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Lawson Ancestors

Sligo

GREETINGS FROM ONTARIO, CANADA

My Lawson Ancestors left DRUMFIN in County Sligo in 1841.

They were six brothers ranging in age from 20 years old to 8 years old.

There was an explosion on their ship that had left Ireland in Montreal Harbour in Canada.

Five brothers survived the explosion but oral history is one brother died in the accident.

They eventually settled in Simcoe County in Ontario.

I believe this story which my Great Great Grandfather Thomas Lawson (1833-1924) told firsthand to his son, and my Grandfather Lawson.

I am wishing also to possibly corroborate this story.

One way is to possibly find records of the ship he left Ireland in in 1841.

Where do you suggest I start such a search in Ireland? Where are there ship records available in Ireland to search?

What would have been the departure points for people living in Sligo?

There obviously may have been newspaper accounts of such accidents at sea.

What newspapers were there serving Sligo Town, and Drumfin at this time - 1841?

I am also wondering when records for births, marriages and deaths started in KILMORGAN PARISH.

Also any speculation on what the ship that left Ireland would be carrying that would cause it to explode on arriving in Montreal Harbour?

I really marvel at my Great Great Grandfather Thomas Lawson (1833-1924) leaving Ireland at the age of eight!

Sent from Yahoo Mail on Android

Diane Gilhula

1 reply

Diane,

The Leeds Times for Saturday 6th August 1842 carries a report of a ship named the Shamrock, full of 120 migrants which sank in Montreal Harbour after its boiler exploded. 58 died. ”The passengers were composed of English, Irish & Scotch.”  “Much money is said to have been lost, the emigrants being of a superior description.”

The article names the English dead or missing but not the Irish or Scotch. However it’s possible you might be able to find a paper in Canada with all the names. The explosion is out by 1 year from the year you gave but it sounds promising.

You didn’t say what denomination your family was but all the Lawsons in Sligo in the 1901 census were Church of Ireland, so I’ll assume yours were too.

Kilmorgan Church of Ireland’s records are combined with the parish of Emlafad. They start in 1762. The originals are held in the RCB library in Dublin (personal visit required to view them) but my guide to Church records says that some years are on the rootsireland site (subscription) so it might be worth checking that first.

Elwyn, IrelandXO Volunteer ☘IrelandXO Volunteer

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