When in the course of time a new nation has become firmly established and has taken its place among the powers of the world and leisure is afforded men to look back to the early days of their country in an historical way so dear to man’s heart, it is pleasing to the student to find that the race from which he springs has played a prominent part even in the early days of his nation.
It is in such a spirit of pleasure that we find ourselves convinced on making but a preliminary survey of our early history that in the foundation, the creating, the strengthening, and maintenance, of this great republic, the Irish race from which you and I spring has done its duty and has done it well.
In speaking of the part the Irish race has played in this great land I do not intend to indulge in self gratification, nor to give the Irish greater praise than they deserve nor to take from others in extolling those in whom ran the blood that runs in you and me. Every race that played its part in creating the American nation should be given its meed of praise, but in loving our land for what it has been to us and for what it has inspired, we are but the greater patriots in giving just praise to that race from which we spring for its noble duty in the cause of justice and of freedom.
The present paper does not purport to be a detailed study but merely touches on the high points of the Irish contributions to early American history.
In February, 1903, Miss Linehan[[5]] read a paper before the Connecticut Historical Society. This paper contains an excellent account of the earliest immigration of Irish to this country. From her paper may be quoted:
“The early Irish came to this country in three distinct periods, the first dating from 1621 to 1653, the second from 1653 to 1718, and the third from the latter period to the Revolution.”
It is with the third period that we shall deal for the most part.
In 1737, according to Rev. J. A. Spencer,[[6]] “multitudes of laborers and husbandmen in Ireland unable to procure a comfortable subsistence for their families in their native land embarked for Carolina. The same writer again, Vol. 1, p. 214, speaking of New Hampshire in 1738, says: “the manufacture of linen was considerably increased by the coming of the Irish Immigrant to this colony.”
“During the whole period of her controversy with Britain,” says Mr. Grahame,[[7]] “America increased in strength from domestic growth and from the flow of European emigration. No complete memorial has been transmitted of the particulars of the emigration that took place from Europe to America at this period, but (from the few illustrative facts that are actually preserved) they seem to have been amazingly copious. In the year 1771 to 1772 the number of immigrants to America from the north of Ireland alone amount to 17,350, almost all of whom emigrated at their own charge, a great majority consisting of persons employed in the linen manufacture or farmers and possessed of some property which they converted into money and carried with them. Within the first fortnight of August, 1773, there arrived at Philadelphia three thousand five hundred emigrants from Ireland. About seven hundred Irish settlers repaired to the Carolinas in the autumn of 1773.”
Pennsylvania very early had a large Irish colony. In 1699 James Logan accompanied William Penn to his new plantation and became one of the leading men. According to Spencer, Vol. 1, page 186, he was many years colonial secretary and member of the Council. He governed the Colony for two years after the death of Penn’s widow and previously in Penn’s absence. Charles Gookin, a gentleman of ancient Irish family, was governor of Pennsylvania from 1709 to 1716.