Francis Joseph Cassidy (1880 - 1924)

Born 8 Dec 1880 in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, Kings County, NYS

Ancestors

Husband of Mary Ann McAree — married 17 Sep 1904 in City Hall, NYC

Descendants

Died 30 Dec 1924 at age 44 in Brooklyn, Kings County, New York

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Biography

Francis was born 8 Dec. 1880 in Long Island City. He was the third child of Patrick Cassidy and Margaret Collins. The 1892 NYC Census is the first time he is seen; the census has him as ten years though he is 12. The family has moved out of Greenpoint to 346 Franklin Ave, which is now in the Clinton Hill section of Brooklyn. His father has bought a saloon.^[1]

By 1900 Frank’s father, Patrick has died and the family has moved back to Greenpoint; and is now living at 109 Greenpoint Ave. Frank is working as a plasterer though he has been unemployed for four months. Everyone else in the family over ten years old has been fully employed.^[2] In 1905 Frank is still living with his mother at 109 Greenpoint Ave., however he has recently married Mary Ann McAree and they have had a daughter, Margaret.^[3][4]

By 1910 the family has moved to 192 rear Guernsey Str.; a building behind the main building. There are now two daughters, Margaret 5 yrs old and Virginia (sic) 1 yrs old; soon to be born in August is the first son Francis Richard.^[5]

On his application to work at the Panama Canal Frank lists his employment:
1899-1904: 5 yrs P.M. McHugh: Apprentice Plasterer; $24.00/month
1904-1909: 5 yrs P.M. McHugh: Journey Man Plasterer; $68.75/month
1909-1910: J.D. Barker: Journey Man Plasterer; $68.75/month
1910-1911: William McHugh: Journey Man Plasterer; $68.75/month
1911-1912: Myself: Journey Man Plasterer
1912-1913, 4 months: Scheider Bro.,Troy N.Y.; Journey Man Plasterer; 60 cents/hr
1913-1914, 7 months: J.D. Barker: Journey Man Plasterer; 70 cents/hr

From the application we learn that Frank's trip to Panama is not the only time Frank left his family. In 1912-13 Frank traveled to Troy, NY for four months to  work. A family story told by Frank's oldest child, Margaret, has her frequently stealing potatoes to feed the family during Frank's absence. In 1913 the family has another son, Daniel Patrick.

The 1915 NYS Census is the only census listing the whole family, though in truth Frank is not there but in Panama on the day of the census.^[6]

When Frank leaves in June 1924 for Panama his wife, Mary Ann, is three months pregnant; their daughter, Clare, will be born on the 26 December. Frank is discharged on 12 November 1914; Clare dies on 7 August 1915. Frank arrives back in Brooklyn on 17 September 1915. Frank never sees his daughter Clare; she is buried at Calvary Cemetery in Long Island City in a McAree grave. There is no record of what Frank was doing from Nov. 1914 until Sept. 1915. ^[7][8][9]

In February 1917, Frank's wife, Mary Ann, kills herself. Because Frank registers for the Draft on12 Sept. 1918 we learn that he and his children are living with his sister and brother-in-law, Anna Cassidy and Walter Allison, at 103 India Str, in Greenpoint.^[10]

In the 1920 Census, Margaret and Regina, Frank’s two daughters, are living with their Aunt Sarah Cassidy Hopke in Ridgewood, Queens. Sarah dies a few months later, 8 September 1920. ^[11]

Frank is living at 548 Driggs Street in 1920 with an actress, her sister and Ambark Ali, aka Bumpsey, who was a vaudevillian.^[12] The sons are not listed in the household. There is a family story that the sons were living with Frank’s sister, Anna Cassidy. Walter Alison, Anna's husband, had died 19 May 1919.

By 1921 both sons have been initially placed in an orphanage 7 January 1921 from 548 Driggs Street. Both are committed to Nazareth Trade School at Farmingdale, Nassua County; Daniel after Dick because of his age. However, Dick is discharged to is father on Oct. 31, 1921. ^[13][14]

The oldest daughter, Margaret, is not found again until the 1930 Census when she is living with her husband and mother-in-law and sister-in-law in The Bronx. Margaret’s, Aunt and Godmother, is the witness to her marriage to Martin "Frankie" Bush; so she might have been living with her, though there is no record.

In 1923 Regina and Dick to are committed to an orphanage again, the reason given is "No Proper Guardianship." They are sent to the Mission of the Immaculate Virgin also known as Mount Loretto on Staten Island.^{[15] [16]} In the 1925 NYS Census both Regina and Dick are found living in the orphanage. Their Aunt, Anna Cassidy Main, is the family contact though their father is still living. Regina was discharged to service on 29 July 1925.^[17][18]

Frank dies 30 Dec 1924 of complication of syphilis. His son, Daniel, is discharged to Grand Aunt Margaret McAree Bepler, on August 4, 1925.^[19]

Sources

1. ↑ 1892 NYS Census: Election District 22, Ward 07, 346 Franklin Ave, Brooklyn, Kings, New York, State Census, 1892, Page 6, Lines: [1]
2. ↑ 1900 US Census: SD 2, ED 262, 109 Greenpoint Ave, Brooklyn Ward 17, Kings, New York; ; Roll: T623_1054; Sheet 8B-9A, Page 51B-52A Lines 100, 1-8; Enumeration District: 262; FHL microfilm: 1241054: [2]
3. ↑ Certificate of Marriage: Manhattan, #19104, 17 Sep 1904: [3]
4. ↑ 1905 NYS Census: Block A,1st ED, 13 AD, 109 Greenpoint Ave. Brooklyn, Kings, Page 16, Lines 17-27: [4]
5. ↑ 1910 US Census: 192 Rear, Guernsey St, Brooklyn Ward 17, SD 2, ED 380, Kings, Dwelling 192, New York, New York; Dwelling 9, Family 493, Roll: T624_966; Sheet: 23A; Page 57, Enumeration District: 0380; Image: 118; FHL microfilm: 1374979: [5]
6. ↑ 1915 NYS Census: 191 Norman Ave, Kings, New York, AD 15 ,ED 8,House 191, Page 08, Lines 10-16: [6]
7. ↑ Panama Canal Appication: [7]
8. ↑ Panama Canal Appication: [8]
9. ↑ New York, Passenger Lists, 1820-1957: Arrival 17 Sep 1915, Departure Cristobal, Canal Zone, Panama.Arrival New York, Ship Colon, Microfilm serial: T715; Microfilm roll: T715_2431; Line: 26: [9]
10. ↑ U.S., World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918: Kings County, Draft Board 56, Card 3425: [10]
11. ↑ 1920 US Census: Margaret and Regina; 3 Rene Place, ED: 117, AD 2, Ridgewood, Queens; Dwelling 35, Family 63 NY; Roll: T625_1231; Page: 40B, Sheet 3B; Image: 85: [11]
12. ↑ 1920 US Census: Farnk and Bumpsey; 548 Driggs Ave. Ward 4, Brooklyn, ED: 828, AD 14, Kings, NY, Dwelling 15, Family 324, Line 27, Roll: T625_1165; Page: 271, Sheet 14A; Image: 1078: [12]
13. ↑ Committment to Nazareth Trade School: Dick & Daniel: [13]
14. ↑ 1925 NYS Census: Daniel Patrick Cassidy: Nazareth Trade School, Conklin Str., Farmingdale,, ED 01, AD 02, Oyster Bay, Nassau; Page 37, Line 30: [14]
15. ↑ Guardenship of Regina Veronica Cassidy: [15]
16. ↑ Guardenship of Regina Veronica Cassidy: [16]
17. ↑ 1925 NYS Census: Regina Veronica Cassidy; ED 34, AD 2,Mission of the Immaculate Virgin, Ward 3, Richmond County, NY; Page 65, Line 3: [17]
18. ↑ 1925 NYS Census: Francis Richard Cassidy ED 34, AD 2,Mission of the Immaculate Virgin, Ward 3, Richmond County, NY; Page 40, Line 23: {http://interactive.ancestry.com/2704/32849_b094407-00100/15925594?backurl=http://person.ancestry.com/tree/46441184/person/6538904154/facts/citation/620073419287/edit/record]
19. ↑ Death Certificate: Brooklyn, Kings #140, 30 Dec 1924 • Brooklyn, N.Y.: [18]