Matthew WOODRUFF was born 16 May 1646 in Farmington, CT. He married Mary Plumb in 1668. They had seven kids. Mary died in 1680. Matthew married Sarah North 24 Nov 1686 in Farmington. They had two kids:
Nathaniel – b, 1687
Joseph – b, 1689 (Our 7GG)
Matthew died 18 Nov 1691 in Milford, New Haven, CT. He was 79 years old.
Sarah NORTH was born 23 Dec 1653 in Farmington. She died 2 Jan 1692 in Farmington. She was 38 years old.
Looks like our 7GG Joseph was three years old when his parents had both died.
In 1863, an Irish immigrant, James Thomas, established a store in Mora, New Mexico. One of his employees was James Doherty (Our great-great grandfather). He was the first of several Doherty brothers who came to the U.S. looking for a better opportunity. When Thomas died in 1868, his store and other interests were acquired by James Doherty, and his brother Joe, for $10,167. Store records indicate the business prospered. Substantial profits were made in the 1870’s by adopting the usual frontier policy of accepting local produce – grain and livestock – in exchange for hardware, dry goods and groceries which were hauled to San Antonio by wagon train from the railhead at El Moro, Colorado 100 miles to the north. Within a few years John Doherty had become increasingly concerned with his own mercantile and livestock operations and moved his headquarters to Lower Mora. In 1881 James again found a replacement from his native land. Born in County Donegal in 1852, Daniel Cassidy came to the U.S. with his wife Susan(Langan) and their three oldest children to Mora, where Cassidy was employed at the store as a clerk. Ten years later, he bought out the business from James Doherty. It was at that time, James moved to St Louis. James wife, Mary Ellen, was Susan Langan’s sister.
Here is the store, after Daniel Cassidy took ownership. His home is next to the store.
Here is a picture of the store and home today. It is still owned by the Cassidy family.
The last several weeks, parts of New Mexico have been dealing with a severe wildfire. The Hermits Peek and Calf Canyon fires have surrounded the area near our ancestors homes. I have been following, on Facebook, Dan Cassidy’s posts on the fire. He is a direct descendant of the Dan Cassidy in the story.
Here is a picture of the Cassidy/Doherty plot at the Cleveland Cemetery in Cleveland, NM. Some of our Doherty relatives are here. Raymond Doherty and Dan Cassidy cleaned this plot last year. It had been overgrown with thick brush.
The cemetery and the old homes are still threatened by the fires. The town has been evacuated a few weeks ago. Some days the winds blow the fire away from town, and some days they do not. Many in the area have lost homes, livestock and have had significant crop damage.
Fitzgerald Family History 