A Flatback Ford and other stories

I always wanted to write a book, but never thought I had a story to tell. After decades of thinking that way, I realized one Sunday afternoon that I knew one story that was unique – mine. That very day I sat down and began pecking out a story on a twelve year old computer using the fourth finger of my right hand and the forefinger of my left (arthritis and carpal tunnel syndrome make real typing impossible). Before I started though, I made a cheese and onion sandwich on sourdough bread and poured a Guinness. Isn’t that the way all Irish writers start?

The Irish part is somewhat true. My great-great grandfather, Michael McNamara, the son of William and Mary Husty McNamara, immigrated to Canada from Ireland in 1840, probably for the adventure and a new start, rather than to escape the An Droscshaol as did hundreds of thousands who followed him. When he left Ireland, the Bad Times were still four years away. We know that he met with an Anthony McNamara, possibly a brother or cousin, in New Ireland, Quebec. We know that in 1841 he'd crossed over into western New York and in the summer of 1846 he moved to Lowell, Massachusetts in search of work.

In Massachusetts, he joined the US Army, spent some time in Mexico, probably participating in the battle of Monterrey and the siege of Vera Cruz, then more time at Fort Merrill in Texas until he was discharged in 1851.   Following his service he went to visit Andrew in New Ireland, Quebec and met Catherine "Katie" Carroll, who, like himself, had immigrated from Ireland, but from County Longford in the center of the country. They married in 1852 in Megantic County, Quebec and by 1861 were living with four children in Inverness, Quebec.  Their son and my great grandfather, James, was born in 1865 in Quebec and emigrated with the family to the United States, eventually dying in the town of Unity, New Hampshire, in the same year I was born, 1942, about 30 miles away. I never asked my folks if I was named after him.

I do know that my middle name, Elmer, was given to me to honor my grandfather on my mother’s side, Elmer Clarence Towne. There will be more about my ancestry in later pages, but Elmer’s lineage goes back to William Towne who was born in Greater Yarmouth, England in 1598. Between those two lines are a number of folks with Irish and English heritage, as well as some with other backgrounds.

It is stories from that background I'll begin putting here.