Connecticut Irish-American Historical Society
2011 Vol. XXIII, No. 1 www.CTIAHS.com
Civil War 150th Anniversary
Sentry at St. Bernard’s stands watch over resting place of Irish comrades
he graves of Connecticut Irish- than 300 Civil War veterans are buried T American patriots can be found at there. Civil War battlefields from Bull Run, Va., Ironically, the monument was dedi- to New Orleans, La., and from Antietam, cated on the very same day, Oct. 28, 1886, Md., to Gettysburg, Pa. But in New Ha- that another great memorial of Irish- ven, Ct., there is an almost forgotten American immigration, the Statue of Lib- cemetery, St. Bernard’s, in which there erty, was dedicated in New York harbor. probably are more Connecticut Irish sol- Later this summer, our CIAHS will diers from that war interred than any in sponsor a special memorial program at St. any other single place. Bernard’s Cemetery as part of the state- So many, in fact, that in 1886 the state wide and nationwide observance of the of Connecticut appropriated $3,000 for 150th anniversary of the Civil War, which construction of a monument to their mem- began with the attack on Fort Sumter in ory. Lists published at that time, 20 years Charleston, S.C., harbor in April 1861. after the war, indicated that by then, well The 1886 dedication of the monument before the passing of the Civil War gen- at St. Bernard’s — pronounced with the eration, more than 150 Civil War veterans accent on the second syllable by New had been interred there. Haveners — was virtually a civic holiday Recent research indicates that more (Please turn to page 5)
CCSU to host April 16-17 events
onnecticut’s Irish Ninth Connecticut Volunteers Committee C will be well repre- are planning activities that will memorial- sented in the numerous ize the role the state’s Irish immigrants events that are being played in one of the most important and planned this year to tragic eras in American history. commemorate the 150th The state coordinator of the Connecti- anniversary of the beginning of the Civil cut Civil War Commemoration Committee War. Historical societies, libraries, schools is Matthew Warshauer, Ph.D., professor of and other organizations throughout the history at Central Connecticut State Uni- In 1886, the state of Connecticut provided $3,000 state are collaborating to ensure that the versity, and author of a just published for a monument in St. Bernard’s Cemetery in history of the war and the sacrifices of history of the war, Connecticut in the New Haven to honor the many Civil War veter- Americans in that era are remembered. American Civil War: Slavery, Sacrifice ans buried there. This statue of a color-bearer The Irish-American Historical Society, and Survival. stands atop the 32-foot granite pillar in the the Irish History Round Table and the (Please turn to page 4) cemetery located on Ella Grasso Boulevard. Page 2
Sacred Heart University to scan CTIAHS book and newsletters
Sacred Heart University in for family history researchers Fairfield has agreed to scan for and a collection of documents from and about Northern Ireland its online collections some his- tory resources produced by the during the Troubles there in the Connecticut Irish-American late 20th century. Historical Society. Still another project for the
The CTIAHS has provided future is to create and post the university with a set of 20 online picture and text exhibits about Irish people and places in years of The Shanachie, our newsletter and journal of Con- Connecticut. One online exhibit necticut Irish history, and a copy might be a study of Irish popula- of our book The Cry of the Fam- tion in the state over the centu- ishing. ries. Another might be on the achievements of Connecticut’s Church Street had a new name-for-a-day for the annual St. Pat- The book is a 200-page study Irish women. of the impact on Connecticut of rick’s Day parade in New Haven in March. The person honored the Great Hunger in Ireland in These exhibits might be was the late Tom Slater. Tom was a mover and a shaker of the the late 1840s. It includes chap- placed on our current website or parade. He was grand marshal of the parade and for many years ters about the influx of Irish on a website specifically de- recruited the marching units. One of his major achievements was immigrants to Connecticut dur- signed by the CTIAHS to trace having the New Haven parade, which began in 1842, memorial- ing the famine and the religious, the history of the Irish in our ized in the Library of Congress as a local heritage project. Tom political, economic and social state. also was treasurer of the Connecticut Irish-American Historical aspects of their putting down The Sacred Heart project Society for many years. roots in Connecticut. comes at a time when that uni- The university will photo- versity is expanding its own CTIAHS to meet on April 30 copy the CTIAHS material and Irish Studies program. add it to other materials avail- Beginning in the 2011-12 Members are invited to attend a general membership able online through its library. academic year, Sacred Heart meeting of the CTIAHS at 10 a.m. on Saturday, April 30, at Hopefully, the cooperative pro- will offer a minor in Irish Stud- the Ethnic Heritage Center, Fitch St., New Haven, on the ject with Sacred Heart will make ies. campus of Southern Connecticut State University. Items on the agenda include: our materials more available and The minor will be coordi- lead to more interest in research nated with Sacred Heart’s al- Discussion of genealogy workshops. on the history of Irish people in ready functioning Center for Scanning of Shanachie newsletters by the library of Connecticut. Irish Cultural Studies in Dingle, The venture is the first of County Kerry. The minor will Sacred Heart University in Fairfield. what will be a series of steps to require at least three credits to Work on new sketches for a logo for the CTIAHS. use new technology to make it be earned at the center. Election of officers. easier for researchers in the field Students will enroll either in Plans for a breakfast meeting. of Irish-American studies to do a two-week or semester-long research on the materials we stay in Dingle. History of St. Patrick’s Day parade. have been collecting for more than 20 years. Other core requirements for Planning of a ceremony at St. Bernard’s Cemetery in the 18-credit, six-course, minor New Haven this summer in commemoration of the A second objective will be to are a foundation course in Celtic begin digitalizing on our own and Irish history and at least one 150th anniversary of the beginning of the Civil War website the materials within our course each in religious studies in 1861. collection. and Irish literature. Courses will We have in our library, for also be offered in the areas of Plans for honoring the memory of Tom Slater, long- example, an important collection anthropology, media studies, time treasurer of CTIAHS. of New Haven public school Irish music and political science records that would be valuable on a two-year cycle. Page 3 A long story, a tall tale or a bit of both? How Callahan ended up with Old Hickory’s cane
s there a walking stick fash- taining to the great con- Jackson went by boat and I ioned from a piece of hick- stituency — the thou- stagecoach to Philadelphia, ory tucked away in an attic or sands of readers of the New York, New Haven, cellar of a Connecticut descen- Register — whose most Hartford, New London, dant of the great Callahan clan? humble servant I am Providence, Boston and If a story printed in the New proud to be.‖ several other Massachu- Haven Register on April 22, With such an appeal, setts towns. Originally he 1881, can be trusted, there may Callahan could hardly planned to stop in Ports- well be. The author of the tale refuse to relate the story mouth, N.H., and other was a Register reporter. Stroll- of the cane. It came to northern New England ing near New Haven harbor New Haven on a visit to cities, but illness curtailed looking for a story to fill the the city of the president those plans. next day’s issue, the reporter known as ―Old Hick- Callahan said he recalled came across an old gentleman ory.‖ In fact, he ex- the visit to New Haven in looking at his cane. plained, President An- mid-June: ―I remember Approaching the man, the drew Jackson actually some of the incidents of young reporter struck up a con- was given that nickname the occasion as though versation and soon learned that because wherever he they had occurred but the owner of the cane was James went his old hickory yesterday. I can see with Callahan, a resident of Goffe cane went with him. my mind’s eye, the old Street. Jackson’s visit hero as he rode through the That much of the story can Callahan said the streets seated in a carriage be validated for the 1880 U.S. president was using the with Squire William Ellis Census returns do show James cane when he visited and other leading citizens, Callahan, age 69, living on New Haven many years with this very hickory Goffe Street with his wife Mary, before. ―I was scarcely stick planted between his age 54, and a son, John, 40. more than a lad myself,‖ legs and his hands clasped Both James and Mary were said the old man. Born over the top of it.‖ natives of Ireland, while John in Ireland between 1811 A grateful president was born in Connecticut. John, a and 1815, Callahan house painter, was the bread- According to Callahan, worked as a carman, or winner in the house for Mary Jackson was very grateful carriage driver, after was ―keeping house,‖ and James Andrew Jackson’s parents emigrated from for the hospitality shown arriving in New Haven. gave ―no occupation‖ with the Carrickfergus, County Antrim and settled in him by Squire Ellis, who He would have been explanation that he had Tennessee. He was known as “Old Hickory,” was for a time U.S. cus- about 22 when President ―rheumatism.‖ some say from his toughness; others, from toms collector at the Port Jackson visited New ―That seems to be a re- the walking stick, above, made of old hickory of New Haven. Ellis was a Haven in June 1833. markable cane you have there,‖ that he carried and used. One report has it great admirer of the presi- The president’s visit commented the reporter. that the walking stick ended up in New Haven dent and even named his was part of a tour ―What makes you say that?‖ in the hands of James Callahan, a retired son Andrew Jackson Ellis. through the Middle At- asked the old gentleman. cabman. Does anyone know where the old When his visit to New lantic and New England hickory walking stick is today? (Picture from Haven ended, Jackson told Looking to entertain readers states. It came a few Life and Public Services of Gen. Andrew Jackson, Ellis that any gift he re- ―Well, I judged partly from months after his re- edited by John S. Jenkins, Buffalo, 1852.) quested would be given. the look of the cane itself, and election for a second When Ellis asked for his partly from the affectionate way term. In visiting New native, John Q. Adams. In 1832, walking stick, Jackson hesitated in which I thought you seemed England, he was in territory Jackson did a little better in but eventually replied, ―Take it to gaze upon it from time to where he was not very popular. Connecticut: 11,269 votes for my friend and may it be as ser- time … I have a sort of instinc- In 1828, Connecticut voters him and 17,755 for Henry Clay. viceable to you as it has been to tive conviction that the biogra- gave him only 4,448 votes as Beginning in early June, (Continued on page 6) phy of that stick would be enter- against 13,829 for New England Page 4 Civil War 150th Anniversary
Many events will commemorate beginning of Civil War
(Continued from page 1) Committee will feature displays Since 2008, Warshauer has about the state’s Irish participa- marshaled more than 70 organi- Irish Participation tion in the war. zations to take part in the 2011- In the CCSU Chen Art Gal- 2015 sesquicentennial of the he Irish History Round Table, lery, a lithograph and envelope war. T the Irish-American Historical display. The website for the sesqui- Society and the Ninth Connecticut In the CCSU Elihu Burritt centennial is part of the overall Volunteers Committee are planning a Library, Civil War Exhibit. Central Connecticut website — number of activities to commemorate Sunday, April 17 www.ccsu.edu/civilwar. the service of Connecticut’s Irish in The website is an encyclope- the Civil War. All three groups will 9 a.m. — Worship service in dia of information about the have tables at the opening weekend Stanley Quarter Park. commemoration. It lists all the of the sesquicentennial at CCSU on All day — Camp life at collaborating organizations, April 16-17. Stanley Quarter Park; organiza- upcoming events, speakers who At the Round Table monthly meeting tions’ exhibits in CCSU Student are available on various topics on Tuesday, April 19, the speaker will be Ryan Keating of Union. having to do with the Civil War Fordham University. Keating is working on a doctoral degree. All day — Exhibits open in anniversary, etc. The topic of his dissertation is the history of several lesser- Chen Art Gallery and Elihu known Irish regiments in the war, one of which is the Ninth Burritt Library. Opening events Connecticut Volunteers. The meeting is at 7:30 p.m. at the 10 to 11:30 a.m. — Vintage Statewide, the events will Knights of St. Patrick on State Street in New Haven, and open Civil War era baseball game in begin on Tuesday, April 12, at 8 to the public with no charge. During the sesquicentennial, the Stanley Quarter Park. a.m. at the State Capitol in Hart- Round Table will have other talks on Civil War topics. 1 p.m.— Battle re-enactment ford with a commemorative In mid-summer, a wreath-laying ceremony is being planned in Stanley Quarter Park. firing of cannons to mark the St. Bernard’s Cemetery in New Haven, the resting place of 2 to 4 p.m.—Talks on Civil 150th anniversary of the Con- more than 300 Civil War veterans, most of them Irish. The date War topics in CCSU Student federate attack on Fort Sumter will be announced shortly. In addition to the wreath-laying, Union. in Charleston, S.C., harbor. guided tours will be provided to point out many of the veterans’ April, May events Gov. Dannel Malloy has been grave sites. At some point during the sesquicentennial, an effort invited to deliver the opening will be made to provide information online about on as many Several events will continue remarks. Connecticut Irish soldiers who served in the Civil War as can in May: An exhibit, Darien’s On Saturday and Sunday, be catalogued. Boys in Blue: The Civil War and April 16-17, there will be a Also due in mid-summer is publication of a book titled: Fitch’s Home for Soldiers, at weekend of commemorative Strong in their patriotic devotion: Connecticut’s Irish in the the Darien Historical Society. events on the campus of Central Civil War. The book will be an expanded version of a booklet And, an exhibit, Winslow Connecticut State University. published several years ago by the Irish-American Historical Homer and the American Civil Society. It will feature stories about the Ninth Connecticut Vol- War, at the New Britain Mu- Saturday, April 16 unteers, a regiment comprised mostly of Irish soldiers, and seum of American Art. 10 a.m. — Events begin with about the many other Connecticut Irishmen who served in a Other events will appear on Civil War re-enactors, Gover- number of other Connecticut regiments and in regiments raised the website as they are sched- nor’s Foot Guard and National in New York, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and other states. uled. Guard units leading a salute to Curriculum project the flag with the playing of the camp life and sutlers hawking state organizations will display One long-range goal of the national anthem and a 21-gun merchandise. exhibits of Civil War items, commemoration committee is salute. 2:30 p.m. — Re-enactment video shows and schedules of the creation of a storehouse of All day — Re-enactment of a Civil War battle in Stanley their upcoming Civil War Civil War projects that can be encampment at Stanley Quarter Quarter Park. events. The Irish-American used by teachers in schools Park adjacent to the CCSU cam- All day — In the exhibit hall Historical Society, the Round throughout the state. pus with sights and smells of in the Student Union, dozens of Table and the Ninth Volunteers Page 5 St. Bernard’s is resting place of many Irish Civil War vets
(Continued from page 1) Caril’s Opera House where in the city. Schools were ―the immense building was closed, and many factories and soon thronged to excess, every stores shut down for the parade seat in every part being occu- of veterans and dignitaries and pied …‖ for the ceremonies at the ceme- Gov. Harrison was intro- tery, and ―dense throngs lined duced and spoke on the unique Chapel and Church streets‖ nature of the monument. He downtown where the parade said, ―This monument was stepped off. erected by the state itself, and At 2:30 p.m. the marchers, in that respect standing con- led by the 24-member Second spicuously alone among the Regiment Band, proceeded monuments which commemo- from the Green to Congress rate the deeds of our heroes Avenue, Howard Avenue, Co- who died in the service of the lumbus Avenue and Hedge Among the many Civil War veterans’ gravestones in St. Ber- Union during the war of the Street to the cemetery. nard’s Cemetery in New Haven is the above marker of Medal rebellion.‖ Despite chilly weather, of Honor recipient James T. Murphy. An artilleryman, Murphy ―It is right that the memory cloudy skies, muddy streets and was honored with the medal for his bravery in manning a can- of those men should be honored mist, a crowd estimated at non singlehandedly during the Union Siege of Petersburg, Va., by this high and solitary dis- 5,000 gathered to witness the in 1865. tinction,‖ the governor contin- dedication of the monument ued. ―They were not bound to that stood amidst the graves of monument read, ―Erected by General Hospital and are buried the State or the Nation by the soldiers and some of New Ha- the State of Connecticut In there. ties of birth. They did not die in ven’s early Irish settlers. Grateful Commemoration of Monument presented defense of the homes or the Governor attended Those who Died that the Nation Plunkett then formally pre- graves of their ancestors. They Might Live.‖ had come across the sea from a Marchers and spectators sented the monument to the St. On the sides were chiseled distant land. In that case, there- gathered in a hollow square Bernard’s Cemetery Associa- an anchor and rope represent- fore, some of the strongest around the monument. Digni- tion. Father Russell, pastor of ing the Navy, crossed-cannons motives of sentiment which taries, among them Connecticut St. Patrick’s Church, accepted representing the Army, and a impel men to extreme efforts of Gov. Harrison and the noted the monument for the associa- wreath of olive and oak leaves patriotic energy and zeal did speaker, Father Edward tion. ―The gift,‖ said the priest, representing strength and not exist. McGlynn of New York City, ―will ever remind all our people peace. The statue atop the ―But they were not merce- were escorted to a grandstand that the State of Connecticut monument was of a Civil War naries. Neither did they fight erected for the occasion. holds in reverence the memory volunteer in full army cam- for glory in the present or fame A tattered battle flag from of those who fell defending the paign dress, the soldier’s left in the future. the war draped the statue of a freedom of this great country, hand holding the American ―They sacrificed themselves soldier that stood atop the 32- forever united and indivisible. flag. deliberately, not for their native foot-tall granite pillar. Many a tear was shed and heart After the playing of the broken for the loss of dear land, but for the love of the The pillar rose from three great republic and in intelligent seven-foot-square bases form- National Anthem, the crowd friends who went forth to battle was welcomed by former state and never returned; but today devotion to the great ideas, ing the foundation steps of the which among all nations of the monument. Sen. Joseph D. Plunkett, chair- we rejoice when we know they man of the monument commit- shed their blood in behalf of a earth the republic pre- On the front of the monu- eminently represents.‖ ment was engraved Connecti- tee. Plunkett credited the three generous country and that this Sources: New Haven Register, cut’s coat of arms and motto, Grand Army of the Republic monument is raised over their March 2, May 20, 27, June 14, 22, and a cross, ―the emblem of posts in New Haven for acquir- sacred ashes by loving com- Oct. 28, 29, 1866. New Haven faith that animated those whose ing the plot of ground in the rades and friends.‖ Morning News, Oct. 28, 1886. St. graves nestle thickly in St. cemetery for the monument in Because the late afternoon Bernard’s transcriptions, Bernard’s,‖ commented the memory to the Irish soldiers mist had turned to a steady web.mac.com/jlmaher. Journal and Courier. and those Civil War soldiers drizzle, the ceremony was ad-
The inscription on the who had perished in Knight’s journed from cemetery to Page 6
Stamford students use CTIAHS library for prize-winning project
n audio-visual documentary on Irish- They also visited the An Gorta Mor famine A American history produced by two eighth collection at the Quinnipiac University Li- -grade students at Turn of the River Middle brary, the American Irish Historical Society, School in Stamford won first place in the re- Castle Garden and the Irish Hunger Memo- gional State History Day Competition on March rial, all in New York City, the Stamford His- 26. torical Society, and Christ Church in Phila- The students, Julia Zimmerman and Bridget delphia. Smith, will compete on April 30 in Hartford for The topic of this year’s National History all-Connecticut honors in the annual competi- Day project is ―Debate and Diplomacy: Suc- tion. cesses, Failures and Consequences.‖ Bridget Julia and Bridget chose our Connecticut and Julia focused their presentation on the Irish-American Historical Society library at the debate of whether immigrants should have Ethnic Heritage Center in New Haven as one of the same rights as natives. They used the the archives to visit while researching their experience of the huge numbers of topic: ―The Irish in America: Discrimination Irish immigrants who came to the United and Triumph.‖ States during the famine era, and the dis- Julia Zimmerman, left, and Bridget They visited our library twice to interview crimination they faced. Bridget said she was Smith set up their camera to do an our staff, and they used our 1998 book, Cry of personally interested because her great- audio-visual interview at the Con- the Famishing: Ireland, Connecticut and the grandparents were Irish immigrants. necticut Irish-American Historical Potato Famine, as one of the publications they Their teachers Heather Lorenz and Thomas Society library. studied during their research. Johnston were advisers for the project.
Did Connecticut Irishman have a cane used by Andrew Jackson?
(Continued from page 3) and served until the war ended. could have led to a friendship Callahan got to enjoy the me.‖ Ellis cherished the cane Callahan explained that he between the Navy officer and presidential walking stick only until his death when he be- was a good friend of Gregory: Callahan was that Gregory had briefly, for he died at the age of queathed it to an old friend, ―The commodore and myself married the daughter of an 74 in January 1884. His funeral ―Commodore‖ Gregory. The had been … boys together and Irishman, another Navy officer, at St. Mary’s Church was re- ―commodore‖ was Francis H. on one occasion, after I had John Shaw, who was born in portedly largely attended. He Gregory, a U.S. Navy officer, done him what he considered a Mountmellick, County Laois. left his second wife, and six who for at least part of his life, particular service, he presented The presidential cane made children: John, Andrew and lived with his family in New the cane to me. Were I to tell its way to the Callahan clan of David all of New Haven; Mrs. Haven. you the circumstances which Connecticut before 1866 when William Starkey of Chicago, Born in Norwalk in 1789 to led to this gift, they would Gregory died in Brooklyn, Mrs. William Hyland and Mrs. a family that settled in Massa- occupy too much space. Proba- N.Y., at the age of 76. John J. Cox of New Haven. He chusetts in colonial times, bly what I have already told Callahan allowed the Regis- was buried in St. Bernard’s Gregory joined the Navy in you will suffice for your pur- ter reporter to inspect the cane Cemetery. 1809 and fought in the War of pose.‖ more closely. ―It was,‖ wrote Sources: New Haven Evening 1812 in battles on Lake On- Callahan’s reference to a the journalist, ―one of those old Register, April 22, 1881. 1860 and service he had rendered the -fashioned plain hickory tario. Captured in 1814, he was 1880 U.S. Census, New Haven, for a prisoner in Dartmoor Prison naval officer is intriguing. With sprouts, with the bark left on, James Callahan. New Haven Reg- in England for 18 months. Gregory born in 1789 and Cal- with multitudinous knobs, ister, Jan. 25, 1884, James Calla- After serving in the Mexican lahan, in 1811-1815, the two diversifying its corrugated han obituary. New London Gazette, War and as commander of the obviously did not grow up as surface, and with a knobbed June 19, 1833. New York Specta- Navy’s African Squadron, he ―boys together.‖ However, they head — an unpretentious and tor, June 27, 1833. Boston Courier, retired and settled in New Ha- may have become acquainted democratic sort of stick, truly, July 1, 1833. American Sentinel, ven in the 1850s. through Callahan’s work as a but solid to the core, even as June 19, 1833. Hartford Courant, In 1861, he came out of carriage driver. Or, Callahan was the rugged and unbending June 17, 1833. History of Andrew retirement to oversee construc- perhaps served in the Navy on patriotism of the grand old man Jackson, by Augustus C. Buell, Vol. tion of Civil War ships. He was one of Gregory’s ships. whose companion and support I, 1904. commissioned a rear admiral, One circumstance that it once had been.‖ Page 7 Bridgeport fruit dealer had roots in Georgia Meticulous census taker helped solve genealogy mystery
by Paul Keroack in Savannah. Living with them peak immigration years be- 1862 or after December 1864 n tracing the ancestry of were two men, Brian Bagley, tween 1840 and 1852, were due to the wartime blockade I most 19th century Irish 28, laborer, born in Catholic. imposed by Union forces. In immigrants, finding the place ―Westmade‖ Ireland and They worked primarily in Ireland the family lived in the —- even the county — of their James Kellum, 40, laborer, lumbering, warehousing and area of Jenkinstown, in the birth in Ireland can be a diffi- born Queens County, Ireland. loading cargo vessels with Monalvey Catholic parish, cult barrier to research. County Meath. Clues to Irish origins may be When Thomas was 19, he found in cemeteries, church returned to the states at the records, membership rolls, invitation of his uncle John, a among other sources — though resident of New Jersey. seldom in the federal census. In the 1880 census taken on Thomas J. Garry spent a June 18, he was residing in little more than 20 years in Castle Garden, N.Y., with Connecticut before relocating hundreds of other newly ar- to New York State, but while rived immigrants. living here he married, raised a By the mid-1880s he was family and honed skills which living in Bridgeport, Connecti- culminated in a solid, entrepre- cut. Why he settled there is not neurial career. known. There was an earlier immigrant Thomas Garry who Born in Georgia died in Bridgeport in 1880, but While researching another his gravestone shows he was a Irish emigrant family in native of County Westmeath, Bridgeport with whom he was so it is doubtful that he was associated, I was intrigued to related to the younger Thomas. note that in every written re- The 1884 directory displays Once I saw ―Westmade‖ I cord Thomas Garry gave his cotton to be shipped from the an ad for ―T.J. Garry & Co., realized that it referred to place of birth as Georgia and port. According to the Diocese wholesale dealer in foreign Westmeath County and sometimes more specifically as of Savannah, Thomas Joseph fruits – bananas a specialty.‖ ―Made‖ was, of course, Meath Savannah. It was also clear Garry was born on Oct. 3, Bananas were still exotic in the County. that his parents were from 1861, son of Patrick Garry and United States so it is not sur- The handwriting on the Ireland, immigrants within a Margaret Conrey, and baptized prising that the firm did not page was perfect, so any ambi- decade before his birth. at the cathedral on Oct. 9. The succeed. guity in the names was likely Since he was born in 1861 parents were a minority among Waterfront businesses due to emigrants’ pronuncia- he would not be recorded in the Irish in not hailing from He was then employed in tion of the place names. The the census of 1860, but I Wexford, Cork, Mayo, Tippe- various fish markets which census taker, Charles J. White, thought it worth a look in case rary, Cavan or Kerry. operated along Bridgeport’s was meticulous in transcribing his parents were already resi- A 10-year-old entry on an waterfront. From about 1894 the counties or cities of birth of dent in that city. Internet genealogy message to 1906 he operated a fish all residents even though not On the census register page board filled in the early life of market at 24 (later 100) Wall obliged to do so. dated June 14, 1860, for Sa- Thomas J. Garry. According to St. in partnership with Charles vannah, Chatham County, was The Irish community in this account, his mother died J. Gallen under the name of recorded Patrick Garry, age 26, Savannah comprised over 19 as a result of childbirth and ―Garry and Gallen.‖ laborer, born in ―Made‖ Ire- percent of the almost 14,000 Thomas was sent back to Ire- The latter was a nephew of land, along with his wife Mar- free white persons in Georgia’s land to be raised by relatives. Michael Carey who had oper- then largest city. There were garet, age 28, grocer, born in County Meath roots ated a fish market at the same Roscommon, Ireland. also 700 free blacks and an- location for a number of years The voyage would have They had a son John, age other 7,000 in slavery. Most until his death in 1882. Irish who arrived between the had to take place before April seven years, six months, born (Please turn to page 8) Page 8
Life took Irishman from Savannah to Bridgeport to Albany
(Continued from page 7) Albany, N.Y., where he oper- Sources: 1860 U.S. Census, Geor- Keroack, in Connecticut Ancestry, gia, Chatham Co, Savannah, Dis- Vol. 52, No. 4 (May 2010), p. 171. The partners likely met ated a restaurant and was later a trict 1. M653, roll 115, p. 19. Sa- Bridgeport, CT. Registrar of Vital while both worked in W.D. fish broker/wholesaler. Appar- vannah Irish, sullivansin- Records. Marriages, 1871-1905. Cook & Sons’ fish market in the ently a successful businessman, merica.blogspot.com/2009/10/ Thomas J. Garry, p. 400. FHL early ’90s. most of his seven children later savannah-georgias-best-kept- microfilm 1428470. “Industrial secret.html. Diocese of Savannah. growth attracted Irish families to Thomas J. Garry was mar- became professionally em- Diocesan Archives. Record of bap- Bridgeport in 1830s,” Paul ried on Jan. 19, 1891, to Kate ployed, with careers in insur- tism for Thomas Joseph Garry. Keroack, in Shanachie Vol. 21, No. Farrell, a Bridgeport native. ance, teaching and stenography.
The Shanachie
President George Waldron “We have kept faith
Vice President Vincent McMahon Published quarterly by the with the past; Connecticut Irish-American Secretary Maureen Delahunt Historical Society we have handed Treasurer Mary McMahon P.O. Box 185833 a tradition Hamden, CT 06518 Shanachie Editor Neil Hogan, (203) 269-9154 (203) 392-6126 to the future.” Membership $10 individual, $15 family. Send name address and check made out to CIAHS to address at left. — Padraic Pearse
Connecticut Irish-American Historical Society P.O. Box 185833 Hamden, CT 06518