In honor of Women’s History Month, we thought we would highlight a woman living her life and making her way in Savannah, as documented in the archival records she left behind. In the spirit of St. Patrick’s Day in Savannah, we selected an Irish woman, Rosanna McGuire, to share with you today. A special thank you to Brooke Neal, who as a Georgia Southern University student visited the Municipal Archives in 2021 and brought this woman’s story to our attention.
Rosanna McGuire, a native of County Cavan, first appears in Savannah records with the 1860 federal census. At the time, she was living with her husband, James, 5-year-old son James, and 8-month-old baby Michael. Her occupation was listed as Boardinghouse Keeper, and she had ten male laborers (almost all Irish) living in the household at the time. James McGuire died in 1862, leaving Rosanna a widow at approximately 29 years of age, with at least two young children to care for.
By 1865, Rosanna was supporting herself through the sale of spiritous liquors in a business at the corner of Mill and Fahm streets, in the Yamacraw neighborhood. Over the years, she continued to renew her retail liquor license with the City of Savannah, as evidenced in records like the 1872 listing of liquor licenses (below). The location slightly shifted over the years, but remained in Yamacraw, which was one of several neighborhoods on the outskirts of the historic district with a high Irish immigrant population.
1867 City of Savannah Liquor License issued to Rosanna McGuire for corner of Mill and Fahm streets. 5600CL-230, Clerk of Council Records – Liquor Bond/License Books.
Liquor licenses issued by the City of Savannah in 1872, including one to Mrs. Rosanna McGuire on the corner of Farm and Indian streets, in the Yamacraw neighborhood.5600CL-230, Clerk of Council Records – Liquor Bond/License Books.
Rosanna wasn’t merely peddling spirits, she was listed in Savannah City Directories for several years as a grocer. The 1880 directory lists her business on Farm and Olive streets, still in Yamacraw. The 1888 Sanborn Insurance Map reflects this particular building’s use as a store. In 1885, Rosanna was fined $20.00 (equivalent to about $635 in 2024) for violating a City ordinance by keeping her place of business “open on the Lords day usually called Sunday 7:30am Oct 4th 1885.”
1880 Savannah City Directory, listing Mrs. Rosa McGuire as a grocer on the east side of Farm Street, first building south of Olive Street.
Detail from Sanborn Insurance Map of Savannah, Georgia, 1888, sheet 11, showing the building on the east side of Farm Street, first building south of Olive Street as “S” for store.
On October 6, 1885, Mayor Rufus E. Lester fined Rosanna McGuire for operating her business on a Sunday. 5600RC-010 , Mayor’s Fine and Information Dockets, Volume 21.
Over the years, Rosanna acquired property in Yamacraw for which the City taxed her. In the 1860s, she owned a portion of Lot 25 in North Oglethorpe Ward. Thirty years later, in 1897, she owned three lots in this same ward.
The 1864-1867 Tax Digest records Mrs. Rosanna McGuire owning 1/3 of Lot 25 in North Oglethorpe Ward. 5600CT-070, City Treasurer’s Records – Tax Digests.
The 1897 Tax Digest records Mrs. Rosanna McGuire owning portions of Lots 6, 19, and 3 in North Oglethorpe Ward. 5600CT-070, City Treasurer’s Records – Tax Digests, Volume 78.
Rosanna McGuire died on June 6, 1898, at the age of 70. At the time she was residing at 16 Farm Street. Rosanna was buried in Cathedral Cemetery (now Catholic Cemetery), joining her husband, James, and son Michael, who had died in 1876 at the age of 16 years. In many ways Rosanna could be considered just an ordinary Savannahian, but on a closer reflection of her records we see a strong woman who supported her family as an entrepreneur and improved her situation through property ownership, making her an extra-ordinary Savannah woman of the 19th century!
Rosanna McGuire death as reported to the City of Savannah in June 1898. 5600HE-060.4, Health Department Records – Birth, Marriage and Death Register, Volume 1.
5600CL-090, Clerk of Council Records – Interment Report Books, Volume 9, Cathedral Cemetery
To learn more about the Municipal Archives and our collections, visit www.savannahga.gov/MunicipalArchives.