USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Gardner > The early Irish settlers in the town of Gardner, Massachusetts > Part 2
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The following notes taken from Frank C. Bowen's "A Century of Atlantic Travel" (1830 - 1930) will be of interest.
"The emigrant rates in the crack packets varied from three guineas to six guineas, children half price; while in the smaller packets or the irregular ships, the fare was from five pounds to as low as forty shillings, the average being in the neighborhood of four pounds. To these fares the passenger always had to add forty or fifty shillings as the lowest price at which he could feed himself with reasonable economy.
"Previous to 1837 the privilege of landing had been 20 cents, in addition the captain paid $1. per head or entered into a bond that his passengers would not fall on the rates within two years of their landing. Needless to say he invariably preferred to pay the dollar and end the liability. In the spring of 1837 the U. S. Government imposed a landing tax of $10. on every emigrant landed and this cut so deeply in to the profits that 11 British ships ran the risk of refusing to pay - were promptly detained and very nearly forfeited.
"In 1837 'The Diamond' from Liverpool to N. Y. was out 100 days. Of the 180 passengers, 17 died of sheer starvation. The crew was on short rations and nothing from their scanty supply could be
15
Town of Gardner, Massachusetts
taken for passengers. There were appalling scenes and food received any price. A sovereign was refused for a single potato. One man had lived nine days on potato peelings."
SAILING RECORDS
Westward
Longest Day
Shortest Day
Ave.
Longest Day
Eastward Shortest Day
Ave.
Sailing Ships.
Black Ball Line
48
22
33.17
36
18
27.12
Dramatic Line
38
23
30.12
25
17
20.12
Star Line
45
27
36
28
21
24
Swallow Tail Line
45
28
35
31
17
22.12
Steamships
Great Western
21.12
13
16.12
15
12.6
13.9
British Queen
20.9
14.12
17.8
21.12
13.12
16
Liverpool
18.12
16
17.4
24
13.18
15
Ave. of all sailing ships 44
25
34.114 30
18.6
22.1
Ave. of all steamships 20.3
14.15
17
21.4
13.4
15.414
Difference in favor
23.21
10.9
17.11/4
8.70
5.2
7.131/4
of steamships
Here are notes taken from the same book on the normal life on the voyage.
"Shops existing around Liverpool docks were of vile quality. An emigrant might find his sauce pan of no use after the first attempt to cook. No fires were allowed on board while the ship was in dock. The people sometimes were unable to cook for ten days and in addition had to stay below deck. On the Julius MacGregor berths were really nothing more than a long trough. No effort was made to separate each passenger. They were supposed to sleep two abreast, but three or four were not unusual. No attempt was made to divide sexes or to provide even the most elementary amenities of life, - but the passengers did as much as possible to improve matters and were an extraordinarily decent crowd. Beside the bunks were boxes contain- ing food, cooking utensils and clothing. These formed seats and all other luggage was lumped to form tables. There were big grates on each side of the ship. The first man up built the fire. Some groups worked together."
In 1844 the British Protective Emigrant Board and the Irish Protective Society were formed to help these conditions. The immi- grants were victimized in New York. This was a very profitable
16
The Early Irish Settlers in the
business and boarding-house keepers kept agents traveling back and forth to Ireland and England. The immigrant thought the "runner" his friend and spent his savings as directed until his last penny bought a ticket which left him alone at a distant town.
Two conditions must have left their imprint on these immigrants; the condition in Ireland previous to emigration and the means of travel. Those who escaped from their famine-stricken country after the "Black Forty-Seven" were, for the most part, at the end of their resources. Letters first published in the Boston Daily Advertiser in December 1851 and January 1852 by Edward Everett Hale, give us the reaction of the native-born American, a man sincere and openly earnest to help. He says, "In an attempt to get any clear idea of the arrangements of their lives at home, two peculiarities of most emi- grants foil you; the first is the national pride of the Irishman - though he had left Ireland forever. He is resolved that you shall believe it to be the gem of the sea, - and will admit nothing that should throw a stain upon it. The second is the great monotony of his life at home. He travels little there; when he labors it is in a most uneventful way and apparently, he is idle most of the time. He therefore has little to tell if he remembered it; but, more than this, he remembers very little. A year or two of the excitement of America seems to sweep back his Irish life to the indistinctness of a dream." One of Irish ancestry who remembers many an Irish story either of gay county fairs or of struggle against poverty in order to harbor a lost cause and who has sat by the side of an early immigrant (a grandfather perhaps) and heard the stories of the desire for adventure, the beautiful home-life in the old country, the intimate experiences of family burdens or the valor of some hero in the family finds Mr. Hale's reference to Irish Pride true and justified. It must never be forgotten that long before America was thought of, this little kingdom bowed its head to no nation. Recalling Maguire's comparison as stated in the opening paragraph we find this Irishman again justified. Today Ireland's contribution to art, literature, music and history is being unearthed. We have our Deirdre with the Saxon Beowulf and Mr. Hale would write differently in his understanding of this silence and indistinct dream were he living.
Saint Gertrude's Church Fierres, County Kerry, Ireland
Photo by Rose Alice Burns
June 23, 1932
17
Town of Gardner, Massachusetts
CHURCH RECORDS
It is time now to go back to Fr. Gibson's records. He was pastor of Christ's Church, Worcester and lived there when Mr. Hale resid- ed in Worcester, 1845- 1856, and had stations throughout this vicinity. Some records are at St. John's Church, Worcester and others at St. Bernard's, Fitchburg. Each record, for birth or baptism gives the date of performance, the date of birth, the child's name, parents and sponsors; and in marriage records, one finds the parties concerned and the witnesses. The records are in Latin. Usually the town is given, tho many times the ceremony did not take place in that town, but the town signified the place of residence of the party.
Father Mathew W. Gibson is spoken of in Fr. Coyle's History of the Catholic Church, Springfield Diocese as "an English priest of remarkable parts", "a marvel of energy," born in Hexham, the shire- town of Northumberland, May 15,1817. At eleven he entered Ushan College, which had been built by his great uncle, the Bishop of the Northern District. He came to America and resumed his studies at St. Mary's College, Emmittsburg, Md. Here he remained until May 5, 1834 when Cardinal Weld called him to Rome to the famous College of the Propaganda. He returned in 1841 and after ordination went into the Alleghany mountains. In 1844 he withdrew to the Jesuit Novitiate at Frederick and was sent to Holy Cross College and was laboring there in 1845 when Bishop Fenwick made him pastor of the Catholics in Worcester. His records are at Worcester (in the County book) and at Fitchburg, after 1848.
Though his records give data of Gardner residents under Jonesville (Otter River) or Templeton, Fitchburg and Worcester, the first men- tion of Gardner (Pail Village) in the Worcester records, is the birth of the twins of Irish parents, Thomas and William Lynch, sons of Thomas Lynch and Catherine O'Donnel, sponsored by William O'Donnel and Joanna Barnes and Michael Murray and Catherine Doyle, born Feb. 24, 1852 and baptized Feb. 29, 1853. This probably took place in the O'Donnel home on Templeton Road.
The first Gardner record at Fitchburg, was the marriage record on Oct. 23, 1852 of Michael Murray and Catherine Murray witnessed by Thomas Carroll and Hanora Murray.
It is interesting that the second notation given under Gardner was at the marriage on Christmas Day, 1852 of Patrick Carroll and Joanna Shea witnessed by Michael Murray and Ellen Kelley. These records are in Fitchburg. The marriage probably took place there
18
The Early Irish Settlers in the
and these four residents may have heard holy mass on that Christmas Day
The first Catholic church was built in Fitchburg in 1847 of lumber from railroad shanties and was dedicated by Fr. Gibson. This "Shanty Cathedral" was the first home of the Worcester mission and served the early Gardner Catholics. Fitchburg became a parish in 1856 and Gardner was one of its missions.
Other interesting local records are: on Oct. 26, 1845 Fr. Gibson baptized Ellen Sullivan, daughter of Jeremiah and Abby Sullivan, witnessed by Tim McCarty and Ellen Sullivan in Westminster. On Oct. 29, 1845 he baptized Michael Dempsey, son of Michael Dempsey and Ellen Connell, in So. Royalston. Not much immagina- tion is required to see him traveling over the old turnpike from Westminster to Royalston and one may be assured that any need along the way was attended to. The following itinerary was found in the Worcester record and speaks for the mid-winter work in 1853. On Jan. 2nd Leicester and North Boro, on the 4th, Barre, on the 8th, W. Boylston, on the 9th, Leominster, Mason, and Athol, on the 16th, Townsend, on the 17th, West Boylston, and Clapsville, on the 24th, Westminster, on the 25th, W. Boro, on the 30th, Jonesville, Winchen- don, Hubbardston, Templeton. These visits are recorded under the Baptismal record. In Fitchburg record we find additional dates for that month.
In Royalston History we find "Fr. Gibson reported 300 railroad men at So. Royalston in 1846 (the most of whom were Catholics)." The Worcester record shows "400 railroad men" in Ashburnham sta- tion in 1846; "200 Catholic-railroad men" in Athol. Ashburnham His- tory says, "the charter of the V. & M. is dated Mar. 15, 1844 but road was graded to So. Ashburnham in the summer and autumn preced- ing." These workmen were Irish Laborers.
The Fitchburg record says "In the year 1845 there were two Roman Catholics residing in Fitchburg." "Those here the year before (1844) must have gone on with the road," says Fr. Coyle.
The following is taken from his Fitchburg record:
Year, 1851. Missions attended by me during this year.
Leominster number of Catholics
50
Townsend
"
50
Grafton "
100
Shirly " "
50
Sterling
"
50
19
Town of Gardner, Massachusetts
Ashburnham number of Catholics
50
Winchendon
"
150
Jonesville
"
150
Athol
"
50
Princeton
20
Westminster
"
"
20
Fitchburg
"
800
Total
1540
M. W. Gibson, Pastor
As mentioned before, Fr. Fitton had a station in Otter River in 1837. The 150 recorded by Fr. Gibson included the Gardner Ca- tholics.
The opening of the Cheshire Railroad in 1848 brought in the town several Irish families, writes Rev. A. P. Marvin in his history of Winchendon.
GARDNER VITAL STATISTICS TO 1850
Before we begin to examine the make-up of the little Gardner colony we must inspect one other record - the Gardner Vital Statistics previous to 1850. On Sept. 7, 1846 John Mullaney son of Francis (a hostler) and Sarah Prescott Mullaney give evidence of an Irish father. The mother was born Feb. 28, 1827 the second child of Bushrod W. Prescott and Melinda Wesival. This record is given in Herrick's Genealogy. We might class John the second child born in Gardner of an Irish father if Francis Mullaney's record should be traced. The writer has been unable to do this.
In 1847 we have the birth of eight children all born of Irish parents who were railroad laborers, the Ashburnham group doubtlessly. Only one of these families remained in Gardner - that of Bartholomew and Margaret Hennegan.
Bartholomew Hennegan was born in Ireland May 7, 1797 the son of Patrick and Mary Hennegan. He married Margaret Flynn the daughter of Daniel Flynn. Mr. Hennegan lived in Gardner at least thirty-five years from 1849, to 1882 when he died at the age of 75 yrs. 5 mos. 16 da. (G. V. S.) Mrs. Hennegan died Oct. 21, 1889 at the age of 74 yrs. A daughter Mary Ann was born Aug. 12, 1847. (G. V. S.) A son Bartlett was born Nov. 3, 1849. (G. V. S.) They first lived in a shanty near the Elm Street bridge. In 1859 tax list he is taxed for two houses valued at $600. and a cow at $35. total valuation $635.
20
The Early Irish Settlers in the
paying a tax of $6.58. These houses were built on So. Main St. on the W. W. Fitzsimmons property; one house is still standing.
The following is the list of the other children born in 1847.
Mar. 27, 1847 Catherine d. of Jeremiah & Mary Hartnett
June 17, 1847
s. of John & Fanny Kinin
July 4, 1847
s. of M. & Mary Garvey
Aug. 10, 1847
d. of Daniel & Betsey Foley
Aug. 26, 1847
d. of Orin & Ann Sullivan
Sept. 1, 1847
d. of J. S. & B. T. O'Humel
July 7, 1847 Mary Ann d. of Jerry 2d & Mary A -
Jan. 25, 1848 - Jerry s. of Jerry & Joanna Sullivan. The only one of these names found on later Gardner records is that of Jeremiah Hartnett; but this Hartnett's marriage took place (as found in Fr. Gibson's records) on Oct. 28, 1854 tho the intention is given in G. V. S. on Aug. 27, 1853. There is no evidence of a rela- tionship.
This group evidently moved on with the railroad construction.
THE CARROLL - MURRAY FAMILIES
On Aug. 1, 1849 we find the birth of John, the son of John (laborer) and Margaret (Carroll) Murray. (G. V. S.) Father Gibson's record at Fitchburg gives this baptismal record; "Sept. 9, Egobapt: Iovanis nat. 29th Aug. fil. Ioanis Murray (Mooney) and Margaretam Carroll conj .; sp. Thomas Carroll and Catherina Joyce. M. W. Gibson." This is the earliest record of this Carroll - Murray family. They came from County Waterford, Ireland. There were four Carroll men and two Carroll women with their parents here in this town before 1853. Michael Carroll Senior died in Gardner Aug. 2, 1857 at the age of 80 years. Mary, the wife of Michael, died Sept. 4, 1861 at the age of 73 years. She was the daughter of Morris and Margaret Conners of County Waterford, Ireland. They are both buried in St. Bernard's Cemetery, Fitchburg. All six children were married. Margaret, the oldest daughter of Michael and Mary (born in 1811), was married in Ireland to John Murray. Two children, Ellen born about 1845 and Michael born about 1847, were born in Ireland and the afore men- tioned John born in Gardner 1849. This places the date of immigra- tion before 1849. About this time the oldest son of Michael and Mary Carroll, Maurice, born 1816, married Ellen Murray. A child, Ellen, died Jan. 14, 1858 age 7 yrs. 8 mos. 1 da. (G. V. S.) This birth was May 13, 1850. No record of this marriage was found but the birth
21
Town of Gardner, Massachusetts
of a second child Michael was found in G. V. S. as Sept. 18, 1851. Maurice married Joanna Conway on June 25, 1854 in a second marriage.
The next oldest child of Michael and Mary Carroll, John, born June 23, 1852 (G. V. S.) places that date probably at 1851. Patrick, the youngest son of Michael and Mary Carroll (b. 1824) married Joanna Shea for his first wife Dec. 1852. The marriage was perform- ed by Fr. Gibson and witnessed by Michael Murray and Ellen Kelly.
Thomas (B. 1823) reputed to be here in 1845 (Fr. Coyle's History) and a sponsor at the 1849 baptism, married Hanora Murray Oct. 23, 1852 on the same day that Hanora's sister Catherine Murray married Michael Murray 2nd. (no relation to the Murray family of whom two men and two women married into the family of Michael and Mary Carroll.)
Michael (B. 1821) son of Michael and Mary Carroll married Julia Sullivan of County Kerry, Apr. 10 1853, by Fr. Gibson, witnesses Pat Carroll and Marie Sullivan.
Bridget, the second daughter of Michael and Mary Carroll and older than the brothers (B. 1815), married Michael Murray, the fourth of the Murray family on Aug. 10, 1853, the marriage witnessed by Tom Carroll and Hanora Murray.
These five Murrays, Hanora (B. 1810), Michael (B. 1811), Ellen (B. 1814), John (B. 1815) and Catherine (B. 1816) were the children of Michael and Ellen (Forrest) Murray of County Water- ford, Ireland.
An estimate of the issue of these two County Waterford couples in Gardner is 75.
THE IRISH LABORER
It is apparent that the great success of our American railroad is in no small measure due to the Irish laborer. The qualities described as his in the opening paragraph of this paper made him capable of doing the work. Men like Mr. Hale advised the native-born to welcome this immigrant "the untaught and wretched Irish Celt", "wreck of so many centuries of retreat", "absorb them into our own society", and "make of them what we can", he says. "They are, at this moment, useless in the world, except, as Mr. Emerson has said, for the guano that is in it. There its value cannot be counted". If there is one drop of Celtic blood in my reader's veins it resents that attitude. When a man sincerely publishes in the daily paper such a statement
22
The Early Irish Settlers in the
to further his plea to welcome a pioneer - just as truly a pioneer as any American hero, be he on the New England coast, the Kentucky mountains, the Western prairies or crossing the Rockies, - the pic- ture of the hardship, bitterness, burden, privations of our Irish Gardner Immigrants is before us. As this picture stands before us, let us remind ourselves that we should curtail our judgment of the 1932 immigrant until we have weighed his background and present struggle. Let us benefit by Mr. Hale's mistake.
The men did work on the railroad, they dug cellars and wells, they farmed the land on the outskirts of the town; while the women became the faithful servants of the residents. And after fifteen years (fewer for many) 59 of them served their country by fighting on the Union side of the Civil War.
These men arose at early hours and walked along the track for as much as five miles to the day's work or to a farm on the outskirts of the town, worked until dark and walked home perhaps to find that the village boys had stoned the shanty and the mother and children had locked the door and crept under the bed too scared to breathe. This is no fairy story, (but what actually happened to the writer's own great grandmother, Ellen Mountain Conway, who came here in the June of 1851 with her daughter, Mary Conway (Vaughn), two years old. The shanty was built in the southwest corner of the Conway land on Pleasant St. and there on Apr. 11, 1852 Bridget Conway (Murray), the oldest living Gardner-born resident of Irish descent, was born. While Timothy Conway was gone to dig the cellar or well, his wife had to face these American ruffians' insults. The shanty was a rude hut - any house not plastered was given that name - were Abraham Lincoln born here at that time his log-cabin would have been a "shanty". Great credit has come to the "Shanty Irish".
Nor was the Irishman's day's work done when he reached home. He was building his house. In our earliest tax record in 1859 we have 64 estates valued at $21,765. and taxed for $258.93 with only six shanties listed. There is a beautiful story to be found in the land court records of that day. Notice the geographical position of the large group who settled on Pleasant, Dublin, Emerald and Main Streets. On the north was Bancroft Hill, on the east, Lynde Hill (now Peabody), on the west, Greenwood Hill and on the south the Otter River with its valley looking not very different from what it appears to one who stands today on Jackson's bridge and looks at that beautiful view. To one whose home-land was noted for its
23
Town of Gardner, Massachusetts
"lakes and dells" the view at sunset from any of these early homes must have brought contentment.
Land was purchased from Howe, Jackson, Wright and Greenwood probably. First a shanty was put up in some cases but soon the house was built. The pictures taken by the City assessors show many of these houses almost exactly as when they were first built. A garden was usually made in the rear of the lot and fruit trees were planted. These men worked at this building and planting when time allowed. In many cases the women helped. Their days were filled and happy for busy people are happy people.
Nor must the picture of the day be finished without recalling the practice of prayer - the family rosary. Previous to 1854 on Sunday, it was not a bit unusual to walk to Fitchburg to mass and from then on, to Otter River when the priest was there. Gardner is named a station by Fr. Gibson in his Worcester record of 1854 when he says: "In all the above places I have during the past year held stations and attended sick calls." Gardner was visited in March 1, Apr. 29, June 25, Oct. 28, Dec. 31st. No record is found where mass was said. In 1856 Father Edward Turpin who had assisted Fr. Gibson since April 1855 became the pastor of St. Bernard's and its missions. St. Martin's church was built in 1853 and dedicated in 1854. Fr. Edward Turpin came frequently here after the spring of 1855. His Brother Father Henry Turpin said mass every fortnight at Otter River from February to June 1857. It is said that Father Edward Turpin (after he became pastor in 1856) said mass out-of-doors in the grove off Baker Lane north of Greenwood Hill. The story is told that the candles did not blow out during the whole open air service. Candle sticks were furnished by the women. At other times mass was said in the homes of Patrick Carney, William Lane and Michael Goggin on Pleasant Street while children were baptized at the home of John Tighe on Union Street.
EARLY SETTLERS
The writer notes that she places here only names of those whose records she has seen.
Settlers in Gardner before the end of 1850 were: William and Joanna (Barnes) O'Donnell, Martin and Bridget (Tighe) Harney, John and Joanna (Gorman) Barnes, Thomas and Bridget (Joyce) Barnes, Maurice and Ellen (Murray) Carroll, Thomas Carroll, Hanna Murray, Timothy Conway, Mary Mountain, Mary Gearan, Barthol-
24
The Early Irish Settlers in the
omew and Margaret (Flynn ) Hennegan, William Hogan, Thomas and Catherine (O'Donnel) Lynch, John and Margaret (Carroll) Murray.
Settlers in surrounding towns before 1850 were: Thomas and Maria (Carey) Harrington, Ashburnham; Michael and Catherine Harrington, Westminster; Michael Carey, Westminster; Maria Lark- in, Westminster; John Harrington, Westminster; Martin and Bridget (Healy) Gately, Westminster; John and Mary (Barry) Joyce, West- minster; Catherine Daley and Thomas Murray, Westminster; Martin and Julia (Noonan) Healey, Otter River; Patrick and Mary O'Brien, Otter River; Patrick and Mary Moran, Otter River; Patrick and Catherine Brimin, Ashburnham; John and Margaret Comly, Ash- burnham; Timothy and Elizabeth Crawney, Ashburnham; William and Johanna Haley, Ashburnham; Martin and Johanna McCarty, Ashburnham; Michael and Mary Newman, Ashburnham; Patrick and Johanna Sullivan, Ashburnham; Thomas and Maris (Boyle) M'Cahill, Ashburnham; John and Mary (O'Brien) Maloney, Ash- burnham; Michael and Hannah (Harty) Leamy, Hubbardston; Martin Manning, Athol.
Living here in 1856 - in addition to the 1850 list. Cornelius and Mary (M'Carty) Bresnehan, John and Johanna Bryne, John and Margaret (Allen) Carroll, Michael and Mary (Connors) Carroll Sr., Michael and Julia (Sullivan) Carroll, Patrick and Mary (Flynn) Carroll, John and Elizabeth (Hurley) Collins, John D. and Ann (Arm) Collins, Michael and Bridget Collins, Patrick and Margaret Connell, Maurice and Joanna (Mountain) Conway, Timothy and Ellen (Mountain) Conway, Eliza Conway, Ellen Conway, Charles and Ellen (Flynn) Counihan, Martin and Mary Ann (Burke) Coyle, James and Mary Ann Daley, Thomas and Bridget Doyle, Francis and Celie (Lane) Flynn, Hugh and Alice (Hennissey) Franklin, George Franklin, David Franklin, Thomas and Catherine (Ryan) Franklin, Barney and Matilda Galoon, Michael and Margaret Gilligan, Michael and Joanna (Ledden) Goggin, Patrick and Miria (O'Neil) Goggin William and Rose (Murphy) Gorman, Patrick and Mary Gorman, Michael and Catherine Griffin, Patrick and Bridget (Ledden Griffin, Jeremiah and Joanna (Daley) Hartnett, James and Catherine Harty, William and Mary Ann (Ryan) Harty, Timothy and Margaret (Hancock) Healy, John and Mary (Conway) Henissey, Tom and Eliza Joyce, Patrick and Bridget (Conway) Kane, John and Bridget Keenan, Michael and Mary Ann Keenan, William and Mary (Lahey) Lane, Catherine Murphy, Michael Lawton, Michael and Hannah
( a a I
25
Town of Gardner, Massachusetts
(Harty) Leamy, Timothy and Margaret (Franklin) Leamy, Patrick and Mary Ledden, James and Catherine (Driscoll) Lynch Jr., James and Ellen (Cummings) Lynch, Patrick and Johannah (O'Neil) Lynch, Michael and - (Ledden) Mahanney, Patrick and Mary (Murray) Malone, Patrick and Mary Maloney, Owen and Bridget McCarty, Patrick M'Donald, Thomas and Johannah Moore, William and Ellen (Hurley) Mountain, Hugh and Ellen (O'Grady) Mulcahy, Thomas Mulcahy, Michael Mulcahy, Michael and Catherine (Mur- ray) Murray, Michael and Bridget (Carroll) Murray, Cornelius and Mary (Sullivan) O'Connell, Patrick and Margaret O'Connell, Michael and Hanora (Lane) O'Donnell, Michael and Mary (Lynch) O'Neil, Michael and Catherine Portlance, Michael and Mary (Gearan) Quirk, Patrick and Margaret Ryan, John and Catherine (Hare) Shay, Thomas and Johannah (Allen) Smith.
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