One of the most useful sources for finding the Irish place
of origin for Irish immigrants in the U.S. and Canada in the 1840s is newspaper
reports about Repeal Associations. My previous post about Repeal Associations in Prince Edward Island, Canada, explains what they were.
Toronto, like other North American towns and cities, saw the
establishment of a Repeal Association by Irish immigrants. The Toronto Mirror newspaper carried an
article in 1844 about the activities of the organization and provided the names
and Irish counties of origin of its members. These names were compiled in an
article in Families, the journal of
the Ontario Genealogical Society. Consult 'Nominal List of Repealers from the
Toronto Mirror 2 February 1844' in the June 1997 (Vol. 36, No. 2, pp.111-116)
edition to read the article.
This is a gem to archives, and looks like a great read. I have been very oblivious to Irish history, and the immigration issues concerning it, and this really helps bring my interest to work!
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