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Edward John Cassidy Family
By
Kathleen Anne O'Callahan Payne
Edward John Cassidy was the great great grandson of William Cassidy,
the oldest known Cassidy in the Drumbar, Clogher, Auglem line. The
following information was collected and written by John Edward's
granddaughter, Kathleen Anne O'Callahan Payne of Yuba City,
California.
Bridget Christine McNulty
Wife of Edward John Cassidy
Born: October 27,1892 County Donegal - Ireland
Emigrated: At age 17 about 1909 Derry,
Ireland to Philadelphia, USA
Married: May 28, 1917 Saint Peter's Parish – S.F. California
Died: April 4, 1976 Oakland – California
Bridget was born with an unexpected twin, Dennis in a thatched
roof cottage, on the family farm in County Donegal, Ireland. Because
the birth of twins was a surprise, a cradle was borrowed from some
friendly, nearby neighbors, who were Protestants. Bridget was always
full of interesting sayings: “The reason I am so contrary, I was
rocked in a Protestant cradle” and “I came into this world with a
man and I always hope to have a man nearby”.
Her father was Charles McNulty, who dealt in horses, bringing
them to market day to be traded or sold. Her mother was Bridget
McKelvey, a hard working, beautiful lady who died in childbirth when
young Bridget and her brother Dennis, were 9 or 10 years of age.
Bridget never forgot the sight of her mother being carried out of
the house, as she cried and sobbed. Her brother Dennis was raised by
an Aunt and had a life a lot easier than his sister, Bridget. They
did not see very much of one another during their childhood years.
Bridget received her Sacraments at Killymard Church, in County
Donegal.
Some of the stories Bridget told her own children were of when
she would walk home from school, in Ireland she took the freedom and
shortcuts through royal grounds. One day, the lord apprehended her
and told her to courtesy to him. She retorted with, “I courtesy to
none but God Almighty," frightened and promptly ran home. When she
was older, she recalled of how she and her young Protestant male
friend visited the Catholic Churches on Holy Thursday and lit
candles.
Bridget was particularly close and good to her sister, Maggie
(McNulty) Colgan who had a farm in Altilow, Donegal. Maggie’s son,
Danny, was a weaver of Donegal tweed on a home loom. Bridget was
also close to her beloved Winifred McNulty, who left Ireland for
Philadelphia. Winnie very possibly had Multiple Sclerosis and for
many years a paralytic, who died young. Other family siblings that
left Ireland for Philadelphia were Charles McNulty and Annie
McNulty.
At the age of 17, about 1909, Bridget emigrated from County
Donegal at the port of Derry, Ireland for Philadelphia, aboard “The
Caledonia”. Bridget found work as a “domestic girl” in the home of
the wealthy Foxx family in Philadelphia. Bridget told stories of
when she lived worked with many of the Irish girls in the wealthy
homes of Philadelphia. Bridget recalled the time that Mrs. Foxx
reprimanded her for sitting in the front of the carriage, with the
black butler, who was directed to take the girls to Sunday church.
Bridget quickly told Mrs. Foxx that “she hoped to get a slot in
Heaven next to a black man!”
While working as a domestic, Bridget corresponded through the
mail with Edward John Cassidy, a childhood friend from Donegal,
Ireland, now living in San Francisco. They wrote love letters,
Edward proposed and the Tiffany set diamond ring was sent through
the mail. Bridget left “Philly” in 1917 and took the train to San
Francisco, and stayed at “Aunt” Sarah’s on Liberty Street. Edward
John and Bridget Christine were married on May 28, 1917 at St.
Peter's Parish in San Francisco.
Patricia Mary joined the family the following year, on March 17th
and the proud parents sent photos of their beautiful first-born
daughter to Grandmother Anne (Kelly) Cassidy, (dad’s mother) in
Ireland. Patricia was barefoot in this photo and Grandmother Cassidy
commented in a return letter to the parents “that they didn’t have
the price of baby shoes” and enclosed money for them. That tickled
them immensely. Following Patricia, came Francis Joseph – October
11, 1919, Anne – July 26, 1923 and then Regina Delores – April 7,
1927. At this time they lived in the Merritt Street house,
which later was moved to a different location when Upper Market was
pushed through. (Now 4660-62 18th St. S.F.)
During the Depression years, Bridget did catering for influential
people for special occasions and sometimes daughter, Anne went along
and helped do dishes. Mother Bridget worked as a cook and
housekeeper for the Chipman family, who had a country estate in San
Carlos, called Hidden Valley. Once again, Anne was the lucky one who
was able to go with mother. It was a lovely place with horses,
tennis courts, and a croquet area among the trees. The Chipman’s
were very good to Anne and for her birthday, took her to a novelty
store where she selected Mexican Jumping beans! During the night the
beans got active and Mother and Anne were up searching, looking for
rats!
One time when Bridget was working in the Cadillac Laundry, in
which Edward had a partnership, Mother noticed she was missing the
diamond out of her engagement ring. After a frantic search for
hours, the diamond was found in an extractor (like a dryer). While
working in the laundry, in 1936 Bridget had the opportunity to
return to Ireland with a lady friend.
Both Bridget and Edward worked very hard to provide for a family
of four children. They had a summer home in Fairfax and Mother
commuted to S.F. each day, worked all day in the laundry and
returned to Fairfax five nights a week. She purchased a few
groceries in town and then trudge at least one mile and the100
stairs to be with her children each night. (Bridget never drove a
car.) Dad would come over on weekends and repair all the things that
we broke during the week. His only relaxation time was the auto
ferry ride from Sausalito to S.F.
When the Cassidy family lived in the California Street apartment
house, Bridget used to go to the Aquatic Park. Bridget loved the
beach and soaking her feet in the ocean. Some fisherman on the pier
had caught a crab and was about to throw it back into the water when
Bridget asked for it. She put a string around the live crab, boarded
the streetcar on Van Ness and rode back to the apt. house.
Due to failing health, Edward sold his share of the laundry and
they bought an apartment house at 1650 California St. Mom and Dad
did most of the maintenance work on the apt. building. Pat, Regina
and Anne were married from that address. Later they downsized to a
smaller building in the Richmond district after Regina was married.
In 1948 Bridget and Edward made their only trip back to Ireland
together and they seemed to enjoy it very much. Bridget and Edward
retired to Glen Ellen, California to enjoy the country life. By this
time there were grandchildren and they liked to see them come and
go. Their modest Victorian was located on Arnold Drive with a creek
that ran behind the property and old oak trees that provided a
lovely canopy of shade.
Bridget was a driven, hard working, loving mother, but not
without a thirst for alcohol, much to Edward’s chagrin. This caused
much havoc and unsettled conditions until she found the then obscure
AA and attended meetings with her son, Frank, who later found his
sobriety.
Edward died in September 1952, and a few years following, Bridget
sold her retirement home in Glen Ellen and the Bill Pluckebaum
(Regina) family purchased a home in Los Gatos with a separate apt.
in the back for Bridget (Grandma). She joined the family for most of
her meals and finally the four teenagers were more than her nervous
system could handle. Grandma moved to an independent living near the
beloved beaches, water and boats, in Santa Cruz. She was unable to
care for herself and eventually moved to assisted living, Our Lady’s
Home in Oakland, where she was visited by family frequently. On
April 4, 1976, she slipped quietly into eternal peace with the Lord.
At the time of her death, Bridget was survived by her 4 children,
Patricia O’Callaghan/Oman, Frank J. Cassidy, Anne Timmer and Regina
Pluckebaum. She was the loving grandmother to 24 grandchildren and
great-grandmother to 12. There was a mass at St. Anne’s Church in
S.F. and interment at Holy Cross Cemetery, south of S.F. where she
was buried with her beloved Edward John, in the Cassidy plot.
Information provided by: Anne (Cassidy) Timmer and
Regina (Cassidy) Pluckebaum
Edited by: Kathleen (O'Callaghan) Payne
The Birthplace of Bridget McNulty Cassidy in or
near Altilow (outside Donegal Town in Killymard Parish. The
house was built around 1750. Her mother, Bridget McKelvey was
also born there.
The people in the picture are her aunt and uncle Charlie and Maggie
McKelvey
Charles McNulty
Bridget (McNulty) Cassidy’s Father
Born: around 1850-1865 in Pennsylvania, U.S.
Married: Bridget McKelvey
Died: unknown
Charles or "Chas" was a horseman, buying, selling and trading of
horses at the market in Ireland. He was also a farmer. He was a
naturalized citizen of the United States, born in Pennsylvania, to
Irish parents. His family returned to Ireland when he was still a
child. As an adult he returned to the United States and stayed only
a few years. He spent most of his life in Ireland raising his
family. He possibly re-married after his first wife died in
childbirth around 1902.
Bridget (McNulty) Cassidy’s Mother
Bridget McKelvey
Born: In County Donegal in the Thatched Cottage (see photo)
Married: Charles McNulty
Died: Giving birth, around 1902 in the same Thatched Cottage
Bridget was a beautiful and hard working woman. She was born in a
thatched cottage that was built around 1750. It is no longer
standing, but we do have a lovely photograph of it. Bridget grew up
in this home and in turn died in it while giving birth to her last
child. Little is known of Bridget, how she met Charles, her life,…
except childbirth was difficult and she ultimately died giving
birth, but after having several children.
The Children & Relationship to Bridget (McNulty)
Cassidy
Margaret (McNulty) Colgan Sister Lived in Donegal (RIP)
"Maggie"
Annie (McNulty) Cassidy Sister Married in mid life to Peter
Cassidy (non-relative)
Winnifred McNulty Sister Bridget’s favorite – Immigrated to
Philadelphia, PA
"Winnie" Died of Multiple Schlerosis
Dennis McNulty Brother Bridget’s “unexpected” twin brother
"Denis" Separated at 10 years of age when their mother died
giving birth to a younger sibling.
Charles McNulty- Brother Immigrated to Philadelphia, PA
Patrick McNulty Brother
Mary McNulty 1/2 Sister Her natural mother also died in
childbirth
(and mother unknown)
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