GROSSE ILE PROJECT After a major outbreak of cholera in Britain in 1831, Canadian authorities feared immigrants arriving via the St. Lawrence the next year would bring the disease into the country. In February 1832, the Assembly of Lower Canada (Quebec) decided to establish a quarantine station on Grosse Île. There are three cemeteries on Grosse Île, containing 7,756 burials. The largest–known as the Irish Cemetery–is in the western section. More than 6,000 victims are buried here, including 5,424 from 1847 alone. The potato famine brought most of these victims from Ireland. Wikitreeers with Irish or British roots, please help commemorate their story by contributing to the project. In fact everyone is invited to join in :) http://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Project:Grosse_Île,_Québec This project is part of the Canadian History. We will also link a lot of profiles to the Category Irish Immigrants to Canada.
More information the Quarantine Station is available on these websites: Parc Canada Grosse Ile: http://www.pc.gc.ca/eng/lhn-nhs/qc/grosseile/natcul/natcul1.aspx Story of Grosse Ile (french) http://www.qsl.net/ve2aik/new/la_grosse_ile.htm Fever Ships: http://www.whitepinepictures.com/seeds/i/2/sidebar.html Cholera in the 19th century: http://ocp.hul.harvard.edu/contagion/cholera.html Cholera in UK: http://www.parliament.uk/about/living-heritage/transformingsociety/towncountry/towns/tyne-and-wear-case-study/introduction/cholera-in-sunderland/ The potato famine: http://www.britannica.com/event/Irish-Potato-Famine
