Walking Tour: Manhattan: Fletcher Household

 …. Anne, by 1855, no doubt, had decided she liked being on her own -- she was about 15 by then, and I sort of think she'd met John Nolan.... John was from Wexford.

The 1855 New York State Census lists Anne Hoey as a servant in the household of William Fletcher. The Fletcher's lived on Washington Street.  Mr. Fletcher is listed as a machinist in the 1855 Census and in the New York City Directory as a working with steam engines (office location West Street in New York City).  

William Fletcher Family in 1855 New  York State Census

Domestic work gave Irish women great freedom; they often switched jobs and employers; they could do so because these types of jobs were abundant. It is not a surprise that Anne switched employers, in many ways the "Bridget's" held a great deal of power over their employers- and were able to find new opportunities for themselves. 

The Fletchers lived at 382 Washington Street ( I think - see black blob over street address below!) 

William Fletcher entry in New York City Directory

Mr. Fletcher was in business with his brother, Andrew; with the help of Joseph Harrison, they founded Fletcher, Harrison & Co. in 1853; Andrew Fletcher was the designer, William Fletcher managed the works, and Joseph Harrison was in charge of the office.  Their shops, then known as the North River Iron Works, were located on West Street in New York City.

At some point, Anne met John Nolan, her future husband.

Finding John Nolan is a challenge as the name is quite common; for example, when I searched for New York residents, named John Nolan in the U.S. Civil War Pension files, I found fifty-five (55) to review! So that path (often very useful in genealogy research) did not pan out.

Two promising options for John Nolan record in 1850 

• I found one John Nolan (born 1824) in the 1850 U.S. Census - living in the notorious 4th Ward, amongst a group of adults - ranging in ages from 14-40.
• Another possible John Nolan, living in the 1st Ward, with a matriarch named "Margaret" (Anne and John's youngest daughter's name.) In this entry, John is living with a range of Nolans and a few Murphys. 

John and Anne likely met at church; young Irish in New York found great community in Catholic Churches and Church of the Immaculate Conception, where Anne and John baptized their first five children, was a solid part of the Irish immigrant community. 

Walking Tour: Next Stop- Immaculate Conception Church