The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1912-03-22
Irish Blood in America


seven years of westward sailing and
and exploration from Ireland, Morse
colonists, under Karlsefne, came to
Vineland, generally believed to be
the present New England, but certain
ly on American soil, and lived there
from 1907 to 1011. These colonists
heard from the indians stories OF
white men, who wore long white
cloaks carried banners and crosses
and sang as they marched The
Norsemen believed these white men
TO be lrishmen, for Irish monks who
dressed similarly, sang and marched,
were missionaries in Norway, Iceland
and the northern islands. Morse
maps of the eleventh, twelfth and up
to the fifteenth century showed a
land, called Ireland the Great, south
of MARYLAND Uabrador) and Vine
land New Engand) in the new
world The maps of Edrisi, an Arab
ic geographer were made in 1899 and
are now in the Bibliotheque Nation
ale of Paris. These maps show
continent west of Europe, and the
continent is called Ireland the Great.
When Columbus came to the new
world, an Irishman was in his crew.
This Celt William Eyres of Galway,
was among the garrison left behind
by Columbus upon the latter's return
to Spain, and was murdered with his
fellow soldiers, by the Indians.
Irishmen were among the early
settlers in several colonies. Francis
Mcguire of Ireland came to Virginia
in 1907, William Mullins and Chris
topher Martin, two lrishmen, were
among the Pilgrim band upon the
Mayfower, when she sailed into Ply
mouth harbor in 1920. Priscilla,
whom John Alden courted for old
Miles Standish, was Priscilla Mullins,
an Irish lassie. Irishmen came into
the colonies rapidly. Some came in
the colonies rapidly. Some came
as free immigrants, some came as re-
demptioners, or bond servants, Sc
curing freedom in from two to seven
years. Some came without distinc-
tive Irish names, for many had been
forced in Ireland by penal legislation
to take English surnames. Many OF
the Chesters, Suttons, Smiths, Buffers
Cooks and Carpenters were Irishmen
whose fathers had been forced to
adopt these English names by law.
In Pennsylvania James Logan OF
Armagh became the most famous
Irishman of the colony He was
mayor of Philadelphia, secretary OF
the Province, president judge of the
court of common pleas, president OF
the council. chief justice and COVER
nor Of the province from 1890 to 1888
The famous Indian chief, Logan, was
named in honor OF James Logan.
In New York Sir Thomas Dongan-
afterward Earl of Limerick, called
the first legislative assembly ever
formed in the province and in 1888
caused the passage Of an act giving
freedom Of worship to all who beliey-
ed in Christ. He permitted the Jews
to worship unmolested, tried to abol-
ish white slavery, established the
first double house of legislation, and
first gave the people, a voice In col
onial government.
William Johnson, of County Down,
was a successful general in the
French and Indian war, was made a
baronet for his services, was granted
5000 guineas for his victory at Lake
George, and by his tact kept the great
Six Nations upon the British and
American side during the war. He
received 100000 acres of land along
the Mohawk river as a final reward.
For him is named the City Of Johns
town, N. Y.
Irishmen increased rapidly during
the years preceding the Revolution
They participated nobly in the stir
ring events of the struggle for liber
w. John Sullivan. OF New Hamp
shire. saw the battle coming. In De
cember, IVA. he seized the stores
and ammunition at Fort William and
Mary. Portsmouth, n. H., and subse
quently employed them against the
British He was major general IN
the Revolution. governor OF New
Hampshire and rated as second only
TO Washington in the field. His
brother James Sullivan, became gov
ernor OF Massachusetts,. His brother
William Sullivan. became governor OF
Vermont. They were the sons Of
owen Sullivan, schoolmaster OF
Limerick who came TO America as
bondservant.
On the rool there are ten Washes
eight Kellys. seven Kenneys, six Col
lnses. AZ Bunker Hill 25S OF Tho
muster roll names are Irish names
Sixteen OF them were Collinses. eight
cen were Welshes seven were Con
horses. six we're Sullivans, six were
Doughertys.
The first Muster.Master General o
the Revolutionary army was StepheI
Moylan OF Cork. brother OF the bishol
Of Cork. Moylan afterward served az
secretary to Washington. as colone
and brigadier-general OF cavalry. liz
was first president OF the Friendly
Sons OF st. Patrick OF Philadelphia
an Irish society, famous for its higl
caliber OF members.
The first vessel captured on inlanl
waters In the Revolution was takel
by Mathew Lyon OF Wicklow OF
Lake Champlain, shortly after Ethel
Allen captured Tlconderoga. Lyol
married Aliens niece. and becam
treasurer of Vermont, soldier In th
Revolution, representative from Nei
mont. cast the vote which made JET
ferson president In the great contes
between Jefferson and Burr and SCI
we'd as representative from Kentuck
and Arkansas. He Is the only ma
who ever represented two states an
one territory in the lower house.