I don't think I had understood that the Orphan Train was organized by the Catholics to avoid placement of children in Protestant homes. How interesting to find this "adopted" Alice in your family tree.
The same process occurred in Ireland in spades. Catholic orphanages aggressively took in protestant orphans to place them in Catholic families. About a year ago, I found a distant cousin in Ireland whose line became separated from us in that way.
Neighbors were very important in my book, “Blooming Hollyhocks,” while doing research I discovered that one of the neighborhood girls had been adopted from an orphan train. However, I decided that wasn’t the story of the book, nor did I know if her descendants knew it. I didn’t include it in my book because I didn’t think it was my place to write about.
I had to laugh at your travel plans. We are in Florida heading to Key West tomorrow. Leaving 35 degrees for 45 degrees. Where is global warming when you need it?
Interesting. A similar thing was occurring about this same time in the German community in St. Louis. There were quite a few young women with children needing husbands. The St. Louis Evangelical (sort of a Lutheran precursor) churches would match those women with husbands, often lonely widower farmers in need of a wife. The catch was always that the children that tagged along were treated as 2nd class, never to inherit the farm.
Funny you mention that. Sarah was adopted by the quigleys but the father’s will said under no circumstances would she inherit the house or land — that it would be under the direction of his wife. I noticed that shortly after Sarah moved out.
Diane, thank you for introducing us to Alice. Being adopted as a teenager after an unstable life would’ve been difficult under the best of circumstances. I hope she felt part of the family.
Did you consider she had lesbian tendencies. That would explain moving away to the city where there are better opportunities for that lifestyle as well as explaining she never married and may also explain a slight tension with her adoptive family. How were lesbian / gay issues handled back then anyway?
Yes! I absolutely did. Two of the women in the boarding house had been there for decades with her. And the Catholic Church would have condemned it. A rooming house would have been terrific cover.
I wonder if Alice still had connections to people- family or otherwise in Boston, and didn’t get along with her adopted family. Another possibility is that something happened that made leaving town her best option. What an interesting mystery.
I don't think I had understood that the Orphan Train was organized by the Catholics to avoid placement of children in Protestant homes. How interesting to find this "adopted" Alice in your family tree.
Actually they weren’t! The Catholic Church created their own to combat orphans being placed with Protestants. A different type of religious war.
The same process occurred in Ireland in spades. Catholic orphanages aggressively took in protestant orphans to place them in Catholic families. About a year ago, I found a distant cousin in Ireland whose line became separated from us in that way.
Ah I wondered if they took in non Catholics in order to convert them
Neighbors were very important in my book, “Blooming Hollyhocks,” while doing research I discovered that one of the neighborhood girls had been adopted from an orphan train. However, I decided that wasn’t the story of the book, nor did I know if her descendants knew it. I didn’t include it in my book because I didn’t think it was my place to write about.
I hear you. I have some suppositions but didn’t want to make them in this piece!
I had to laugh at your travel plans. We are in Florida heading to Key West tomorrow. Leaving 35 degrees for 45 degrees. Where is global warming when you need it?
Omg. It is so cold. In Richmond now and heading into snow shortly in North Carolina. 🙄is key west going to be that cold??
High in 50s monday. With high winds. It will feel cold.
Interesting. A similar thing was occurring about this same time in the German community in St. Louis. There were quite a few young women with children needing husbands. The St. Louis Evangelical (sort of a Lutheran precursor) churches would match those women with husbands, often lonely widower farmers in need of a wife. The catch was always that the children that tagged along were treated as 2nd class, never to inherit the farm.
Funny you mention that. Sarah was adopted by the quigleys but the father’s will said under no circumstances would she inherit the house or land — that it would be under the direction of his wife. I noticed that shortly after Sarah moved out.
Well there you go. Follow the money.
What a fascinating story.
It was def an odyssey to try and recreate her journey.
Diane, thank you for introducing us to Alice. Being adopted as a teenager after an unstable life would’ve been difficult under the best of circumstances. I hope she felt part of the family.
I can’t imagine her life. It’s so sad. I hope that the few years she had on the farm gave her some stability.
Did you consider she had lesbian tendencies. That would explain moving away to the city where there are better opportunities for that lifestyle as well as explaining she never married and may also explain a slight tension with her adoptive family. How were lesbian / gay issues handled back then anyway?
Yes! I absolutely did. Two of the women in the boarding house had been there for decades with her. And the Catholic Church would have condemned it. A rooming house would have been terrific cover.
I wonder if Alice still had connections to people- family or otherwise in Boston, and didn’t get along with her adopted family. Another possibility is that something happened that made leaving town her best option. What an interesting mystery.
I know I wondered the same! It might be in a fictional story in the future!
Research makes your posts shine. Great work, Diane. Happy travels too!
Thank you Marian! I was worried i was too in the weeds!
Diane you have no idea how much I look forward to reading your stories. You make every topic engaging and human. You go girl!
Oh my! You made my day! Thank you so much for this lovely comment! Have a wonderful weekend.