(The Great Famine)

Three million of Ireland's eight million people depended upon the potato for their survival. They consumed pounds of them a day and ate them for every meal. Especially in southern and western Ireland. The Irish existed on the potato while all of the other crops went to the English landowners to pay the rent. Very few Irish owned any land in Ireland, they were subjected to tenants in their own country while the English landlords rarely if ever even visited their holdings in Ireland, but rather depended upon agents to gather their rent. The English government failed to intervene, believing that the Irish products were for export, not for the Irish who were starving from their denial. 

In Cork, on the 18th of November 1848 the following food was shipped from Cork:147 bales of bacon,120 casks and 135 barrels of pork, 5 casks of hams, 300 bags of flour; 300 head of cattle, 239 sheep, and 542 boxes of eggs. In later years, Irish immigrants in America would tell their children "of food convoys under armed guard making their way past hollow-eyed men, women, and children whose mouths were green from eating grass." 
Thousands died when cholera broke out and spread throughout Ireland. 

Following the eviction in Ireland, Many Irish were homeless, forced to beg for food.

The Irish, weakened by starvation were easily overcome once on ship by diseases such as typhoid, cholera,and dysentery. Thousands died aboard ship. The unsanitary,crowded conditions of the "coffin" ships lent itself to disease and death. Of 100,000 Irish in 1847 who departed Ireland for Canada, 37,000 died either aboard ship or soon after landing. 

Irish Ship Disembarking from Ireland for America

During the famine years some two million Irish left Ireland and those were only the ones who were able to scrape together the passage fare. Many remaining would have to wait until after the famine to leave. One quarter of the pre-famine population would leave Ireland in the famine years alone. Another quarter of the population would die in Ireland. 
Most of the Irish emigrants went to the Northeast. All of our ancestors went to New York which received almost 200,000 Irish immigrants by 1860. Poor, uneducated, rural,most of the Irish were employed in the labor pool. 
In the famine years, most of the immigration was in family units, though some males still preceded their families as was the case with John Cassidy who arrived in New York City in 1846 on the SS Stephen Whitney. His family, wife Margaret and children: John, Mary, Anne and Bridget, followed on the SS Columbus in 1849.  Once in New York, The Cassidy's took up residence at 34 W.Broadway. We find them on the 1855 NY State Census with John age 37 born in Ireland, living in the city for 8 years, a laborer, naturalized and Margaret born Ireland and living five years in the city. Children are listed as John, Mary, Ann, Biddy (Bridget), Hugh and Thomas. We see them again on the 1860 census in New York City where John is a laborer with the information that he cannot read nor write. His wife Margaret is listed as a housekeeper and children living with them are: John, Ann, Bridget, Hugh and Thomas.
The famine was largely responsible for the Irish determination to regain control of their own land,a struggle which we are witnessing today in Ireland. 

Beginning in the 1700's, the Irish were evicted by greedy landlords, which were primarily English, living in England. Once the famine began, the evictions became rampant, leaving the Irish homeless in their own land.

John Cassidy and Margaret O'Laughlin (Laughlin)

John Cassidy arrived in New York City aboard the ????? in 1846. His wife, Margaret and their children:John, Mary, Ann, and Bridget, arrived aboard the ?????? in 1849. They added more children to their family once they were in New York: Hugh, Thomas and Margaret. 
John became a policeman in New York City and died about 1867.

In 1880, a Barnet Casida, age 27 (b.1853) is listed as living with Mary and Bernard in Union, IA as a brother-in-law. On 12 Jan 1881, Barnet Casida, age 25 (b.1856), of Union, IA married Mary Sullivan at Creston, IA. Barnet's father is given as Bernard Casida with no mother listed. In 1875 a Barney Cassady purchased 80 acres of land in Union, IA. On 23 Nov 1882, Barney and Mary Cassady Coleman sold the land.

Though Mary's death certificate lists her father's name as John, the more relevant information may be with her brother, Barnet or Barney, listed above. The 1880 census makes it clear that Barnet is Mary's brother. He seems to have married Mary Sullivan in 1881. In 1875 he had purchased 80 acres of land, which was sold in 1882, one year after his marriage, by his sister, Mary Cassidy Coleman and her husband, Bernard, "Barney". Barnet or Barney lists his father's name as Bernard when he marries in 1881.

Bryan Coleman and Family

Bryan was born in Ireland in 1810. He arrived in New York between 1850 and 1860 along with his family.The name of his wife is unknown. His known children, all born in Ireland were: Frank (Bernard?), Ann, Michael, and John. Bryan worked in New York as a canal boatman. It is possible that Bryan and possibly a wife, Mary, purchased land in Iowa Co., IA between 1865 and 1868. If so, Bryan died before 11 September 1868 when Bernard sold this same land. Our line descends through Bernard who was born in Ireland in 1839. Bernard married Mary Cassidy in 1855 in Port Jervis, Orange, NY. 

It is possible that this is our Bryan: Bryan Coleman age:43 (b.1808) Servant of Ireland from Liverpool on the "Manhattan" on 11/14/1851

Edward Lorenzo Goodwin (O'Bryan?)

Edward was born in Ireland in 1852 in the midst of the famine years. He emigrated to New York between 1860 and 1864. In the 1900 census, taken in Grant Township, Union, IA, Edward says that he emigrated in 1860 and that he was naturalized. He lists his occupation as a farmer. At this time, Edward is probably living in Iowa near his mother-in-law, Mary Cassidy Coleman, who would have been 63 in 1900.

The family story is that he first attempted to leave Ireland as a stow away at the age of ten but that he was caught and forced to leave the ship before it departed. Two years later, he successfully stowed away aboard the ship and was at sea before the ship discovered him. He worked for a year aboard the ship as a cabin boy to pay for his passage and then arrived in New York where he went to live with an uncle until he was of legal age.

Supposedly, it was during this time period that he changed his name from O'Bryan to Goodwin when the truancy officer came looking for him. There is some question to this story and it is very possible that his name was Goodwin before his arrival. His uncle was said to have owned a rolling mill and manufactured train engines. 

Edward was a brakeman for the Baltimore & Ohio RR-Chicago, St.Louis & Pittsburg RR. A brakeman was a freight or passenger crew member who would inspect the train, assist the conductor and operate the brakes and assist in switching.

In searching for Edward in NY, the following was found:

1880 Census: Mount Pleasant, Westchester, NY
Edward Goodwin b.1853 in Ireland. Occupation laborer, single. He is living with Michael Nolan listed as relationship: Other. He lists both of his parents as born in Ireland. Michael Nolan is 56 at this time (born 1824) and born in Ireland. Michael Nolan lists his occupation as a farmer. He is living with his wife, Bridget, also born in Ireland. They have children: John, 24 born in NY; Mary, 20 born in NY; Michael, 19 born in NY; Daniel, 17 born in NY; Lizzie, 12 born in NY; Agnes, 6 born in NY. Also listed in the household are: Dennis Egan, 19 born in NY and listed as a laborer with his parents born in Ireland; John Quirk 15 born in NY with his parents born in Ireland; Martin Curry, 16 born in MA with his parents born in NH and Wales; Charles Jones, 33 born in MA with his parents born in NH and Wales; Owen Sherdon, 25 born in NY with parenst born in Ireland; James Cooper, 28 born in NY with parents born in Ireland; Richard Toole, 29 born in Ireland with parents born in Ireland; Patrich McCarthy, 24 born in NY with parents born in Ireland; Michael Taff, 28 born in Ireland with parents born in Ireland and James McPike, 22 born in PA with parents born in Ireland. Because of the number of people living in this household with no obvious kin relationship, we can assume that Michael Nolan ran a bording house and that Edward, then age 27, is a boarder there.

Also listed in NY in 1880 is a James Goodwin, age 61, (born 1819) born in Ireland and listed as a track hand for the railroad. His parents were also born in Ireland. His wife is Mary, age 51 born in Ireland and whose parents were also both born in Ireland. Living with them are children: James, age 22 born in NY who lists his occupation as a moulder and daughter, Annie, age 13 born in NY. This James could possibly be the uncle of Edward.

In 1870, we find an Edward Goodwin living in 13-WD Troy, Rensselaer, NY, age 24 born in Ireland and he lists his occupation as Moulder. He lives in the household of Sarah Dunlop or Dunlap, age 41, a grocer born in Ireland and her sons: William J. and David. Also listed in the household is George Burke, 29, a blacksmith; Stephen (last name illegible), age 23, a laborer; and Michael (last name illegible), a moulder.

Before 1889, Edward is living in Cincinnati,Ohio where he owned a small amount of land which he farmed. He also worked for the railroad. His brother, James, also lived in Cincinnati at that time. 
He met Mary Coleman in 1888???? She lived in Creston, IA at the time. Her father was also a workman for the railroad and perhaps that is how they met. Letter from Ed to Mary??????? 

Land patents in Nebraska are issued to:
James Goodwin in 1919 in Alliance; James E. Goodwin in 1911 in Alliance; Mary Ann Goodwin in Sioux in 1916; Mary E. Goodwin in Sheridan in 1911 and James Fitzgerald (Edward's mother's maiden name) in Sheridan in 1917.

Edward was a member of the Scottish Rite (Valley of S.McAlester of the Orient of Indian Territory) #3411 and a member of Albert Pike Lodge at Perfection #2 on the 18th of April in 1917. He was a member of Amity Lodge #473 in Oklahoma City on 20 Jul 1929.

Between 1928 and 1936, Edward was blinded due to complications from diabetes.

Edward was a member of the following churches:
St.Bridget's, Omaha, NE
St.Malachy's, Creston, IA (Father Lyons)
St.Francis Xavier Rectory in Cincinatti, OH
St.Joseph's Old Cathedral in Oklahoma City, OK.