James Lamey : Short Biography

Born in SE Ireland - family lore says Cork - emigrated first to Newfoundland then River Inhabitants area of Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia in 1790’s - 1800.
 

Subsequent research by local historical society found : " The Irish came into the area at the very beginning of the 1800’s. These were the refugees from the Wexford Uprising (rebellion) of 1798 who, in British authorities, settled well back in the woods bordering on the Inhabitants Basin, until it was safe to move nearer the shore of the Basin. Thes most of whom settled in Rocky Bay, Richmond County, and the Margarees in Inverness County, had reason to be fearful under the Penal Laws.
Not only were their lives to be extinguished as traitors for daring to fight against the British crown, if they were unfortunate enough to be disc authorities, but, according to British Penal Laws, it was illegal for them to be in British North America. These refugees were represented by the families Cloak, Dunphy, Hayes, Lamey, Morgan, possibly Scanlan (formerly Scantling), possibly Tyrrell (formerly Farrell), Welsh and White.
Only the family names of Doyle, Hayes, Morgan, Scanlan, and White families can still be found in the Basin - River Inhabitants communities today, genes of the others flow in the veins of both these, as well as in the veins of the Loyalist descents, of some of the Scottish descents, and of some o descent. The Cloaks and the Welsh’s moved away from the area, with the remaining old people dying out. The Tyrrells and the Dunphys moved to Isle Madame area during the early 1900’s."  Lamey's can be found in nearby Cape Breton communities and throughout Nova Scotia.