Bridget (McNamara) O'Leary (1830 - 1915)

Born Jan 1830 in Kilcrumper, Downing North, County Cork, Ireland

Descendants

Died 10 May 1915 at age 85 in Eel River Island, CA

Problems/Questions Profile managers: Bart Triesch [send private message], Terri Triesch [send private message], and Susan Briam [send private message]

Biography

• Kilworth Genealogy and History
• Bridget's Immigration year was 1857.
• To learn more about this remarkable pioneer read her obituary here: "Bridget McNamara O'Leary, The Ferndale Enterprise," May 11, 1915
• "The O'Learys of Cannibal Island Road"
• On April 18, 1906 an earthquake with a magnitude of 7.8 struck the Northern California coast. Much of San Francisco was destroyed and the homes and ranches in the Ferndale-Loleta area were badly damaged. On April 27, 1906 the Ferndale Beacon reported: "In the Cannibal Island section the earth cracked open in several places and black sand, water and foam are covering a large area on the Fitzsimmons and O'Leary places. Several of the crevices in the earth are from three to eight feet wide and look to be of considerable depth. On Bertsch's place and the Roper place the ground is raised at some points three to four feet and in some places lowered about the same. The old slough on the Roper place was raised till [sic] it is about level with the rest of the land, and a small house standing near is raised up on the end nearest the slough."
• Bridget's obituary says she had six children. However, documentation of only five children can be found. It's possible that Bridget and her husband William had a child prior to arriving in San Francisco but that is only speculation.

• Note: Some census data suggest Bridget's year of birth was 1830 and her obituary says it was 1830. Other sources, including census data from both the U.S. and Ireland as well as her grave marker point to 1834 as the year of birth. For the purposes of this profile I am using 1830 but it will be subject to change. (B.T.)

Sources

• County Cork Census 1851 Kilcrumper Parish Downing N Townland (McNamara)
• County Cork, Ireland, a Collection of 1851 Census Records]
• 1870 U.S. Census
• 1880 U.S. Census
• 1900 U.S. Census
• 1910 U.S. Census
• Find a Grave profile - Bridget McNamara O'Leary