The case of 12-year-old Michael Duignan in 1847 was particularly tragic. His family had arrived in Liverpool from Mohill in Leitrim in December 1846. They made their way to Rochdale where, in July 1847, both his parents and baby sister died of typhus. The Rochdale authorities then decided to ship the three remaining orphans - Michael, his 14-year-old brother Patrick and 4-year-old sister Mary - back to Dublin. During the voyage, Michael died, possibly of exposure, and the subsequent inquest blamed the Rochdale authorities.

Some observers claimed English workhouses were trying to get rid of Irish fever cases before they had recovered. The officials of Rochdale were exonerated by a subsequent government enquiry, which revealed much confusion over what were the proper procedures.

Elizabeth Finn was born in Monnavullen near Enniscorthy. She left home in 1837 as a child and came to Liverpool to work as a servant. There she married an Englishman named Owen Finn - 'I cannot tell whether he was of Irish origin'. They had five children, all born in England, but after her husband went to America to look for work, unsuccessfully, the family and they had been forced to resort to Toxteth Park Union workhouse. From there the family was removed to Ireland, but subsequently they returned to Liverpool. On investigation, the removal was found to have been illegal.

This examination tells us how Sarah Henwright of Limerick, domestic servant was made pregnant by a fiddler, possibly an Irishman, and had three brothers, all labourers, living in London..

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