In the early fall of c.1842, the Prudence threw her sails to the winds and the long awaited journey to America finally became a reality for Aaron Conley and his family. Escaping the clutches of starvation caused by the potato famine, that claimed the lives of a million people.
Once the family was on board, each person was assigned so many square inches to her or his share of ship. Man, women and children where much obliged to huddle together. The ship's quarters were partitioned, divided and formed exactly according to the law.
Their family and friends were in the crowd of spectors at the dock to witness the final departure of the noble ship, with its large freight of human beings.
As the ship was towed out, the hats were raised, handkerchiefs were waved and a loud and long continued shout of farewell was heard from the shore, and cordially responded to from the ship.
It was then that Aaron and Jane's eyes began to tear with regret at the thought that they were looking for the last time at the old country which, although, in all probability, with the remembrance of sorrow and suffering and semi-starvation,and a constant battle for the merest crust necessary to support their existence was nevertheless, the country of their fathers, the country of their childhood, and consecrated into their hearts by many a token, They sadly cried out their last fair well as the ship drifted out to sea.
Aaron knew only too well the suffering, the terror and the misery which compelled him to venture from the old into the new, from the tried to the untried path, and to recommence existence under new auspices, and with new and totally different prospects.
The cries of excitment could be heard as the Prudence, slowly approached the shores of Quebec. The long journey from Ireland was over. The journey from Ireland to Canada took seven weeks. It is indicative that in all probability, there was members of Aaron and Jane's family that had settled down in Hamilton, Canada, prior to Aaron's arrival. The family remained in Hamilton,Canada thoughout the winter.
The following spring,with each a pack to carry and no way but on foot, Aaron and his family walked through the wilderness along the Niagara Falls to the United States border crossing. The Conley family stayed in various places along the way. It was in the year 1844, when Aaron and his family arrived in Lockport, New York. There they remained until Aaron's death which occurred in 1862. Soon after, the remainder of family traveled to Tuscola County, Mi. The Conley clan remained in Tuscola County, for several generations.
Lockport, Niagara Co. New York 1860
Aaron Conley/ Connelly b.1798, d.1862 m. Mary Jane Cummins b.1809 d.1868
John C. Conley/Connelly b.1829 d.1869 m. Ann (UNK)
Margaret Ann Conley/Connelly b.1830 d.1990 (Spinster)
William R. Conley/Connelly b.1838 d.1930 m.Mary Ann Barber
David Conley/Connelly b.1842 d.1868
Martha R.A. Conley/Connelly b.1847 d.1904 M. 1.William Vanburen 2. Edward Pearson
Harrison Conley b.1868 d.1868
Possible Kinship:
Lockport, Niagara Co. New York June 20,1860
Margaret Connelly- 75 yrs old f. Ireland
Richard Connelly 20 yrs old m. Ireland
Bradford Connelly 21 yrs old m. Ireland
James Connelly 2 yrs old m. New York
John Connelly 1 yr old m. New york
Water Loo, Niagara Co. New York July 28, 1860
Patrick Conley 50 yrs old m. Day Laborer, Ireland
Mary Conley 40 yrs old f. Ireland
Thomas Conley 4 yrs old m. New York
Michael Conley 3 yrs old. m. New York
Patrick Conley Jr. 1 yr old m. New York
Thomas Conley 50 yrs old m. Ireland
Margaret Conley 30 yrs old f. Ireland
Thomas Conley 9 yrs old m. New York
David Conley 7 yrs old m. New York
Mary Ann Conley 6 yrs old f. New York
Mary J. Conley 4 yrs old f. New York
John Conley 2 yrs old m. New York
William Conley 4 mos old m. New York
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