Immigration Interview
My great, great grandparents, Hannah S. Starkie, and James A. Sullivan, immigrated from Ireland many years ago. I decided to interview my grandmother, Kathleen Cowan, because of her great knowledge on there travel to the United States. I conducted this interview right in the living room of my grandparents house in September 2012.
Skibereen
Oh father dear, I oft-times hear you speak of Erin's isle
Her lofty hills, her valleys green, her mountains rude and wild
They say she is a lovely hand wherein a saint might dwell
So why did you abandon her, the reason to me tell.
Oh son, I loved my native land with energy and pride
Till a blight came o'er the praties; my sheep, my cattle died
My rent and taxes went unpaid, I could not them redeem
And that's the cruel reason why I left old Skibereen.
Oh well do I remember that bleak December day
The landlord and the sheriff came to take us all away
They set my roof on fire with their cursed English spleen
I heaved a sigh and bade goodbye to dear old Skibereen.
Your mother too, God rest her soul, fell on the stony ground
She fainted in her anguish seeing desolation 'round
She never rose but passed away from life to immortal dream
She found a quiet grave, me boy, in dear old Skibbereen.
And you were only two years old and feeble was your frame
I could not leave you with my friends for you bore your father's name
I wrapped you in my cota mor in the dead of night unseen
I heaved a sigh and bade goodbye to dear old Skibbereen
Oh father dear, the day will come when in answer to the call
All Irish men of freedom stern will rally one and all
I'll be the man to lead the band beneath the flag of green
And loud and clear we'll raise the cheer, Revenge for Skibereen.
Oh father dear, I oft-times hear you speak of Erin's isle
Her lofty hills, her valleys green, her mountains rude and wild
They say she is a lovely hand wherein a saint might dwell
So why did you abandon her, the reason to me tell.
Oh son, I loved my native land with energy and pride
Till a blight came o'er the praties; my sheep, my cattle died
My rent and taxes went unpaid, I could not them redeem
And that's the cruel reason why I left old Skibereen.
Oh well do I remember that bleak December day
The landlord and the sheriff came to take us all away
They set my roof on fire with their cursed English spleen
I heaved a sigh and bade goodbye to dear old Skibereen.
Your mother too, God rest her soul, fell on the stony ground
She fainted in her anguish seeing desolation 'round
She never rose but passed away from life to immortal dream
She found a quiet grave, me boy, in dear old Skibbereen.
And you were only two years old and feeble was your frame
I could not leave you with my friends for you bore your father's name
I wrapped you in my cota mor in the dead of night unseen
I heaved a sigh and bade goodbye to dear old Skibbereen
Oh father dear, the day will come when in answer to the call
All Irish men of freedom stern will rally one and all
I'll be the man to lead the band beneath the flag of green
And loud and clear we'll raise the cheer, Revenge for Skibereen.
Q: Where did our family immigrate from?
A: Country Cork, Ireland. Skibbereen, a little town right on the Atlantic Ocean, which is a popular tourist attraction even though it's so small.
A: Country Cork, Ireland. Skibbereen, a little town right on the Atlantic Ocean, which is a popular tourist attraction even though it's so small.
Q: What year did they immigrate here?
A:"In the 1870's. My grandmother came over when she was 17 years old in steerage, blow deck of a ship,) the cheapest way to go. She had the equivalent of 2 dollars and a bible.
A:"In the 1870's. My grandmother came over when she was 17 years old in steerage, blow deck of a ship,) the cheapest way to go. She had the equivalent of 2 dollars and a bible.
Q: Why did your grandparents choose to immigrate here?
A: "Because of the potato famines. They started in the 1840's and it was typical that the oldest child would go first and then he/she in turn would raise the money to bring all the other family members over."
A: "Because of the potato famines. They started in the 1840's and it was typical that the oldest child would go first and then he/she in turn would raise the money to bring all the other family members over."
Q: Where did they move to when they came to America?
A: "My grandmother moved to Boston, and then from Boston to Pepperell. My grandfather came in through Boston, and moved to Pepperell as well."
A: "My grandmother moved to Boston, and then from Boston to Pepperell. My grandfather came in through Boston, and moved to Pepperell as well."
Q: Where did your grandparents find work when they came to America?
A: "My grandmother secured a job as a nanny for a wealthy family in Boston. She was greatly disturbed by all the N.I.N.A (No Irish need apply) signs that were displayed in every store window, which means if you're Irish don't bother coming in here because you won't get a job. My grandmother had asthma and the humidity coming off the ocean was not good for her, but the woman who originally hired her had a friend who lived in Pepperell, Marian, who was wealthy and her new employer treated her as a daughter.
My grandfather came over about the same time and worked in a paper mill in West Groton."
A: "My grandmother secured a job as a nanny for a wealthy family in Boston. She was greatly disturbed by all the N.I.N.A (No Irish need apply) signs that were displayed in every store window, which means if you're Irish don't bother coming in here because you won't get a job. My grandmother had asthma and the humidity coming off the ocean was not good for her, but the woman who originally hired her had a friend who lived in Pepperell, Marian, who was wealthy and her new employer treated her as a daughter.
My grandfather came over about the same time and worked in a paper mill in West Groton."
Q: Do you think they had expectations for America?
A: "Yes, most definitely. It was the land of milk and honey."
A: "Yes, most definitely. It was the land of milk and honey."
Q: What opportunities were in America that weren't in Ireland?
A: "Food to eat, employment. England owned Ireland at the time and only allowed them to plant potatoes. A fungus attacked the potatoes so the people had no way to make money. 1/3 died, 1/3 immigrated, and 1/3 survived."
A: "Food to eat, employment. England owned Ireland at the time and only allowed them to plant potatoes. A fungus attacked the potatoes so the people had no way to make money. 1/3 died, 1/3 immigrated, and 1/3 survived."
Q: Did they know English when they arrived to America?
A: "Yes, because they were owned by England, however they spoke it with the "Irish brogue." This means that the Irish people were very noticeable because of the brogue, their accent on the Irish language, and therefore because of the N.I.N.A they were easy to distinguish. I think my Nana knew how to keep her mouth shut, she was very literate, she could quote Shakespeare. She loved reading."
A: "Yes, because they were owned by England, however they spoke it with the "Irish brogue." This means that the Irish people were very noticeable because of the brogue, their accent on the Irish language, and therefore because of the N.I.N.A they were easy to distinguish. I think my Nana knew how to keep her mouth shut, she was very literate, she could quote Shakespeare. She loved reading."
Q: Did your grandparents miss Ireland?
A: "My nana did. She was always going to go back to the "Emerald Isle." My papa was so proud to be in this country, and proud to become an American citizen, it was the highlight of his life."
A: "My nana did. She was always going to go back to the "Emerald Isle." My papa was so proud to be in this country, and proud to become an American citizen, it was the highlight of his life."
Q: How did their life change when they moved to America?
A: "Better, definitely for the better. However, papa had a problem with alcohol, which was very common for Irish people. But because of his intelligence he was hired to be a color chemist for a paper company in West Groton. He did exceedingly well despite his alcoholism in the paper mill, and despite his lack of education. He learned through reading."
A: "Better, definitely for the better. However, papa had a problem with alcohol, which was very common for Irish people. But because of his intelligence he was hired to be a color chemist for a paper company in West Groton. He did exceedingly well despite his alcoholism in the paper mill, and despite his lack of education. He learned through reading."
Q: When did your Nana and Papa get married?
A: "Around 1899-1900 the would have been married."
A: "Around 1899-1900 the would have been married."
Q: How did your Nana get the money to bring her family over?
A: "Her family scraped up some enough money to come over. It was very cheap but to them it was expensive because they had no money."
A: "Her family scraped up some enough money to come over. It was very cheap but to them it was expensive because they had no money."
Q: Why didn't your Papa want to go back to Ireland?
A: "Because he was very proud to become an American citizen. December 10th, 1934 he became an American citizen in Boston. You had to take a test that you knew American history and could speak and write in English."
A: "Because he was very proud to become an American citizen. December 10th, 1934 he became an American citizen in Boston. You had to take a test that you knew American history and could speak and write in English."
Q: Why did your Nana want to go back to Ireland?
A: "She just considered that her home. She always dreamed of going back to her homeland, but she never did. She always believed she would but it was never possible."
A: "She just considered that her home. She always dreamed of going back to her homeland, but she never did. She always believed she would but it was never possible."
Q: What was your Nana's plan when she arrived in America?
A: "Her plan was to get a job and save up enough money to bring her family over. Which she accomplished."
A: "Her plan was to get a job and save up enough money to bring her family over. Which she accomplished."
Q: What was your Papa's plan when he arrived in America?
A: "Same answer. He saved up enough to bring his family over."
A: "Same answer. He saved up enough to bring his family over."
Q: How do you think your grandparents lives changed when arrived in America? What do you think would be different if they didn't immigrate?
A: They might not have survived in Ireland, the poverty was so bad. They had a lot more freedom in America. They could practice their own religion, Britain owned Ireland at the time so they weren't allowed to practice their Catholic religion. They both found work. Everything would be terribly different.
A: They might not have survived in Ireland, the poverty was so bad. They had a lot more freedom in America. They could practice their own religion, Britain owned Ireland at the time so they weren't allowed to practice their Catholic religion. They both found work. Everything would be terribly different.