| Title: | Willie Gilkison, County Tyrone to Mr James A Smyth, Ontario. |
|---|---|
| ID | 1185 |
| Collection | Irish Emigration Database |
| File | Gilkinson, William/93 |
| Year | 1899 |
| Sender | Gilkinson, William |
| Sender Gender | male |
| Sender Occupation | farmer |
| Sender Religion | unknown |
| Origin | Castledamph, Co. Tyrone, N.Ireland |
| Destination | Essex, Ontario, Canada |
| Recipient | Smyth, James Alexander |
| Recipient Gender | male |
| Relationship | cousins |
| Source | Copyright Retained by Mr & Mrs J Smyth, Castledamph, Plumbridge, Co Tyrone, castledamph@btinternet.com |
| Archive | Mr & Mrs J Smyth, Castledamph, Plumbridge. |
| Doc. No. | 410103 |
| Date | 26/01/1899 |
| Partial Date | |
| Doc. Type | LTE |
| Log | unknown |
| Word Count | 934 |
| Genre | |
| Note | |
| Transcript | Envelope Addressed to: Mr. James A. Smyth Essex, Essex Co [County?] Ontario Canada Postmarked on Front: NEWTOWNSTEWART PM 10 0 JA 26 99 Written on front of envelope: Answered Mar [March?] 26 1899 Postmarked on Back of Envelope: HAMILTON FEB 7 11--0 1899 ESSEX FE8 99 ONT. PLUMBRIDGE A JA 26 99 Castledamph Jany [January?] 26th 1899 Dear Cousin In answer to your letter which I received a few days ago was glad to hear from you again also to know that you are in good health I suppose your finger is better by this time it seems the People get sick there as well as in this country there is another of John Ballantines [Ballantine’s?] Sons Dead. I think he had Consumption. Willie Houston was at home at the new year. They say he came over for Alice Duncan, but he went away without her they fell out about something. I think she let Andrew ballantine see all the letters he sent to her while away, so when he found that out he was going to burn the house and her too. John has not come back from Scotland yet Marriage has put a great change on Alex. I think it would saved (sic) a lot of trouble if he had been married five or six years ago. I think the bother is over with them. you remember the row with the Elkins at the burn about two years ago it went to the Crown Sessions, so Tom got out on his own recoginance [recognizance?] to keep the peace and appear for judgment if called upon. he was noticed to appear before Sir Francis Bready On January 23rd it was Mr Dickie the Crown Solicitor who prosecuted But old Francis said he did not know what they brought him up for Dickie said he violated the law and must be punished, but the Barrister said he was fined for that at the Petty Sessions and he said he would do nothing more so he got out free every one [everyone?] was sure he would been (sic) sent to goal [jail?] for at least one month, it was the Duncans that done (sic) it all but they made little of it this time. It is the first time since the law commenced that Tom got any fair play though he was always innocent in a lot that was sworn against him I dont [don’t?] know how you learn all those subject (sic) you have to study I am sure you cant [can't?] spend much time with the girls if you would you would come behind with some of them. That Picture you talked about has arrived all right [alright?]. I [if?] Canada can Produce no better looking folks than them they should stop taking their photos altogether I dont [don’t?] mean you mind. I was thinking of sending you over a pair of Horse clippers you might have time to run them over some of them [those?] comical looking fellows and take some of the hair of [off?] them and if they would allow you to Preserve it you could send some of it over to Ireland for a sample. That young fellow that is shaving seems to be very unhandy Perhaps he is only beginning. I liked the high School Picture better. You wanted to know how our Soiree came off well it was very good there was four young ladies came over from gortin. They came for what they didnt [didn’t?] get you know the fellows are all too backward about here I think it is the best way in the end. The Laughlins did not come this time they are all saved now so that is a great change you know when we were going over there they would took (sic) more than we gave them. The dippers are preaching in Andrew Ballantines [Ballantine’s?] barn. I don’t think they will get many to dip around here. I [if?] you were here you would hear some good Arguments about them. Matthew is as good at it as ever but sometimes he gets into a terrible rage John McFarland is courting Lizzie Dunbar I think she is going to be converted Perhaps John will like her better then I would like to be dipping him. Joseph has left Strabane he is in Scotland now he is over about a fortnight we he (sic) had a big night before he went it was Better than the Soiree great fighting about girls We have some good fun about it since There is going to be a great Soiree in glenrone on Tuesday next if the Priest lets it go on they say he spoke against it on Sunday There is (sic) three new Elders to be elected in this Place now so that will keep the People talking for another while there [was?] four proposed on Sunday last Sandy Duncan and Joe Duncan Charles [Fullerton?] an [and?] Willie Houston Constable. You say you would like to visit home again I would like it too we will have a good time if we are all well [Closes} [Written top of page] as I hope we will (sic). Most of the People here think you could not have a good spree without Whisky but I think there is no fun where it is if you were here you would help me to uphold that The weather is very cold here now there is very hard frost this few days but no snow yet Perhaps it will come yet. Tom and me was over In Charles McCullaghs [McCullagh’s?] last night. You can hear all the news of the Country there as usual. Tillie is in Omagh now she was down for the Soiree She would danced (sic) with us very fast that night not near so proud as she used to be. I have no more to say at Present but remains your Cousin. Willie Gilkison Please write soon again Transcribed by Elizabeth Prentice |
