On July 26th, 1889, Patrick Bradshaw sold the family farm in Chateaugay, NY to his wife Johanna for the sum of “Four hundred dollars, love and affection, and other good and valuable consideration.” That’s about the same time that their son William (Billy) left home to travel west. Family oral history says that when Billy Went west, his father Patrick went with him. Billy found work in the mines of Nevada and Colorado and stayed for the rest his life. Patrick ultimately returned. The US census shows him back by 1900.
Johanna retained ownership of the farm until 1905 when she sold it to their son Patrick Joseph.
So did Pat transfer the farm to Jo because he knew he would be out of the picture for an extended time? Was the $400 his seed money for making his fortune out west? Why on Earth would he embark on such an endeavor at the age of 45, leaving behind his wife and 11 children, ages 3 months through 20 years? Was the farm failing?
Of course we will never know the answer to most of these questions. I got the story of Patrick leaving to go west from my Uncle John, and it’s an interesting coincidence that he sold Johanna the farm about the same time.
Whatever the reason for the sale, something fishy was going on at the Bradshaw farm.
P.S. The terms from the deed (“Love and affection and other good and valuable consideration”) appear at first to be a touching addition to an otherwise dry legal document. However, they’re real legal terms that are still in use today. So much for my initial impression that my whiskey-loving great-grandfather Patrick had a bit of a soft spot.
I find this very interesting. Keep up the good work. Pat Burke
Thanks!