Richard Talbot and the Brunswick Emigrants 1818

Dear Randy:

Thank you for your post.  Our volunteers in Cloughjordan organised a 200th anniversary celebration of the Talbot Emigrant Scheme last year.  I will forward this query to them and one of them will be in contact with you shortly..  

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Kind regards,

Jane

Hi Randy,

The Brunswick of 1818 was celebrated last year in Cloughjordan as so many of those on board came from our locality.  The Canadian Ambassador came to the celebrations, various people spoke on families that had connections still living in Cloughjordan.

Were you family from the Coughjordan area?  Sheppard is still a common name in the village, Lewis was also common up to 60 years ago.

Have you any other information.

Séamus Costello

First I appreciate your timely reply.

With your 200th anniversary celebration last year it is a shame I did not get going on this earlier. 

A brief history. The grandson (John Lewis) of John Lewis and Mary Sheppard Lewis that sailed with The Talbot Group on the Brunswick in 1818 emigrated to Dakota Territory, later North Dakota, about 1884 to homestead. That John Lewis is my Great Grandfather. My cousin, Larry Lewis, farms that land. Park River, North Dakota 58102

I have a letter from my aunt given to her from her aunt. It has John Lewis born in 1787 and Mary Sheppard born 1798 both in Queens County Tipperary Ireland. They settled in Gouldburn, Ontario upon arrival. I believe they are buried at Stanley's Corners, Goulbourn, Ontario. John 1863, Mary Sheppard Lewis 1875 (?) I have a list of their children, all born in Canada if that would be helpful.

Their Son William Lewis moved to Renfrew, Ontario. His son John moved to North Dakota.

From interlibrary loan I just received Irish Migrants in the Canadas by Bruce S. Elliot, I would imagine you have a copy. From the settlers list I find;

Lewis, John 31, farmer; Mary (Sheppard) 18 (carrying John, born 23 September 1818)

There are a couple other Lewises, I have no idea if they are family. They settled in London rather than Goulbourn.

 Lewis, Francis 34, farmer; Sarah () 16

Lewis, Benjamin ?, farmer, Mrs ?.

That is about all I know. 

Randy

My husband and I will be visiting Cloughjordan in October 2025. I am descended from the Stanley, and Hodgin families that were on the Talbot voyage in 1818. Fortunately,  my families show up in the Canadian Census beginning in 1851. Under "place of birth" they put their native towns of Cloughjordan and Borrisokane instead of just " Ireland". This information is usually recorded as just the name of the country. It was a godsend they included this.  Looking forward to my upcoming trip.