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Prior to the Great Famine (1845-50), it was the Presbyterians of the North of Ireland who emigrated in great numbers. Escaping religious persecution, rack-renting and series of bad harvests, emigration had commenced prior to 1720 and within the next fifty years, several hundred thousand had departed Ulster for a better life in the colonies of North America. |
A number of people, from eighty to one hundred, in and adjoining the town of Tillywhiskar [Tullywhisker], parish of Urney, county Tyrone, mean to ship themselves from Londonderry, and intend, with the blessing of God, to land in Charleston, in South Carolina; - they therefore take this method of acquainting the gentlemen and merchants in the passenger trade, if they think proper to advertise a ship for the above port, that they may be assured of the aforesaid passengers, provided the vessel be stout and fitted for the voyage. – [From the Londonderry paper]
The townland of Tullywhisker belonged to the Abercorn Estate.
Abercorn Estate: Survey and Valuation of the Manor of Strabane 1777
TULLYWHISKER
| Surname | Firstname |
| CUMMIN | Thomas |
| CUNNINGHAM | Thomas |
| YOUNG | William |
| SELFRIDGE | John |
| McCOLOM | Malcom |
| McINTIRE | James |
| POTTS | Robert |
| BURTON [BARTON] | Joseph |
| MONTEETH | William |
Abercorn Estate: Rental for the Manor of Strabane 1806
TULLYWHISKER
| Surname | Firstname |
| CUMMINS | Robert |
| WOODS | James (now John ANDERSON) |
| WOODS | Andrew (now George KINCAIDE) |
| CUNNINGHAM | Samuel |
| CRAWFORD | William & EADIE |
| FINLEY | William |
| SELFRIDGE | Matthew |
| PATTAN | William |
| GOURLEY | Andrew |
| LYON | John |
| PATTAN | Samuel & John |
| CARLON | Owen & Patrick |
| MONTEITH | Josias |
| Pencilled insertions on map and in margin: | |
| PATTAN | John |
| McCARTER | John |
| WALLACE | William |
| CALDWELL | |
| LYON | Natt.? |
| IRVINE | Sam. |
Introduction to the Abercorn Letters as Relating to Ireland 1736-1816 – John H. Gebbie (Strule Press, Omagh 1972) pp 146-7
Contained in a letter dated August 15 1784, from James Hamilton, Strabane [agent] to the Earl of Abercorn, [London], who observed:
Many have gone to America – chiefly young men, and the poorer sort: few land holders. I think it would be just to legislate that any person intending to leave this country should give a public notice perhaps two months before so they might not steal away and defraud their creditors.