The Purcell story

My Irish roots in America began in 1819, when my great-great-grandfather on my father’s side sailed to America. I was never told why or under what circumstances Patrick Purcell left. He was just 19 years old. He originally settled in Iowa, where he married my great-great-grandmother, Mary Mahady. They traveled by wagon train to California and arrived in 1853. Together, they had 3 children. Mary Purcell died in 1868. Patrick never remarried.

He resettled in Placer County, California, where he became a stone mason and built the 1st Catholic Church in what is now Lincoln, California. Patrick was listed as the oldest living man at 96 years old when he passed away in 1896.

I am a direct descendant of Lucy Purcell, one of Patrick and Mary's daughters. I am a 5th-generation Californian and fortunate to have such deep roots in both Ireland and America. I have visited Ireland and loved my visit. I hope to go back before I pass away and visit County Carlow, where my great-great-grandfather called home. I hope to locate records that could shed light on his parents, brothers, and sisters, as well as on why he felt the need to leave Ireland.