On the day after the disaster, Newcomb Bates (Jr), the town clerk of Cohasset, recorded some additional names that do not appear on any other list. They included Catherine Fitzgerald, Bridget Muligan, Mary Freeman and Sally Sweeney, whose body was found ‘calm and placid’. Nine of Patrick and Mary Sweeney’s eleven children were named in The Boston Mail, November 1849 and later by a local source in Lettermullen, who was also in a position to name a tenth. Was Sally Sweeney a member of this family? There were two people named Miles Sweeney on board, one of whom was a child, and the son of Patrick and Mary Sweeney. Peggy Adams is recorded in the Boston Daily Herald; her sister arrived in Cohasset just as the funeral was about to take place. The following are additional names reported by The Boston Mail: Mary Joyce and her child, Mary Curtain, Peter Greally, Jas Greally, Pat Corcoran, Catherine McMahon, Thomas Donnelly, Bridget Doherty, Nappy Fahy, B. Kennelly or Conlin and three children. Nappy is a shortened version of the name Penelope. All of the additional names have been included in the list that follows, under the title ‘Place of origin unknown’.[5]
Crew Survivors
Comerford, First Mate Henry (Galway)
Comerford, Isaac (Galway)
Flaherty, James (Lettermullen, Connemara, County Galway)
Frost, Andrew (Galway)
Kennelly, Michael (Galway)
Larkin, William (Galway)
O’Brien, Benjamin (Galway)
O’Hern, Henry (Galway)
Oliver, Captain Martin (Galway)
Walker, Thomas (Galway)
Crew Lost
Angiers, William
Connors, Michael
Kennelly, Edward
McDonough, Antonio
Thompson, William
– Two unnamed apprentice boys
Passenger Survivors
Burke, Honora (Mary) (aged 27)
Cole, Mary Kane (aged 24)
Cullen, Honora (aged 28)
Fitzpatrick, Michael (aged 26)
Flaherty, Martin (Lettermullen, Connemara, County Galway)
Flaherty, Patrick (Lettermullen, Connemara, County Galway)
Flaherty, Patrick (Lettermullen, Connemara, County Galway)
Flanagan, Catherine (aged 20)
Gibbon, Michael (aged 26)
Higgins, Betsy (aged 21)
Kearn, Austin (aged 20)
Kennelly, Barbara (aged 20)
Quinlan, Mrs (Place of origin unknown/lost)
Redding, Michael (aged 24)
Rootching, M. (Place of origin unknown/lost)
Slattery, Mary (aged 20)
– The infant saved by Captain Lothrop (Place of origin unknown/lost)
Passengers Lost
Adams, Peggy, steerage passenger (Place of origin unknown/lost)
Belton, John, steerage passenger (Galway)
Brooks, Ms, steerage passenger (Ennistymon/Inistivan/Innistivan, County Clare)
Burnes, Catherine, steerage passenger (Lahinch/Inch/Anch, County Clare)
Burke, Bridget, steerage passenger (Galway)
Burke, Thomas, steerage passenger (Galway)
Butler, John, steerage passenger (Galway)
Byrnes, Daniel, steerage passenger (Lahinch/Inch/Anch, County Clare)
Cahill, Mary, steerage passenger (Galway)
Connelly, Bridget, steerage passenger (Connemara/Kunnamara, County Galway)
Corcoran, Pat, steerage passenger (Place of origin unknown/lost)
Corman, Patrick, steerage passenger (Galway)
Curtain, Mary, steerage passenger (Place of origin unknown/lost)
Curtis, Mary, steerage passenger (County Clare)
Doherty, Bridget, steerage passenger (Place of origin unknown/lost)
Dolan, John, steerage passenger (Galway)
Dolan, Mary, steerage passenger (Galway)
Donnelly, Honora, steerage passenger (Galway)
Donnelly, Thomas, steerage passenger (Place of origin unknown/lost)
Egan, Bridget, steerage passenger (Ennis, Innes, County Clare)
Egan, Honor, steerage passenger (Ennis, Innes, County Clare)
Egan, Michael, steerage passenger (Ennis, Innes, County Clare)
Fahy, Nappy, steerage passenger (Place of origin unknown/lost)
Fahey, Bridget, steerage passenger (Galway)
Fahey, Martha, steerage passenger (Galway)
Fahey, Thomas, steerage passenger (Galway)
Fitzgerald, Catherine, steerage passenger (Place of origin unknown/lost)
Fitzpatrick, Catherine, steerage passenger (Galway)
Flannigan, Mary, cabin passenger (Kilfenora/Kilnare/Kilnara, County Clare)
Freeman, Mary (and child), steerage passenger (Ennis, Innes, County Clare)
Frowley, Mary (and child), steerage passengers (Roan, County Clare)
Galvin, Mary, steerage passenger (Kilmurry/Kilmary, County Clare)
Galvin, Winny, steerage passenger (Kilmurry/Kilmary, County Clare)
Glynn, Hugh, steerage passenger (Ennistymon/Inistivan/Innistivan, County Clare)
Greally, Jas., steerage passenger (Place of origin unknown/lost)
Greally, Peter, steerage passenger (Place of origin unknown/lost)
Griffin, Michael, steerage passenger (Lahinch/Inch/Anch, County Clare)
Hannagan, Margaret, cabin passenger (Kilfenora/Kilnare/Kilnara, County Clare)
Hannagan, Michael, steerage passenger (Lalinen, County Clare)
Hannagan, Nancy, cabin passenger (Kilfenora/Kilnare/Kilnara, County Clare)
Hassett, Ellen, steerage passenger (Lahinch/Inch/Anch, County Clare)
Henniff, Catherine (and sister), steerage passenger (Galway)
Joyce, Mary (and child), steerage passengers (Place of origin unknown/lost)
Kane, Margaret (and child), steerage passenger (Kilmurry/Kilmary, County Clare)
Keenan, Margaret, steerage passenger (Ennistymon/Inistivan/Innistivan, County Clare)
Kennelly (or Conlin) B. (and three children), steerage passengers (Place of origin unknown/lost)
Lahiff (or Rohan), Honora, steerage passenger (County Clare)
Lahiff (or Rohan), John, steerage passenger (County Clare)
Lahiff, John, steerage passenger (Kilfenora/Kilnare/Kilanara, County Clare)
Lahiff, Patrick, steerage passenger (Kilfenora/Kilnare/Kilanara, County Clare)
Landsky, Mary, steerage passenger (Galway)
McDermott, Joyce (and child), steerage passengers (Galway)
McDermott, Mary, steerage passenger (Galway)
McGrath, James, steerage passenger (Kilmurry/Kilmary, County Clare)
McGrath, Patrick, steerage passenger (Kilmurry/Kilmary, County Clare)
McMahon, Bridget, steerage passenger (Roan, County Clare)
McMahon, Catherine, steerage passenger (Place of origin unknown/lost)
McMahon, Patrick, steerage passenger (Roan, County Clare)
McNamara, Mary, steerage passenger (Kilmurry/Kilmary, County Clare)
Madigan, Hugh, steerage passenger (Ennistymon/Inistivan/Innistivan, County Clare)
Maddigan, Bridget, steerage passenger (Kilfenora/Kilnare/Kilanara, County Clare)
Malloy, Peggy, steerage passenger (Lahinch/Inch/Anch, County Clare)
Moran, James, steerage passenger (Dysart/Dyant, County Clare)
Mulkenan, Honora, steerage passenger (County Clare)
Mulkenan, Margaret, steerage passenger (County Clare)
Mulkenan, Mary, steerage passenger (County Clare)
Mullen, Honora, steerage passenger (Galway)
Mullen, Peggy (and her sister’s child), steerage passengers (Galway)
Muligan, Bridget, steerage passenger (Place of origin unknown/lost)
Murphy, Jeremiah, steerage passenger (Dysart/Dyant, County Clare)
Nolan, Mary, steerage passenger (Roan, County Clare)
Noonan, Patrick, steerage passenger (Galway)
O’Brien, Eliza, cabin passenger (Ennistymon/Inistivan/Innistivan, County Clare)
Purky, Martha, steerage passenger (Galway)
Purky, Peggy, steerage passenger (Galway)
Quinn, Bridget, cabin passenger (Ennistymon/Inistivan/Innistivan, County Clare)
Riley, Thomas, steerage passenger (Kilfenora/Kilnare/Kilanara, County Clare)
Sexton, Martin, steerage passenger (Dysart/Dyant, County Clare)
Slattery, Ann, steerage passenger (Ennistymon/Inistivan/Innistivan, County Clare)
Slattery, Bridget, steerage passenger (Ennistymon/Inistivan/Innistivan, County Clare)
Sweeney, Agnes, steerage passenger (Lettercallow, Connemara, County Galway)
Sweeney, Bridget, steerage passenger (Lettercallow, Connemara, County Galway)
Sweeney, Catherine, steerage passenger (Lettercallow, Connemara, County Galway)
Sweeney, John, steerage passenger (Lettercallow, Connemara, County Galway)
Sweeney, Joseph, steerage passenger (Lettercallow, Connemara, County Galway)
Sweeney, Mary, steerage passenger (Lettercallow, Connemara, County Galway)
Sweeney, Mary (daughter), steerage passenger (Lettercallow, Connemara, County Galway)
Sweeney, Miles, steerage passenger (Lettercallow, Connemara, County Galway)
Sweeney, Miles, steerage passenger (Galway)
Sweeney, Patrick, steerage passenger (Lettercallow, Connemara, County Galway)
Sweeney, Patrick Jr, steerage passenger (Lettercallow, Connemara, County Galway)
Sweeney, Sally, steerage passenger (Place of origin unknown/lost)
Sweeney, Sarah, steerage passenger (Lettercallow, Connemara, County Galway)
Sweeney, Thomas, steerage passenger (Lettercallow, Connemara, County Galway)
– Honora (Mary) Burke’s three children, steerage passengers (Place of origin unknown/lost)
– Honora Cullen’s three children, steerage passengers (Place of origin unknown/lost)[6]
Crew saved: 10 – Passengers saved: 17
Crew lost: 7 – Passengers lost: 109
Total on board: 143
[1]Brig St. John of Galway was Cohasset’s Worst Shipwreck, Cohasset Historical Society. John Bhaba Jaick Ó Congaola collection.
Miscellaneous articles and letters from the John Bhaba Jaick Ó Congaola collection: ‘Wreck of the Brig St. John’, 1949.
The Boston Daily Herald: ‘Brig St. John of Galway, Ireland, Lost October 7, 1849, at Cohasset’; ‘List of Survivors and Drowned’.
The Boston Post: ‘Brig St. John of Galway – List of Survivors and Drowned’ (12-10-1849).
The Galway Mercury: ‘Wreck of an Emigrant Ship’ (27-10-1849); ‘Wreck of the St. John’ (3-11-1849).
The Galway Vindicator: ‘Awful Shipwreck at Minot’s Ledge – Loss of St. John of Galway. About One Hundred Drowned – Men, Women and Children’ (3-11-1849).
[2]Brig St. John of Galway was Cohasset’s Worst Shipwreck, Cohasset Historical Society. John Bhaba Jaick Ó Congaola collection.
Miscellaneous articles and letters from the John Bhaba Jaick Ó Congaola collection: ‘Wreck of the Brig St. John’ (1949).
The Boston Daily Herald: ‘Brig St. John of Galway, Ireland, Lost October 7, 1849, at Cohasset’; ‘List of Survivors and Drowned’.
The Boston Post: ‘Brig St. John of Galway – List of Survivors and Drowned’ (12-10-1849).
The Galway Mercury: ‘Wreck of an Emigrant Ship’ (27-10-1849); ‘Wreck of the St. John’ (3-11-1849).
The Galway Vindicator: ‘Awful Shipwreck at Minot’s Ledge – Loss of St. John of Galway. About One Hundred Drowned – Men, Women and Children’ (3-11-1849).
The Irish World and American Industrial Liberator and Gaelic American: Frank Durkan, ‘Death of a Famine Ship’ (6-10-1984).
[3]Brig St. John of Galway was Cohasset’s Worst Shipwreck, Cohasset Historical Society. John Bhaba Jaick Ó Congaola collection.
The Boston Daily Herald: ‘Brig St. John of Galway, Ireland, Lost October 7, 1849, at Cohasset’; ‘List of Survivors and Drowned’.
The Boston Post: ‘Brig St. John of Galway – List of Survivors and Drowned’ (12-10-1849).
The Galway Mercury: ‘Wreck of an Emigrant Ship’ (27-10-1849); ‘Wreck of the St. John’ (3-11-1849).
The Galway Vindicator: ‘Awful Shipwreck at Minot’s Ledge – Loss of St. John of Galway. About One Hundred Drowned – Men, Women and Children’ (3-11-1849).
[4]Brig St. John of Galway was Cohasset’s Worst Shipwreck, Cohasset Historical Society. John Bhaba Jaick Ó Congaola collection.
Diary of Elizabeth Lothrop (11-10-1849, 25-12-1849).
The Boston Daily Herald: ‘Brig St. John of Galway, Ireland, Lost October 7, 1849, at Cohasset’; ‘List of Survivors and Drowned’.
The Boston Post: ‘Brig St. John of Galway – List of Survivors and Drowned’ (12-10-1849).
The Boston Irish Echo: Paddy Mulkerrins, ‘More on the Ill-fated Brig, St. John – Remembers the St. John’ (14-4-1984); Bill Loughran, ‘More on the Ill-fated Brig, St. John’ (14-4-1984); Paddy Mulkerrins, ‘Survivors Found’ (letter to editor); Bill Loughran, ‘The Ill-fated Brig St. John’ (14-1-1984).
The Galway Mercury: ‘Wreck of an Emigrant Ship’ (27-10-1849); ‘Wreck of the St. John’ (3-11-1849).
The Galway Vindicator: ‘Awful Shipwreck at Minot’s Ledge – Loss of St. John of Galway. About One Hundred Drowned – Men, Women and Children’ (3-11-1849).
[5]Brig St. John of Galway was Cohasset’s Worst Shipwreck, Cohasset Historical Society. John Bhaba Jaick Ó Congaola collection.
Ennistymon Parish Magazine, ‘The Wreck of the Irish Emigrant Ship’, ‘The Shipwreck of the St. John’. Article compiled from material supplied by Brud Slattery, John Flanagan (both Lahinch), and Frank Flanagan (USA) (1996).
The Boston Daily Herald: ‘Brig St. John of Galway, Ireland, Lost October 7, 1849, at Cohasset’; ‘List of Survivors and Drowned’.
The Boston Post: ‘Brig St. John of Galway – List of Survivors and Drowned’ (12-10-1849).
The Galway Mercury: ‘Wreck of an Emigrant Ship’ (27-10-1849). ‘Wreck of the St. John’ (3-11-1849).
The Galway Vindicator: ‘Awful Shipwreck at Minot’s Ledge – Loss of St. John of Galway. About One Hundred Drowned – Men, Women and Children’ (3-11-1849).
[6]Brig St. John of Galway was Cohasset’s Worst Shipwreck, Cohasset Historical Society. John Bhaba Jaick Ó Congaola collection.
Diary of Elizabeth Lothrop (11-10-1849, 25-12-1849).
Ennistymon Parish Magazine, ‘The Wreck of the Irish Emigrant Ship’, ‘The Shipwreck of the St. John’. Article compiled from material supplied by Brud Slattery, John Flanagan (both Lahinch), and Frank Flanagan (USA) (1996).
Miscellaneous articles and letters from the John Bhaba Jaick Ó Congaola collection: ‘Wreck of the Brig St. John’ (1949).
The Boston Daily Herald: ‘Brig St. John of Galway, Ireland, Lost October 7, 1849, at Cohasset’; ‘List of Survivors and Drowned’.
The Boston Irish Echo: Paddy Mulkerrins, ‘More on the Ill-fated Brig, St. John – Remembers the St. John’ (14-4-1984); Bill Loughran, ‘More on the Ill-Fated Brig, St. John’ (14-4-1984); Paddy Mulkerrins, ‘Survivors Found’ (letter to editor); Bill Loughran, ‘The Ill-Fated Brig St. John’ (14-1-1984).
The Boston Post: ‘Brig St. John of Galway – List of Survivors and Drowned’, 12-10-1849.
The Galway Mercury: ‘Wreck of an Emigrant Ship’ (27-10-1849); ‘Wreck of the St. John’ (3-11-1849).
The Galway Vindicator: ‘Awful Shipwreck at Minot’s Ledge – Loss of St. John of Galway. About One Hundred Drowned – Men, Women and Children’ (3-11-1849).
The Irish World and American Industrial Liberator and Gaelic American: Frank Durkan, ‘Death of a Famine Ship’ (6-10-1984).
Epilogue
In 1803 the British government introduced legislation to protect emigrant passengers, and during the decades that followed this legislation matured and evolved. However, the laws were not always enforceable and unscrupulous shipowners and shipmasters continually fou
nd ways of evading them. These infringements paved the way for corrupt maritime businessmen to exploit their passengers and capitalise on their misery. Nevertheless, in the years following the famine conditions improved and passengers experienced a much more comfortable voyage in comparison to the unfortunate people who had fled Ireland in the 1840s. Regulations were put in place to determine the maximum number of passengers that a ship could carry, and to ensure that sufficient food and water was provided for the voyage. However, it was too late for almost one million Irish men, women and children who had fled the country during the famine.
Between 1845 and 1850, some 100,000 Irish people arrived in Boston. They took any work they could find and lived in squalid tenements while struggling to keep their families alive. Life proved very difficult for the Irish in the early years and wasn’t rendered any easier by the bigotry of the locals. Signs declaring ‘No Irish Need Apply’ became ubiquitous in the windows of businesses and boarding houses, and the immigrants struggled to secure employment. But in spite of this many of them later succeeded in reaching the highest offices and positions in their adopted country. It was the descendants of this scorned refugee population who helped create a new, powerful force in America.[1]Nothing deterred this impoverished yet spirited generation who succeeded in transforming themselves from destitute foreigners into successful business people. That they managed to overcome the numerous obstacles placed before them is a testament of their strength and endurance. Many of them became leaders in the fields of politics, arts, sports, religion and business.
In 1849, Patrick Kennedy, progenitor of the Kennedy dynasty, sailed from Wexford to the United States on board The Washington Irving; it was the same year as the brig St. John sailed from Galway. His grandson, John F. Kennedy, went on to become one of the most famous presidents of the United States. John F. Kennedy never forgot his Irish roots and he once said, ‘We are a nation of immigrants … the experience of our ancestors paves the way for our achievements.’ Another famous Irish-American was Henry Ford, founder of the automobile industry. His father left Cork for Quebec in 1847, and eventually made his way to Detroit.[2]
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