This book, or booklet, by genealogist and Irish emigration expert Brian Mitchell recounts the history of departures from the port of Derry-Londonderry from the late 17th century to the year 1939, when the last transatlantic steamer sailed from the port. Derry is ideally situated at head of the River Foyle, twenty-four miles long and only two miles wide at its head, a configuration that provided sailing vessels with a harbor of refuge. During the age of steam, her westerly situation gave her a monetary advantage with coal-burning vessels.
The emigration trade established Derry as one of the chief Irish ports for the transatlantic trade in the 18th century. For example, in 1771 the American colonies took more linen cloth and provisions from Derry than Britain did, and thirty percent of Ulster-Scots, around 75,000 people, emigrated through Derry to North America prior to 1776. By the 1850s two local companies, J. & J. Cooke and William McCorkell & Co., dominated transatlantic trade from Derry, building up sizeable shipping fleets. At the same time, the establishment of a railway network in Ireland secured Derry’s place as the emigration port for persons from counties Derry, Donegal, and Tyrone, as well as for travelers from County Donegal on the Inishowen peninsula.
Brian Mitchell captures the protagonists and milestones of this history in his beautifully illustrated tribute to Derry-Londonderry’s place in emigration history. The author’s brief narrative explains Derry’s rise and ultimate decline as a port of embarkation, conveys century by century what persons utilized the port, traces the changes in emigration from the age of sail to the age of steam, and draws attention to individuals like composer Stephen Foster’s great-grandfather, Alexander Foster, who sailed from Derry, and vessels like the Adam Lodge, which sailed from Derry to Australia. Highlighting the book are numerous illustrations that flesh out the Derry story, including passenger notices, sample passenger lists, pictures and photographs of actual vessels and passengers–some of them quite moving–maps, and more. Anyone who has an ancestor known to have sailed from Derry will appreciate having a copy of this book.
Kitabu hiki, au kijitabu, kilichoandikwa na mtaalamu wa ukoo na mtaalamu wa uhamiaji wa Ireland Brian Mitchell, kinasimulia historia ya kuondoka kutoka bandari ya Derry-Londonderry kuanzia mwishoni mwa karne ya 17 hadi mwaka 1939, wakati meli ya mwisho ya kuvuka Atlantiki ilipotoka bandari hiyo. Derry iko katika eneo bora la kichwa cha Mto Foyle, maili ishirini na nne kwa urefu na maili mbili tu kwa upana katika kichwa chake, muundo ambao ulitoa meli za kuogelea na bandari ya kimbilio. Wakati wa enzi ya mvuke, hali yake ya magharibi ilimpa faida ya kifedha kwa meli za kuchoma makaa ya mawe. Meli hiyo ilifanya Derry kuwa mojawapo ya bandari kuu za Ireland katika biashara ya kuvuka Atlantiki katika karne ya 18. Kwa mfano, katika 1771, koloni za Marekani zilipeleka nguo nyingi za kitani na vifaa kutoka Derry kuliko Uingereza, na asilimia thelathini ya Ulster-Scots, watu karibu 75,000, walihamia Amerika Kaskazini kupitia Derry kabla ya 1776. Katika miaka ya 1850 kampuni mbili za ndani, J. & J. Cooke na William McCorkell & Co., walitawala biashara ya kuvuka Atlantiki kutoka Derry, wakijenga meli kubwa za usafirishaji. Wakati huohuo, kuanzishwa kwa reli nchini Ireland kulihakikisha mahali pa Derry kama bandari ya uhamiaji kwa watu kutoka kaunti za Derry, Donegal, na Tyrone, na pia kwa wasafiri kutoka Kaunti ya Donegal kwenye peninsula ya Inishowen. Brian Mitchell anawakamata wahusika wakuu na hatua muhimu za historia hii katika heshima yake iliyoonyeshwa vizuri kwa nafasi ya Derry-Londonderry katika historia ya uhamiaji. "Mwandishi anaelezea ""kuongezeka na kuanguka kwa mwisho"" kwa Derry kama bandari ya kuhamia, anaelezea karne kwa karne ni watu gani walitumia bandari, anafuatilia mabadiliko katika uhamiaji kutoka umri wa meli hadi umri wa mvuke, na anawavutia watu kama babu mkubwa wa mtunzi Stephen Foster, Alexander Foster, ambaye alisafiri kutoka Derry, na meli kama vile Adam Lodge, ambayo alisafiri kutoka Derry kwenda Australia." Kitabu hicho kina picha nyingi ambazo zinaelezea hadithi ya Derry, ikiwa ni pamoja na taarifa za abiria, orodha za sampuli za abiria, picha na picha za meli halisi na abiria - baadhi yao wanazunguka sana - ramani, na zaidi. Mtu yeyote ambaye ana babu anayejulikana kuwa alisafiri kwa meli kutoka Derry atafurahia kuwa na nakala ya kitabu hiki.