Category Archives: Irish famine

Escaping Famine: Hugh McGovern (1822-1905) and Ann Stevens (1819-1873)

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Life in Ireland was difficult in 1840-41, it was a time leading up to the great famine that peaked in 1845. No doubt wanting to believe the favourable tales and promises made by recruiting agents that a better life was to be found in Australia, Hugh and Ann McGovern made the decision to leave behind the hardships of life in Ireland. Being married, Protestant and able to read and write, they would have been eagerly recruited by ‘bounty’ agents tasked … Continue reading

The wretched peasantry in Ireland: The 1822 famine disaster

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By Jennifer Harrison. ‘The poor Inhabitants of Clare is actily starving, living on one meal in the day and that same a bad meal, we are in hopes ye will doe something for us out of hand, we will actily Die with hunger if ye don’t luck to us out of hand as them that has a little family must Rob before They die with hunger before their face, As they are half dead before.’  This powerfully pathetic plea reported … Continue reading

THE IRISH FAMINE OF 1846-1851

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I am sitting at my computer thinking about what to write this time. My research, in the last few months, has seemed aimless and disjointed and going off in all directions as I encounter one frustration after another. So, I asked myself who or what had been preoccupying me most, during that time. I realise that my thoughts keep coming back to Ireland and the Famine of 1846 – 1851.    There is a reason for this. My biggest breakthrough … Continue reading

FEMALE IRISH FAMINE ORPHANS

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 I have previously written in this forum about elusive ancestors. Those ancestors that you can only trace back to a certain event in their life and then you reach a dead end. You know they are your ancestor because you have the proof. You have traced backwards from your self via the relevant birth, death and marriage certificates. You know they were not born in Australia because you have the death certificate which states that they were born somewhere else … Continue reading

Timelines – the interest and pleasure they can give

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Just over a year ago, only a few months after I had joined the Genealogical Society of Queensland, I attended an Information Session on Timelines that was held at GSQ. At the time I was new to my family search and was deeply engrossed in obtaining birth, death and marriage certificates and was satisfied enough just to place each ancestor in the context of  where they had been born or died or who was married to whom and where they … Continue reading