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St. Patrick's Cathedral, New York
Aug. 28, 1875
Sister Irene,
The child in question is indeed an object of charity. The mother is in danger of
death, is but 15 years of age and without means of providing for the child. The
child has been baptized in this church.
Yours in Christo,
Rev. William Hogan
Aug. 28, 1875
Sister Irene,
The child in question is indeed an object of charity. The mother is in danger of
death, is but 15 years of age and without means of providing for the child. The
child has been baptized in this church.
Yours in Christo,
Rev. William Hogan
The following are some examples of letters found in the archives of the New York
Foundling Hospital, written by desperate mothers who could not care for their infant
children and concerned priests who found abandoned children under their care.
Foundling Hospital, written by desperate mothers who could not care for their infant
children and concerned priests who found abandoned children under their care.
Dec. 1, 1875
Dear Sister,
Alone and deserted, I need to put my little one with you for a time. I would willingly
work and take care of her but no one will have me and her too. All say they would
take me if she was 2 or 3 years old, so not knowing what to do with her and not being
able to pay her board, I bring her to you knowing you will be as kind to her as to the
many others who are under your care, and I will get work and try hard to be able to
relieve you of the care when I can take her to work with me. She is only 3 weeks old
and I have not had her christened or anything.
No one knows how awful it is to separate from their child but a mother, but, I trust you
will be kind and the only consolation I have is if I am spared and nothing prevents and
I lead an honest life that the father of us all will permit us to be united.
A Mother
Dear Sister,
Alone and deserted, I need to put my little one with you for a time. I would willingly
work and take care of her but no one will have me and her too. All say they would
take me if she was 2 or 3 years old, so not knowing what to do with her and not being
able to pay her board, I bring her to you knowing you will be as kind to her as to the
many others who are under your care, and I will get work and try hard to be able to
relieve you of the care when I can take her to work with me. She is only 3 weeks old
and I have not had her christened or anything.
No one knows how awful it is to separate from their child but a mother, but, I trust you
will be kind and the only consolation I have is if I am spared and nothing prevents and
I lead an honest life that the father of us all will permit us to be united.
A Mother
Brooklyn, Nov. 23, 1869
Dear Sister,
I now sit down to write to you a few lines but I hardly know what to say, for when I
inform you that I am the mother of the child left on Thanksgiving night between the
hours of 8 and 9 o'clock without even a slip of paper to tell you the name of the child
left in your care, my heart aches so much I cannot tell, but I knew that I was leaving
her in good hands.
Although I have been unfortunate, I am neither low nor degraded and am in hopes of
one day of claiming my child. Her name is Jane ... born on 5 of October 1869
between the hours of 3 and 4 o'clock in the morning ... she had a piece of canton -
flannel tied around her head and a little blue and white cloud around and little red
and white socks on her feet - and if the prayers of an unfortunate creature like
myself will do any good, offered to- the mercy of God in heaven - for you know that
every night on my bended knees I pray for you.
I am very sorry that I having nothing to send you this time but I am in hopes there will
be a day when I shall be able to pay you for all your trouble.
Dear Sister,
I now sit down to write to you a few lines but I hardly know what to say, for when I
inform you that I am the mother of the child left on Thanksgiving night between the
hours of 8 and 9 o'clock without even a slip of paper to tell you the name of the child
left in your care, my heart aches so much I cannot tell, but I knew that I was leaving
her in good hands.
Although I have been unfortunate, I am neither low nor degraded and am in hopes of
one day of claiming my child. Her name is Jane ... born on 5 of October 1869
between the hours of 3 and 4 o'clock in the morning ... she had a piece of canton -
flannel tied around her head and a little blue and white cloud around and little red
and white socks on her feet - and if the prayers of an unfortunate creature like
myself will do any good, offered to- the mercy of God in heaven - for you know that
every night on my bended knees I pray for you.
I am very sorry that I having nothing to send you this time but I am in hopes there will
be a day when I shall be able to pay you for all your trouble.
Dear Sisters,
By the love of God be so kind as to take this poor orphan child in and if she should
die, please to bury her for me and I will be very happy. You must not think that I have
neglected her. I have worked very hard to pay her board but I can't afford to bury
her.
So, by the love God, take this little child in. May God Bless you all for your kindness
to all the little sufferers. This little child has suffered since she was born and I have
paid debts but I have not paid all but I shall. My husband is dead and I have nobody
to help me. Be kind to my little lamb. May the great God receive her into Heaven
where she will be loved by God.
This two Dollars is to have this child christened Willie Do not be afraid of the sores
on its face; it is nothing but a ringworm. You'll remember this badge. (Included with
cloth badge that reads, "General Grant our Next President ")
Most Holy Redeemer Church
By the love of God be so kind as to take this poor orphan child in and if she should
die, please to bury her for me and I will be very happy. You must not think that I have
neglected her. I have worked very hard to pay her board but I can't afford to bury
her.
So, by the love God, take this little child in. May God Bless you all for your kindness
to all the little sufferers. This little child has suffered since she was born and I have
paid debts but I have not paid all but I shall. My husband is dead and I have nobody
to help me. Be kind to my little lamb. May the great God receive her into Heaven
where she will be loved by God.
This two Dollars is to have this child christened Willie Do not be afraid of the sores
on its face; it is nothing but a ringworm. You'll remember this badge. (Included with
cloth badge that reads, "General Grant our Next President ")
Most Holy Redeemer Church
Dec. 10, 1869
Sister M. Irene, Superioress Respected Sister,
You would oblige our R. F. Y Rector Limguber in taking the poor child in the Asylum.
It has been happily saved from being murdered this morning by his unfortunate
mother. She told me that she gives up all claims on it. I gave private baptism to the
child.
Respectfully yours,
Francis Eberhardt, C.S.S.R.
Sister M. Irene, Superioress Respected Sister,
You would oblige our R. F. Y Rector Limguber in taking the poor child in the Asylum.
It has been happily saved from being murdered this morning by his unfortunate
mother. She told me that she gives up all claims on it. I gave private baptism to the
child.
Respectfully yours,
Francis Eberhardt, C.S.S.R.
May 2, 1873
This offspring is the fruit of a brutality on the person of this poor but decent woman
and to cover her shame and being too poor to support the children, there are two
from her husband, she is obliged to resort to this extreme measure. The child is not
yet baptized.
(Day -old infant left by Dr J. J. Brennan.)
The little baby which was left in the crib on last night, if you for the love of God and
his holy mother you will keep it for me I will give anything you require. Her father is a
wicked Orangeman. I told him it was dead because I want to have her raised a
Roman Catholic and have nursed out. I will pay all the expenses.
Will you, dear Sisters, remember a kind mother's heart? If I do not see her again I
will never do any good on this earth. I work at dressmaking for a living. My husband
gives me but a third of his earnings because I am a Roman Catholic. Write to Father
Farrell, Barclay Street Church, state circumstances to him. Pray to the Blessed
Virgin for me to help me through.
This offspring is the fruit of a brutality on the person of this poor but decent woman
and to cover her shame and being too poor to support the children, there are two
from her husband, she is obliged to resort to this extreme measure. The child is not
yet baptized.
(Day -old infant left by Dr J. J. Brennan.)
The little baby which was left in the crib on last night, if you for the love of God and
his holy mother you will keep it for me I will give anything you require. Her father is a
wicked Orangeman. I told him it was dead because I want to have her raised a
Roman Catholic and have nursed out. I will pay all the expenses.
Will you, dear Sisters, remember a kind mother's heart? If I do not see her again I
will never do any good on this earth. I work at dressmaking for a living. My husband
gives me but a third of his earnings because I am a Roman Catholic. Write to Father
Farrell, Barclay Street Church, state circumstances to him. Pray to the Blessed
Virgin for me to help me through.
July 1870
To the Sisters of the House,
Necessity compels me to part with my darling boy. I leave him, hoping and trusting
that you will take good care of him. Will you let some good nurse take charge of him
and will you try to find some kind hearted lady to adopt him and love him as her
own while he is young that he may never know but what she is his own mother? It
would break my heart to have him grow up without a mother to love and care for
him. God only knows the bitter anguish of my heart in parting with this little dear,
still if it costs me my life I am obliged to give him up.
He is just from the breast, he has been sick with his bowels, they have not been
right for a long time.
I have cried and worried over him so much that I think my milk hurt him. I think a
change of milk with good care will make him well soon. I got these things thinking I
could keep him but as I can not they may be of use to you. I shall always take an
interest in this Institution.
He is 4 weeks old. Will you please to remember his given name and if he is
adopted, request that they will not change his name; so that at some future day, if
that name should be asked for, you will be able to tell what became of him or where
he is. Perhaps you will think me very particular, but if any mother will take it home to
her own heart and think how she would feel to have her dear little boy torn from her
breast, I think they would excuse me.
This is the last time I can speak of him as mine, and if in years to come if I could
hear that he had a home and kind friends, I could die in peace. On the other hand,
if I should never hear, it would haunt the day of my death. Please excuse all that
you think is not right but for God's sake remember the last request of a heart
broken mother.
St. Patrick's Church Rectory
263 Mulberry Street
To the Sisters of the House,
Necessity compels me to part with my darling boy. I leave him, hoping and trusting
that you will take good care of him. Will you let some good nurse take charge of him
and will you try to find some kind hearted lady to adopt him and love him as her
own while he is young that he may never know but what she is his own mother? It
would break my heart to have him grow up without a mother to love and care for
him. God only knows the bitter anguish of my heart in parting with this little dear,
still if it costs me my life I am obliged to give him up.
He is just from the breast, he has been sick with his bowels, they have not been
right for a long time.
I have cried and worried over him so much that I think my milk hurt him. I think a
change of milk with good care will make him well soon. I got these things thinking I
could keep him but as I can not they may be of use to you. I shall always take an
interest in this Institution.
He is 4 weeks old. Will you please to remember his given name and if he is
adopted, request that they will not change his name; so that at some future day, if
that name should be asked for, you will be able to tell what became of him or where
he is. Perhaps you will think me very particular, but if any mother will take it home to
her own heart and think how she would feel to have her dear little boy torn from her
breast, I think they would excuse me.
This is the last time I can speak of him as mine, and if in years to come if I could
hear that he had a home and kind friends, I could die in peace. On the other hand,
if I should never hear, it would haunt the day of my death. Please excuse all that
you think is not right but for God's sake remember the last request of a heart
broken mother.
St. Patrick's Church Rectory
263 Mulberry Street
July 15, 1884
Dear Sister,
I have an unfortunate girl in my parish who has given birth to an illegitimate child.
She is so circumstanced that if it were known it would greatly injure her and at the
same time give rise to a great deal of scandal among her friends. She is truly
repentant and has brought the child to me to be baptized. (Its name is Louis.)
I therefore request of you the favor to receive the child in the asylum and free her
from the burden which she has been so unfortunate to bring upon herself.
Greatly obliged.
Yours respectfully
REV. L. A. Mazziatta
Dear Sister,
I have an unfortunate girl in my parish who has given birth to an illegitimate child.
She is so circumstanced that if it were known it would greatly injure her and at the
same time give rise to a great deal of scandal among her friends. She is truly
repentant and has brought the child to me to be baptized. (Its name is Louis.)
I therefore request of you the favor to receive the child in the asylum and free her
from the burden which she has been so unfortunate to bring upon herself.
Greatly obliged.
Yours respectfully
REV. L. A. Mazziatta
Police Department of the City of New York, Precinct No. 20
Aug. 5, 1872
To the Superior of the Foundling Hospital:
We have arrested a woman for intoxication and vagrancy at 11 this PM. She has
this infant about 3 weeks old. She wanted to destroy it. So it is not proper to leave
it in her charge and even if she were sober, she is not in a fit state to take care of
it.
The child will not live if it does not have nourishment. If you will take care of it, also
the older one until tomorrow, I will then have them sent to Commissioners of Public
Charities.
We have tried to get some of her people to take care of this infant. They all refuse.
I do not know what else to do with these children than to leave them in your kind
protection for this night and by so doing very much oblige.
Yours Respectfully,
Charles W. Coffry, Capt.
Aug. 5, 1872
To the Superior of the Foundling Hospital:
We have arrested a woman for intoxication and vagrancy at 11 this PM. She has
this infant about 3 weeks old. She wanted to destroy it. So it is not proper to leave
it in her charge and even if she were sober, she is not in a fit state to take care of
it.
The child will not live if it does not have nourishment. If you will take care of it, also
the older one until tomorrow, I will then have them sent to Commissioners of Public
Charities.
We have tried to get some of her people to take care of this infant. They all refuse.
I do not know what else to do with these children than to leave them in your kind
protection for this night and by so doing very much oblige.
Yours Respectfully,
Charles W. Coffry, Capt.
| New York Foundling Hospital Letters |
