What was Anne's work day like?

We read in Anne's story that she owned a home "free and clear" later in life. I plan to do some research on where that home was -- but I have spent some time reading up on what working and money meant to Irish immigrant women like Anne.

Scholarship on Irish immigrant women in America suggests that for these women, working was valued and earning and saving money was of paramount importance. Irish women saved impressive amounts of money; from 1850 up until 1870, domestic workers in New York City (nearly 50% of which were Irish born women) made between $50.00 to $70.00 a month. These women sent money back to Ireland; in 1870 33% of the money in Ireland was from women Irish domestics. Irish women were significant depositors with the Emigrant Savings Bank in New York City. (these bank records list 8 Ann Hoey's and 19 Ann Nolan's as depositors between 1850-1883.)

Domestic work seemingly gave Irish women great freedom; they switched jobs and employers often - they could do so because these types of jobs were abundant. Some scholars suggest that the dynamic of having a young girl, living and working in the home, along side the family, gave the employee some power over her mistress.

The work was hard. I found a summary of what her morning may have been like in an 1857 publication by Mrs. Elizabeth Elllet "The Practical Housekeeper"

• wake at 5:30 AM (I am already out)
• get coal
• polish stove, light fire
• dust, sweep, clean street door
• prepare breakfast
• open bedrooms, clean out slops, bring up fresh water
• make beds
• eat breakfast

I am not certain, yet, where Anne worked -- we have verbal history of her working at Ophir Farm-- but her time in New York City thus far is unclear. But, in any event, until I get more information, think about that list.

Wake at 5:30 AM -- how? Get coal - outside I assume? Had she lite a fire, prepared breakfast, etc the years after her mom died and before her father remarried? Probably -however, likely in a more rural setting. Where the urban kitchen or kitchens in which Anne worked something she could quickly adapt to? If the adapting took time, who taught her?

Ideas in this post inspired by Erin's Daughters in America, by Hasia Diner

Anne's occupation was "maid"

We know from our family history about Anne that she got a job in a boarding house in Hell's Kitchen as a maid. The narrative mentions an 1870 census entry with Anne as a maid -- I cannot recreate that research but have found Anne in the 7th Ward of New York City, with baby John (2) and Mary (7) keeping house. I will keep looking for census records that add some more detail to our story.

Many Irish women who immigrated to American between 1840 and the beginning of the 20th century found work in domestic service. This type of work was well suited for unmarried women, as it often required living in (the hours and work load left no option) and the work was very available as many middle class families were anxious to employ a single servant so as to demonstrate their status.

'Bridgets' as they were called, were young girls, often from rural, simple backgrounds with limited education. Scholarship suggests that these girls arrived in America bi-lingual -- as English was already the dominant language in public areas in Ireland -- with "Irish" reserved for home conversations. These girls had limited exposure to fine dining, table manners, or any of the experiences that the urban, middle class life they were to support required.

These girls had left a culture and society that nurtured and in many cases, expected female independence. Irish literature and narratives of the time tell tales of women holding their own against men in battles of wit; a diminutive quiet lady was not the typical Irish dame.

I think the combination of culture shock, added to innate or learned feistiness (and we can perhaps assume that the MOST feisty girls emigrated from Ireland -- can't we?) collided. A Harpers Bazaar article -- dated November 11, 1871, called "Bridget" voices some complaints about Irish domestics -- they were "ignorant of names of utensils" and "ignorant of manners of the country" and "laden with an accent difficult to comprehend."

Were these insults spoken about Anne as she sat, 14 years old, away from her home, working? Did Anne speak English upon arriving? Was she learning it as she lived each day? Was Anne feisty? Was she quiet and shy, thrust into a world she could not control? Was she hard to understand? What did her voice sound like?

these ideas were developed by reading Margaret Lynch Brennan's The Irish Bridget