Downeast Shamrock August 2014 by Timothy Gillis

DOWNEAST SHAMROCK AUGUST 2014

From The Editor Welcome to another edition of The Downeast Shamrock. Yes, we are still here! Due to many factors, we are many, many months late! As the editor and compiler of this newsletter, I have been extremely busy these last seven months with the publication of my book on the history of the Portland Irish and a book tour that only ended in late June. Unfortunately, as I do most, if not all of the research and writing of this journal, I have not had any free time to work on this. I am also busy finishing a book on the Portland Irish during the Civil War, which I had to put on hold during the last year and a half. Two publishers have shown interest in said book! The work goes on! We do have to announce that we might have to suspend publication of this newsletter at the end of this volume due to many reasons, including numerous other commitments that the editor/compiler has, the access to many new Irish and Irish American genealogy and history websites that are now available on the Internet, and a low circulation number in the last year. But it is also possible that we could publish a quarterly newsletter, which would have a limited number of printed issues, but also be available online. We are still working on various details and exploring our options, so bear with us!

We continue to seek queries, stories, genealogies, successful research strategies, copies of old photos and images, book reviews, information on online Irish genealogy sites, and anything our readers think would be of value for tracing those elusive Irish ancestors. Send us your suggestions, comments, questions, and so on! We also continue to operate a Facebook page and Mr. Tim Gillis will continue to place our newsletters online. For the online version, please go to http://issuu.com and look for The Downeast Shamrock. The Maine Irish Heritage Center (MIHC) has hosted many interesting events and programs in 2014 (see pages 7-‐8). The DNA study, the Maine Gaeltacht Project, continues to grow bigger and bigger, with now over 250 participants. Several of the center’s genealogists will be in Ireland in September to collect more DNA, especially in Connemara, County Galway. We will report on this in our next issue. Well, until next time, keep digging and may the luck of the Irish be with you! Slainte. Matthew Jude Barker, Editor, Compiler, PO Box 8421, Portland, Maine, USA, 04104, email: mjudebark@gmail.com.

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QUERIES Welcome to our monthly QUERIES section. Send us your queries today! You can email them to us or send them via snailmail. We will print queries as space permits. Queries should be to the point, providing, when possible, full names, places of birth, marriage, and death, and all relevant dates. Please remit to: Matthew J. Barker, PO Box 8421, Portland, Maine, 04104, email mjudebark@gmail.com. 254-‐3 GILLAN-‐GILZEAN-‐AUSTIE-‐SIM Seek ancestry, desc. of THOMAS GILZEAN/GILLAN, father of JAMES GILLAN, of Hempriggs, Parish of Alves, Morayshire, Scotland, who m. JEAN AUSTIE, 1755, and had, between 1756-‐1770: THOMAS, m. JESSIE SIM; ALEXANDER; JOHN; WILLIAM; & ELIZABETH. Thank-‐you. MATTHEW J. BARKER, PO Box 8421, Portland, ME, 04104, email: mjudebark@gmail.com. 255-‐3 WOODS-‐HENWOOD/HENWARD Seek ancestry, desc. of JOHN WOODS, born Ireland, and son BERNARD WOODS, born 1831 Bath, ME, died 1909 Eastport, ME, m. JANE L. HENWARD/HENWOOD (1832-‐1911). Any help appreciated. Thank-‐ you. PAMELA MATHEWS BARKER, 1576 Broadway, South Portland, ME, 04106.

256-‐3 CONNELL-‐O’CONNELL-‐SHEEHAN-‐ PYNE-‐HINES-‐DUNN Seek ancestry, desc. of PHILIP CONNELL/O’CONNELL & MARY SHEEHAN of Liscarroll, County Cork, who had three known children: MARGARET, 1835, m. JOHN DUNN, Hingham, MA; CORNELIUS (1837-‐1892), m. CATHERINE PYNE, many children b. in Hingham & Boston; & BARTHOLOMEW CONNELL (1837-‐1903), m. CATHERINE HINES, seven children b. Hingham. Any help appreciated. MATTHEW J. BARKER, PO Box 8421, Portland, ME, 04104. 257-‐3 BURKE-‐CUNNINGHAM-‐GREELY-‐ SILK-‐REARDON-‐GARDNER-‐DONNELLAN Researching BURKE & CUNNINGHAM of County Galway, esp. JOHN BURKE & MARY ANN CUNNINGHAM & children, born Galway, died Portland, ME: JOHN, m. HANNAH DONNELLAN; MICHAEL m. BRIDGET GREELY; ELLEN, m. PATRICK SILK; RICHARD, m. CECELIA GARDNER; & MARY, m. JOHN REARDON. Any help appreciated. Thanks. KRISTA HEATLEY OZYAZGAN, PO Box 11063, Portland, ME, 04104, email: mainegeni@me.com.

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258-‐3 STANTON

BURKE-‐GLYNN-‐THORNTON-‐

Seek ancestry, desc. of MICHAEL BURKE (1817-‐1890) & MARY GLYNN (1819-‐1883), of Headford, County Galway. Known children: JOHN P. (1858-‐1927), m. BRIDGET THORNTON, 1899, Portland, ME; PATRICK J. (1862-‐1910), m. ANNIE STANTON, Portland, many desc., & CATHERINE BURKE (1872-‐1938), d. Portland. Any help appreciated. MICHELLE THORNE TUCCI, 57 Lukes Rd., Casco, ME, 04105. Email: mthorne1@maine.rr.com. 259-‐3 CHAPMAN

THORNTON-‐BURKE-‐FROST-‐

Seek ancestry, desc. of THOMAS THORNTON (1830-‐1900), b. Donaghpatrick Parish, Co. Galway, s/o JOHN & ANNE BURKE THORNTON, d. Newbury, MA, m. LOUISA FROST (1851-‐1908), 1869, children b. Newbury: EMMA FLORENCE; CARRIE LIZZIE, m. EDMUND CHAPMAN; EDWARD BURKE (1879-‐1959); & LENA RIVERS THORNTON. Any help appreciated. MATTHEW J. BARKER, PO Box 8421, Portland, ME, 04104. Email: mjudebark@gmail.com.

260-‐3 KING-‐CLIFFORD-‐O’REILLY Seek ancestry, desc. of JAMES KING (1805-‐1884), b. Ireland, d. Boston, and his wife MARY CLIFFORD (1814-‐1877). MARY E. KING (1865-‐1940) m. MICHAEL O’REILLY, MARGARET T. KING (1868-‐1936), m. PATRICK O’REILLY. Any help appreciated. THOMAS FLOOD, pmcbrid1@maine.rr.com. 261-‐3 GLEESON-‐GLEASON-‐FLANAGAN-‐ HASSETT-‐WEISS-‐PYLE-‐HEENIG Seek info. on, desc. of JAMES GLEESON/GLEASON (1834-‐1898), b. Fenloe, Tomfinlough Parish, Co. Clare, s/o MICHAEL & MARY FLANAGAN GLEESON, d. Williams, Iowa, m. BRIDGET HASSETT, 1860, Drumline, children, b. bet. 1860-‐76: MICHAEL J. (1860-‐1914), m. AVINE HEENIG, d. Liberty, Iowa; JOHN W.; THOMAS; MARYANNE; JAMES; ELLA, m. JOSEPH WEISS; & KATE, m. JOHN S. PYLE, Iowa. Any info. appreciated. MATTHEW J. BARKER, PO Box 8421, Portland, ME, 04104.

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GALWAY SURNAMES, PART NINE This is Part Nine of our ongoing series that explores the many and varied surnames of the County Galway, Ireland. Most of our members have Galway ancestry, especially from Connemara, that wild, romantic region west of Galway City. A great many people of Irish heritage in New England have Galway antecedents. We have had many articles on the Galway Irish in our newsletter over the last four years. This series does not feature every Galway surname, but the majority of Galway families has and will be treated here. For more information on these surnames, please consult Edward MacLysaght’s SURNAMES OF IRELAND (Irish Academic Press, Dublin, Ireland, 6th edition, 1999) or previous incarnations of the book. Also see Michael C. O’Laughlin’s FAMILIES OF COUNTY GALWAY (Irish Genealogical Foundation, Kansas City, Missouri, 1998). Mr. MacLysaght is still the acknowledged expert on Irish surnames, although he passed away many years ago. The entries usually include a brief background on a given surname, along with various corruptions, phonetic spellings, anglicized forms, and Irish Gaelic versions. (O) MEENAGHAN: This surname is the anglicized version of O Muimhneachain in County Mayo, sometimes confused with MONAGHAN and even THORNTON (via 5

MEENAGH, MINAGHAN.

pseudo-‐translation).

(O) MELIA: See O’MALLEY (O) MESCAL: O Meiscill in Irish, this is usually found in County Clare and adjacent areas of Counties Galway and Limerick. MILLETT: This is derived from miles, soldier. Various forms include MELLOT and MYLOTTE. Mainly found in County Mayo and eastern Galway where it is also found as MacMYLOYD. MONS: This is an east Galway family which is synonymous with MONDS and MUNDS in Counties Sligo and Roscommon. Galway origin is unknown. (O) MORAN: This surname is found in many scattered areas in Ireland and in Galway it is of the Ui Maine. MORRAN MORRIS: This is one of the “Tribes of Galway.” Of Norman origin, it was originally de MARIES and de MARISCO. (O) MULCAIR: O Maoilcheire in Irish, this is now mainly located in County Limerick, but

DOWNEAST SHAMROCK AUGUST 2014

was known in Galway. Variants included MULHARE, MULKERE. (O) MULDOON: O Maolduin in Irish, it is one of three distinct septs according to MacLysaght. It is of the Ui Maine in County Galway. (O) MULLALLY O Maolalaidh in Irish, it was an important branch of the Ui Maine according to MacLysaght. It is usually shortened to LALLY. (O) MULLAN: O Maolain in Irish, this name is found in Counties Galway and Derry. It has been corrupted into many other names, including MULLEN, MULLINS, MELLON, and MacMULLEN. MULROE: This is a variant of MULROY (County Mayo) found in Counties Galway and Sligo. (O) MULROONEY: This surname has been changed to MORONEY in County Galway. (O) MULVILLE, MELVILLE: Forms of (O) MULVIHILL in Counties Galway and Clare, according to MacLysaght. 6

O) MULRYAN: This name has been changed to MULRINE, MULROYNE, and other corruptions in Galway and Leitrim. Many RYANS were originally MULRYAN. (O) NAGHTEN, NAUGHTON: O Neachtain in Irish, this surname is located in Counties Galway, Roscommon, and Clare. There are many variants, including KNOCHTON, NOCTON, NATTON, and NORTON, which is especially found in America. (O) NEE, NEEDHAM: O Niadh in Irish, from niadh, champion, it is found in Counties Galway and Mayo, especially in Connemara. NEA, NEY, KNEE, KNEEDOM are corruptions. (MAC) NEELY: This is MacConghaile in Irish and found in Galway, where it is also anglicized as CONNEELY. CORNEELY is a corrupt form of Conneely. (MAC) NEVIN: Mac Cnaimhin in Irish, it was a sept of the Ui Maine found in County Galway, but now, as NEVIN, found everywhere. KNAVIN formerly. (O) NEWELL: O Tnuthghail (from tnuth-‐ gal, “envy valour”) in Irish, this surname originated in County Kildare and spread to Galway, perhaps during the Cromwellian

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confiscations or in the 1690s. It was common in northeastern Galway. Corruptions have included NUEL, NEWIL, NEWEL, NEWHALL, NOOIL. NYLAND, NILAN: These are forms of NEYLAN found in County Galway, according to MacLysaght.

(MAC) PHILBIN: Mac Philbin in Irish (a form of Phillip). According to MacLysaght, they were one of “the Hibernicized branches of the Connacht Burkes.” Found in Mayo and Galway. PHILLIPS: This name has been found in recent years as a form of PHILBIN.

MacPADDEN: Mac Paidin in Irish, this was “An Irish patronymic adopted by some families of BARRETT and also of STAUNTON in Connacht,” according to MacLysaght. PADINE.

QUALTER: Mac Ualtair in Irish, this name is “a syncopated form of MacWalter in use in north Galway and Mayo for this branch of the Connacht Burkes,” according to MacLysaght. McWALTER, McWALTERS, WALTERS.

PAGE: This English surname was common in east Galway, where it was gaelicized as Mac Giolla. PATTERSON, PATTISON: Although English surnames, they were used in County Galway as synonyms of CUSSANE. PELLY: Found in Counties Galway and Roscommon; origin may be English or French. PERSSE: A landed family established in County Galway in 1700, according to MacLysaght.

(MAC) QUILKIN: Mac Uilcin in Irish, this surname is fairly well known in County Galway. A branch of the Stauntons of Mayo usually CULKIN or CULKEEN. RABBITT: This surname is the anglicized version of several Irish surnames, including CUNNEEN, CUNNEENY, CUNNANE, CONHEENY, and KINNEEN. It is derived from coinin, the Irish for rabbit. RABBITTE. (O) RAGHTEEN: O Raichtin in Irish, it was used for RAFTERY in County Galway.

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MAINE IRISH HERITAGE CENTER

NEWS As we alluded to in our editorial, the MAINE IRISH HERITAGE CENTER, the former St. Dominic Catholic Church in Portland, has had a very busy and successful year thus far. We will explore some of the highlights here. In January 2014, many interesting events took place. Believe it or not, paranormal investigators visited the MIHC on Saturday night, January 11, and many strange things indeed occurred and much of it was caught on film or on other devices. Those mysterious orbs often seen in photos taken with digital cameras were everywhere. For those interested, the group, known as HauntMe, will air their episode on the MIHC online soon. In late January, Bill Green, of Channel 6’s “Bill Green’s Maine,” came to do a piece for his show on the wreck of the RMS Bohemian, the 150th commemoration of which was held at the center on February 22. The episode aired on his show on Saturday night, February 1. On January 31, Matthew Jude Barker had the official book launch of his new book on the history of the Portland Irish, THE IRISH OF PORTLAND, MAINE, A HISTORY OF FOREST CITY HIBERNIANS. The books for sale that night sold out, all eighty of them! Gillian Graham of the Portland Press Herald wrote a great piece on the wreck of the Bohemian, which appeared in the February 18th edition. This greatly added to 8

the publicity surrounding the th aforementioned 150 commemoration of the wreck, which occurred on the actual date of the tragedy, February 22, at the MIHC. The event was heavily attended, with food being provided by the local Ancient Order of Hibernians and music by an Irish group, the KEENANS. More events are planned for the future, as well as eventually erecting a memorial in Forest City Cemetery in South Portland, where eighteen victims of the wreck are buried in a mass grave which is still to this day unmarked. On March 16, 2014, the MIHC sponsored the “big” St. Patrick’s Day parade on Commercial Street in Portland, followed by an open house at the center. This parade grows with each passing year. Among the marchers were members of the AOH, the MIHC, the Irish American Club of Maine, the Maine Police Emerald Society, the Claddagh Mhor Pipe Band, the Stillson School of Irish Dance, the Portland Hurling Club, and representatives from many local police and fire departments, businesses, and other organizations. In May, the MIHC sponsored its annual “Not-‐So-‐Silent Auction,” which was a great success. And on May 31, genealogists from the center attended the Southern Maine Genealogy Conference at Keeley’s Caterers in Portland to represent the MIHC. Many interested individuals stopped by the center’s table and as usual, many “connections” were made.

DOWNEAST SHAMROCK AUGUST 2014

On June 28, 2014, the most recent Lord Mayor of Belfast, Mairtin O Muilleoir, publisher of the IRISH ECHO, visited the MIHC and a great time was had by all. The Lord Mayor was not only very interested in the center’s Maine Gaeltacht DNA Project, he even took a DNA test! He also, with help from Margaret Feeney LaCombe, the administrator of the project, wrote a nice piece on the MIHC and the DNA study for the IRISH ECHO. The ties with this New York Irish American newspaper are now stronger than ever. As O Muilleoir stated online and in the article, the MIHC is one of the most beautiful Irish heritage centers in America. Other recent events have included the annual Irish American Club of Maine’s picnic at Spring Point in South Portland, where the MIHC had a kiosk, and the 16th annual Memorial Mass at the Catholic Ground in the Western Cemetery. The Ancient Order of Hibernians, Division 1, Daniel O’Connell O’Donoghue Division, Portland, erected a beautiful memorial stone in 1999 at the Catholic Ground to recognize the 1200 Catholics who were interred there, most of which have no gravestone. These Catholics, almost all of whom were Irish emigrants and their children, were buried here from the early 1830s until 1858, when Calvary Cemetery in South Portland was opened by Bishop Bacon. A reception followed at the MIHC. In early August, Portland native and former St. Dominic’s parishioner and student John Phillip Foley of Boston 9

arrived at the center with four cases of books for the center’s library. Mr. Foley, an attorney, has arranged for several hundred books to be donated to the MIHC from the John J. Burns Library of Boston College. When Mr. Foley visited, he was accompanied by Mr. Breandan O Caollai, Ireland’s Consul General in Boston, and Mr. Ed Forry, publisher of the BOSTON IRISH REPORTER. More than two dozen members of the MIHC greeted the Consul General. Again, a great time was had by all. Mr. Forry wrote an article on the event for the September issue of the Boston Irish Reporter. Also in August, four of the center’s dedicated genealogists attended a DNA conference in Washington, D. C., where they met a noted expert in Irish DNA genealogy, Maurice Gleeson, a native of Dublin. Mr. Gleeson was greatly impressed with the MIHC’s DNA project, stating that few, if any other institutions are doing what the center is doing with Irish and Irish American DNA. He noted that it was especially important that the project included the DNA of over forty residents of Connemara, County Galway. Mr. Gleeson has invited MIHC genealogists to the DNA conference in Dublin next year. During the year, the center has continued to assist countless genealogists and researchers trace their Irish ancestry, as well as give numerous tours of the MIHC to visitors from far and near. Students from Casco Bay High School even enjoyed a day-‐ long visit to the center in April.

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T HE

IRISH

THE

AMERICAN CIVIL WAR

Much

has been written about the participation of the Irish in the American Civil War. We have featured many pieces on the Irish and the war during the last three years as we continue to commemorate the 150th anniversary of that terrible conflict in our nation’s history. Books on the Civil War, on countless aspects and subjects, continue to flood the market. And there are endless websites devoted to the Civil War. One extremely informative, detailed, and thoughtful website is written and compiled by Damian Shiels, an Irish archaeologist who has a unique perspective on the Irish in the Civil War. Mr. Shiels, “an archaeologist based in Ireland, specializing in conflict archaeology,” as his blog states, has spent at least the last four years researching the Irish and their experiences in the Civil War; he has explored their lives using a wide array of sources, including pension records, which we have noted in previous articles are a rich source for tracing Irish American ancestors who fought in the war. His website, http://irishamericancivilwar.com/ is full of fascinating articles and hints on how to trace Civil War ancestors. Some of the more recent pieces have included, “The Civil War Letters of James Fleming: Part 1;” “Gangs of New York: Recruiting the Irish ‘Straight Off 10

the Boat;’” “The 146 Irish Recipients of the Medal of Honor from the American Civil War;” “Naming Over 800 Union Soldiers Who Supported the Poor of Ireland;” “Irish Relief Fund: The Remarkable Contribution of Union Soldiers & Sailors, Part 1;” and “Medal of Honor: Sergeant Dennis J. F. Murphy, 14th Wisconsin Infantry.” This site being a blog, it is also quite interesting to read the comments, suggestions, and questions that readers have posted after various articles. Many have asked Mr. Shiels about tracing their own Irish ancestors who fought in the war and he has offered them research hints and pointed them in the right direction where to find further information. Another useful aspect of this site is the bibliography of books, including biographies, regimental histories, diaries, and general histories relating to the history of the Irish in the American Civil War. On May 1, 2014, the History Press published Mr. Shiels’ The Irish in the American Civil War, a comprehensive look at the entire experience of the Irish and Irish Americans in the Civil War. We strongly recommend Shiels’ book and website. Matthew Jude Barker is currently finishing up his own contribution to Civil War history: The Blue and The Green: The Portland, Maine Irish During the Civil War.

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POTPOURRI ANDREW JOHNSON & THE CATHOLICS The following on President Andrew Johnson is extracted from, THE TRAGIC ERA, THE REVOLUTION AFTER LINCOLN, by Claude G. Bowers, Blue Ribbon Books, New York, 1929, page 35-‐36: “…At times he {Andrew Johnson} disclosed a certain partiality to Catholicism, and this has been ascribed to his admiration of its policy of recognizing no distinctions in worship. Not only did he occasionally attend Catholic services in Washington, but he entered one of his sons in a Catholic school. This contributed less, however, to the charge that he was, in spirit, a Catholic than his robust battles against Know-‐ Nothingism and the religious intolerance of his times. He had been attacked on the false ground that he had put his daughter in a Catholic school in Georgetown. She had really attended Mrs. English’s Seminary for Young Ladies, which was non-‐ sectarian. But Johnson was intolerant of intolerance. He was as firmly convinced as Jefferson of the injustice and tyranny of any sort of interference with the freedom of conscience. On one occasion in the House, when a speaker had given utterance to a proscriptive thought, Johnson had flamed with wrath. ‘Are the bloodhounds of proscription, and persecution to bet let loose on the Irish? Is 11

the guillotine to be set up in a republican form of government?’ It was his devastating crusade of defiance against this spirit that first established his leadership, by right, of the Tennessee Democracy in 1854. ‘Show me a Know-‐ Nothing,’ he shouted to bigots, pale with fury, and to the sound of the cocking of pistols, ‘and I will show you a loathsome reptile on whose neck every honest man should set his heel.’ In replying to an attack on Catholics charged with responsibility for the defeat of Clay in 1844, he left no doubt of the liberality of his views. ‘The Catholics had the right secured to them by the Constitution of worshipping the God of their fathers in the manner dictated by their consciences…This country is not prepared to establish an inquisition to try and punish men for their religious beliefs.’ To measure the depth of his feeling on religious liberty and against proscription, it must be remembered that he represented a district containing but few Catholics and permeated with a prejudice against them. Nothing could better illustrate the courageous intellectual honesty of Andrew Johnson.”

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THE

IRISH

MANCHESTER,

OF NEW

HAMPSHIRE A recent visitor to the MIHC, Mr. MARK QUILL, gave us a copy of a new book on the Manchester, New Hampshire Irish, SAINTS & SINNERS, THE PIONEER IRISH OF MANCHESTER, NH, 1835-‐1900, by JOHN PATRICK JORDAN, published in 2013. While this is an interesting book, it is not an actual history, but a collection of old newspaper articles, biographies of prominent Manchester Irish residents, and miscellaneous information. But anyone with Manchester Irish relatives or ancestors should definitely secure a copy. Mr. Jordan, who has spent many years researching and writing about the Manchester Irish, has collected substantial articles and biographies on many local Irish. Families that are represented include: LOGUE, O’SULLIVAN, BRADLEY, KEARNS, DONAHUE, EGAN, BRESNAHAN, COUGHLIN, CAHILL, LYONS, O’CONNELL, CORCORAN, FERGUSON, CONNOR, HARRINGTON, O’DOWD, CAVANAUGH, GLANCY, HEALY, BARRY, DEVINE, DUFFY, KIRBY, SCULLY, BRODERICK, FAHEY, O’MELIA, MURRAY, WHITE, BUCKLEY, O’TOOLE, O’MARA, FOLEY, WILLIS, GUILFOY, GAVIN, KANE, SHERRY, McCANN, MULLEN, COURTNEY, ROURKE, MAHAN, LYNCH, HUGHES, BONNOR, McKENDREE, MANNING, LOUGHLIN, BENNETT, CRONIN, GORMAN, LANE, KENNEDY, QUINN, 13

GILMARTIN, REGAN, HEDDERMAN, FARRELL, CULLEN, MADDEN, DUGGAN, O’NEIL, McMANUS, LINNEHAN, O’CONNOR, SWEENEY, MALONEY, GALLAGHER, CODY, KIERNAN, CASEY, WELCH, O’BRIEN, BURKE, BRENNAN, and many others. The book, while not a traditional history or genealogical account, is full of invaluable stories, anecdotes, and genealogical and historical information on the Manchester Irish. Copies of actual newspaper articles is a nice touch. Mr. Jordan is a native of Manchester, graduated from Bishop Bradley High School (Christian Brothers), and retired as an ironworker, Local 7, Boston. He has compiled many histories of the Manchester Irish and Catholics and has given tours of St. Joseph’s Cemetery for many years. Jordan was “honored by the Manchester City Library by being presented with a plaque and chair inscribed: “John Jordan Chair of Manchester Studies,” “Citizen, Hibernian, Historian,” for a lifelong research and documenting of Manchester history.” Among some of the notable Irish mentioned in this book are MOTHER FRANCES WARDE, the Irish-‐born founder of the Sisters of Mercy in America, and BISHOP DENNIS M. BRADLEY, former Portland, Maine priest and first Catholic bishop of New Hampshire. The book can be found in the collections of the Maine Irish Heritage Center.

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ON THE COVER The gentleman on the cover is FRANCIS MURPHY, one of the most noted temperance lecturers of the late 19th Century. His story is truly an amazing one. Francis Murphy was born in County Wexford, Ireland about 1836. He immigrated to Portland, Maine in the 1850s, where he settled, married, started a family, and operated saloons and was a liquor dealer. By September 1869, he had become the proprietor of Bradley’s Hotel at 1 Commercial Street in Portland. This was owned by James Bradley, an immigrant from County Derry. In September 1869, Francis was at work when a belligerent and highly intoxicated individual named Patrick Murray from New Brunswick was harassing a woman he thought, in his inebriated state, was his wife. Murray followed her to her living quarters and tried to get in. Francis got into tussle with Murray, and Murray was shoved down a flight stairs and died. Francis was arrested for murder, but the charges were dropped to manslaughter in October. His bail was set at $5000, an incredible amount in those days. Francis Murphy was later acquitted, but while in the Cumberland County Jail in Portland, he had a kind of religious awakening and took the pledge to never imbibe alcohol again. He was befriended by Captain Cyrus Sturdivant, an old Yankee sea captain who was a temperance lecturer. Sturdivant became Murphy’s benefactor and no doubt 17

helped to eventually get him out of jail, which happened in early 1871. Francis had been, of course, distraught that while he had sat in jail for a year and a half, his wife Eliza and four young children remained at home in distress. After his conversion, Francis became a devout gospel temperance lecturer. He gave his first lecture in Portland on April 2, 1871. For the next thirty years, Francis lectured throughout the United States, Canada, Ireland, and England. In 1877, sixty-five thousand reportedly signed the pledge to abstain from alcohol in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania. It was at this time that he created a “blue ribbon” society whose members were presented with blue ribbons when they had joined the society and swore off alcohol. This group became known as the “Blue Ribbon Army,” and in some ways was a precursor to Alcoholics Anonymous (AA). Francis Murphy returned to Portland many times over the years to speak. His lectures were always heavily attended and always made the newspapers. After a rather dissolute early life, Francis continued to lecture for the rest of his life and received many accolades for his work. He died in Los Angeles, California, in 1907, aged seventy-one. The photo on the cover was copied from a book on Captain Sturdivant and his “conversion” of Murphy that can be located at the Maine Historical Society.