In 1832, 57 irish immigrants working for the pennsylvania railroad, died under mysterious circumstances and were buried in a mass grave. Duffys cut archaeologists search for descendants of murdered john ruddy. The first body identified was that of 18yearold john ruddy from donegal, who was reinterred at holy family cemetery in ardara, county donegal on march 2, 20. Duffys cut clonmany genealogy family history and heritage. The publisher, like all academic presses, makes almost all the money. The watsons have tentatively identified him as john ruddyan 18yearold laborer. Oct 08, 2015 the duffys cut project was originated by dr. I myself was able to pull out of the first grave the skull of a man who we believe was called john ruddy, an 18yearold who came over as a labourer from donegal to work on the railroad. Jul 18, 2010 professor told the story of deaths at duffy s cut by sally a. Phillip duffy ventured down to the philadelphia docks on june 23, 1832, and met the immigrants who had just come ashore from the john stamp. Before 2004, hikers passing through the woods in chester county, pennsylvania in the vicinity of malvern would have encountered a granite block enclosure with no identifying marker.
Nov 26, 2008 the truth might have forever remained hidden had not bill watson, a pennsylvania historian, and his brother frank, a lutheran minister, discovered an old file titled duffys cut buried among their. He greeted the immigrants and persuaded 57 of them to work for him on track mile 59 duffys cut. Duffys cut is the name given to a stretch of railroad tracks about 30 miles west of philadelphia. She is the second of the duffys cut victims to be identified and buried at home in ireland. He also made a casket for john ruddy, a young man whose body was returned to ireland to be buried there. The remains of a fifth irishman, john ruddy, will be shipped to the family. The men were put up in a shantytown and given strict orders not to leave the camp. The beginning of the book is a bit hard to get into due to the referencing of multiple sources sited, etc.
Duffys cut beer to fund excavation of irish workers. A 2inch coffin nail tells the story of john ruddy, an 18yearold irish immigrant. Irelands forgotten sons recovered two centuries later history. The history blog blog archive duffys cut victim returns to. They were railroad workers, newly arrived from ireland. Ruddy is the author of manny man does the history of ireland 3. It turns out that john ruddy had a distinctive dental trait. For 170 years, the story of duffys cut was simply an urban legend that had been passed down by locals through the centuries, the tale of railroad laborers buried alongside the malvern curve.
Revisiting the ghosts of duffys cut history ireland. His voyage home is the latest turn in the tale of duffys cut, a wooded patch. Duffy s cut is the name given to a stretch of railroad tracks about 30 miles west of philadelphia, united states, originally built for the philadelphia and columbia railroad in the summer and fall of 1832. Burying men under track in the fill became commonplace back in the 19 th century, although duffy s cut is the first documented case. The first body identified was that of 18yearold john ruddy from donegal, who was reinterred at holy family cemetery in. Frank watson holds a nail, fused to wood, from the coffin of murdered duffy s cut laborer john ruddy. Annes cemetery in the port richmond section of philadelphia, and until now, his grave has been unmarked purposefully.
Nearly 60 irish railroad workers died at duffys cut outside philadelphia in 1832. These men were william watson, a professor of history at immaculata university in malvern near duffys cut, and his twin brother, dr. It is open to the public and available for viewing anytime the library is open ask for the key duffyscut. Frank watson gained international notice for codiscovering a mass grave of irish railroad workers in 2009. The three, together with john eates, combined to write a book, the ghosts of duffys cut, which was published in 2006. Duffys cut archaeologists search for descendants of. Followed this for a long time remains just sent back to ireland for burial. The hopeful jig the irish crossing the sea is soon followed by, the railroad begins, which musically. In the cut was made into a movie just a scant few years ago by artsy feminist director jane campion, with meg ryan the allamerican girl trying to pull the midlife star comeback and the sexy imagechanging turn with oscarbait glum acting chops and the requisite nudity in the role of the language scholar and teacher who succumbs to the pull of the seamy side of nyc. Then you can start reading kindle books on your smartphone, tablet, or. Being into railroad history and being 12 irish was a big reason for my interest in reading about duffys cut. Duffy s cut exclusive s massacre at duffy s cut by william e. Working for angus council, he works hard to reduce the councils carbon footprint, and naturally takes a keen interest in. Celeste ng, ann patchett, min jin lee and others on the books that.
In their new book, massacre at duffys cut, william and frank watson detail their. It was hard labor, leveling a hill for the philadelphia and columbia railroad. John ruddy 18is the first of the duffys cut victims to be returned to ireland. The watsons have tentatively identified him as john ruddyan 18yearold laborer from. Manchester pastor details duffy s cut atrocity in new book.
The watsons have tentatively identified him as john ruddy an 18yearold laborer from. May 18, 2015 image duffy s cut image caption catherine s name and that of her fatherinlaw john burns on the john stamp ship register that brought them to america. It was a defect in the upper right molar that occurs in 1 in 100,000 people, a feature that he referred to as exceptionally rare. Ahtes iii, 48, of wallingford, a history and theology professor and archaeological detective, died at home sunday, july 11, of a heart attack. Duffys cut is the name given to mile 59 of the columbia and philadelphia railroad later pennsylvania railroad mainline. The truth is noone alive really knows what happened during the searing august of 1832 at duffy s cut in malvern, southeastern pennsylvania.
Ahtes and watson began excavating the site in 2004 and in 2006 published the book the ghosts of duffys cut. John ruddy, from donegal, is buried in ardara in a grave donated by vince. Duffy was in need of men who would work tirelessly for little pay. To this day, there are mysterious happenings and ghost sightings around the area of their deaths, now known as duffy s cut this music tells their story. Burying men under track in the fill became commonplace back in the 19 th century, although duffys cut is the first documented case. Aug 14, 2018 the three, together with john eates, combined to write a book, the ghosts of duffys cut, which was published in 2006. We get 25 cents per man for each of the four authors of the book, the ghosts of duffys cut. In march 2012, five bodies were given a mass of christian burial and reinterred in laurel hill cemetary. It appears to have been a massacre, for whatever reason. In his book filled office at immaculata, bill watson showed off a small box that contained a piece of john ruddys jaw which would go with the brothers on their flight over. In his book filled office at immaculata, bill watson showed off a small box that contained a piece of john ruddys jaw which. Enter your mobile number or email address below and well send you a link to download the free kindle app.
Aug 16, 2018 the three, together with john eates, combined to write a book, the ghosts of duffys cut, which was published in 2006. Laurel hill and duffys cut a history of our connections. This much though is indisputable fifty seven irish labourers who had been constructing mile 59 of the philadelphia and columbia railroad died suddenly that summer in the wooded valley. The bookshop is a local, family owned shop in westport, co. Manchester pastor details duffys cut atrocity in new book. John ruddy, an 18 year old boy, who left ireland in april of 1832 has finally come home. Just beyond the railroad station is duffys cut, the focal point of the tale of 57 irish. Mar 02, 20 today, saturday march 2nd marks another major milestone in the journey to bring peace to the 57 brave souls that lost their lives at duffys cut. The watsons have been working on doing justice to the dead of duffys cut for years, long before anyone in the press paid them any attention, nor did the the john ruddy connection result in some great avalanche of attention. Researchers are going ahead with ruddys burial this weekend because of a looming deadline for a documentary film crew that has been following the. Duffys cut archaeologists search for descendants of murdered.
Pennsylvania historical and museum commission marker sorta nearby. In the cut is a masterpiece of literary suspense and sexual exploration. Ruddy was given a ceremonial burial at the church of the holy family in ardara, co. John ruddy, 18, was on the john stamps manifest as one.
Today, saturday march 2nd marks another major milestone in the journey to bring peace to the 57 brave souls that lost their lives at duffys cut. Jun 29, 2012 one worker, tentatively identified as john ruddy by a unique genetic variation, has been linked with a possible family back in donegal who still carry this mutationn, pending dna test results. The story of the seven irish lads whose remains have been recovered from duffys cut is told at immaculatas library where a museum is dedicated to the project. Irish pipes and other artifacts were found as well. In the following years, the research and onsite excavations have been led by the watsons and earl schadnelmeier. Duffys cut exclusive s massacre at duffys cut by william e. Track mile 59, later known as duffys cut, was a setback. Nearly 60 irish railroad workers died at duffy s cut outside philadelphia in 1832.
In the cut, slang for vagina, the street usage meaning a safe place to hide begins with a halfwitnessed blowjob in the basement of a seedy bar, which sets the tone for this intellectual and precisely written thriller by susanna moore thirty five year old frannie is an english. After a long journey, the john stamp arrived in philadelphia safely on june 23, 1832, during. Duffys cut victims will be remembered, but not recovered duffys cut memorial cross designed by johnnie rowe from the beginning of the duffys cut project, back in 2002, bill and frank watson knew there was a possibility that they would not be able to recover the bodies of the 57 irish workers who died in 1832 under mysterious. The evidence is thin, its true, but its not nonexistent. This weekend, a man named phillip duffy will receive a grave marker which is being donated by laurel hill cemetery. Watson, francis frank watson, earl schandelmeier and john athes, the ghosts of duffys cut.
Duffys cut victims will be remembered, but not recovered. Some researchers believe cholera was to blame, but historians frank and bill. Those involved in uncovering the story published a book of the same name. A docudrama of the same name was produced by tiles films of dublin. Irelands forgotten sons recovered two centuries later. Duffy s cut is the name given to mile 59 of the columbia and philadelphia railroad later pennsylvania railroad mainline. Direct descendents of john ruddys father and uncle from the donegal town of inishowen will attend. Duffys cut secrets unearthed ireland the sunday times.
To this day, there are mysterious happenings and ghost sightings around the area of their deaths, now known as duffys cut this music tells their story. Watson, francis frank watson, earl schandelmeier and john athes, the ghosts of duffy s cut. January 2004 gena anderson fiction in the cut by susanna moore. The truth is noone alive really knows what happened during the searing august of 1832 at duffys cut in malvern, southeastern pennsylvania. When phillip duffy died in 1871, his family made the decision to. Mar 16, 2014 irish pipes and other artifacts were found as well.
His latest book, massacre at duffys cut, is available through. In the summer of 1832 the sailing ship john stamp tied up into the port of pennsylvania up the ladder from the cargo deck poor m. Led by frank watson, william watson, earl schandelmeier, the duffys cut. Secrets of duffys cut yield to shovel and science the new york. Image duffys cut image caption catherines name and that of her fatherinlaw john burns on the john stamp ship register that brought them to america. The exact whereabouts of the remains of the irish workers within the boundaries of the site, or just beyond its borders, had been a mystery for more than a century and a half. Francis watson available october 22, 2018 and our beautiful cd entitled songs of duffys cut featuring several artists and their tributes to duffys cut. The line later became part of the pennsylvania railroad s main line. Originally from devon, he moved up to scotland with his arbroathborn wife in 2007. He is the coauthor of the book, the mystery of duffys cut. Irishmen killed building america finally get proper burial. Track mile 59, later known as duffy s cut, was a setback.
Francis watson available october 22, 2018 and our beautiful cd entitled songs of duffy s cut featuring several artists and their tributes to duffy s cut. On friday the town of clonoe will come together to lay burns to rest. Jun 25, 2015 in 2002, two men who grew up knowing the duffys cut story started investigating railroad documents about the deaths. His name is believed to have been john ruddy, and he was being returned. We earned nothing from tile films, ltd, of dublin, which produced the two. Funeral of murdered 1832 duffys cut female victim in co.
The remains of john ruddy, one of 57 irish railroad workers who died at an area in malvern known as duffys cut, will be buried on saturday, march 2 in a donated grave at holy family church in ardara, county donegal, ireland181 years after his death. Duffys cut is the name given to a stretch of railroad tracks some 30 miles west of philadelphia, usa, and originally built for the philadelphia and columbia railroad in the summer and fall of 1832. Susanna moore is the author of the novels the big girls, one last look, in the cut, sleeping beauties, the whiteness of bones, my old sweetheart, and a book of nonfiction, i myself have seen it. The line later became part of the pennsylvania railroads main line. John is a labour activist in angus, in north east scotland. John ruddy killed while building pennsylvania railroad in. Secrets of duffys cut yield to shovel and science the. A sixth body was recovered and identified as john ruddy from inishowen, county. Duffys jacket by bruce coville nook book ebook barnes. His name was john ruddy of inishowen, and he traveled from.
When the epidemic subsided, the official account of the sad but unremarkable toll at track mile 59, also known as duffy s cut, was eight dead, with the shanty burned down and buried by a humane. Blunt trauma was noted on two of the skulls and there is evidence that some of the bones were struck by projectiles such as bullets. The bones of john ruddy, the youngest of the duffys cut 57, died there at the age of eighteen. Nov 19, 2008 also, there is a book about this sad story. Frank watson gained international notice for codiscovering a mass grave of. The three, together with john eates, combined to write a book, the ghosts of duffy s cut, which was published in 2006. Ruddy share book recommendations with your friends. Duffys cut secrets unearthed archaeological dig to start again at us railway site where 57 irish labourers died, some violently. In 2002, two men who grew up knowing the duffys cut story started investigating railroad documents about the deaths. Through this anomaly, dna blood samples from residents in ireland, and the john stamps ship manifest, he was able to identify the remains. Secrets of mass grave revealed by freya mcclements.