Bridget's Genealogy
Genealogy comes from the Greek words for "race" & "theory".
An Introduction
When I first started on the trail of my ancestors I did not know
where it would lead me. I was born in Glasgow but raised and surrounded by people whose greatest love was Ireland. I asked
myself, if Ireland is so great what on earth are we doing living here in the west of Scotland?
For a long time I resented my Irish connection and turned my back
on it, yet those I loved most in this world were either Irish by birth or descent. Not until I met my husband did I re-discover
my own personal connection with Ireland.
The research started on a holiday in County Kerry where my maternal
grandmother was born. A simple enquiry at the church where she was baptized led me on a journey of discovery about myself
and my origins.
My family history may not be of much interest to others, there
are no millionaires, no great literary or artistic figures, no inventors or scientists, just ordinary working class people
trying to survive in an often hostile and merciless world. The world of Charles Dickens where poverty was an even greater
crime than theft or murder. In that world to be poor and Irish was unforgivable.
My ancestors came to Scotland to find a better life for themselves
and their families. My father's family were, for the most part, from Ulster, Fermanagh and Armagh. My mother's family came
from Tipperary and Offaly. I am second generation Scots on my mothers side and third generation on my fathers side. I love
my homeland dearly and I am very proud to be Scottish, nowdays though I have another pride, one which many of my fellow Irish/Scots
have lost. I take pride in my Irish ancestry. The shamrock and the thistle for me are inseperable.
If you are just starting out on the trail of
your ancestors.....
A word of warning!
Genealogy is a highly addictive pastime. It is like a very large
jigsaw puzzle. You are constantly looking for the missing pieces. You find answers to questions that lead to other questions
which in turn require answers.
Like the missing parts in the jigsaw puzzle, these answers build
up a picture of the lives of the people who ultimately made you. For that reason alone the hobby can become an obsession.
As a result of my research I have an extensive database on both my parents families dating back to the early 1800's.
My Fathers family the cassidys came from County Fermanagh
but eventually settled in Glasgow. The first piece of evidence of their arrival in Scotland is the 1841 census
My Mother's maiden name was Loftus Her branch of the Loftus clan came from Galway originally, settling in Tipperary and Glasgow.
Many of my ancestors were soldiers. My paternal great-grandfather
John served in India for over twenty years.
