| Arrival in England |
| For those who came to England's shore, usally Liverpool or Whitehaven, their first priority was finding work to cloth and feed their families. Large numbers including my own decendants headed for Newcastle and Durham where work was available in the mines. Coal was in huge demand, needed for the steamliners, the steel industry and off course the railways. As demand grew, more and more miners were required. Many English miners were becoming unwilling workers, feed up with the poor conditions and the dreaded bond system meaning they were effectively owned by their employers, signing away there lives for one year at a time in return for a bounty, usually around 2 Shillings and 6. Subsequently strikes were common and with the mass influx or Irish immigrants any unwilling workers were simply removed from their homes and their jobs and homes were were given to the needy Irish. Not surprisingly, resentment soon grew against these foreigners who were prodominently Catholics. Soon they became the object of hate among the native Englishman. Reports of violence caused by the Irish were made daily in the press, "The Irish were heavy drinkers, black legs, trouble causers." Their cause had not been helped when in 1844 Lord Londerrry sacked all his striking workers and replaced them with 150 Irish men. This number was exagerated by the local press and 150 became several hundred. Word quickly spread across the Durham coalfield and the figure soon became 1000's. |
| My first records of the Early's in England date to 1857 and the wedding of my Great Great Great Grand Father John Early (of Sligo) marrying his wife Ann Keoghan/Keokin also of Sligo. However, I believe the family arrived in England long before this, perhaps 10 years previous. Their Wedding took place in June of that year at St.Mary's R.C Cathedral, Newcastle Upon Tyne. When they Wed, Ann aged 22 years was living in Stockesbridge, Newcastle but John aged 25, a miner, was residing in Seaham Street in the Westgate area of Newcastle. The marriage certificate gives the name of both fathers,Daniel Keokin, a farmer and Owen Early a Coal Miner. So does this mean Owen also landed in England and was he too living with John and perhaps other siblings plus his wife ? I am still searching for this information also information on Owen's death. |
| Various sources indicate that John had at least one other brother by the name of James. Myth has it John had several other siblings too, 3 sisters and one brother who all emigrated to America. The sisters are all believed to have married wealthy spouses are known to have written letters to their less fortunate brothers telling them if they came to America they would do well. The sisters had done so well they could afford to place a gold ring on each of their fingers. The brother is believed to have been killed during the American Civil War. This story was told many times by John and Anne's eldest daugther Lizzie who lived until 1954. However, the only Census return at present for James is that of 1881. This shows his Irish origins and indicates his birth around 1837, sadly no regieon or county is indicated. James's address at the time of this census was Wolsingham Road, Wolsingham, County Durham, his wife Mary was born in 1844, also in Ireland. Please find below details of the 1881 Census for James and the residents of his home. |
| 1881 Census for James Early of Wolsingham Road, Wolsingham, Co Durham. James Early Married 44 years Coal Miner Birth Place Ireland Mary Early Maried 38 years Housewife Birth Place Ireland James Early 17 Years Occupation Unknown B/P - Bishop Auckland Elizabeth Early 14 Years Occuptn Unknown B/P - Handley Green, Stafford Annie Early 9 Years Occupatn Unknown B/P - Leadgate, Co Durham Jane Early 6 Years Occupatn Unknown B/P - West Auckland, C Durham John Early 4 Years Occuptn Unknown B/P- Bull Crag, Co Durham Bridget Early 1 Year Occuptn Unknown B/P - Annfield Plain , Co Durham Mary Fallon 50 Years Widow B/P - Ireland (mother-in-law) ****************************************************************** Annie Early and Bridget are both known to have married at St.Mary Magdalene's Roman Catholic Church in Seaham County Durham. ****************************************************************** |
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