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From:
Subject: Re: [IRELAND] What was happening around 1800 / history
Date: Thu, 24 Feb 2005 10:40:52 EST


Doug you are right to explore all scenarios. One must remember that sometimes
men had two families in those days. Usually the families did not know each
other. They were essentially starting over and beginning a new life when they
came to the US.

Take for instance the coming of the railroad in the US in those early days.
Many Irish worked on the railroad. I have found that some of the engineers and
trainmen on these trains had families at both ends of the rail line they
worked on. Each family thought their father was at work.

Also they may have lost a spouse or children at sea on the way over. Lots of
the poor souls didn't make it to the States. Cleanliness was not the best in
steerage. Diseases ravaged on board the ship.

The wife may also have already passed away in Ireland before they left for
the States. So many wives died in childbirth. It is always so sad to see that
men are left with children after the death of a wife and then remarry again
quickly to get someone to care for the children they had and then they have more
children. Sad, but women were disposable in those days. When this happened
I suspect that the children were left with relatives and the men immigrated to
the US. All ties were lost as he began a new life.

I know that the newspapers in those days especially in the Northeast (New
York and Boston) had classifieds in them searching for family that had blended
into their new homeland.

Keep looking. I have been looking for information on my McShane's in Kilcar,
County Donegal for several years. I am sure they will turn up eventually.

Nina

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