Ruth Gordan was born in Ireland in 1798. Her husband was William McArdle, born in 1787. They had at least two children: Arthur, born in 1830, and James, born in 1839. Church records show that James was baptised in Drumgoon, Ireland, giving us a clue as to where the McArdles were living at the time.
Sometime after James's birth, the family immigrated to America. This was likely a result of the Great Famine that devastated Ireland from 1845 to 1852. During this period, more than 1 million people left Ireland to seek a better life in the United States. Once in the States, the family settled in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where there was already a large Irish population. William died there in 1859, aged 71, and was buried in Cathedral Cemetery.
In the 1860 census, Ruth is living with her sons, Arthur and James, Arthur's wife, Ann, and two grandchildren, Ruth and Charles. Both Arthur and James are listed as blacksmiths. Living next door is Michael Smith, an Irish drayman, and his family. By 1870, Ruth had moved in with the Smiths and was working as a domestic servant for the household. It is unclear what led Ruth to leave her home to work for her neighbors. Without a husband, Ruth may have struggled to support herself, especially once her sons moved out. The census tells us that Ruth could neither read nor write, so her employment options were limited.
Just two months after the 1870 census was taken, Ruth McArdle passed away at age 72. Like her husband, she was buried in Cathedral Cemetery in Philadelphia.
If you recognize Ruth, please let us know in the comments!
No comments:
Post a Comment