Ellis Island: Immigrants from Kilnamona

Ellis Island served as America's busiest immigrant inspection station from 1892 to 1954. After immigration was restricted in 1924, the only immigrants to pass through the station were war refugees. First and second class passengers who arrived in New York Harbor were, unless visibly sick, not required to undergo the inspection process at Ellis Island. Instead, these passengers underwent a cursory inspection aboard ship. The theory was that these people were much less likely to be a burden for the taxpayer [1]. This scenario was greatly different for "steerage" passengers. These immigrants travelled in crowded and often unsanitary conditions near the bottom of steamships with few amenities. These passengers were transported from the pier by ferry to Ellis Island where they underwent a medical and legal inspection. If the immigrant's papers were in order and they were in reasonably good health, the Ellis Island inspection process would only last approximately three to five hours.

Immigrants from Kilnamona have been transcribed in the following table using this Ellis Island Database which goes from 1892-1924. I found some Kilnamona natives putting down their previous place of residence as Ennis; so, if you have relatives who you think emigrated to America during this period and are not on the following list, please contact me. Additional information about several of the immigrants is located under the following table:

Immigrants from Kilnamona to America 1892-1924

Name Age Year Born Date of Arrival Port Left Next of Kin Final Destination Occupation
Cullinan, John 27 1896 April 5, 1923 Queenstown John Cullinan, Gurteen New York Farm Labourer
Cullinan, Michael 22 1901 April 5, 1923 Queenstown John Cullinan, Gurteen New York Farm Labourer
Griffin, Mary 17 1881 April 14, 1898 Queenstown - New York -
Griffin, Thomas 21 1877 April 14, 1898 Queenstown - New York -
Hegarty, William 22 1898 June 18, 1920 Queenstown Patrick Hegarty, Ballyashea Corrona, Long Island Farm Labourer
Keane, Andrew 21 1900 March 4, 1921 Queenstown John Keane, Ballyashea New York Farm Labourer
Keane, Gretta 22 1898 June 5, 1920 Queenstown J Keane, Ballyashea New York Domestic Servant
Keane, Delia 17 1881 April 14, 1898 Queenstown - New York Servant
Keating, Nora 20 1878 Sept 22, 1898 Queenstown - New York Servant
Kelly, Catherine 28 1892 August 18, 1920 Queenstown - Brooklyn, New York Domestic Servant
Kerin, Maria 24 1884 Oct 1, 1908 Queenstown John Kerin New York -
McTigue, Michael 21 1891 Sept 21, 1912 Queenstown Patrick McTigue, Lickaun New York Labourer
McTigue, Patrick 19 1904 April 5, 1923 Queenstown Patrick McTigue, Lickaun New York General Labourer
Mescall, Lott 21 1900 March 4, 1921 Queenstown Patrick Mescall New York Farm Labourer
Molony, Catherine 24 1881 August 24, 1905 Queenstown - New York -
Molony, Norah 22 1883 August 24, 1905 Queenstown - New York -
Pynne, Thomas 21 1877 April 14, 1898 Queenstown - New York Labourer
Savage, Mary 22 1890 May 4, 1912 Queenstown Pat Savage, Mill St. Ennis Long Island -
Sullivan, Maggie 20 1881 Sept 11, 1901 Queenstown - New York Servant
Talty, John 22 1900 Nov 4, 1922 Queenstown Michael Talty, Lickaun New York Farm Labourer
Talty, Joseph 22 1902 Dec 16, 1924 Cobh Michael Talty, Lickaun New York Farm Labourer
Talty, Kate 16 1908 Dec 16, 1924 Queenstown Michael Talty, Lickaun New York Housemaid
Talty, Martin 22 1901 April 5, 1923 Queenstown Michael Talty, Lickaun New York General Labourer

Comments

Mary and Thomas Griffin arrived on the same day in 1898 and were joining a cousin in New York. Both were in possesion of the required $30. Their passage was paid by their father.

William (Bill) Hegarty arrived in 1920. He paid his own fare and was joining a cousin of his, Susan Millar, in Long Island.

Delia Keane also paid her own passage. She had $25 in her possession and was joining a cousin in New York.

Gretta Keane had her passage paid for her by her brother. She had $25 in her possession and was joining her sister Mrs. Patrick Carey 1834 2nd Ave., New York.

Nora Keating possessed $30 on arrival. She too paid for own passage and was joining a cousin called William Heaney.

Catherine Kelly had her passage paid by her sister. In possession of $25, she was joining her sister Margaret Kelly at 58 South 10th Street, Brooklyn.

Michael McTigue, the future world champion boxer, paid his own passage and had $25 on arrival. He joined his brother John McTigue in New York.

Patrick McTigue had his passage paid by brother, James, who he joined in New York.

Lott Mescall arrived in 1921 and joined his brother Thomas in Long Island

John Talty was the first of 4 Taltys to register at Ellis Island during this period, arriving in 1922. He was joining his cousin John Ryan in 133rd Street, New York. His brother Martin joined him the following year.

Joseph and Kate Talty arrived over to their brother John in 1924. Kate was just 16 years of age.

Mary Monahan and Ellen Monahan were two immigrants from Ballyashea who came to America at the turn of the 20th century. Their parents were Timothy and Bridget Monahan. They are not recorded in the Ellis Island database.

References
  1. The Statue of Liberty - Ellis Island Foundation. Ellis Island - History. Available at http://www.ellisisland.org/genealogy/ellis_island_history.asp