George English and his wife Bridget lived in Maryborough – which has been renamed Portlaoise – Ireland. George died in Ireland before his family’s departure for New Brunswick. The mother, Bridget, was born in Ireland in 1782 and came to Canada. There were 5 girls -Ann, Sara, Eliza, Mary and Bridget – and 3 boys -James, Michael, and Martin.

All five girls (Ann, Sarah, Eliza, Mary, and Bridget), left Ireland in 1836 aboard a “timber ship” apparently bound for the Miramichi, but it docked in Saint. John. The family story tells of the girls walking from Saint John to Nelson, Miramichi carrying their good shoes in their hands most of the way so they wouldn’t wear them out. 

Work was found for them to earn their keep.

Sarah English worked for the Cunard family in Chatham and traveled extensively with them to Boston, Halifax, and Liverpool, England. The Cunard family were well known within the shipping industry and were involved in shipbuilding and the world-famous Cunard Ship Lines. It is believed she worked for them until about 1881. The 1881 census shows Sarah and her niece, Susan, living on the front street in Nelson operating a hat shop. During Sarah’s travels with the Cunard family, she purchased a Sanctuary Lamp and donated it to St.Patrick’s Church in Nelson. It has recently been restored and is installed in the side chapel. It is mid-Victorian (probably made in the 1860’s) and made of solid brass.