HOW I CAME TO BE AN AMERICAN
(A story of an Irish immigrant to America.)
Story and Links By Stephanie Streetman
This story of my ancestry is not about someone famous, but merely a look into the life of one of the many immigrants coming to America. America has been one of the world's most important countries to receive immigrants and refugees.
America has had four major periods of immigration. The first major period started in the 1600's with the early colonists. The second major period began about 1820. Many Irish fled to America during this time as a result of the great potato famine in Ireland. The third period was the largest period of immigration. It began in 1881, but declined greatly during the Great Depression in th 1930's. The fourth major period was from 1965, when the laws were changed, to the present.
My hope is that this story may give you a new appreciation for your heritage and maybe spark some desire in you to learn of how your family came to be Americans. This story is based on a real person and what facts I know about their life. Many of the details, however, came from my imagination and what I could find out about that time period from other sources.
Paul Rogers was a very wealthy man in Northern Ireland. He was well known and well liked by almost everyone in town. Most of the people worked at a large factory, which was owned by Mr. Rogers. He had a very beautiful wife and two boys. His oldest son James emigrated from Ireland to America around 1802. Three different stories are told about why he left. No one knows which is really true.
The First Story
James was a very charming and handsome man. He frequently spent time with a young girl named Mary. They were very close to each other. James was deeply in love with Mary and planned to marry her when she was of age. Unfortunately, Mary became pregnant. James could usually talk his way out of any trouble, but this case was different. In order to escape his hanging James fled Ireland to America. His ship sailed into Virginia around 1802. Since James had no money with him, he worked as an indentured servant to a farmer. Although his heart would always be with Mary, he married the farmer's oldest daughter and they moved to what is now West Virginia.
The Second Story
As I stated before, James could usually talk his way out of trouble. I say usually because there were times when James' mouth would get him into trouble. James was very charming with the ladies, but he also had a hot temper. This frequently started brawls in the local pubs. One night James had been drinking a little too much and an argument started between him and a Scottish-Irishman over who was a better ladies man. James' temper got the best of him and he punched the man. This sent him crashing to the floor with a broken neck. James hurried out of the bar and back to his home. With some of his father's money he set sail for America, afraid of the law and hoping to start a new life in the New World.
The Third Story (and the one I hope is true.)
Most Irishmen hold to the Roman catholic religion. The Rogers however, were some of the very few protestant people in Ireland. Around the early 1800's James' family began to experience heavy persecution. Many nights there would be riots outside of his father's factory. During one of the riots the factory was set on fire, but luckily the Rogers were able to put the fire out. James' father could not put up with the persecution and renounced his faith and became a Roman catholic. James, however, could not leave his faith. He held firm to his beliefs, and the rioting continued. His father constantly urged him to change his mind, but James would not. Finally, in desperation, James' father gave him some money and sent him to America. America was seen as a place of refuge from religious persecution, and James had heard many stories of how wonderful America was. He left on a ship headed for Virginia with his head and heart full of dreams of the free New World.
Sources and appropriate Grade level.
Most of the information was from Paul Weaver (descendant of the Rogers). The rest of the information was taken from The World Book Encyclopedia, vol. I, pages 81-82, and from We Who Built America, by Carl Wittke, 1939.
This story would be appropriate for grades 5 or 6.
Questions
- Why did most Irish immigrate to America during the second major period of immigration?
- What did James' father do for a living?
- In the first story, why was James scheduled to be hung?
- Who was James' true love, according to the first story?
- In the second story, why did James get into a fight with a Scottish-Irishman?
- In the third story, why did some of the townspeople riot outside of the Rogers' factory?
- Which story do you think is true? Why?
Answers
- The potato famine caused many Irish to leave Ireland.
- Paul Rogers owned and worked at a factory.
- James had gotten Mary pregnant, a crime which at that time was punishable by death.
- Mary was James' true love.
- They were arguing over who was a better ladies man.
- The people rioted because they were angry that the Rogers were practicing a different religion.
- Various answers could fit here.
Outline
I. Introduction
II. Background information
III. First Story
IV. Second Story
V. Third Story
*Pictures of the early 1800's may help provide the students with a clearer picture of what life was like at that time.