Garret History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

During the late 18th and 19th centuries hundreds, of thousands of Irish left their homeland for North American shores. The earlier settlers left for the promise of free land or to participate in the development of what was seen as a new land. This pattern of immigration continued for many years, growing at a slow but steady pace. The 1840s, however, forever disrupted this pattern. In that decade, Ireland experienced an unprecedented plague of disease, starvation, and death, all of which were produced by the failure of the island's potato crop. That decade alone the numbers of people leaving the island rivaled all of the previous years of Irish immigration combined. When these large immigrants hit North American shores they unfortunately encountered more discrimination from the established population. They were, however, very warmly received by industrialists and those with a passion for nation building. The former saw the Irish as a cheap source of labor required for the extraction of coal and lumber, and the manufacture of products, the latter regarded them as a means to occupy the west and to construct the essential bridges, railways, canals, and roadways required by an industrialized nation. Whenever and however the Irish arrived in North America, they were instrumental to the development of what would become the great nations of the United States and Canada. Immigration and passenger lists have shown many early immigrants bearing the old Irish name of Garret:

Garret Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

• Mr. William Garret, (Garrett), brick layer who arrived in Jamestown, Virginia aboard the ship "Discovery" in 1607 3
• Francis Garret, aged 25, who landed in Virginia in 1635 aboard the ship "Thomas & John" 4
• Eliza Garret, who arrived in Virginia in 1640 4
• Jon Garret, who arrived in Virginia in 1642 4
• Tho Garret, who arrived in Virginia in 1647 4
• ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Garret Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

• Thomas Garret, who landed in Virginia in 1714 4
• William Garret, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1751 4

Garret Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

• Michael Garret, aged 30, who arrived in Delaware in 1812 4
• James Garret, who arrived in New York in 1824 4
• P Garret, who arrived in San Francisco, California in 1851 4
• Robert Garret, who landed in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1865 4

Garret Settlers in West Indies in the 17th Century

• Mr. Owen Garret, (b. 1615), aged 20, British settler travelling from London, England aboard the ship "Anne and Elizabeth" arriving in Barbados in 1635 6
• Mr. Steeven Garret, (b. 1616), aged 19, British settler traveling aboard the ship "Paul of London" arriving in St Christopher (Saint Kitts) in 1635 7

• Devin Garret Townsend (b. 1972), Canadian musician, songwriter and record producer
• Teunis Garret Bergen (1806-1881), American Democratic Party politician, U.S. Representative from New York 2nd District, 1865-67; Delegate to New York State Constitutional Convention, 1867-68 8
• Garret G. Ackerson Jr. (1904-1992), American politician, U.S. Vice Consul in Cape Town, 1928-29; U.S. Consul in Havana, 1943 9
• Garret Carlson, American Republican politician, Candidate for Michigan State House of Representatives 53rd District, 1998 10
• Garret Augustus Hobart (1884-1899), American politician, 24th Vice President of the United States (1897-1899) under President William McKinley
• Garret Dorset Wall (1783-1850), American military officer and politician, Governor of New Jersey in 1829
• Garret Crossman (b. 1982), Australian rugby league player
• Garret Bembridge (b. 1981), Canadian professional NHL ice hockey forward
• Garret B. Hunt, American Republican politician, Alternate Delegate to Republican National Convention from New York, 1872 11
• Garret H. Stryker, American politician, Member of New York State Assembly, 1838, 1849 12