Honestly, my definitive information is pretty scant. I know that he was married to Bridget Burns in November of 1844 in the United States, specifically New York City, but on the Ireland side I have nothing. Looking at my genetic makeup there's an interesting development as in I may be more English (United Kingdom, specifically Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland) than Irish (39% vs 17%). My father's lineage was more Scottish than Irish but again that may do more to confuse the search than bring anything into more specific relief.
Coincidentally Luke's wife, Bridget Burns arrived in 1842 from Northern Ireland. I've always wondered if Luke and Bridget or their families may have known each other in Ireland. Nothing I've uncovered so far indicates they did but it's a thought.
Name Bridget Burns
Age 18
Birth Date 1824
Departure Port Newry, Northern Ireland
Arrival Date 5 Jul 1842
Arrival Port New York, New York, USA
Ship Name Amelia
Have you found Luke on censuses?
A few points on which to ruminate.
New York was a melting -pot as you no doubt know. People from all over Ireland went there. It was the destination of some of my relatives from County Mayo.
Genetic percentages. People on the DNA board may be able to help you interpret them. People have been moving back & forth between Ireland, England, Scotland and Wales for more than a thousand years, sometimes in a mass migration or planned large-scale settlement, e.g. the Plantations of Ulster.
English isn't the same as British. Britain isn't the same as the U.K. Scottish and Welsh people aren't English. People in or from the present state of Northern Ireland can be Irish or British or both or might identify as Ulster Scots.
The state of Northern Ireland was created in 1921 when Ireland was partitioned by the UK government. It contains only 6 of 9 Ulster counties. Donegal, the most northerly county of Ulster wasn't included in the new state. Neither were Cavan and Monaghan.
Newry was the port of departure for Bridget Burns but she may not have been born there.
Newry was a major port connected by canal to a large part of the province of Ulster. It had become the premier port in Ulster and the 4th in all Ireland by the end of 18th century, thanks to the canal. The town was transformed into an international trading centre, trading with America and Europe. Newry was a major urban centre in 19th century, population 13,000, with industries. The most successful period for the canal was 1840s. Thackeray, the writer visited in 1842 and wrote a description, mentioning "Steamers to Liverpool and Glasgow sail continuously" ("Irish Sketch Book")
https://www.newryjournal.co.uk/history/pre-1800/old-newry-history-part-1/
https://www.newry.ie/news/newry-in-1842
https://www.newry.com/history/
Article about emigrant ships from Newry Port with description & history of the port
https://www.newryjournal.co.uk/history/maritme-history/emigrant-ships-brothers/
Yea, very good point. Fact is though my genetics points to being English, say, it has to be noted that we're really talking "English Isles", or North West Europe more generally.
Love the information on Newry. I have information on Gillens in New York city and it's a pretty impressive collection. And I know, based on marriage records, that Luke and Bridget lived there before moving on to Maryland.
Thanks for taking the time to reply. Wonderful info.
Regards,
Mark Gillen
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