Petition from Margaret Cassidy (a widow) to W.S. Trench 1 (Lord Shirley’s agent) 2 , dated Apr. 1846 (PRO,NI, Shirley Papers, D3531/A), that the landlord would pay the passage fare of her son to North America as she does not have the resources. Has five acre farm at Fath, Co. Monaghan, but has lost her potato crop

Cassidy, Widow Margaret. Farths, April 46 (overwritten by Morant and Smith):

She has a young man her son whom she intends to send to America as she is not able to provide for him at home as Mr Smith can testify to your (sic)n situation in Life and has already laid out on him all she was able in providing him with such necessaries as she thinks requisite such as having apparel but cannot have his passage money… . Over written not from Smith: ‘I am aware of the situation in which the widow Cassidy has placed herself and her efforts to send her son to America having previously sent three other sons there so as to preserve her farm of 5 acres entire for her eldest son. Having lost her potatoes and being otherwise distressed she cannot now pay the rent but she has still a house and an industrious son to manage he can have employment at the culm drawing to make the – if allowed the free passage she seeks she could manage to put in the crops”; How did she act? – GM; “Nothing could be better than her conduct and that of her son upon all occasions. Every effort was made to shake her from her purposes but to no effect – Smith, “Granted” – Morant. ³ Receipt for £2–10s signed Mgt Cassidy for passage “of my son to America that I might keep my farm in Farthes entire for my eldest son”.