Bartley Quinn's Journal

My Reasons for Leaving Europe

2007-11-28T08:34:00.002-08:00

In 1846 i left my home of Dublin, Ireland to come to the United States of America. My reason for leaving was the potato rot that swept through are country. When i went to America I setteled in a town called New England. Here in New England I got a job as a railroad track layer. I had to settle for that job because the Americans don't like the Irish very much so we all have to work together.

My Image of America before Leaving Europe

2007-11-28T08:34:00.001-08:00

Before I left my hometown of Dublin Ireland i had never even been out of our city. Therefore i was very nervous about coming to America because I had no idea what it would be like. I have heard a great deal about it but i was still very nervous.

My Voyage to America

2007-11-28T08:33:00.002-08:00

My voyage to America was not that great because i did not have alot of money. It took 2 months to sail all the way to the United States cramped with alot of other people on the boat. I got sick many times and stayed by the edge of the boat if you know what I mean.

My Arrival in America

2007-11-28T08:33:00.001-08:00

My arrival in America was crazy. When I got off the boat i had people all around me pushing and shoving. I went to the place where all the Irish go before they can get jobs or a house. After that I went to my apartment and it was not what i was expecting. It was filthy, one room, the bathroom had stuff all over it. Basically it was disgusting.

My Neighborhood and Home

2007-11-28T08:32:00.001-08:00

The neighborhood i lived in was a bad part of town in a city called New England. There were robbery's everyday right by my house. The little apartment i lived in consisted of 1 room and 1 bathroom. Not very luxury if you ask me. But thats all the Irish could get because it was hard enough to just get our jobs.

My Job

2007-11-28T08:31:00.000-08:00

When I was in America my main priorities were food, shelter, and a job. My job in America was to build railroad tracks across the United States. We mainly did jobs around my town in New England but we had an occasional job that was a little ways a way. Im not used to any of this because in Dublin all i did was farm. So when i got here and learned that there werent many farms i was shocked. This was all i knew how to do.

The Problems and Hardships I've Faced in America

2007-11-28T08:30:00.000-08:00

Nobody likes Irish immigrants in America. That was the hardest thing for me when i got here. It was hard for the simple reason of, there were no jobs. I had to work with all other Irish immigrants laying railroad tracks.

How I've Been Helped In America

2007-11-28T08:29:00.000-08:00

When I came to America i was escaping the Potato rot in Ireland in 1846. When i got here it was really hard for me to get my life started and on track. But when i got my job working on the railroads I finally had enough money to get an apartment. Since i was living by my self I didnt have to support anybody else.