This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/5dV.2ACEB/6.8 Message Board Post: Jean, I'm pretty sure that should be Miss Porter's School for Girls, and it was (is) in Farmington, CT just outside Hartford. I learned this through researching my own family from County Cavan. They left Belturbet sometime before 1850 and settled first in Farmington. Other County Cavan families in Farmington were the Gallaghers and the Lawrences. I'm sure there were others too. Whatever the reason, tiny Farmington was a destination for families leaving County Cavan. My family was known in Farmington by the names Sothergill/Suthergill/Southergill. James Sothergill, probably the first to arrive, remained in Farmington until his death in 1906. At various times, he described himself as a gardener and his house was right across the street from Miss Porter's. I've tried to establish whether he worked there as a gardener, but the school has no record of it. He clearly knew Sarah Porter, the founder of the school, because he named one of his daughters Sarah Porter Sothergill. I wouldn't be surprised if part of the attraction of Farmington for those contemplating leaving County Cavan were the gardening and laboring jobs at Miss Porter's and at estates in the area. I'm curious how you know that Patrick Farley worked as a gardener at Miss Porter's. Daniel Smothergill