After all, what is every man? A horde of ghosts – like a Chinese nest of boxes – oaks that were acorns that were oaks. Death lies behind us, not in front – in our ancestors, back and back until…
– Walter de la Mare
Have long swung back and forth between claiming I am African-American or I am a Viking.
Viking-American with a Nubian heart. And no ass whatsoever.
Never entirely felt confident as a white Anglo-Saxon Protestant. Felt like an imposter.
A WASP, you’d think, would fit in somewhere and I never fit in nowhere. Not for long anyway.
Misfit, my own friends say. And they mean it nicely.
So, anyway, my wife decides to undertake her latest interest – Ancestry.com.
Oh, crap.
Viking-Irish-African-American?
Nope.
Turns out I am mostly Irish from the County Cork. Real name – Walsh.
First available records in the US of A shows a Walsh in New York in 1867. Comes out of nowhere, a grown man.
So, I wondered – what was that place like he left behind?
The Cork Examiner, 1 January 1866
A court martial sitting at Bari, on the 18th inst., condemned the brigand chief Cinociariello to death, and the sentence was carried out the next morning by shooting him in the back.
DEATH FROM EXCESSIVE FRIGHT.—On Christmas Day Mr. William Merrington, a highly respectable farmer, living retired at Billericay, Essex, but who has a son who occupies the farm he had at Buttsbury, about three miles distant, met his death under the following circumstances. On that day there was a family gathering at the farm, and Mr. Merrington, who is a widower and 69 years of age, drove his daughter, Mrs. Duncan, wife of the governor of Billericay Union-house, and her two children, over in a four-wheeled chaise.
After dinner, about half-past 4 p.m., he was returning home, and, when near Thorowgood’s-wood, the horse took fright and furiously galloped away. It went about half a mile before it could be stopped. Mr. Merrington, who was a powerful man, twisted the reins round his wrist to give him more purchase over the horse. It ran on to a green and up to a gate, and Mrs. Duncan jumped out and ran to the horse’s head, having one of the children in her arms. On looking round to speak to her father he appeared to tremble very much, fell back in the chaise, and never spoke more.
She shrieked for assistance, but it was a considerable time before any one came. A man came up from hearing the cries, took the horse out, and galloped off for a doctor, who, on arriving, found the vital spark had fled. An inquest was held at the Bull Inn, Billericay, before Mr. Lewis, deputy coroner, when Mr. Rayne, surgeon, stated that death arose from excessive palpitation of the heart, brought on by extreme fright.
Verdict—“Died by accident, arising from fright.” It is supposed the chaise pressed on the horse and started it off.
THE GLORY OF WOMAN is a fine head of hair, one in which the natural softness, colour, and glossiness are preserved; free from any tendency to falling off and disposition to greyness. Mrs. S. A. ALLEN’S World’s Hair Restorer and Zylobalsamum are undoubtedly the best articles for attaining that end ; their extensive use throughout the civilised world attest their worth, and no lady who has once used them considers her toilet complete in their absence.
Mrs. S. A. ALLEN’S principal sales office, 363 High Holborn, London. Her preparations can be bought of most Chemists and Patent Medicine Dealers in the kingdom.
HIPPOPHAGY IN PARIS.—A Paris butcher has obtained authority to open a shop for the sale of horse flesh, on the condition that he will construct a special slaughter house for the horses, the flesh of which is to be sold as food. The slaughter house will be placed under the superintendence of an inspector specially appointed for that purpose. The opening of the shop is to be celebrated by a grand banquet at which horse meat will form the principal ingredient of the dishes.
A WIFE SHOT BY HER HUSBAND.—At a small village called Cwmsyfwch, near Blackwood, Monmouthshire, a fearful tragedy was perpetrated on New Year’s night by a collier named Edmund Morgan, who killed his wife, Elizabeth Morgan, by shooting her in the groin. The diabolical act has caused the greatest excitement in the neighbourhood, where the woman was much respected for her industrious and cleanly habits. The parties were each about 25 years of age, and they had one child. In consequence of the husband’s dissipation, the deceased led an unhappy life ; and on his return home about 10 o’clock on Monday night she told him that if he did not mend his ways she would leave him and take the child with her.
Some words ensued, and she left the house, but almost immediately returned and went up stairs. Her husband took up a double-barrelled gun loaded with duck shot and followed her, and scarcely a minute had elapsed before a report of a gun was heard. A neighbour, Mrs. George, ran up stairs and found the deceased lying on the floor, and the husband (who is in custody) standing by with the gun in his hand, which she took from him and conveyed to her own house. During her absence the prisoner raised his wife placed her on the bed and lay down by her side.
Dr. Henderson attended the poor woman, who lingered till a quarter past three o’clock on Tuesday morning, when she died in the greatest agony. During a few moments of convalescence she said that her husband shot her as she was sitting on the side of the bed, but she could not say how he did it. When taken into custody the prisoner said the gun was not loaded, as he drew the charge in the morning. On examining the gun the police found the second barrel loaded with duck shot.—Morning Star.
THE SCOTLAND, OF GLASGOW.
DINGLE, WEDNESDAY NIGHT.—Captain William Campbell, master of the Scotland, and Mr. James Stobo, representing the owner, Mr. William Watts, Glasgow, have arrived in this town for the purpose of superintending the removal of the hull of the vessel. A steamer from Liverpool is daily expected to tow the vessel to London, and the crew have been ordered to muster on board this evening. The ship carried a very valuable cargo, estimated to be worth £90,000. I am not in a position to state whether the loss sustained is covered by insurance or not.
I had an interview with Captain Campbell who handed me the following documents for publication:—
“H.M.S. Leander, Ascension,
5th November, 1865.
“This is to certify that Mr. William Campbell, master of the merchant ship, Scotland, has been taken out of that ship by the finding of a naval court, from his total inability to command the vessel in consequence of the sad accident that happened to him on leaving Calcutta, and not in any way from misconduct on his part.
“J. G. BICKFORD, Captain, R.N.
in charge of Ascension.”
“Ascension, Nov. 26th, 1865
“I certify that I consider if Captain Campbell had proceeded home in his ship, the Scotland, in the state of health he was in, it would have been at the risk of his life.
“GEORGE BANKS, Surgeon in charge.”
A FENIAN PROCLAMATION
A special meeting of magistrates was held at Caher, at which the following gentlemen attended.—Mr. Quin, chairman ; Messrs. Denis O’Brien, E. B. Warburton, R.M. ; Richard Grubb, P. Maguire, and Captains Chaytor and M’Craith. They held an investigation into the charge preferred against a young man named Denis Boland, namely—that of being the writer of the following placard, which was found posted on the walls of the court house and at Mr. Chaytor’s residence. The prisoner was fully committed to the Clonmel jail for trial. He has since been allowed to stand out on bail:—
FENIANS
The day is not far when the persecuted sons of Erin shall be risen from slavery to freedom, and the Green Flag of Erin shall float on the breeze, surrounded by true Irishmen. May the winds of Freedom soon speed O’Mahoney o’er. To hell with the Saxon tyrants.—I am yours truly, Head Centre.
F. H.
God save the Green.
— Clonmel Chronicle.
THE “FENIAN BUTTON.”—It seems that, in emulation of the famous “Repeal Button,”¹ the Fenians in New York have adopted a distinguishing ornament, of which we received a specimen on Wednesday, sent by a friend in New York. It is very neatly made, of the size of a shilling, and consists of a gilt Irish harp in high relief fastened on a ground of green silk, and surrounded with a gilt band of engraved metal, also gilt. At the back it is finished like a locket, and has a pin and fastener attached, so that it can be worn as a brooch or a scarf pin. As it was only “just out” the day the mail left New York it is probably the first that has reached this country.—Northern Whig
TO BE LET,
C L O N D U L A N E H O U S E ,
Situate about 2 miles from FERMOY on the LISMORE ROAD, with from 2 Acres to 24 Acres of Land, as may be devised.
THE HOUSE has been recently built, is in perfect order, and contains 2 large Sitting Rooms, 5 best Bed Rooms, Dressing Room, Bath, and Watercloset (with Hot and Cold Water laid on), Kitchens, Pantries, and Servants’ Apartments. There is a never failing supply of Water in the Garden, and brought to the House, and the whole is complete with every modern convenience.
The Offices comprise 3 Horse Stables, Hay Loft, Granary, Coach House, Cow House, Piggery and Sheds.
Clondulane Church is close to, and can be entered from the Fields. There are several Packs of Hounds and good Fishing in the neighbourhood, and the best Salmon fishing on the Blackwater within 5 minutes walk. Fermoy is a large Garrison Town and Station of the Great Southern and Western Railway.
The owner would Sell his entire Estate consisting of about 45 Acres held for ever free from rent, and 18 Acres held under a lease for 100 years, all within a long ring fence. Parliamentary title.
An assignment of existing securities would be taken, for the purchase money, or part might remain on mortgage. Apply to
J. T. SHERLOCK, Esq., Clondulane House, Fermoy.
December 28th, 1865.
I have never felt the least bit Irish my entire life, but I have strongly believed to be a Viking.
A “DNA map” of Ireland reveals that the Viking raiders intermingled with local women far more than was previously thought.
Genealogist Gianpiero Cavalleri of the Royal College of Surgeons pieced together a detailed map after studying the DNA of over 500 Irishmen and women.
So, Gianni says there’s a chance.