Fenian Fighters Rewarded

by Laurel | March 29th, 2012

March 1912

Two Local Men Notified of Canadian Government’s Tangible Gratitude to All Who Repelled Irish Invaders.

Thomas Edwards of 23 Glen Street and John A. Robb of 302 Elm Street have received official notice from the Canadian government that they have been placed on the roll of honor and are entitled to medals and a purse of $100 in gold each, which the government is distributing to the men who took part in the defense at the time of the Fenian invasion in Canada 46 years ago. Accompanying the official letters were blanks which, after being filled out and sent back, will entitle the men to their medals. Mr. Edwards has resided in Holyoke for the past 25 years, coming from Boston, where he lived several years after leaving Canada. He is employed now as a tinning contractor and has a shop at 530 High Street.

He said yesterday that the invasion happened so long ago that he could remember but little of the details. He was living at St. John, N.B., at the time, and being a member of the the militia company, was called upon to defend the city, the regular troops having left.

Mr. Robb is a plumber in the employ of C.P. Lyman and at the time of the uprising was living at Dartmouth, across the river from St. John, and was also a member of the militia company which was called to defend the city. Both men had almost forgotten the uprising and were greatly astonished to receive the word from Canada.

Adapted from The Springfield Republican.

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