My gr-grandfather James QUINN came to America in 1848. He arrived in the Boston harbor on November 17, 1848 on the Ship Coronet. James came with 4 other relatives, we believe they were all brothers.

According to family in Ireland, one of the boys left immediately for New Jersey to work in an uncle's bar. James and at least one brother (Patrick) stayed in Boston, but in 1850 the brother was killed. According to the story, Patrick was a milkman and James would help him with his route. One morning the reins got tangled, so Patrick climbed on the back of one of the horses to untangle them. He slipped and fell, hitting his head on the street, and it killed him instantly.

In 1852, James married Catherine Ann OVERN, who was also an Irish immigrant. They married in St. Mary's Church in Charlestown, MA.

By 1856, James now had 3 sons. The family joined a settlement party that was heading into Minnesota. They settled in an area that was known as Erin, in Rice County. We know that some of the OVERN family came with them, or joined them very soon after.

What happened to the remaining 3 QUINN boys? That's a question we would love to figure out. We're sure that at least one of them also migrated into Minnesota. In fact, there were many QUINN's living in Minnesota during this time period; they seem to have associated with each other, and we have to assume that at least some of them were related to us.

I read about a Patrick Quinn who was an Indian interpreter in upper MN, and was massacred in an uprising. Some of the family still in MN today say that they were told this man was related to us. I can't say for sure, all surviving archived information on him say he was born in Dublin. But there must have been some connection somewhere, why else would the descendants today say he was related?

That's all for now. It's been a fascinating journey so far, and it's not over by a long shot!