collection of the Musical Instruments Museums, University of Edinburgh, Scotland. In Dublin city directories as "musical instrument maker" 1840 and 42. In Philadelphia city directories 1844-85, most often as "mus. instr. mr." or "musical instruments."

MAKER'S MARK: CORCORAN / 20 ESSEX QUAY / DUBLIN / (unicorn head) [on flute; presumed mark on pipes]

ADDRESSES: 1840, 20½ Essex Quay, Dublin; 1841-42, 20 Essex Quay; 1844-50, 177 South 6th St., Philadelphia; 1851-54, 137 Cedar; 1854-57, 238 South 4th St.; 1858-85, 612 South 4th St.

LOCATION: University of Edinburgh, Scotland. Musical Instruments Museums Edinburgh.

BIBLIOGRAPHY:

Donnelly, Seán "A Century of pipemaking, 1770-1870: new light on the Kennas and the Coynes." Seán Reid Society Journal vol. 2 March 2002 article 2.14 p. 17
http://seanreidsociety.org/SRSJ2/a%20century%20of%20pipe-making.pdf

University of Edinburgh. Musical Instruments Museums Edinburgh. "Set of Uillean Pipes Matthew Corcoran" Glen Collection Accession number 1718. Web page accessed May 2020.
https://collections.ed.ac.uk/mimed/record/17931

Waterhouse, William The New Langwill Index: A Dictionary of Musical Wind-Instrument Makers and Inventors Tony Bingham London 1993 p. 71

Whitmer, Nick comments

Walstrom (1999) is earliest printed reference, no source given. "Little is known about Jack and Ed Crowley, who built pipes in NYC in about 1910-1930." Walstrom suggests they made chanters. A full set attributed to the Crowleys is owned by a descendant of a brother who remained in Ireland. There were four brothers in America: Thomas, flute, pipes; Edward, pipes; John (known also as Jack), pipes, accordion; Patrick, instrument unknown, if any. Michael Kelly identifies the family as being from County Roscommon. In Ireland the name was most often spelled Crawley.

MAKER'S MARK: not known

ADDRESSES: Edward Crowley 1923, 301 West 112th St., N. Y. City

LOCATION: a full set privately owned by a family descendent in Ireland.

BIBLIOGRAPHY:

"Carney Benefit this Saturday" [naming the four brothers] NY Advocate May 30, 1925 p. 2 column 2
New York NY Irish American Advocate 1925-1927 - 0225.pdf

"Irish Societies Directory Irish Music Club and School" [address for Edward Crowley] NY Advocate Oct. 6, 1923 p. 6 column 2
New York NY Irish American Advocate 1922-1924 - 0818.pdf

Kelly, Michael "The Cloonfad Piper (Part 2) The Crowley Brothers" An Píobaire vol. 13 no. 2 April 2017 pp. 18-9
https://pipers.ie/source/media/?galleryId=1138&mediaId=27290

Tuohy, John email communication June 5, 2020 [full set owned by relative in Ireland]

Walstrom, Mark "Early Pipe Makers in America" Pipers' Review vol. 22 no. 3 Summer 2003 p. 20
https://pipers.ie/source/media/?galleryId=1036&mediaId=26390

Walstrom, Mark "A list of Early Irish Bagpipe Makers to circa 1940" in Seán Reid Society Journal Vol. 1 March 1999, 1.03 p. 3 ["chanters"]
http://seanreidsociety.com/SRSJ1/List%20of%20makers%20to%20c%201940.pdf

Whitmer, Nick comments and selected references

"Ed Crowley"
"Group of New York Musicians photographed in 1916" detail. Photo in the Tom Busby collection of photographs, at Na Píobairí Uilleann.

"Jack [John] Crowley"
"Group of New York Musicians photographed in 1916" detail. Photo in the Tom Busby collection of photographs, at Na Píobairí Uilleann.

One of Francis O'Neill's friends and musical informants in Chicago. Well regarded as player and reedmaker. Mentioned as making "first class chanters" by Patrick Touhey, 1901. Chicago pipemaker Patrick Hennelly (1896-1978) told Lawrence McCullough that a set made by Early "in the early 1900s" was "discovered recently in Milwaukee." Early was a Chicago policeman 1874-1909.

MAKER'S MARK: none known

ADDRESSES: 1875-81, four in Chicago; 1882-85, 53 Sheldon Chicago; 1887-1914, 834 W. Congress [in 1909 street number changed to 2130 - same house] Chicago.

LOCATION: none known

BIBLIOGRAPHY:

"The Irish Bagpipe. Its Present and Future Status as a National Musical Instrument." [interview with Patrick Touhey] Irish World July 13, 1901 p. 8 column 7
Reprinted in An Píobaire vol. 9 no. 5 Dec. 2013 pp. 27-28
https://pipers.ie/source/media/?galleryId=1018&mediaId=26059

McCullough, Lawrence E. Irish Music in Chicago: an ethnomusicological study PhD dissertation, University of Pittsburgh, 1978 pp. 71-72

O'Neill, Francis Irish Minstrels and Musicians 1913 p. 166

Whitmer, Nick comments and selected references

James Early (with Tom Ennis to the left), from the group photo "Irish Music Club, Chicago" in Irish Minstrels and Musicians by Francis O'Neill, 1913 p. 479 The photo was taken before 1904.

Among the best regarded of all nineteenth century pipemakers. He may have been from Galway or Mayo, perhaps worked in Dundalk for a time. To Liverpool by the 1840s. Made a set for well-known piper Patrick Flannery before 1845 which established his reputation. Moved to New York City about 1852, taught piping to and made two sets of pipes for John Coughlan (1837-1908). Both sets survive. His most elaborate set, made in New York for Charles Ferguson, is now in the National Museum of Scotland. He died "on the threshold of poverty" in New York City around 1860. By the late nineteenth century his reputation was secure and his work highly sought after (see Brother Gildas' letters). Not to be confused with pipemaker John? Egan of Dublin, active 1768.

MAKER'S MARK: M. EGAN [stamped on some chanters, at least one mainstock]

ADDRESSES: 1850s, "workshop on Forty-second Street, between Ninth and Tenth Avenues, New York" O'Neill, Irish Minstrels and Musicians p. 159

LOCATION: at least nine sets in museums, see Walstrom 2002; others privately held

BIBLIOGRAPHY:

Donnelly, Seán "A Century of pipemaking, 1770-1870: new light on the Kennas and the Coynes." Seán Reid Society Journal vol. 2 March 2002 article 2.14 pp. 4-5
http://seanreidsociety.org/SRSJ2/a%20century%20of%20pipe-making.pdf

Garvin, Wilbert "KNOW YOUR PIPES Number 2 : MICHAEL EGAN" [with drawing of examples of Egan's pipemaking style] An Píobaire vol. 1 no. 26 Aibreán 1976 pp. 6-7 (163-64)
https://pipers.ie/source/media/?galleryId=1010&mediaId=25897

Gildas, Brother "Reverend Brother Gildas." [two letters from Gildas to Seán Reid, 1959] An Píobaire vol. 1 no. 2 Meitheamh 1969 pp. 7-9 (16-18)
https://pipers.ie/source/media/?galleryId=1010&mediaId=25879

National Museums Scotland "Uilleann bagpipe Inventory number: A1947.107.1" [Ferguson set with photo]
https://mimo-international.com/MIMO/doc/IFD/MINIM_UK_40755
More photos at Na Píobairí Uilleann Website. Accessed May 2020.
https://pipers.ie/source/media/?galleryId=83&mediaId=8767

O'Neill, Barry "Introduction to the Reprint Edition" O'Neill, Francis Irish Folk Music Chicago 1910 Republished EP Publishing Ltd., 1973 pp. ix-x

O'Neill, Francis Irish Minstrels and Musicians 1913 pp. 159, 204-05, 248

Walstrom, Mark "Early Pipe Makers in America" Pipers' Review vol. 22 no. 3 Summer 2003 pp. 18-19
https://pipers.ie/source/media/?galleryId=1036&mediaId=26390

Walstrom, Mark "Union Bagpipes in Museums: Treasures and Challenges." Seán Reid Society Journal vol. 2 March 2002 article 2.08
An Excel spreadsheet of listings downloads from vol. 2 table of contents page. Accessed May 2020
http://seanreidsociety.org/SRSJ2/Union%20Bagpipes%20in%20Museums.PDF

Whitmer, Nick comments and selected references

Walstrom is only reference, no source given. "Another Boston maker of the time [same as Patsy Brown, c. 1910-50] was named Green. Little is known of his work."

MAKER'S MARK: not known
ADDRESSES: not known
LOCATION: not known

BIBLIOGRAPHY:

Walstrom, Mark "Early Pipe Makers in America" Pipers' Review vol. 22 no. 3 Summer 2003 p. 20
https://pipers.ie/source/media/?galleryId=1036&mediaId=26390

A well-regarded maker who worked in Cork City. Exhibited a full set of pipes at the Cork Industrial Exhibition, 1852. Little is known about his life and there are no references to him after 1859. Francis O'Neill says he "emigrated to America" but there is no evidence for this. Others have speculated he emigrated to Australia or that he stayed in Cork but abandoned pipemaking. Since the 1980s pipemaker Geoff Wooff and piper Ronan Browne brought renewed attention to Harrington's work.

MAKER'S MARK: HARRINGTON on mainstock on one set; other marks on at least one other set

ADDRESSES: 1850-59, 67 Hanover Street Cork

LOCATION: set with two regulators, Morpeth Chantry Bagpipe Museum, Morpeth, Northumberlund, Great Britain; other sets privately held

BIBLIOGRAPHY:

[Donnelly, Seán] "Denis Harrington of Cork" An Píobaire vol. 2 no. 30 Bealtaine 1986 p. 2
https://pipers.ie/source/media/?galleryId=1011&mediaId=25932

O'Neill, Francis Irish Minstrels and Musicians 1913 pp. 158-59

"Ronan Browne Harrington" 60 photos of this set of pipes in a Na Píobairí Uilleann Website gallery. Updated 2010. accessed May 2020
https://pipers.ie/source/gallery/?galleryId=124

Mark Walstrom "List of pipe-makers updated." Seán Reid Society Journal vol. 2 March 2002 article 2.15 p. 3
http://www.seanreidsociety.org/SRSJ2/list%20of%20pipe-makers,%20updated.pdf

Walstrom, Mark "Union Bagpipes in Museums: Treasures and Challenges." Seán Reid Society Journal vol. 2 March 2002 article 2.08
An Excel spreadsheet of listings downloads from vol. 2 table of contents page. Accessed May 2020
http://seanreidsociety.org/SRSJ2/Union%20Bagpipes%20in%20Museums.PDF

Wooff, Geoff "Denis Harrington - Pipemaker" An Píobaire vol. 2 no. 33 Mí Eanáir 1987 pp. 6-7
https://pipers.ie/source/media/?galleryId=1011&mediaId=25935

Emigrated to Yonkers, NY in 1906, worked as machinist in a carpet manufacturing company. An obituary says his "hobby was playing and making bagpipes...." It is unclear if the pipes he made were Highland, Irish Warpipes, or uilleann pipes, or all these varieties. His brother Martin Henneberry (1892-1950), known also as Martin Henebry, was a well-regarded uilleann piper. Another obituary says the two brothers "had played frequently as a team."

MAKER'S MARK: none known

ADDRESSES: 1909-14, 331 Nepperham Ave. Yonkers; 1915-19 118 High St. Yonkers; 1920-30 11 Riverview Place Yonkers; 1936 109 Greenville Ave. Yonkers; 1940-50 104 Colgate Ave. Yonkers.

LOCATION: none known

BIBLIOGRAPHY:

Carey, Michael "A Noted Irish Bagpiper" [Martin Henebry] NY Advocate Aug. 1, 1925 p. 2 column 1
New York NY Irish American Advocate 1925-1927 - 0311.pdf

"Martin Henneberry Former Machinist At Otis" [obituary] Yonkers NY Herald Statesman April 10, 1950 p. 2 column 2
Yonkers NY Herald Statesman 1950 Grayscale - 1651.pdf

"Michael D. Henneberry, Irish Bagpipes Expert" [obituary; his hobby] New York Herald Tribune Aug. 27, 1950 p. 46 column 4
ProQuest Historical Newspapers

"Michael Heneberry Machinist At Carpet Mill" [obituary; brothers played as a team] Yonkers NY Herald Statesman Aug. 28, 1950 p. 2 column 3
Yonkers NY Herald Statesman 1950 Grayscale - 4152.pdf

Hennelly repaired pipes, made a few sets in the Taylor style, and created at least two innovative sets of his own remarkable design. Self taught as pipemaker. He was a master carpenter and craftsman, trained as a coachmaker. Immigrated to the US in 1924, lived in New York City then Philadelphia, arrived in Chicago 1927. Associated with Tom Ennis, Joe Shannon and other Chicago pipers. Made full sets for Ennis and Martin Beirne. Played war pipes, flute and other instruments; not an accomplished uilleann piper. By the 1970s, considered to be the last of the uilleann pipemakers in the US. Hennelly came to the attention of L. E. McCullough and other academics: in consequence much information is available about him compared to other makers.

MAKER'S MARK: none known [but see my comments]

ADDRESSES: 1930, 709 W 61 St. Chicago; 1938-40, 1420 East 76th Street Chicago; 1411 East 76th Street Chicago; 1961-78, 10159 South Prospect Ave. Chicago.

LOCATION: a full set held by Na Píobairí Uilleann, Dublin; at least six full sets, at least a few chanters, privately owned.

BIBLIOGRAPHY:

McCullough, L. E. "Pipemaker's Corner Patrick Hennelly" Pipers' Review vol. 14 no. 4 Fall 1995 pp. 3-6 [most of this first published in Éire-Ireland vol. 10 no. 4 Winter 1975 pp. 109-15]
https://pipers.ie/source/media/?galleryId=1036&mediaId=26359

"Patrick Hennelly set donated by Margaret Mac Mahon, widow of Tom Mac Mahon" 35 photos in a gallery on the Na Píobairí Uilleann Website. One of his "skyscraper" sets. Accessed June 2020.
http://pipers.ie/source/gallery/?galleryId=874

Piggott, Richie Cry of a People Gone: Irish Musicians in Chicago 1920-2020 [much biographical material, photos] St. Charles, IL Cnocanglas Productions LLC 2022 410 pp.

"Pipers...... Patrick Hennelly" [autobiographical paragraph] An Píobaire vol. 1 no. 5/6 Marta 1971 p. 12 (51)
https://pipers.ie/source/media/?galleryId=1010&mediaId=25882

Walstrom, Mark "Early Pipe Makers in America" Pipers' Review vol. 22 no. 3 Summer 2003 p. 20
https://pipers.ie/source/media/?galleryId=1036&mediaId=26390

Whitmer, Nick comments and selected references

Hennelly set made for Martin Beirne circa 1933. Photo courtesy of Michael Dow.

Hutton was friends with the Taylor brothers, purchased their pipemaking tools after William Taylor died in 1892, and is one of the principal sources of information about them. He emigrated to the US about 1869, was living in Wilmington by 1872. Played Highland pipes and active in Scottish social organizations. By 1891, known as a maker of Highland pipes. In 1928, sold a Taylor set of uilleann pipes and Taylor pipemaking tools to the Mercer Museum in Doylestown, Pennsylvania, where they remain. Hutton's occupation was plumber and for many years had his own business in Wilmington.

MAKER'S MARK: none known

ADDRESSES: 1870, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; 1872-99, various addresses in Wilmington, DE; 1900-1930, 225 Shipley Street, Wilmington, DE.

LOCATION: one full set in Ireland, privately held.

BIBLIOGRAPHY:

Dots. [local events and announcements]
"Robert Hutton, on Shipley street below Third, makes Scottish bag pipes which sell all over the country." Wilmington [DE] Daily Republican July 18, 1891 p. 2 column 2
Newspapers.com

Whitmer, Nick comments and selected references

Whitmer, Nick "William Taylor" Lives of the Pipers 2019
http://livesofthepipers.com/1taylorwilliam.html

Picture postcard of Robert Hutton. In pencil on reverse:
"Robert Hutton
"225 Shipley Street
"Wilmington, Delaware
"Born Edinburgh, Scotland
"1845
"Photograph at about age of 30 years."
From the Collection of the Mercer Museum Library of the Bucks County Historical Society, Doylestown, PA.
Miscellaneous Manuscripts, MSC 410 Folder 9 Item 6

A player and maker of Irish pipes. Only two references as maker. From a 1908 newspaper article, "Mr. Mack has made pipes for many of the prominent pipers and clubs of this country, and has orders enough to keep him busy for some time to come." Immigrated to the US in 1869. In 1908 a resident of Lowell, MA. In 1905 made a set for Bernie O'Donovan (b. 1888, d. 1923 in Chicago), then of Skibbereen, Ireland. Mack is possibly the maker disparagingly referred to in Francis O'Neill's Irish Minstrels and Musicians (1913).

MAKER'S MARK: none known

ADDRESSES: circa 1870, Omaha, Nebraska; circa 1871-1876, Lawrence, MA; 1877-1885 various addresses Lowell MA; 1900, probably 131 Dover St. Boston, MA; 1908, 38 Cedar St Lowell MA; 1909-16, 456 Gorham St Lowell MA.

LOCATION: none known

BIBLIOGRAPHY:

"The Finest Pipes in the World in Possession of The Carbery Piper." [Bernie O'Donovan] Skibbereen [Ireland] Eagle Dec. 16, 1905 p. 10
Irishnewspaperarchive.com
Brought to my attention by Emmett Gill of Na Píobairí Uilleann.

O'Neill, Francis Irish Minstrels and Musicians 1913 p. 166

"Only Maker of Irish Bagpipes in the U. S. is Expert Player" Boston [MA] Sunday Post March 1, 1908 p. 29 column 5
Newspaperarchive.com

Whitmer, Nick comments and selected references

"Only Maker of Irish Bagpipes in the U. S. is Expert Player" Boston [MA] Sunday Post March 1, 1908 p. 29 column 5
Newspaperarchive.com

Emigrated to the US in 1869 or 1870. In Indianapolis by 1876. A local amateur piper at least from 1907 to 1936. In Francis O'Neill's list of performers on the union pipes, 1917. A full set in the Taylor style was given to the National Museum of Ireland in 1994 by a grandson.

MAKER'S MARK: "Charles O'Donnell Indianapolis, Ind. 1910" engraved on mainstock ferrule

ADDRESSES: 1877-97, various addresses Indianapolis, IN; 1898-1902, 422 W South St., Indianapolis; 1903-21, 402 N California, Indianapolis; 1922-49, 320 Oxford St. Indianapolis.

LOCATION: one full set in the National Museum of Ireland, Dublin

BIBLIOGRAPHY:

O'Neill, Francis "Names and addresses of living performers on the union pipes sent by Francis O'Neill in Chicago to Séamus Ó Casaide in Dublin, letters of June-August 1917." Transcribed by Michael Kelly from the National Library of Ireland, Séamus Ó Casaide Collection, Ms. 8116 (7).

Mark Walstrom "List of pipe-makers updated." Seán Reid Society Journal vol. 2 March 2002 article 2.15 p. 2
http://www.seanreidsociety.org/SRSJ2/list%20of%20pipe-makers,%20updated.pdf

Whitmer, Nick comments and selected references

O'Donnell set at the National Museum of Ireland, Dublin. Photo from the Museum, used with permission.

O'Donnell set at the National Museum of Ireland, Dublin. Photo from the Museum, used with permission.

"O'Donnell Burial To Be Tomorrow" [obituary] Indianapolis [IN] Times Aug. 21, 1949 p. 4 column 3
Hoosier State Chronicles Indiana's Digital Historic Newspaper Program
https://newspapers.library.in.gov/?a=d&d=IPT19490821.1.4&srpos=180&e=-------en-20--161-byDA-txt-txIN-%22charles+o%27donnell%22------

Earliest mention of Scorgie is his newspaper advertisement, December 1817, describing himself as doing "all kind of Turning Work...." "He also makes the Scotch Military, Flat and Irish Union Pipes, in the neatest and most perfect manner." Played pipes, type unspecified, at a concert and ball in NYC April 13, 1819. Listed in city directories as turner, 1818-22; as grocer 1822-23. He, his wife, and at least one of his children died in the NYC yellow fever epidemic of 1822. Scorgie's property was auctioned off November 14, 1822, including the contents of a grocery store and "Also, a double barreled gun and several sets of bag-pipes."

MAKER'S MARK: none known

ADDRESSES: 1817, 110 Washington Street, NYC; 1818-21, 114 Washington St., NYC; 1822, 55 Washington St., NYC

LOCATION: none known

BIBLIOGRAPHY:

"Concert and Ball." New-York Evening Post April 10, 1819 p. 2 column 6
Newspapers.com
Also:
New York NY Evening Post 1819 Grayscale - 0331

"Fever in New York." [from Oldmeldrum] Edinburgh, Scotland Caledonian Mercury Nov. 11, 1822 p. 3 column 3
Newspapers.com

"J. Scorgie, from Scotland, Hardwood and Ivory Turner" [advertisement] New-York Gazette & General Advertiser Dec. 12, 1817 p. 3 column 2
GenealogyBank.com

"Public Sales. By John T. Boyd." [auction] New-York Evening Post Nov. 12, 1822 p. 3 column 6
New York NY Evening Post 1822 Grayscale - 1084.pdf

Townsend, Peter S., M. D. An Account of the Yellow Fever, as it Prevailed in the City of New-York, in the Summer and Autumn of 1822. O. Halsted, New York 1823 Google Books p. 129 [Scorgie's age at time of death; deaths of his wife and daughter]
https://books.google.com/books?id=pfsOAQAAIAAJ&pg=PA129&lpg=PA129&dq=%22john+scorgie%22+new+york&source=bl&ots=nzqjzbnNIy&sig=ACfU3U3wtdz1697_9vL4FDwGf5Ghar397Q&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwj5-P6Krs3qAhW1knIEHY5qCk4Q6AEwBnoECAYQAQ#v=onepage&q=%22john%20scorgie%22%20new%20york&f=false

James J. Smith lived for many years in Belleville, New Jersey, and for a time worked at the Tiffany and Co. factory in nearby Newark. He was a silversmith. As of 1995 one of his descendants had a pipe case with a full set and two or three chanters said to have been made by him.

MAKER'S MARK: none known

ADDRESSES: 1895-1910 Belleville, New Jersey, various addresses; 1915-26 193 William Street, Belleville, NJ; 1927-35 194 Overlook Avenue, Belleville, NJ

LOCATION: one full set, two chanters privately held, current location unknown

BIBLIOGRAPHY:

Whitmer, Nick comments and a selected reference

James J. Smith set, 1995. Photo by Nick Whitmer

James J. Smith pipe case and partial contents, 1995. Photo by Nick Whitmer

Francis O'Neill is the only source that associates Sullivan with making pipes. In a letter to Henry Mercer written in 1920, well after Sullivan's death, O'Neill says "Mr Sullivan in his dotage took to playing concertos and un-Irish pieces and even making chanters for the Union pipes." Violins made by Sullivan survive; they are not of the highest quality. Dan Neely of Boston has done considerable research on Daniel Sullivan and has found no evidence of pipemaking activities.

MAKER'S MARK: none known

ADDRESSES: 1877-93 various addresses, Boston, MA; 1895-1900 891 Albany Street, Boston; 1901-03 18 Julian, Roxbury, Boston; 1904-12 232A Blue Hill Avenue, Roxbury, Boston

LOCATION: none known

BIBLIOGRAPHY:

Neely, Dan email communications, July 2020.

Neely, Dan "From Variety Stage to the Shamrock Band: a Brief History of Irish Music in Boston 1890-1930" Notes and Narratives at Na Píobairí Uilleann, Dublin, March 16, 2019
http://pipers.ie/source/media/?galleryId=860&mediaId=30844

O'Neill, Francis Irish Folk Music Chicago 1910 p. 68 [born Millstreet, County Cork]

O'Neill, Francis letter to Henry Mercer Oct. 15, 1920 from the Collection of the Mercer Museum Library of the Bucks County Historical Society, Doylestown, PA.

Whitmer, Nick comments and selected references

Charles Taylor b. Mullingar, County Westmeath, Ireland 1847 d. Philadelphia PA Jan. 24, 1893
William Taylor b. Drogheda, Co. Louth, Ireland circa 1834 d. Philadelphia, PA Jan. 17, 1892

The most creative and best regarded of the pipemakers in nineteenth century North America. William and Charles were half-brothers; their father James was a pipemaker and church organ maker. The family made uilleann and Highland pipes; examples of their work are said to survive in Ireland. The brothers emigrated to America around 1872, first heard of in New York City. To Philadelphia about 1874 where they remained. They developed a reputation as first-class makers of pipes with innovative "improvements." They were among the first, if not the first, to make popping valves for chanters, recurve and shorten the bass regulator, and to widen keys in a "ribbon" or "tongue-depressor" shape. Their work was robust, tending toward heavy, no two sets identical. Taylor pipes were expensive. Demand for their work was good and sets were sold to both professional and amateur pipers. Despite this, the brothers died in near poverty, both of tuberculosis; William in 1892, Charles in 1893. Pipemaker Michael J. Anderson claimed to have worked as their apprentice. The Taylor style was copied or imitated by several other pipemakers. Few Taylor-style pipes have maker's marks, so the question of attribution - Taylor or not-Taylor - will be a perennial problem.

MAKER'S MARK: none

ADDRESSES: circa 1872 112 Av D New York City; 1877-78 123 Eutaw St. Philadelphia; 1880-81 1759 Fitler St. [now Tilghman St.] Philadelphia; 1886 714 [perhaps 704] Shirley St. Philadelphia; 1890 233 Chester St. Philadelphia; 1892 232 Race St. Philadelphia

LOCATION: one full set at the Mercer Museum, Doylestown, PA; a full set held by Na Píobairí Uilleann, Dublin; at least fifteen full sets and several chanters privately held. Highland pipes of their make are said to be privately held in Ireland.

BIBLIOGRAPHY:

McGuire, Jim "Taylor, William" The Encyclopaedia of Music in Ireland, Harry White & Barra Boydell, eds. University College Dublin Press, 2013 p. 977

"McGuire Taylor Set" photograph gallery at Na Píobairí Uilleann Website. Accessed Aug. 2020.
https://pipers.ie/source/gallery/?galleryId=99

O'Neill, Francis Irish Minstrels and Musicians Chicago 1913 pp. 160-61, etc.

Piggott, Richie Cry of a People Gone: Irish Musicians in Chicago 1920-2020 St. Charles, IL Cnocanglas Productions LLC 2022 pp. 131-41, etc.

Whitmer, Nick "William Taylor" Lives of the Pipers 2019
http://livesofthepipers.com/1taylorwilliam.html

Some suggestion but no solid proof that White was active as maker in Ireland. Emigrated to Boston in 1848, age about forty one, identified himself as "Musical Instrument Maker" at least by 1850. Francis O'Neill describes White as player, reedmaker, repairer and maker of pipes, his drones well thought of. His pipes are said to have "style characteristics" of pipemakers Maurice Coyne and Michael Egan.

MAKER'S MARK: "E. White" on chanters, regulators, mainstock; sometimes "E. White Roxbury Mass"

ADDRESSES: 1848-52 Roxbury, MA; 1853-1860 Dallas Place, Roxbury, MA; 1869-70, 1876-77 18 Mechanic Street Roxbury, Boston, MA

LOCATION: Two or three sets privately held; at least one chanter; a few parts in 19th century sets by other makers are stamped White, a baritone regulator in one, for example.

BIBLIOGRAPHY:

O'Neill, Francis Irish Minstrels and Musicians Chicago 1913 p. 160

van Djik, Robert "Ned White - Pipemaker" An Píobaire vol. 3 no. 20 Sep. 1994 pp. 18-20
https://pipers.ie/source/media/?galleryId=1012&mediaId=25966

van Djik, Robert "Ned White (1810 - 1879/80), Pipemaker" An Píobaire vol. 4 no. 6 July 2000 p. 22 [possible references to White in Ireland]
https://pipers.ie/source/media/?galleryId=1013&mediaId=25992

Walstrom, Mark "Early Pipe Makers in America" Pipers' Review vol. 22 no. 3 Summer 2003 p. 19
https://pipers.ie/source/media/?galleryId=1036&mediaId=26390

Whitmer, Nick comments and selected references