Minerva Padden Donovan, Hull's Cross Roads, Oswego Co., New York, to James W. Beekman, the son of her former employer, New York City, 4 March 1846
Description
Excellent letter, showing another side ofthe pre-Famine Irish farmer's experience. Minerva Padden immigrated from Ireland (place of origin unknown) to New York in 1834. In 1834-36 she worked as a servant in the wealthy Beekman household in New York City. In 1836 she married an illiterate Irish Catholic laborer, Timothy Donovan, and they moved to Hannibal township, Oswego Co., New York, where they purchased SO acres. After seven years, they were evicted, allegedly because their title was faulty. They then purchased 11 acres for $77 at Hull's Crossroads, Oswego Co., where they and their children now live in a small log house. However, they had to sell their only cow to make the $11 down payment, and, although her husband is "steady" and sober, now they are having great difficulties in meeting their annual payments. Her letter is dignified but deferential, and she begs the Beekmans for assistance (James W. Beekman is the son of her former mistress, now deceased.)
Date
04/03/1846
Date Issued
27/03/2023
Resource Type
Text
Archival Record Id
p155/26/3
Publisher
University of Galway
Extent
5pp
Topic
Padden Donovan Letters
Geographic
Oswego (county),New York (city),New York (state),United States
Temporal
Nineteenth century,Eighteen forties
Genre
Transcript,Reproduction
Note
Transcript, title and description by Professor Kerby Miller.