Pennsylvania grave linked to Duffy's Cut could contain Irish immigrants

A 19th Century mass grave in Pennsylvania could contain the remains of up to 120 Irish immigrants, researchers have said.The site, at Downingtown, is 11 miles west of Duffy's Cut, where in 2009 remains from a mass grave believed to contain 57 Irish railroad workers were discovered. Those immigrants, from counties Tyrone, Londonderry and Donegal, were buried there after a cholera outbreak in 1832. One of those buried at the new grave site is believed to have fled from Duffy's Cut, possibly bringing cholera with him.
The discovery was made by a team led by twin brothers Frank and Bill Watson, who have been working to uncover the remains of Irish rail workers in the area for more than 20 years.The remains of seven of those found at Duffy's Cut were previously uncovered and reburied by the team. While some of the work crew may have died of cholera, the seven who were found had suffered violent deaths, believed to have been at the hands of local vigilantes.
The first set of remains at the new site were discovered in May by geophysicist Matt Peace, on land owned by Northwood Cemetery."We knew from our historical sources that another Irish work crew connected to Duffy's Cut died and was buried there and we do suspect foul play," Frank Watson said."But now we actually have bones in hand and we've located the first human remains."The remains found at Downingtown include parts of a man's face, including the jaw and two teeth. Frank said the grave is likely to contain the remains of as many as 100 to120 people as an entire crew, including Irish-born contractor Peter Connor, "disappeared from history".Bill said they hoped to get DNA from the teeth found in order to find living descendants so the remains could be buried properly. He added that the immigrants at Downingtown were likely from the same parts of Ireland as those at Duffy's Cut. He said the man who fled to Downingtown from the cholera quarantine at Duffy's Cut "went there for a reason, probably to escape to people who he knew".
Frank Watson said the workers previously found at Duffy's Cut had suffered brutal deaths."They were beaten about the head - there were no defensive wounds so they were tied up before they were killed," he said."One man was axed in the head – the tall man we call him – from behind and then when he was down he was shot in the head."He said anti-Irish sentiment, competition for jobs and the scapegoating of the immigrants for the cholera outbreak led to the violence."Tough living conditions, hard work, but with the hope of a better life, that sadly ended in a mass grave," he added.
Bill said the industrial revolution was a "tidal wave of change" but this progress came at a "great price".He said many who died were placed in mass graves and it was not unusual for entire work crews to disappear."We have about 10,000 to 15,000 Irish immigrants who died building the [US] industrial infrastructure through the 1820s and 1830s, at various sites from Erie Canal to the New Orleans Canal," he said"Most of those individuals will never have their story told... Duffy's Cut was different, Downingtown we hope will be different as well."
'A matter of justice'
The search at Duffy's Cut was restricted due to costs and proximity to the train line. Franks hopes to find all of the remains at the new site in order for them to be buried, following forensic analysis. "There are dozens and dozens and dozens of these poor individuals who came to America for a better life and their stories disappeared," he said."It's a matter for us of justice."
In 2015, the remains of a woman discovered at Duffy's Cut - Catherine Burns - were transferred across the Atlantic and reinterred in Clonoe, County Tyrone.Parish priest Canon Benny Fee said he was "delighted" to hear the remains had been found and hopes that they have been a Christian burial. "Wherever in this world a person – man, woman or child - is thrown into a hole, not a grave but just out of the way, that is a denial of their human dignity and their human rights."
The Watsons and their team will work through the coming weeks and months to uncover the remains of all those buried at Downingtown."We hope maybe we can find the entire crew. It promises to be an interesting summer," Bill said.

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

Daily Mail​

2 hours ago

• Daily Mail​

Which sign will get a chance to refresh their relationships?

CANCER 22 June-23 July You don't have to reinvent yourself, but the cosmos is asking you to return to who you truly are. That means letting yourself be both strong and soft at the same time, as you allow for a sacred beginning. This marks an era of empowerment. CALL 0905 789 0404* LEO 24 July-23 Aug You're about regain your voice, as messenger Mercury enters your sign and a New Moon in Cancer aligns you to your innermost truth this week. You are wiser than many people may realise and leading with gentle truth will help you find success. CALL 0905 789 0405* VIRGO 24 Aug-23 Sept You are getting a chance to really understand what is right for you, but that doesn't come through overthinking things. Are you walking with people who see and love the real you? A quiet feeling could shift your perspective in the right way. CALL 0905 789 0406* LIBRA 24 Sept-23 Oct You know the difference between pleasing people and real peace. The New Moon this week is powerful – it is redirecting your future and ensuring you are working for your own best interests. A generous offer lands in your lap. Don't be afraid to take it. CALL 0905 789 0407* SCORPIO 24 Oct-22 Nov What's calling to you from the horizon? The New Moon in Cancer brings a subtle shift in how you view your future. You're allowed to see the potential – and to want more. The cosmos is helping you understand how you can get it. CALL 0905 789 0408* SAGITTARIUS 23 Nov-21 Dec The Cancer New Moon is stirring deeper waters for you. Your emotional life, your intimate bonds and your personal truths are shifting. There is no need to lose faith. Now comes a time to build the future you want, based on what you believe in. CALL 0905 789 0409* CAPRICORN 22 Dec-20 Jan You've done the hard work, but are you letting yourself enjoy the fruits? The New Moon in your opposite sign of Cancer brings a chance to refresh your relationships. There's a softness available now and Jupiter helps you receive more joy than you expect. CALL 0905 789 0410* AQUARIUS 21 Jan-19 Feb There is great satisfaction to be found in finally fixing something that's been off. The New Moon in Cancer opens up space to set yourself a new, healing routine. Don't worry about what makes sense now – just focus on how you really feel. CALL 0905 789 0411* PISCES 20 Feb-20 March Some stories are so good they write themselves. This week finds you living a positive outcome you had only dreamt of previously. The Cancer New Moon lights up your joy and creativity and Jupiter adds abundance to the mix. You are in your element – enjoy it!. CALL 0905 789 0412* ARIES 21 March-20 April Can you balance speaking up with softness? This week's Cancer New Moon helps you see that strength doesn't mean charging ahead. Be wise enough to be gentle. You're reminded of what matters most, especially when it comes to feeling at home. CALL 0905 789 0401* TAURUS 21 April-21 May Feelings are supposed to be felt, not analysed! Opening up doesn't always have to make you feel exposed. This week, honesty could build the exact bridge someone else has been waiting to cross – allow for an important and healing conversation to be held. CALL 0905 789 0402* GEMINI 22 May-21 June Is it worth it? That's a question you might find yourself asking this week, as the New Moon in Cancer highlights your values and money matters. You are now realising that it is less about what's in the bank and more about what's in your heart. CALL 0905 789 0403*

BBC News

2 hours ago

• BBC News

WW2 shooting of black US soldier in Lancashire taught in school

The fatal shooting of a black US soldier when trouble escalated between US troops stationed in Lancashire during World War Two has become a "cornerstone" lesson to local primary school William Crossland was shot dead on 24 June 1943 during racial violence between US troops stationed in Bamber Bridge, story of troops on the same side fighting a gun battle on the street is known as the Battle of Bamber Bridge and is now being taught at Clayton Brook Primary School."It's messages are still relevant today," head teacher Paul Farina said. Trouble had begun when white US military police officers tried to arrest a black soldier, Pte Eugene Nunn, in Ye Olde Hob Inn for wearing the wrong had sided with the soldier and his group, saying they had done nothing wrong, they were welcome in the pub, and they did not approve of racial segregation at the base. Events then escalated into a gun battle on the street and also back at the fight resulted in several injuries on both sides and the death of Pte Crossland. Mr Farina said after learning about the story, he contacted Clinton Smith of Preston Black History Group "and that's where the ball started rolling"."We now teach it to all of our children, it's one of the cornerstones of what we teach at Clayton Brook," he said. Mr Smith said: "I think the world's full of bad news and here's a story about solidarity."The US military had tried to enforce their segregation rules in the UK but he said the stance the people of Bamber Bridge took against it "was remarkable"."Bearing in mind this was a small, northern village and, as far as we can work out, it was a spontaneous act," he said."I didn't like going to school, but now I turn up with a smile on my face and excitement coursing through my veins," he said."What's really rewarding about it is the interaction with the youngsters and the knowledge that they have that's feeding back to me. "The reception I get is the encouragement I use to carry on doing it." Listen to the best of BBC Radio Lancashire on BBC Sounds and follow BBC Lancashire on Facebook, X and Instagram and watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer.

Daily Mail​

3 hours ago

• Daily Mail​

EXCLUSIVE I'm a proud gold digger who bagged a billionaire a decade my senior. Here are my secrets to hooking the biggest fish

Are you a woman working long hours for a company that doesn't value your contributions? Still investing time and emotion into romantic relationships that go nowhere?