Hercules_Mulligan

A Fictional Journal of Hercules Mulligan Michael Hollingsworth ETH/125 May 22, 2011 Michelle McClure A Fictional Journal of Hercules Mulligan Introduction The Catholic Irish sided with the Catholic King James II of England after Cromwell and the Puritans devastated much of Ireland and massacred thousands during the middle 17th century. This coalition imploded when James II was defeated by William of Orange at the Battle of the Boyne in 1690. To punish the Irish and to insure that they remained subservient and powerless the English Crown enacted a series of brutal penal laws, which succeeded so well that eighteenth century Catholic Ireland was economically and socially devastated for generations. By the end of the 18th century, the Penal Laws were gradually repealed, but some provisions remained in effect until as late as the early 19th century. The provisions of those Penal Laws are as listed below: * The Catholic Church forbidden to keep church registers. * The Irish Catholic was forbidden the exercise of his religion. * Forbidden to receive education. * Forbidden to enter a profession. * Forbidden to hold public office. * Forbidden to engage in trade or commerce. * Forbidden to live in a corporate town or within five miles thereof. * Forbidden to own a horse of greater value than five pounds. * Forbidden to own land. * Forbidden to lease land. * Forbidden to accept a mortgage on land in security for a loan. * Forbidden to vote. * Forbidden to keep any arms for his protection. * Forbidden to hold a life annuity. * Forbidden to buy land from a Protestant. * Forbidden to receive a gift of land from a Protestant. * Forbidden to inherit land from a Protestant. * Forbidden to inherit anything from a Protestant. * Forbidden to rent any land that was worth more than 30 shillings ($291 USD) a year. * Forbidden to reap from his land any profit exceeding a third of the rent 10 shillings ($97 USD) annual maximum. * They could not be guardian to a child. * They could not, when dying, leave his infant children under Catholic guardianship. * They could not attend Catholic worship. * The Irish Catholic was compelled by law to attend Protestant worship. * The Irish Catholic could not himself educate his child. * The Irish Catholic could not send his child to a Catholic teacher. * The Irish Catholic could not employ a Catholic teacher to come to his child. * The Irish Catholic could not send his child abroad to receive education. [ (MacManus, 1921) ] Results of the Penal Laws included abject poverty for the rural Irish. Another outcome was the emigration of Ulster Presbyterians (mostly to New England) where they remained embittered against England. The loss of this prosperous business class dealt a heavy blow to the economy of the island. Irish trade did not recover. This is the Ireland that Hercules Mulligan was born into during 1740 in Antrim County Ireland to Hugh and Sarah Mulligan. This was the Ireland that caused his family to emigrate from in 1746 in search of a new life in colonial America. Chronicles February 6, 1746 Entry #1 My First Journal Entry It has been put to me that we are embarking on a great adventure soon enough, this journal is to record my sights. I hope that this adventure relieves the trials of my Father and Mother. Things are very difficult for them. They do not think that I can comprehend, but I do. When the soldiers of the Crown - demanding their tithing of blood and silver - bring the sudden fire or light running in the sky that vanishes quick to the County and I want to bethink myself what holiday it is. I know by the screams that it is more death. May 15, 1746 Entry #10 Taking on the Steerage We are now on board, heartily fatigued, yet not likely to sleep very sound in our new apartments on the storage decks between the smuggled grain, wool and vermin, which I am afraid will not prove either very agreeable or comfortable. From what I can see, nothing can be less cleanly than our cabin, unless it be the crew. I know that this is our where we must be for some time. So I have made myself available to whatever may render our situation agreeable, and I have laid in a store of resolution to be easy, not to be sick if I can help it, and to keep good humor. July 4, 1746 Entry #67 Arrival The voyage has taken more than 34 days - which is where I lost count. We brought our own food and water and still nearly starved to death. My father has sold his 5 acre farm, cattle and all his clothes except what he wore, and he still had to borrow to make the voyage. It appears we have all survived the journey, even though more than half of the poor folk imprisoned with us on that death ship perished from starvation or disease. The smells and sounds will give me dreams of madness for the rest of my life. They call the place where we have found ourselves New York. It appears to be much less desirable than the great pastures of my home. The soldiers and governors of the Crown still pretend to own countryside spreading fear and bringing to themselves much hate and discontent. I fear we have not improved our situation at all, but perhaps worsened it at much cost. March 20, 1750 Entry #155 The Family Business My Father, proving to be very resourceful in Colonial Politics and good with money numbers has found the good fortune of being the accountant for a good portion of the Crowns Governors and Officers here in New York. I am learning from him how to be masterful with accounts and wherein I intend to keep within my compass. June 10, 1760 Entry #375 Graduation Having done at King’s College I leave with solid sense, strong connected reasoning and good language I find myself in a fortunate position with my Father’s accounting clientelle. January 1, 1762 Entry #562 My Venture Having chosen to embark on a haberdashery business venture of my own making within the British Crown’s higher circles to pattern and tailor the finest garments for their Governors and Officers. Elizabeth Sanders - Daughter of John Sanders of New York and Niece of Admiral Sanders of the British Royal Navy has agreed to marriage both of us being of like mind. September 23, 1768 Entry #1077 Sons of Liberty After dinner I and a close friend went aside to discourse of public matters, and do find by him that all the country gentlemen are publicly jealous of the Governors and Officers, that they do doubt everything that they propose and that the true reason why the country gentlemen are for a land-tax increase and against a general excise tax is because they are fearful that if the latter be granted they shall never get it down again. He speaks to me of the Sons of Liberty. I confide to my guest “I am not influenced by the expectation of promotion or pecuniary award; I wish to be useful, and every kind of service necessary to the public good becomes honorable by being necessary. If the exigencies of my countrymen demand a peculiar service, its claims to perform that service are imperious." April 19, 1772 Entry #2198 Alexander Having agreed to house a new student to the King’s College, Alexander Hamilton arrives today from the West Indies colonies. I hope to convince Hamilton of the justice in the cause of the American Colonist and not the imperial prejudice of the British Crown. July 10, 1776 Entry #3176 Kings Statue Word has come that the Declaration of Independence has been signed and ratified by the colonies. I and my good friends, William Mooney and Isaac Sears joined by many patriots have toppled the statue of King George II on Bowling Green. We intend to break it into pieces that will be smelted into bullets for the newly formed Continental Army. September 22, 1776 Entry #3192 Prison Finding myself imprisoned in wretched conditions by the British Crown and General Howe at the hand of Loyalists for treason, I vow to be acquitted. March 17, 1777 Entry #3223 Revolutionary Agent My good friend Alexander Hamilton has been appointed aide-de-camp to General Washington. I have been recommended by him to be Washington’s confidential correspondent in the city of New York. I have full access to British officers in my capacity as a tailor as well as having them billeted in my house. I fully intend to cajole them with guile and whiskey to reveal information invaluable to Washington and my fellow patriots. April 15, 1777 Entry #3231 Plots Uncovered My brother Hugh has uncovered a plan by General Howe to push an expeditionary force into Pennsylvania. This information includes an attempt to capture Washington or have him assassinated by Loyalists. November 2, 1783 Entry #4201 Good Favor Returned The patriots in New York do not recognize my service. They want my property and my life as a Loyalist after the defeat of Cornwallis. General Washington taking review of his troops will take breakfast with me at my home at No. 23 Queen Street to recognize my role as a patriot. My good friend and countryman Alexander Hamilton has again facilitated. July 2, 1784 Entry #4201 Presidents Tailor President Washington has chosen my humble establishment to be the official Presidential Tailor. Summary Hercules Mulligan was too young to engage the British before he left Ireland in 1742. However, it would not be unreasonable to assume that he was influenced in his decision to become a Son of Liberty here in America by the horrors recounted by his parents who witnessed the British atrocities in Ireland. His deeds of courage and love of liberty were an inspiration to succeeding generations of his countrymen and women who fought to preserve America's liberty and Ireland's freedom. He helped create a land of refuge and liberty for his fellow countrymen and women and for countless millions of others from around the world who fled the yoke of tyranny. His story is an outstanding example of how an ethnic group can survive oppression, expulsion and emigration from their homeland and survive to assimilate and liberate in a new socio - economic environment.