The Celtic “Macs” make a great showing. There are upwards of one thousand of such families in all, the “Macs” that are indigenous to Ireland being more numerous than those that are supposed to be exclusively native to Scotland. When we consider that, in 1790, the total number of free white males of 16 years and upwards in South Carolina was only 35,756, we can readily understand that one thousand heads of families, with their wives and children, must have constituted a large percentage of the total population. An examination of the Census Returns indicates that the average number of children to each of the Irish-named families was five, so that, on a conservative estimate, the “Macs” alone must have contributed nearly 20 per cent to the population of South Carolina!
We find 40 Ward families, 26 McClure families, 26 McDaniels, 23 McKees, 22 McCoys, 20 McDowells, 19 Cauleys and McCauleys, 19 Mahons and McMahons, 18 McCalls, 17 McBrides, 17 McConnells, 16 McCarts and McCartys, 12 McNeills, 11 McFaddens, and 10 McMullan families. There are also numbers of McCormacks, McGees, McGowens, McGraws, McGuires, McCrackens, McCanns, McCartneys, McCarys, McClearys, McClendons, McCollums, McElroys, McKennys, McKelveys, McLaughlins, McManus, and many other similar Irish family names.
There are 41 distinct families of Bradleys recorded, 29 Harts, 24 Sullivans, 28 Reynolds, 22 Canes and Kains, 22 Hayeses, 22 Hendricks, 21 Dunns, 23 Connors and O’Connors, 21 Carrolls, 20 Logans, 20 Reillys and Royleys, 17 Dawsons, 14 Gilmores, 16 Manions and Mannings, 12 Hagans, 13 Walshes and Welches, 13 Higginses, and 11 Lynch and Linch families.
Among names that are common to Ireland and England, there are 113 families named Moore in the First Census of South Carolina, 80 Rogers and Rodgers, 24 Morrows, 46 Collinses, 42 Butlers and 41 Fords. There are 43 heads of families named Mitchell, 41 Montgomery, 26 McDonald, 26 Cunningham, 18 Gillespie, 17 Cochran and 22 Kennedy families, some of whom, no doubt, were Scotch.
Such names as Brady, Burke, Casey, Connelly, Corbett, Cassidy, Callahan, Cleary, Cummings, Curry, Daly, Doherty, Donnelly, Dempsey, Dowling, Duggan, Doyle, Donovan, Ennis, Fitzgerald, Fogarty, Fitzpatrick, Flinn, Garrett, Garvin, Gorman, Hogan, Jordan, Kearns, Lyons, Malone, Mulligan, Madden, Morrison, Nolan, O’Bannon, Quinn, Regan, Roach, Ryan, Rutledge, Shannon and Shiels, as well as others of ancient Irish origin, occur quite frequently in the Census Returns, and in all parts of the state. Indeed, we might say, with startling frequency, if they are examined by that set of persons who are so fond of telling us that the American people are of Anglo-Saxon origin!
Besides the old Irish clan names, it is seen that a very large number of the early inhabitants of South Carolina bore names that have been common in Ireland for centuries, although not all of Irish origin. There are many Browns, Grays, Greens, Whites, Griffins, Grimeses, Rices, Savages, Steeles, Glovers, Raineys, Rays, Flemings, Staffords, Shaws, Gastons, Parnells, Mileses, Reeds, Fergusons, Coxs, Courtneys, Clarks, Carrs, Kerrs, Allens, Pattersons, Berrys, Hails, Henrys, Morrises, Martins, Lowrys, Hollands, Morrows, Jacksons, Laceys, Masseys and Leonards.
That some of these people were Irish seems beyond doubt, particularly when we find such distinctive Irish Christian names as Darby, Malachi, Patrick, Brian, Cormac, Connor and the like. And when we see O’Bryan Smiths, Patrick Smiths, and Michael and Jeremiah Smiths, and other similar name combinations, we can safely assume that in the majority of cases they were of Irish origin or birth.
MEMORIAL TO JERSEY PRISON SHIP HEROES.
Since many prominent Irish Americans played an important part in the success of the project for a fitting memorial to the heroes of the British prison-ships of the Revolution, it is fit that reference be made here to this noble tribute and the manner of its accomplishment.
The magnificent monument, costing in the neighborhood of $200,000, was dedicated at Fort Greene Park, Borough of Brooklyn, New York, on November 14, 1908, in the presence of one of the most distinguished and representative gatherings which ever honored a like occasion in this country. Addresses were made by President-elect Taft, by Governor Hughes of New York, Secretary Luke E. Wright of the Navy, and by other distinguished men, including Patrick F. McGowan, Chairman of the Board of Aldermen of the City of New York, and Daniel F. Cohalan, Grand Sachem of the Tammany Society of New York, an organization which did much toward the success of the project and which contributed a substantial amount.