James Liston

James Liston emigrated from Limerick, Ireland, to the United States between 1847 and 1850. He first lived in Litchfield, Connecticut, and in 1851, in Hartford of the same state, he married Bridget Teresa Ryan, a native of County Tipperary. The couple moved, via Cleveland, Ohio, to Bloomington, Illinois, where both raised a family.

James's obituary says that "He was born in the parish of Crecora, near the city of Limerick, county Limerick, Ireland, in the year 1816." The birthdate is close but suspect.

James probably traveled with his brother Patrick who was also in Litchfield, Connecticut, in 1850, and moved to Bloomington, Illinois. He married Ellen Spellman, a sister of Philip Spellman of Bloomington, both Irish but of unknown origins as of now.

James and Patrick searched for their brother Thomas in 1850. He was last heard of in Norton, Parish, New Brunswick, Canada. He died in Portland, New Brunswick of the cholera in 1854.

James's obituary also says, "He also leaves a married sister in Connecticut."

So, In Crecora Parish, Limerick, and likely in the townland of Logavinshire, a couple named Liston had four children between 1810 and 1830, James, Patrick, Thomas, and an as yet unidentified daughter, all of whom emigrated to the United States and Canada at the height of the famine.