Finding Aids > MC41

MC41: McCarthy family fonds

Dates of creation:1827, 1865-1912

Physical description: 1 cm of textual records

Biographical Sketch / Administrative History

Edward McCarthy (1844-1910) was the youngest son of John McCarthy (McCarty) who came from Ireland in 1815 and settled on a farm at Bartibogue in Northumberland County, New Brunswick. Edward's five older brothers were Michael, who moved to Menominee, Michigan; Thomas of La Cross, Wisconsin; James of Chatham, N.B.; John of Chatham, N.B. (d. 1892), who worked in Michigan; and Patrick of Lower Newcastle, N.B. He also had a half-sister, Ann, who married John Sullivan, a blacksmith, of Newcastle. Edward was a farmer and owner of rental property in Chatham. The family used the spelling McCarthy and McCarty interchangeably for most of the period; however, "McCarthy" was used on probate documents, other legal papers and most letters after 1900.

Scope and Content

This fonds consists of McCarthy family correspondence and accounts (1867-1912). Most letters prior to 1900 are between the siblings, but also include correspondence from other individuals regarding payments. The families correspondence provides insight into life in New Brunswick and parts of the United States and reveals how close knit the family was. Their letters deal with a variety of topics, including cholera, education, working in the woods, staple supplies, legal issues, and visits to family members. After 1900, most of the letters are between members of the next generation, especially Patrick McCarthy's children. These letters discuss work in the timber industry, leisure activities, the winter weather, and family news. This fonds also contains records of the families accounts, an inventory of John McCarthy's estate (1892) and a penmanship book belonging to Patrick's brother-in-law, George Smith.

INVENTORY

MS1 Correspondence

4 1903

MS2 Accounts

2 1890