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Archiver > PALUZERN > 1998-03 > 0888986806


From: Bluesriff7 <>
Subject: Re: Hardens in Warwickshire c
Date: Tue, 3 Mar 1998 23:46:46 EST


Pat,
Thank you for your honesty. No need to explain your question. Please let me
clarify.

According to "Recollections of my Boyhood" written by my gr gr grandfather,
Oliver Bacon Harden b.1852 d.1923, who was on one of the three voyages made by
the ill-fated passenger ship "England" states, among other things,...."it was
said that 1200 died between Liverpool and New York". He goes on to say "...the
crowding of this mass of humanity on board was nothing less than criminal".
"The unpleasant notoriety that came with these 3 voyages on the steamer
"England" led the national line to change its name and remove it from
service".

A passenger steamer as you suggested doesnt have the capacity to hold that
many passengers (you've probably seen "Titanic"). However, the hulls were not
filled with luggage or food or other commercial items but were stuffed with
humans, made to live like rats for the length of voyage. More people stuffed
in these hulls meant more money for the captain and the shipping co. as well
as a rapid proliferation of a fatal communicable disease. In this case
Cholera.

The ship made 3 of these voyages before being condemned and at the peak of
western migration it was not uncommon to exceed load limits for the almighty
dollar or for the sake of freedom in America.

Most were buried at see so an exact number is unknown. (Cant find ships
manifest and passenger lists') There is however a large burial site of many of
these victims on Mc Nabbs Island (Nova Scotia area?). My gr uncle Harry Harden
helped bury some of these victims.

The exact number may never be known but I must put my faith in my gr gr
grandfather and his recollection of this horribly tragedy.

If you find "new" info on this please let me know.

God Bless Pat,

Sincerely, Mike.

Ive forwarded this message to Harden family and Luzerne co web site.
My gr gr gr grandfather, John Walter Harden, started the Migration of the
Hardens from England (Coventry) and ended in Luzerne co (Kingston) Pa. He
managed Anthracite mines in Plymouth co from 1860-1891 where he moved his
business (Harden and Sons) to Philly, dying shortly after or before the move.

Sincerely, Mike.

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