When news of the California gold discovery reached Boston, Patrick joined the rush, hoping to find a fortune. He left his wife and children behind in Boston. At first, he wrote faithfully to his family, but after his letters stopped, Bridget left the children with nuns and went to find him. He had been unsuccessful as a miner, but with his wife to help him, he saved enough money to build a house near Murphys, Calaveras County, and send for the children.

In those days, the route from Boston to the Mother Lode involved an ocean voyage from Boston to Panama, crossing Panama by land, another voyage to San Francisco, a river boat to Stockton, and a wagon or stage coach into the hills. And that's how the four Curran children reached their parents in Murphys.

Bridget was a devout Catholic who went to mass every day of her life. On her deathbed, she asked to be buried in the habit of a Catholic sisterhood she had joined in Ireland. Her priest found such a habit and granted her last wish. She and Patrick, and their child Felix, lie under the same marker in the Catholic cemetery at Murphys.

Dan and Allison's Family Tree (Duclos, Curran, and Barry of Quebec)

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