Ireland and David were first mentioned in the book, Three Centuries in Lake Champlain. On January 2, 1767, they came home from the south field and were frost bitten. Ireland and David were William Gilliland’s slaves. While it’s unclear when David arrived in the Lake Champlain area, Ireland came with Gilliland’s family June 22, 1766. According to Gilliland, “I William Gilliland, with my wife, Mrs. Eliza Gilliland, my mother Mrs. Jane Gilliland, my sister Miss Charity Gilliland, my brother, Mr. James Gilliland, my daughter, Miss Eliza Gilliland, my niece Miss Eliza Hamilton, my servant girl Rachel McFardin, and my negro man Ireland, all arrived at Milltown, in Willsborough, with 2 Bateau loads of stores, having left New York with 22 wagon loads of stores, furniture, &c., on the 28th of April last.” On August 20, 1771, about four years after his arrival in Willsborough, an ad was posted in the Montreal newspaper, Quebec Gazette, seeking the return of Ireland and Francis Freeland, a bound servant. It was believed that Freeland had enticed Ireland to runaway with him. Learn more
Jaqcal's Info
The working-class New Yorkans of the 18th – 20th century have impacted various cultures and their cultural contributions were both powerful and noteworthy. Therefore, it is our priority here at Jaqcal’s Info to provide in-depth stories that accurately portray the lives of various people of color who were among the working class in New York.