In August 2004, brothers Dr. Bill Watson from Immaculate University and Rev. Dr. Frank Watson were part of a team that began excavation at Duffy’s Cut, a mass grave of 57 Irish immigrant railroad laborers along the SEPTA railroad tracks in Malvern. Excavation at the site, based on research from the old Pennsylvania Railroad, suggested the bodies were buried at the site following their deaths in 1832 from cholera—and, as the evidence also suggests, gruesome murder at the hands of nearby nativists.
Also around 2004, a letter from a local historian suggested a mass grave containing more bodies of Irish railroad workers was located at Northwood Cemetery in Downingtown.
The brothers’ work continues, now with an emphasis on the Northwoods site, but the work at Duffy’s Cut is far from over. The plan now is to perform DNA analysis of the remains of seven workers found on the site. However, the costs of that kind of testing are considerable. To help raise the money, a fundraiser will be held August 25 at the Commodore Barry Arts & Cultural Center (the Irish Center). The event will also honor several volunteers and patrons of the project as Heroes of Duffy’s Cut.
“We’ve got enough teeth from each of the seven we excavated that were retained for DNA work to find out living descendants in Ireland or in the Irish diaspora,” says Frank Watson. “At the start of this thing, had that on the agenda. We had no idea what it would cost. This thing has gone from what we thought would be $1,000 a sample to $10,000 per sample. That’s to extract the DNA from the old teeth.”
Previously identified Duffy’s Cut victims were initially identified in part through the process of elimination. “We could ascertain who they were because of the age of the victims and the gender,” says Bill Watson. “Catherine Burns is the only woman we’ve retrieved. John Ruddy, the same exact thing, an 18-year-old male, the only guy in the world this could have been is him, because of his small stature.” (There was only one 18-year-old on the passenger list of the ship on which he arrived in Philadelphia. Additionally, a genetic anomaly in the Ruddy family, a missing molar, further helped in the identification.)
Genealogists in Ireland and local historians helped identify the links with Burns and Ruddy. Burns is a very common Catholic spelling of the name in County Tyrone, Bill explained. Griffith’s Valuation, which shows common names in various Irish townlands, was also a great help. That resource showed townlands where the name Burns was most common.
Of the remaining unidentified workers, one of the most interesting, in terms of identification, is one they call “the tall guy.” He appears to have been struck by ax blows, and then shot in the crown of the head.
“That one is very poignant,” says Frank. “He was probably very strong and well-muscled, around six feet tall.” (The average height of the workers was about 5 feet, 6 inches.)
All the workers were likely tied up, unable to fight back. There were no defensive wounds, Bill adds. But it appears as if the tall guy at least might have tried to stand up because the ax blows appear to have come first, and the shot to the crown of his head probably came after, when he was knocked to the ground.
Support for this project has come from many quarters, such as Kathy McGee Burns (no relation to Catherine), who brought so many important and useful people together. For example, she provided the introduction to Vince Gallagher, who was instrumental in repatriating the remains of John Ruddy to Ireland, and Brian McCaul, who performed a similar function for Catherine Burns.
In all, Kathy McGee Burns and six others will be honored as Heroes of Duffy’s Cut at the August 25 banquet, including: Vince Gallagher, Pearse Kerr, Kris Higgins, Brian McCaul, Bethanne Killian, and Pari Livermore.
The banquet will be catered by the Plough and Stars, and begins at 5:30 p.m. at the Irish Center, 6815 Emlen Street in Mount Airy. Tickets are $25, at the door. A raffle ticket is available for $20. The top prize is airfare for two to Ireland.
