The Travels of James Morrison

James Morrison {1869 -1948}, the oldest son of Thomas Morrison, made several trips between Ireland and the United States during the first decade of the 1900’s.

The transcription of the passenger list shown below is from the S.S. Carthaginian which arrived at Ellis Island on 11 Apr 1902. It lists James Morrison, single, age 29 and states that his last place of residence was Derryhale. The hand written passenger list {not shown} indicates that James travelled in steerage, paid for his passage himself and had $10 to his name when he arrived. He stated that his destination was "New York/Harvard" and listed his occupation as 'laborer'.




James would return to Ireland, marry Sarah Jackson of Lisavague, and the two of them would arrive in the States aboard the S.S. Columbia on 3 October 1903, ten days after they were married at St. Saviours Church.


James and Sarah returned to Ireland where their first child, Margaret Florence, was born on 27 August 1906 in Derryhale, Co. Armagh. The three of them would arrive in Montreal, Canada aboard the S.S. Ionian on 13 October 1906 when Margaret Florence was five months old. From Canada, they made their way to Maynard, MA.