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Westward Cork Migration by Sail 1815-1860 by John Sutton

PART I CALENDAR OF CORK EMIGRANT SHIP SAILINGS 1815-60

Ann & Mary of Cork sailed in 16 days from Cork to St John New Brunswick (above). * Hamilton Welcomes the Seasonal Influx of Emigrants ‘The season for emigration, which enlivens the towns and villages of this Province, and increases the circulation of money, is now at hand; the St. Lawrence being nearly free from ice, according to the statements of the Lower Canada papers, and numerous steamboats that ply on our lakes, will shortly come freighted with new settlers to increase our trade, wealth and population. A great number of the poorer class of emigrants will, probably settle on the lands of the Lower Canada Company, unless that Company to whose exertions this Province is so much indebted, uses its best efforts to keep the tide of emigration flowing in the direction which they gave it. Bone and muscle are wanted in this Province, as well as wealth, to subdue the wilderness; and no man possessed of health and industry can be called a pauper, provided he is willing to earn a livelihood, though the revolutionists have dared to apply the term to emigrants. We can point out a number of large villages that have been raised chiefly by emigrants in the last five years, among which are Guelph, Goderich, London &c. &c. In directing the attention of emigrants to this part of Upper Canada, we do no more than our duty, as no other part of North America is thriving more rapidly, nor does there any other offer more inducements to new settlers. Labourers and Mechanics get abundant employment and high wages; the lands are good and moderate in price; imported articles are retailed nearly as cheap in this town as in Montreal, and we have an excellent cash market for produce of every description. To the farmer, the mechanic and labourer, this town and the surrounding country offer a home, such as can be met with in few other parts of the world, and we trust more will settle in them next season than did in any preceding one’ ( Hamilton Mercury).

Fig. 6: Merchants Quay Cork on the North Channel of the Lee. The steamboat Waterloo (foreground) competed with City of Cork in ferry service between Cork and Passage West, where they were built in 1816 and 1815 at Andrew Hennessy’s yard.