 |
| Scranton, PA |
| Part 3 |
| Further examination of the 1870 Census for Scranton includes page after page of residents living in the �Hyde Park� post office area. On page 114 are listings for two dwellings, numbers 695 and 696. Dwelling 695 is occupied by Bridget (O)Grady, 33 and her daughter Ellen, 12. Next door at dwelling 696 is the family of Daniel O�Grady as outlined above. However, in addition there are George (O)Grady, 29; his wife Amanda, 26 and children Nellie and George. Like Daniel, George is a blacksmith. Assets for the elder George O'Grady list only a Personal Estate in the amount of $521, there are no real estate holdings. However, because his father, Daniel, owns the property, his Real Estate is listed as a whopping $2,000 with a Personal Estate of $600. I am still researching the relationship of the Bridget (O)Grady next door, who may be a sister or sister-in-law. Likewise, we have Patrick (O)Grady, 68; his wife [her name is illegible], and 20 year old son, Peter, living several doors down. Further research is required to confirm any relationship between these latter O'Grady's and my relations. |
 |
| Scranton Coalbreaker |
 |
|
In addition to the records mentioned here, there is another fascinating piece of O'Grady history I found. It is connected to a John O'Grady and involves a presentation dress sword that was in our family for a number of years. After applying to the National Archives, I obtained the military records for one 1st Lt. John O'Grady, who fought for the Union in the War Between the States (The Civil War). As you recall from your US History classes, in 1861, President Abraham Lincoln put out a call for volunteers to protect the Union. Both Confederate and Union leaders anticipated the �War Between the States� would be of short duration. They would be proved tragically wrong. John O�Grady answered the initial call to arms by enlisting for a period of three months in Company E of the 8th Regiment (Infantry), 37th Pennsylvania. His hometown, as borne out in some of his correspondence was Scranton, Pennsylvania. John O�Grady was 30 years of age when he enlisted and as a 2nd Lieutenant; so he may very well have had previous military experience. If he did, it was probably in the Mexican-American War. Contained in the packet from National Archives were muster records showing roll calls from both a three-month enlistment and through his service in a subsequent three-year cavalry enlistment. Three prisoner of war parole documents were also in his file; indicating he had been captured several times and released in officer parole programs. |
 |
| Click HERE to see an 1874 Map showing Chestnut and Jackson Streets, Scranton |
| For more on John Grady and the Civil War, please use the "Next" Button |
| Click HERE to see Daniel O'Grady's Last Will and Testament |
| Part 4 |
| Part 5 |
| Also found in the 1870 US Census, are Thomas Lavelle and wife Ellen, both born in Ireland, who are living in Providence/Scranton, 3rd Ward. With them are son Patrick (17) and a daughter, Ann (8), who was born after the last Census and in Scranton PA. Similiarly to my great great grandfather James his brother, Thomas, and son, Patrick, are laborers at the mines. Patrick's birth in Ireland would place the time of immigration after 1853. Thomas' brother, James and family live nearby. By the 1880 US Census, young Patrick Lavelle (28), wife Bridget (33) and their sons: James (10), John (8), Patrick (5), twins Thomas and Michael (6 mos) and Bridget's mother, Bridget Jennings (70) are living in Scranton (Providence Burgh, PA. Patrick continues to work the mines, young James is a slate picker at the mines. The boys are all born in Pennsylvania. Their residence is now in the Vinegar Hill neighborhood which today is dominated by the Scranton Expressway and the confluence of several major highways. |