Across the Ocean of Promise: The Irish in Georgia

2005. hardbound.
2 volumes. 8½ x 11.
1655 pages. $123.50 postpaid.

This two-volume set traces over 10,600 families and individuals who immigrated to America and settled in Georgia. The Federal census records for the years 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880, 1900, 1910, 1920, and 1930 for each county in Georgia were examined for those of Irish birth and the information cited. More than 9,500 death and cemetery records were searched, and many as early as 1815. This publication contains a 210 page full name index with Irish counties, parishes, towns and townlands included. A glossary of archaic medical terms is among other pertinent, yet extraneous, information.

The abstracted information traces the movements and changes within the family over the indicated years. Name, age, occupation, place of birth, number of children born, year married, immigration and the status of their citizenship are some of the categories cited. Irish counties, towns, and occasionally parishes are noted when available. The families are grouped together for the years they appear on the census.

Some immigrants came alone, but many entire families packed all their possessions and crossed the ocean to find a new home. Some were born at sea and some died along the way, never to find their dreams. Men and women found their mates in New York New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, South Carolina, North Carolina, Tennessee, Kentucky and, of course, Georgia. Many children were born in those same states, as well as North Dakota, Iowa, Illinois, Missouri, Alabama, Mississippi, and Canada. This book makes it clear which routes families took from the north on their way to Georgia.

Large numbers of workers were employed to build railroads and canals. Jobs were also found in the milling, mining, and shipping industries. There were many immigrants who were talented artisans such as shoemakers, blacksmiths, tinsmiths, puddlers, sail makers, wharfingers and carpenters. Women worked as boarding house keepers, seamstresses, milliners, mantua makers, or gaiter binders. The Irishmen of Georgia served bravely in the Army and Navy of the Confederacy during the Civil War.

Some of the names included are Brady, McHugh, Nolan, Kennelly, O’Connell, Kelly, Pendergast, Murphy, Burns, Cotter, Wright, Galagher, Kearns, O’Keeffe, Collins, Molloy and many more. Many spelling variations are noted for these and other families. What people are saying about this book…

“This is one of the most monumental genealogical efforts in recent memory.”
Kenneth Thomas

“…a unique presentation of some very valuable information for anyone doing Irish immigrant research… a wonderfully detailed list of Irish immigrants to Georgia…an excellent job of documenting major cemeteries in Georgia and the Irish buried there…a great two volume work.”
Mike Brubaker

“After many years of searching, I finally was able to find my great grandparents.”
Harriet Peeler McHugh