Vol. X. No.1 Connecticut Irish-American Historical Society January-February 1998

Meriden Irish immigrant killed in heroic rescue

A 33-year-old native of "He had not time to County Galway died a save himself," reported hero's death in Meriden the Meriden Morning on Jan. 4, 1909. Record, "for the locomo­ Michael Donlon was tive bore down upon him, killed when he stepped in striking him at the back of front of a railroad engine the head and hurling his to push a mother and her body to one side. Mrs. young daughter out of the Gauthier suffered only a path of the oncoming shock from the accident, train. having fallen one side of An employee in the the rails and her daughter baggage room at .the Meri­ the other side." den train station, Donlon Donlon was taken by was hauling an empty cart ambulance to the city toward the north end of hospital and treated by the depot to pick up lug­ Dr. Lockwood. The in­ gage and parcels from the jured Irishman was bleed­ 2:12 p.m. express when he saw tripped. Her mother, a Mrs. Gau­ ing profusely from a large gash at several women with a young girl and thier, had gone back to assist her, the base of his skull, but his body a baby in a carriage attempting to but was terror stricken as she saw was not bruised or injured in any cross the tracks to Colony Street the train approaching. way. He died around midnight ahead of the train. Donlon leaped from the loading without regaining consciousness. The women had time to get dock and pushed Mrs. Gauthier and across safely, but the young girl the young girl to safety. (PleBse turn to PBge 2)

()f lri~h Traditt • lOll

Noted Irish folk singer. composer and poet Johnny Moran will be the master of ceremonies and the featured performer in the "Rainbow of Irish Tradition" which will be sponsored by our society at Quinnipiac College in Hamden on March 18. Also on the playbill for the evening of Irish cultural ac­ tivities are Gina Dunlop and her singing group. vocalist Mike McCann. Jim Chase doing an Irish monologue and students of the Irish language class in New Haven performing a skit. Look for more details in the neX1 issue of The Shenachie. Page 2 Granite monument in cemetery in Meriden honors Irish hero

(Continued from Page 1) would be a source of inspiration to the grave and monument where Young Donlon, who boarded with all who might have the privilege of space had been provided for the his uncle at 116 Pratt St., had reading of his selfless bravery." speakers, the band and the Hiberni­ worked in the baggage depot for The newspaper said it would do­ ans. three years and in the freight depot nate $25 to begin a fund for a "Donlon's grave was covered with for several years before that. He was plaque, floral tributes and the monument described by the foreman of the bag· "It ought not to take long," said was veiled with the Stars and Stripes gage depot, Eli Munn, as a "young the Meriden Weekly Republican, "to and an Irish banner. Just before the man of good habits, fine disposition raise the comparatively small sum opening address by attorney Dana­ and conscientious as a worker," that will be necessary to procure a her, the band played with wonder­ He was survived by his parents tablet in memory of Michael Don­ fully fine effect, 'Nearer My God to and three brothers in Ireland and by lon. Here is an undertaking which Thee,'" three sisters, Mrs, J.E, Madden and ought to appeal to everybody irre­ After Danaher's eulogy, President Mrs. William Lally of Meriden and spective of race, color, religious Peter Corcoran of Division 2, Miss Annie Donlon of New York creed or political belief. Such a type A, 0,H., pulled a cord that unveiled City, of man, 'the noblest work of God: the monument honoring Donlon. An irony of the tragedy was that should be given general recognition, Mayor Reilly gave a dedicatory ad­ Mrs. Gauthier's husband had also A few hundred dollars will make dress comparing Donlon's sacrifice survived a railroad accident when, a possible a tangible evidence to all to those of the Meriden men who few years before, the horse and who come into the city of the ap­ served in the Civil War. "The one in wagon he was driving was struck by preciation of Donlon's fellow men, whose honor we are met," he said, a train at the Brooks Street crossing of his great sacrifice." "did not respond to the roll of the in Meriden. The horse was killed and Contributions for a memorial drum or the bugle's call, No martial the wagon torn to splinters, but Gau­ poured in and the 2nd Division of command sent him to meet death, thier was thrown free into nearby the Ancient Order of Hibernians in but it was a summons to manly duty, Clark Brook. Meriden, of which Donlon was a just as urgent as was ever heard on When word of Donlon's heroic ac· member, took on the responsibility field of banle. And response was in­ tion spread throughout Meriden, it of making arrangements for a stantaneous. Without thought of became "the principal topic of con· suitable monument, himself, without care as to what versation, " The A.O.H. retained W,J. Luby might be in store for him, this young The newspaper reported that, to fashion the monument and by man gave up his life that a mother "Representatives of all classes of so­ June, Luby had carved a handsome and her child might be saved, ciety have discussed reverently and granite shaft with a Celtic cross to "... This modest. unassuming appreciatively the heroism of this be placed over Donlon's grave in young Irishman faithfully following man whose only thought was to res­ Sacred Heart Cemetery. The in­ his daily duties was called upon to cue the mother and child who were scription on the monument read: face a situation that tries men's in the path of the train ... "Erected by A,O.H. and Friends of souls. Hesitation meant death to the "Not for one instant did the man Meriden, Conn" In Memory of helpless; action meant death to the consider for his own safety, nor did Michael Donlon, Whose Heroism helper.. he take time to think of the feelings Saved Two lives, 1876-1909." "Without a moment's faltering, he of those near and dear to him. His The monument was dedicated on leaped to the rescue. His strong, duty was plain. He saw it in a flash Sunday, June 6. Several thousand willing arms bore the fear-palsied and went out to do it ... This is the residents turned out for the dedica­ mother and her little girl off the t.rue kind of heroism, the kind which tion, track of death as the on-rushing train makes men and women who witness Two hundred members of the whizzed by. They were saved but it greater and bener members of so­ A.O.H., under Grand Marsha! the horror-stricken people who wit­ ciety. It shows the best side of hu­ Joseph S, Casey led a procession nessed the heroic act knew that the man nature and reveals men as linle which included a platoon of p""ice, brave young fellow was hurt unto lower than angels." a military band and a carriagE carry­ death." The newspaper suggested that a ing Mayor Thomas L. Reilly, attor­ memorial tablet be placed on the wall ney C.J. Danaher and Or, A.W. (Source: Meriden Morning Record. of the railroad depot as "an enduring Tracy and attorney P.J. O'Briel", Jan. 4, Jan. 5, June 5, June 7. testimony of the grateful remem­ "Just before entering the ceme­ 1909, Meriden Republican. Jan, 6, brance of a great deed. A bronze bas tery grounds," reported the Meriden 1909.1 relief which would show the features Morning Record, "the band played of the hero, with a fining inscription a dirge and the paraders marched to FAMINE JOURNAL January-Fobruary 1848 #15

Perspective People Swept Away Gloomy New Year Children Perish To Ihe editor or lhe Free­ To the Editor of the Um&­ Tesllmony, Kenmlre, Jan. It is difficult to imagine 8 mall from CUfden, Co. GII­ ritk Reporter from ElIlIlsty­ 4, 1848 - George Phelln, land in greater disarray than way, Feb. 11,1848-lnOctc> mon, Co. Clare, Jan. 7, 1848 master of Ihe Ke.mlre poor­ ueland was al the beginning ber 1845, famine, consequent on - Matters can hardly be worse; house, eumlned - Said that of 1848. the failure of the potato crop, the year just passed was ren­ Catherine Connolly with five While 1847 is often caused the deaths of many in dered memorable from scenes children were in the Kenmare marked as the worst of the these parishes - Orney and ofdistress such as are seldom poor-house; were put out on Famine years, reports from Ballindoon. Enwneralors of witnessed in the world, and Tuesday the 29th (of December) throughout the country in Kno\\lll probity were appointed such as could be heard or talked ... Catherine Connolly and her early 1848 revealed no eas­ by our reliefconunittee to 'take of nowhere but in Ireland. Yet, children went much against their ing of the !lUffering, no faIl­ an accurate census of the popu­ gloomy as was the year 1847, will; they left the house from 12 ing olT of the death tolls. If lation. According to their return, and \\oTCtched as was the condi­ 10 2 o'clock, after breakfasting anything, conditions seemed there were then in want of suffi­ tion and prospects of the multi­ to be growing worse. ciency of food, 3,000 families, tude throughout it, the recollec­ TImothy Sulllnn of Der­ The pace of evictions or 15,000 individuals. From a tion of its misery is likely to be ryu.mud'IIub eumilted­ quickened and the poor­ registry taken by my curates in forgotten or lost sight of in the Got up about 7 o'clock on Fri­ houses could Dot begin to January this year, I find only horrors of this. day morning; went on the road take in all those evicted. 2,000 families or about 10,000 It may be, perhaps, that we towards Currageen, where he Horror stories circulatcd individuals, so that fully one­ are in the worst passes of the saw a little girl as he thought about the deaths of people third of the entire population of crisis and about to emerge from asleep Ort the road; went up to denied admission to the those parishes has been swept them, that we are near the mom her, fOW1d she was dead. It was workhouses and of people off the face ofthe earth, with of deliverance when 'tis always Catherine COlUlOlly. Found Dan forced to leave the work­ the exception of about 30 fami­ the darkest, but ifwe are des­ and John Connolly about one­ houses to make room for lies who emlgrated to America. tined to sink into still deeper eighth ofa mile further on, on oth=. Our prospects for the next six shades of horror, if gloomier the roadside dead and furtheron And the Dublin corre-. months lire more awfully days are in store for us than still Michael Connolly, also spondent of the London gloomy than even in the past those which aIready left such dcod. years. Times reported that those melancholy traces behind, 'tis C.therine Connolly eum­ responsible for collecting the The Poor Law Act is not at horrible... IDed - Is mother of the de­ Poor Law tax from landown­ all adapted to the circwnstances The Poor Law Commission­ ceased Michael, John, Daniel en were failing to do so with of this pauperised district; about ers have, it appears, issued and Catherine Connolly. Con­ 100 scarcely able to pay the the reNlt thai there was 8 sealed orders for giving out­ nolly was with her children in serious shortfall in money for enormous threatened rate and door re1iefto the ablebodied for the Kenmare poor.house; was the reliefof the poor. about 9,000 applicants for relief! two months in some unions, but put out on Tuesday, the 29th of I am sure my readers, Desperate peasant!! re­ though the instructions for carrying out December ... parted with her sorted to and violence shocked, not deem it threats will exag­ these orden counteract the children for the purpose of go­ against landlords and a Prot­ gernled when I certify to the boon. 'Tis to be cooked food. ing to Dourus to get her name fact of some in estant group calling itself the persons those the quantity not mentioned. for put on the book of the relieving Society of Deliverers living on horse flesh Irish parishes which they are to work hard officer ... she nor her five chil­ for days, nay on that of dogs said it was selecting Catholic many hours in the day, while no dren did not eat anything from clerg:ymen in Queens County until death put an end to their allowance is made for clothing the time they left the workhouse for assassination should 81­ sufferings. To whom do lap­ or for fuel. as ifthey could work on Tuesday until she parted tades against Protestant land- peal in behalfof the abandoned or even live without these requi­ with them on Thursday evening poor? Not to the benevolence of sites, as ifnature could hold out except one plate of gruel be­ the public already, I fear, ex­ or their families be kept together tween them all ... FAMINEJOURNAL hausted, not to the British Asso­ without these necessaries. When George Mayberry, MD., ciation, the funds of which are it discovered that the poor was eumlned - I made a post in many places perverted into Irishman, much as he can en­ Published blmoalhly dur­ mortem examination on two of means for proselytising the re­ dure. could work without I~OIh the de<;eased children, Cathenne Inc Ihe ualvenary mant of our flocks. clothes, or live in winter without of the lrilh Polato Famille. and Michael Connolly ... not a Peter FUzmauri« any heat ...7 Copyright 1998, lbe COD­ particle of food was in the stom nettitut Irbh-Ameriull Plri,h Prie,t Johll Sheehl. ach or intestines ... I consider HhtoriuJ Society, P.O. P.rish Priest they died from want of food. Lack OfHumanity Hunger And Cold Unrest In Ulster Truly Lamentable London Tlm«. JID. 28, Mlyo Telegnpb, JID. 16, LondoD TImes, Jill. II, Umerick Reporter, Jln. 1848 -A coronets inquest 1848 -A poor man named 1848 - The following rather 21, 1848 - The condition of was held in Kells,.colU\ty of Devir from Ballycroy made sev­ alarming statemenl respecting this portion of our country is in Meath, last week, on the bodies eral applications for reliefat the the progress of the conspiracy a truly lamentable state. The of two WQmen named Elizabeth workhouse, but to no purpose. in the province of Ulster ap­ misery of the people here is un­ and Catherine Doggett, mother The poor Ballycroy supplicant pears in the Belfast Protestant paralleled - plague, pestilence and daughter, who, according to - he who came on tottering Journal: and famine - meel the eye in the verdict of the jury, came 10 limb with bended fonn, his ven­ II is with feelings of deep re­ every direction, and the ... vil­ their deaths in the lown of KeJls erable grey hairs bleached with gret we learn that the spirit of lage and neighbourhood of on the 2d of January from cold age - was found lying dead lawless outrage is gradually Cloughjordan have now become and privation and actual want of outside the wall ofthe work­ penetrating this portion of Ire­ almost a second Sk.ibbereen. house, which death was caused the common necessaries of life. land. Hitherto, amidst all the $0­ The eviden~ adduced at the The jury immediately after by hunger and cold. The ap­ cial disorganization that pre­ inquesl upon the misenlble came 10 the following unani­ pearance of the unfortunate vailed in the south and west, the youth who sank beneath the bil­ mous resolution. which they did man, it is said, was horrible to north has been tranquil and un­ ter pang of f~e, shows the nol embody in their verdict- look upon. disturbed; bul the comparative wretched state into which the ''We cannot separate without Captain Farron, lnspccting impunity with which murder unfortunate people are plunged. expressing our deep regret as Officer and Mr. Leeky, the and outrage are committed in On Sunday an inquest was weH as our utter astonishment chainnan of the Vice-G\wdians, the districts to which we refer held on the body in a filthy hut, thai the Poor Law guardians of we understand, had the body have, perhaps, encouraged the which is situate on the road side this union should be lost to all placed in a barrow, and brought blood-thirsty in this quarter to and within a mile ofCloughjor­ hwnane and. we might add, into the workhouse, from sirnilardeeds of crime. Only a dan. The interior of this awful Christian, feeling in not long whence it was afterwards con­ week or two back, the public abode of misery presented a since taking steps to stem the veyed for intennent to the old were astounded ... thai Mr. most heart-rending spectacle. churchyard. We hear a great M'Causland and Rev. Mr. Ross ravages made on our patient and In a corner lay stretched on a deal of noise made about agrar­ reedved threatening notices, suffering population by cold, Iilterof straw, in a state of nu­ ian murders in Ireland. What then came the painful intelli­ hunger and destitution of every dity and utter helplessness, will be said about this? Little, gence that the Messrs Moore of description, which is penonally Timothy Quirke, aged 19 years, we fear. Devir was a poor man; Castleweallan, in the county of known to every one of us; and while his brother Thomas, who his death, therefore, or that of Down, had received warning to ifanything can aggravate such was about 9 yean old, was ly­ thousands 1ike him who are now prepare for death; and now we conduct it is that when at the ing on his beck close to the ftre, dying by a legal process, may are informed ... that three of the eleventh hour rclieris pennitted which was composed of a sod be looked on as an act of most respectable gentlemen, they step in between the people of twfand a few sticks which mercy 10 Ireland. magistrates in the county of and their food. multiplying were given by the neighbours, Antrim have been served with scenes like the present, and, as We have just learned that an­ the poor creature whose skin letters threatening them with de· it would seem, perl"ectly un­ other victim has paid the debt of was quite yellow, his limbs stIUction ... We have heard ... mindful of the awful responsi­ nature by cold and starvation at fleshless and who was a that il is intended to call B bility they are supposed to 10­ &lIinacorriga, within a mile of wretched picture of elClreme county meeting to express the cure before God and man." this town. The poor man, v.hose destitution, was unable to sit up horror and indignation of our name was Cooney, made sev­ or stand, such being the state of brave bul peaceably disposed era1applicatioos for relief, exhaustion in which he was in. 7 Days Unburied which being denied, he allength population at the awful crimes ... and to strengthen the hands On the floor stood trembling W.terford Chronicle. Feb· fell a sacrifice 10 starvation and of government in endeavouring and in an emaciated state two nil)' 1848 - It becomes our cold. other children, holding their un­ duty to record more deaths thru 10 arrest the progress of assassi­ Meatbmen Leaving fortunate mother, Bridget hunger and cold in the electoral nation and outrage. Such a vig­ Quirke, by the remanant of an division of Drum ... The victims London Times, Jill. 19, orous and decided step would old gown and crying for food are Patt Devany, Thomas Burke, 1848 - The Meath Herald says have a most beneficial effect. which, alas, she had not 10 give IUl evicted outcast. IUld Martin nwnbers of small fannen:, hold­ but our efforts ought not to stop here. The Protestants of Ireland them, and on a table was placed Connolly ... The latter was 7 en: of20 acres and under, both the body of the deceased which days dead before interred ... in Meath and the adjoining must organize in self-defence was frightfuJ to behold. Died from starvation last wed: county of Cavan, have already unless they desire to be extir­ in the parish of Kilmeena, Owen commenced to JTIllke prepara­ pated by the bullet of the mur­ In several other places in the Hamm of Rossduane; Mary tions for the spring emigration derer. If government cannol af· same vicinity similar scenes of Joyce foWld dead by the road­ by disposing of whatever inter­ ford them protection, there is no misery exist. Athletic men are side at Gortheen; a strange est they may possess in their law of God or man which for­ reduced to skeletons for want of woman who dropped dead in farms. It is anticipated that the bids them associating to protect proper nourishment. the village of Roemore ... spirit of emigrtltion will this sea­ themselves and if it must come son be very widely diffused. 10 this, the sooner the better... Page 3

Hartford gambler Fsmily History ended up broke We continue this month publishing the list prepared by genea'ogist PBUI From rags to riches back to R. Keroack of Irish nemes taken from the Norwich crty directory of rags was the story of Hartford's 1867. For people seeking information on their ancestors, such lists can Jerry Donovan. provide extremely important information on names. addresses and Donovan rose from humble be­ family relationships. Compiling the list is a difficult and inexact science ginnings in an Irish immigrant because many names. such as Brown. Smith, Carey, etc., may be Irish family living on Ferry Street in or English in origin. Other names have numerous spelling variations. Hartford to become one of the some of which appear not to be Irish. In his work. Paul is using Irish most successful gamblers in the surname reference works and his knowledge of the Irish in Norwich from previous projects to sort out the Irish names. He intends to begin nation in the 18605 and 18705. copying some names from Bridgeport and New Hayen directories and Early in his career, Donovan left we will. from time to time. print listings of the names he extracts. Hartford and settled in New York Anyone who wishes to help out in this project. either with those three City where he earned a reputation cities. or other Connecticut towns. should get in touch with Paul as "one of the best known faro through The Shanachie, dealers of the country," He tray· eled in the company of such gam­ Burns, Edmund, laborar, Tham88\'ille Danial, blaachar, Main G blers as Pllt Sheedy and John Edward, lac op, Roath rd Danial, M .. laborar, 6 Main Morrissey and amassed a fortune Hugh, OVarUler, 53 Yentic Edward, paintar, 137 Franklin mostly from his faro winnings. Jamell, laborer, Hickory Eugana, blaachery, High n 7th G Returning to Hartford. Donovan Jamell, hostler, bds 22 Sachem Geo., carpentar, bds Peck James, paper mIlKer, bdll r 4th G Geo., fila cut1ar, bdll 94 Main acquired and operated two gam­ John, laborer, G rd Geo. H., clark, bds 92 Meln bling houses and owned horses John, laborer, 43 Union John, paintar, 137 Franklin that competed in the trotting Joseph, boetman, 13 Summit Joseph W., foundryman, Peck tracks that were so popular in the Marianne, w"avar, bel. 53 Yantic Kate, domestic, 8 Broedwey Mrs. MIry, 37 Yentic Morty, 6th, n Main G late 19th century. He was re­ Manin, farm"r, Yentic CaNar, John, rmhinillt, 6th ab Prospect G ported to be worth $50,000, a Michael, laborer, G rd Michaal, rag Iloner, 6th G tremendous amount for those Patrick, laborer, 20 Ceder Richard,laborar, High c 8th G times. Roger, Ilpinne" NT Thomall, mechlnist, 9 Cliff Thomas, leborer, 44 School Casey, Abby, fac op, Yantic He also owned splendid teams Timothy, labor"" r 4th G Bridgat, weevar, bds High G of horses for his personal use, •At Byrnall, Thomas, 8leambtlltewerd, 58 Cornaliu" labr, bd. 61h lib Prspact G one time,· said the Hartford Frenklin Mra. Catharina, 110 Themaa Courant, ·when Main Street was Thomall, gerdener, NT Danial, laborar, bd', 11 Yantic Callaghen, Bridget, boerding, 111 Yantic Floranca, laborar, 55 Yantic the great speedway of the city in Jamas, fac op, 13 Clinton Woolen John, 6th ab Proapct G winter ,.. it was considered one Co.. BH John, tailor, G rd of the sights to see Jerry Dono­ Jeramiah, Mill Pond Lane John, laborar, Themaaville van drive along with his magnifi­ John, fac op, BH Jeremiah, spinner, NT Patrick machinist, btls .111 Yantic Mery, domeatic, 108 Union cent team, There was none better Callahen, Daniel, saloon, 52 Yantic Micheel, fac op, 81h eb Prospect G and no one looked more comfort­ John, laborar, Main n, 8th G Nancy, domalltic, 108 Union able than he under his rich robes John, leborar, Whita G Petrick, boot meker, BH in the most expensive style of Owen. laborer, 20 Cedar Thomall, laborer, 6th eb Prospect G Petrick machinillt, bds 20 Ceder Thomall, lac op, 13 Clinton Wool sleigh that easy money could Callahen, Michaal, peper mkr, 6th eb Co .. BH buy.· Prospect G Timothy, laborer, 5th ab Prospect G In his later years, Donovan fell Campion, Mery, domestic, PR ab G Wm., laborer, 8 Aqueduct on hard times, due at least in part Carberry, PlIlk, fec op, 18 Sturdevenl NT Ca88idy, Margeret, domestic, 35 Brdway Cerey, Edward, carpentar, High c lilt G P.. physician end Ilurgeon, , 134 to excessive drinking, and by the Ellen, domestic, 20 Broadway Mein, bde Americen House early years of the 20th century he Frederic W.• carpenter, High c 1III G Cavin, John, laborar, BH had become a pitiful figure living Jeremiah, peper meker, High G in a boardinghouse back on Ferry wid Jerllmieh, 9 Sturdevant, NT Abbreviation,: Ab. ,bo""; ,I, ,Ilay; bal, below; John, laborar. 74 Union b Of bat. batwMn; c. com'r. bd', board,; do. O. O....nvllla; h, hou..; ft, foot; 1_; Street where he grew up. John, machinist, rear 78 Franklin dlno; la, opp, oppo,lI;e; n, near; r, r...; ,q, Iqu"e; 'I. tn 1904, he left Hartford for Julia, fec op, bds 111 Yantic at....t; W, w..t; E...at; N, north; S. south; good to live with on~ of his chil­ Miss Mery, High n 5th G NLT N,w London Turnpike; NT Norwich Town; dren in California. Mrs. Mery, High n 7th G WS, wed ,Ide; P, Preaton; PH, Plain Hijl; CT. William, High n 71h G Cantatbuf'f' Turnplk.; LH. Leu",1 HIli; 0, Old; Carney, Mra, Pater. fllc op, BH 8H. 8..n Hill; SR. Scoll'nd Road; PT Provi­ (Source: Hartford Courant, June Carroll, Chill H., cllrpenter, bd, Peck denc. Turnpike. 9 and June 10, 1904) Page 4

Briefly noted New Haven Jews formed military unit HELP WANTED - The New Haven Ethnic Heritage Center at Southern Connecticut State University is in need of volunteers. The facility In 1897, a group of New Haven opened last year in the Wintergreen Building on the SCSU campus Jews, led by attorney Benjamin as a research and exhibit center for the African-American, Jewish, Slade, organized the Hebrew Mili­ Italian, Ukrainian and Irish historical societies. Volunteers are needed tary Association. to help with exhibits, to sort and catalog archival materials and to The purpose of the association, as staff the center during the hours it is open to the public. Anyone set forth in its charter, was "the interested in volunteering should contact Jeanne Hickey. physical and moral welfare of its members, their relief in sickness, CENSUS EXHIBIT - At 2 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 22, Jeanne Hickey relief to their families in case of will give a lecture at the Ethnic Heritage Center on the census exhibit need, relief to families of deceased now on display there. The exhibit uses data from U.S. census returns members and the practice of mili­ to depict the growth and changes in the ethnic makeup of New tary tactics and permanent military Haven's population from the first census in 1790 until the present. In organization. " addition to the data, it features a number of old photographs and Members of the organization, drawings portraying the role of ethnic groups in New Haven history. many of them of Russian heritage and former soldiers in the Russian EARLY IRISH LITERATURE AND MYTHOLOGY -A class on this topic army, adopted the uniform of the is being offered in the spring semester at Gateway Community College Cossacks in New Haven by arrangement with the CIAHS. The class includes .(Source: Hartford Courant, April four two-hour classes and is a non·credit, continuing education 13, 1897) course. The fee is $40. For information and to register, call Gateway Editor's note: In recognition of the Community College, 789-7071. bond between our historical society and the other societies in the Ethnic MEMBERSHIPS - Membership dues become payable in March each Heritage Center and to foster appre­ year when renewal envelopes are sent out to all members. At present, ciation for a/l races and nationali­ a number of members have not yet paid their 1997 dues. Please make ties, we print in each issue of The sure you renew this year. Also, a great way to celebrate the birthday Shanachie one story about another of a friend or family member interested in Irish history is to give him ethnic group. or her a membership in our society. I Connections ~;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;~Seeking information on Ellen Connecticut Irish-American Historical Society MEAGHER of Boherlahan. Tipperary, P.O. Box 120-020 Born 1827; and John CONDON of East Haven, Connecticut 06512 County Cork, born about 1820. Re­ ply to Barbara C. Rinke. Bridgeport Machines Inc., P.O. Box 32, Bridge­ "We hava kep1 faith with the pa.t; we have handed a tredltion 10 the future." Pedraic P.....e port CT 06601 .

Pre.k1ent: Jeanne Roche Whelen, 58 Florence Ave., New Haven 06512. Seeking information on Patrick Home: 468-0426; oHlca: 392-6126 CALLAHAN and Ellen SULLIVAN, both born in Ireland; on their son, Vice Pre•.: Geofge Waldron, 145 COfbin Roed, Hamden 06517. Timothy Francis CALLAHAN, a ma­ chinist who lived at 75 Henry St., Secretary: Maureen Delahun1, 15 Brubak" Rd., Che.hlre 06410. 272·7144. New Haven, CT., and on his wife who was the daughter of Jeremiah rrusur8f: Tom Slat", 82 De" Hili Rd., Hamden 06518. 248-4826. MAHONEY and Annie GAFFEY who Shanechle Editor: Nell Hopn, 26 Cre.tview reff., WallingfOfd 06492. 2b9­ lived at 16 Charles $t., New Haven; 9154. Timothy Francis CALLAHAN and -- MAHONEY were married in St. Memb".h1p: • 10 Indivlduel; .15 family. Send name. addre•• and ctHtcll Mary's Church, New Haven. Jan. made out to CIAHS et Dbove addr.... 10, 1900; and on Robert Erwin CALLAHAN, born June 13, 1901, in f~klori.1, The Shanachle: In Ireland, ••hanachle II • historian and keeper of New Haven. Reply to Mrs. Helen the tredltlon. of the people. Strauser, 2044 LaBrea $t., Escon­ d;do, CA 92026. che sh~~ch1£

Vol. X, No.2 Connecticut Irish-American Historical Society March-April 1998

Irish show March 18 Secret agent saved Washington at Quinnipiac "Our Rainbow of Irish Tradi­ from capture in Connecticut tion" will be held on Wednesday, March 18 at 7:30 p.m. in Alumni In late February 1781, Gen. route through New London was Hall at Quinnipiac College off Mt. George Washington scheduled a changed and the American comman­ Carmel Avenue in Hamden. trip from the Hudson Highlands to ~er was saved from being captured. Newport, Rhode Island, to meet It wasn't the only time that Hercules One in the series of Cultural with Gen. Rochambeau, the com­ Mulligan, one of Washington's fa­ Evenings at Quinnipiac, the rain­ bow will be a variety show of mander of the French troops as­ vorite spies, did important work for local Irish entertainers including: sisting the colonies against Eng­ the American cause in the New York land. The trip was City, Connecticut • Johnny Moran. vocalist. to take Washington and New Jersey songwriter and poet, will lead a along Connecticut's areas. In July of gala sing-along with Irish ballads and stories and will be master of shoreline through 1780. for exam­ ceremonies along with CIAHS New London. ple, Mulligan got President Jeanne Roche Whalen The British' got word that Sir wind of the plan and Henry Clinton was • Irish dancers from the John immediately set out planning an attack O'Keefe School of Irish Dance in to intercept and on Rhode Island traditional costumes. capture the Ameri­ with 10,000 • Michael McCann, vocalist of can leader. The En­ troops. The Irish­ the "Soldiers' Songs" CD and glish General Clin­ man, who ran a tape. ton dispatched a clothing business • "Shipping News" musical body of cavalry to in New York. car­ group. Gina Dunlap. Paula Dad­ eastern Long Island ried the informa­ dio and Eric Yuhas performing where they were to tion to Washington two- and three-part vocal har­ be ferried across the who alerted Gen. mony accompanied by guitar. tin Sound to New London to ambush Heath. the American commander in whistle .,d bodhran. Washington and his escort. Rhode Island. Heath had plenty of • Jim Chase. soliloquist. per­ In British-held New York City. an time to call out Connecticut and Mas­ forming the monologue. "The Irish provisioner named Hugh Mul­ sachusetts militia units. When the Will of Seamus Rafferty." ligan, owner of a company that British realized a large body of enemy sold supplies to the British mili­ troops was awaiting their arrival. they • David Manning and Patrick Whelan leading Irish language tary, received a hurried order for a called off the expedition. readings by students from the quantity of food for the boats Throughout the Revolution. British class at the Irish-American Com­ which were to carry the English orders and other documents relating munity Center. cavalry. While filling the order, to New York City. which was held for Mulligan passed word of the expe­ most of the war by the British, dition to his brother Hercules reached Gen. Washington almost as For more on who, in turn, sent a messenger soon as they were promulgated. St. Patrick', Day, with all speed to Washington's thanks to Mulligan and a handful of please turn to page 3 headquarters near West Point. other patriots in the city. As a result of the Mulligan broth­ Mulligan was so valued by Washing­ ers' quick action, Washington's (Please turn to Page 2) Page 2 Irishman Hercules Mulligan was Revolutionary War spy

(Continued from Page 1l When he arrived in New York County Antrim fed to Washington ton, in fact, that when the Amer­ City in 1772, Hamilton, according valuable information that helped the cans took control of New York City to one of his biographers, "found American commander stay one step at the end of the war, Washington lodgings with Hercules Mulligan, ahead of his adversaries. The infor­ no sooner arrived in the citY than he the fashionable clothier, whose mation sometimes was carried by went to Hercules Mulligan's home brother was a junior partner in the Hercules Mulligan himself, some­ and ate breakfast with the family. importing firm of Kortright and times by his black servant, Cato. Mulligan was born Sept. 25, Company, which acted as young Shortly after Benedict Arnold, who 1740, in Coleraine, CountY Antrim. Hamilton's bankers. ~ The Mulligan­ as an American general was privy to His father, Hugh Mulligan, married Hamilton connection would blos­ Hercules Mulligan's role as a spy, Sarah Cooke and came to America som - once the Revolutionary War came over to the English side, Mulli­ about 1746. Another son, Hugh, erupted - into a productive intelli­ gan was one of 50 suspects and a daughter, Sarah, were born gence collection link for the Ameri­ rounded up in New York City and in Antrim while a third son, Cooke, can army. imprisoned in the City Bridewell. He was born in America. The father As the colonies moved toward was arraigned on charges of spying, was originally a wig maker, but be­ that eruption, Hercules Mulligan with Arnold being the main witness came involved in mercantile busi­ became involved on the side of the against him. The court found the ness. rebels. He was appointed to the" evidence insufficient, however, alJd In New York City, Hercules was Revolutionary Committee of Corre­ Mulligan was able to return to his sent to an Irish schoolmaster spondence of the city and became espionage work. named James O'Brien. After his a member of the Sons of Uberty. After the war, he was involved in schooling, he, like the other two He reportedly was a participant in real estate business and, to some Mulligan boys, went into merchan­ a fight in January 1770 between extent anyway, was able to revive dising. He was a retailer of men's the Sons of UbertY and English sol­ his clothing business, which he lost clothing, at first on Smith Street diers. due to his support for the American and subsequently on Queen Street. In 1776, after the British had cause. He even got an occasional In 1773, he married Elizabeth driven the Americans out of New order from the man he saved from Sanders. York City, Mulligan, his wife and being captured while passing One advertisement for his clothing 2-year-old son were arrested through Connecticut during the business said he employed a num­ briefly. Revolution - President Washing­ ber of taitors and that his stock in­ Shortly after their release, Mulli­ ton. In 1792, Washington had his cluded: ~ superline cloths of the gan went to see his friend Alexan­ secretary write Mulligan indicating, most remarkable colours, ~ ~gold der Hamilton who was camped "The President is desirous of get­ and silver lace, with some half laces with Washington's army at Fort ting some black mole skin, like that for hats, ~ ~gold and silver spangled Lee, N.J. He may have begun his of which you made him a pair of buttons and loops, ~ ~gold and silver career as an active spy in New York breeches when he was in New treble French chains, gold and silver City after, and as a result of, that York, and not being able to procure cord, tassels, vellum and threads, ~ meeting. any in this city, he has directed me ~epaulets for gentlemen of the army One reason that Mulligan was so to request if there is any in N. York and militia," ~Irish linnens, ~ successful was that his brother, that you will be so good as to get "gloves," ~hat trimmings of all Hugh, had beome the sole owner and send to him as much as will sorts, ~ and "silk breeches and silks of the shipping firm of Lawrence (make) three pair breeches." of all colours." Kortright and Company. Before and Mulligan also was active in Trinity In civic affairs, Hercules was ad­ during the Revolution, the firm pro­ Episcopal Church. In 1786, he was mitted as a freeman with his name vided many of the supplies needed a member of the Society for Pro­ turning up on a voters' list in 1765. by the British troops in New York moting the Manumission of Slaves Mulligan's brother, Hugh, was a and elsewhere. Hugh Mulligan was in the CitY of New York, a society partner in the import business of in constant contact with British of­ founded by Alexander Hamilton. la~rence Kortright and Company, ficers responsible for those sup­ On March 4, 1825, Mulligan died which owned seven vessels trading plies and was privy to high-level in the home of his son, John, on 'with the West Indies. Through that information on troop strengths and Cedar Street in New York City. connection, Hercules developed a deployment and on various plans {O'Brien, Michael J., "Hercules Mul­ friendship with Alexander Hamilton being developed by the British. fiqan, ConfidenualCo"espondentof who was to playa later role in Mulli­ Throughout the seven years of General Washington, ~ New York: gan's e3pionage activities. the war, the two Mulligans from P.J. Kennedy & Sons, 1937J FAMINE JOURNAL March-April 1848 #16

Perspective Frightful Havoc ToughmaconDel, Billinas­ Politics, unrest and in­ loe, County Galway, Marcb trigue took center stage in 1848 -:- The Rev. 1. Whelan Ireland in the spring of 1848. says, "Fever amd famine have Triggered by food short­ made a frightful havoc amongst ages and repressive govern­ us, and left many a disconsolate ments, rebellions broke out widow with no other prospect allover Europe led by a before her save the heart-rend­ second French Revolution ing scene of witnessing her little which toppled the regime of ones falling into a premature King Louis Philippe. Lifeline Of Love Across The Ocean grave without having as much Irish republicans saw in as a raw turnip to avert the un­ the unrest a potential oppor­ Peekskill. New York, Mlrcb 8. 1848 - My dear and loveing timely blow. tunity to win repeal of the wife and children. I received yours of January 20th 1848 Which wrion with Great Britain if gave me to understand that you were attacked by a severe Fever but Scarce a day passes that the not actually end English he­ thanks be God that you are Recovered and well as I am at Present grave does not receive within its gemony in Ireland. Given the thanks be to his kind mercys to us all. Be on the watch at the Post gaping mouth some victim of slate of the COWlUy, the ED­ office day after day, I wont delay in Relieving you as it is a duty starvation. glish government was terri­ Encumbered on me by the laws of church and I hope God will Re­ Within the last ten days two fied at the prospect. lieve me. 1 work on a Railway at 8 Shillings per day and pays 18 inquests have been held on the More troops were rushed Shillings per week for my Boarding. This is a good COWltry for bodies of two men found dead into the country until Dublin them that is able to work and for nother person. So I will be able to in this neighborhood, one of was ablaze in red coats drill­ pay your passage with the help of God on the First of August next. whom was halfeaten by dogs ing and doing guard duty. The sending of this Sum ofmoney to you Compells me to let it be and the verdict of the juries was Some reports suggested that Back tel then and I long to see that long wished for hour that I will 'Death by Starvation.' Embrace you in my anus. There is nothing in this world gives me the majority of peasants in The parish contains a popu­ trouble but you and my dear Children whom I love as my life. Be Ireland were anning them­ lation of about 5,000 - 50 Pleased to let me know how my two sons Patrick and Francis and selves. families of which only have the TIrroughout March and not Forgetting my dear Father and mother, friend and neighbors, not means of subsistence. April, newspapers carried forgetting your sister Bridget, thank God she was to mind you in little news of the FlIlTline, but your sickness and sorrows, which I will never forget to her. I expect Our poorhouses are over­ the suffering and dying went to go to New York on the 17th of March to send you this Bill of Six crowded, and the law which on almost unnoticed. In Gal­ Pounds which you wiIl Get Cash for in the Provensil Bank of prescribes out-door relieHor our way, there was even one Irland. I will send it in the Revd Patrick Ogara's care For you. I feel famishing human fellow crea­ report of cannibalism, a very sorry for my Brother Francis that lived at St. John. I fear he is tures is still a dead letter." mother so famished that she dead. Don't answer this letter till you Receive the next in which the ate the flesh of a son who money will Be for you. Roscommon Toll had perished. Keep you heart as God spared you, so long you will be shortly IGlgllss, County Roscom­ One beacon of hope for in the land of promise and live happy with me and our children. No mon. March 1846 - The new many was the continued ar­ more at present. From your Faithful husband till death, Thos. Garry. Poor law, though quite inad­ ri val of money sent by kins­ equate for its professed object, men in America to help rela­ bad as it is, is not yet in opera­ tives emigrate. Workhouses Or Slaughter Houses tioD here. All the landlords of the parish are non-resident; we FAMINEJOURNAL Limerick Reporter, April II, 1848 - Between SCarilT and have not a magistrate or in fact Toomgrany there are eight workhouses which might be better desig­ anyone above the rank of a PubUshed bimonthly dur­ Dated slaughter houses. They are crammed to suffocation, four in fe­ peasant amongst us, save the Ing the 150th annlvenlry ver in one bed. The healthy man is compelled to Sleep with the fe­ clergymen of the parish, who in . or tbe Irish Potato Famine.. ver patient and the beds are literally heaps of manure. There is such a conjecture, have to do Copyright 1998, tbe Con­ scarcely any attendants. The doctor says he has no medicine ... In the best they can for its totally necticut lrisb-Ameriun one of these houses there are 82 in fever, 64 in another and in two destitute residents, which at Historical Society, P.O. others 130. In one of them. the Rev. Mr. Quade, parish priest. found present amounts to 2,574 per­ Box 120-020, East Hlven a putrefying corpse lying unwashed on the floor, where it had been sons, including 316 widows, CT06512. for sevellli hours and in the same room with the patients. 322 orphans and 164 feeble old men. Signs Of Rebellion No Deatb Estimates Cannibalism Galway Evictions !uropuB TIma, April 22, Debale fa Briti.h House of Speech la BrtthhHouJe of BoItoD Pilot, Marth 18, 1848 - The dep.lorable state of Co_o... Apri16, 1848- COIUltOlUl by Mr. RC)'Dolds, 1848, from tbe IhIblia Free- Ireland. apparently on the verge Mr. SadJeir ... asked the right April II. 1848 - Let them re- maD - All the south and west of civil war, contioues to oc- honorable gentleman, the secre- member the horrible C&SC that is onc vast mass of destitution. cupy the deepest attention of all t&zy for Ireland, whether he can within 8 fortnight bad been Now the misery begins to de- classes ... The majority of the state the probable nwnber of brought before the Galway M. velop itselfand before the close people of Ireland, now to a persons vmo have died in Ire-. sizes, in which a man had been of Spring we shall have to gr=t extent armed, seem re- land during the last 12 months convicted of sheep stealing, and record the SIlIIlC melancholy solved upon some desperate act, from stan'ation or from disease Mr. Dobbins. a stipendiary mag- catalogue of hOCTClrS which has which will 9CCUfe for them the superinduced by an insufficient istrate, bad awlied in favour of rendered the past year for ever accomplishment of their darling supply of the bare necessaries the prisoner on account of the memorable ... Let the legislature hopes or plunge them still of life, and, ifnot, whether he extenuating cittwnstances in his consider the recent applications deeper into the abyss of misery. can !late the probable number case. One of his children had to the Galway Board and can it Whatever may be the is~ of of persons who have died duro died of stan'ation. and the wife refuse to chock the wicked prac-- the impending struggle, no one ing that period in the counties of of the man had fed upon the tices which drove that shoal of can doubt that a vut amount of Galway, Mayo, Cork and Clare flesh of that child before he vie-- unhappy outcasts on the charity misery will be suffered by the and the steps taken by the gov- lated the law to procure food. which repelled them? .. Hear the middle and humbler classes ... crnment ... to ascertain the ~ Mr. Dobbins had caused the touching cases of the Galway MOrbilli Cbroalde, Loa- able number of persons who body to be disinterred and the miserablcs: doll, March 1848 - Day by may so die in Ireland during the limbs were found picked to the No. I. The case of Mary Fill· day evidences of increasing dis-- prC9tllt year. bone. In that case, the judge hcrty. On the 2d of January, two satisfaction are becoming more Sir W. Somerville replied shed tears and the jury shed men came to her cabin and told apparent. A large portion of the that the subject had more than tevs and the man was di~ her to quit or the walls would be working classes in this ctiy once been mooted and on every clwg

In celebration of "March is Irish­ We continue this month publishing the list prepared by genealogist Paul American Heritage Month," our R. Keroack of Irish names taken from the Norwich city directory of society is sponsoring displays in 1867. For people seeking information on their ancestors, such lists can the public provide extremely important information on names, addresses and libraries of family relationships. Compiling the list is a difficult and inexact science because many names, such as Brown, Smith, Carey, etc., may be Irish a number or English in origin. Other names have numerous spelling variations, of New some of which appear not to be Irish. In his work, Paul is using Irish H a v e n surname reference works and his knowledge of the Irish in Norwich area com­ from previous projects to sort out the Irish names. He intends to begin munities: copying some names from Bridgeport and New Haven directories and • Cheshire, we will, from time to time, print listings of the names he extracts. E a s t Anyone who wishes to help out in this project, either with those three H a v e n cities, or other Connecticut towns, should get in touch with Paul Hagaman, through The Shanachie. Hamden Miller, New Haven Ives, North­ Cswlev, Mrs. Ross. washerwomsn. Brook Michael, file cutter. 13 Thames ford, Stony Creek Willoughby­ Clifford. Daniel. laborer, bds 35 Yantic Mrs. Mery. High n 7th G Wallace and West Haven Main Kate. fac op. 35 Yantic Comming, John, High n 2nd G Michael, laborer. Tafts Condon, John. overseer. 44 G rd Branch. Clune. Ellen. domestic. 26 Broad Patrick, laborer, G rd Themes of this year's displays Dennis, laborar, h r Broad Conklin, James, sprng mkr. High n 10thG will be "Irish Dance" and "Culture Johanna, domestic. 14 Broad John. fac op, G rd from the Aran Isles." Some ex­ Clough. Cornelius, bleecher, High. 10th G Mary Ann, domestic, 69 Broadway Coburn. Daniel, stone cutter, 80 Mein P Timothy. laborer, 48 High G hibits will feature dance cos­ Coughlin, David, labr, High n 6th G tumes, shoes,. musical instru­ lizzie, domestic, 12 Broad Abbreviatlona: Ab. above; al. alley; bel. below; ments and pictures; some will in­ Coddy, John, laborer. 1 Forest b or bet. between; c. comer; bda. boarda; do, Patrick, leborer. 125 Yantic ditto; O. Greenville; h, houae; ft. foot; la. lane; clude Aran clothing and cultural opp. oppoalte; n. near; r. rea.,; aq. aquare; at. Colley. Mrs. Rose. wid, Brook items; some ~i11 show books of atreet; W. welt; E. ealt; N. north; S. lOulh; Collins. Catherine. domestic. 58 Union NlT New london Tumplke; NT Norwich Town; Irish biography, language, history, Cornelius, laborer, G rd WS. welt aide; P. f'l'elton; PH. Plain Hill; CT. art and literature from the shelves Denis. laborer. G rd Canterbury Turnpike; lH. laurel Hili; O. Old: of the libraries themselves. Enos. laborer. G rd BH. Bean Hill; SR, Scotland Road; PT Provi­ John, teamster. bds High n 10th G dence Turnpike. As has been our custom in the past, our society will donate a book on an Irish topic to each HARTFORD CITY DIRECTORIES - One of our members, John J. participating library. Sullivan, has indicated that he has an extensive collection of Hart­ The displays will be in place by ford city directories and annual municipal reports. Sullivan said he March 1 and will be available will be happy to share information with any CIAHS members who through the end of the month. For may be researching people who lived in or worked for the city of information, call (203) 392-6126 Hartford. Anyone doing such research should ~ontact Sullivan at 28 and leave name and number. Billow Road, Niantic CT 06357. Also on March 15, look for our float in the New Haven St. CAVAN 1901 CENSUS - Another of our members, Gerald Sullivan Patrick's Day parade. of Wallingford, has arranged for the microfilms of the 1901 Irish On Sunday, March 29, from 4 census records for most of the towns in County Cavan to be held to 6 p.m., Timothy O'Grady, au­ permanently at the Mormon Family Research Center in Woodbridge. thor of the book '" Could Read the The center is located at 990 Racebrook Road in Woodbridge, 387­ Sky," will be at the Irish Club on 2012. Venice Place in East Haven for a book reading and signing, accom­ TIPPERARY ROOTS - Anyone searching for their roots in Tipperary panied by a slide show with musi­ might find useful a new book by Edmund O'Riordan of Clogheen. cal entertainment. The book, entitled, "Historical Guide to Clogheen," includes a 10 Fa; information, call John page chaPter, •Aid to Genealogical Research in Clogheen & District O'Keefe, 865-7542. with information on baptismal and marriage records, census listings, etc. as well as stories about local families and a map and historical pictures of the area. Page 4

Briefly noted Hungarians fired in quarry strike SPEAKING FOR OURSELVES -A new exhibit, titled ·Speaking for Ourselves,· will be on display at the ethnic Heritage Center at South­ In American history, immigrants of­ ern Connecticut State University from April 1 to April 30. Sponsored ten have found themselves compet­ by the Farmington Historical SocietY, the exhibit depicts African­ American life in the history of that community. It is supported by ing with each other for employment grants from the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving. the Connecticut and sometimes have been played off Humanities Council and the Otis Elevator Co. Watch for newspaper' against each other by management. announcements and stories about activities in conjunction with the Such was the case in Newington exhibit. where immigrants found work at a quarry in the early 1900s. VOLUNTEERS STILL NEEDED - We still need volunteers at the Ethnic When the Hartford Trap Rock and Heritage Center to organize and file papers of the Irish-American His­ Supply Co. opened a quarry at Cedar torical Society. The volunteers will make lists of books in our library Mountain in Newington in the early on Irish history topics, answer the phones and greet visitors. Also, years of the century, the workforce several students from Yale and other Connecticut schools are doing research at the Irish archives for school projects and we could use consisted mainly of about 45 Hun­ some help from volunteers to assist them. Anyone interested in volun­ garian immigrants with a sprinkling teering should contact Jeanne Hickey. of Italian immigrants. The workmen performed the back­ MEMORIALS - Donations have been made to the CIAHS in memory breaking tasks of cutting stone from of: John·Jack" Connor, John Doohan, Jane Flynn, Maura Manning, the face of the mountain, piling it Marjorie ~Marge· Mcinerney by Francis and Jeanne Roche Whalen. into carts to take it down the incline Thanks also to C. Roberta Adzima for her family history donation to and then loading it for transfer to the CIAHS archives. road work sites throughout the area. They lived in shacks at the foot of MEMBERSHIPS - Membership dues become payable irr March each the mountain and for their labor year when renewal envelopes are sent out to all members. At present, a number of members have not yet paid their 1997 dues. Please make were paid between $1.50 and $2 sure you renew this year. Also, a great way to celebrate the birthday per day. of a friend or family member interested ;n Irish history is to give him On the morning of June 4, 1904, or her a membership in our society. 40 of the immigrants went on strike for higher wages. The other five workmen, all Italians, tried to reach Connecticut Irish-American Historical Society the worksite, but were driven back by a fulisade of rocks thrown by the P.O. Box 120-020 Hungarians. East Haven. Connecticut 06512 When the foreman arrived on the scene, he found the Italians under "We have kept f.th with the past; we heve handad e treditlon to the futur.... siege in a shack at the site. He sin­ Padr.c P•••• gled out three ringleaders among the Hungarians-and discharged them. He Pre.ktant: Jeanne Roche Wheten, 58 Florence Ave., New Haven 06512. then made arrangements to bring Home: 468·0426; office: 392-6126 more Italian replacements out from Hartford, accompanied by a super­ Vic. Pre•.: George Waldron, 145 Corbin RO*f, Hamden 06517. numerary policeman. Seeretay: Maureen DlNahunt. 15 8rub..... Rd.• Cheshlr. 06410. 272-7144. (Source: "A New Epoch: The History Treasur..: Tom S1.t.... 82 De.. Hlq Rd., H.mden 06518. 248-4826. of Newington, Connecticut. ")

Shanachle EdItor: NeM Hogan, 26 Crestview Twr., WaMlngford 08492. 265­ Editor's note: In recognition of the 9154. bond IHItween our historicill society Ilnd the other societies in the Ethnic Mambat.hlp: .10 lndfvktual; .15 family. Send Mme, addr... 1nd chedc Heritllge Center, lind to foster apPle­ meete out to CIAHS at IIbove addr.... ci.tion for 1111 rllces lind nlltiona!i­ The ShanactUe: In "'eland, e .hanac::Ne ... folltJofWt, hl.ton.n ..t k...,.. of ties, WIlP print in each issue of The the tradition. of the people. Shanllchie one story about another ethnic group. Vol. X. No. 3 Connecticut lriah-American Hiatorical Society May.June 1998

·We hIIve not .s yet nlCeived .ny .ccounts from IIelllnd flom which we un dete""ine with .ny dBflIH ofcert.inty the st.te of the lelHlion In th.t countty. Some uyit is dwindlint/.w.y; others leptBSent it to IHIIn • Houtish/ng st.te. The fIIct is thllt the United ltishmllll hIIve not 1o&t lllllilely the idfM ofliberty .nd we believe will not fOlget the clUBltJBs which the Bdtish pt8ctke in thllt CDUntty ••• •

Uke moat Connecticut resident•• the editor of the Stonington Spirit of the nmes who wrote tho.. word. in 1798 hoped the rebellion of the United Irishmen would be .ucceaful. Uving within memory of their own revolution againat Eng­ land. Americana generally .ympathized with the plight of the Irish and .upported their duire to overtlvow Engliah rule. In this laue of The Shanachie. we com­ memorate that rising by reprinting excerpts of atorie. and commentaries that appeared In Connecticut newspaper. a. people here. Uke the Stonington ecltor. anxioully awafted new. of development. In Ireland. Page 2 Reports of unrest reached Connecticut in the summer of 1797

Merchant vessels the whole of county Down and that after a nine-week voyage from lon­ arriving In ports in part of Newry which liea in the donderry. Among the passengers Connecticut from county of Annagh has been pro­ were several membef'S of the United Europe 'during the claimed to be out of th"e King's Irishmen and the New london Bee lummer of 1791 peace, and subject in a great mea­ reported, -The accounts brought by brought rumor. of sure to military law; no person can them corroborate those already re­ grovving unreat in be out of their house at 9 o'clock ceived of the extreme wretched­ Ir~.nd. On July in the evening without belng liable ness of the Irish people." 19 that yea'. the Litchfield Monitor to be taken up by some of the pa­ -We have conferred with some of reprinted a letter from Newry, Co. troles which constandy go about the most intelligent passengers on Down, which told of the deteriorat­ the town at night ... board the Augusta,- said the New ing situation: -last night a party of United Irish­ london Gazette. "They represent -This country is in a most alarming men attacked a body of the Forkhill that country to be in the most ab­ state at present, and no less than yeomanry and attempted to disarm ject and deplorable state of slavery; threatened with a Civil War ... them; and an express having been the people suffering every indignity Scarce a night passes without hear~ sent to Dundalk for some of the that insolent wanton power ing of some depredation or murder ancient British cavalry who lay chooses to inflict. The government -committed. there, they came direct to their as­ causes frequent executions, but -There has scarce been a gentle- sistance and an engagement took these victims sacrificed at the man of property within many miles place when twelve of the United shrine of British pride while they of Newry that has not been robbed Irishmen were killed and ten taken stifle the loud complaints of the of all his arms and every thing valu­ prisoners. - people, nurture the seeds of insur­ able that could be found ... How the In September that year, condi­ rection and invigorate the cause of business will end, God only knows. tions in Ireland were brought home the United Irishmen. Sooner of later This town from being one of the to Connectleut when the ship Au­ an explosion must take place most peaceable in the kingdom is gusta of New Haven arrived in New tremendous in its consequences for now reckoned quite the contrary. london on its way to Philadelphia both England and Ireland."

Raid in Dublin netted leaders of United Irishmen and their plans

""''''''=''7f'-' In May of 1798, inster were to assemble there for M'Cormick, Counselor Sampson the news reached the purpose of treason. and lord Edward Fitzgerald. lord Connecticut that -A committee of fourteen dele­ Edward was missed by the persons the leaders of the gates were found sitting and imme­ who had the warrant against him ... United Irishmen in diately taken into custody; and -It is said lord Edward Fitzgerald leinster had all many material papers containing escaped by jumping out a window been rounded up proofs of a serious nature were ... but it is not thought he can es­ in Dublin and found upon them. Mr. Bond was cape the kingdom. were facing charges of treason not in the room of the meeting, but •... The papers seized are said to against the government. papers affecting him are said to be of a most treasonable nature, no The Amerlean Mercury In Hartford have been found In his pocket. We less than to give up the country to reprinted this account which was have not yet received a list of the the French. The day fixed upon was published in the Dublin Freeman's delegates nor any particulars of Saturday last, the anniversary of St. JOlKnal on March 13 when the ar­ their examination. Patrick which being kept as a festi­ reats had occurred: .. At the same time, we understand val, it was imagined that advantage -Yesterday, at 11 o'clock, one of Or. M'Nevin was apprehended at could be taken of the inebriety of his majesty's messengers attended hil lodgings near the Four Courts the people and an attempt was to by a civil and military power pro­ and Counaelor Emmett in be made to seize all principal offi­ ceeded to the house of Mr. Oliver Stephen'a Green; John Sweetman cers of the government. It was ex­ Bond in Bridge Street, upon an in­ in Francia Street; and Henry Jack­ pected that the French would have fonnation which had been received son and son in Church Street. War­ a force ready to cooperate with the by Government that the Provisional rants were also said to have been Irilh rebell and thus decide the rev­ Committee of the United Irish of le- issued for apprehending Richard olution by a coup de main." FAMINE JOURNAL May-June 1848 #17

Perspective Thousands Seek To Enter Poorhouse Beggars In England While rumors of armed Letter from MeJll TetUatony gtveb by I.. rebellion circulated tbrougb­ Rev. Dr. Derry, Ro­ W••fldel, E.q., • realclealof out the country, the Famine ••• C.lIloUc billiop Clteablre, EDlI.ad, before • in Ireland continued un­ of CIoIlfen to ~ HIed COBlBlIltee ofP.rtI.­ abated in the early summer Poor Law Co..mIa­ IDebt, JWle 6. 1848, ....rdIag of 1848. .iollen, M.y 18. 1848 Ibe IrtJIt p.upen fleeillg to Tales of suffering, fever - The abuses in the EDlI••d to eac.pe lite f.miDe and death had become so administration of the commonplace as to almost be poor law in the Un.ion I see these wretched people overlooked aDd the govern­ ofBallinasloe to (Irish emigrants) constantly. I ment pen:elved crime and the which. I lately called saw an instance lately. your attcntiOli still possibility of civil unrest to An Irish family arrived ncar be the main threats to ire­ continue. I mentioned , my house; the moment the ser­ to you that certainly land. vants observed them they con.­ Tbc government was es­ not less than a thousand applicants for reliefwere, on Wednesday sidered they were a pestilence cooceroed the the 10th. coUected about the woRhoose; that many of them came pecially about and must be driven away. spillover effect of the Fam­ from very distant divisioos; and that all bore the aspect which long­ ine. A committee of Parlia­ endured hunger doclI nat fail to give. Several wen lying on the I went down to theircamp ment heard testimony rqard­ open grcco shrieking for food. and found a poor family coosist­ ing of four children, their ing the prolifcnt.ion. of desti­ It is to be apprehended, too, that disease is thus effectively com­ mother and grandmother. tute Irish families throughout mun.icaled through the mass ofpmlisposcd starvelings who arc thus England. While the govero­ each week collected. n is manifest that the guardians cannot at their The account the woman ment probably never made !CSSion subjcd these applicants to a bona fide examination; and gave was that they had come the COIUlCCtioo. the inacase thus it appears that the cxactioo of their attendance can only be for fifteen miles from Athlone; they in evictions in Ireland was the purpose ofdet.crring the unfort\Wlte peupcn from pushing their bad brought over a tattered undoubtedly an important claim to relief. blanket and took sticks out ofa factor in causing many hish hedge and slept under it on the I am informed ... that during the last week tile poor wen several families to take what little bare ground. I saw a smoke and nights outside the workhouse and that in several instances they were money they had and flee to a kettle boiling and I asked, refused adoUS3ion, althouah provided with tickets from relieving of­ England or America. 'What have you got bere?' ficers. 1bc 8I1BWCf to their demands for admission frequendy was Those peasants who were' 'Nettles,' was the reply ... that the offICer whose duty it was to receive them was otherwise en­ in despc:ratc need found that gaged. The famished creatures had DO other alternative but to beg I asked who was their mas­ the Irish poorhouses were the materials of fire and sit beside it during the night. ter, meaning under whom they already crowded to overflow­ lived, and they said 'Mike One: instance has occurred of actual death from starvation in this ing and that bureaucral.i.c red Farden' or some such name, fif­ electoral division of Ballymacward under such cimunstances 88 I. tape made entry almost im­ teen miles from Athlone. possible. refer to. A parent and cbild went to BaJ1ina.sJoe provided with a re­ Upon my inquiring how they Manwbile. dUturbing re­ lieving offica's ticket; was unable to proclD'e admission, after some came to leave, they said they ports began to appear- of still days ftuitless waiting returned home and had to witness the famine had existed some years on three anotbcI' failure in the potato death of his exhausted child ... acres of potatoes and that they crop. At home those called ab~bodied labourers, but who arc in real­ had none to plant this year ... ity the decrqlit. infinn manoriaIs of inhtunlllity under the name of Iaw,arc told to go to a wortboust, ifthey go durina; the days the The wockhoullC was over­ FAMlNEJOURNAL board is not sitting, they arc left to die or live as best they may out­ flowing-, there was nothing left side its ~ ifthey go OIl 'board-day, they have sucb a chance of for them to do but leave... PubU.W b__tItIy dur­ examinatioo and admissioo as the presence of 8QIDC thousand COOl­ Their master said, Well, if 1111 lite l5Idt aaatven.ry pctiton will allow them; ifthey succeed late in the evening in pr0­ you go I will give you a pound of lite Irlall Potato F...... curing admission, it is notorilfUS that they are buddled together ­ note' and with this pound note Copyrlcltt 1998, lite COIl­ no provisioll being previously made or probably the state of the they begged their way to Dub­ aectiCllt IriJIt-.bterica. boule permitting DO provision for their rcccptjoa - a mass of pov­ lin, paid the Jl8SSllIe of 8CVCD of m.toricalSocIety, P,O. erty, filth IDd diSCllSC', ifthey Ire not frightcocd out of the bouae by them to Liverpool and then BoI ...... Eut Have. tIli. first cxperieDOC ofit. they arc perhaps invested in the clothes of beged their way to where I CT16S11. some pauper who lately died ofd}'1CDtcry or fever, and in the saw them. thirty-six miles fiom Io""",.- ...J'I courae ofa few days ~Il the number ofhospital inmatclI ... Liverpool.- Crop FaUure Evidions In Ulster Misery OfPoor 1.011.... 11-.May 10. u.ertckReporter. May Carlow, GnJpe, Joe '. 1841 -We rqret vay much to 12. 1841 -ID a later number, ItW8 - Sir, The miseries of the state that extensive failures have we noticed the system of tenant poor in this unhappy land are beeD atre.dy dilCOvercd in the extaminalion which has beeD without peraUel in the history of potato crop in the west of Ir~ tqun in many puts of rnster; civilised nations. Their condi­ Iaod. ID IOIDC instIDceI. the aDd GDOIlpt other matters, we tion is disaeditable in the last Ked is rottal; inothas, smal.I called attentioo to the doings dcpee to those who administer tubel'lll have beeD fClrJDCd which which have been going forward the affairs ofthe country. Two are always fatAl to the fUrther upoo the Downsbire and Hert­ pennies in the week are granted powth of the plant. Throush ford estates. ID reference to the Starvation, Fever as outdoor relieffor the widow one or the other ofthae caUX3 latter, we stated that. at the late and the orphan - tell peoce to IIlJC fields are found to be Belfast Sessions, upwards of New York Benld. May 18. buy the week's food and evay whoDy haWked ofthe hope and 400 ejectments bad been en­ ItW8 - Starvation and fever other nccesaary of life for two promise ofthe year. The di~ tered; hut a correspondent who continue to do their wort. Death human beings. To live on less pointment and dismay which writes to us from Lisbum as­ i. sweeping off the population than one penny worth of food in those dilCOveries have produced sures us on his own penooaI ofAnnameadIe, Toomevara ... the four and twenty hours or are such as to have shaken the knowledge that we greatly un­ with. wholesale scythe. Skib­ starve quietly ... is prccillely the confideoce that prevailed up to derTatcd the number. More than bereen is thrown into the shade. condition to which our laws ... a vay rcccut period in the soo notices of this kind, he Schull i. comparatively plenti­ have brought us.... safety of the geac:al crop; but aven. were entered and decrees ful. Connemara and Mayo are in I have frequently called at­ as yet, no failure has been as­ were obtained against 67 per­ a moce comfortable position and tention to these subjects. I have certained which cannot be sons out of the gross number yet Annamedale, Toomevara .. laid, no long .ince, before Mr. traced distinctly to iporance or thus noticed. the remainder to ace in the most fertile and most Twistleton, the Poor Law Com­ mismaoagement in cammittiq the amount of 443 having been beautiful districts of Ireland. A missioner, the testimony ofDr. the the seed to the earth. The settled by the tenantry previous melancholy instance of aw­ R.H. CoW'tnay, that the people people in their anxiety to make to the lICSllOIlS. ful destitution prevailing in the on outdoor reliefwithin the an ClU'Iy sowing, did not beed This settlement was not af­ country occurred a xfew days union were starving, that fever the state of the 1Nl:athcr or ofthe fected without the most extraor­ aga in the town of Headford. and dysentay originating in lmd, but in many insiaoces pur­ dinary exertions on the part of Eleanor Conway, a poor woman want of food and clothing, were sued their work in the rain and these poor men, great numbers who bad been for some time en­ rapidly coosuming the strength wretched in soil. most unfavourable to ofwhom bad to raille the money deavoring to eke out a and health, the bone and sinew the productioo of any crop, if by 8CIling off aU the oats and all existence, was fOWId dead and of the country. not previously pulverized and on an enquiry before a coroner's the potatoes which they had re­ The following is one ofthe freed from. supertl\JOUJ moisture. served roc seed for the ensuing jury it was declared that she was another victim to that cases as reported by Dr. Court­ The use of seaweed, also, as crop while many of them were: nay. I give his own words, The manure, without allowing due occupied. day and night. in frightful policy which bas al­ ready consigned millions of her widow Pike, Ellen, Bridget, time for the salt water with threshing out their oats in order Mary, John, Martin and Anne which it was I8IUr8tcd to drain to have them at marlcet in fellow creatures to untimely graves. Pike, aU in diarrhea. There is, he off before the seed was brought proper time. adds, no furniture in the house ... Another horrible case of into contact with it may have AU this hardship had to be and the unfortunate children been injurious ... notwithstaDd­ endured by the miserable ten­ destitution resulting in the death have no covering eitherby day ofa wretched man named ing the many cautions which the antry in question after two suc­ or night and are, I may say, people received epinat doing cessive seasons ofdistress un­ Michael Concannon took place starving. so, as weD as their own experi­ a few days ago at the village of equalJed perhaps in the history Mr. Twistleton. I am ready ence ofthe weakness aDd deli­ ofIreland ... Glanamada in this county. He cacy of the plant. M these had been on the out~ relief to admit, has had a difficult task faults have been almost univer­ The Hertford tenantry ace list, but being for some days to execute ... and that whenever neither Papists nor Repealers of salJy committed fears are enter­ missing, his neighbors lIet out a the intt:rest of the poor brouaht any achool; on the contrary they tained ofthe effect becaning search on foot after him and me to his office. I have invari­ lII'C almost to a man IOUDd or­ exteoded in the ume dcpee wben at Icngth his body was ably experienced atte:nticm and thodox Protestants, while a very tbrousbout the country. But it i. found in a wretcbed hut. it .. courtesy at his hands. But ... large number ofthem are regu­ lltiafactory to bow that wiler­ peared in mangled state as if have the poor been preserved. larly initiated Orange:men who ever the seed potato has been eaten away by rats and clop. It No, empbaticalJy no. Their are expected at the bidding of put into the pound with p-opc:r is suppoeed that the quantity of blood cries to heaven. Under the their masters to tum out in battle attention to the aeasoo and to food aUowed him was insuffi­ law which Mr. Twistletonad­ line in defence ofthe aystan of the due culture ofthe lIOiIa. no cient to support existeDce and miJlistcn, myriads have been Irish lmdlordism under which cauae as yet appeen to doubt the coronor's jury rc:tumcd a starved to death. myriads are at they are thus peaceably extenni­ that ProvideDce will give the verdict to the effect that his this moment starving in the Datedl mucll designed incn:ue. death was caused by destitutioo. midst of plenty. Jamet Maher rage .3 Outgunned, outnumbered rebels no match for government troops Ships arriving in manner. The rebels have burnt the Connecticut in the town of Kilcullen and destroyed a early part of August great part of the respectable city of in 1798 brought Carlow at which place a dreadful news of the out­ conflict took place the result of break of armed re­ which was that four hundred of the bellion in Ireland misguided wretches were slain ,.. ---..... during the month of -June 4 ... A numerous body of M,ay. rebels assembled on the curragh of In Hartford. the American Mercury Kildare. amounting to 4.000. have reprinted a dispatch stating. - After laid down their arms .,. the com­ the capture of lord Fitzgerald and munication between Dublin and the consequent development of the limerick which had been cut off by plans of the United Irishmen and the insurgents has been restored other insurgents (one of which was and that Sir James Duff has re­ to possess themselves of the city of taken the town of Kildare and killed Dublin and the castlel government between two and three hundred of was necessitated to declare the the insurgents ,.. metropolis and other places in a -June 6 ... Major Gen. Fawcet state of rebellion. Hostilities immedi­ having marched from Duncannon ately commenced.- Fort with a company of the Meath On Aug. 14. the Norwich Packet regiment was surrounded by a very reprinted a day-by-day account from large body of rebels between Tagh­ dispatches carried by the Princess man and Wexford and defeated .,. Royal which had arrived at Halifax In the North of Ireland. too, which­ in mid-June: has affected much loyalty, such se­ -May 29. The Irish rebels have rious indications of revolt have ap­ been defeated at Saggard and Naas. peared that martial law is declared Several hundreds killed. there ,., -May 30.... The rebellion is now -June 8 ... The rebels in the openly supported in most parts of amount of 15,000 men are en­ the counties of Dublin. Kildare and camped on the mountain of Farth Meath. and even the neighbourhood situated near the sea about ten of the metropolis has been assailed miles from Wexford '" by the daring insurgents. In some instances. they have made a des­ perate resistance. but in all they have been defeated with great slaughter. while his majesty's forces have sustained very little loss... -May 31 ... The rebellion has ex­ tended its influence into the coun­ ties of Wicklow and Carfow so that there are now five counties in open state of insurrection. The official de­ tails of two of the engagements which took place at Hackerstown in the county of Carlow, and at Baltin­ glass in the county of Wicklow state that the rebels lost in the former three hundred men and in the latter between one and two hundred. Bat­ tles have also been fought at Clare, Ballimor. Berrestown, Lucan and lusk which terminated in a similar Briefly noted Additional reading on United Irishmen VOLUNTEERS STILL NEEDED - We still need volunteers at the Ethnic Heritage Center to organize and file papers of the Irish-American His­ A number of books are availabkl for torical Society. The volunteers will make lists of books in our library those who wish to learn more about on Irish history topics. answer the phones and greet visitors. We the United Irishmen and the Rebel~ woukt like volunteers to commit themselves to two hours per week. lion of 1798. They include: Anyone interested in volunteering should contact Jeanne Whalen, The United /';6"""": RepubJ1cMI­ (2031 468-1l426. ;""1 IlMIicMi6m IIIHI RMfIIIionI edited by David Dickson. Caire Keogh and INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL - The Ethnic Heritage Center will be rep­ Kevin Whelan. Consists of 22 es­ resented at the International Festival of Arts and Ideas in New Haven says providing a portrait of Ireland in on June 25-28. The festival will be held do the New Haven Green. The Ethnic Heritage Center will have a tent in the Heart of the Maner the 1790s and the forces that gave section of the festival with children's and family activities focusing on rise to the United Irishmen and the various ethnic groups. The tent will be open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. rebellion. 390 pp.• illustrated. We are looking for ideas and suggestions for activities to represent the The RebMlion In Wicklow 1798, by Irish in the programs at the tent and we need volunteers to man the Ruan O'Donnell. The first compre­ tent in two-hour Shifts. Anyone interested shoukt call chairperson Oi~ hensive study of the uprising in ana O'Brien, (2031 468-8856. Wteklow where much of the action took place. Also e~ore8 the int~r­ IRISH FESTIVAL - The historical society will again have a booth at action of the United Irishmen in that the New Haven Irish Festival at the North Haven Fair Grounds on Saturday, June 27, and Sunday, June 28. Volunteers are needed to county and in other areas. 300 pp. staff the booth in two-hour shifts. Women In the 7798 RebIIIIionl by Daire Keogh and Nicholas Furlong. A MEMBERSHIPS - Membership dues were payable in March when series of essays about the role of renewal envelopes were sent out to all members. At present, a num­ women in the uprising. Covers such ber of members have not yet paid their 1997 dues. Please make sure topics as Protestant women in you renew this year. Also, a great way to celebrate the birthday of a County Wexford; Mary Ann Mc­ friend or family member interested in Irish history i~ to give him or her Cracken, revolutionary and feminist; a membership in our society. United Irish images of women. 160 pp. Rtlbel/ionl /,lIIMId in 1798. by Daniel Gahan. A short history of all Connecticut Irish-American Historical Society phases of the uprising. Contains a P.O. Box 120-1l20 diary of events planned for the bi­ East Haven, Connecticut 06512 centennial of the rebellion. 128 pp. TIN Golden S- of IMh _om. 1798 In Song MN/ Story. by Danny h~. kept pMt; hancHd • to futur••" "w. '81th with ..... w. MY. tredltion the Doyle and Terence Folan. A colklc­ Poelc P.... tion of songs and poetry of the re­ PrNkMnt: Jum8 Roche Whalen, 58 Florenc. A....., N.w Heven 08512. bellion. Contains such well-known Home: 488-0428; offtce: 392-8126 ballads as "Who Fears to Speak of Ninety-Eight" and "The Wearing of VJce Pt".: George W8IIdron. 145 Corbin Hoed, Hemden 08517. the Green.- 160 pp. Ey.whn.u to 1798. by Terence s.creury: M..... Del8hunt, 16 BruINIk. Rd., ChMhIr. 06410.272-7144. ~Iey. A collection of accounts of those who lived through the upris­ Tr.-ur.: Tom SIet_, 82 D.... Rd., Hemden 06518. 248-4828. ing. 96 pages. The hench h.1n the.y, by John ShM8ChIe Editor: N" Hogen, 26 erutv... T..... W....ord 06492. 269­ 9164. A. Murphy. An account of the un· successful French naval expedition """'1hIp: .10 1nchlduII; .15 ,..,.. Send ...... end checIc to 81ntry Bay in 1796. a precursor mede out to CIAHS .. Ibov...... to the 1798 uprising and part of the overaU story. 160 pp. The Sh8MchM: In Irelend. e shenechIe is • 'oIdorist, hlstorten end It..... of Ask your bookstore about getting the tredltions of the J*JpIe. copies of any of these books. Vol. X, No.4 Connecticut Irish-American Historical Society July·August '998

Timing all wrong for servant girls

In the middle of July 1874, an Irish servant girl in New Haven took the Ancient Order ofHibernians to task publicly for the manner in which its members scheduled their summertime social events. In a letter to the editor United Irishman died in New London of the New Haven Union, the young lady complained that Irish­ John Driscoll, a native of Cloyne, County Cork, fought with the men always scheduled their activi­ United Irishmen in Wexford and was wounded on June 21, 1798, at the ties on the worst.possible days for famous Battle of Vinegar Hill in Enniscorthy. Like many others who servant girls. fought in the rebellion, Driscoll eventually made his way to America, "Knowing the high estimation in settling in New London, perhaps because that was the destination of the which your spirited newspaper is ship which carried him to safety. He died there on Jan. 20, 1817. "The held by the working people of New deceased," said his obituary, "was very respectably connected in his Haven and particularly the Irish native land, but he was gloriously unfortunate in the war of 1798. The portion, I would respectfully ask a fate of the patriots of that year is known: they were defeated. favor through the medium of your (Please turn to Page 2) journal, doubting that you will deny this privilege to an Irish girl. Why Uprising bankrupted Norwich man do Irishmen in arranging picnics A Norwich businessman was dragged down to financial ruin by the and other days of public procession Uprising of '98 in Ireland. In 1799, the businessman, [janiel Dunham, commemorative of Ireland invari· ably choose Monday and Tuesday, petitioned the Connecticut General Assembly: " ... Shewing to this as­ thereby debarring the servant girls sembly that during the greatest part of his life, he has been engaged in Connecticut business in pursuit of which by his application and frugality, of any chance whatever of attend­ he had aCQuired a plentiful estate, that since the Revolution in France, ing them? Do they know that if an while the trade of the United States was unmolested, his prosperity was Irish girl wants to attend the picnic flattering and he was encouraged to extend his business and for the of the A.O.H. (which they all want!. she has to work the night purpose of prosecuting it advantageously in the year 1796 took his son, (Please turn to Page 2) previous in order to get her work done, Monday and Tuesday being the busiest days? Hoping that this State's Irish marked 1898 centennial little reminder may have some ef­ In May 1898, thousands of Irish immigrants and people of Irish de­ fect on the committee of arrange­ scent gathered in Waterbury for a centennial remembrance of the Upris­ ments hereafter, I remain, yours ing of '98. The highlight of the observance was a parade with 4,600 Lizzie J. Bermingham marchers organized by the state chapters of the Ancient Order of Hiber­ New Haven nians. Hibernians from all over the state "flocked into this city on all the

morning trains today, II reported a Waterbury newspaper, "to hold a pa­ (Source: New Haven Union, JulV rade in celebration of the Irish rebellion. The parade began at 1 0'clock 22, 1874) (Please turn to Page 2) Page 2

United Irishman buried in New London Family History (Continued from Page 1) UMr. Driscoll escaped covered with wounds, some of them so severe as to have proved uncurable. After years of suffering, he sank u~der USING THE INTERNET -The in­ their effects. His wife, the partner of his breast, the sharer of his misfor­ ternet can be a valuable source of tunes, went before him to that 'bourne whence no traveler returns.' She information for members doing re­ died the 16th July last. The patriot of whatever country who may learn search on their family history. the fate and visit the tomb of Driscoll, will not fail to heave a sigh, to One good resource is Local drop a tear over the ashes of an illustrious exile. names Ireland which brings many helpful collections together in one (Source: New York Shamrock, Jan. 25, 1817; New London Gazette, place. To access, Local names Ire­ Jan. 22, 1817.) land: http;/Inames.local.ie. Among the resources that can be Norwich merchant bankrupted by rising accessed through Local names ire­ land are these: (Continued from Page 1) Leitrim-Roscommon Home Page: Alpehus Dunham, into co-partnership with him, that in the year 1796 Provides a means of searching for and 1797, the petitioner being concerned in the ship Jay in a voyage to surnames in these counties. There Dublin, the ship Young Eagle in a voyage is also a searchable, on-line to Belfast and the ship Ceres in a voyage database, as well as an e-mail fa­ to Liverpool in England, all of which ships 9 17 cility. were laden with very valuable cargoes Uasal: A resource for those inter­ consisting of pot ashes, flaxseed, sugar, ested in the heraldry and geneal­ coffee, staves &c. and that by the high ogy of the Irish Gaelic nobility, premiums of insurance, the bad markets pre-1 600 and present day. Links in Ireland, the return of bills of exchange protested, the capture and are provided to other useful sites. condemnation of said ship Ceres and cargo by the government of France The Academy of Heraldry and and sundry other incalculable and disastrous events said petitioner has Genealogy: Provides information, become unable to pay his debts and is bankrupt; praying this assembly guidance and a search service for to grant him an act of insolvency on his delivering up to trustees for the all those wishing to trace a family benefit of his creditors, all his estate, except his household goods and crest or coat of arms. Heraldic wearing apparel of his family ..... gifts can be purchased on-line. The legislature appointed trustees to assess the value of the property Irglen: A project by a group of remaining to the Dunhams and pay as much as was available to debtors. information systems students at Trinity College, Dublin, which pro­ (Source: The Public Records of the State of Connecticut from May 1797 through October 1799, pp. 362-363.) vides information on how to go about tracing Irish ancestors. The Irish History Foundation: Centennial observed in 1898 The foundation is the coordinating (Continued from Page 1) body for a network of Irish govern­ and was full of interest despite the rain ... The parade was reviewed by ment approved genealogical re­ Mayor Barlow, Congressman Fitzgerald of Boston, the Rev. Father search centers in Ireland. It offers McLaughlin of Jersey City, the clergy of the city and many from out of a comprehensive service on trac­ town, the city and town officials .... The final events in the day's festivi­ ing ancestors and reconstructing ties were the orations at about 4:30 following the collations. The speak­ their history. ers were the Rev. Father William J. Slocum of Waterbury, the Hon. John Celtic Family Roots: A group of E. Fitzgerald of Boston, the Hon. Edward J. Slattery of South Framing­ professional researchers based in ham, Mass., and the Rev. Father William T. McLaughlin of ChathClm, N.J. Dublin who offer a full genealogi­ "There were fully 10,000 visitors in town," reported another paper, cal service with complete histori­ "and they were cared for with true Irish hospitality, without money or cal documents of family names. price. All of the public halls of the city were fitted up as dining rooms. (To be continued in next issue) There were speaking after the parade in St. Patrick's Hall and there were many cheers for a free Ireland some day ..... (Editor's note: The information about internet sources was sup­ (Source: Hartford Courant, May 25, 1898; Irish World and American plied by Paul Keroack.) Industrial Liberator, Jan. 10, 1903.) FAMINE JOURNAL July-August 1848 #18

Perspective

After hopeful signs early in !he season, !he wea!her turned miny and reports from all over Ireland told of !he reappearance of potato blight. The Blight, Again Coming on the heels of three seasons of want, ano!her crop failure was sure to greatly increase !he death toll. Meanwhile, !he attention of !he government was diverted In mid-August IS48, the Poor Law Commission in Dubl'in, the agency charged from the disaster at hand by with providing assistance to those in destitution, sent out a circular to the Poor an ill-conceived uprising led Law Unions in every county in Ireland to cbec'k 00 reports of the appearance of by the mdical YOWlg lreland­ tbe potato blight once again. Tbe alarming returns suggested strongly tbat Ireland ers. The revolt consisted of a was doomed to experience another year of famine. single confrontation in County Tipperary between a band of virtually unarmed Counties of Antrim, Down. parts of Armagb Countiu of Roscommon, Longford and Leitrim, country people led by Srni!h and Londonderry, Aug. 12. 1848 - Almost !he Aug. 12. 18018 - Ha\'ing visited. during the past whole potato crop in !he north has, during !he past week, three dillerent Unions in the COlUlt\ of O'Brien, a member of Parlia­ R~scorrunon ment for Limerick, and a tmit week, become affected with disease. Wi!h favour­ Rosconunon - Castlerea, Boyle and of !he constabulary. The con­ able wea!her, hope may be entertained !hat a con­ - and lIaversed a considerable extent of countn', stabulary took refuge in a siderable portion may yet be saved. 1regret to stale that I observed a very greal ap- . farmhouse where !hey were p<:arance of the potato blight and thaI in placc:s besieged by O'Brien. A few Counties of Mayo and Galway, Aug. 12, 18.1S .....here last we:e:k a trace: of it "as harllly observ­ shots were lired and a few - In my progress through various parts of the able. stones were thrown. The gov­ tmion inspecting the arrangements for administer­ Tuam Union, County Gal"a)', Aug. 12, IS~S ­ ernment moved quickly to ing relief, [ have examined attentively into the Eve:l)where the: lields are bhl~kened and shriv­ round up the leaders of the condition of the potato crop and have been much elled, and ever:where the blight. lllenl1cal in ~har· rising, and English opinion concerned to see the progress made by !he disease acler \\ith, though kss sev.:re !han. that of Ig~6, IS hardened against any further within !he last six or seven days, Wi!hin this pe­ advancing arId atl<:..:ting th..: tuber in a grc:at..:r or relief elTorts at the very time riod, !he general appearance of the crop has en­ less llegree: ., The \idJ in the earl\ pJanh;u lidJs when the Irish most needed tirely altered, and fields which a week ago were IS fair, but the polato<:s "lIt..:r.. A conslu.:rable assistance. healthy now show every sign of decay. I fear thai portion of th..:s.: may es.:apc:, 'but the:re is little: or At Liverpool, scores of more than one-half of the potato crop in this tmion has already sulTered and I gr..:ally fear the progress no produce from the: lat..: SO"1ng. "hl..:h mil\ lx Irish emigrants died when !he lookc:u upon as e:ntlIdy losl. . ship Ocean Monarch caught of the disease will not be soon arrested. rile as it was leaving for Counties of Meath, Westmel1th, Kihhare, Dublin, America, demonstrating how WickJow, Aug. 17, IS.l8 - The samples ofpota­ Union of Westport. County MlIyo, Aug. 12. di~ ~unslu":fllbl.; !he Famine's toll wasn't re­ toes herewith forwarded have been dug by mysdf 18018 - TIle potato has millie: progre:ss in all the .:kdorulllivislOns of the Union stricted to Ireland alone. from out of fidds wher~in no plant which I could ... The: farm..:rs anll poor p..'Ople are mu~h alarm..:ll see had escapell from blighlilull black spolle:d leaves. FAMINEJOURNAL 8l1ntl')' Union, County Cork. Aug. I~. 18018­ Counties of Waterford, WufonJ, Kilkenny, TI10.: o.:ntir..: crop at" this Union IS lD the: mosl e:\­ Carlow, Aug. 12. 18018 - The: llis.:ase in the po­ trem<: Janger. ... a mu..:h gr..:uler ljUllJlllt\ uf lanJ IS Published bimonthly dur­ Illto crop has progr~s.:d v.:ry nu,,;h during tJlis Ing the 150tb anniversary WIller potato tillag..: than fur mWl)" ~ClIIS past. but we~k, tJle with..:red kav..:s WIll stiJlks ..:milling IllI fr<>1ll all the inJun\liJti'll\ "..: .:.an gl..:an "..: Jo of the Irish Potllto Fllmine. wlpkasllnt smdl caus.:d by th..:ir allviUlcing to a kur tJUlt ":\"0.:11 Ihat portlUlI ut" the ..:rup "hl~h no" Copyright 1998, Connecti­ state: of dc:colllposilion: at tJl": sum..: tim.: t hav..: re­ appc.:ars h.:.lltll\ "111 nut lung ~llOtlDue tu l-..: [illlD~ cut lrish-AmeriClin His­ marke:ll that in 1II1llly inslwu:.:s, althuugh a lidll fur hwnwl fuoJ "e must ~,lIlf.:ss uur gl\Xlll\\ torical Society, P.O. BOI appears to be gr':lItly uamag.:ll. tJl": v..:ry n..:xt on..: 120-620, Elist Hliven CT I'.:ars lor tho.: WWltS of tho.: "T<:I'h..:J p..:upl.: Jur,~g to ii, or eve:n llarts or thc: sam..: fldJ, ]\\Rathconrath. dead hwnan beings, whose It forms no part of Christian bright anticipations or the fu­ It appeared in evidence that he screams were sufficient to strike ethics 10 help them that willoot ture, have met with a watery had a rupture or the intestines, tcrTOr into the heart of the north­ help themselves, and passing grave. caused by previous destitution ern bear were he an eye and ear from an individual to a nation, The Ocean Monarch left Liv­ and Dr. West, who made a post witness of the scene. At that from classes to a people, we /lie erpool yesterday morning at an mortem examination, gave it as time, though an early hour, bound 10 consider whether the early hour, the tide flowing his.opinon that death resulted therewuld not have been less aggregate wealth of the whole is about seven o'clock. It appears from that cause. than 5,000 applicants for food, fairly distributed amongst its that the flIe broke out about 12 Another Calamity bul what contributed to fall up producers. o'clock. Captain Murdoch re­ the space along the three angles LeUer of Rlcbard Grattoll If 8 few are the recipients of ceived the fU'st intimation from of road in front of the work­ to Lord CloDcurry, July 31, what all create, pauperism is ar­ the steward, who came to him house, was the nwnber of asses 1848 -I fear that the destruc­ tificial and unnecessary and the and said there was a gread deal with baskels filled with children tion or the potato crop is a fact case of (amine is nol estab­ of heat coming up the ventilator drawn up in regular array. all but accomplished and that lished. The evil is one of imper­ ... The captain immediately gave The nwnber of those quadm­ we have before us another year fect division ... Let the extreme orders for the extinguishing of peds on one side of the road we of calamity, more grevious than case be asswned or entire faili­ the [lIe, but it was, alas!, too round, on counting, to be 86. those through which we have ure in (the potato crop); then we late, the flames had begun to Owing to the great prCSSUle on alrcady passed. ask, ifthere remains an abun­ spread. lbose who have seen the opposite side, we could dance of other food. com and the fittings up to the passengers' Alas! Alas! for Ireland, our make no calculation of the num­ cattle, ought not the Irish to sub­ berths of an emigrant ship, are beloved country - fair 10 look ber of asses drawn up there ... sist on these instead of making aware thai they are or thin deals upon from withoUI, but within a We need not dwell upon the demands on the resources of and spars, easily ignited, and yawning grave, filled with the -,. [lIe having once gained the decaying bones of dead men, England? ... The sinking sun proclaimed mastery, there is little chance or with uncoffmed corpses and As a general rule, no doubt, to thousands that they must rc­ extinguishing it . with the bodies of the dying ... the Irish landowner is entitled to twn home Ull8ided and un­ sell his produce in the dearest ". The flames were burning Should the potato distemper called. Home did we sa'!' Alas, market, but when famine men­ with imsn.sc fwy from the stem continue to make the progress they have no homes ... and centre or the vessel. So that it has done for the last few aces, is not the rule suspended? We afterwards. at the dead great was the heat in these parts days, nothing can prevent our We think it is because the right hoUl of the night. saw hundreds that the passengers, male and tolal destruction but the instant to live is paramount to the right or those victims or landlordism female, men, women and chil­ adoption of measures the most to trade ... There are obvious and Gregoryism sinking on our dren crowded to the forepart of wise and energetic ... the pre­ limitations to the right or pro!> fiagways. erty and it is a sophism to assert the vessel. Their piercing heart­ vention or exportation (of We saw the inhabitants, with that a man has a right to do rending shrieks for aid were car­ com), the advance by way of lighted candles in their hands, what he pleases with his own. ried by the breeze across the loan and without interest of dark blue waves. In their mad­ funds to the fanners and manu­ administering slimulants to the No man has a right to mur­ dened despair women jumped facturers 10 enable them to em­ wretches as they lay on the der another man. and murder overboard with their offspring in ploy in works ... at reasonable streets, emiting green froth from may be effected by starvation as their arms and sunk to rise no wages the labourer and the me­ their mouths, as if after masti­ surely as by a bullet. more. chanic . cating soft grass. Page 3 Southington center fielder gave sportswriter his just deserts

A sportswriter for the New O'Connell "pulled him Haven Register discoverd from the steps and pro­ during the 1904 season just ceeded to imprint the how dangerous it was to criti· nose and countenance cize a baseball player in print. of his victim with the J.A. Kenyon, the Southing· marks of sundry half ton correspondent for the :>- hooks and neck jolts." "~''''' New Haven newspaper, took .... , ~ Although he had a great delight that year in distinct weight advan· -roasting" James O'Connell, -_.._.. tage, 250 pounds to center fielder for the 175 pounds, Kenyon Southington nine. was unable to land a In one column, Kenyon single punch. Police of- wrote about -a foot race al· ficer Dutton, who was leged to have been run by nearby. attempted to O'Connell in which he poked pull O'Connell off considerable fun at the Kenyon, but was un· player. - able to do so until joined One evening shortly there· by another police officer after, Kenyon was sitting and even then not "until with several town officials on the to take a walk with you." considerable damage had been steps of the Town Hall in Southing· Kenyon apparently responded wrought upon the person of the ton engaged in conversation about with a smart reply - "an invitation newspaperman." For hiS part, local politics when O'Connell and a in accordance with the extreme heat O'Connell suffered nary a scralch In friend came strolling down the and surliness of the evening, bid· the encounter. street. ding his questioner hasten to re­ (Source: Meriden Morning Record. "Come here, Kenyon, ,. called gions unmentionable." Aug. 9. 1904.J O'Connell as he approached. "I want Already angry at the sportswriter,

Irish were well represented in policemen's baseball league In the summer of 1909, when po· and work schedules. The teams played home·and·home lice from Connecticut cities orga· The starting nine for New Haven series against each other With ,.,Ierl· nized a baseball league. the majority consisted of McCormack, Connelly den ending the season wllh a 5·1 of its players were, as might have and Sullivan in the outfield; Do­ record. New Haven and Bridgeport been expected, of Irish ancestry. herty, Trainor, Smith and Lauten­ compiled 2-3 records to finIsh In a tIe Plans for the league were made at bach in the infield; McEnroe behind for second place. and Waterbur~ a meeting in Meriden on Thursday, the plate' and Dermody on the ended the year With a 2·4 m3rk, July 8. mound. In their final game of the season Delegates to the meeting included: Waterbury's starting lineup in­ the Meriden cops defeated Waler· Patrolman Lyons of New Britain; Sgt. cluded: Fagan, McLean and Kiersted bury 7-2 at Hanover Park In Merh.len O'Leary of Bridgeport; Patrolman in the outfield; Madden, Bagley, Ho­ After the game, a SOCIal ~ ... as held Meagher of Waterbury; Patrolman ran and Reilly in the infield, Wallace at Concordia Park With plentv of re­ John B. Roach of New Haven; and pitching and Dodds catching. freshments for all and the presenta· Patrolman John J. Custy of Meriden, For Bridgeport: O'Neill, Ivers and tion of the league trophy ...... hlch had who represented Meriden manager Hazel were in the outfield; been donated by P_J. Griffin of ~\efl' J.F. Burke. Dempsey, O'Leary, Blanchfield and den and speeches by Menden Ma.. or Police from Hartford and Norwich Dahlwig in the infield, Malone on Thomas l. Reilly. Menden manJger were invited to the meeting, but did the mound and Williams catching. Burke and CalJt. CuSty and CaDt not send delegates. The Meriden team had Carroll, Madden of Waterbury New Britain subsequently dropped Frobel and Ronin in the outfield; (Source: Meriden Record, July 9, r 2. out of the league, according to its Custy, Sweet, Flynn and Thayer in 20 and 22: Aug. 11. 21. 26, 27. manager, a fellow named Malone, the infield; Joyce pitching and Buck­ 19091 because of conflicts between games ley catching. Page 4

Briefly noted Italians in Valley marked feast day ETHNIC HERITAGE CENTER - In a recent mailing, all our members have been invited to join Friends of the Ethnic Heritage Center. The center is Around the turn of the 20th cen­ located at Southern Connecticut State University in New Haven and com­ tury, Italian immigrants living in the memorates the immigration of our family members. The center is oper­ Naugatuck Valley were accustomed ated by the African-American, Irish, Italian, Jewish and Ukrainian histori­ to celebrate one of their favorite cal societies in New Haven. Tours and programs are available at the cen­ holidays, the Feast of St. Maria del ter for community and school groups. Facilities are also available for ge­ Virgin with a parade. One such pa· nealogical research. Programs include: ~The Actual Enumeration: The rade was held in Derby on Aug. 26, Changing Faces of New Haven from 1790 to 1990, ~ "The Great 1914. Hunger, ~ and ~From Ireland to America." The parade stepped off from the Gould Armory and the units in­ NEIGHBORHOOD ASSISTANCE - The Ethnic Heritage Center qualifies cluded: Dante Aleghieri Society of for donations under the Neighborhood Assistance Act. Corporations that Derby. Santa Muno Socorsso of donate $250 or more to the center are eligible for a state corporate tax Ansonia, Santa Independent of rebate of up to 60 percent of the donation. Information may be obtained Derby, Santa Maria del Virgin of by calling Jeanne Whalen, 468-0426 or 392-6126. New Haven and Court Christopher Columbus Foresters of Derby. THANKS - To those who helped with the book sales at the festivals in Also in the line 01 march were New Haven and Glastonbury: Maureen Delahunt, Pat Heslin, Dorothy "many carriages in which promi­ Heslin, Tom Slater and George Waldron; to those helping man our booth nent Italians with the members of at the Irish festival in New Haven: Michael Ahern, Tom Geirin, Francis their families were seated and some and Jeanne Whalen; to those who assisted at the International Festival of city officials. 8 Arts and Ideas in New Haven in the latter part of June, Chairperson Diana The parade route went to East O'Brien, Ken Jr., Sean and Brendan O'Brien, Kim Shea, Francis and Derby and then 10 S1. Mary's Jeanne Whalen, Eva Madigan, Michelle Krell, Shawna Hart, Eileen 51. Church where a solemn high Mass John, Trish lovene, Sara Frisketti, Michelle Sepulveda, Michael Mills, was celebrated by Father William Hortense Lewis and Edith Davis. Fox, Father Charles Kane and Fa· ther Malafronte of the Church of the Holy Rosary in Ansonia. The celebration. which actually stretched over nine days, also in· Connecticut Irish-American Historical Society eluded a concert by the San Car· P.O. Box 120-020 olina Band of New Haven. East Haven, Connecticut 06512 The final event of the observance was a fireworks demonSlfatlon near ·We have kept faith with the past; we have handed a tradition to the future. 8 the dam on the Housatonic River. Padraic Peatse 8The display that has been planned for thiS year ..., 8 said one President: Jeanne Roche Whalen, 58 Florence Ave .. New Haven. 06512. Home reporter, -will surpass the one held 468-0426; office 392-6126. last year which was the finest ever seen in these pans More lhan 300 Vice Pres.: George Waldron. 145 Corbin Road. Hamden 06517. pieces will be set off. Over $600 has been expended in their pur­ Secretary: Maureen Delahunt. 15 Brubaker Rd., Cheshite 06410.272-7144 chase. - Treesurer: Tom Slater, 82 Deer Hill Rd., Hamden 06518. 248-4826. (Source: The Bridgeporr Tele()fam. July 27, 1914.1 Shanechle Editor: Neil Hogan. 26 Crestview Ter .• Wallingford 06492. 269·9154. Ediror's note: In lecognition 01 the bond between OUI historical society Membership: &10 individual; &15 family. Send name. address and check made out and the ornel members 01 the Erh· to CIAHS at above address. nic Hetitage Center, and to tosrel apPleciation fOI all laces and na· The Shanachie: In Iraland, a shanachie is 8 folklorist, historian &rid keeper 01 the tra­ fionaliries. we /Jlmt m each Issue of ditions of the people. The Shanachie one srOly abouf an· otnel ethniC (}IOUp. Vol. X, No.5 Connecticut Irish-American Historical Society September-October 1998

Motorman on last state trolley run was Irishman from New Haven

A romantic era of Connecticut reported the Register, "is retiring history ended just half a century from the Connecticut Company ago, on Sept. 26, 1848, when the along with several others who last of the old yellow trolleys, No. made their last runs yesterday and 1870, clattered down Chapel whose age or health prevent their Street, shifting to Chronicler of rising turned up bus driv­ S tat e ing," .played role in Street and The lumbered newspaper Connecticut history out to the Quoted An Irishman who was born in carbarns. Tierney as 1798 and who became a leading And the saying, historian of the rebellion of that motorman­ "T i m e s year, turns up in a strange role in on the last change ev­ Connecticut history, run of New erything. I Richard R. Madden was born in Haven's guess I'm a Dublin on Aug. 22, 1798, the son once thriv­ ~ of Edward Madden, a silk manu· ing trolley ~;~I~IIIIII~~~a_ -_-~ progress ~- ~. victim of facturer, and his second wife, Eliz­ lines was ,--..-- too .; i ~ ..,,-. -.::..==~,- m go- abeth. He studied medicine in an Irish­ .. i' Paris, London and Naples, begin­ man, William J, Tierney, "The dilap­ ing to miss these old street cars ning his career as a writer as cor­ idated 0 car which left the end of and so are a lot of others I know. I respondent for the Morning Herald the Dixwell Avenue line in Hamden used to love the trips out to light­ while in Italy. He practiced at 1:27 this morning," said the house Point and Savin Rock on a medicine in London and in 1833 Register, "marked the end of the hot summer night when we had the went to the island of Jamaica as a electric street railway era, which old open-air cars and the off-shore special magistrate to administer began for this state in Derby just breeze came in from the Sound." the new law abolishing slavery in 60 years ago. Sleek new Connecti­ Another Irishman, John Cos­ British possessions. cut Company buses this morning grove, was the switchman on the In 1836, he was appointed took over the last remaining trolley last night of the trolleys, "It's like judge arbitrator in cases involving routes in Connecticut, the D from losing your wife after 32 years," liberated Africans in Havana, Dixwell Avenue, Hamden, to Savin Cosgrove told the newspaper. "Call Cuba, which was then a Spanish Rock, and the J, from Church it sentiment if you want, but we possession. It was through that Street and Grove to Dawson Av­ hate to see the old trolleys go." role that his brief appearance in enue, West Haven." Many riders paid their last re­ Connecticut history began be· For his part, Tierney, a veteran spects to the trolleys that night by cause in 1839 Madden became of 25 years as a conductor and mo· riding with Tierney out to Savin (Please turn to Page 2) torman on New Haven's trolleys, (Please turn to Page 3) Page 2 Historian of 1798 Uprising played role in Connecticut history

(Continued from Page 1) behalf of the Africans because of not ladinos ... and they were not cre­ involved in the Amistad incident. his hatred for slavery and his belief, oles or blacks born on the island. The That civil rights case involved based on his three years of experi­ Amistad blacks, Madden declared Africans who been sold into slavery ence in Havana, that they were ob­ were 'bona fide Bozal Negroes quite and who mutinied on a schooner, the viously "bozar" recently smuggled newly imported from Africa.' !Their Amistad, carrying them from Ha­ into Cuba. alleged owners) bought them in bar­ vana to another port in Cuba. After The Irishman bought a ticket on a racones, or slave markets, which seizing the ship, the slaves at­ ship to New York with his own were fitted exclusively for receiving tempted to sail it back to Africa. money and offered his services to and selling bozales in the illicit slave Without navigational trade. " skills, however, they Madden was a ended up on the most credible wit­ northern shore of ness because with Long Island where his firsthand knowl­ they were arrested edge he could de­ and brought across scribe the opera­ the Sound to Con­ tions of the slave necticut. markets, how The Spaniards shiploads of kid­ who claimed to own napped Africans the slaves filed a law­ were smuggled in suit to get them under cover of dark­ back. Connecticut ness, how docu­ abolitionists rose to ments were forged their defense. The to make it appear administation of that blacks had been President Martin Van in Cuba for many Buren hoped to end years and how they the case quickly with were then sold. a ruling to return the Africans to Lewis Tappan, one of the abolition­ The attorney for the Spaniards at­ those who claimed to be their own­ ists raising money to defend the tempted to discredit Madden, but the ers. Africans against the Cuban slave Irishman with his intimate knowl­ Spain had abolished slavery in its owners who wanted them back. edge of the slave scene in Cuba eas­ possessions in 1820. Those who "Madden and Tappan were a ily answered every objection. "Not were slaves at that time remained strange pair ... ," wrote an historian. only was Madden not discredited, slaves, but it was henceforward ille­ "Madden was Irish Cathoric and a but his other testimony reinforced gal to import slaves into colonies like scholar who had studied languages his description of the illegality of Cuba. and customs in a dozen countries. Cuban practices," commented histo­ The Amistad case hinged on He was a writer with numerous rian Jones. whether the Africans on the ship books to his name, a judge who had When Madden finished, reported were "Uadinos," that is, slaves in handed down significant decisions one historian, it was obvious that Cuba prior to abolition as those in slave cases in Sierra Leone and "the testimony of this one small Spaniards who claimed them con­ Havana. Tappan was a deacon ... a quiet man had created much sympa­ tended, or, as the Connecticut aboli­ Yankee merchant with puritanical thy for the Negroes." His testimony, tionists argued, "bozal," or Africans New England upbringing." said another, "was impressive and brought in illegally after abolition. If Madden's testimony, given on the convincing. Abolitionists rejoiced at they were the latter, then they were afternoon of Nov. 20, 1839, was the confirmation of every allegation really free men who had been kid­ described by Amistad historian they had made about the slave situa­

napped and should be set free. Howard Jones: "Madden's testi 4 tion in Cuba. No longer could the At the time the case unfolded, many caused considerable excite­ Van Buren administration hope for an Madden was about to leave Cuba ment because it upheld the aboli­ outcome that would hide the issues and return to England. He went, as tionists arguments that the Amistad in the case by ridding the country of one historian wrote, "a thousand blacks had been imported from miles out of his way" to testify on Africa recently. The captives were (Please turn to Page 3) FAMINE JOURNAL September-October 1848 #19

Perspective Died Of Hunger Umerick Reporter, Oct. 27, 1848 - A poor man named The lJials of those rounded Henry Kiley, died on his way to up aller the hnef rehc::llIon the Newcastle workhouse from thaI summer occupied the Ballingarry early this week. An attenlion of authorilles and inquest was held on the body ,-~c.. .~-~ the media In Ireland dunng . ::b. before the coroner of the dis­ the carl\' autumn of 1848. Food For Three Months Only trict, and one of the jurors, John Rumors of more ~lllon cir­ F. Hennessey, requests us to London Times, SepL 22, 1848 - The potato crop in the county culaled \"'udy and the go\,· publish the substance of the ver­ of Tipperarv and throughout the counties of Kilkenny and Water­ ernment. WIth cuslOmary dict as follows: We fmd that the ford will be a complete failure. The disease is stated to be still rap­ o\'erreaCllOn. pUl dO\ll1 even said Henry Kiley died of hWl­ idly progressing, and the stalks presenla withered and blackened such innocent aCli"Hles as ger, having with his wife and appearance. II is SUlted by those who are competent judges that the proleslS by farmers whose children, made three journeys in potatoes \lill not serve the people as an article of food for more crops had been ~i7.ed h\' a vain to the Newcastle work­ than three months from this time. The grain crop, especially the landlord house, that is to say, 48 miles, ....neat and oals, are below the average return of last year. There is Slung h\ crillcism from the We fmd that extreme hardship, therefore the prospect of scarcity of food for the peasantry in this United States about England's and we believe death follows on CoWl~', and the consequent poverty and distress will doubtless in­ harsh poliCies In Ireland, the the system of dragging our poor crease the spirit of disaffection. London Times warn~'d that to have their claims to reliefex­ Amenca would soon feel the amined in Newcastle and not in curse of Ceillc tnumgrallon. Bishops Appeal For Government Aid Ballingarry, which latter the GOing all but unnoticed board directs, or at least sanc­ almd the uproar was another London Times, OcL 14, 1848 - At a meeting of the Catholic tions. We also lind that the re­ bishops and archbishops of Ireland, held at the Presbytery, Marlbor­ e:"1ensive failure of the potato lieving officer cannot do his crop in many parts of Ireland. ough street, Dublin, Oct. II, 1848, the following resolutions were duty to the poor, having some­ AI a conference in Dublin, WlarUmously adopted: times to proceed four or live the Catholic bishops look Resolved That we contemplate with grief, anxiety and alarm the times a week to Newcastle and note of the crop failure, impending famine and the miseries which another year of destitu­ that Kiley, amongst others, died warned of the polential for tion must necessarily entail on our already impoverished people of want in consequence of this star....atlOn and urged the gov­ many of whom will inevitably perish of want during the approach­ sytem. ernment 10 make preservation ing season if some general and comprehensive measures for their An inquest was held on Sun­ of life Its lirsl priOrilY. reliefbe not adopted without delay. day week by John Cox, Esq., Meanwlule, deaths from 2. Thai whilst we tenderly sympathise with our flocks in their af­ coroner, on the body of James hunger contmued to be reo flictions and exhort them to patience and resignation Wlder the Hayes, an infant of six months ported in steady, if small, heavy calamities which Providence pennits to befall them, we deem old who perished in the arms of numbers, and emigration with ourselves bound as Christian bishops to raise our voices in behalfof his grandmother, Margaret Ke­ its O\lTl dangers and death the poor of Christ and to impress earnestly, but respectfully, the per­ nealy from exhaustion and the loll conllnued on a large fonnance of what the highest authority in this land has already de­ inclemency of the weather. Mar­ scale clared to be 'the sacred and paramount duty of government, the garet Kenealy deposed that she preservation of human life.' had made two journeys to New­ 3. That the poor of Ireland having been again deprived by the castle, about 40 Irish miles, and failure of the potato crop of the food which alone they could reserve four to Ballingarry, seeking re­ FAMI.II,E JOUR,VAL for their support and an amount of destitution having thus been cre­ lief. but could not succeed in ated to meet which experience has proved that all existing legal and obtaining it; that on her return to BailingarT)' the fourth time on Published bimonthly dur­ administrative means of reliefare inadequate, we implore the gov­ the 27th she was overtaken by ing the 150th anniversalj' emmentto take all such other teps as the alarming condition of the rain and stonn and sunk down, of the Irish Potato Famine. country demands; to employ for the immediate reliefof the poor, all hungry and wealc. in a /ield Copyright 1998, Connecti­ the resources at its disposal, and to use all its influence to effect where she remained during the cut Irish-American His­ such an equitable adjustment of the relations between landlords and whole of that dreadful night; she torical Sodety, P.O. 801 tenants as shall stimulate an outlay of capital, insure the employ­ survived, but the infant in her 12~20. East Haven CT ment of the able-bodied, and increase the agricultural products of anns perished. 06512. the soil. ... Irish ruin America Emigrant Schooner Shipwrecked No Rebellion London Times, SepL 13, Umertck Reporter, (kt. 27, 1848 - The schooner Ann London Times, sept. 20, 1848 - The slate of Ireland is from this port, which sailed last August for Quebec with 113 pas­ 1848 - Great excitement pre­ to an American as offensive as sengers was seen in a wrecked state on the 2Slh of September near vailed in the town of Thurles on it is to an English mind. It of­ the island of Anticosti, Gulf of St. Lawrence, the sails and rigging Monday and, as usual, very ex­ fends his love of law, of order, hanging over the sides ... It appears that on Ole 22nd she was struck aggerated reports were in circu­ of consistency. of manly cour­ by the barque Hampton which stove in her bows ... The passengers lation respecting the intentions age and manly endurance.... were rescued next day by the PrincuJ Royal ... of the insurgents. A nalion alternately playing A letter in the Freeman thus the beggar and the bravado, explains lhe cause: "It appears now bullying like a highway. Passengers Deserted By Sbip's Crew that during the latter part of last man, now whining like a mendi­ DepoJllion liken Oct. 21, 1848 - Hugh Brereton, heretofore of week Mr. Lanigan of Castlefog­ cant, always aggrieved, always Fairfield,county of Galway ... and now in the city and district of arty had removed to his farm­ oppressed, but never doing any­ Montreal, fanner, having been duly sworn upon the Holy Evange­ yard some com, wheat and oats, thing 10 better itselfeither by list, desposeth and saith that- I was a passenger aboard the schoo­ seized for rent due by some of work or by arms - courting the nerAnn, Capt. McFie, which sailed from Limerick on the 17th of his tenants. sympathy of the world by ils August last. Nothing important occurred until the night of the 22nd ·The poor peasants, fmding rags and its nakedness and re­ of September when, having reached the Gulfof St. Lawrence, be­ their com gone to their landlord, paying its only benefactor by lween II and 12 o'clock, we suffered a collision with the barque their potatoes melted into rotten­ menace and sedition; lhis is, to Hampton ... At this period the whole of the passengers to the best of ness and their wives and chil­ the educated and sober Ameri­ my knowledge were in the steerage ... At this time the hatch was dren in danger of being without can precisely as disgusting and nailed down by ... the second mate. I feel certain that it was nailed food, went among their neigh­ repulsive a picture as it is to the down because we heard the hammering and when myself and an· bours and told their tale of woe. educated and sober Englishman. other ascended the ladder we could not force it open; nor was it •... In the cowse of Sunday opened until I, with the assistance of a fellow passenger, squeezed True there are Irish sympa­ notices were posted in all the myself through an opening by the side of the hatch ... While this thizers in plenty in New York public plares, calling on Ole ten­ was happening, which altogether occupied only a few moments, the who would eat up all England at antry of the district and of those crew and some of the passengers, having ascended from the fore­ onc gulp ifthey could. There is adjoining to assemble on this castle were escaping on board the Hampton. ... I went down imme­ declamation enough and swag­ day to consult what steps they diately to hasten my father and family into the other ship to save gering enough and fustina ought to take ... enough for Confederation Hall. their lives ... but we were sadly disappoinled when we found that "This purely agrarian meet­ But the American citizen knows the (Hampton) had removed from alongside with our captain, sailors ing was the 'rising' and the lhe value of this better even ,and a few passengers leaving us, viz., 104 souls, behind, to lament 'rebel encampment' which Mr. than we do ... of all things lhere our fate ... At daylight, I saw'the Hampton about five miles off . Gore Jones and his party went is nothing lhat he regards wilh The next obje<:t we saw was the brig Hibernia which came to us, to encounter and disperse. so much suspicion as the viru­ when a conversation ocurred between the captain and myself ... I lence of the new imported asked ifhe would take us on board, to which he questioned whither ·The meeting ... was very Irishry. In it, he sees more fu· we were bound. I said Quebec. He said he was outward-bound but small and was described by one ture danger to his own country that another vessel then in sight, which proved to be the PrinceJJ of the 'force' after his return as a than to England. It may not Royal ... was inward-bound and would relieve us. handful of naked and hungry­ come yet, but unless Ireland be looking men, who lamented the much changed in the meantime, seizure of their com when they it will come. When the vast and Death Follows Refugees Across Atlantic had not enough left for food.· unpopulated districts of (the Newburyport, Man., Ocl2J, 1848 - Dear Friend, Mr. Will­ American's) native domain are iam Gifcut, I arrived safely to St. Johns. I met with Mr. Christopher more filled with densely grow­ Jones from Carigan. He paid 40 shillings for me and my sister 10 go Mayo A Wilderness ing multitudes that are now to Boston. We did not like Boston so we came to Newburyport ... I London Times, Oct 22, crowding to his shores, when want her to let you know if my brother Michael and sister Catherine )848 - Letter from John lhe population instead of is in Greenock, Scotland.lfthey remain there until SI. Patrick day, I Lamb, a Quaker, regarding con­ spreading over vast prairies and will send you money enough to bring them to New York. My sister ditions in Mayo and Sligo - I cutting through primeval forests and I are saveing a pound a week ... I want you to let Mrs. Gifcut was told there is a district, is more pent up in towns and know that old Mrs. Waker died on St Paterick Island, one side of SI. north-west of Ballina where cities, when every city has its Johns and her son and daughter laid sick with a fever at Ole same there are 20,000 acres of fair, Irish quarter and every state an time. I W!Ult you to let John Gordan know that his son died on the good land in the hands of the Irish faction, then will America passage. Denis Meeally and his sister-in-law and child died when landlords quite deserted. Evic­ experience the curse of a great they came ashore and Patrick Carway and James Megloghland of tions (ust, then emigration, fam­ Celtic inunigration; then will Balancanard.... The most of the people that came out in your ves­ ine, fever and lastly the poor­ she know what it is to be the sels have died at St. Johns. ... Will you be so kind as to let Briget house have left the land a wil­ sewer of a vast, squalid and tur­ Rock know that I saw her brother Michael. He was well. His wife derness. bulent multitude ... and all his family died on the passage except his eldest daughter. Page 3 Historian Madden {Continued from Pace 21 Family History the blacks before they became a public concern. Their return to THIS IS A CONTINUATION of the listing begun last month of resources Cuba. Madden's testimony made on the internet through Local names Ireland: http://names.locaUe. clear, doubtless meant certain death ... Madde'1's first-hand observations The North of Ireland FamUy Hi,tory Society: A volunteer organization for had exposed the inhumanity inher­ the benefit of those interested in the history of families in the north of ent in returning the Amistad cap­ Ireland. tives to Cuba ... Madden's testi­ mony had focused the issues in­ Genealogy Calendar: A listing of upcoming Irish genealogical events. At volved in the Amistad mutiny." present it includes more than 1,'00 items in 59 states, provinces and His work in Connecticut on behalf countries up to the year 2002. of the Africans finished, Madden set sail for England and the continua­ Irish World Heritage Services: A commercial group providing search ser­ tion of his humanitarian and literary vices, illustrated coats of arms and family memorabilia. works. One of his cherished pro­ jecls was his history of the Uprising Irish Genealogy: The Irish page of A.J. Morris's Genealogy Site, this pro­ of 1798. The seven volumes were vides lists of names being researched in Ireland, a huge list of emigrants, completed and published between Irish records and original source material. 1843 and 1846 and soon won fame as one of the most comprehensive Genealogy in Mayo: The site of the two centers for genealogical re­ and authoritative treatments of the search in Mayo, offering a full genealogical service to those inquiring. uprising. He later published a number of Experience Ireland Rootl: The genealogical page of Ireland's National other books on slavery, on the Penal Tourism Database, created by Touchtel. Laws in Ireland, on Irish periodical literature, on the Inquisition, on im­ Irish Genealogicat Foundation: An organization which provides assis­ ponant people in Irish history and tance in tracing ancestors, publishes a journal and makes other publica­ on shrines that he had visited in his tions available. travels throughout the world. Madden died in 1886 in Donny­ National Archives Genealogy: The National Archives is a holding center brook near Dublin in Ireland. for atl original Irish records and manuscripts. The site gives details of how to use the records and provides a list of researchers. (Sources: William A. Owens, The Revolt on the Schooner Amistad; The listing of genealogy services available thorugh Local names Ireland Howard Jones, Mutiny on the Amis­ wilt be continued in the next issue. tad; Suzanne Jurmain, Freedom's Sons; The Dictionary of National Bi­ ography, Vol. XII, 1921.J

Connections last state trolley run (Continued from Page 1) Seek binhplace in Ireland of John J. McLAUGffiJN and his wife, Ellen D. DO­ Rock and back. And another trolley HERTY, m. April 26, 1859, New Haven, CT. John d. March 28,1907, New Haven; chartered by the Electric Railroaders Ellen d. April 4, 1892, New Haven. Also, James IGOE and his wife Katherine IN­ Association and the National Rail­ GOLDSBY. m. June 29. 1869, New Haven. James d. Sept. 24. 1921, New Haven; way Historical Society followed the Katherine d. Aug. 10, 1893, New Haven. Reply to Cynthia Downs, P.O. Box 1687, last car and then cruised the trolley 15480 Highway 9, Breckenridge, CO 80424. routes until 2 a.m. the next morning giving members of the two groups Seek infonnation on Edward P. REYNOLDS, born March 14, 1857, in Southing­ one last nostalgic ride. ton, cr, son ofJohn Reynolds and Catherine Gleeson. Moved to New Haven about 1877. Reply to Patricia Pacileo, 46 Alpine Drive, Burlington, CT 06013. lSource: New Haven Register, Sem. 27, 1948J Page 4

Briefly noted Native of Dominica was oddity in Meriden FAMILY HISTORY WORKSHOP - The Ethnic Heritage Center on the In 1904, a West Indian was such campus of Southern Connecticut State University has scheduled a Family an odditY in Connecticut that his History Workshhop on Sunday, Oct. 25. The program will feature a tour arrival warranted a front-page of the C'lnter from 1 to 2 p.m., a talk on how to get started with your story. The Meriden Record sent a family history from 2 to 3 p.m. and small group sessions on particular reporter out to interview William problems experienced in genealogy research from 3 to 5 p.m. Those at­ Bryan landers at length when he tending are invited to bring documents and photographs and share their arrived in that city from his native work. Experienced researchers will be available to help organize family island of Dominica. materials. Advance registration is required and can be made by calling Landers had come to Meriden to Jeanne Whalen, 392-6126, and leaving name, telephone number and work at the lines company with the number of reservations requested. hope of becoming an architect. "Dominica," he explained, "is of· VOLUNTEERS NEEDED - The Ethnic Heritage Center at SCSU needs ten called the pearl of the Antilles volunteers for a variety of tasks from staffing the center to sorting ge· because of its beautiful scenery ... nealogical and historical materials. Anyone interested should contact The boiling lake and sulphur springs Jeanne Whalen, 392·6126. Our thanks to one of our members, Elizabeth of Dominica are world renowned ... Dalton, who this summer completed a volunteer project of cataloging our The prinicpal industries are raising society's collection of books and papers. cocoa and coffee. A great many OMAGH BENEFIT - An afternoon of entertainment and refreshments will limes are grown and we export be held at the Irish-American Community Center in East Haven on Sun· large quantities of them to America day. Oct. 18, at 2 p.m. to benefit the victims of the bombing in Omagh. and England." Northern Ireland. Landers said he found "many strange and new things" in Amer· AWARD - Thanks to our treasurer Tom Slater. The Shanachie recently ica. "For the first time in my life I was selected for the fifth·place prize in the ethnic societies category in a saw electric lights, tramcars and competition sponsored by The Odom Genealogy library in Moultrie, Gear· steam made. In Dominica we have gia. Tom is a subscriber to the Odom library's Family Tree newsletter and none of these things, but as the submined copies of The Shanachie for the competition. country is making rapid progress, I expect they will soon be as com· man there as here. I am greatly pleased with Meriden. I like it much Connecticut Irish-American Historical Society bener than New York where I spent P.O. Box 120·020 a few hours when I arrived in Amer­ East Haven. Connecticut 06512 ica." Landers said he also liked his ·W. have kept faith with the past; we have handed a tradition to the futur•.­ work in Meriden. but added. "The Padraic Pearse hours seem very long to me. In Do· minica we work from lOin the Pfeatdent: Jeann. Roche Whalen. 58 Florence Ave .• N.w Heven, 06512. Hom. morning until 4 in the afternoon. 468·0426; office 392·6126. It's too hot to work any longer. Here I work from 7 in the morning Vic. Pre•.: GlIOfgll Wekkon. 145 Corbin Roed, Hamden 06517. until 6 at night." Sectet..,.: Maureen Dehahunt, 15 Brubaker Rd., Ch••hlre 06410. 272·7144 (Source: The Meriden Record, Trea.urer: Tom Slater, 82 DHf Hili Rd.• Hamden 06518. 248-4826. Aug. 24, 1904.) Editor'S note: In recognition of Shenachl. Edttor: Nail Hogen, 26 Cre.tvlaw Tar., WalWngford 06492. 269·9154. the bond between our historical society and the other members of M.mb....hlp: .10 Indivtduel; .1 5 hmilv. Send nerne. address end check mada out the Ethnic Heritage Center, and to CLAHS at ebov. address. to foster appreciation for a/l races Th. Shenachi.: In ....and. a shanachie ,. a folklorIst, historian and k••per of the tr. and nationalities, we print in each dillons of tha peopIa. issue of The Shanachie one story about another ethnic group. Vol. X. No.6 Connecticut Irish-American Historical Society November-December 1998

Our new book links Connecticut and Irish Famine

Our historical society'I commemo­ Publication of "The Cry of the Fam­ rltion of the Irish Potato Famine of ishing· is being made possible with the late 1840s continues this month the assistance of a $5,000 grant with the publication of our 200-page from the Wild Geese, the Fairfield book, -The Cry of the Famishing.· County-based organization which is "'The Cry of the Famishing· tells deeply involved in the preservation of the tragic story of the Famine in Ire­ Irish and Irish-American history and land and the equally compelling story culture. All proceeds from the sale of of how thousands of Irish men and the book will go to our society's trea­ women, driven from their native land sury to be used for our own work to by hunger, came to Connecticut. Of preserve the history of Connecticut's the numerous books written to com­ Irish people. memorate the 150th anniversary of The major theme of our new book the Famine, ours is perhaps the only is that the Famine was a turning point one that describes the Famine-era not only in the history of Ireland, but linkages between Ireland and one in the history of Connecticut as well. state in the United States. The Famine occurred just as the In­ The book is now at the printer and dustrial Revolution was beginning to is expected to be delivered on Dec. transform Connecticut from an agri­ 8. Copies of "The Cry of the Famish­ cultural to an industrial state. The ing" may be ordered - at $15 per greatest need for Connecticut at that copy plus $2 for postage and han­ time was for manpower; the greatest dling for each copy - by filling out need of hundreds of thousands of the order form enclosed with this iso' Irish people driven from their home­ sue of The Shanachie and returning it land by starvation was for jobs. This well-known sketch from the Famine with a check to the Connecticut Irish­ Those two needs dovetailed so that is featured on the cover of OUT book. American Historical Society, P.O. Connecticut in the decades after the 120-020, East Haven, CT 06512. The book also will be on sale at Famine became one of the most Irish ..- ----, the Christmas Brunch and Bazaar at states in the United States, trailing the New Haven Irish-American only Massachusetts and New York in WHOOPS! Community Center from 10 a.m. to the percentage of Irish residents. 3 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 13. The The book has 14 chapters. The Our page one story in the historical society will have a table at first two describe conditions in Con­ September-Oc~ober issue of the bazaar and will be selling a vari­ necticut and Ireland in 1845 just be­ The Shanachie told about the ety of Irish books including "The fore the onset of the Famine. The end of trolley service in New Cry of the Famishing"; our history third tells of the discovery of the Haven 50 years ago. Unfortu­ of St. Patrick's Day celebrations in potato blight that same year, how the nately, we dated 50 years ago New Haven, "The Wearin' 0' the news reached Connecticut and the as 1848 instead of 1948. Just Green"; and our compilation of sto­ impact it had on the state's small to set the record straight, the ries about Irish people from 19th Irish community. trolleys stopped running in century Connecticut newspapers, The fourth chapter describes how New Haven in 1948. "Green Sprigs from the Emerald Please /Urn to page 3 Isle." Pagel

Meriden traveler arrested as Fenian Family History

Was a Meriden man who set out "As I had the addresses of a num­ to visit Ireland and England in 1887 ber of persons whom friends in USING THE INTERNET -This is a Fenian operative or just a tourist? Meriden desired me to call on, the a continuation of the listing in the The English authorities in Ireland police seemed to regard me as a last issue of genealogy resources thought Drake DeKay was a spy or Fenian emissary. that are available on the internet an agitator and were waiting for him "Of course, with the assistance of through Local names Ireland: when he came down the gangplank Mr. Phelps, who is always ready to http://names'/ocal.ie, Local names of a trans-Atlantic ship at Queen­ assist an Irishman in distress, I was is part of Local Ireland, a broad stown, Constables immediately released, but only after a week's internet infrastructure for Irish handcuffed the Meriden man and vexatious delay and a promise to content and communities. It is run led him off to jail. (British Prime Minister) Mr. Balfour in partnership with local counties, In September of 1887, DeKay that I would not again visit Ireland organizations and individuals and wrote a letter to the Meriden Jour­ during my stay in the United (7) is developed under the auspices of nal describing what had happened: Kingdom of Her Majesty...... Telecom Eireann and Nua. "I promised you when I left Meri­ After his release, DeKay set out Clann lain Mhoir Webpage: The den to keep you informed of my for London where he received a page offers information on Clann wanderings, but the moment I much more friendly welcome. lain Mhoir and on joining the clan. landed at Queenstown, I was ar­ (Source: Meriden Jounal, Sept, 27, National Library of Ireland: The rested as a suspicious character. 1887) center for Irish records in Ireland. There are close to a million books Interns enrich Ethnic Heritage Center program and extensive collections of manuscripts, photographs, maps Programs of benefit to members way should contact Jeanne Whalen, and prints, of our society continue to grow and 392-6126. Public Record Office of Northern expand at the Ethnic Heritage Cen­ Another student, James La­ Ireland: Official records of North­ ter at Southern Connecticut State Banca, is developing hands-on activ­ ern Ireland are kept in this office. University. ities for schoolchildren who visit the The site provides a detailed guide At present, three student interns Ethnic Heritage Center on field trips, to its resources, including informa­ are involved in projects that will fur­ The activities will be centered tion on tracing family history. ther the aims of our society to pre­ around the traditions of various eth­ Ulster Historical Foundation: A serve the history of Connecticut's nic groups, including the Irish. Any­ non-profit organization promoting Irish people as well as the history of one with ideas for such activities Ulster history and genealogy, The other ethnic groups in the state, should contact Jeanne Whalen. foundation provides a genealogical For her senior project, one intern, A third intern, Heather Melius, is service for Ulster and a wide range Rose Drew, is initiating an oral his­ developing a web page for the Eth­ of publications. tory program that will be continued nic Heritage Center. The page will Irish Genealogical Society Inter­ after she graduates. Drew is looking be used to announced activities of national: A non-profit. volunteer for representatives of various ethnic our society and the other societies organization dedicated to the groups who are willing to be inter­ that are affiliated with the center study of genealogy in Ireland, It viewed and have their tapes made a and to publish information about the has over 2,000 members world­ part of the oral history collection at contributions of different ethnic wide. the center. groups to the history of New Haven The oral history program offers a and Connecticut, (Editor's note: The information chance for people of Irish descent to The three internships are de­ about internet sources was sup­ record their recollections of their signed to increase the benefits of plied by Paul Keroaek. Given the family, schooling, growing up in Ire­ the center to our members and to (Jrowin(J popularity of doin(J (Je· land or Connecticut, employment, aid in developing it as a headquar­ nealo(Jy on home computers, In­ recreational activities, etc. ters for workshops, speakers, ex­ ternet sources are probably of in­ Such recordings will leave an ex­ hibits and as an archives for materi­ terest to m8ny members. We cellent record of the experiences of als about the Irish in Connecticut. would be happy to publish orher Connectcut's Irish and the experi­ Volunteers from the Irish society are sources if members brin(J them to ences of other ethnic groups. Any­ needed for a wide variety of activi­ our attention,) one interested in being interviewed ties and projects at the center. or in assisting in the project any Hours are flexible. FAMINE JOURNAL November-December 1848 #20

Perspective After 4 Years Of Famine, A People Clothed In Rags Glenties Union, County Donegal, Dec.. 10, 1848 - The want of warm clothing is very Toward the end of \848, much felt by the poor peasantry in this union. the Poor Law Commission­ It is painful to see the wretchedness and mis­ ers, who were in charge of ery of some of them wandering about the relief dTorts in lreland, asked COWltty without being halfdad; and the rags olliClals in Poor Law Unions they have to cover them are in such a tattered throughout Ihe country to re­ and filthy state, the poor creatures cannot re­ port on the condition of the ceive either heat or comfort from them. people's clothing. The retum~ Ihat came back provided one more bit of Erris District, Ballina Union, County Mayo, evidence, one not usually Dec. 14, 1848 - ... The condition of the Ihought of, about Ihe devasta· poorer classes is most deplorable. In many in· tion Ihe Famine had wrought stances, the males are driven to assume the on the Irish people. In almost garb of females when poverty forces them from the screen of their wretched cabins to seek for every case, the peasants were support. Again, they are frequently to be observed with no other covering except the remnant of clad in nothing but rags and some shattered bed-clothing merely hung on their shoulders, two or three people being covered Ihe tattered remnants of their with what was once a blanket. The clothing peculiar to the children of the more distressed portion pre-Famine garb. of the peasantry has become extinct ... No doubt the effect of such insufficient covering is disas­ Another measure of the trous in its consequences, as regards the health of the people ... scope of the tragedy was the fact that workhouses through­ Swinford Union, Counties Mayo and Sligo, Dec.. 15,1848 - It is painful daily to behold out Ihe land were jammed groups of those wUortunate people shivering under disgusting rags, with difficulty kept together way beyond capacity. Gov­ and barely affording a partial covering. errunent officials reported in­ creases in disease from the overcrowding. Mobill Union, County Leitrim, Dec. 17, 1848 -I have traveled in varous parts of some of the In Belfast, there was a western unions, particularly by the cross and private roads, and have visited many villages remote report of a case of Asiatic from the high roads and I have observed great want of clothing among the children; in fact, I have Cholera, a disease that had frequently seen them naked in the huts ... been spreading across Eu­ rope. Kilrusb Union, County Clare, Dec. 13, 1848 -A great portion of the people are all but naked, Meanwhile grim accOlmts The great mass of the population of the union have been without the means of purchasing clothes of starVation continued to be for the last three years. They had no potatoes, no pigs and consequently no money ... I can with repeated as did accounts of truth repeat that Ihe stock of mere rags among 100 paupers is not sufficient for the clothing of 20. large numbers of peasants and farmers seJling all they had and emigrating from the Bantry Union, County Cork, Dec.. 28, 1848 -I have observed the same absolute destitution of country, In winter as well as clothing throughout the entire district. The people present the most revolting picture of squalid summer. filth and rags ever beheld in a Christian land. Paupers are every day admitted to the (poor)house who have not removed the rags from their backs for months and who would frnd difficulty in put­ ting on again what they have once thrown off. FAMINE JOURNAL Thurles Union, County Tipperary, Dec.. 27, 1848 -In my frequent visits to the stone-bren.kin,g depots in the spring and summer of the present year, I was patricularly struck by the wretched ap. Publisbed bimontbly dur· pearance of the labourers, who had scarcely any clothing 10 protect them from the weather, and Ing tbe 150tb anniversary the same want is now very plainly observable among the applicants for out-door relief... Most of of tbe Irisb Potato Famine. Ihem are in rags and many of the children have scarcely any covering at all. The appearance of Copyrigbt 1998, Connecti­ the people who crowd the streets of Thurles and the roads in its vicinity on market-days or when cut Irisb-Amerinn His­ proceeding to chapel on Sundays is altogether different from what it used to 'be a few years ago; torinl Society, P.O. 801 indeed, I am not aware of any evidence ofthe utter destitution of the people so convincing as the 120-020, East Haven CT almost entire absence of decent clothing among them. 06512. Cholera Appears Starvation In Clare Skibbereen Poor Farmers Cheated Beirut Union, December 6, Clare Journal, EDDis, No­ Cork EumiDer, Novem­ Umerlck aDd Clare Eum­ 1848 (Dr. Reid)- A case of vember 1848 - On the town­ ber 1848 - The total number Iner, December 1848 - Sev­ Asiatic Cholera was admitted land of Doora, near this town, now in the Skibbereen Poor­ eral cases of extreme hardship into the Fever Hospitals! 9 in four deaths have occurred in house and its auxiliary houses is have come under the notice of the morning of Monday last, one house from starvation under about 4,230. Of this number, the the police employed in taking and died at 7 1/2 in the evening. circumstances of the most horri­ three auxiliary houses in the the census of agriculture &C. in The patient. Thomas Tier­ fying nature. It appears that two town and at Deelis accommo­ the rural districlS. They fmd that nan, and his family, had re­ families of the name of Linnane date about 950. The remaining instead of an average crop, the moved on Tuesday the 28th u!t., and Quin were residing in the 3,280 are dieted in the poor­ produce of this year does not from a part of Edinburgh, in same cabin. Linnane, the father house and about 50 are senl to come up to one-third of former which there had been no case of of one of these families, is at town to a store to sleep. Thus years. Wheat, OIlS, barley - in Cholera, 10 an entry or close in present undergoing a lengthened there are permanently lodged in fact, every kind of crop - was that city in which !.his disease imprisorunent in Ennis gaol for the Union Poorhouse about a general failure. The first thing had prevailed for some weeks. sheep stealing. He held two 2,780. The house was intended that attraclS the attention of the acres of land on which there when fU"Sl built to accommodate police, al almost every farm­ He arrived in Belfast on Sat­ was a small quantity of pota­ 800. Since then three additional house, is the appearance of a urday morning, suffering from toes. Previous to harvest, this timber houses have been built pair of "keepers.· These fimc­ Diarrhoea, and was admitted family having no means ofsup­ on the premises, one of which is tionaries are paid at the rate of inlo the probationllf)' ward of port went into the workhouse, inhabited by invalids and into about 2s. a day. The unfortunate the workhouse in the evening. but left it shortly afterwards that these three and the main house cultivator of the soil dare not they might use the potatoes there are now crammed by day look at a grain of the com he la­ Record Emigration which they had planted. After 3,280 and by night 2,780. boured so hard the whole year Meith Henld, November these were consumed, the fam­ Every available apartment is round to grow. The fanners are 1848 - Within memory of the ily did not obtain relief, which made use of as a bedroom. In subsisting in most part on tur­ oldest inhabitants, the spirit of was the immediate cause of the the girl's school-room, which nips. The moment those keepers emigration was never more rife tragical evenlS which followed. measures about 27 by 42 feet enter a farm, they, as a manerof during the spiIng of the year The other family named about 500 girls spend the day, course, take possession of ev­ than it is now, though it is on Quin who resided in the same breakfast, dine, and about half erything, according to the agent's warrant. Then there is the brink of winter. Scarcely II cabin were obtaining 1 112 this munber sleep there. Even day passses in which strangers stone of meal per week which, the bathroom which measures but one alternative (for the) ten­ are not observed wending their however, they divided with about 9 by 16 feet is made use ant to get rid of those unpleas­ way towards the seaports of Linane's family. One of the of as a day room, dining room ant visitors and so save the small fruilS of his labour from Drogheda or Dublin, nying from Quin's took fever and on being and bed room and in this small the misery which threatens their removed to hospital, halfa apartment I found this evening being sacrificed at an agent's homes upon the arrival of win­ stone of the weekly qunatity of 170 persons, men and women, auction, where a great portion of ter. Nwnbers are collecting their meal was stopped from the fam­ confmed; there was scarcely the amount received would be little shares for transmission, ily, but on recovering from fe­ room for them to stand. likely 10 go into the pockets of the bailiffs ... To guard &gainst fearing should they delay till ver and again joining the family, About 500 or 600 persons this, the unfortunate tenant at spring that the means in their their rations ....rere not increased have been in the house for a once commences threa.shing out possession would be exhausted to the former quantity and thus fortnight, without getting the the small share of com he has in in support of their families. nine individuals were left solely house dress and in the filthy his possession. When ready for dependent on one stone (If meal rags which they brought in with market after a few days, the bai­ per week and were in the habit them. The air in the apartments liffs accompany him and sell in of gathering turnip tops or any­ in which these are kept is intol­ Famine Victim the name of the agent the poor thing they could collect to add erable. Others who have been in man's whole property. He rarely Mayo Constitution, Novem­ to their scanty fare. The conse­ the house for some time and receives a farthing of the ber 1848 - On last Wednes­ quence was that on the 6th inst. have got the house dress have amount to compensate for his day, a young man named James one of the children, Susan not changed a shirt for the last labour, even lhe price of a loaf Toole, who lived about four Linane, died and was buried by month and others had to go of bread for his dinner after the miles back of Louisburgh, came the others in the garden adjoin­ shirtless while their shorts are market is over is mostly refused. to this town to get into the poor­ ing the house. Bridget Quin being washed. house and after remaining all died on the 16th, Mary Quin on Every penny goes to the agent Disease has already com­ day, was at length told he could the 19th, and Mary Linane, the and if he happens to be so hu­ menced to increase in the house not be admitted. mother, on the 20th; and these mane last year as to advance a and in the infirmary the number trifle for the purchase of seed, it The poor creature anempted three corpses remained lying in in each bed varies from two to is the first item deducted from to make his way home, but from the house with the surviving six. the proceeds of the sale. Should fatigue and hunger he lay down children until the 26th inst. the sum be not sufficient to pay on the road side, where he was when the shocking condition of up the last farthing, the surren­ found dead. the family ....1IS discovered. der of the unfortunate farmer's land is demanded. Page 3

OUf society publishes 200-page book about the Potato Famine Conrmu#!dfrom Pag#! I a Connecticut humanitarian, Elihu Burritt of New Britain, traveled to Ire­ land and wrote some of the most graphic and moving accounts of the suffering there. The fihh chapter tells how Connecticut people of all back­ grounds and religious faiths collected thousands of dollars for the relief of the suffering Irish. The sixth chapter retates the re­ sponses of Connecticut's Irish to the rebellion which broke out in Ireland in 1848 and narrates the story of the latter years of the Famine. The sev­ enth and eighth chapters describe the Famine emigration in which more than a million people fled from Ire­ land, most of them coming to the .'.•- . " United States. A drawing ofIrish emigrants crowded on the deck of a ship bound for The remaining six chapters de­ America. one of the almost 100 pictures in our new book. scribe various aspects of the settle· ment of thousands of these emi· rating the stories of dozens of peo­ fatalities suffered by Irish emigrants grants in Connecticut. The ninth ple who experienced the Famine in who went to work on the railroads or chapter focuses on where the Irish Ireland and who settled in Connecti· in the numerous factories throughout settled in our state and the informal cut. the state, It tells of the frauds perpe­ network they developed to take care It reprints, for example, an ac­ trated on some railroad workers by of each other. The , Oth and 11 th count by a New Haven policeman, contractors and how a band of those chapters tell of the jobs the Irish Phil Reilly, about the perils of his workers organized a boycott to fight took, the , 1th chapter focusing on voyage across the Atlantic Ocean at discrimination against them. the phenomenon of thousands of the time of the Famine, and a letter It describes how an Irish girl work­ young Irish girts who found work as from a father in Ireland to his son in ing in a hotel in Bridgeport was de­ domestic servants in the homes of Hartford describing the horrors of lighted to meet an Englishwoman well-to-do Connecticut families. the starvation. who was staying there andwho could The '2th chapter describes the It relates the story of an Irish talk about "the auld country." rapid groW1h of the Catholic Church woman in Norwich, Ellen McCanna, The book details conflicts between in Connecticut as a result of the who placed an advertisement seek­ the Irish newcomers and their Yankee Famine emigration. The' 3th is about ing information about her twins, neighbors. An editor and an Irishman, the conflicts that developed between Ellen and John, aged 12, The chil­ for example, engaged in a running ar­ the mostly Catholic Irish emigrants dren had come to America with gument in a Derby newspaper about and their mostly Protestant Connecti­ their father Daniel and had become the role of religion and the Bible in the cut neighbors, conflicts over such lost after he died at Bellevue Hospi­ public schools. things as schools, religious beliefs, tal in New York. And it describes It tells how some Famine emigrants employment opportunities, politics, the joyful reunion at the railroad de­ gathered together in neighborhoods crime and militia units. The final pot in Willimantic of a mother with such as Kerrytown and Dublin in chapter tells the stories of some of her daughter who had traveled Stamford and how others settled in the individual Famine emigrants and across the ocean by herself. small towns and worked in mines and how they sowed the seeds of suc­ It tells of a Famine emigrant fam­ quarries and on farms in rural com· cess in America for their children and ily, the Kellys, who broke up their munities. grandchildren. home in New London and went off The book, which contains foot­ While the book traces the major - some to Boston, others to New notes and an index, is illustrated with causes and results of the Famine and York - after the mother of the fam­ almost , 00 sketches of fife in Con­ its impact here, it tries also to person­ ily died. necticut and Ireland during the' 840s alize and localize the tragedy by nar- It tells, too, of the heavy toll of and '850s. Page 4

Briefly noted Italian, Irishman in courtroom spat CONDOLENCES - We offer our heartfelt condolences to the family of the late James Dinnan, a member of our board of directors and a leader The proverbial American malting in the Irish community in New Haven. For many years, Jim was coordina­ pot was boiling in city court in Mid­ tor of the St. Patrick's Day parade in New Haven. dletown one day in 1896. The case before Judge Pearne in­ FAMILY HISTORY WORKSHOPS - The family history workshop on Oct. volved a charge brought by an Ital­ 25 at the Ethnic Heritage Center at Southern Connecticut State University ian railroad laborer against a con­ attracted approximately 50 persons representing the five ethnic history tractor. societies that comprise the center. More such workshops will be held in The Italian's name was not re· the future and will be announced in The Shanachie. Members of the Con­ vealed in a newspaper story about necticut Irish-American Historical Society are welcome to attend the the incident. but the contractor was workshops which focus on various aspects of genealogy. an Irishman named Fitzgerald. Rep­ resenting the Italian, attorney A.W. RAINBOW OF IRiSH TRADITIONS - Our society will sponsor the third Bacon castigated the contractor "as annual Rainbow of Irish Traditions at Quinnipiac College on March 18. an Irishman who was endeavoring The program will feature Irish cultural events. Please mark that date on to defraud some of his men." Bacon your calendar. would up his case by referring to Fitzgerald as a scoundrel. LOOKING FOR FAMILY HISTORIES - Several years ago, we printed in It so happened that another Mid· The Shanachie excerpts from family histories written by some of our dletown lawyer, and an Irishman to members. Such histories make excellent material for our newsletter be­ boot, J.J. Dempsey, happened to cause they provide valuable insights on the history of Irish people in Con­ be in the courtroom while Bacon necticut, and, hopefully, because they encourage other members to put was speaking, apparently awaiting down on paper some of the recollections about their families. We would the start of a case in which he was love to start the new year by printing some more such histories. Any representing a client. Dempsey lis­ member who has written a f.llmily history or has a copy of one written by tened to Bacon's tirade against another family member should get in touch with Jeanne Whalen or Neil Fitzgerald until he could stand it no Hogan so that that history can be shared with all our members. longer. "At this pOint," reported the Hart­ ford Courant, "Attorney Dempsey jumped to his feet and defended his Connecticut Irish-American Historical Society race, ~scorjng attorney Bacon P.O. Box 120-020 sharply, winding up by saying, 'You East Haven, Connecticut 06512 ought to be ashamed of your re­ marks, for all you ever had in the ·We have kept faith with the past; we h.ve handed e tradition to the future.· world came from the Irish.'" Padraic P.... "There was some commotion," added the newspaper, but the case President: Jeanne Roche Whalen. 58 Florence Ave., New Haven, 06512. Home was finally sent on to Superior 468-0426; office 392·6126. Court when questions were raised about the serving of the warrant. Vice Pres.: George W&ldron, 145 Corbin Road. Hamden 06517. (Source: Hartford Courant, March Secretary: Maureen Delahunt, 15 Brubahr Rd., Ch.shire 06410.272-7144 23, 1896.1 Treasurer: Tom Slater, 82 Deer Hitl Rd., Hamden 06518. 2484826. Editor's note: In recognition of the Shanachle Editor: Neil Hogan, 26 Creltvlew Ter., Wallingford 06492. 269-9154. bond between our historical society and the other societies in the Ethnic Membership:"O individual; .'5 family. Send name, address and check made out Heritage Center and to foster appre­ to CIAHS lit above address. ciation for a/l races and nationali­ ties, we print in each issue of The The Shanach'e: In Ireland. a shanachie II a f~klorilt, hiltorian and keeper of the tra­ Shanachie one story about another ditions of the people. ethnic group.