Paddy in the Hollow
There must be a story that goes with the nickname "Paddy in the Hollow," which figures in the stories on this page, but all I found during my Google search were references to a Celtic band by that name. Anyway, the Patrick McLaughlin of Syracuse who was known as "Paddy in the Hollow" must have been a very strange character, indeed.
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| Syracuse Daily Standard / March 2, 1859 |
| SEDUCTION, BASTARDY AND MARRIAGE – A somewhat singular affair occurred at the office of John Hurst last evening. Officer Cooney arrested a young man named John McLaughlin (a son of “Paddy in the Hollow”) charged with seducing a widow woman, and the mother of several children, named Catherine Terrell.
The seduction must have been effected some time since, as the woman has a daughter, which was born in December last, and she alleges that the child is the fruit of the illicit intercourse.
When the father of the child was arrested, he acknowledged the paternity, but declared that the woman was the seducer, and she affected his ruination when he was too drunk to know what he was about.
However, he expressed his willingness to marry the woman, although she is old enough to be his mother, and officer Cooney took him to the Justice’s office instead of the watch house.
Mr. Hurst was absent, but an officer was sent for him, and on his return the parties stood up and were tied together according to the laws of the country.
Before the Justice arrived the woman expressed her willingness to take $1.50 per week for the support of the baby, and let the marriage go, provided she could have good security that the money would be paid, but the security was not offered, and the marriage proceeded.
As soon as the nuptial knot was tied, the antiquated bride and youthful groom left the office to commence their honeymoon. |
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| Syracuse Daily Standard /November 7, 1856 |
| CHECK APRON DANCE – “Paddy-in-the-Hollow” gives a dance tonight at his shanty in the swamp. Music by a blind fiddler and a pair of bag-pipes. The ball will be opened by a “cut-out jig,” to be followed by “French-fours” and “eight-hand reels,” and close with a grand “cushion dance” by the whole company. The Hindoo “local” of the Courier will act as floor manager and lead off the dance with a double-breasted Irish lass, who will put him through his paces and then pass round the whiskey. Grease your brogues, boys, and go in. |
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| Syracuse Daily Standard / August 11, 1871 |
Woman Found Dead
Some time between four and six o’clock yesterday afternoon a woman named Mary McLaughlin was found dead at her residence, No. 80 Adams street. She is the wife of one Patrick McLaughlin, better known as “Paddy in the Hollow,” an old gentleman of some eighty-three years, who will be remembered as an inverate seeker of subscriptions, he having had his shoulder dislocated at some time. Mrs. McLaughlin was about sixty-one years of age, and has been insane for twenty years.
Coroner Dallas viewed the body last night, and Dr. Plant was also present, but he will not make a post mortem examination until this afternoon.
The neighbors say that the son of the dead woman and a female friend of his had been in the house most of the time during the day. The husband was too badly intoxicated last night to give any account of his own whereabouts at the time his wife died, or of any circumstances connected with her death.
His statements were mainly to the effect that he married Mrs. McLaughlin when she was eighteen years of age; that he himself was eighty-two, and if any one couldn’t find out her age from that data his opinion of their ability was small.
The old gentleman told the neighbors that in the afternoon he had given her a little sugar and water.
The body was found on the bed in the front room. The indications were that the woman died a natural death. |
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Paddy in the Hollow must be an old Irish phrase, the meaning of which escapes me. My Google efforts turned up mostly website references to a Celtic musical group by that name.
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