Annie
Moore
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Annie Moore with
her brothers |
My
beautiful country of Ireland was once a prosperous land, but in the nineteenth
century, a series of events impoverished millions of people due to its
crumbling economy. With an overly large
population due to refugees from the Napoleonic Wars, the Irish soon became
extremely poor. Then, the great potato rot eliminated our sole subsistence of
millions of peasants, thrusting them over the edge of famine. The Potato
Famine was a period of mass starvation, disease and emigration
between 1845 and 1852, caused by a potato disease and many other political,
economic, and military factors were involved. “For years, the crops remained
undependable, and famine swept through the land. Untold hundreds of thousands
perished, and the survivors, destitute of hope, wished only to get away.
-Handlin”. For a long period of time, destitution was a significant problem in
Ireland. The only solution that seemed possible was escape, or emigration.
Starving and struggling families like mine could only find hope of a better
future by leaving their country. To make matters worse, Ireland was under
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| Impoverished Irish family |
British rule, still used a non-secular system and was under a landlord system.
Emigrating Ireland in the nineteenth century was easy because we could take a
convenient and affordable trip to Canada, where we could buy very cheap fares
to the U.S., or cheaper yet, we could walk across the border. America was a
land that attracted a huge amount of Irish immigrants because it had a vast and
promising land. A new land meant hope for a new life, a new beginning, and new
opportunities. Rumors were told that the jobs in America were limitless,
unemployment there was impossible. The expanding economy was very tempting for
unemployed Irish people. America was a
utopia portrayed land, so of course Irish immigrants swarmed in. Families like mine
were very smart to have taken advantage of the great possibilities America
offered.
Life in Cork, Ireland was quite repetitive and sad. I was born in the dawn of the Industrial Revolution. My whole life, everything was changing, from railways being invented to changes in government. My parents barely benefited from this, for they lacked the key to success in this new modernized Ireland: education. My family was not among the elite class, my father worked as a brick maker and my mother, a waitress. My older brother and sister also had to work.
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County Cork Square
My parents and older siblings would arrive home from work quite late, so I, as the oldest in the house, had to take on many of my parents’ responsibilities and take care of my younger brothers. It was as if I was barely a teenager, and I was being thrown into adulthood. We lived in a rather small house, and my little brothers and I, Philip and Anthony, shared a single room at the top floor of the house, the attic. Even though housing in general was improved in the 1880s, our house still had very poor structure and roofing.
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Every time there were rain showers at night, we would be wet and with very poor sleep. This caused my family to be frequently ill and unproductive. It felt like Ireland was, with industrialization, becoming more and more conservative, and so did my upbringing. Our schooling was becoming more religious and old Irish traditions were reinforced. Soon my parents and older siblings came to the conclusion that industrial
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| Nineteenth century Irish school |
Ireland did not benefit our working family at all, and decided to migrate to New York, the city where dreams came true, and my younger brothers and I would rejoin them four years later, in 1892. I was only eleven years old when I became completely responsible for myself, and my two younger brothers. We all were forced to become independent, especially me. I would wake up first, do the house chores, come home from school last, do my small amount of schoolwork, and finish my chores. These were four extremely hard years for me. The only thing that kept me from giving up on everything was the hope of being in heavenly America. Our parents would send home money so we could survive. Finally, they sent enough money to buy three tickets to Ellis Island, New York. When in New York, Phillip and Anthony continued their education, but I was fifteen and had to support my family so I began to work as a hairdresser. This is when I met Daniel O’Connell, he was an Irish descendant who lived in Texas and was visiting the Lower East Side of Manhattan, where we lived. He begged me to run away to Texas with him, but my family always came first, and I could not abandon them. So he decided to move to New York where we became husband and wife, and we worked very hard to make enough money to support my family and save enough money to live in Texas, where I died in a car accident in 1919.
Day 3 November 7, 1890
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| Nineteenth century school in Manhattan |
Traditionally, in a lower class family like my own, we would have never
attended school in Ireland. Luckily, my parents believed that education was the
key to success, and with at least a primary and secondary education, we would
be well off. I was also fortunate that I was born after the time when local
churches administered schools, although the government provided some support.
According to the Irish constitution, it is the responsibility of the government
to guarantee education for all children and provide for national guidelines.
This was not always the case, especially for a family like my own. A bit before
my mother was in labor with me, local primary schools were added to each town.
Since they were new,
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| County Cork |
they did not have the highest quality education and
conditions, but I was still extremely grateful that I could learn to read and
write. Without the primary school that I attended, I never would have been able
to compose this memoir. The main subjects taught in my primary school were
English, Irish, mathematics, social and environmental studies, arts and crafts,
music, physical education and religious instruction. I learned and was fascinated in learning; I was
extremely curious and would’ve stayed in school until I grew old if I could.
When I was reunited with my parents in New
York, my parents decided to rent a slightly larger apartment so we would have
enough space for my whole family. It had two bedrooms and a very small kitchen.
I went to my first day of school there, it was extremely frightening. Everything moved much faster and there were more than thirty children in my
grade, which I was not used to. My parents pulled me out of school during
lunch. They told me there was not enough money for the rent now that we were in
possession of a larger apartment. They needed me to work as soon as possible or
else we would have been thrown out on the streets. This was when my luck ran
out: My education was over. I was always giving my family their haircuts, so a
hairdresser was the
supposedly perfect career path for me. I quite enjoyed
working as a hairdresser, and there were even a few other Irish immigrants who
worked along with me, and we all became the best of friends. I would still
watch all the high school girls in their uniforms walk by every morning and
evening and yearn for their lives. I wanted a carefree life with possibilities
of a bright future. My future felt bleak and like a never ending-hole of
nothingness. I feared growing old and die at the hairdresser’s. Then, Daniel
O’Connell came into my life and with him a lamp that showed me that there my
future could dazzle if I wanted it too.
Day 4 December 20th, 1891, 4 A.M.
The sun was barely up, and already everyone was
wide-awake at the busy waterfront. Children cried, men carried lamps, and women
packed the little clothing they had in the only chest they carried. It weighed
more than fifty pounds, and represented all of the family’s belongings. I was
feeding my younger brothers, Anthony and Phillip with some sugared barley. We
were in a cramped waiting line to the customs office in the small
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| Waterfront |
fishing
village of Queenstown, in County Cork. We were off. A bag full of ragged
clothes and a couple of pence were our only belongings, when the man finally
called our name, we came to the booth.
I stepped up to the clerk, a cold man in his fifties who had a heart of
stone when to formalities. He asked me questions: my name, my residence, and
finally, the dreaded question: my age.
My birthday was only a week away, and I was only one year under the
right to be responsible for my underage brothers. So I had to lie. For a
moment, I thought the clerk would not let us pass, but he smiled and opened the
gate.
We were free! Thank God. It was so powering, so
glorious, and so saintly to feel absolutely free. We walked along the jetty,
discovering slowly the monstrous beast that was going to take us to the land of
freedom and opportunity, New York, United States. I heard wondrous tales about
men and women who accomplish their wildest dreams overnight
in that country. The ship was
unfortunately not as wondrous as the dreams we had. It was huge, and stains
covered the iron hull that looked fragile.
The great steam engine spluttered thick black smoke as the captain
started the engines and shouted.
“All aboard!”
We were on our way.
Day 5 December 24th 1891 10:21
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| Illustration of the life on board |
It was
Christmas Eve and it was now almost four days that we were on the S.S. Nevada,
the ship going to New York from
Queenstown, our hometown. We spent some horrible time on this ship. Rats
infested the boat, and the food was terrible, but was already more than an average
meal back in Cork. The turkey they served for Christmas dinner was at least a
year old and tasted like pigeon. The only source of heat on the ship was the
huge twin steam engines, but they were full of coal stains and if you stayed
too long, you would end up covered in jet black stains all over your body. The life aboard was hard, and to survive you
had to think fast every minute to stay alive at sea. Between the deafening
storms in the middle of the ocean that menaced at every wave to wipe out all
the passengers, the sea sick and the different diseases like cholera, scurvy
and different fevers. Phillip, my seven-year-old
brother, showed symptoms for scurvy, and had to eat lemons for every meal. We spent most of our time on deck so then we
wouldn’t be too seasick. The fresh air helped to remember that at the end of the
long and adventurous
journey awaited America, the land of prosperity and freedom.
Day 6 January
1st 1892 6:00 am
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| SS. Nevada |
We were already awake for a couple
of hours. Phillip woke up in the cabin
at two o’clock in the morning, and since had to stay on deck to not become sicker
in the putrid, stale air in the cramped cabins. We were the only ones out on
deck at this time. There was a humid fog
all around us and we couldn’t see much further than the ship’s bow. The captain said that we were supposed to
arrive in the afternoon, but he also said he was not sure because he was not
able to find our location in this weather.
We were desperate to arrive, because the morale on board was at its
lowest. People began to doubt that a land as miraculous as the stories of
travelers even existed. At seven o’clock in the morning, we decided to go back
to the cabins to catch some sleep. As I started to walk away, I heard a bell
ring. I swiveled around, and saw lights in the distance. I called my brothers,
and rushed forward to the bow’s railing. As the ship moved on, we started to
see parcels of land on the right and left. As the boat entered the harbor
slowly, black waves erupting from the hull, a huge structure appeared in front
of us. We were simply amazed by the size of this lighthouse, when we realized
that it was actually a statue of a tall, copper lady holding a torch up high in
one hand and a book in the other. As we discovered the statue, the sun behind
it unraveled, blinding us with the bright light, the light of newfound liberty.
As we descended from the deck first, a smiling round man greeted us warmly and
announced to us that we would be the first to pass through their new facility
of Ellis Island, and gave us a ten dollar golden coin.
Day 7 November 4th, 1901
When I was
still a child, my parents left me. I was only eleven years old. From then on, I
had to live on my own and take care of my siblings, Phillip and Anthony. I had
taken on an incredible amount of responsibility and sustained a huge weight of
pressure. That day, we were with our beloved parents, and then a few hours
later, our family bond was shattered.
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| Arrival at Ellis Island |
It
felt as if my infant ages diminished and I was reincarnated into a new being,
more mature, and more responsible. It
seemed impossible at the beginning, but I adapted to my new lifestyle
afterword. My siblings thought it was all joke and didn’t really believe we
actually had to wait four years till we could be reunited our family. Every day
and every night I suffered, but I just had to keep going and stay optimistic. I
kept fighting and telling myself: “There’s just a few months left”. I made it
through the day every time; nevertheless I couldn’t take it anymore. I had to
get away from this poor lifestyle. I took the opportunity to go to join the
rest of our family in America when we were sent enough money to purchase boat
tickets to New York.
Day 8 January 9th 1905
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| Annie Moore with her brothers at customs |
I was
very young when I realized that I was a very gifted child. My mother kept on
telling me that I was the most responsible and disciplined girl she had ever
seen. Even though my parents left me when I was only eleven years old, I was
able to go to school and take care of my siblings, despite my young age. Day by day, I learned to adapt
to my new lifestyle. I always had to keep my brothers, Phillip and Anthony,
happy and laughing. Then i arrived on Ellis Island. Most do not understand what it was like for a girl who barely ever left the safety of her town to arrive in such a huge and new country. Stepping into the room where they took my name, information, and gave me my ten dollar coin reward for being the first immigrant to arrive on Ellis Island took all my courage. They later inspected me for diseases and problems that could be presented as dangerous to the American people. I was cleared, and arrived in New York City. I had never been so afraid, and am very proud that I did not show an ounce of fear of this intimidating country. I even sacrificed my education to
support my family and became a hairdresser to earn some money to live on. It
seemed impossible to sustain a family when I was still just a little girl, at only fifteen years of age.
Every day, I was looking forward to the opening of the immigrant boat station
to see my mother for the first time in four years. That helped me because I
learned how to be a more responsible woman. In addition to that, it prepared me
for my future life, when I had to sacrifice my education for my family. I hoped
my little brothers could get a good education, unlike me.
Day 9 March 12, 1906
Throughout my life, I have always been an
optimistic person. My parents had to leave to New York in search of a
new life, leaving my brothers and I all alone in Ireland. It was hard even though they did send
some cash for means of survival and to pay for the journey to America. This
influenced my later life to become a better person and the woman that I am
today. Everything required me to have a
lot of responsibility, which later on affected me in various ways. Everything I
had to go through later on became easy for me to sustain because it was nothing
compared to my struggle in Ireland. In addition to that, I was famous for quite
a while, so I was able to get a job very easily.
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| Annie Moore and her Daughter |
My talent for hairdressing was undeniable, and it brought me quite a bit of recognition and I thus became known as the famous ellis Island girl who gives legendary haircuts. After all, that hard work wasn’t for
nothing. However, I didn’t have any chance to pick my own path, so I guess
everything that happened to me was just bad luck, but they all brought a variety of
rewards. Honor was one of them, and not only did others influence me, I influenced
others as well. Even after my death, people continued to look up to me. People
all over New York looked up to me. Struggling families with young children at work were inspired by my bravery, and for me, this is the best possible gift I could offer. I was the strong hearted girl who lead her
family to happiness, I was the new face of Ellis Island.
Day 10 April 24, 2009
I am now over 135 years old, so I am
in the sky watching over from the clouds, listening and overhearing everything
that has been said about that and me is still being said about me. Many years
ago, when I was still alive, many things had been said about me; some were good
things and others weren’t always so good and not always very friendly. However
I was among the first people who had arrived to America. The steamship that my brothers
and I had journeyed on was the S.S Nevada. I was given a few awards, and awards
were given to people in my honor as well. I was honored both before and after
my death, meaning that since I had been the first one that was off the steam
ship, it so happened that I had become the first one to arrive on the, then, newly
built Ellis Island. In my honor, for having been the first immigrant to arrive
on Ellis Island, the “Annie Moore Award” is given “to an individual who has
made significant contribution to the Irish and/or Irish American community and legacy",
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| List of immigrants |
another award
has also been given in my honor, which is given by and from the Irish American
Cultural Institute. I am very glad to have been able to have this wonderful
experience, back when I was young, and to be able to share this amazing
adventure with my younger brothers, Anthony and Phillip Moore, who have passed
away. After my death, nothing had been found of me in Ireland, when I was
living there over many years back. As if barely anyone had ever cared or known
that I existed. Over the years, I heard people say I was an Irish-American
hero. I am so glad that the stories of my great mount of responsibility,
leadership, sacrifice, and courage are still told in many countries. Articles
about me are still found now in the Ellis Island Immigration Museum, situated
on Ellis Island, about my great adventure, to America, as the first immigrant
to set foot on America.
Day 11 September
17, 2009
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| Annie Moore's statue at Ellis Island |
Over more than fifty years
after my rather honorable death, I am still commemorated by two lovely statues.
They still stand until this day, all in my honor, for having been the first
immigrant to arrive/ set foot on Ellis Island, America. One of these two
statues of me is presented on Ellis Island. This first is a statue of me with
my two younger brothers, whom are Anthony and Phillip. It is now displayed in
the Ellis Island Immigration Museum. The second statue, which is also still in
my honor, and visited by many, stands in the wonderful country, of Ireland, in
Cork. It stands in the port where I had waited for a few hours, before I had been
able to board the ship. These statues are made of bronze, the statues represent
me waiting, carrying my luggage, and standing still. I am very glad that people
still appreciate one of my greatest accomplishments of life, and I am truly
glad that I hadn’t missed this truly amazing and daring adventure, especially
since it was with my two younger brothers. I am also very grateful that I did
not have to stay in my birth country, Ireland, for most of my life, and instead
I got to witness living in another country, one that I had only to still
discover. This sculpture is the work of Jeanne Rynhart of Bantry. These statues
had been unveiled in 1993, by the Irish President Mary Robinson.
Day 12 December 6, 2009
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| Statue of Annie Moore |
When I realized
that I would go to America with my two brothers, I immediately knew that I had
to sacrifice many things. Everything I had worked for and achieved would
disappear. I knew I would have to sacrifice a lot of time as well to ensure a
safe journey to America. I had to give up everything that I had, all just to
take care of my family, especially my younger siblings, whom I had to travel
with. I knew that I was mostly responsible
for my family’s well being, and worked very hard. I would have to soon get
married, so I did. I know that if I hadn’t sacrificed everything, I wouldn’t have had this amazing adventure and left hope for other immigrants around the world. I am Annie
Moore, born on April 24th 1874, the first Immigrant to arrive on Ellis
Island, and having achieved, sacrificed, lived and succeeded, and died on
December 6th 1919.
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| Annie Moore's grave, located in the Calvary Cemetery, in Queens, New York. |
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