Reasons for Early Immigration
After the Battle of the Boyne and Ireland was once more
under English rule the penal laws of 1697 were passed. These severely
restricted Catholics from owning or inheriting land and the freedom to
practise their own religion. They have been compared to the French laws
against the Huguenots even though the Catholics were a majority in their own
country and their Protestant rulers a minority. Perhaps this persecution of
Catholics was inspired by the memory of similar restrictive laws passed in
France against the Huguenots. Land was the base of political power at the
time and so by restricting Catholics in this way The Protestants effectively
denied the Native Irish a say in ruling their own land.
It is interesting to note here that during the 18th
century the old feeling of Protestant versus Catholic mellowed to a large
extent and was replaced by a general hatred of the English rule, and
absentee English landlords who started to double and triple rents for their
tenant farmers. Scots, Presbyterian and native Irish were affected equally.
The native Irish, however were always able to outbid the Scots for farms
because they were prepared to live more sparingly. Theis triggered off a
great emmigration to New England in America and could have been the
beginnings of the American Starritt families. The Promise of political and
religious freedom and land for the asking must have been a great temptation
for these poor tenant farmers.
The Presbyterians who were mainly in the North of Ireland
were treated so badly by English rule that by the end of the 18th century
they were joining forces with the Catholics in trying to obtain independence
for Ireland. A Presbyterian minister, for instance, was not recognized by
law and the marriages he performed were therefore not marriages by law. They
were able to inherit and purchase land and join trades and professions for
they had no objection to the anti Popish declaration that had to be made
(which effectively restricted Catholics) but the payment of titles to the
State Clergy annoyed them. The Presbyterians were so determined on
independence for Ireland that by 1796 when a French expedition tried to land
and liberate Ireland the Prebyterian towns of the North would have joined
the uprising while the Catholic towns of the south remained loyal. The
landing failed but numerous uprisings occured between 1795 and 1798 by a
curious mixture of Presbyteriands and Catholics all of which were put down.
In 1800 the Irish Parliament was abolished and Britain and Ireland united.
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