24 Apr. 1847 Famine and pestilence A correspondent in Ballyjamesduff, county Cavan, from whom we recently received a communication, writes again to say "in my last letter I gave you a cheering account of the cultivation of the land in this district. I have now to turn to the dark side of the picture and describe (if language can give any adequate idea) the deplorable condition of the inhabitants. Some notion of the fearful extent of destitution may be conveyed by stating that 3,000 destitute labourers were employed for the last 3 months in this district. Within the last fortnight 2,400 of that number have been thrown out of employment. 500 of them by the reduction of 20 percent and the remainder, 1,900, by the suspension of work, the money being exhausted. The consequence of this state of things is dreadful; coffins, funerals and ghastly spectres are to be seen on every side. The patience of the sufferers seems to be worn out."
The following deplorable case occurred in the county of Down "In one of my previous journeys" (writes the reporter of the Banner of Ulster) through this county I mentioned Shane-hill and the neighbourhood as presenting features of intense distress, but I then had no conception that I would have to investigate a case, the actual horrors of which rival the worst details connected with Skibbereen or Schell. In the townland of Ballydugan (Co. Down) there resided a man named Thomas M'MURRAY and his family, consisting of a wife, a daughter, and two sons. They had been weavers but, like many others, want came to the door, dysentery followed semi-starvation, and the climax was fever. At the time when the last of the family, who had previously borne up, felt compelled to bend to the stroke of illness, there was but one pallet for the entire five. They lingered on for days as they best could until, on Sabbath fortnight, the father died among his family. For 5 days the corpse lay among its living children and although application was made, in the interim to the workhouse for a shell, that favour was refused. Since then, on Monday se'nnight, the mother and daughter were buried together and on Friday the 2 sons were interred in the same grave, one of them having lain dead from the morning of the previous Tuesday. The workhouse of the union at present contains only about 600 inmates and for some weeks past no additional admissions have been allowed, or this family and the deplorable spectacle I have mentioned, might have never been placed on record." Every succeeding day the demon famine is assuming a more hideous, a more awful aspect, stalking abroad with a giant's stride, and like the destroying angel of old, laying all waste before him. Those who confine themselves to the towns, and whose observation in this way must consequently be limited, can scarcely give any credence to the frightful statements in the newspapers. They deduce their conclusions from what they see in the narrow circle around them. Those may talk gravely about "exaggeration" and value themselves on not being so credulous forsooth as to believe the tales of misery they read and hear, but if they would go into the country, or even into the lanes and obscure places of the towns they live in, they would require no more evidence as to the truthfulness of the picture. Those ideas have been suggested to us by scenes which we have witnessed through the country and in some of the country towns, during the last week. Whether we direct our mind's eye to what we saw and heard at Belturbet, Newtownbutler, or Rosslea, our feelings are equally shocked at the contemplation. In each, the mortality is dreadful and the victims are carried off by various agencies. Some are dying of inanition and its consequent debility; others of dysentery and others of fever &c., but starvation is the primary cause. The Rev. John LESLIE has been doing invaluable good on his Kineraigie estate, county Donegal, through his nephew, J. BEERS Esq., who constantly resides on the property and is indefatigable in his exertions to improve the condition of the tenants and relieve the distressed. Three hundred pounds worth of seed oats has been divided among the smaller landholders, to be repaid in small installments; and all classes of tenants supplied (gratuitously) with turnip, parsnip and mangel wurzul and other garden seeds, with printed instructions for cultivating them and premiums are to be given for the largest and best cultivated green crops, according to the size of their farms. In addition to the foregoing, a very large reduction has been made in the year's rent and encouragement given to emigrate; and the sum of £60 to assist the working classes and cottiers, all whom are now very extensively employed in draining on the estate. During the last week we have been through the rural districts of a considerable portion of this county (Fermanagh) and having minutely examined the various crops, together with having collected all the information in our power from intelligent farmers, we are enabled to say that upon the whole the prospect is, so far as can be judged at this period of the season, rather cheering. The wheat crop is in general looking healthy and luxuriant, but in wet, swampy lands it presents a very languid appearance, but it is expected that when the sunny weather begins to prevail and the superabundant moisture is exhaled, even this sickly portion of it will become prolific and good. The appearance of the oat crop was never more excellent. In many parts, where it was sown in proper time, the grass-corn is actually covering the earth and at a distance appears ranker and even more vigorous in the blade, than the wheat. In a word, the farmers, so far as we have been enabled to inquire, are almost unanimous in the opinion that oats had not, during any of the preceding years, promised so well in the month of April. The bere crop appears incomparably the worst of any we have seen and what is an infallible indication of its badness, the farmers are in general complaining of it. The people are planting potatoes much more generally and upon a far more extensive scale than the most sanguine had expected. Strange and almost incredible as it may appear, there are numbers who have been in a state of destitution bordering upon starvation, during the greater part of the year, who are now sowing the potatoes they had hoarded up for the purpose. Such is the great tenacity with which the peasantry endeavour to preserve that once valuable esculent. We regret to say that the hopes entertained in the country as to the future growth of the potato are and with too much reason, mingled with serious fears. In many farms the disease seems to have commenced its ravages. In various instances the stems, after they appear above the surface, begin to assume a sickly appearance and on examination are found black at the lower extremity and presenting strong symptoms of decay. Emigration The tide of emigration from this county (Armagh) not only continues, but appears to increase and, as in other parts, is made up of the flower of the people, the sober and the industrious. Since the commencement of the season up to Friday, fourteen vessels have sailed from Belfast for America with emigrants. Of this number, ten sailed for the United States, taking with them 1,551 passengers and four for Canada, with 976 passengers. immigration into Liverpool As the immigration into Liverpool of the population of Ireland is becoming increasingly interesting to those ratepayers who are burthened with their support and to the country at large, whose charity is taxed with their habits of mendicity, we have considered it our duty to endeavour to arrive at as correct statistical details as is possible of the number which have reached our shores during the present year and the proportion, of which, we have been relieved by their subsequent emigration to the United States and Canada; Arrivals from 13th to end of January - 16,686 estimate from commencement to 13th Jan. - 8,000 arrivals in February - 27,548 March - 50,102 Apr. 1st - 1,088 Apr. 2nd - 2,070 Apr. 3rd - 860 Apr. 4th - 3,804 Apr. 5th - 620 Apr. 6th - 2,2?0 (2 thousand, 2 hundred and ?) Apr. 7th - 1,484 Apr. 8th - 1,671 Apr. 9th - 2,156 Apr. 10th - 2,720 Apr. 11th - 3,704 Apr. 13th - 2,313 Apr. 14th - 2,707 Apr. 15th - 1,858 Apr. 16th - 1,787 Apr. 17th - 2,338 Apr. 18th - 2.703 Grand total from January 1st - 138,528. The emigration during the same period has been as follows, viz; to 1st Apr. - 29,201 from 1st Apr to this date - 43,149 of which we may set down 40,400 as natives of Ireland, leaving 3,149 as the emigration from this country and Scotland and 98,528 persons as the number remaining in Liverpool in a state of pauperism or mendicancy, waiting for vessels to emigrate, or gone into the interior of the country. Undoubtedly a large portion of the last quoted number (98,528) are intending to emigrate and are only kept here by the scarcity of shipping. As a large number of emigrant vessels went out on Tuesday and the following days, up to yesterday, and nearly the whole of those loading are engaged, we may not be far wrong in calculating that the number thus waiting, is about equal to the arrivals since the 11th, or 17,500 persons. This will still leave the large number of 80,000 persons to be otherwise accounted for. It is remarked that the class of persons recently arriving have been principally composed of the middle and substantial farmer class and we quote the proportion of the sexes and of children for the last 7 days, to show the valuable sort of population which we are losing and America and Canada gaining. Thus the men arrived from the 11th to the 18th were 9,326; the women. 5,171 and the children, 3,003; the first outnumbering the two latter. Such emigrants must be generally the young and the able, not the mere out-scourings of a famishing country. It would be an interesting object of inquiry, if it could be ascertained, what amount of bullion is withdrawn from the country by such parties. Of course, we can only be allowed a guess and we shall, perhaps, not be far wrong if we set down as the lowest average sum, for each male emigrant at 10£. In many cases it must be much higher. Taking five-eighths of the whole number gone to be males, we have thus 350,000£ in gold to be added to the exports, which constitute the Bank of England's ascertained deficiency. all of the same date transcribed from the Warder 17 April 1847 Wreck of an Emigrant Vessel It is our painful duty to record the loss upon our coast of the American ship "Rochester” Captain TRUEMAN, burden 800 tons, which left Liverpool on Sunday morning, bound to New York, with about 300 emigrants and struck at 6 o’clock on Tuesday a.m. Happily the lives of all on board have been providentially saved. She was wrecked upon one of those banks which render this part of our coast (Blackwater) so dangerous, especially to strangers. It was a painful sight to witness so many poor persons, as they landed from the Arklow boats which took them out of the wreck, bereft of all the little store which they possessed upon the earth. Our kind-hearted and respected townsman, Mr. Thomas BRENAN exerted himself to the utmost in securing what luggage still remained and with the assistance of that efficient public officer, head Constable NICHOLSON, who, with his men displayed the greatest attention to the wants and comforts of the distressed emigrants, had the unhappy sufferers placed in the spacious yard adjoining his stores until they could be assembled together and brought to a place of shelter and warmth. He had coals and straw immediately dispatched to the old workhouse, where several other humane and benevolent individuals administered food and fire to those who had been for nearly 2 days and a night without sustenance. Our excellent Vice-Lieutenant, Mr. C. A. WALKER and Sir Francis LeHUNT rendered all the advice and assistance that the catastrophe demanded. Mr. Richard DEVEREUX, with his usual humanity, the Rev. Messrs. WHITE, LACY and DILLON, Mr. HUGHES, Alderman WALSH, Mr. Robert SPARROW, Mr. Wm. WALKER, Mr. Thomas NAYLOR, Mr. HOGAN, Dr. BOXWELL and many others were occupied throughout the entire day and evening in serving out warm soup from the public kitchen, bread, tea, beer, &c., to the grateful sufferers. We fear, to say the least, that there must have been gross neglect on the part of the Captain and crew, and hope that a scrutinizing investigation will take place into their conduct. The calamity has been felt the more severely in our town, as the event took place while the relief committee were sitting and obliged them to postpone for that day, the further consideration of the claims of the poor in our locality, in order to render the rights of hospitality to those who were now thrown in so helpless a condition upon our shores. (from the Wexford Independent) 8 May 1847 Destitution in the Diocese of Raphoe The Right Rev. Doctor M'GETTIGAN has in the course of the last 3 weeks visited the several parishes in the diocese of Raphoe and handed to each of the parochial relief committees a sum of 5£, which, with 2 private donations of 30£. amounted to 200£, and gave strict orders that relief be distributed to every really destitute person irrespective of creed, class, or denomination. Very great distress and destitution were seen to be prevalent in almost every locality, but especially visible in those places where no exertions were being made to prepare the ground for seed. Emigration from Londonderry - The emigrants who have left this port for the United States of America and Upper and Lower Canada since the commencement of the season amount to the large number of 5,003. We have not been able to get a correct return of the number who left this to proceed via Liverpool and Glasgow for North America, but we are sure we are below the mark when we compute them to have amounted to 3,500 persons, giving a total of above 8,000 and from the crowds who daily throng our streets inquiring for vessels to carry them from famine-stricken Ireland, it is calculated that close on 8,000 more will have left before the month of September next. We understand that in every seaport town in the kingdom emigration is proceeding on an unusually extensive scale. Destitution in Fermanagh - If any doubts at all exist as to the wretched condition of the peasantry of this county, a single glance at the interior of the board room on Tuesday last, would have convinced the most sceptical. Hundreds of wretched creatures actually burst into the room at one time and several guardians were of opinion that the police should be sent for to keep order. It was melancholy to witness the condition of the poor creatures; poverty and sickness vividly depicted in every countenance. Indeed, it is no enviable position to be a poor law guardian at the present moment. Two members of the board are already prostrated by fever and our only surprise is that many more are not attacked, when it was distinctly stated by Doctor NIXON on Tuesday, that several of the paupers introduced into the room, were actually suffering from fever at the time. The board of guardians are doing their work nobly. As we anticipated in our last, the resolution for burying the paupers without coffins, was negatived, we might say, by one universal voice. Belfast Fever This destructive epidemic is still fearfully on the increase. On Tuesday night, there were 340 patients in the General Hospital. The house surgeon has given up his room for the accommodation of the patients and every corner of the building is now devoted to the urgent necessaries of the poor. Belfast Day Asylum -The great diminution of paupers who used to infest our streets shows to demonstration that the Day asylum has opened its gates for their reception. It is really astonishing how many poor creatures take refuge in this place. The number that has been admitted each day, during the week ending on Friday night, is as follows; Saturday 916; Sunday 869; Monday 864; Tuesday 902; Wednesday 871; Thursday 825; Friday 813. Total 6,060. There were 1,903 persons in the Belfast union work-house on Saturday last. from the Banner of Ulster 19 May 1847 Fever in Monaghan Fever is rapidly compassing us about. Our poorhouse is crammed with a sickly and dying mass of wretches, huddled together for want of accommodation, there being above 200 in the house more than it can properly accommodate. In the gaol six unfortunates are crammed into a cell 6 feet by 9 - the fever hospital has triple its number of patients and the town is infested with crowds of mendicant vagrants from every quarter of the island, steeped in the lowest depths of filth and destitution. (from Northern Standard) Fever in the Omagh Union Workhouse We regret to learn that fever continues to spread in the workhouse. From the report of the medical attendant, Dr. WHITE made during the last week, it appears that there are at present in the 2 probationary wards - 55 cases of fever and 15 cases in the male idiot ward, making in all 70 cases of fever in the house. Fifty-five of the inmates who had been suffering from this disease have become convalescent and there have been but 3 deaths during the past week. (from Tyrone Constitution) Victims the prevailing Fever The Rev. A. PATTERSON of Ballymena and the Rev. James PATTERSON of Rich-Hill It is with the deepest regret that we announce the death of the Rev. Alexander PATTERSON of Ballymena. This most amiable and excellent minister breathed his last yesterday (Monday) about half-past 12 o'clock, at noon. The disease, which cut him off so prematurely, was typhus fever. He fell a victim the 11th day from the commencement of the attack. We believe he was in the 46th year of his age. We believe that Mr. PATTERSON of Ballemena, is the 5th minister of the Irish Assembly who, within the last 2 months, has fallen a victim to the prevailing epidemic. In our paper Friday it was our melancholy duty to announce the death the Rev James PATTERSON of Rich-hill, who expired the 7th instant. Mr. PATTERSON, Rich-hill, was by birth a Scotchman and was cut down in the prime of life. (Freeman's Journal) Transcribed by 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/
