Trying to find out where my Grandfather's family was from. He was 1st generation Irish-American. He passed away in 1998 and I have very few documents pertaining to his family. The family's name was Cavanagh (no "U")
The stories he told were that his uncle (on his father's side) came over to America in the late 1890's to 1900 and settled in Boston. His father and mother followed, seperately (they met and married in New York). His uncle (don't have a first name) and his aunt were apparently killed in a carriage accident in Boston and his cousins were orphaned before his father was here.
My grandfather was the 2nd born - he had an older half brother, Joseph, and my grandfather's name was William Henry, born December 1919 (his birth certificate and legal name is actually "Baby Cavanagh" as his father couldn't read or write). He eventually had 6 additional siblings, although a baby brother died at 13 months old.
I know it's not much to go on, but hoping to find some information.
Leslie
Wednesday 27th Feb 2013, 05:56PM
Message Board Replies
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Leslie,
You need to look at your grandfathers birth cert and find out his parents names . Once you have these go on to the ellisisland website and search for their names on passenger lists. the ships manifest are invaluable s a source of info as everyone was required to state where they last lived and to whom and where they were going in America.
Your aunt and uncle's death must have made the newspapers in Boston. Try looking at old newspapers to see if you can get more information.
I can't really do anything for you at the moment without his parents names and a date range.
This is really like detective work and you'll be so chuffed when you stumble across records pertaining to your family.
Enjoy your quest, and let me know if you find any info.
Kind regards,
Anne K Dennehy
Thursday 28th Feb 2013, 11:44PM