| Title: | Margaret & Patrick Hall,[Ireland?], to Sam Hall, [Maryland?] |
|---|---|
| ID | 1319 |
| Collection | Irish Emigration Database |
| File | Hall, Margaret & Patrick/147 |
| Year | 1817 |
| Sender | Hall, Margaret & Patrick |
| Sender Gender | male-female |
| Sender Occupation | farmers |
| Sender Religion | unknown |
| Origin | Ireland |
| Destination | Maryland, USA |
| Recipient | Hall, Sam |
| Recipient Gender | male |
| Relationship | parents-son |
| Source | Copyright retained by Eleanor Hallfreese., 12 Brighton ST. Rochester New York 14607, U.S.A. |
| Archive | The Ulster American Folk Park |
| Doc. No. | 9509122 |
| Date | 25/11/1817 |
| Partial Date | |
| Doc. Type | LET |
| Log | Document added by LT, 29:09:95. |
| Word Count | 747 |
| Genre | |
| Note | |
| Transcript | Holly Hill Nov.25, 1817 Dear Sam, Your last of the 1st July came to hand in due time, which brought us the pleasing tidings of your being in good health at that time,and of the increase of your family. Blessed be God for all his mercies You seem now to encourage us to to emigrate, I had determined to do so, and to that purpose, had advertised my place for auction on the 21st of July last, but not one [have?] came to bid a farthing for it, such a scarcity of money prevails here, that there is no money for anything but the necessities of life, a horse that in the time of war, would have sold for twenty guineas, will now scarcely bring five, a cow that would have sold for ten, will now scarcely bring three Farms are fallen in the same proportion, there are hundreds that would gladly sell, but not one to buy, yet the rents tyths [tithes] and taxes are nothing abated which makes it extremely trying on the farmers. Their cows are driven every term for the rent, where they must stand sometimes a month and often, two months, before they can get the rent made up. What it will turn to God only knows, we had very bad crops last year, many farmers never threshed a grain of their oats, there being nothing but straw and chaff we had what did us till June but had to buy from that out at 45 Hundd [hundred?] weight Indeed, if it had not been that there were large stores in the south and west of Ireland, the famine would have been excessive but thank God there was still enough in the market, but at a very high rate. This years crop does not promise well either, many had no seed of there own, and were not able to purchase it till too late, in consequence their corn is not yet cut, in many places is quite green, and worth nothing, so that we expect sharp market rise summer too, tho' [though?] at present they are a good dale [deal?] fallen there being many a one selling now in order to make up their rents, that will be buying all the summer through again You complain of us for not writing you, there were few opportunities last season, I know of but two ships that left Derry for the States, the first I did not hear of till she was away, I had a letter wrote for you, one for your brotherinlaw, & one one for Ja. [James?] Parker to send by the second but she had sailed the morning of that day I sent them down. When you write to Ja. [James?] Parker let him know of my disappointment and let your sister know that your mother received her great present safe and sound, and is greatly obliged to her. We have not heard anything of Widow Boah since her arrival at Hallifax [Halifax?] she wrote me from that place that she had agreed for their passage to N.York for 14- What to think about our going to America I cannot say but is impossible to stay. To quit this place and take another might prove as bad. Captain Sinclair seeing our inability ask'd no rent of us last year, and now there is a heavy Bill come against himself, the tenants are therefore noticed to pay their respective rent and assesses immediately or they will all be driven. What will be the issue God only knows I never was in such a dilema [dilemma?], having no possible way of making up mine. Your mother thinks you might send us some help a single of flax seed every year would buy singular service as it is by the linen trade chiefly that we live. Your mother rec'd a present of a very large silk shawl the making of a gown of very nice gingham, a black silk hankerchief for my neck, from your sister last fall. I shall not trouble you with anything further there has been no alteration happened in the family, save only the change that time has made on your mother and I. And now beseeching the Lord to give you and your partner thro' life, grace to discharge your duty to him to yourselves and to your brother of mankind. And to give you all temporal services here, and eternal liberity hereafter, we remain Your loving parents Margaret and Patrick Hall |
