GROSSE ÎLE, QUEBEC

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For over fifty years, since my mother told me her Campbell and Ferguson ancestors arrived in Canada from Ireland in 1847,  I have wanted to visit Grosse Île, Quebec. On July 18, 2026,  I did and, as with many historic sites I have been to,  learned of a connection to the American Revolution. 

Grosse Île and the National Irish Historic Site

Grosse Île is an island located in the middle of the St. Lawrence River and was Canada's main immigration gateway from 1832 to 1947. During that time a quarantine station was operated there for the Port of Quebec.

From 1860 to 1867 Anthony von Iflund (1798 - 1876) was the medical superintendent at Grosse Île.  His father, Johann, was born in Germany and served with Hessian troops in America during the American Revolution.  He was a soldier in the von Knyphausen Regiment which arrived in New York in August 1776. It took part in the fighting at Long Island, White Plains, Fort Washington and was garrisoned at Trenton, New Jersey.


Celtic Cross Monument


A Celtic Cross was built in 1909 on Grosse Île as a solemn reminder of the thousands of Irish immigrants who died on the island. During the history of the station the largest number of burials by far were Irish. In 1847, during the Irish Potatoe Famine, of the 5,244 burials, an estimated 5,000 were Irish. Most of them died from typhus which they had contracted during their voyage to Grosse Île due to unhealthy conditions aboard the ships. 

Memorial Wall

On the Memorial Wall of burials at Grosse Île are listed Campbells and Fergusons from Ireland.




Further Reference:

Grosse İle and the Irish Memorial National Historic Site, video on YouTube by Brian McConnell,  UE 

Parks Canada website on Grosse Île, accessed July 18, 2026
  
 


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