| Title: | Thomas Gardner, Co. Antrim to R. McKinstry, U.S.A. |
|---|---|
| ID | 1143 |
| Collection | Irish Emigration Database |
| File | Gardner, Thomas/28 |
| Year | 1845 |
| Sender | Gardner, Thomas |
| Sender Gender | male |
| Sender Occupation | unknown |
| Sender Religion | unknown |
| Origin | Co. Antrim, N.Ireland |
| Destination | Van Buren, Arkansas, USA |
| Recipient | McKinstry, R. |
| Recipient Gender | male |
| Relationship | friends |
| Source | T 3768/2/1: Deposited by the Ulster Historical Foundation, 12 College Sq. East, Belfast. |
| Archive | The Public Record Office, N. Ireland. |
| Doc. No. | 9801335 |
| Date | 17/01/1845 |
| Partial Date | |
| Doc. Type | LET |
| Log | Document added by LT, 12:01:98. |
| Word Count | 653 |
| Genre | |
| Note | |
| Transcript | BELFAST JA 25 1845 [Belfast transit postmark 25 Jan 1845?] Mr Robert McKinstry South Plymouth Post Office Van Buren Mayne County per Steam Ship BALLYCLARE [despatch postmark undated?] P.PAID 1/- [postage paid at Ballyclare one shilling?] Magherabane 17 January 1845 Dear Sir I received your very kind letter of the 10th Oct last and was happy beyond expression to hear that you had landed with your Brothers and was glad to hear that you enjoyed a state of good health The only pretext I can make at my delay of writing is that [Mr?] M'Neilly lay 7 weeks in Carrickfergus [----ring?] Legacy Duties and I thought me this time I would have been in a like case and have [----?] come to any conclusion John continues still with [Mec-am?] [M Call-gh?] & Robert is with your sister Mary & your neighbours are all in good health it will not surprise you to hear that our neighbour John Taggart is no more & John McCance's youngest child with the exception of one which was Born the day previous to the other death you may let Mrs Hugh McKinstry know that her father is not expected to survive long & all her Brothers and sisters are well - & Dear Sir I am thinking long to see you once more I hope you will avail your self the opportunity of coming This insuing [ensuing?] Spring as I think you might do well enough here among your old neighbours I give you this advice as a friend as I do not hear any encouragement coming from America for they are landing in Ireland every day people that left home as late as you I got a letter from Wm McConnell stating that he had paid Andrew Smith [-2?] of sum with Interest up to the date which I was security for and I have lefed [left?] In note I called on Thomas Todd for the sum due you but I never received any. I neglected mentioning your sister - Anne I think it will not be long until she changes her situation in life she is always in James Armstrongs and they are in good health Your cousin Hugh is still with Mr Mahood and enjoying good health and also his two sisters James Adam his wife and family are in good health William McCance is living in a place [Cheyenne?] [Laurensburgh?] with some gentleman but he does not mention what he is doing it was in a letter of James Errskins that I got this Information he gives very bad accounts of America John McClelland is home and James Erskin says that he was the wisest of the whole party for coming for he is obliged to stay where he is during winter and does not earn one single cent and he also states that Andrew Smith William McCance Hugh Craig William [Witherhed?] are all coming home They think they have seen enough of America I think they will be here in Spring, Nancy wishes you to come [stain] as she would be desirous to see you she tells me to say that Miss Beggs is single yet she doubts you have left some Injunction with her to remain single as you return as I have no doubt but you will be here to pass your Halloweve in this year - I have no more at present But I remain your Friend and well wisher Thomas Gardner state in your next letter if ever you heard any word of [I?] Gardner My Dear Sir It gives me great pleasure to Hear from you and to know that you are enjoying good Health and in [stain] joining in reply to your last as W Gardner Has given you all the news of the country it leaves me only to say that we would be glad to see you here. My Dear Robt [Robert?] there is one thing above all others what I fondly Hope you will not neglect your duty to God - this will make you Happy in time and Happy in that what is to come - farewell & I am yours John Montgomery |
