| Name: Reilly, Edward Ethnicity: British, Scotch Place of Residence:Castlefin, Ireland Date of Arrival: 23 Dec 1924 Age: 18y Gender: M Marital Status: S Ship of Travel: Cameronia Port of Departure: Derry, Ulster, Ireland, UK Hi Bill My Dad said that he was on one of the last ships to come into Ellis Island. They stopped using Ellis Island in Jan 1925. He came with his mother. For some reason Uncle Charlie came a few months later and not through Ellis Island. My Dad's father was here for ten years before them. They tried to draft my grandfather into the English army to fight in the First World War and he deserted and came to the US. That left my grandmother in Ireland to live with relatives and raise her children. My Dad had a sister who had a heart condition and would not be able to come to America. They did not let in any sick people ... you had to be hale and hardy. They waited for her to die and then came to America. Sad but true! My Dad resented his father for leaving them and making them depend on relatives. When they arrived here, my grandfather did not even have a place for them to stay.....once again they had to depend on the goodness of relatives. Sounds like a made for TV movie! That whole generation may not have been too sophisticated and educated but they were sure strong and they made so many adjustments coming to a new country. Thanks for the info. Be good Marie |