Westward Cork Migration by Sail 1815-1860 by John Sutton

PART I CALENDAR OF CORK EMIGRANT SHIP SAILINGS 1815-60

– (port unknown) sailed for New York from Cork 29 Jun with emigrants. – probably of N Shields sailed for Boston from Cork. Captain refused to pay health security bonds for his passengers and brought them to St John NB, arriving at the quarantine station, Partridge Island 6 Jul. – (port unknown) sailed for Quebec from Cork 20 Jul with 100 emigrants. Arrived Grosse Île 5 Sep: 6 sick. 4 dead. – (port unknown) sailed for Halifax from Cork 25 Jul with emigrants. – (port unknown) sailed for Quebec from Cork 18 Aug with emigrants. 266 passengers: 22 sick, 12 dead. – (port unknown) sailed for Boston from Cork 18 Aug with emigrants. – (port unknown) sailed for Quebec from Cork 18 Aug with emigrants. – (port unknown) arrived at New York from Cork 11 Nov with emigrants.

William T Duggan

Seraph

Highland Mary

Three Sisters Henrietta Mary

Messenger

Mary

Bark Lota

Malvina – of Baltimore sailed for New York from Cork 16 Nov with emigrants. (port unknown) sailed for New York from Cork 25 Dec with emigrants. *Above morbidity/mortality statistics are incomplete since many passengers did not exhibit symptomatic illness until after arrival at their designated destination ports. Survival of early season Quebec-bound Irish passengers was particularly grim. St John statistics were more limited; data from the Emigrant Officer is presented below. RELATED NEWS and EVENTS * Shipping News Switzerland Mary , of Yarmouth, and Seraph , possibly of N Shields, refused to pay bonds for sick passengers in Boston, turned around, and discharged them at Halifax and at St John NB. Standards, as written or as applied, for the carriage of emigrants to the US and BNA often differed. These two vessels might be considered coffin ships . Jessie : ‘A big ship. … The largest vessel, which ever came up this river is the Jessie . a Liverpool merchantman, now lying near the Custom House. Her bulk appears to be a subject of great curiosity with the country folk looking out for a good craft. She arrived with guano and is chartered to take emigrants for America. The Jessie , though carrying a thousand tons, seems perfectly safe and easy at her station’. Cork Examiner, 1 May 1847. Replacement of guano with emigrants might seem unsavory. Eighty-three failed to reach Quebec. Swan – ‘On the 2d of June the barque Swan , Captain Robertson, left this port (Cork) with Emigrants for New York. She arrived at the port of her destination safe and perfectly healthy. On her homeward voyage she fell in with the wreck of the Naiad , Capt. Brightman, of and from New Bedford, bound to the Coast of Africa. Capt. Robertson immediately rendered all assistance that lay in his power, and took Captain Brightman and crew on board, and brought them into this port on Saturday last. The Swan is the property of the Messrs. Scott, of Cove , and every credit is due to Captain Robertson for his humanity and praiseworthy act in saving the crew of the ill-fated Naiad from certain death’ Cork Examiner , 15 Sep 1847. * Daniel O’Connell’s Warning Daniel O’Connell (1775-1847), in his final speech in the House of Commons, prior to the emigrant sailing season, on 8 Feb 1847 , issued a solemn warning: ‘Ireland is in your hands, in your power, if you do not save her, she cannot save herself. I solemnly call on you to recollect that I predict, with the sincerest conviction, that one-fourth of our population will perish unless you come to her relief’ (Geoghegan 2010, 332).