The Marshall family of North East came out of Arboe Parish on the eastern shore of the Lough Neagh in Northern Ireland. Thomas O. Marshall: they "embarked for the distant shores of North America on a vessel called 'The Beautiful Rose Bank of Belfast,'... when they bid adieu to the shores of their native land, where remained so many persons and objects which will ever be dear to their memory, never to be forgotten while life lasts or the mind continues to reason." The original for this may be in the possession of Ellen M. Marshall of Sharon, PA. He was a marvelous writer, does anyone have anything else he wrote?

"The Lough Neagh" - pronounced Lock Nay - "was a beautiful sheet of water about twenty miles in length and from eight to ten miles in width. Its bottom was covered with a white sand, and so clear were its waters that the bottom was discernible at its greatest depth. It also possessed the rare mineral qualities of turning to stone certain kinds of wood when immersed in it for a sufficient time. No handsomer scenery was to be found than that with which its shores abounded, and this lake is today the pride of any and all Irish hearts in whatever part of the earth they may be located." - Thomas O. Marshall

The Arboe High Cross, on the shore of Lough Neagh about 10km from Cookstown, dates from the 10th century and has 22 sculptured panels, Old Testament scenes engraved on one side and New Testament scenes on the other. It is the best preserved 9th century high cross in Ulster and, at over 15 feet high, is one of the tallest in Ireland. This shot of it was taken by Barbara Brookes-Harris in 2009, with what must surely be the Lough Neagh in the background.

The Arboe High Cross as seen from the other side. Taken by Barbara Brookes-Harris on a cloudy day in 2009 and gamma-corrected by me to make the inscriptions on it more visible.