Children of Richard Allen and Margaret Sweeney- Catharine Part 2- Catherine's daughter- "Maggie" Byrne and her trip to America- Part I

There are many Margaret's- some nicknamed "Maggie" among Allen descendants. This story is about one of them, and dedicated to all the others!

Maggie was Catherine Allen Byrne's only daughter. She was baptized in the church at Dangan, Summerhill Parish, on April 25, 1875. The sponsors at her baptism were Catherine's brother, Edward "Ned" Allen, and Anne Byrne.

Maggie's uncle and godfather, Edward Allen, emigrated to America before 1880 and married Mary Byrne in Jerseyville in 1885. (See blog post on Edward Allen.) Shortly after his marriage, he and his bride traveled across the midwest to Pawnee County Nebraska. Peter Allen, Edward's older brother, who immigrated to America in 1881, also moved to Pawnee, Nebraska. The 1900 census shows Peter living on his own farm next to Edward's family farm. Edward, Peter, and the other Allen brothers surely sent letters home to the family in Ireland about their experiences in America.

According to a family story by one of Maggie's daughters, Owen Byrne told his oldest son and 28 year old Eugene, Maggie's half brothers, that they should emigrate to America because of the conditions and lack of employment in Ireland at the time. Two tickets were purchased, but at the last moment, the oldest son decided that he should stay. 18 year old Maggie decided to take his place. 

We can imagine Catherine's heartbreak at the thought of losing her daughter forever. The family held an "American Wake" knowing that they would likely never see Maggie or Eugene again.

After the grief of leaving their parents, siblings, and home in Ireland, the two young people must have begun their adventure with both excitement and trepidation. They had read the letters from family in America, and knew they would be meeting their Uncles "Ned" and Peter Allen, who owned farms next to each other in Plum Creek, Pawnee County, Nebraska. Eugene's information on the ship's log clearly states their destination as "Pawnee." Their plans for employment were simple; Eugene states he will do "labor" and Maggie lists she will be a "servant."

Maggie and Eugene set sail from Queenstown (Cobh) in County Cork aboard the Cunard Line's ship Lucania, heading for the port of New York. (Two other famous ships would set sail from Queenstown/Cobh- the Titanic and the Lusitania.)

The Lucania was a new ship; built only four years earlier in 1893. It was magnificent; the largest and fastest passenger liner on the ocean. The first class compartments were amazingly opulent. If you have seen the "Titanic" you can picture the level of comfort those passengers enjoyed; as well as the contrast between first class accommodations and those in steerage, where Maggie and Eugene stayed. A steerage ticket cost about $12.

The Lucania arrived in New York on April 3, 1897.

We can only imagine their feelings as they sailed through New York harbor and proceeded through immigration. We don't know how they managed to travel across the country to Nebraska. Did they stop in Illinois to see Maggie's aunt and uncles there? In any case, both Eugene and Maggie were soon on their way westward.

What awaited them there was unexpected.


Sources:

Year: 1880; Census Place: English, Jersey, Illinois; Roll: 216; Page: 12A; Enumeration District: 093

Ancestry.com. Illinois, County Marriage Records, 1800-1940 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2016.

Year: 1900; Census Place: Plum Creek, Pawnee, Nebraska; Page: 4; Enumeration District: 0131; FHL microfilm: 1240935

Year: 1897; Arrival: New York, New York; Microfilm Serial: M237, 1820-1897; Microfilm Roll: Roll 672; Line: 41; Page Number: 14