My bicycle commute from where in live in Philadelphia’s Fishtown neighborhood to my office in Old City runs down Kensington Second Street. Little sign remains of the violent riots that took place there 180 years ago between Irish immigrants and so-called nativists in 1844.
Fittingly, Philadelphia’s riots are quietly forgotten, while similarly-timed violence in New York City was turned into a book and then a 2002 movie called Gangs of New York. Sparked from a dispute around bibles in schools, a few dozen people died and perhaps hundreds were wounded in the most intense few days that May.
That’s the focus of the 2013 book The Philadelphia Nativist Riots: Irish Kensington Erupts, written by local historian Ken Milano. I’ve read Ken’s other books — and exchanged a few emails with him through the years. I appreciate his thorough and thoughtful approach, so I have most of his books in my collection, and have gifted them to friends. I only now read this one. Pick up a copy yourself.
The riots had a real impact. Milano argues that the riots contributed to the 1854 consolidation, in which Philadelphia city (and its law enforcement system) annexed surrounding counties, inspired the development of the parochial school system and was directly responsible for the founding of La Salle College, which was originally located across the street from where a church was burned.
Below I share my notes for my future reference.
Here are my notes:
- In 1798, Elizabeth Drinker’s writes in her diary of St. Patrick’s Day: “the old foolish custom of carriing (sic) Paddy’s about is not yet done with, the boys are noisy at it this evening” referencing bringing effigies of paddies out
- The five Irish clusters in 1880 Philadelphia (Alan Berman et al): Grays Ferry, Southwark, Spring Garden, Frankford and Kensington (west of Frankford Ave and north of Girard, especially by St Michael’s Church), the last of which had most skilled weavers while laborers and coal heavers were common (Fishtown only got an Irish Catholic Church in Holy Name in 1905, after Protestants had been moving out)
- Turner Camac: A wealthy Irish Protestant sympathized with the Irish Catholics and may have actively attracted Irish to live in and around his Kensington estate
- Nanny goat market
- St Michael’s in 1831 was first Irish Catholic Church in Kensington (they went to St Augustine on 4th below Vine) previously
- Bible wars between king James and Douay Bible to be used in public schools sparked protests and riot
- After the Irish rebellion in 1798, more Irish came to Philadelphia. They led three major riots between 1828 and 1843 before the major 1844 riots
- 1828 weavers riot
- Railroad riots 1840-42 (to keep train tracks being laid down Front Street where 80 year later the El was constructed; during these riots in July 1840, Emery’s Tavern at Front and Phoenix (Thompson) streets torched and burned
- Weavers riot of 1843
- American Republicans, nativists, Native Americans and later the Know Nothings all were same strain of wanting disenfranchised Irish
- A March 4 1844 meeting about Bible wars at Commissioners Hall which was in East Kensington (now Fishtown on frankford right above master), more than 2,500 people were there beyond building capacity
- Continuation of these Bible meetings was held May 3, 1844 in an empty lot next to Master Street school near nanny goat market (Washington market) midway between 2nd and Washington (American)
- George Shiffler nativist martyr
- John Hewson revolutionary war hero (after whom Hewson Street is named) is buried in Palmer Cemetery ; one of the men who served under him was Thomas Vaughn whose daughter Rebecca Vaughn the widowed mother of George Shiffler (who was buried at Hanover burial ground which is now Hetzel’s) called first Native American martyr
- Nativists started at Independence Hall and marched up to Kensington for days of rallies
- On May 7 at 1pm Cadwalader called up military; about 80 men arrived at 9pm; stationing men overnight on a street named after his family
- Many Irish then fled to Camacs Woods Berks west of 10th
- Third day despite military presence, St Michael’s was torched
- Afterward some went to St. Peter’s at 5th and Girard which was being built but armed Germans disssuaded them so they went to St Augustine’s near
- After nativist support grew, winning elections in Philadelphia and NYC
- 1854 consolidation, the parochial school system and La Salle College (initially across from St Michael’s) all came from the riots
- Maybe a few dozen died and many more wounded