“This book is a perfect amalgamation of historical and genealogical information worthy of readership. Mr. Carletta is not just a story teller.…What stands out is his clear and concise writing, excellent organization, and scholarly presentation. The book delves deeply into the history of County Meath and Northeastern America, the reasons for emigration, and the conditions faced by the emigrants on their journey to Saint Lawrence County and in the wilderness where they settled.” –Victor C. Pellegrino
“Excellent family history. The book contains extensive, well-sourced information on the author’s heritage as well as details about the historical and sociopolitical context of early 19th century Irish immigration that bring the genealogical information to life….this book…will be of interest to relatives of the author and the broader public alike. For the Grass of a Cow serves as a fine model that achieves a complete and interesting story by including carefully selected biographical material from neighboring families.” –Timothy Leonard
“…a must-read for genealogists wanting to include multiple generations and branches of their tree into one family history book.…Carletta’s background in sociology, his research, and his passion for social history enable him to put his ancestors into a context all family historians can learn from.” –Helen Parker-Drabble
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An in-depth history of Irish immigrants to Saint Lawrence County, New York
Part genealogy and part history, this book tells the fascinating story of Marion Tiernan’s family, emigrants from County Meath, Ireland, who arrived in northern New York beginning in the 1820s. Among the earliest settlers of Waddington, Madrid, and Norfolk, their stories unfold with descriptions of their home parishes, journey to New York, and life on the frontier. Family histories complete the stories of the settlers and identify their occupations and achievements. The final chapter reveals Marion’s own journey, from the Bellhurst Club in Geneva, New York, to Miami Beach, Lake Tahoe, and Carson City. All readers who are descendants of these families will discover their Irish roots, and family history researchers will profit from the broad picture of Irish settlement in Saint Lawrence County and numerous connections to sources in Ireland.
Table of Contents
List of Figures and Photos
Acknowledgments
Preface
Introduction
- County Meath History
- Land Leases, Labor, Economy
- Catholic Persecution, Parishes, Church Records
- Michael Duffy & Ann Cormick
- St. Lawrence Region History
- Frontier Conditions, Early Settlers
- Voyage to America, River Travel on the St. Lawrence
- Settlers from Navan and Westmeath
- Settlers from Kellystown and Rathkenny
- Ireland 1820-1845
- The Famine Years
- Thomas Tiernan & Bridget Duffy
- Philip Martin & Bridget Mooney
- Andrew Tiernan & Mary Ann Martin
- James Dunigan & Hannorah Meehan
- Morris McNulty Sr. & Mary Haley
- Michael Dunigan & Eliza McNulty & Bridget Nulty
- Thomas Murphy & Ann Brady
- Thomas Murphy & Mary Dunigan
- Philip Tiernan & Mary Anne Murphy
- Marion Tiernan & Angelo Vincent Carletta
Bibliography
Index
Neighboring Families
From Navan and Westmeath
Christopher Fay b1793 & Bety Eliza Fay b1796
Lawrence Fay b1793 & Ann Waldon b1801
William Gorman b1784 & Catherine F. Miles b1793
Charles Fay b 1788 & Elizabeth Murry b1788
Patrick McKanna b1789 & Bridget McKanna b1798
Peter Dalton b1752 & Nancy Naulty b1764
Matthew W. Dalton b1829
Michael Martin b1781 & Elizabeth Parkinson b1786
James Parkinson b1762
From Kellystown and Rathkenny
Matthew Hughes b1771 & Bridget Traynor b1765
Richard O’Brien b1795 & Mary L. b1790
Patrick O’Brien b1789 & Mary b1800
James O’Brien b1799 & Margaret Hughes b1810
Thomas Tiernan b1765 & Margaret Downey b1775
Andrew Tiernan b1836 & Julia E. Hughes b1836
Patrick Tiernan b1796 & Catherine Nulty b1794
Settlers of the Louisville Township
Michael Clements b1801 & Hanora Snee b1798
John Barry b1812 & Margaret Clements b1820
James Mulhair b1816 & Bridget Clements b1826
William Dunigan b1821 & Catherine Clements b1832
John Murphy b1830 & Ann Ruth Clements b1833
William O’Brien b1818 & Jane Flynn b1836
George O’Brien b1877
Ethel O’Brien Brennan b1882
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