Annie Moore Gets Her Marker
I was listening to NPR this morning while driving to work and heard for the first time the story of Annie Moore. As it turns out, when Ellis Island officially opened on January 1, 1892, Annie Moore was the very first immigrant to be processed through that now famous port of entry, into the United States. At the time Annie was just 14 years old and was traveling with her two younger brothers Anthony (11) and Phillip (7). In a connection to the origin of my own family roots, Annie and her brothers had originally departed from Cork County, Ireland.
The Moore children were among the 148 other passengers who spent 12 days (including Christmas) at sea on board the SS Nevada, arriving in New York on New Year's Eve, December 31, 1891. They were processed through Ellis Island on the morning of New Year's Day 1892, which also happened to be Annie Moore's 15th birthday. Upon arrival Annie and her brothers joined up 
with their parents, who were already in America. The image you see to your top left is the statute of Annie which stands at her port of departure in Cork County, Ireland. The image at the right is her statute at her port of entry, Ellis Island, New York, U.S.A.
Apparently Annie Moore went on to marry a baker by the name of Joseph Augustus Schayer. The couple produced 10 children, 5 of whom survived until adulthood. The NPR piece went on to explain that Annie Moore died quite poor and ever since has been buried in an unmarked grave in Calvary Cemetery, Queens, New York. Well, tomorrow Annie Moore will finally get an appropriate marker for her gravesite. Over the past two years the Annie Moore Memorial Project has raised enough funds to ensure that Annie Moore's grave site will from now on provide her with the recognition she deserves as the first immigrant ever to pass through Ellis Island. Congrats, Annie.
