Notably, the McCorkell Line carried many immigrants who were fleeing the Great Irish Famine and sailed some of the most famous ships of the Western Ocean Ticket.
In 1800 William and Archibald McCorkell, sons of the founder started to expand the firm by using American owned ships, with voyages ranging from Canada to the West Indies.
In 1851 the Mohogono,[2] built in Canada, commenced her work in Atlantic trade, in her twenty years in the McCorkell Line, she completed more than 100 crossings with emigrants without any serious fault.
By 1860, as speed became more important, Bartholomew McCorkell JP, who also served as Mayor of Derry in 1859-62 and as High Sheriff of County Londonderry in 1878, commissioned a new ship to be built in New Brunswick, Canada.
For twelve years, the Minnehaha, which cost $72,000, was able to cross the Atlantic in all weathers and even during the winter months whilst carrying passengers.
Records in Philadelphia show, that 5,164 passengers were carried whose passage had been paid by relations in America to Robert Taylor & Co., the McCorkell agent at the port.
From 1873, steam liners were overtaking the famous sailing ships and although the McCorkell Line continued to carry passengers until 1897, the main activity now became cargo.
[5] A quote from a January 2010 BBC web article reads, "Ask anybody in Derry, and they'll say it's no secret the north west played a central role in history.
In 2020, the BBC NI Ulster Scots programme 'The Lang Hame', Episode 1, featured Bartholomew McCorkell's grave and covered his contribution to Derry life.