From Prendergast’s _Cromwellian Settlement of Ireland_.
Prendergast’s _Cromwellian Settlement of Ireland_ says: “Ireland was now
like an empty hive, prepared to receive its new swarm. One of the
earliest efforts of the government towards replanting the parts reserved
to themselves was to turn towards the lately expatriated English in
America. In the early part of the year 1651, when the country, by their
own description to the Council of State, was a scene of unparalleled
waste and ruin, the Commissioners for Ireland affectionately urged Mr.
Harrison, then a minister of the Gospel in New England, to come over to
Ireland, which he would find experimentally was a comfortable seed plot
(so they said) for his labours.
“On his return to New England, it was hoped he might encourage those
whose hearts the Lord should stir up to look back again towards their
native country, to return and plant in Ireland. There they should have
freedom of worship, and the (mundane) advantages of convenient lands,
fit for husbandry, in healthful air, near to maritime towns or secure
places, with such encouragement from the state as should demonstrate
that it was their chief care to plant Ireland with a godly seed and
generation.
“Mr. Harrison was unable to come; but some movement appears to have been
made towards a plantation from America, as proposals were received in
January, 1655, for the planting of the town of Sligo and lands
thereabouts, with families from New England; and lands on the Mile line,
together with the two little islands called Oyster Island and Coney
Island (containing 200 acres), were leased for one year, from 10th of
April, 1655, for the use of such English families as should come from
New England in America, in order to their transplantation.
“In 1656 several families, arriving from New England at Limerick, had
the excise of tobacco brought with them for the use of themselves and
families remitted; and other families in May and July of that year, who
had come over from New England to plant, were received as tenants of
state lands near Garristown, in the county of Dublin, about fifteen
miles north of the capital.”