G’day all,
Having just found a reference to siblings of the Cassidy line that I’m trying to trace, I
thought I’d better put a post up on the Cassidy and Westmeath lists in the hope of
somebody being able to connect to this line.
Michael Cassidy married Ann Dillon, (possibly Mary Dillon), Co. Westmeath, Ireland abt.
1805.
Children:-
Thomas born abt 1808, Michael born abt 1815 (my great grandfather) & Patrick born abt
1819
And the new found ones (no birth dates, just names) James, Ann, Mary, Eleanor &
Bridget. A reference to these names as siblings was found in Thomas & Michael’s
convict records.
Thomas Cassidy married Bridget Higgins in Ballymore Co Westmeath abt 1833
They had 4 children in the Parish of Ballymore, Co Westmeath
James Higgins Cassidy born bet. 1833-1834
Thomas Cassidy baptized 23 Mar. 1835
Patrick Cassidy born abt 1837 (left behind)
Bridget Cassidy baptized 26 Aug 1839
On the 25th Dec 1838 Michael senior, Thomas and Michael junior were involved in a riot and
were charged with assaulting a Thomas Kelly outside their home in Newtown, 1 mile from
Ballymore. Michael senior was sentenced to 12 months hard labour (Tried 6th Apr 1839,
discharged 3rd Apr 1840)
Michael junior & Thomas were sentenced to 7 years transportation. A petition to
Viscount Ebrington, the Lord Governor of Ireland for clemency failed & they served 4
years on Norfolk Island before being transferred to Tasmania, Australia in 1844. The next
reference to them is in 1849 in Geelong, Victoria, Australia where Michael married
Catherine Mary Anne Parry & started my line.
Thomas’s wife Bridget (nee Higgins) joined her husband in Australia in Dec. 1849 with
three of their four children. Patrick was left behind for some reason (An application by
Thomas for Patrick to come to Australia was made about 1856-8 with Patrick’s address given
as Residence - c/- Rev. Michael Hope, Ballymore, Westmeath, Ireland. There is a possible
emigration to Victoria, Australia in Oct 1857 but no further trace of him has been found.
Thomas & Michael’s brother Patrick Cassidy (born C.1819) joined the Connaught Rangers
in Dublin on the 5 Sep 1839 and served with the 88th Foot Reg. until July 1852 when he was
discharged at his own request at the Isle of Wight. The next reference to him is his
marriage to Bridget Harrington (born about 1832 in Co. Westmeath) in New York , USA abt
May 1853 where they had 2 children, Thomas Edward Cassidy born abt 1854 in New York &
Mary Ann Cassidy born 1855-1856 in New York. The family then emigrated to join his
brothers in Geelong, Victoria, Australia 7th Dec 1857-Mar. 1858 (with their 3rd child
Catherine born on the voyage).
More info about the Australian descendants of Thomas, Michael & Patrick is available
on Gencircles & Rootsweb, sites noted below.
If anyone has further information or can connect to this line, I’d be very grateful to
hear from them.
Cheers…
Pat…
Patrick O'Sullivan (O Sứileabhấin)
PO Box 65A
Armadale, 3143, Australia
Ph 61 3 9534 0924 - Mb 0401 254 744
http://www.gencircles.com/users/pat-online and
http://worldconnect.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?db=eddorean
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