THE DROGHEDA Independent is attempting to track down the descendants of Drogheda people who fled the great Irish Famine for a new life in America.

The town will host the national Famine Commemoration this year, in association with Boston, and it is hoped to trace relatives of the many who departed from the port in 1847.

Community historian Brendan Matthews has produced a passenger list of people, men, women and children who were resident in the town of Drogheda 165 years ago and who subsequently took the emigrant ship to Liverpool and then to the port of New York arriving in the spring of 1848. They were: Richard Savage, harness maker aged 24; John Harman, butcher aged 52; Kate Clark aged 10 years; John Hannigan, cultivator aged 16; Richard Graham, carpenter aged 22; Mary Casey, chambermaid aged 30; Mary Clark, dairymaid aged 40; Terence Hickey, labourer aged 20; Hugh Commiskey, ploughman aged 17; Margaret Clark, dairymaid aged 15; Mary Clark, dairymaid aged 18; MaryAnn Lennon, dressmaker aged 30; Theresa Cranen, milliner aged 18; Ann Mcguire, chambermaid aged 25; Mary Savage, occupation unknown aged 56; Maria Savage, dressmaker aged 18; Bridget Harman, dressmaker aged 17; Christina Harman, dressmaker aged 15; Janis Harman, dressmaker aged 19; Patrick Clark, child aged 2; Peter Hannigan, child aged 8; Jane Cleary, child aged 6; Rose Clark, child aged 4; Eliza Clark, child aged 8; Ann Clark aged 12; Ann Lennon, child aged 6; Margaret King, occupation unknown aged 20; Michael Rogers, labourer aged 17; Miles Rogers, labourer aged 18; Thomas Mcgovern, occupation unknown aged 40; John Nulty, labourer aged 19; James Clark, labourer aged 18; Catherine Mcmanus, child aged 4; Patrick Mcgovern, aged 10; John Bagnall, child aged 3; James Crilly, servant aged 20; Catherine Reilly, chambermaid aged 20; Ann Mccabe, chambermaid aged 16; Ann Rogers, chambermaid aged 20; Kate Lewis aged 12; John Mooney, weaver aged 24; Thomas Herdigan, labourer aged 15; Thomas Doyle aged 11 years; Patrick Mcgee, grocer aged 20; Judith Hannigan, dressmaker aged 36; Mary Thornton, chambermaid aged 16; Mary Owens, spinster aged 21; Loughran Ward aged 12 years; David Casey, tailor aged 21; Thomas Monaham (should perhaps read Monaghan?), painter aged 18; Patrick Smith, cultivator aged 22; Ann Doyle, chambermaid aged 21; Ann Hannigan aged 10 years; Patrick Cain, labourer aged 25; James Mcavoy, weaver aged 50; James Mcavoy, ploughman aged 19; Matilda Malholm aged 21 and her daughter Ann Malholm aged 6 months; Mary Murphy, chambermaid aged 23; Catherine Casey, married wife aged 23; Margaret Mcgee, chambermaid aged 32; Patrick Cassidy, labourer aged 22; Thomas Cavanagh, labourer aged 20; Patrick Cavanagh, labourer aged 25; Mary Barnes, chambermaid aged 25; Mary Mcmanus, dressmaker aged 28; Mary Mcgovern aged 12 years; Mary-eliza Boyle, married wife aged 21; Mary Leech, chambermaid aged 18; Thomas Thomson, labourer aged 20; Eliza Rourke aged 14 years; Mary Doyle, chambermaid aged 16; Margaret Henry, servant aged 20; Jane Mcgee, child aged 3; Mary Mcgee aged 9 years; Ann Ward aged 10 years; Andrew Harman, labourer aged 22; George Cooper aged 21, whose occupation is given as a cooper or barrel maker; a tradition that surely must have been associated with this young 21 year Old's family as can be gleamed from his second name, "Cooper".

If anybody has any more information on any named, please contact us at hmurphy@droghedaindependent.