sailing to mexico, 1847

Hello Egan.

I was searching the internet for anything that might help.  I found this website: http://www.trussel.com/hf/inglorio.htm

I think it's very possible that your ancestor didn't sail directly to Mexico, but instead to USA then "converted" to the Mexican side after seeing the atrocities of what was happening to the Mexican people by the US military.

If James did sail to America, then joined the US Army, their might be records of that, and possible information on his joining the Mexican Army.

From what I gathered (without doing any extensive reading to back up my thoughts) most of the recruiting was done simply by converting the US soldiers over to the Mexican side.

If he did arrive in America, then this could be him: http://www.castlegarden.org/quick_search_detail.php?p_id=656455

I have no idea if ths will help, but it's an idea.

Thank you,

Mary Van Dyke

thank you, mary,

very nice of you to look into this for me!!

i will check out those links asap.

however, from the bit of research i have done, i do not believe that he went first to the usa and then "converted"...

(although i have heard that the irish were very easy to convert to the mexican, catholic, rural, downtrodden side as opposed to the protestant, urban, stronger us side)

the reasons i doubt this are, first, because my grandmother, his daughter in law, always said "he sailed to monterey mexico"....and did not ever mention another stopping off place.

and mainly, because.....the united states executed all of the "san patricios" who had defected from their side. my great grandfather was not executed -- and eventually moved north to found his family and live the rest of his life.

but i will definitely follow your links, and i thank you very much for sending them!!

best wishes

Just following up on your James Fahey, whom I believe is the same James Fahey (my 2nd great grandfather.)  You mention that your grandmother was his daugher-in-law,  My grandfather, James Edward Fahey was his grandson.  Which of the brothers was your grandmother married to?  In the family lore that has been passed down, we have the Montery, Mexico story too.  Would love to connect with you and share information.