In the background information for this paper, I have avoided discussion of circumstances that might have led to emigrant desires to depart from Ireland (the so-called ‘push’ of the ‘push-pull’ factors guiding emigrant decisions), since so much has been written on this topic, and individual circumstance varied. North American port of disembarkation (the ‘pull’) was determined by destination appeal and voyaging options. I have endeavored to get into the mind-set of the emigrant in Part ll, ‘An Emigrant Perspective’, through a chronological summary of publicized political and socio-economic events in North America that may have influenced emigrant decisions; events sometimes already described in Part l. Newsworthy facts and information are liberally intertwined within both Parts l and ll, sometimes with a duplication that is inevitable to facilitate those readers with interest in only a limited perusal of the work. For some the ship may have been the primary determinant of destination. For others it may have been the destination. Emigrant sailing ship choices were based on reputation, timing, risk, financial cost and comfort. All expected a journey of several weeks traversing the Atlantic that would be exciting, perhaps dangerous and probably unpleasant. Addendum: The Ships List site, www. theshiplist.com , web site was removed in August 2024 – hopefully just for a website upgrade.
John Sutton 2025
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS: My appreciation, first to my wife Cyndi for her assistance and encouragement in pursuing and developing a major theme of this paper – Cork emigrant sailing ship voyages. And to my brother Michael for his enthusiastic support in advancing a second theme – the historical and socio-economic background of host countries willing to accept our Irish migrants. Also, my gratitude to the late Gillian Boazman for her help, despite declining health, in editing the earlier part of this work. Subsequent thanks to both Michael and Cyndi for assuming Gillian’s role in both editing and proofreading. Last, and far from least, my thanks to my daughter Meaghan and son-in-law Trevor Bryant for their major assistance when my document, exceeding the capabilities of my computer program, conspired against me and commenced to self-destruct.
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Copyright John Sutton 2025 All Rights Reserved
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