Austins of Derry, opened in 1830 by Thomas Austin from Limavady, is the world's oldest independent department store.
Wm. McCorkell & Co. Ltd. operated the McCorkell Line from 1778, principally carrying passengers from Ireland, Scotland and England to the Americas. The
"Minnehaha", the finest ship in the McCorkell fleet, was built in New Brunswick in 1860.
Click here to read the description and history as well as seeing a picture of the company's iron barque
"Oweenee" and a list of the crew members who sailed on her last voyage from Londonderry to Philadelphia in the Spring of 1882 and was never heard of again. If some of you know the name of the ship on which your ancestors sailed but don't know the name of the shipping line check
the list of ships owned by the McCorkell Line.
Tom Doherty, Ben Palmer's great grandfather, worked as a coachman and groom. He was employed at one time by the McCorkell family and later by the Tillie family. Tom was born in Co. Derry about 1840. He was the son of William Doherty.
