At my local LDS Family History Center, I found a book titled " IRISH SETTLERS
IN NORTH AMERICA". It is a copy of an 1852 work written by an Irish
immigrant. Below I will type chapter two as written.
CHAPTER II
The First Irish emigrants-In Barbados-In Pennsylvania-In New York-In Maryland-
In Virginia-In The Carolinas-In Kentuckey-Adventure of Simon Butler In
Delaware
The half century after the voyage of Columbus was spent in exploring the
harbors, rivers and coasts of the "New World." Colonization followed,-the
Spanish nation still leading.; in 1562, the French had built a Fort in
Carolina, and in 1608, they founded Quebec; in 1685, Raleigh settled 180
emigrants at Roanoke; in 1606, Jamestown was begun; in 1629, Plymouth, and in
1634 Baltimore. These are the first authentic dates of North American
settlements.
The first Irish people who found permanent homes in America, were certain
Catholic partiots, banished by Oliver Cromwell to Barbados, in 1649. After
the failure of the confederation formed in that year, 45,000 Irishmen were
beyond the seas, some to France and Spain, and several ship-loads to
Barbadeos. In this Island, and as in the neighboring Montserat, the Celtic
language was commonly spoken in the last century, and, perhaps, it is partly
attributable to to this early Irish colonization, that Barbadoes became "one
of the most populous islands in the world." At the end of the 17th century, it
was reported to contain 20,000 white inhabitants.
During the last quarter of the 17th century there does not appear to have
been any considerable emigration from Ireland. After the restoration of
Charles II, in 1660, the influance of the Duke of Ormund procured letters
patent suspending the Navigation Laws, so as to allow Ireland comparative
freedom of trade. From this manufactures flourished, and there was no "surplus
population" left.
The revolution of 1688 marks a new and less prosperous era for the Mother
Country. William and Maryin the first year of their reign, were called, by
both Houses of Parliament, to discourage the manufactures of Ireland which
competed with those of England, which they complacently consented to do. By
this invidious policy, according to Lord Fitzwilliam, "100,000 operatives"
were driven out of Ireland. "Many of the Protestants, says an historian of
Irish trade, "removed into Germany,"-"several Papists at the same time
removed
into Spain." Another cotemporaneous writer speaks of multitudes having gone to
America from Ireland "in consequence of the rack rents there." A cotemporary
account estimates that 3000 males left Ulster yearly for the colonies. And we
hear, at intervals amid the confusion of this panic flight, the stern accents
of Swift, upbraiding the people with their submission, and reproaching the
aristocracy with their suicidal policy, in cultivating cattle and banishing
men.
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This is quite interesting to me as we can see the deportion of many Irish to
Barbadoes as well as France and Spain. Jamestown Colony passenger lists show
Barbadoes as being on the normal route of passage for ships from England to
the Colonies. Thus an Irish ancestor may well have been deported to Barbadoes
and later have made his way to Jamestown, Boston, and/or Port Royal for that
matter. Such a person might still be considered a refugee and most certainly
an Irelander at the time he arrived at his final destination.
Richard Casey
Las Vegas, NV