This has been bugging me since I started this quest. One hears about Southie and all that but the facts are the Irish went to Federal hill and Eastie and Chelsea and the Square out in front of South Station which is the Financial District today but why Chelsea. St. Rose's put out a book when they rebuilt and it says "It is not known precisely, who was the first Catholic to settle in Chelsea. It is know that there were a few here as early as 1833, just a mere "corporal's guard."The first Catholic settler of whom there is any definite information was Michael McLaughlin. He with Michael Farren landed in Halifax from Ireland in 1833 and after some months came to Boston, walking all the way. Mr. McLaughlin proceeded immediately to Chelsea. While Mr. Farren remained in Boston for about ten years and then moved to Chelsea. It is said that Hugh Gilmore, another Irish settler lived in No.Chelsea.Now known as Revere, as early as 1843." But why Chelsea? It defiantly sounds like this was the intended destination. Now since I started this I also realize that most of Chelsea Irish are from Leitrim, Sligo, Carvan, Longford and Meath, With Leitrim winning hands down. Then this week I thought with all these names I have done. Some where very Protestant but very Irish. Suppose in some area of Leitrim, a Protestant land owner and businessman [Scot Irish] was run out of Ireland by the Church Of England, as many where. Say this man started a business in Chelsea maybe a spice business and he needed good workers. The problem was he was in New England and not considered a Townie. A factor still in effect in small town New England. Now back in Ireland he was friendly with the Roman Catholics and he heard of the starting migration. Why wouldn't he seek out workers he could deal with? Lol and he usually got the better of. So that maybe that is why they came to Chelsea. It defiantly was a better place then Boston was for the Irish Jim who thanks Chelsea for welcoming those Immigrants i believe that town was somewhere in leitrim and it seems the whole town tranfered to chelsea as what i have learn shows maybe farren is farrell thei check out my next email-yes we are all related jim ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ -- all denning-dever-cogan in mass-some malone-carroll-mcguire-doherty-mcneil-piscopo-mazzola-heslin-martini-feddis-fa rley-dennen-dinan-fredricks- ____________________________________ "we go to school to learn the words of fools" bob dylan