Tyrone Dig - Day 2

Why did Hugh leave?  What was his experience like?  When you're standing at his homestead you have to ask yourself why would anyone leave here?  The countryside is like Paradise.  Why did my great grandfather leave Donegal?  The place too is awesomely beautiful?  What would drive someone to leave HOME?  In Hugh's case we don't know, but after today's visit to the Ulster American Folk Park, we have some informed ideas. 

We were met by Brian Lambkin and members of his staff who gave us some new perspectives on answering some questions we still have unanswered about Hugh.  Why Boston?  How was he funded?  Who was here to meet him?  When we return home,  we can put Walter to work on researching some unexplored territory.  By the way Brian has a great book on Irish immigration and emigration.  It's called Migration in Irish History, 1607 - 2007.

The Ulster American Folk Park is similar to Old Sturbridge Village, but with a unique twist.  You visit a number of homes which would be typical of Ulster in the 18th and 19th century.  Single room

house where cattle stayed right with the family were the norm for farmers in this area during this period.  The village also contains a Mass house where priest would gather people during penal times.  To be able to walk through an entire area of cottages like this, gives one a small sense of what Hugh (and our own ancestors experienced). 

Then you enter the booking office to get your ticket to board the ship.  The ticket could cost several weeks' wages.  Some landowners bought tickets for their renters just to get them off of their land.  For the next 6 weeks or up to 12 weeks, this would be your home.

Once you disembark you are in America.  The park has replicated or actually brought over examples of housing such as log cabins, early American barns, and a stone house.  What did Hugh experience?  Walter researched his Naturalization record showing him to be living in Charlestown running a brewery.  Very quickly he has jobs doing light engineering work.  What was his life like in Crossan to prepare him for this role in Boston, and within 5 years of his arrival, Lowell?

The more answers we get, the more questions arise.  Don't forget Hugh's story is our story.  What he experienced thousands of others also experienced.  Maybe your own?  I've reflected on this a bit.  We have no real certainty of my own Irish ancestors, just stories.  (Have you written them down?  Don't wait for your kids to ask you to do it.  Make it a unique Christmas gift.)  Since I don't know about my family, I am using Hugh's experience to help fill in the blanks in my family's story.

Working with the group I am in is an unbelievable pleasure.  I cannot tell you the wonderful bonding the folks have for each other.  BUT stress happens as it does in all families.  And this is where Colm finally has it out with Stewart.

Tyrone Dig - Day 1

A number of years ago there was a book that talked about the 100 places you have to visit before you die.  I have my own list.  One was to walk down into the Grand Canyon.  I did that twice (not to the very bottom, but considering less than 1% ever leave the rim, not a bad job).  Another was to visit Mesa Verde and climb the cliff walls and sit in an Anasazi cave.  Did it.  Also on the list was to visit my grandfather's birthplace in Milingivie, Scotland.  The farm on which he is born is now part of a massive condominium complex, but did it.  Also on my list was to visit Hugh out Cummiskey's home.  About 30 years ago when I first visited Ireland,  I came with a group of guys.  We drove across the country visiting as many pubs as we could.  I suggested that we go to Tyrone and maybe look for Hugh's home.  Needless to say the idea was unanimously vetoed.  That wish was never fulfilled until today.

In 1817 Hugh Cummiskey left his home and came to Boston.  We do not know if he came alone or with relatives.  We can imagine his American wake being held before he left.  He walked out of this house knowing that he would never see his family or home again. 

Here it is almost 200 years later and we're here to find out more about this man the city of Lowell claims as one of its favored sons.  The home is a great example of the typical Irish cottage.  It is probably from the mid1700s, stone held together by clay.  Part of the house would have had the family cow, kept inside for protection and to possibly provide some warmth.  The roof at the time would have been thatched.  The house was lived in right up to the 1980s when fire did some damage to the building.

Originally it was a single room, but an extension was added at some point.  Out buildings were also in evidence.  In back of the house was probably the garden area where potatoes were likely the main if only product.  In back of the garden were grazing fields for the cows.  Those who lived there probably were subsistence framers, growing only enough to feed the family, and hopefully having enough to sell something to pay the rent or taxes.

What drove Hugh out?  Probably what was happening all over Ireland at this time.  Landlords, many of them absentee, were making demands on the farmers who had no choice but to pay or leave.  Maybe the night before he left he was given a proper feast with whatever the family had left.  Maybe some music was played and the poteen was passed (Hugh turned out to run a brewery in Boston).  But then the time came.  He said his goodbyes, walked down the lane.  maybe turned for the last time to see the place he called home, and walked into history.

The team began digging 3 trenches.  The first layer of sod was removed.  Emily Murray joined us today.  She a member of the Queen's team.

I was asked by Frank to add this next picture.  It is one of the few photos of him actually holding a shovel.  He said he would need proof.

We also got to meet the present owner of the land Oliver Donnelly.  He has kindly let the team onto his property to carry out the dig.  His family has lived in Crossans for many generations.  We are fortunate to have someone who has such a pride in his heritage to allow the work to be done.  Here he is with Colm and Ryan.

Big Dig 2- Day 1

Logan Airport- ok, no more said about that.  The team arrived at the site about noon.  The security fencing was installed.  Dan Lynch, the archaeologist who did the GRP a few weeks ago, showed up to go over details with Colm and Ronan.  They used the equipment to measure out where potential findings could be located.  After that the students from Queen's and UMass began uncovering one of the pits from last year.  The focus this year will be on what probably was the Fr. McDermott property.  This was a house, called a shanty in newspaper accounts, owned by Father James McDermott, pastor during 1840s.  When the present church was built in 1854 this house remained in front of the church and went through some legal problems about ownership.  It's possible, maybe, with a chance that this is the described shanty.  Hopefully this week will prove one way or another.

Like last year, the team is such a great group of people.  Dr Colm Donnelly and Ronan McHugh are the team leaders.  They brought 3 Grad students from Queens; Stuart, Dermot, and Sarah.  Two UMass students have returned, Demetrius and Eunice.  From UMass are Victoria and Frank Talty who are coordinating all the myriad of details to get this project moving.

As the team was finsihing for the day, the clouds began to gather.  Last year they had some of the hottest weather to deal with.  A few raindrops began to fall, but I'm sure the folks from N. Ireland are used to that.  Tomorrow is another day......

This year's team.

Energy break

Ronan, Dan, Colm

The first cut

Cool!

Stuart showing how hard he works.

Introduction

Since the dig at St Patrick's began, folks have been asking what will happen next.  That is all up to us.  Firstly, thanks have to go out to Dr. Frank Talty at UMass Lowell (francis_talty@uml.edu).  If you have a moment drop him a line and tell him what you think and your thoughts about a future dig..  As the area was being covered over, the team felt adamant that they had to return.  The hope was they would find 1 artifact.  They found 1352!  And that was in 2 small pits.  There's lots of history in that churchyard.  If you're thinking of going in with a steam shovel, don't!  One thing I learned was the value of the science of archaeology.  They learned as much from the days where they found nothing but soil strata, than from the artifacts.

Ok, here's what's up.  I've got a few meetings set up for this coming week.  There is a little worm inside my head.  It's telling me it is time (past time) to create an online history of Irish Lowell.  This could include histories of the churches, schools, organizations, and the cemeteries (St. Pat's, St Mary's, & St. Peters.  Ah, didn't know there was a St. Peter's did you?).  We could also include a genealogy how-to page and some resources folks can check out.  Photos.  We've got dozens.  Maybe a volunteer can scan the photos and we can archive them for future generations.  Bibliography of sources already in print.  There are lots of idea.

As Dr. Donnelly, one of the Belfast guys said, "There's no point to any of this unless people are interested."  So if enough of you think it's worth it, add to the blog.  If you've got an area of expertise (writing, editing, scanning, history, photography, information technology, research, filing............) let me know.  If you think it's just a great idea, that's great too.  We will need words of encouragement.

Right now there are temporary plans during St. Patrick's Irish Cultural Week for an exhibit on the artifacts found and a brief chat about how it came about.  Oh, I'll give you another tidbit, no one else knows.  There is a professional researcher looking at all the cemetery data that few people know about.  She's possibly making a visitation and doing some analysis for us.  Anyone looking for a PhD dissertation?  I've already done the research for you.

Please, pass this blog along to anyone interested.  And ask them to do the same.  My goal is to have more bloggers on this site than Lady Gaga.