The past summer, the first of my retirement, my early morning hours were spent on Ancestry.com researching our family histories to bring this process, started 2013 in preparation for our tour of Ireland, to a point where I can start to consolidate it into a document shared with other family members.
It is a wonderful feeling when the pieces come together. For example the passenger manifest when Grandfather McArdle brought Grandmother and then three year old Mom to Quebec, Canada from the port of Belfast April 1926.
Their belongings are gathered together in just such a manner. My parents marked all my belongings that left the home with me with my name and address.
Our thought were on this when we selected this suitcase marked with the shamrock from a “Christmas Store” along the streets of the Pennsylvania town of Jim Thorpe, as the memory of our ancestors our exploration of Ireland.
Click this link for the first “Christmas Ornaments 2018” post.
Click this link for another post about Cobh, Ireland, “Annie Moore and her Brothers.”
Copyright 2018 All Rights Reserved Michael Stephen Wills
History is so interesting. Did not appreciate history when in school as much as I do now.
That was such a fun time that Thanksgiving when you and Pam visited and we went to Jim Thorpe ❤️❤️
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We treasure that memory and need to do it again.
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The cases piled up on the cart are highly evocative and just imagine all your belongings in them. I always think of the incredible courage and hope in life of all setting out on a new life in the unknown.
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It is there in all our origin stories.
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Must have been overwhelming to encounter that trunk on display! Thankfully your camera was ready …
Did the emigrants leave their trunks after arrival? Too bulky/heavy to transport? (I’m envisioning lesser bags stuffed inside the trunk.) If you know the “story” behind abandoned trunks, I’d love to hear it. Though I don’t have the genealogy details to recognize a specific name, I do know I’m from Scotch-Irish ancestors – who somehow made it across the ocean, and found their way into Texas.
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Those are interesting questions. You know, Jazz, the source of the trunks never entered my mind. Your take makes sense, not sure of the answer. Here is the web site of the center. I took a look and the answer was not apparent. http://www.cobhheritage.com/
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Such courage it must have taken, and takes, for those venturing off to places unknown; the beginning of a new life.
Delving into ‘ancestry’ matters must be quite interesting, Michael. My eldest brother has our history going back ten generations; from then, apparently, the leads run dry.
The suitcases (pictured) conjure up many imaginings!
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I can track back 10 generations, as well, to pre-colonial USA on the Wills line and am grateful for that. During our trip to Ireland we discussed leave takings with cousins, getting on a ship was an act of courage, desperation and hope.
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Such a special story – it’s wonderful that you’re tracing your ancestry. I hope to do the same one day!
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Your encouragement is appreciated, Chantelle. Learning my roots was fulfilling, the best time to start is “today.”
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Those emigration trunks are really something!
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Yes!!! They bowled us over.
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