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Period: to
Lifetime
This how long lived. -
Arrival
My name is Caroline Ashford and I am 20 years old. I have traveled to America because of the Potato Famine that has affected Ireland. Another reason I have come to America is, to be independant. I want to own my own piece of land and get a job. The pocessions I have brought with me are, silver spoons, and clothing. I have also brought my 18 year old brother with me, he has the same hopes and dreams as I do in America. -
First Job
I have found a job at a cloth factory. They underpay me and the conditions are horrible. There are many women packed into a small factory room. It is uncomfortabley hot and if we do anything wrong they detucked money from our pay. Although I am happy because I met a man named Gerald, he is very nice and is also from Ireland. -
Married
Today is the wedding. I am getting married to Gerald Fergison. He is very kind, he also gets along with my brother nicely and that is wonderful. We will have a happy life together. -
New York Central Railroad
I have heard news of the new railroad that has opened. We have all been looking foreward to a railroad to travel along. This opens many oppurtunities for me and my brother. The transportation to other places will go much faster. Maybe Bryant and I will travel somewhere else to finally find land of our own. I can use my money that I have been saving up all this time. -
Central Pacific Railroad
I have become tiresome of the job I have been occupying. When I heard news of yet another railroad opening, I knew that it was time to move West. Railroads were opening, there are many oppurtunites opening for me and Bryant. I am hesitant to resign from my job though. It was difficult finding a job, especially since I am an immigrant from Ireland. -
Homestead Act
(Cannot find exact date, I can only find that it was passed in the year of 1862) The last push for me to move West was news of the new law that has been passed. This law gives settlers 160 acres of land. This gives me a chance to own my own property and to be independant. The California Gold Rush was also a push for me to go West. Gold has been found there and if I found some then I could build a house on the free 160 acres of land for my brother and I. -
Immigration Port to U.S is opened - Ellis Island
Ellis Island, the new immigration port opened. This is exciting because, my family back in Ireland can come to the U.S to join Bryant and me. A lot more immigrants will be traveling to the United States because of Ellis Island in New York. This might create problems though, for example; there will be less job oppurtunities open. -
The SS Norge Sinks
The news of this tragedy broke my heart. Along with the crew, many immigrants were on that boat who died. The amount of people that died was, 635. There were 160 people that survived the disaster. It crashed at St. Helen's Reef and sunk. On top of that, my brother has become deathly ill and I am having trouble finding a doctor to treat him. He is too ill to work in the fields on our property so I have to do two times the work in one day. -
Titanic - Devestated
The titanic hit a iceburg today, everyone is devastated. The amount of deaths was, about 1,517 people. The Titanic hit an iceburg and started to sink a little before midnight. There were about 710 crew memebers and passengers survived. The news of this disaster is devasting to the loved ones of the passangers that died. Bryant, my neighbors, and I planted flowers flowers outside our houses to pay respect to the passangers that died, and the survivors. -
Devastation
On this day, my brother Bryant Ashford passed away. He died of a fever that was spreading quickly in the town we were living by. We buried him and had a wonderful ceremony. We buried next to my deceased parents. I am still grateful for having this experience in America. My brother was kind, he didn't deserve to die. Yet, I know he fulfilled his dreams of coming to the United States. -
Passing Away
Today Caroline Ashford passed away. She was 89 years old. Caroline traveled to the United States at the age of 20. She brought her brother along and her family joined her in 1850. She lived a long and happy life. She experienced devastation, especially the Titanic and her brother Bryant passing away from a fever. Yet, her life was long and fulfilled and she wouldn't do anything differently if she had the chance. Thankfully I still have my husband, Gerald to comfort me.
