Global Heritage Press

HARDCOVER EDITION

Whence They Came: Irish Origins From pre 1900 New Brunswick Death Notices
By: Peter Murphy 

More than 250, 000 Irish immigrants passed through the ports of New Brunswick during the half century from the close of the Napoleonic Wars to Canadian Confederation in 1867. Today their descendants-numbering in the millions-are to be found in places as far flung as Alaska and Australia, along the banks of the St. John and the Miramichi, the Charles and the Potomoc, in the shadow of Toronto's CN Tower, and in every corner of the globe. Interest in their history grows-it seems-in proportion to the number of their descendants. Where, these descendants ask, did we come from? Simply put, this work is designed to offer the most reliable response to this most asked question! Gathered together here are nearly three thousand death notices, transcribed verbatim from pre-1900 New Brunswick newspapers, each of which identifies a specific place of origin in Ireland. The individuals commemorated here are the "founders" of Irish New Brunswick-Catholics and Protestants, the great and the mighty and the plainest of plain folk.

What sets this collection apart is that it presents authoritative sources in their original format and with enough detail to serve as a certain link to other relevant records.

This work has been organized with a view to maximizing the value of its genealogical content, with thirty-two chapters: one for each of the counties of Ireland. The death notices included in a given chapter are arranged in alphabetical order. Where two different individuals with exactly the same name are included, the death notices of those individuals appear in chronological order (within the overarching alphabetical structure). The work is cross- referenced by maiden surname but only for individuals whose original death notice noted that information. Occasionally one encounters an example of a seemingly misplaced surname-for instance a surname exclusively associated with County Cork appearing in the Tyrone chapter. In the vast majority of these cases, the particular death notices in question refer to married women (for the majority of whom a maiden surname is not provided). A complete surname index is provided at the back of this work.

Compared to the death notices or obituaries with which contemporary readers are familiar, most of these death notices are remarkably brief. The majority note only the name of the deceased-in the case of married women ordinarily only the married surname-the date of death, the cause or duration of the final illness, the age at death, the place of birth in Ireland, the length of residence in the city or town of residence (or the province), some reference to survivors, the funeral arrangements, and, in some instances, a request that newspapers in communities nearby or far away "copy." As the nineteenth century wore on there was an increased likelihood that a more extensive obituary would appear. Except for individuals who were exceptional in other ways-who were community leaders, were blessed with exceptional longevity, or who died under peculiar circumstances-the death notice of Mr. Timothy Donovan presented below is representative.

Example:(some are much more detailed)On the 20th, after a lingering illness, Mr. TIMOTHY DONOVAN, aged 70 years, a native of Drinagh, County Cork, Ireland, and a resident of this city for the last forty years, leaving a wife and ten children and a large circle of friends to mourn their loss. Funeral on Sunday at half-past two o'clock, from his late residence, 28 Pond street, when friends and acquaintances are invited to attend. (Portland, Me., and Boston papers please copy.)The content of these death notices can often be much richer-and frequently more bewildering-than is obvious at first glance.

What reviewers are saying:

• "Book is a pot of gold for researching Irish roots. ...Those of us who are researching our Irish roots give a round of applause to Peter Murphy for the pot of gold of Irish information he has given us". Ruby Cusack, Telegraph Journal (20 Mar. 2010)