MCAULIFFE, THOMAS FRANCIS (1840 - 1900)

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Watsonville Pajaronian (February 1, 1900)
Photo of Thomas F. McAuliffe
courtesy of Helen B. Collins
& Frank Warzeski III

Thos. F. McAuliffe died last Friday afternoon at his home near Camp Goodall. His funeral took place Sunday afternoon, and was attended by a large gathering of friends and delegations of members from Pajaro Lodge I.O.O.F. and Watsonville Encampment of Odd Fellows. He was a native of Massachusetts, aged 60 years. He was a veteran of the Civil war, having served in a Massachusetts regiment. He came to California soon after the close of the war, and lived in this valley several years. He then went south, and for a number of years lived at San Diego. He returned to Pajaro valley about ten years ago, and after a time engaged in farming at the old Knowles place on the Camp Goodall road. About a year ago he was stricken with the grippe, and the disease was so severe that he could not regain his former health. He was a straightforward man, one who attended strictly to his own business and was just and upright. He left a wife and son.

Notes from Helen Collins, Grand Niece

Thomas F. McAuliffe was born in Boston, Massachusetts in 1840 and traveled with his Irish mother and father in 1844 to Sheboygan, Wisconsin (called the Michigan Territory) where they had a farm. His parents John and Honora "Leahy" McAuliffe and two younger brothers, John David and Daniel Joseph (both born in Sheboygan) left Wisconsin for the California Gold Rush in 1849 and arrived in March 1850 in San Francisco. Both parents died shortly after and left the boys orphans, and they resided with the nuns and the priests. Thomas McAuliffe married Charlotte Knowles (his cousin) and she was the daughter of Honora McAuliffe Knowles and Edgar Alonso Knowles, the first school teachers in Watsonville. Edgar Alonso Knowles was also on the Watsonville school board later on. Thomas and Charlotte McAuliffe had one son, Edgar McAuliffe, 1887-1976. He worked in the print room of the CHRONICLE newspaper in! San Francisco until he retired and died in 1976. They are all buried in the Pajaro Valley Catholic Church cemetery in Watsonville. Thomas F. McAuliffe was originally buried in the IOOF cemetery, but in 1914 when his wife Charlotte Knowles McAuliffe died, their son Edgar McAuliffe had Thomas' body removed from the IOOF cemetery and placed in the Pajaro Catholic church cemetery.

Date of Birth: 1840

Date of Death: 1900-28-01

County: Santa Cruz

Cemetery/City of Burial: Valley Catholic Cemetery

Plot: 15EW37

Cause of Death: Pul/Flu

Spouse: Knowles_ Charlotte

Occupation: Farmer

Religion: RC

Height: 5'6

Complexion: Lt

Eye Color: Bl

Hair Color: Lt

Local Address: Camp Goodall Rd

Last City: Pajaro

Native of: MA

Father Native of: John

Mother Native of: Leahy_ Honora

Enlisted: 1861/09/15

Discharged: 1864/10/07

Military Unit: CA_ 2 Cav_ Co L

Rank: Pvt

Military Notes: E-S.Crz_ M/O-CmpDgls_UT

GAR#: N/R

Available records used to obtain information:
Cemetery records
Santa Cruz County death records
Military records
Santa Cruz and Monterey newspapers
Voter Records

CW Reference: Orton's CMiWR

Creator: Nelson, Robert L.
Source: Old Soldier: the story of the Grand Army of the Republic in Santa Cruz County. Santa Cruz, CA: The Museum of Art & History, c2004.
Date: Undated
Coverage: Santa Cruz (County)
Rights: Reproduced by permission of Robert L. Nelson.
Identifier: OS-0651

Citation

Nelson, Robert L. “MCAULIFFE, THOMAS FRANCIS (1840 - 1900).” Old Soldier: the story of the Grand Army of the Republic in Santa Cruz County. Santa Cruz, CA: The Museum of Art & History, c2004. SCPL Local History. https://history.santacruzpl.org/omeka/items/show/133627. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.