Monday, March 16, 2009

Top Of The Mornin'

Happy St. Patrick's Day!




I know some of you were really ticked off disappointed that JJ wasn't my Letter J yesterday...because you know I could write about that little guy from here to Timbuktu! But I was saving him for today because he's Irish.


Here is a cute picture of him with his sister getting ready to party! Can't you tell he's excited? Before he gets to his first Guinness, he wants to share with you how Grandma J's paternal grandmother, Margaret Mary Spellman, happened to cross the pond. And to be sure, JJ's tutorials are far less wordy and more illustrative that Grandma J's. Just saying.



click picture to enlarge
This is the certificate we could have paid $29.95 for, because you can't print it out or even do a print screen without the people at the Ellis Island HOA Foundation smacking your hand, which is Grandma J's favorite way of stealing borrowing Internet data. Instead we had to take our own picture of the screen, which is when Grandma J said to no one in particular, "isn't this fun?"


click picture to enlarge
Margaret Mary Spellman boarded this ship, The Oceanic, in Queenstowne, County Cork, Ireland on May 31, 1900, arriving at Ellis Island June 6, 1900. Queenstowne was also the last port-of-call for the Titanic several years later. The ships manifest (which is hand written) states that Margaret Mary had the minimum $5.00 and was sponsored by an Uncle James of 35th Ave., New York, NY.

Grandma J's grandmother married the Frenchman.

Everyone is Irish on St. Patrick's Day, just ask JJ....what say you?


I will be picking the Blog Birthday winner, with the help of a random number generator, and posting the results this afternoon. Good Luck!

16 comments:

The Chocolate Lady said...

Did she even know this James guy? How did they meet? "Uncle" ?????

Chesapeake Bay Woman said...

Margaret Mary must have been a strong individual to have boarded a shp to a new life all by herself.

I think we need to explore this whole JJ tutorial notion and expand on it some. Perhaps JJ could interview Philip JOhnny Bob. That's one conversation I wouldn't want to miss.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Unknown said...

Great post!
Happy St. Patrick's Day!
~AM

Busy Bee Suz said...

Very cool. I could not imagine at 17 moving to a new country....wowza. Love that you STOLE the certificate. Ok, just borrowed it.
I am happy now that JJ is featured....what is he? An IRISH setter? I would never have known.....
I have Sullivan in me...my Grandpa....so I will have a green beer to celebrate. after breakfast that is.
Have a great day!!!

My Daily Rant said...

To of the mornin to ya..
Great post

Mental P Mama said...

I love this! Very romantic;)

Unknown said...

How VERY COOL! I luv it!
I'm pretty sure I have no Irish blood flowing through my veins...
Bless you G-ma-J!

Noe Noe Girl...A Queen of all Trades. said...

That's quiet a story! No Irish blood running through these Mexican veins! But we can still drink a green beer together.

M said...

I just love a good Irish post! What great history!

Have a green beer to toast Mary Margaret!

I Am Woody said...

I love this! And I love the way you borrow things from the internet - glad I'm not alone!!

Slainte!

Susannah said...

Oh how wonderful!!
I love family history. Stories like this make you know you've come from strong, solid, courageous people. Gives me hope that we Americans "still got it!"
Thanks, Grandma J!

Jen said...

I want JJ---oh so cute!! :D
Happy Patty Day to you!

Treasia Stepp said...

what a wonderful story. I would love to hear more of it. Lots of Irish in me blood here. Happy St. Patty's day to you my wee little lassie.

Anonymous said...

Happy St. Patricks Day!

Pleasing Procrasinator said...

What a great post. I love the history of the story.
Happy St Patty's Day to you and JJ:)

Unknown said...

Fascinating stuff! LOVED learning about her. I also love that everyone is a little bit Irish on St. Patricks Day. What did I LOVE best about this post? That you did NOT pay 29.95 for a piece of paper and you photographed the screen. You, Grandma J, are brilliant!