Shoeboxes: From Irish Roots to Canadian Branches

The Earl of Pembroke, Richard “Strongbow” de Clare (also FitzGilbert) led the invasion of Ireland as part of the larger Norman Conquest. Three of Robert De Valle’s sons, Gilbert De Valle, Stephen De Valle, and Hay De Valle, crossed the Irish Sea with Baron Raymond “Le Gros” FitzGerald from Pembrokeshire, Wales, in advance of Strongbow’s army.

Less is known about Samuel’s daughter, Betty, than his wife. Since the entire family was involved in Crompton’s business of cotton spinning and manufacturing, the letter assumes that Samuel Sr. kept his daughter up to date on his business affairs.

Anne Loughlin’s letter to her sister Ellen is based on the premise that Ellen’s name was scratched from the registry and changed her mind at the last minute, withdrawing her name from the passage/ship’s registry