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Title: H. Keenan, Ballyscullion to D. Keenan, Baltimore
ID1585
CollectionIrish Emigration Database
FileKeenan, Henry/62
Year1849
SenderKeenan, Henry
Sender Gendermale
Sender Occupationowns land
Sender Religionunknown
OriginBallyscullion, Co. Derry, N.Ireland
DestinationBaltimore, Maryland, USA
RecipientKeenan, Daniel
Recipient Gendermale
Relationshipbrothers
SourceT 3397: Donated by Richard McMaster, Bridgewater, Virginia
ArchiveThe Public Record Office, Northern Ireland.
Doc. No.9406146
Date15/07/1849
Partial Date
Doc. TypeLET
LogDocument added by LT, 07:06:1994.
Word Count510
Genre
Note
TranscriptBallyscullion July 15th - 1849.

Dear Daniel,
I embrace this opportunity of writing these few lines
hoping they will find you all well and in a state of prosperity. I
am well thank God as also my wife and family - I was unwell from
Nov. to May, but thank God I am recovered after my death being often
despared [despaired?] of. I have seven sons at the fire side with
me yet. Times [-----?] are becoming worse every day here; there is
no appearance of the States recovering - I wish you to inform me in
your next letter about trades I am to put my boys to in order to go
on send them to that country. it is very difficult now to hold land
at any price. If I could get anything for my land I would yet go
myself - and take the family - Taxes are so weighty amounting in all
to a fair rent that I do not consider that the people can stand up
at all here. I was on my sick bed Brother Hugh's dear letter out of
Scotland (Belfron) near Dumbarton where he was earning [---?] per
well, and has left 4 little girls behind him. I went on the subject
of the Will which you talked of and was in James McIlhatton's own
house. Your son has just left œ25, Lt. [Lieutenant?] Murray is to
be paid first. The place is set at œ7. profit and the executors
told me they would pay me, for him, œ10 at a time till it would be
paid off. By me getting authority from yourselves - James
McIlhatton is in great poverty - I was with attorney Henry in
Maghera in the subject and he told me that it could be auctioned by
the legatees being both satisfied, but it is most likely that, that
would be the most unsatisfactory manner of resolving it.
With regard to putting a stone over our father I think well of
it. It would just cost œ5. and if James would join us I would be my
part of it. You need not be afraid of anyone interfering with the
ground for that cannot be the case. I have deferred writing to
Harry as he has not written me yet. I consider it will be out of
sight out of mind with him - When you write let me know of sister
Nancy, [--?] and if my Aunt Peggy Dobbin got over safe and of any
of Henry Mulholland's sons are to the fore. We have a railroad from
Belfast to Randalstown and Ballymena. There is a new bridge a
building at Portglenone and the Bann's being made navigable from sea
to sea, and a broad line of road coming from Ballymena to
Portglenone. I wonder much of Harry not writing to me.
Write me receipt of this and let me know all particulars as I
wish to do all in my power for your son James being now his only
uncle by our side of the house -
I remain your affectionate
Brother to death
Henry Keenan

prepaid

per steamship )Mr Daniel Keenan,
Via )Corner of Bart and Charles
liverpool )Street, Baltimore
)Maryland, America.