Bryan Canning

My parents are of Irish and French Canadian descent. For this assignment I chose to research my dad's side of the family which is Irish. At the turn of the twentieth century, Ireland was a country whose political, cultural and social landscape was ever changing. It was during this time that my great grandfather, Patrick Canning, was growing up in Ireland. Born on August 16, 1884, Patrick was the second oldest of seven to Francis Canning and Anne Moran. Based on the 1901 Census, it is clear that his father was a Railway Servant living in the Rosharry town land. Rosharry was located in Leitrim County, which is located in North West Ireland approximately 112 miles from Dublin. Despite what the Census said, my great uncle insisted that his father was from Mohill, another town in Leitrim.

Growing up in Ireland was tough for Patrick. As stated before, he was the second oldest of seven and was the oldest male. The family lived in a small one bedroom house in an area that was very similar to a slum. Since his father was working long hours as a railway servant (most likely at the Cavan-Leitrim Railway, though this was never confirmed), Patrick would assume many household duties while trying to balance school work while he was young. The main duty for Patrick would be attending fairs and markets in Mohill. Fairs in Mohill were social events as well as places where farmers sold cattle, pigs, horses, poultry and other forms of agricultural produce.

Patrick was 27 when the family moved to America in 1911. In the years leading up to this, Patrick worked in a factory. He began at a young age, most likely around 13 or 14, and worked relatively long hours. Though my interviewee was a bit sketchy about the exact details of the working conditions, he claimed that Patrick worked in the textile industry. The working conditions in factories at this time were very poor. Machines were very hazardous and the pay was very minimal.

In 1911, Patrick’s family moved to America as a way to avoid the on-going Belfast crisis and to hopefully make more money to live on. They were currently living in a highly contested area and their county was the place where the election of 1908 where Sinn Fein began to lose power. The trip was a long one by boat which most likely left from the Sligo Port. The trip lasted two to three months.

As a side note, Patrick’s future wife, Annie Reynolds, also left Ireland around this time. The two actually grew up three miles apart from one another but never met until they were in America. Annie left Ireland due to being unhappy about her father remarrying. Patrick’s family settled in Wallingford, Connecticut. Wallingford was a small town in south central Connecticut, about 20 minutes north of New Haven. The town was predominant in small pewter and Britannia ware manufacturers as well as silversmiths. It was there Patrick began working at the Wallingford Train Station. Working conditions and pay were better and Patrick was able to move out of the house and marry Annie. The two were married in 1912 at the Church of the Holy Trinity. Patrick and Annie eventually had eight children.