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Irish ancestry in Philadelphia: Key genealogy resources
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Phila. Map: Courtesy Library of Congress
Years ago, I made the rather common Irish American journey to Ellis Island, list of ancestral names in hand, in hopes of returning with information about my ancestors' journeys, lives, and perhaps even photographs. I took as much information as I had, knowing from which counties in Ireland they had left, their names, and birth dates.
I returned to Philadelphia disappointed and empty-handed. Despite the fact that I was researching immigrants who had arrived from different counties at different times (I have Irish ancestry on both parents' sides in both present-day Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland), I found nothing. It was only then that a professor directed me to some online resources about immigration to Philadelphia itself.
According to Frederic M. Miller's informative and readable document on the matter of immigration to Philadelphia, Philadelphia holds a great deal of importance as an immigrant city--partly as a port of entry, but also as a final destination for immigrants who made port at Ellis Island in New York.
It is well-known that the journey to America was not easy for most immigrants, particularly the poor. It is less understood how sadly and tragically some of the immigrants (particularly from Ireland) viewed their own immigration experiences. Several sources also mention religious riots (or Bible riots) in Philadelphia, further coloring a picture of the difficulty experienced by some of my ancestors as Irish Catholics arriving in Philadelphia.
As over 12 percent of all Americans claim Irish ancestry, it's important for those seeking information about their heritage to know about Irish immigration to Philadelphia--as it is often overlooked. Researchers should also note that Irish immigrants to America included people from both present-day Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, Protestant and Catholic, all experiencing degrees of intolerance and difficulty in their travels.
For more info:
Check out these helpful resources:
- Phila Ellis Island
- Ulster American Society: Discover Your Northern Irish Roots
- Leaving the Emerald Isle: Irish Immigration to Philadelphia (PDF)
- Anti-Catholic and "Bible" Riots in Philadelphia
- Irish Immigrants in America During the 19th Century
- Rootsweb Irish in Philadelphia Passenger List Archive
- Irish Passenger Lists Research Guide
General resources:
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