One Step into the History Books of America!

In 1892 the gates opened on Ellis Island in New York Harbor to welcome immigrants from other countries to the wonderful freedom of the United States of America. This would become the pathway for more than 12 million immigrants coming into country legally. Many would come and have to be more or less quarantined on the island while facts were checked, health examined, financial and relative status were examined. Some even had to endure the arduous task of returning back to their homeland after being rejected while waiting months for the inquiry process to complete.

However, in 1892, it was a joyous occasion! Ships and boats were full of excited passengers waiting impatiently and breathlessly to take that first step toward a new world!

The very first person in the line of happy future Americans was a gentleman from Poland. As he stood there he noticed that the next in line was a young girl from Ireland with her two little brothers beside her. The kindly man stepped aside to allow the young ones to go ahead. The Polish man was either demonstrating gentlemanly courtesy or was obvious of the well-known fact that the largest assemblage of immigrants to the New World had been the Irish and gave them this courteousness for the fact is not completely known.

Nevertheless, it remains in the history books for evermore, little Miss Annie Moore was declared the very first immigrant in the New World to step on to Ellis Island and pass through the federal immigrant inspection, her and her brothers, to join their parents who had immigrated years before in 1888.

Statues of her stand on the great entry at Ellis Island and proudly at the dock on County Cork, Ireland, the exit from her home.

Annie lived a good long life in the United States of America, married Joseph Augustus Schayer, and had at least 11 children. A truly born-to-be American gal!

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To read more of the story of the story of Annie Moore, read "St. Patrick's Secrets, 101 Little-Known Truths and Tales of Ireland" by Helen Walsh Folsom.

With the aid of my daughter, Bettse Folsom, we are responding to a series of answer & questions & snippets about Ireland that many people have asked me during events where I have attended. If you have a question, please contact me by email and I will be happy to address it.

Thank you for reading my blog!