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The Death of John Larguey

July, 1858, Alexandria Gazette (from Staunton Spectator)

John Larguey, one of the main contractors on the Blue Ridge Railroad, was a partner in the Kelly & Larguey firm with John Kelly.  Larguey is listed in the 1850 census as living in dwelling #824 in Augusta County, near the West Portal of the Blue Ridge Tunnel.  John’s wife Johanna, and sons John, age 7, Michael, age 5, and infant William, age 9 months are there as well.  Living in the same house are Catherine Maurphy (22),  Mary Miller (6),  Jeremiah Larguey (John’s brother), Patrick Larguey and ten other Irish laborers. Jeremiah (Jerry) serves as the bookkeeper for the Blue Ridge Railroad for the duration of the work.

We had been unable to discover why Larguey did not appear in the later records of the railroad work until we found this notice listed  in 1858.

In Augusta County records, we also found this invoice that gives more information  about the incident.  From this information, one gets a glimpse of the family dealing with the loss and burial of the husband and father.

Transcription of the Invoice

June 30, 1858

Estate of John Larguey, Deceased,

To Jeremiah Larguey

To amount of acc, to date, acc Book $1057.38

July 1:  To Cash paid Mrs. Larguey in Staunton  $2.00

July 5:  To Cash paid, fare for 4/2 seats from tunnel to Richmond  $24.75. 

This indicates that 4 adults and 2 children made the trip to Richmond. 

From information in the rest of the invoice, it is assumed that the four adults were:  Mrs. Joanna Larguey, Jeremiah Larguey, Tim Sullivan, and Johnny Larguey, age 15.  The two children were Michael, age 13 and Willy, age 9. 

 

July 5:  To Cash paid Hack Hire to College, Mrs. L.  75 cents

The only location with a reference to “College” in the area of the hotel was the Medical College.  It is possible with a sudden death that Larguey’s body was taken to the Medical College for an autopsy?

July 5: To Cash paid Mr. John Larguey Board   $31.25

Larguey must have stayed in the hotel a few days before dying and owed this bill.

July 6: To Cash paid Dr. Gibson, Richmond   $5.00

Dr. Charles Bell Gibson was a professor of surgery at the Medical College at the time of Larguey’s death and possibly performed an autopsy.

July 6: To Cash paid Roper & Murray for Coffin     $83.00

July 6:  To Cash paid for Pants for Mr. Larguey’s Son  $8.00

July 6:  To Cash paid for Cap $1.50, Book $1.00, Crops for boys, 35 cents

July 6:  To Cash paid for John Kelly for digging grave   $2.50

July 7:  To Cash paid for crystal for Mr. L.’s watch, 50 cents

Was Larguey buried with his railroad pocket watch?

July 7:  To Cash paid for Mr. Tim Sullivan fare back  $5.35

July 7:  To Cash paid for harrow for Mrs. Larguey at College    $20.00

July 7:  To Cash paid for Hack hire to burial ground   $4.00

$20.00 could be the charge for moving the body, and the second harrow for transporting the family to the burial ground.

July 7:  To Cash paid for pr. Gloves for Johnny Laguey, 50 cents

July 8:  To Cash paid for Board for Mr. Sullivan, Johnny, & Self  $11.00

July 10:  To Cash paid for fare coming back Mrs. Larguey & Self  $14.00

July 10:  To Cash paid for Guggenheim for gloves, vest

July 10 & 24:  To Cash paid for Johnny Larguey’s Board  $8.00

July 24:  To Cash paid for Johnny Larguey & Willy Larguey?

1 1/2 seat, Fare from Richmond     $8.25

Total $1303.98

July 5:  By Cash in Mr. Larguey’s pocket book bonded Me by Mr. Pat Collins, Mr. John Kelly & Mr. Tim Sullivan present   $46.00

July 24:  Amount due Jeremiah Larguey   $1257.98

August:  Expenses to & from Richmond  $12.00

Total $1269.98

This 1873 map of Richmond is marked with stars to show the locations of the Medical College, the Virginia Central Passenger Depot, and the St. Charles Hotel.

We have not discovered where in Richmond Larguey is buried. However, Clann Mhor has been able to track Mrs. Joanna Larguey and her relationship to another important figure in the building of the Blue Ridge Railroad, Denis Shanahan.  Shanahan served as assistant engineer working on the Greenwood and Brooksville Tunnels.