“Immigration from Ireland to the colonies in general did not become noticeable until 1718. It was then a steady influx, though not very large in numbers, until 1755, when it fell off and remained of less amount until after the Revolution. At the outset, the Irish families immigrating were almost entirely Presbyterians. The first Presbyterian clergyman in New York was Rev. Francis McKemie, born in Ireland, who arrived here in 1707. He was a brave and fearless man, whose pulpit utterances led to his trial for libel, upon which he was acquitted. The large Catholic exodus did not begin until after our Independence had been achieved. A prominent citizen of New York in the eighteenth century was Sir Peter Warren, born in County Meath in 1702, and the uncle of the famous William Johnson, also born in County Meath in 1715, whose life is a romance. Warren was a very heavy real estate holder in the city, owning 260 acres here, much of his holdings being of land which since has become enormously valuable. Warren Street is named after him. He was a prominent social figure in Colonial life. Among the names of those who were active in commercial life in New York City, prior to the Revolution, are many Irishmen, who figured as some of the most successful and reputable merchants of their time. Such were the two Wallaces, Alexander and Hugh, who were in business from 1750, Hugh being the second President of the Chamber of Commerce; Miles Sherbrooke, one of the founders of the Chamber in 1768, and a member of the Committee of Correspondence, the advance guard of the Revolution; Patrick McDavitt, an auctioneer in Kings Street, from 1768; Alexander Mulligan, an importer of Irish goods, beef, linen and other commodities; Hercules Mulligan, a merchant tailor; Oliver Templeton, an auctioneer; Daniel McCormick, also an auctioneer. During the time of the Revolution and following it, we find the names of Michael Connolly, dealer in lumber; William and James Constable, in the West Indian, China and Indian trade; the Pollocks, Carlisle, George and Hugh; John Haggerty, an auctioneer; William Edgar; John Glover; John W. and Philip Kearney, commission merchandise; John and Nathan McVickar, linen drapers; Alexander McComb, a fur dealer and then a land speculator, who invested heavily in city real estate; and Michael Hogan, in the commission and shipping business, who owned, and in memory of his birthplace in County Clare, named the northern part of his holdings, Claremont. All these men were representative, flourishing men, who stood as high in public esteem as any of the residents of the city of that day. They were all either Irish by birth or by immediate descent. How many of their poorer fellow-countrymen were then here we have no means of knowing, but it is significant that while the Jews had a synagogue here from 1730, there was no Catholic