The Arrudas
Porcelain Mugs from Ireland
Stephen Arruda's Family
6/9/97
My great-great grandfather (my maternal grandfather's grandfather) was born in Ireland, then raised in Glasgow, Scotland. His name was Patrick Lynch. At the age of nine, he began working in a coal mine to help support his family. When he grew up he met a girl from Armagh, Northern Ireland. He eventually married her, my great- great grandmother, Kate. Together they had eleven children: Richard, John, Margaret, Marie, Mac, Tommy, James, Catherine, Anna (my great grandmother), Sally and Jenny. Richard and John both died when they were young children of an unknown infection. (There were no antibiotics in the late 1800's). The youngest child, Jenny, became ill with Tuberculosis and died when she was a toddler.
Looking for a more prosperous lifestyle, my great-great grandfather Patrick contacted a friend named Conroy, who was a fire captain in Fall River, Massachusetts, in the United States of America. He agreed to sponsor my great-great grandfather, made arrangements for him to come to the United States, and met him in New York City when his boat arrived. This friend of his set him up in an apartment and helped him find a job as a fire fighter on an Old Fall River Lines boat. He also repaired boilers in a school building. He was anxious to bring over the rest of the family, so he worked two jobs in order to make enough money for their passage.
My great-great grandmother Kate was thrilled when arrangements were made for her and seven of the children to reunite with my great-great grandfather Patrick in the United States. Tommy was older and married, so he remained in Glasgow, Scotland. They had hoped to cross the ocean on the Titanic, but there was an illness in the family, which prevented them from doing so. They eventually came over on the Hesperia during the same season as the Titanic's tragic maiden voyage.
The sail was not an easy one. They faced stormy weather and rough seas almost daily on their twelve to fourteen day trip. One night the weather was so rough, most of the passengers stayed in their cabins, and my great-great grandmother Kate found herself dining with only the band. The Hesperia was even hit by an iceberg on the journey! With these obstacles in the way, it is no surprise that the ship sailed off course, and ended up docking in Montreal, Canada, instead of New York City. Still, my great-great grandmother Kate was so happy to dock safely, she tipped the steward with what she thought was a good tip. However, she had been misinformed. She thought the smallest coin had the greatest value and so she gave the steward one dime! Soon after that she and the children were reunited with my great-great grandfather Patrick, and they began their life together in Fall River, Massachusetts, in the United States of America.