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Irish workers to New Brunswick Canada

genealogy information prior to 1845 is very limited for a number of reasons. In my search I found a journal of a fellow in Maugerville, New Brunswick Canada written from 1815 onwards. In it, he mentions, and shows on a hand drawn map, "where the Irish workers live". The man I am looking for, William Ward appears in this area in 1818 at the age of 20, from Ireland. My William marries a daughter of a Loyalist family, Kimball, in 1826, A thought that I have is my William was an Irish worker, assigned to the Kimball family or area, and with limited marriage opportunities of that area and era, he and she hooked up.

I have been unable to get him back to Ireland as there is no record of the port he arrived at, the ship he arrived on, or the port he left Ireland from as records were not regulary kept until 1850.

I am curious if anyone has info on these "Irish workers" of the timeframe preceding 1845? Is there a county that was more prevelant than others?

I attached 2 pages of the journal with the map showing Irish workers lived here.

Regards, 

Earl Ward

Earl Ward

4 replies

Earl:

The attachment did not come thru with the message.

In the mid-19th century, the surname Ward was found in every county in Ireland and the present day Northern Ireland. Emigrants left from every county in Ireland looking for a better opportunity so there is no way to pinpoint where William was from and very few church records are available to provide supporting documentation. 

Have you considered DNA testing? You would qualify for the Y-DNA test which tracks your pure paternal line but in my own experience you may want to consider the general DNA test which looks at all of your paternal and maternal lines. 

Roger McDonnell

 

Castlemore RoscommonIrelandXO Volunteer

Good day Roger,

I recognize the problems with getting back to Irish Catholic roots and am looking for that needle in the haystack. I was suprised to learn how common the Ward name was in Ireland, and the counties they populated. Also the name's connection to the Travellers!

I have done the DNA testing and have had numerous 3-5th cousins from mosty Europe and United States which makes sense. I don't even remember seeing on from Ireland. My stronger connections indicate England and Scandinavian countries.

I keep hoping that there may be an Irish Ward looking for a long lost sibling or cousin to someone's great great grandparent.

Thanks again for your interest.

Earl Ward

Earl Ward

Earl / Roger, I dealt with a query on this site about 4 years ago which I cannot locate but it developed into a long thread. It concerned migration from the Cooley (Louth)  and south Down area from the period 1820 to 1830 to New Brunswick etc

One of the posters had written a book on it and said he now had even more information than when he wrote it, he had sent a copy to the Louth Library and possibly to the St John one  too, he worked on a local boat, ferry or supply ship I think (sticks with me as we had a little exchange as I had also worked in the merchant navy) I cannot remember the surnames involved so cannot locate the post but will look at my posts when I get a chance.

There was some major migration at the time around 1830 also especially from Cavan and Elwyn posted an ad from a local newpaper seeking volunteers.

Postong now as this post is moving down the pages and may get lost.

Good Luck

Pat

St Peters LouthIrelandXO Volunteer

thanks for your interest Pat! I am grabbing at straws, as not much to go on, and I am an extreme amateur genealogist! My Ward would have left Ireland in 1818 or earlier as he appears to be in Oromocto New Brunswic in 1818.

Earl Ward

Earl Ward

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