| Title: | James Gray, Bangor, Co. Down, To His Son, Hugh, New York. |
|---|---|
| ID | 1228 |
| Collection | Irish Emigration Database |
| File | Gray, James/192 |
| Year | 1837 |
| Sender | Gray, James |
| Sender Gender | male |
| Sender Occupation | unknown |
| Sender Religion | unknown |
| Origin | Bangor, Co. Down, N.Ireland |
| Destination | New York, USA |
| Recipient | Gray, Hugh |
| Recipient Gender | male |
| Relationship | father-son |
| Source | T3701: Deposited by James P. Gray |
| Archive | The Public Record Office, Northern Ireland. |
| Doc. No. | 9502258 |
| Date | 13/11/1837 |
| Partial Date | |
| Doc. Type | LET |
| Log | Document added by LT, 23:02:1995. |
| Word Count | 1230 |
| Genre | |
| Note | |
| Transcript | To: Mr. Hugh Gray Painter 118 Lawrence Str [Street?] New York [U.S.A.?] From: James Gray, Bangor, County Down, [Ireland?]. Bangor 13th Novr. [November?] 1837 Dear Hugh, I have waited in expetation [expectation?] to heare [hear?] from you and family but hope delayed, maketh the heart sick, we had a few lines from Charles. Since yours of 15th May, "when I, last wrote you, I was in Expectation of Receiving Letters in abundance. so many Vessals [Vessels?] having been advertized [advertised?] here for N. [New?] York, however I understand those who did arive [arrive?] safe, few or aney [any?] of the seamen were on shore. Wm [William?] Mc[Donnal?] returned a percil [parcel?] sent by the Mess Aris - William Tomison Just stept [stepped?] ashore to taste the Grog. Capt. [Captain?] Lennox lost his ship and is not yet returned. the Vessal [Vessel?] Willy sloan took Charles letter & percil [parcel?] was also lost. which was the cause of the letter only ariving [arriving?] However if no spring ships are coming to Belfast write by Liverpool and give us a full detail of your Circumstances, during the various Morral [Moral?] & Political changes which has occured [occurred?] in your country" - as we [?] have siverly [severely?] felt the effects of both. we had a very cold and unhealthey [unhealthy?] spring with a great maney [many?] symptoms of favour [fever?] some of which proved fatal, and also an unusual and sivere [severe?] visit of small pox which, spared neither old nor young, and is not yet subsided thanks to divine providence we have all escaped - A letter arived [arrived?] the other day from John Barr, and on the following one from Saml [Samuel?] & David Rea. they were Recovering from an attack of favour [fever?] John Dier is Removed to Newtown Ards [Newtownards?] - your Br [Brother?] Henry is at home at present the school at Woodvale is given up, he made great progress while there. Mr. & Mrs. Woodss & family had him to dine with them friquently [frequently?] and was much atached [attached?] to him. I wrote you and Charles for advice concerning his future prospects but no answer" Mr Master is to be married to D. Jacksons Widow and is to leave for Belfast, perhaps we will get a hearing teacher in his place. I had a few lines from John yesterday the could [cold?] with slight frosts on the Mountains is confining him to his apartments he was tolerable [tolerably?] well all summer and must have had many providental Escapes from favour [fever?]. your sister Sarah was married to Saml [Samuel?] McMuchin June 9th and still lives here. I do not know how we will Want her, as your Sister Margt [Margaret?] is nearly incapable of aney [any?] stirring demestick [domestic?] Work." from the Repeated affects [effects?] of Rumatic [Rheumatic?] pains. Isabella is still Working houseKeeper. which is not giving her the same opertunity [opportunity?] her sisters had for improvements, she thinks some of these summers that she'l [she will?] gang up an [and?] see Belfast. I have had thank God tolerable health, since I last wrote. but am dreading the Aproach [Approach?] of Winter. I Tended all the painting in Mr. Woods. & Mr. Whites, Senr [Senior?] & Juner [Junior?]. & papered 3 Rooms in different houses all of Which Seemed to give satisfaction.. also the front Walls of Dr [Doctor?] Wilsons House after Which I Demanded his Acct [Account?] which occupied both his mind & time for 3 weeks. I persisted acording [according?] to the advice of a friend to withold my acct [account?] to his was produced which amounted to 3.3.3.1/2 but [?] you behold his lustfull [lustful?] stance when I produced 5.7.2 and Recd [Received?] 2.3.10.1/2 he demand [demanded?] the [?] which I paid him. after your mothers death. I have cured him of that very obstinant [obstinate?] complaint he has lingured [lingered?] under this 20 years which has at the Least gained me 50 friends. I think it very strange that Wm [William?] Cummings daughter niver [never?] applyed [applied?] here for her mothers share of the Legacy, 50 [pounds] is already set apart for her and a considerable sum more may yet be expected which is at present at law. Mr. McNeal attn. [attention?] Larn [Larne?]. Co. [County?] Antrim have agent, Ere these comes [sic?] to hand you'l [you will?] have our new Queens Speech at the opening of A New and severely contested parliment [parliament?]. Belfast has at length Retrived [Retrieved?] theire [their?] lost fame by the Return of 2 Libberals [Liberals?]. the same parties came in contact Last week at an election for 5 police commissioners which terminated in the return of 5 Libberals [Liberals?], which completely tested the respectability of the Libberals [Liberals?], over the Aring [Erning?]. Conservatives as the qualifications was those who paid 4 police taxes your Mother & Br.inlaw [Brother-in-law?] is well I have heard that Walley Whitley serv? [served?] her with Letters of Ejectment and Thos [Thomas?] McCulloch had taken the field. Mrs Rea is recovering all the rest is well the Miss Orrs & Br. [Brother?] is well Wm [William?] Campbell & Wife are very frail and thinks John very Negligent all our Neighbours are well, and James your Sisters & Brothers To you & Charles Letitia & the Little ones in there and our best Respects When you mentioned the steam packets we entertain some hope of again seeing some of you _ I hope Charles is conducting himself well Revd [Reverned?] Henry Lightbody is to be moved immediately to Miss Robinson An[--?] [hiet?], if no opertunity [opportunity?] Occur I will post pay this letter to Liverpool I'm giving you an Obituary since my list [last?] letter you'l [you'll?] recognise some names with regrett [regret?] Mr. Hugh & John White Junr [Junior?] - Thos [Thomas?] McClain [McClean?] Hillman to Do [Doctor?] Cunigham [Cunningham?] Mullholand [Mullholland?] & Mr.Clark of John Agnews farm S.Pace Mr McMinn?] Do [Doctor?] Andrew Mc Meghan & Billey [Billy?] Letch [Leitch?] Brown Senr [Senior?] Bob Clark - you have already heard of Mr Patterson - Frederick Batey [Beatty?] Jos [Joseph?] Mc Herral Seaman Favian Demerara there was a great many others which I cannot at present mention I think I mentioned to you about Billey [Billy?] Brandey being a widow [widower?] Henry is always Expecting a fiddle there is no person in this town can compare with him in flute playing Except some of the old Militia staff he wishes to Know whither [whether?] it was [stained] Turkeys or roast Beef Graced your table on Halloween when you write I hope you will aprove [approve?] of your sisters choice in a husband they are very attentive and kind to me McVaries [McVarry's] warehouse was entered the other night and a number of Locks broken in searh [search?] of property but was disapointed [disappointed?] the suspect a slate Makers Sone [son?] & a hors [horse?] - Jockey's potatoes 6d to 7d per Bushel. Meal [11s?] to [13s/6] per [stained] you'l [you'll] have some trouble in reading these please rember [remember?] us to Mr. & Mrs Blackwood and family & all your relations and Bangor friends. The Miss Mc Murrey [McMurray?] & friends is all well John Magee arived [arrived?] fron Down Patrick [Downpatrick?] after obtaining the benefit of the Insolvent Act, he had 22 of stipand [stipend?] & 8 Borrowed from Mr Pattison - for which he gave them Orthodox payment In conclusion I remain with Affection towards you all Your father James Gray |
