Biography

Mary Shiel was a servant for Jenny and Will. She is found in 18641225WSJ_JWS1 and other letters: "I have been thinking to day if I should stay here as long as the first of Feby that you could take the baby & Mary and come down..." Will and Jenny employed two Marys and this time, Mary Burch (b. 1841) and Mary Shiel (b. 1844), but in the case of the aforementioned letter, the Mary referenced is likely Mary Shiel. Shiel seems to be the wet nurse for Jenny's children: "Mother and the nurse, Mary Shiels, occupied the loft, and were very comfortable excepting when the rain came through the board roof..." Here Jenny tells about their home at Fort Foote.