James Francis McCormick

At the outset, my 2 times great grandfather's name, James Francis, has been spelled as McCormick. There is a possibility that it may have been McCormack, or Mac Cormaic.

James Francis McCormick reportedly told US Census that he came to North America in 1845, making him about 15 or 16 years old. It would appear that he at least traveled with is younger sister, Margaret "Maggie" McCormick born circa 1834, making her about 9 or 10 years old. There is the possibility of a younger brother Joseph McCormick born circa 1835 accompanying them. All of them were the children of Francis McCormick and Mary Kelly-McCormick. I can only guess as to the anguish the parents felt, and am amazed at their foresight.

Francis McCormick and Mary Kelly-McCormick appears to have given birth to another son circa 1846 named John McCormick. Lastly, it is not known whether this family survived the Great Hunger, or if they had and siblings who may have survived the Great Famine.

It is not known where the children departed from: Dublin, Belfast, Donegal, Cork, or other port of departure. It is not known what ship any of them took passage on. I can only guess that in order to pay for passage they became indentured, but have no specific knowledge to support this assertion. Family stories suggest that James landed in Canada, and "walked across the border," but when he crossed the Canadian border is unknown as is when and where any of them originally landed in Canada.

I know that James McCormick turns up in the New York State census of 1855 living with Mary Ann Rose, whom he later married. His sister turns up in Cleveland, Ohio married to John C. Cassidy who was born in 1832 in Canada to parents James Cassidy II and Margaret Glancey both born in Inver, Donegal, County Donegal, Ireland in 1809 and 1806 respectively. John C. Cassidy past away 10 Jul 1885 in Cleveland, Ohio. Margaret McCormick-Cassidy past away 22 Jul 1931 also in Cleveland, Ohio

James Francis McCormick was born on 14 April 1829, in Templemichael Catholic Parish, County Longford, Ireland as the son of Francis McCormick and Mary Kelly. He married Mary Ann Rose on 18 February 1855, in Buffalo, Erie, New York, United States. They were the parents of at least 4 sons and 7 daughters. He lived in Honey Creek Township, Delaware Co., Iowa, United States for about 15 years and Delaware, Delaware Co., Iowa, United States in 1910. He died on 17 February 1916, in Manchester, Delaware Co., Iowa, United States, at the age of 86, and was buried in Oakland Cemetery, Manchester, Delaware Co., Iowa, United States.

If anyone has any information to add, I would happily communicate with them.

Sincerely,

Michael L. McCray