New project on Grosse Ile Quarantine Station & immigrants to Canada

Question

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

 

Answer 1

See update on the project at:

http://www.wikitree.com/g2g/188544/grosse-ile-quarantine-station-quebec

All genealists are welcome to help :)

Answer 2

I have been wondering if my Canadian Irish family came through Grosse Ile as they married in Canada before heading into New York State.

Do you have suggestions on databases for Grosse Ile Quarantine Station & immigrants to Canada ?

Comments

Hi Maggie,

you can search the database by the family names

.(( and ))

you can help the project :)

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Similar situation for me - Irish who came thru Canada in this period an on to Buffalo!   Can't wait to explore.

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Hi Michael,  you want to explore the project for Irish ancestors before the others ?

Why not join in to help the project :)

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If I weren't a bit overstretched at the moment I certainly would.   I will see where I am in a few weeks.

Answer 3

Hi. 'All Standing, The Remarkable Story of the Jeanie Johnston, The Legendary Irish Famine Ship' by Kathryn Miles. Pub. 2014.

If anyone wants a book full of facts about the weather, politics & policies, ship building, An Gorta Mor, diseases and  Grosse Île, this is a great read. 

It follows one extended family from Ireland to Canada between heavily researched facts.