Dear Lisa in California,
Thank you for your interest and kind offer to help ................
My main query has to do with Patrick Parker Glispin and a secondary one is Michael Crowley, his uncle.
Patrick Parker Glispin b. 1833 Dublin d. 1897 (Groveland, MA)
Patrick is found in the 1850 Federal and 1855 Leicester, Massachusetts State Censuses. In the latter he is with his widowed mother, aged 22 years.
Research shows Patrick missing from the 1860 US Federal Census in Massachusetts and no registration can be found for him, anywhere, in that US census year. His absence might well support the assumption that he left for the California Goldfields sometime after 1855.
We have no information as to when, exactly, Patrick arrived in California and, in time, he enlisted in the Union army there. Patrick's enlistment papers for the California Volunteer 9th Infantry has him joining 14 March 1864 - which is about 14 months before the end of the Civil War (1861-1865).
At the conclusion of the War, Patrick continued to serve as a soldier, with the rank of Corporal, until 1867. The regiment remained on duty at posts near San Francisco, and performed provost guard duty in the city until late in 1865, when parts of the regiment were distributed to California, Oregon and Nevada during the so called Snake War (1864-68).
Michael Crowley b. 1815 d. 1882 (Lowell MA). Research shows that Michael Crowley was not present in the Crowley household at the time of the 1850 US Federal New Hampshire Census - his wife Mary and the children were, but not Michael - and no registration can be found for him, anywhere, in that US census year. Although there is no mention of him in the 1850 San Francisco Census, his absence might well support the family assumption that he left for the California Goldfields in 1849.
Thanks again, very much - here's hoping ............
James
Queensland.