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Title: Robert Moat, [U.S.A.?] to Richard [Cordner?], [Ireland?]
ID1787
CollectionIrish Emigration Database
FileMoat, Robert/3
Year1856
SenderMoat, Robert
Sender Gendermale
Sender Occupationunknown
Sender Religionunknown
OriginCanada
DestinationIreland
RecipientRev Richard Cordner
Recipient Gendermale
Relationshipcousins
SourceDonated by Mr. W. Shaw, 4 Coolreaghs Road, Cookstown, Co. Tyrone, Transcribed by Dr Ruth Ann Harris, Brookline, U.S.A.<
ArchiveCentre for Migration Studies
Doc. No.405003
Date10/03/1856
Partial Date
Doc. TypeEMG
LogDocument added by LT, 04:05:2004.
Word Count437
Genre
Note
TranscriptLetter 7: Robert Moat to his cousin, Richard
Rev. John Cordner
10th March 1856

My Dear Richard,
I need not write a description of my passage as you will all have read
that.
I have not seen the earth since I arrived here except in such places as
they had cleared away with axes and shovels for the snow is that hard it
requires both and even then it was only a small piece of path way and they
are all covered with planks instead of flags. Oh I believe I saw a small
patch where the snow was blown off. There has been three or four snow
storms since I arrived while there has only been one fall of rain this
winter something different from Ireland. There are no hedges here at all.
The fields are all divided by wooden fences put up in the simplest way.
The part through which I passed on the railway was settled chiefly by
French who divided their fields into long narrow stripes. I don't know
the reason. The country is very hilly and looks very bleak all covered
with snow, with here and there a few villages composed of about two dozen
wee bits of wooden houses. There are two or three small towns in which
I was told the largest mills in the world were but of course I couldn't
see them from the train. There have been some tremendous fires here.
The high school was burnt a short time ago and two or three years ago
I forgot how many thousand houses were burnt in one fire but where they
once were there is acre after acre of ruins among which is the bishops
palace, four columns of which still stands showing the splendid edifice
it must have been. They belong to the porch. But new houses are
quickly springing up.
I took a six mile walk on snow shoes the other day. They were
about 2 1/2 feet long by 11 inches wide. I have a pair about 3 feet or
5 1/2 long by about 2 wide. They are tremendous. If I ever go home I
will go in snow shoes, moccasins, blanket coat, fur cap, fur gloves and
all other Canadian appendages. The blanket coats are various descriptions,
some are white and just like a blanket made into a coat with the stripe
that is usually on a blanket on them, also with a hood like what the
ladies wear in Ireland, so its a very handsome affair. You can fancy
yourself. I intended going to another race on Saturday but the day was
so disagreeable I did not go.
I must now conclude
Believe me to remain
Robt. [Robert?] Moat
Write soon to
Mr. Cordman's address
1 Beaver Hall
Montreal


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