Letter from John Handy to Mississippi Governor John J. Pettus; October 16, 1861

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Letter from John Handy to Mississippi Governor John J. Pettus; October 16, 1861

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People

Davis, Joseph Robert, 1825-1896 Handy, John A.Pettus, John Jones, 1813-1867 Terry, Mary J.

Organizations

Mississippi--State Hospital

Occupations

Educational Profession Educational Profession--Teachers Medical Profession Medical Profession--Nurses

Places

Ireland Mississippi--Madison County. Canton Mississippi--Yazoo County

Social Identifiers

Christians Christians--Catholics Homeless persons Immigrants Marital Status--Widows Military Status--Military families

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[seal]

Canton, Oct. 16. 1861.

Hon. J. J. Pettus
Gov^r. of Mississippi

Dear Sir;

Mrs. Mary J. Terry asks me to address you in her behalf—she desires a situation in the assylum—I did not un-derstand which one of those institutions.

M^rs. Terry is a native of Ireland. She is a widow without children & is now 48 or 50 years of age—She has been residing in Yazoo & Madison Counties about twelve years, during which time she has lived in sever-al of the most respectable families in the counties in the Capacity of Tutoress. She is finely educated, is a remarkably lady-like woman in her manners, and is spoken of by ladies of my acquaintance, as one of the best nurses in the world. Her re-markably Kind & sympathetic ^~~in her~~^ disposition

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renders her eminently fit for any situ-ation where such qualities of heart are desirable—She is a Catholic, & would make a first rate sister of Charity, or attendant upon any class of unfortunates.

M^rs. Terry has been a good deal at my house, and has spent most of her time, when in this County, in the family of Col. Jos. R. Davis—Being now, by stress of the times, thrown out of employment, she has returned to M^r. Davis' family & remains there by their Kindness to her as a homeless & well deserv-ing lady. Altho' she is most Kindly in-vited by that family to remain, she is unwilling to abuse (as she thinks) their hospitality, if there is any possible chance to do something for herself. She therefore asks of your Excellency, such place as you may have to give, however humble, so that it is not a menial one.

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It would give myself, as well as many other friends of your Excellency, in this vicinity, very great pleasure to hear that you had assigned her to some position such as she asks for.

I have the honor to be
Your obt. St.
Jno Handy

Oct 16^th 1861
Jno Handy
in reference to Situ-ation for Mrs Terry