Eaton’s Annals of Warren, Me., mention two Irish schoolmasters there. They were John O’Brien and John Sullivan. O’Brien was “a native of Craig, near Cork,” and taught in Warren for many years, beginning at about the close of the Revolution. He was “an elegant penman and a good accountant.” He married a daughter of Col. Starrett. Sullivan was a native of Dublin, Ireland, and began teaching in Warren about 1792. He was of “never failing good humor.” He died in Boston, Mass.
Martin I. J. Griffin of Philadelphia, Pa., mentions Thomas Burke, the one-eyed member of the Continental Congress and governor of North Carolina, of whom Wheeler’s Historical Sketches of North Carolina says: “No public functionary was ever employed by the state in more troubled times, none more active or talented, none suffered more, none less known to posterity. He was a native of Ireland and of the most finished education.” It was said of him that he publicly professed and openly avowed the Catholic faith.
Here is an example of how certain names sometimes undergo a change: A legislative act was passed in 1806 providing that “John O’Neil, Jun., of Madison, in the county of Kennebec [Maine], shall be allowed to take the name of John Neil; James O’Neil, of said Madison, shall be allowed to take the name of James Neil; Samuel O’Neil, of Norridgewalk, shall be allowed to take the name of Samuel Neil.” (From List of Persons whose Names Have Been Changed, etc., published by the state of Massachusetts, Boston, 1893.)
George Berkeley, “the Kilkenny scholar,” Dean of Derry and later Bishop of Cloyne, visited Boston in 1731. His visit is thus mentioned in John Walker’s manuscript diary (in possession of the Massachusetts Historical Society): “Sept. 12, 1731; in ye morn Dean George Barkley preacht in ye Chapell from ye 1st Epistle to Timothy, ye 3d Chap., Verse 16, and a fine Sermon, according to my opinion I never heard such an one. A very great auditory.” By the “Chapell” was meant the King’s Chapel, still in use in Boston.
From an entry in the New England Historic, Genealogical Register, Jan., 1893, we learn that Capt. John McCarty of New London, Conn., died while on a return voyage from the West Indies in 1804. His wife died soon after, leaving four young children, including Elizabeth, who married Samuel Forman, of Syracuse, N. Y.; Rebecca, who married Schuyler Van Rensselaer of Albany, N. Y., and Abby, who married Sanders Van Rensselaer, brother to Schuyler. Capt. Richard McCarty, believed to be father or brother of Capt. John, was lost at sea in 1779.
At a meeting of the selectmen of Boston, Mass., April 15, 1737, a communication was mentioned as having been received from Capt. Samuel Waterhouse. The latter stated that he was “twelve weeks from London and seven from Cork; that smallpox had broken out on the voyage, afflicting four of his ship’s company.” One of these was put ashore, one died at sea, and two recovered. The ship having been cleansed, the Boston selectmen gave him permission to “come up from Nantasket to Spectacle Island” and drop anchor near the hospital there. (Report of the Boston Record Commission.)
Hon. James Buchanan, president of the United States, has left this statement concerning himself: “My father, James Buchanan, was a native of the County Donegal, in the Kingdom of Ireland. His family was respectable but their pecuniary circumstances were limited. He emigrated to the United States before the date of the Definitive Treaty of Peace with Great Britain; having sailed from —— [no port stated] in the brig Providence, bound for Philadelphia, in 1783. He was then in the 22d year of his age.” (Quoted in George Ticknor Curtis’ Life of James Buchanan, President.)
In a volume published by the state of New York (Albany, 1860), record is found of marriage licenses, issued by the secretary of the province, previous to 1784. Among the names mentioned are: Edward Briscow and Jane McDermont, 1736; Matthew Sweeny and Mary Thorn, 1756; Patrick Hyne and Hannah Van Sice, 1757; Andries Van Schaick and Alida Hogan, 1757; Owen Sullivan and Hannah Orstin, 1759; Wynant Van Zant and Jane Colgan, 1760; Rynear Van Yeveron and Hannah Hogan, 1772; John Moore and Mary Van Dyck, 1772; Martin Van Haugh and Judith Carroll, 1775.
In the Minutes of the Boston Selectmen, 1727, we find mention of the following “Strangers warned to Depart Accordn to Law”: John White, an Irishman from Dedham; Robert Phenne, an Irishman from Wells; William Nugel, an Irishman from Philadelphia; Robert Sterling, an Irishman from Rutland; Patrick Jorden from Virginia; James Dawley, an Irishman from Lisborn; Joseph Doyle from Rhode Island. These men were doubtless worthy enough, but, perhaps, could find no one to “go their bond,” and thus secure the town against the possibility of their becoming, at some time, a public charge.
For the “expedition against Crown Point,” 1756, New Hampshire raised a regiment of 700 men, commanded by Col. Nathaniel Meserve of Portsmouth. In this regiment were included the following: Daniel Murphy, James Meloney, Darby Sullivan, John McMahone, Daniel Kelley, James O’Neil, Jer. Connor, Daniel Carty, Benjamin Mooney, Michael Johnson, Darbey Kelley, John Meloney, James Molloy, James Kelly, John Welch, Thomas Carty, William Kelley, Bryan Tweny (Sweeny?), James McLaughlin, John McLaughlin, Thomas McLaughlin, and others bearing typical Irish names. (Military History of New Hampshire, Adjutant-General’s Report, Concord, 1866.)