[UlsterAncestry] Pt. 11 Potato Blight 1846-49
The following articles are transcribed by Teena from the Banner of Ulster, Dublin Evening Mail, Dublin Mercantile Advertiser, Freeman's Journal, Northern Whig, and the Tyrone Constitution. (unless otherwise noted) 30 Dec. 1848 Dreadful Murder at Letterkenny it is with feelings of the deepest pain we record the fect that a most cold-blooded and determined murder was committed last night week, very early on Saturday morning last, in the town of Letterkenny. The victim was a protestant gentleman named Samuel DAVIS, surgeon, a native and resident of the town. Dr. DAVIS was an amiable and most benevolent man. His practice was confined principally to the middle and lower classes, and his services were frequently rendered gratuitously to the poor. His political opinions were of the class usually denominated liberal and he was esteemed a most popular man. The house of the deceased is in the public street and his hall door, where the deed of blood was committed, more exposed and under view from a greater number of points than any other in the entire town. It appears that the Doctor was absent from home during the whole of the day preceding his murder, (yesterday week) and he did not return till about midnight, before which hour 2 men called separately enquiring for him. On his way home, after visiting some of his patients it is supposed, he was met by 2 persons in the market square, who accompanied him to his house and obtained medicine from him. No suspicion of guilt whatever attaches to the 2 latter individuals. Having fastened the hall door, he was returning into the shop, when a double knock was heard, whereupon he went back to the door and reopened it and immediately after a shot was heard by Mrs. DAVIS and the servant, who were in the kitchen and on the latter going to the door, he found his master lying behind it, a lifeless corpse, but the assassin had fled. The wound which caused his death was on the upper part of the sternum or breast, to the left, where a large bullet and 6 slugs entered; the bullet passed through the body, coming out near the top of the left shoulder, behind, and completely lacerating some of the principal blood-vessels, causing instantaneous death. The police having been promptly apprised of the dreadful occurrence were immediately on the alert and scoured the neighbourhood in search of the assassin, but without success. At early hour in the morning that active and intelligent magistrate, John Vandeleur STEWART Esq., was on the spot, with his usual zeal and promptitude, investigating the matter, but nothing has yet transpired to throw light upon it. An inquest was likewise held on Saturday by Charles H. SWEENY Esq., coroner, assisted by John V. STEWART Esq. J.P., John CHAMBERS Esq. J.P., and William WRAY J.P. and a respectable jury and the details were thus stated; William M'LAUGHLIN, the servant, the principal witness examined - he deposed that he an occassional servant or caretaker about Dr. DAVIS'S house when he would be absent from it; he was sent for by Mrs. DAVIS on yesterday (Friday morning) to come to the house; the doctor was absent all day as it was the large Christmas market day of Letterkenny; about 9 o'clock in the evening, a man, tall and thin appearance, knocked at the door and when witness opened same he appeared not willing to come forward, but said he wanted the doctor to go to a sick call at the new mill; witness told him the doctor was not in; in about half an hour after another man, stouter in make and taller, came and told witness the same thing, when witneas said 'as you're in such a hurry about the doctor come in and see the mistress, and maybe she can tell you where to find him,' which the person refused to do. About 12 o'clock a voice was heard at the back door, saying, 'Mrs. O'DONNELL is dying of cramp in her stomach, and will not live fifteen minutes and is the doctor come?' Shortly afterwards the doctor came in, accompanied by, as witness believes, a man named James BIRNIE, carpenter, and his son, when, having made up some medicine for them, he let them out of the door, and was proceeding down the hall, witness having a view from the kitchen straight to the hall, being on the same flat, and in direct line, when a smart rap was heard and the doctor wheeled on his step and placed the candle down and went to the door; witness heard the bolt drawn, the door opened and about a minute from the doctor's touching the door he heard the report of a gun or pistol, upon which his mistress, who was in the kitchen at the time, said go up and see if the doctor is out after some of those foolish boys who fired to frighten him. Witness was unwilling and argued with the mistress for about 5 minutes, when he did go up and found the doctor dead; his weight in falling against the door having closed it again; he was shot through the breast, the bullet passed through his body and carried part of the chain of his watch which he wore round his neck with it and through a board
[UlsterAncestry] Part 2 & last of Famine Emigration to Grosse Isle
Not less than 15,000 of the children of Erin, flying from famine and landlord tyranny and stricken by fever, lie buried in Grosse Isle. From their own beloved isle These Irish exiles sleep, Nor dream they of historic past, Nor o'er its memories weep; Down where the blue St. Lawrence tide Sweeps onward, wave on wave, They lie - old Ireland's exiled dead, In cross-crowned lonely grave. Sleep on, oh, hearts of Erin, From earthly travail free! Our freighted sculls still greet you Beyond life's troubled sea; In every Irish heart and home, Where prayer and love abound, Is built an altar to your faith A cross above each mound. No more the patriots word will cheer Your humble toil and care No more your Irish heart will tell The beads of the evening prayer; The mirth that scoffed at direst want, Lies buried in your grave, Down where the blue St. Lawrence tide Sweeps onward, wave on wave. Oh, toilers in the harvest field, Who gather golden grain! Oh, pilgrims by the wayside, Who succor grief and pain! And ye, who knew that liberty Oft wields a shining blade, Pour forth your souls in requiem prayer Where Irish hearts are laid! Far from their own beloved land These Irish exiled sleep, Where dream not faith - crowned shamrock Nor iyies o'er them creep; But fragrant breath of maple Sweeps on with freedom's tide, And consecrates the lonely isle, Where Irish exiles died. poem from 22 Nov. 1888 Kilmore Free Press 17 June 1847 Great fears are entertained that sickness will be brought into the provinces by the number of emigrants who are expected to arrive during the summer. To a great degree the fears of the people of this country respecting the arrival of fever with the emigrants have been verified. All the ships which have arrived at the quarantine station at Grosse Isle, below Quebec, have lost a great number by death on the passage out and the hospital on the island, as well as the ships are crowded with sick. None of them have yet been allowed to come up to the city, but proper medical and other attendance has been sent down to them. (From the Montreal Transcript of May 27) The number of emigrants who had arrived at Quebec to the 27th May were 5546; To same period last year,5332; 25 sail of emigrant ships are at Grosse Isle. Caledonian Mercury 19 Jun 1847 All the ships which arrived at the quarantine station at Grosse Isle, below Quebec, lost a great number by death on the passage out, and the hospital on the island, as well as the ships, are crowded with sick. Accommodation has been provided there for 10,000 persons. Every building on the island that can be spared, including some new sheds just erected, were crowded with the sick. The dead are tumbled into a hole without coffins or anything else, but what they may have on when they die. We have heard of 220 deaths at sea; Seventy on board the vessel, 'the Cherokee'. Eighteen persons died in one night at the hospital at Grosse Isle. Boards of health have been established, and the most stringent measures of precaution adopted. (Limerick Chronicle) 21 Jun. 1847 Emigration to Quebec. Typhus Fever On the 20th ult. Mr. BUCHANAN, agent for emigrants, had advices that 40 vessels had sailed for Quebec, from Waterford, Sligo, Dublin, Londonderry, Belfast, New Ross, Limerick, Cork, Newry, and Liverpool having on board 12,300 passenges. A large number of emigrants by other ships had reached Quebec and one vessel, the 'Exmouth',* from Londonderry, had been shipwrecked. On the 23rd ult. 1,335 passengers reached Quebec by sea and 12 ships, chiefly from Ireland, with over 4,000 passengers, were at the quarantine ground below, where accommodations have been provided for 10,000 persons. The deaths on board the ships that have arrived are very numerous, Fifty died on board the 'Agnes', from Cork, 45 in the 'Wandsworth', 10 in the 'Jane Black', 20 in the 'George'. On the 23rd ult. 436 fever patients were in the Grosse Isle hospital, and the probability is that the number will augment daily. (* more on the Exmouth later) 26 June 1847 Reports from the quarantine station at Grosse Isle are unfavourable. There are 1,300 sick and about 13,000 in 40 vessels at the station. According to all accounts death and starvation are nearly as bad at Grosse Isle, as in Ireland. The number of orphans is now about 100. 30 Jun 1847 Wreck of an Emigrant Vessel, Dreadful Loss of Life the Quebec Gazette of June 11 says - ln a letter dated Cape Rosier, May 19th, which appeared in our paper Monday last, announcing the melancholy fate of the brig 'Carricks', R. THOMPSON master, from Sligo, which was lost near that place with all her passengers except 48, and one boy belonging her crew, the number of passengers was stated to be 167; so that 119 of them would appear to have perished, and, with the boy, in all 120 persons. In looking over a file of Irish papers received last mail, we have met with an extract from a Sligo paper, according to which the number drowned, including the boy, would be 129,
[UlsterAncestry] 'Family Search' Northern Ireland history & heritage
For those who may not know, "FamilySearch" is currently the name of the old, LDS (Latter Day Saints) web-site. They are the largest genealogical library in the world, and host a number of events, in Salt lake City Utah, and elsewhere. One of their largest events, is called 'RootsTech'. History and Heritage of Northern Ireland https://bit.ly/2UFS5KN Family History Activities In-Home and online activities designed for the whole family. -including their *free* Family Tree Program https://www.familysearch.org/discovery/ Teena -- www.cotyrone.com http://lists.cotyrone.com/mailman/listinfo/ulsterancestry https://www.facebook.com/groups/CoTyroneIrelandGenealogy/ ___ UlsterAncestry@cotyrone.com UlsterAncestry Mailing List Searchable Archives: https://www.mail-archive.com/ulsterancestry@cotyrone.com/ http://lists.cotyrone.com/mailman/listinfo/ulsterancestry Website: https://cotyrone.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/CoTyroneIrelandGenealogy/
[UlsterAncestry] Suggestions while in self isolation
Hello All 'Who Do You Think You Are' magazine has put together 8 family history activities while you seclude yourselves. 1. Write your memoirs 2. Record family memories 3. Start your research online (haven't we all?) 4. Review your research 5. Connect with other genealogists (post to the list!) 6. Help transcribe records (please let me know if you'd like to help in this way) 7. Start an online course 8. subscribe ( for monthly access to records?) http://www.whodoyouthinkyouaremagazine.com/news/coronavirus-8-family-history-activities-do-home All the best Teena -- www.cotyrone.com http://lists.cotyrone.com/mailman/listinfo/ulsterancestry https://www.facebook.com/groups/CoTyroneIrelandGenealogy/ ___ UlsterAncestry@cotyrone.com UlsterAncestry Mailing List Searchable Archives: https://www.mail-archive.com/ulsterancestry@cotyrone.com/ http://lists.cotyrone.com/mailman/listinfo/ulsterancestry Website: https://cotyrone.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/CoTyroneIrelandGenealogy/