Cassidys II (New York and Texas)

Hudson River Valley

The Hudson Valley was a long way from County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland.  In addition to Catherine Agnes Cassidy, James and Margaret had two other children in New York, Stephen Cassidy, b. 1832, and Sara Jane Cassidy, b. 1833.

The newly formed Republic of Texas recruited new immigrants from American cities on the east coast.  

By 1837, the Cassidy family moved to Texas.  Their next child was Margaret Elizabeth Cassidy, b. 6 Mar 1836, born four days after Texas Independence Day. She listed Texas place of birth, but it could have been right before the move

The Red River County tax list (this county was later divided into many counties, including Bastrop) listed James as being on the tax roll in 1840. The 1842 Bastrop County tax roll included him on the list.

For its recruitment efforts, Texas offered land grants to new settlers.  The family received a second class headright patent, 1240 acres in Bastrop County.  Second Class was a grant to those who settled between 2 Mar 1836 and October 1838.  The Cassidy grant indicates it was made on 15 Sep 1837. This land is still cited in real estate in Badtrop County as the James B. Cassidy Survey.

They have more children in Bastrop County:  Welch, b. 1836, death date as child, unknown;  Isabella Mary, b. 12 Aug 1840 (1850 U.S. Census, either married or died); Anna Lucy, b. 11 Jan 1842; and James Britton Cassidy, 9 Feb 1844

In 1842, James B. Cassidy joined Billingsley's Company, Republic of Texas Army,  in the Wall Expedition. This expedition was to stop the invasion of Mexican General Wolls and an invading Mexican army.    

James died in 1844 near Houston.  

SOURCES:  Red River County Tax Roll 1840, Bastrop County Tax Roll, 1842, Texas General Land Office Land Grants, 1850 U.S. Census.

Copyright by Donald R. Temples, 2015