Historic Day

[zankoku]

Maggie

thanks for the history lesson.  I learned some just from reading when I was a youngster and we had a many Irish in california. My Grandfather died when I was about 9 and he lived in San Francisco, a fair piece from us so I didn't get to know him well. I remember visiting him in his apartment and sitting in his wooden swivel office chair, the same chair that sits in front of my computer at home.


I also have this from the Ellis Island page. If you know names and approximate arrival time, you can find your ancestors who went thru Ellis Island. It took me a while since we knew my Grandfather as Jerome. It was only after my cousin told me his real name was Jeremiah that I was able to locate him. Before that we thought he was an illegal. (We never did find citizenship papers)

Notice the date and Ethnicity They call him British first and Irish second.

First Name:   Jeremiah
Last Name:   Leonard
Ethnicity:   British, Irish
Last Place of Residence:   Banteer
Date of Arrival:   Apr 23, 1903
Age at Arrival:  23    Gender:  M    Marital Status:  S 
Ship of Travel:   Etruria
Port of Departure:   Queenstown
Manifest Line Number:   0022


Jim

[Maggie]

I have long been involved in emergency services, and the history of that field in the US has been long colored by the Irish.   The Irish, became police officers, fire fighters, and ambulance workers.

Thank you for serving in the emergency services.
You're right about the Irish......you only have to read the casualty list for the WTC on 9/11 with the Irish names of police and firefighters.

There is an Emerald Society here in Orlando too.
They march in our St Patrick's Parade and play the pipes when requested at funerals, weddings etc.
One of them played the pipes at the funeral of Payne Stewart the golfer.

My Dad went to England and worked as a miner.
His job was shot-firer, inserting explosives into the coal face and blasting the coal loose.
It was dangerous of course, and this was in the days when they crawled along in cramped, wet conditions.
They used pit ponies to haul the coal, and my Dad had a favorite called "Ginger" with whom he shared his "snap".
Dad also trained in the St John's Ambulance Brigade, for mine rescue and emergency first aid.
I was so proud of him, he was ready to help anyone who needed it.

He studied geology and mine engineering and passed his exams for under-manager.
Just as he was about to be promoted, he was diagnosed with pneumoconiosis (black lung) and silicosis.
He was heartbroken. I remember the whole family, arms around each other, crying.

But he and Mum held it all together, and died within 24 hours of each other 22 years later.

Yes, we had a wake they would have been proud of!
There's not a day goes by when I don't talk to them.

I'm sure they're very happy to see the happenings at Stormont.

[Maggie]

..... It was only after my cousin told me his real name was Jeremiah that I was able to locate him. Before that we thought he was an illegal. (We never did find citizenship papers)
Notice the date and Ethnicity They call him British first and Irish second.

Jim, the reason was....Ireland was under British Rule.
We didn't get 26 of our Counties back until 1922, then the Constitution in 1937.

The Irish and other Europeans who came across in the 1800s and early 1900s were not illegal.

They were met by an Immigration Officer and a Doctor.

If there was any sign of disease they were turned around and sent back.

They had to be strong just to survive the awful unsanitary conditions aboard ship.

So it was the strongest and fittest, willing to work, who were allowed in.

Doesn't it make you long for the good old days! 

[zankoku]

We wondered if he was illegal baecause we could not find any paperwork showing he came thruough Immigration authorities in 1903.

They had to be strong just to survive the awful unsanitary conditions aboard ship.

My Great great grandfather (the other side of my mother's line) came to the US in the 1850's from Holland with his brother. His brother died aboard ship.

Jim

[Maggie]

Forgot to say.....

I have the Ship's passenger lists from Europe to USA on my computer.

BTW - Queenstown is now Cobh. (pronounced Cove)

[zankoku]

Thanks, I didn't know the name of the town had been changed.

I like the Ellis Island site as it sometimes shows a picture of the ship and the actual manifest

Jim