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Part 1 of 2 on the Famine Emigration to Grosse île (Isle). For those who may not know, Grosse Isle is an Island in the St. Lawrence River, about 30 miles below Quebec, in Canada. It was a quarantine station for arrivng emigrants, the vast majority of whom, were Irish. As you will see from the following extracts, this became one of Canada's horrendous historical tragedy's. The following articles are transcribed by Teena from the Banner of Ulster, Dublin Evening Mail, Dublin Mercantile Advertiser, Freeman's Journal, Northern Whig, Tyrone Constitution. (unless otherwise noted) Ulster Ports departures for Emigrants the Year 1846 Belfast Donegal Dublin Londonderry Newry (This list is from the reports and may not be complete) 1846 Arriving Vessels, which Contagious Disease was found on-board at the Grosse Isle Quarantine Station Barque 'Ayrshire,' port of Newry, Small pox, sailed 17 Apr. Barque 'Sir H Pottinger' port of Belfast Measles saled, 15 Apr. Barque 'Highland Mary', port Liverpool, Measles, sailed, 8 Apr. Brig Barque 'Margaret Pollock' port of Liverpool, dysentery, Fever and measles, sailed 26th Apr. Ship 'Rockshire', port Liverpool, Measles, 25th Apr. Barque 'Caithnesshire', port Belfast, Fever and dysentery, sailed 23 Apr. Ship 'Elizabeth' port Liverpool, Measles, sailed 26th May Ship 'Virginia' port Liverpool Small pox sailed sailed 2nd June Ship 'Belinda' port Belfast Small pox and measles sailed 3rd June Ship 'Mertoun' port Belfast, Fever, sailed 28th May Ship 'John Boulton' Liverpool Fever sailed 2nd June Barque 'James Moran' port Liverpool Measles sailed 13th June Ship 'Rockshire' port Liverpool, Dysentery sailed 10th Sept. Number of Persons who received Assistance to enable them to Emigrate during the Season 1846 from the report of A.C. BUCHANAN (emigration agent) Vessel / port. arrival date/ who provided funds/ # of persons/ 'Naparvinia', Dublin, 29th May, landlord/private funds, 120 'Industry', Dublin, 30th May, landlord/ private funds, 143 'Lady Gordon', Dublin, 13th Jun., landlord /private funds, 5 'Defence', Liverpool, 16th Jun., landlord/ private funds, 40 'Mary Lyall', Dublin, 16th Jun., Parish funds, 7 'Londonderry ', Londonderry18 Jun., landlord /private funds, 14 'Miltiades', Belfast, 24 Jun., landlord /private funds, 21 'Pursuit'. Liverpool, 24 Jun., landlord /private funds, 8 'Odessa' Dublin, 27 Jun., landlord /private funds, 24 'Belinda', Belfast, 20th Jul., landlord /private funds, 93 'Brindo', Donegal, 24 Jul., landlord / private funds, 15 'Marquis Abercorn', Londonderry, 2nd Oct. landlord /private funds, 3 In the ship Londonderry there were 14 persons sent out by the Londonderry Union, who received the sum of 10s. each amounting to 8£ 15s. sterling, which had been remitted to this office for their benefit after arrival. Among the passengers per 'Marchioness of Abercorn' from Londonderry, 493 in number, there were some very respectable farmers. Nearly the whole of these people came out to join their friends, a large number of whom are settled in the Home, and Simcoe districts. Many had received assistance from this country to enable them to emigrate and I was consequently obliged to give assistance to 35 persons to enable them to proceed. In the 'Belinda' from Belfast, there were a number of poor families sent out by the Coleraine, Armagh, and Magherafelt Unions, who received the sum of 10s. each, from the master on landing here. Many of them, more particularly those from the Coleraine Union, were very helpless, consisting of sickly people and widows with families of helpless children. One or two of these families have been inmates of the hospital ever since their arrival here and are now dependant on the charitable institutions in this city for their support. The passengers per 'Belinda' from Belfast, 425 in number are respectable looking people. There had been a good deal of sickness, among them 12 children had died during the passage of small pox and about 40 of the passengers were left at the Grosse Isle Hospital, where the ship was detained for six days. The passengers all speak in the kindest manner of the care and attention which Captain KELLY showed them during the passage and his unremitting attention to the sick. About 30 of the passengers are going to the States, the rest to the Newcastle, Home, and Simcoe Districts, 93 persons by this vessel were sent out by the following unions and received from Captain KELLY the sum of 37£ 15s. sterling, being at the rate of 10s. to each adult and 5s. to children viz: Coleraine Union 61 adults and 40 children; Armagh Union 15 adults and 5 children; Magherafelt Union 30 adults and 9 children. Those sent out by the Coleraine Union were mostly old and sickly people and helpless children, many of whom I fear will never be able to earn their support in this country. The others appear stout, healthy, men and women, all apparently willing to work. The emigrants from Sligo and Donegal, 545 in number, are all poor. They landed in good health. One third of them are going to the United States. A number of the young men intend remaining here for employment and the remainder proceed to different parts of the province to their friends. The passengers per 'Aberdeen' from Liverpool are all Irish, from the counties Cavan, Cork, Walerford and Tipperary. They have gone chiefly to the Ottawa, Johnston, and midland districts, and were, with the exception of two families 12 in number, able to pay their way. The emigrants from the port of Liverpool, 750 in number, are all Irish, of which fully one half intend proceeding to the United States. On board the 'Defence' from that port, there were 40 persons sent out by their landlords. They are from the county Monaghan and were provided with a free passage. They were without means on landing here and were assisted with a free passage to their friends in Upper Canada. The passengers per 'Sea King' and 'Virginia' from Liverpool, 508 are nearly all Irish. About 80 of the passengers per 'Sea King' are going to the United States, the remainder intend settling in Upper Canada. Those from the 'Virginia' all appear inclined to remain in the province. They are from the north of Ireland and generally poor. This vessel was detained seven days in quarantine and left between 60 and 70 of her passengers in the island, with small pox, 65 adults and 45 children were forwarded up the country from this vessel and 16 from the 'Sea King'. Week ending 27th Jun.1846; 4,568 emigrants have landed at this port during the past week, generally in good health. Week ending 31st Jul. 1846; 2164 emigrants landed at this port during the past week, three fourths of whom are Irish. Owing to the low rates of passage on alternate days on the route between this city and Montreal, I have not been called upon for much assistance. The number assisted is 286 persons equal to 200 adults, chiefly from the 'Mertoun', 'John Bolton', 'Minna' and 'Bosphorus'. There was a good deal of sickness on board the 'Mertoun', 7 deaths occurred during the the passage and 27 cases were admitted to the quarantine hospital. Employment is plenty at this season and persons desirous of it can procure it without difficulty. Masons and stone cutters are in much request on the Government works wages 7s 6d. per day Week ending 22nd August 1845 The emigrants arrived during the period included in this return number 1845, of whom 133 are Germans; 225 Scotch; 40 English; and 1440 Irish, of the latter number 394 sailed from Liverpool. They, with the exception of those on board 3 of the vessels, landed generally in good health. Several vessels have, however, had very long passages, the average being over 50 days. The passengers are principally of the agricultural class and with, but limited means. Their destination is chiefly to Upper Canada, but a considerable number are going to the United States. Week ending 30th of October 1846 The emigration for this season may now be considered as closed. Those who have arrived during the period embraced in this return, have been in good health. They consist of farmers, labourers, and a few mechanics, and have all emigrated to join their friends, or with a particular destination in view. The great majority of them are Irish and all very poor. A large number of those by the 'Rockshire' from Liverpool, had left their homes at this late season, in consequence of the failure of the potato crop, fearing that if they should delay until next year they would not then have the means of paying their passage. As it was, they landed here quite destitute and required assistance from this department to enable them to proceed to their friends. In Paper No 8 of the Appendix will be found a statement of the distribution of the emigrants of the year, compiled from the monthly reports received from the chief Agent in Canada West and the local agents of the department. Of the total immigration by the route of the St Lawrence, Mr HAWKE estimates that the large proportion of 24,655 have arrived in Canada West. The number who have arrived, via the route of the United States, is stated at 2,864, which makes the total immigration into the western section of the province during the year upwards of 27,500 souls. The difficulty of ascertaining with correctness the number of persons who have proceeded from Canada to the United States, along our extensive frontier, must be obvious. Mr HAWKE, after strict inquiry from the sources within his command, estimates the number who have left Canada West at about 2,000 persons, less than the amount of the immigration we have received by that route. The largest portion of this number have proceeded direct from Montreal, by the route of St John's and Lake Champlain, having emigrated with that intention and have been induced to choose the route of the St Lawrence as being much cheaper than the passage direct from Great Britain, to any of the United States ports. I may here remark that during the greater part of this last season owing to the competition among the steam boat proprietors on the St Lawrence, to Montreal and on Lake Champlain, an emigrant might be conveyed from this port to Albany, the centre of the States of New York, for about six shillings sterling, or less than half the sum it would require to convey him to Kingston. The Quarantine hospital Grosse Isle during the past season- upon a comparison of this Return, with that of former years, it will be observed that there has been a great augmentation in the number of sick amounting to double that of most previous years. This increase in the number of sick was expected from the misery and distress that prevailed throughout Ireland last winter, owing to a deficiency of wholesome food. The prevailing type of disease independent of the ordinary epidemics was low fever, with bowel complaints, such as are usually caused by want. The number of passenger vessels inspected by me at the quarantine station during the season was 206, having on board 32,753 passengers. The deaths on shipboard were this year proportionably more numerous than previous years, there having died on board of vessels on the passage out 204 souls and in the quarantine hospital 68. The names, ages, and other particulars, connected with these last, are given in paper B. The total number of deaths on the voyage and in the quarantine hospital was 272, of these 100 were adults; 110 children under fourteen; and 62 infants. Fever broke out and prevailed among the passengers of 14 vessels. measles in 5 and small pox in 8. The following casualties on the voyage resulting in death took place; A boy was killed from a fall into the hold on board the ship 'Marchioness Abercorn'; 1 was drowned by falling overboard from the brig 'Governor'; one was killed on board the 'James Fagan', by being crushed by one of the boats breaking loose; a female died in childbirth on board the schooner 'Coquette'; and another from the same cause on board the 'Jane Black'; a boy was drowned by falling overboard from the 'Nancy'; a man from the same accident on board the 'Davenport'; and another from on board the 'John Francis'. A considerable number of pauper emigrants have been sent out this season from the Irish Poor law unions. Much sickness has prevailed among these, especially in those that arrived by the ship 'Belinda' from Belfast. It is to be regretted that it should not be found necessary to supply these people, many of whom had the appearance of having suffered long from misery, with any other provision for the voyage than a pound of meal per day. They contrast very unfavourably with those sent out under similar circumstances from England, these are generally sent in charge of a medical man, and are supplied with animal food, bread, flour, rice, and medical stores and comforts, in consequence of which, I rarely find sick among them, unless epidemic disease has been brought on board. I always understood the pound of biscuit oatmeal, or Indian corn meal, which the vessel is bound by law, to furnish daily to each adult, to be merely a guarantee against the starvation brought on formerly by the improvident use which the emigrant made of his own stores and to be, by no means, intended to constitute his only support, as in the case of the Irish paupers in the 'Belinda' and other vessels, to whom a pound of damaged Indian meal, per day, was their only food. If necessary, I might here cite as evidence of the advantage of a liberal supply of wholesome food in warding oft disease even in a crowded emigrant vessel, the case of the German settlers who arrived this year, these people were supplied abundantly with animal food, bread, flour, lime-juice and beer, and though their voyages were longer than vessels coming from Great Britain, in the case of one vessel extending to eleven weeks, yet out of eight vessels having on board 902 passengers, I had only to admit 7 to hospital. Ardnaglass (Co. Donegal) 6th September 1846 Dear Father and Mother I received your kind and affectionate letter dated 24th May which gave us great pleasure to hear of your being in good health as it leaves us at present thank God for his mercies to us. Dear father and mother pen cannot dictate the poverty of this country at present, the potato crop is quite done away all over Ireland and we are told prevailing all over Europe. There is nothing expected here only an immediate famine. The labouring class getting only two stone of Indian meal for each day's labour and only three days given out of each week to prolong a little money sent out by Government, to keep the people from going out to the fields to prevent slaughtering the cattle, which they are threatening very hard they will do before they starve. I think you will have all this account by the public print before this letter comes to hand. Now my dear parents, pity our hard case and do not leave us on the number of the starving poor and if it be your wish to keep us, until we earn at any labour you wish to put us to, we will feel happy in doing so. When we had not the good fortune of going there the different times ye sent us money, but alas, we had not that good fortune. Now my dear father and mother, if you knew what hunger we and our fellow countrymen are suffering, if you were ever so much distressed, you would take us out of this poverty Isle. We can only say, the scourge of God fell down on Ireland, in taking away the potatoes, they being the only support of the people. Not like countries that has a supply of wheat and other grain. So dear father and mother, if you don't endeavour to take us out of it, it will be the first news you will hear by some friend of me and my little family to be lost by hunger and there are thousands dread they will share the same fate. Do not think there is one word of untruth in this, you will see it in every letter and of course in the public prints. Those that have oats they have some chance, for they say they will die before they part any of it to pay rent. So the landlord is in a bad way too. Sicily BOYERS and family are well. Michael BARRETT is very unwell this time past, but hopes to recover. John BARRETT is confined to his bed by rheumatism. The last market oatmeal went from 1£ to 1£ 1s per cwt. As for potatoes there was none at market. Butter 5£ per cwt; pork 2£ 8s. per cwt and everything in provision way expected to get higher. The Lord is merciful, he fed the 5000 men with five loaves and two small fishes. Hugh HART'S mother is dead, he is in good health. So I conclude with my blessing to you both and remain your affectionate son and daughter Signed Michael and Mary RUSH above from the Accounts and Papers of the House of Commons, Vol. 39 published 1847 https://bit.ly/3bj4nzi ( has a couple lists of emigrants who died at Grosse Isle.) 6 Apr. 1847 (extracts) statements taken from the report of A. C. BUCHANAN Esq., chief emigration agent at Quebec,in a series of papers relative to emigration to the British Colonies of North America (Parliamentary, No. 120, presented last February.) The emigrant on engaging his passage is informed that he will receive a pound of oatmeal, flour, or biscuit, each day during his passage, but on getting to sea finds that one-half of this allowance is replaced by Indian corn meal. This description of food although highly valuable, under different circumstances, is not proper for issue throughout along voyage, to people who have been wholly unaccustomed to its use and who do not know, how indeed, to prepare it. Dr. DOUGLASS has found that a great extent of sickness prevailed in the vessels in which the meal was used. 'there was a large number of the Irish emigrants in a state of destitution as to clothes and bedding far exceeding anything I ever before witnessed' map https://bit.ly/39ajUQw Epidemic https://www.historymuseum.ca/blog/epidemic-at-grosse-ile/ "The Irish in Canada: The Untold Story." http://gail25.tripod.com/grosse.htm "A register of deceased persons at sea and on Grosse Île in 1847" by Parks Canada, 1997. https://bit.ly/33Jv25D Grosse Ile: island of the dead. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1483729/ The Ocean Plague: Or, A Voyage to Quebec in an Irish Emigrant Vessel By Robert Whyte 1848 https://bit.ly/2UxD2T7 has some on the orphans "The Irish in America, Vol. 32" By John Francis Maguire, William Joseph Hardee https://bit.ly/2xlRm9y Chapter VIII (above book) The Irish Exodus - The Quarantine at Grosse Isle - The Fever Sheds- Horrors of the Plague -The Unknown- The Irish Orphans- The good Canadians -Resistless Eloquence -One of the Orphans -The Forgotten Name- The Plague in Montreal -How the Irish died- The Monument at Point St Charles -The Grave mound in Kingston- An illustrious Victim in Toronto -How the Survivors pushed on- The Irish in the Cities of Upper Canada (and more) Cheers~ Teena _______________________________________________ [email protected] UlsterAncestry Mailing List Searchable Archives: https://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ http://lists.cotyrone.com/mailman/listinfo/ulsterancestry Website: https://cotyrone.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/CoTyroneIrelandGenealogy/
