Letter from Alfreda Baker to Hanna Sheehy Skeffington, 14 May 1916 Letters 1916-1923 Alfreda Baker

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Letter from Alfreda Baker (1897-1984) to Hanna Sheehy Skeffington (1877-1946) to extend her condolences for the murder of Francis Sheehy Skeffington. Although Hanna's full forename is "Johanna," she referred to herself as "Hanna" and it appears that Alfreda simply abbreviated the name to "Joan" instead. Alfreda Helen Baker was a consulting surgeon who graduated from Queen's University Belfast. Hanna Sheehy Skeffington (1877-1946) suffragette, nationalist, language teacher, was the founder of the Irish Women’s Franchise League and a founding member of the Irish Women Workers’ Union. She was the widow of Francis Sheehy-Skeffington who was summarily executed on 26 April 1916. She was active during the Rising, bringing food to the Volunteers in the G.P.O. and the College of Surgeons. Four days passed before she found out what had happened to her husband, Francis (1878-1916), and it wasn't until almost two weeks later that the full details of his execution emerged.

National Library of Ireland Sheehy-Skeffington Papers, Collection List No. 47; MS 33,605/1-35 https://letters1916.ie/item/3602 English Alfreda Baker 1916-05-14 Trevena, Knock, Co. Mayo, Ireland Hanna Sheehy Skeffington Female 1984 Easter Rising Ireland 1916 Easter Rising Ireland 1916

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 TrevenaKnock May 14 : 16 Joan dear A wee note to tell youhow very, very much you are inmy thoughts. I have been illsince Friday, a sort of bronchialattack, but faint attacksbothered me last night, andso I have stayed in bed alldays, until 8 o'clock, and amnow resting in an armchair. My dear, I have seen yourletter to the Press — oh! whatsuffering you have been through.I am most anxious to know howyou and little Owen are, andwhere you are. Before I wroteto you my first letter — this ismy third, I mention it in casethey should not have reachedyou — I had written to my friendMiss Garrett, of Norfolk College,and I heard on Friday fromher, that she had been past yourhouse, not liking to introude onyou, yet anxious — and thatthe lower window panes were out, & boarded up in the spaces, but she did not know why. If you are living at home, have you a maid, now? Your whole account is too awful. I can't really think it all out, you have indeed had where more than one human's share. What work lies before you, I wonder? I have written to Mrs Tickell for news of you, but have not heard yet. I am a bit tor— mented by the thought that you may not get letters. Can you read? and what about sleep? are the nights bad? Fond love, dear from yours affectionately Alfreda Alfreda Baker Letter from Alfreda Helen Baker to Hanna Sheehy Skeffington, 11 May 1916Letter from Alfreda Baker to Hanna Sheehy Skeffington, 14 May 1916Letter from Alfreda Baker to Hanna Sheehy Skeffington, 9 May 1916 Trevena, Knock, Co. Mayo, Ireland Letter from Alfreda Baker to Hanna Sheehy Skeffington, 14 May 1916