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My name is Claire Reilly and I live with 

my mother, father, and older brother 

on a farm in Ireland.

It is 1845 and I have been hearing many rumors 

throughout Ireland lately. Our potato crop is 

dying. Farmers, like my father, think its from a 

fungus.

When your entire diet is practically centered on 

potatoes, like ours, failure in a crop means that 

people will be very hungry.

Mother and father have decided that it will be 

better for our family if we move to a new place. 

This way, we can have jobs, and more money to buy 

food.

The new land that we will go to is called America. I 

have heard many wonderful things about this 

strange land. My family packs their clothes and 

anything that is small and valuable. I also bring a 

diary to write in about our journey.

We will travel as family to America and make a new life for 

ourselves. I will miss Ireland very much. Mother and 

father say that they will miss the big, open fields, the 

mountains, and most of all, our church.

We gather all of our belongings and head to the docks.

My father and mother secure passage for our 

family on a wonderful boat called the Jeanie 

Johnston. The boat has plenty of food, doctors,and 

living space.

The journey across the Atlantic is comfortable 

enough, but it takes a very long time. We ride on 

the Jeanie Johnston for around 1 1/2 months.

The new land on the horizon is exciting to see!

We arrive in Baltimore. There are many large 

buildings and streets buzzing with people. At 

the dock, my family hops off the boat.

Many people are either rude or try to trick us into 

buying something we don't need. But, father knows 

better.

This man tries to sell us 

food, but father refuses.

Sometimes, at certain docks in America, the 

immigrants are asked to fill out a form called a 

Declaration of Intent. But, this time, my family is 

not stopped and we start to travel inland a ways.

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