Death Of "Aunt Katy"

An Odd Resident Of Freehold Passes Away

Miss Catharine Deering, Who for the Past Ten Years Had Lived Alone, in a One-Room House, Died Last Wednesday

Catherine Deering, one of the most peculiar women of Freehold, died last Wednesday morning. She was 77 years old. She was born in Ireland and came to this country 38 years ago, settling at Freehold. She worked out as a domestic, among the families she lived with being those of John D. Forman, Elihu B. Bedle, Jackson Buek of Colt’s Neck and others. She was very saving and laid by a large part of her earnings.

About ten years ago she concluded that she had worked long enough. She bought a little building and moved it on the rear of a lot owned by Mrs. Neafie. The building had but one room, and this was used as a kitchen, reception room, dining room, sitting room, parlor and bedroom. The room was cheaply fitted up, only the most indispensible (sic) articles of furniture being provided. When “Aunt Katy” appeared on the streets of Freehold she almost invariably wore a calico dress and calico bonnet. She was taken sick with the grip about two weeks before her death, and during her sickness she was cared for by Mrs. Mary Featherston.

After her death a roll of money amounting to $190 was found in the house, and bank books were found which showed that she had about $1,000 on deposit in the banks. She left no relatives in this country.

Source: Red Bank Register, Wednesday, March 29, 1899

Some additional excellent resources for your research are:

• New Jersey Census, 1772-1890 - Ancestry.com

• Calendar of New Jersey Wills, 1670-1760 - Ancestry.com

• Interment.net - NJ ~ New Jersey Cemetery Transcriptions on the net.

• MyCinnamonToast.com ~ Keep up with FREE databases as they come online