In 1630, Governor John Winthrop and others of the Massachusetts Bay Colony “hired and dispatched away Mr. William Pearse, with his ship of about two hundred tons, for Ireland to buy more” provisions. As he did not return as soon as expected, “many were the fears of people that Mr. Pearce who was sent to Ireland to fetch provisions, was cast away or taken by pirates.” In February, 1631, however, he arrived at Boston, Mass., bringing the following supplies: “34 hogsheads of wheat meal, 15 hogsheads of peas, 4 hogsheads of oatmeal, 4 hogsheads of beef and pork, 15 cwt. of cheese, butter-suet, etc. These supplies were in good condition, and a day of thanksgiving was ordered by the governor.” (Frothingham’s _Charlestown_ and Drake’s _Boston_.) A second ship appears to have arrived about this time, for the colonists near by “lifted up their eyes and saw two ships coming in, and presently the newes came to their eares, says one among them, that they were come from Ireland full of victualls.” In Stackpole’s _History of Durham, Me._, is an interesting reference to Martin Rourk, at one time town clerk of that place. Rourk was born in Ireland about 1760, and came to America about 1773. He spent two years in his uncle’s store at St. John’s, and went to Boston, Mass., in 1775. He became clerk in the company of Capt. Lawrence of the Patriot army, and subsequently married his widow. In May, 1775, Martin Rourk is mentioned as in a picket guard, having enlisted in April of that year. He reënlisted several times, was at Ticonderoga in 1776, and is mentioned as a sergeant after 1777. He settled in Durham, Me., about 1784, and in 1796 bought a twenty-acre lot of Thomas Mitchell, was town clerk in 1790–1807, and is spoken of as an excellent penman. He was also “the foremost school teacher” of Durham. He died in 1807. His children were Jane, John, Hannah, William, David, Samuel, Silence, Cyrus, and Jacob H. Some of these had the name changed to Roak before 1820. John, one of the sons, wedded Joanna Larrabee and had seven children. IRISH IMMIGRATION TO THE UNITED STATES SINCE 1790.[4] BY EDWARD O’MEAGHER CONDON, NEW ORLEANS, LA. Some recent writers on immigration to the United States from Ireland have very materially underestimated the numbers of the Irish who came here even since 1790, and it seems proper now to call attention to some important facts which throw light on the matter, and endeavor to correct the erroneous impressions produced by misleading statements.