The O'Brien Family of San Francisco, CA
The O'Brien Family of San Francisco, CAUpdated May 3, 2004 | MikeO'Brien 3061 Bayer Dr. Marina,CA 93933 United States [email protected] |
| My Great-grandfather (William O'Brien) and Great-gandmother (Catherine O'Brien) arrived in San Francisco, CA from Co. Limerick, Ireland in the early 1850's. William applied for his citizenship in 1863 but never completed it(I have his naturalization request certificate). They settled in San Francisco, CA. They had six children; Catherine T. O'Brien (1855-1923), John Francis O'Brien (1856-1937), William Michael O'Brien (1858-1925), James O'Brien (1861-1876, Nora O'Brien (1861-1874) and Mary Ellen O'Brien (1865-1918). Catherine, William and Mary never married. In 1880 my Grandfather (John Francis O'Brien) met and married my Grandmother (Matilda Williamson) in San Francisco, CA. Matilda was born in 1860 in Springfield, CA. Springfield is next to Columbia (State Park now) and near Sonora, CA. Her mother and father (Great-grandmother /father, John and Catherine Williamson) came from Ireland and arrived in San Francisco around 1850 also. John Williamson was a gold miner during the California Gold Rush. John and Matilda O'Brien were married in Aug 1880 and divorced in Mar 1888. During the marriage they had four children: Benjamin O'Brien (1882), John William Francis O'Brien (1885-1955), Thomas O'Brien (1886) and James J. O'Brien(?). My father (John William Francis O'Brien) and James J. survived. His original birth certificate was destroyed in the Great Earthquake of 1906 in San Francisco, CA. In 1945 he petitioned the Superior Court of San Francisco to re-establish his birth certificate. It was witnessed by an older cousin (name unknown) and said his birth was 1888. I have pictures of him and his parents dated 1881 and 1884. My brother and I are the only two known descendents from our great-grandfather William O'Brien. We both have children and grand-children to carry on the O'Brien name. My grandfather (John Francis O'Brien) lived in San Francisco County and Sonoma County, CA. He was admitted to the Napa State Hospital in 1932 and died 19 Dec 1937 at age 81. He was widowed prior to his entering the hospital, so it is believed he had a second wife while living in Sonoma County, CA. It is also believed he had several children from this second marriage because my brother remembers my father having to half brothers who died in a drowning accident in the San Francisco bay area prior to 1930. There are a lot of missing links in my family that I am looking for. If anyone has any information on the O'Brien family (or any descendents/relations) of the San Francisco Bay area or Sonoma/Napa County area, please feel free to drop me a line at the address below. | |
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