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Title: Alicia Garland [U.S.A.?] to Richard Shaw, Belfast.
ID1144
CollectionIrish Emigration Database
FileGarland, Alicia/29
Year1851
SenderGarland, Alicia
Sender Genderfemale
Sender Occupationunknown
Sender Religionunknown
OriginUSA
DestinationBelfast, N.Ireland
RecipientShaw, Richard
Recipient Gendermale
Relationshipsiblings
SourceDonated by Mr. W. Shaw, 4 Coolreaghs Road, Cookstown, Co.Tyrone. Transcribed by Dr. Ruth-Ann Harris, U.S.A.
ArchiveUlster American Folk Park.
Doc. No.9702267
Date25/11/1851
Partial Date
Doc. TypeEMG
LogDocument added by LT, 24:02:97.
Word Count822
Genre
Note
TranscriptMr. Richurt [Richard?] H. Shaw
Moat Park
by Dunmurry
Belfast [crossed out?]
Ireland



November 25th 1851
My Dear Brother
I have come to the conclusion after
the lapse of twelve years to truble [trouble?] you
with a scrawl from my pen. I waited until my
patience were entirely worn out and could not
refrain any longer hoping it would be the cause
of leading you to write to me and that very often
as I can assure [you?] nothing would give me more
satisfaction than to hear from my friends in the
dear emerald Isle, altho [although?] I have not writen [written?]
to any of you before except Mary I can asure [assure?]
you it was not that I had ever forgoten [forgotten?]
any of you. It is not in my nature to do so, but
Mary not answering my letter or taking any notice of
it was the cause of my silence as I thought the [they?]
would not be worth paying postage on but if you will
only write to me when you resieve [receive?] this the
past will be forgoten [forgotten?]. Of my dear brother
how much I should like to visit the haunts of my
childhood and the friends of my youth. The [they?]
are asociated [associated?] with pleasure and pain at
the recollection but alas I am afraid that pleasure
shall never be [----?]. I will now try to give you
some news of my [----?] of the country. This has bin
[been?] the year to elect state senet [senate?] and
county officers. There has bin [been?] a prety
[pretty?] considerable excitement amongst the two
contending parties union and disunion or Suthernites
[Southernites?] as the disunion party call themselves
if the [they?] were Southernites men indeed the [they?]
would do very well but they are for peaceible
[peaceable?] secession which might result in a sivile
[civil?] war amongst us if so. It would possaible
[possibly?] result in the downfall of our government
but God forbid that cuch [such?] should ever take
place in my day and time, tho' I do not think there is mush
[much?] danger as the union party have a great
majority in this State and almost all union candidates
that were elected, our country in general has been
quite sickly this last summer and fall. We had a
new disease amongst us which they [the?] doctors
pronounced [-----?]. it was very fatal. Our relations
here have all had there [their?] portion but did not
loose [lose?] any of there [their?] families. I myself
have had three difrent [different?] attacks tho slite
[slight?]. My husband is quite unwell at present.
Matilda poor girl had chills and feever [fever?] for
about three months with ocasional [occasional?]
intermissions which reduced her a good deal tho [though?] I
think probably the cause of her having them so long she had
given the promis [promise?] of her hand to a Mr. Bell
and was anxious to get well before the appointed time
which was the thirtieth of October. We succeeded in
curing her [---?] before while we were busied in making
[---?] she was in bed trying to [----?] her chill.
This I have no doubt will appear strange to you but it
is the nature of the disease that as soon as the chill
and fever has gon [gone?] off the patient is able to be up
generaly [generally?] speaking. She was married at
the appointed time and has not been sick any since.
She is now Mrs. Luis Bell. He is the son of a planter
in this neighbourhood and a very worthy man. Sarah,
Matilda and myself live in two miles an [and?] a half
of each other which is a very pleasant distance.
Margaret lives at a distance of six miles. Edward and
George ar [are?] still at the same place. G. is
teaching school and E. farming. James is stil [still?]
in Texas and holds the same office he had done for
years and is now one of the most influential men in
the State next to the governor. Now when you write
I wish you to give me a full account of all our
relations and acquaintances, how and where the [they?]
all are and what ther [they are?] all [about?], state
of country crops and so forth. The crops in this
country have been generaly [generally?] bad the
[season?], particular [particularly?] corn and
potatoes. I have given you all the news that I
think would interest you. You mentioned in one of
your letters to Matilda at one time it would be a
satisfaction to you if I would only sine [sign?] my
name. I am now in hopes this will still be a much
grater [greater?] and will [----?] know that it is by
answering this as soon as you receive it. Mr. G. sends
his respects [----?] to receive a favour from your
pen all [----?] time in kind love to you all and
believe me
Richard to be your ever
affectionate Sister
Alicia Garland