In Ireland, from about 1700, life was difficult at best. The most severe yoke of English Protestant rule, the penal laws, forbade Catholics to buy or inherit land, bear arms, build churches, or conduct Mass. Laws against worship proved unenforceable, but land laws reduced most Catholics to tenant farmers subject to eviction and high rent.

Although most penal laws were abolished by the end of the 1700's, a bloody rebellion in the 1790's inspired by the Protestant idealist Theobald Wolfe Tone (father of Irish nationalism) failed either to cast off English domination or to bind together the various Irish factions. Eventually, the 1801 Act of Union joined Ireland to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and abolished the Irish Parliament.

It was in 1798, towards the end of the bloody revolution in Ireland, that John McGowan(#1) from Armagh County was born. Armagh County is located in the southern part of Northern Ireland and has a common boundary with the Republic of Ireland. Within is the City of Armagh. It is thought that St. Patrick built his first church in this city of seven hills, the Roman Catholic and Protestant centre of Ireland.

Early in the nineteenth century, Irish immigrants began to appear in the St. Croix Valley. They were few in number and they came seeking opportunities for a better life than could be found at home. Some Irish immigrants had come to this country as indentured servants, little more than slaves. They embarked at Irish ports and often at Liverpool, England. Many died during the voyage or arrived in a weakened condition. They were often crowded into ships' holds with insufficient food and water. In many cases, researchers have been unable to uncover vessels' passenger lists. It would appear the records were disposed of by the ships captains.

Many arrived at the bustling port of St. Andrews on returning timber ships under horrendous conditions. Most immigrants were engaged in the lumber industry and related pursuits. Trade was carried on by either barter or cash.

For those who made it, the trip was miserable; the land was not free; implements had to be bought, jobs sought, and warm clothing and provisions were expensive. Yet, in spite of deceptions and hardships, many immigrants made the adjustment to their new home and the population of Charlotte County grew.

It is uncertain what motivated John McGowan(#1) to immigrate to North America; however, according to the 1851 census, he did so in the year 1826. The same census indicates that Bridget Murray(#2) immigrated in 1839. Most certainly this was erroneous for Bridget Murray immigrated before this date and most likely John McGowan and Bridget were already married and immigrated about 1836, landing in St. Andrews, New Brunswick. I suspect the oldest two children, Liza and Mary, were born in Ireland and the three youngest, John, Catherine and Ann were born in New Brunswick. Only the three youngest are recorded as being baptized in the Catholic church in St. Andrews. This information would tend to suggest immigration occurred around 1835.

This was before the calamitous potato famine from 1845 to 1851 where repeated failure of this staple crop claimed an estimated one million lives. Although Ireland seemed to be between disasters (1800 - 1845), this was a time when many Irish immigrated to New Brunswick. Perhaps tales of opportunity and readily available transportation were motivating forces. Perhaps the restriction to freedoms imposed by English law was so harsh, particularly for a Catholic in Northern part of Ireland, that for many, this was the only way out. Perhaps it was a way of keeping one step ahead of the authorities, a common scenario of the day.

Whatever the cause, John McGowan joined the tide of immigrants to New Brunswick and would eventually settle in Rollingdam.