The Irish in Rock Island
Sandra Gordon sends this information about her great grandfather
who came to Rock Island from County Down, Ireland.
Newtownards Chronicle dated 12 March 1881
EMIGRATION FROM THE ARDS GREYABBEY TO ROCK ISLAND, ILLINOIS
On Tuesday a party of emigrants, fourteen in number, passed through Newtownards from the neighbourhood of Greyabbey,
en route for Rock Island, Illinois, USA, via White Star Line to New York. They were all of the agricultural class,
and some of them left comfortable homes to join their transatlantic relatives, by whom - in every case - the passage
warrants had been paid. It may be interesting to mention the fact that in Rock Island there is a small Presbyterian
church called Boghillbo, the congregation of which is composed almost exclusively of emigrants from Ballyboghilbo,
Greyabbey.