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Writing Acres of Dreams made me more conscious of my ancestors, their reasons for immigrating, their struggles and their personal lives.
I don't remember my grandmother talking much about her childhood in Ireland. Maybe she did and I was too self-absorbed as a child to listen.
A few years ago I made internet contact with a cousin in the UK. His grandfather was my grandmother's brother. He passed on to me some information he had on my Irish roots.
My grandmother was one of twelve children (like Katy in Acres of Dreams). Six came to North America and six stayed in Ireland.
He told me one of my great uncles, George, died when he fell off a boat in a New York harbour. My great-aunt Rachel was apparently an adventurous woman. Her husband went to America to set up a new life for them. After a long time with no word from him-communications were a lot different in those days-she parked two children with one grandmother, and two with the other. Then she set off to America to find her husband. Unfortunately the story as he knew it ended there. It left me wondering. Did she ever find him? Did they make a new life in America together? Did they ever return to Ireland to reclaim their four children? I have no idea why my grandmother never kept in touch with her Irish family. Even my mother wasn't aware of these stories and had no idea of the whereabouts of her cousins.
Unfortunately I have lost contact with my source of information. Perhaps he's ill, or passed away. Someday when I have the time and resources, I'd like to track down their stories, especially that of Great Aunt Rachel. It would make a great tale.
I don't remember my grandmother talking much about her childhood in Ireland. Maybe she did and I was too self-absorbed as a child to listen.
A few years ago I made internet contact with a cousin in the UK. His grandfather was my grandmother's brother. He passed on to me some information he had on my Irish roots.
My grandmother was one of twelve children (like Katy in Acres of Dreams). Six came to North America and six stayed in Ireland.
He told me one of my great uncles, George, died when he fell off a boat in a New York harbour. My great-aunt Rachel was apparently an adventurous woman. Her husband went to America to set up a new life for them. After a long time with no word from him-communications were a lot different in those days-she parked two children with one grandmother, and two with the other. Then she set off to America to find her husband. Unfortunately the story as he knew it ended there. It left me wondering. Did she ever find him? Did they make a new life in America together? Did they ever return to Ireland to reclaim their four children? I have no idea why my grandmother never kept in touch with her Irish family. Even my mother wasn't aware of these stories and had no idea of the whereabouts of her cousins.
Unfortunately I have lost contact with my source of information. Perhaps he's ill, or passed away. Someday when I have the time and resources, I'd like to track down their stories, especially that of Great Aunt Rachel. It would make a great tale.
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