Henesy History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

In the 19th century, thousands of Irish left their English-occupied homeland for North America. Like most new world settlers, the Irish initially settled on the eastern shores of the continent but began to move westward with the promise of owning land. The height of this Irish migration came during the Great Potato Famine of the late 1840s. With apparently nothing to lose, Irish people left on ships bound for North America and Australia. Unfortunately a great many of these passengers lost their lives - the only thing many had left - to disease, starvation, and accidents during the long and dangerous journey. Those who did safely arrive in "the land of opportunities" were often used for the hard labor of building railroads, coal mines, bridges, and canals. The Irish were critical to the quick development of the infrastructure of the United States and Canada. Passenger and immigration lists indicate that members of the Henesy family came to North America quite early:

Henesy Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

• Catherine Henesy, who arrived in Maryland in 1678 2

Henesy Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

• Patrick Henesy, who landed in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania in 1854 2
• Richard Henesy, who arrived in St Clair County, Illinois in 1858 2

Henesy Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

• Maria Henesy, aged 18, who immigrated to the United States from Mazzarlak, in 1902

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Henesy Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

• Thomas Henesy, who landed in Halifax, Nova Scotia in 1843

Henesy Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

• Mr. Francis Henesy, (b. 1856), aged 22, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Western Monarch" arriving in New Zealand in 1879 3

• Darwin Henesy, American Republican politician, Candidate for West Virginia State House of Delegates from Jefferson County, 1948 4