1840s Irish famine: Weymouth author to discuss 'Voyage of Mercy' at Quincy library

Patriot Ledger staff
·1 min read
"Voyage of Mercy," by Weymouth's Stephen Puleo.
"Voyage of Mercy," by Weymouth's Stephen Puleo.

Weymouth historian Stephen Puleo, author of "Voyage of Mercy," will talk about his book and other works from 7 to 8:30 p.m. May 10 at the Thomas Crane Public Library in Quincy.

The book recounts America's first humanitarian mission to help Ireland during the potato famine of the 1840s.

Puleo is a prolific historian and a popular speaker on the South Shore.

Weymouth author and historian Stephen Puleo.
Weymouth author and historian Stephen Puleo.

The book is the seventh for Puleo, who also wrote about the Boston molasses flood in "Dark Tide." He came across the story of the USS Jamestown, which took food to Ireland, while researching his book "A City So Grand: The Rise of an American Metropolis, Boston 1850-1900."

"Voyage of Mercy: The USS Jamestown, the Irish Famine, and the Remarkable Story of America's First Humanitarian Mission" chronicles how thousands of ships left Ireland in the late 1840s, transporting the starving and destitute from their homeland.

The USS Jamestown, a converted warship stripped of its guns, was committed to the peaceful delivery of food during the Irish famine.
The USS Jamestown, a converted warship stripped of its guns, was committed to the peaceful delivery of food during the Irish famine.

The first to sail in the other direction was the USS Jamestown, a converted warship stripped of its guns and committed to the peaceful delivery of food, clothing and supplies.

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The life-saving voyage originated from Boston and inspired thousands of other Americans to donate food and ships to the cause.

Heading the all-volunteer crew was Capt. Robert Bennet Forbes, of Milton.

The free event will be held in the library's community meeting room. The library is at 40 Washington St. Advance registration is not required.

For more information, call 617-376-1300 or go to https://thomascranelibrary.org/.

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This article originally appeared on The Patriot Ledger: Weymouth author to discuss 'Voyage of Mercy' at Quincy library