SLIGO: The Irish emigrants fled a land of stunning beauty, which could no longer support their meager lives, to seek refuge in an unknown country across the perilous seas. Voyages were made from Sligo to New York. An account of this is found in "In Their Own Words, the Famine in North Connacht," by Liam SWORDS. This 490-page book published in 2000 contains diaries and letters of people leaving from the port of Sligo for NY during the famine years. There are passenger lists from these "coffin" ships and information on the important role of the Society of Friends (Quakers) during the famine. In the summer of 1847, 2,000 of LORD PALMERSTON's tenants sailed from Sligo and others were routed through Liverpool - all bound for Canada. Henry John TEMPLE, the THIRD VISCOUNT PALMERSTON, was very much an absentee landlord. As a career politician he was forced to spend all of his time in London. He became a cabinet minister in the British government as early as 1809, serving 15 years as Foreign Secretary, and later still, served two periods as Prime Minister. Unfortunately, the nine vessels carrying his former tenants from the port of Sligo were destined to join the ranks of the coffin ships and there was a subsequent uproar in Canada about the poor condition of the emigrants upon arrival. Protests flowed to the Colonial Secretary in London, and despite his lofty position in government, LORD PALMERSTON was officially asked for an explanation. Though ignorance should not be accepted as a deference, he deftly switched the blame to his Irish agents Messrs. KINCAID and STEWART, and their response, in a letter dated February 1, 1848 concluded: "The emigrants were unfortunately poor and without any means of support except what they could obtain by their labour, but that was their misfortune not their fault, and they were both able and willing to work for their bread and for the support of their family. Notwithstanding the reports from the authorities in Saint John and Quebec ... very favourable accounts arrive almost daily to their friends in this country from those who emigrated last year from LORD PALMERSTON's estate, and that already some of them have been able to send home money to their friends out of their earnings in the Colonies." LORD PALMERSTON was one of many who acted in much the same way. No one sought to deny that landlord emigration meant sending out of Ireland the tenants who were not wanted because they were too old or ill, or caused financial problems for their landlords, but good tenants who were young and healthy, who gave no trouble, who worked the land and paid their rents were apparently welcome to stay. There were many edges to the sword wielded by the absentee landlords, per Edward LAXTON in "The Famine Ships," pub. 1996.

Hello, Trying to narrow down my research for John FERRIGAN who may have been born in northern Ireland. Have never done much research in Ireland. The counties of interest is Armagh(5), Lough & Monaghan(7). I was hoping someone would have access to the 1841 census to look up Ferrigan's. That would help me narrow the search to a specific location and or parish. Any help or direction would be greatly appreciated. Dave Springer BOSTON