Handwriting decipher thread *must post link to full page*

I wondered about it being a version of Wren as I have found other Irish of that name in NYC. I'm still not sure about that first letter of the last name (or the last) tho definitely not W. The double middle initial is also a puzzle as I haven't seen that among the NY Irish at that date. One but not two. Thanks for these suggestions.

American "Letters to the Editors" of the day (and later) often identified people (or rather, protected their identities) by printing only initials, their occupation or simply a clever title, along with their location... But not always, I assume it was up to the writer if they wanted their full name printed or not.

I assume Mary chose the former - Mary E.F. Renn. New York ... While Renn. could indciate a city within NY state, to my untrained eye, (after looking thru similar articles from 1881), Mary E.F. Renn. seems more likely a shortened version of her (possibly married surname - hence the extra initial for a maiden name), rather than having her full name printed... since most locations (from the articles I looked at) were not split up (city & state on different lines), nor did any print full stops at the end of full names.

Not sure why that last letter in Renn. looks almost like an S to me (?)

For anyone researching Cleveland, Ohio, relatives - the Cleveland Library Necrology files have old funeral notices.

I would agree wholeheartedly, it certainly appears that way.... only after looking at quite a few 'letters to the editor' last night, circa 1881 in New York, I didn't find a single one with a city listed on the first line, with the state underneath (and I tried, cos I assumed it surely had to be  Rensselaer as well, especially given the full stop at the end.)

Then again, I also did not find any surnames similarly abbreviated (but given the above and that pesky full stop, I just assumed her surname may've been shortened)....Granted the only news issues I had access to are the bigger New York newspapers, available online at Newspapers.com - I didn't get a chance to look thru any of the smaller papers for comparison - your comment about hand typesetting is a most valid point!

Hmmm....do you suppose, there is the remotest possibility she may've been a (Benn.) Bennett?

I am confident that she was writing from New York (Manhattan). The last name is still a question mark but I'll keep looking. And I do think it is perfectly possible that Mary wrote this fiery letter herself. It's true not many Irish immigrant servants had that level of literacy but if she had been in the US a long time and read a lot, that could explain it. She was not alone in her skills.

Another possibility is that she was in an orphanage such as the ones run by the Sisters of Charity. They were up near St Patrick's Cathedral, one for boys, one for girls. One of my great-grandfathers and his siblings were 'half-orphans' and their mother placed them there--parents born Ireland, children born England. They got a good basic education and training for a trade. For girls, work as a servant was a common option. These trained and literate girls were always in demand.

One of my great-grandfathers spent his childhood in an English workhouse and then the NY orphanage. He was apprenticed to his trade but studied on his own at the Cooper Union, a free college for working men and women, and with a literary association. These were groups of young men who got together to read and discuss books as a form of self-education, popular at the time. He then got a civil service position with the post office and became the state legislative correspondent for the union of post office clerks. From such dire beginnings, he became highly literate and made his living thru that skill. So I believe an Irish servant could certainly have written that letter, with or without help.

Can anyone decipher this 1855 marriage record? Brother of my great-great grandfather. The FindMyPast image is blurred, as you see. I can read the following--

"William Herrick, bachelor, ---------------- Drumcullen, Kings Co, and Margaret Nugent, spinster, ------------- Ashford, Co Limerick, Witnesses Michael --------- and Johanna Nugent.

It's from Church of the Transfiguration, Manhattan, 22 April 1855

I can't link to the website as FMP is a pay site. I tried as I have a subscription. I will send the page but it doesn't seem to zoom and so is too tiny to read. Will give it a try. Advice welcome. The marriage record of William Herrick and Margaret Nugent is the first one on the left-hand page.

Alas, that is the Episcopal church of the same name. Tricky!

Sorry, have tried repeatedly to do a screenshot but nothing happens. I'm on a Windows 10 desktop. Plus I can't seem to figure out how to do an attachment here, rather than an inserted image, in the new boards.ie. Can't find directions in 'help'. I took a photo of part of the page with my phone. This has been very frustrating.

Here is the info again--

"William Herrick, bachelor, 20? 30? yrs, 105? Mott St, [his NY address] Drumcullen, Kings Co, and Margaret Nugent, spinster, ------------- Ashford, Co Limerick, Witnesses Michael --------- and Johanna Nugent."

It's from the RC Church of the Transfiguration, Manhattan, 22 April 1855. Interesting that the priest wrote Kings County which is Brooklyn rather than the correct Co Kings which is Ireland. Not the first time I have seen that error. All or almost all of these records are people from Ireland.

Had a go a sharping it up a bit, not much better though. I hazard a guess William is 24 and Margaret is 20 or 21.

I think Mott or Matt St is correct, is there a street called Bon Smyth or similar?

At first glance I thought 'Tulip'! However, I agree that Philip is a better fit with the handwriting. Pity really, Tulip might have been a great talking point in your family! 🙂

For the groom, it looks like 111 St Ethna's Rd Cabra, which seems to be spelled as St Eithne's Rd on current maps

Think brides could be Enaville Avenue (near North Strand).