A headstone of an Irish man discovered in a New York park poses questions.
James Jackson was buried in a pauper's grave in Washington Square Park in New York in 1799.
Over 20,000 of New York's poorest were buried here in Washinton Square Park following an outbreak of yellow fever. All were buried in a pauper's grave without recognition or a headstone. All bar one that is.
Archaeologist Joan Geismar describes how the recent discovery of a headstone to James Jackson was made just a foot and a half from the surface.
The gravestone is now being stored in an undisclosed location and bears clues to the identity of Kildare man James Jackson.
Marion Casey, New York University, thinks it likely that James Jackson left Ireland for New York like many others following the 1798 rebellion. John Crawchuk, New York Department of Works, says when conservation work is complete the headstone will be returned to Washington Square Park.
We'll leave it to the historians to solve the mystery of James Jackson.
An RTÉ News report broadcast on 27 December 2009. The reporter is Seán Mac an tSíthigh.
