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Title: J. Montgomery, Portadown, to J. Searight Philadelphia
ID1799
CollectionIrish Emigration Database
FileMontgomery, John/64
Year1848
SenderMontgomery, John
Sender Gendermale
Sender Occupationbaker
Sender ReligionProtestant (prob. Methodist)
OriginPortadown, Co. Armagh, N.Ireland
DestinationPhiladelphia, Penn., USA
RecipientSearight, Joseph
Recipient Gendermale
Relationshipcousins
SourceD 2794/1/2/16: Presented by H.H. Montgomery, 4 Kensington Gardens, Belfast 5
ArchiveThe Public Record Office, Northern Ireland
Doc. No.9509130
Date08/03/1848
Partial Date
Doc. TypeLET
LogDocument added by LT, 29:09:95.
Word Count904
Genre
Note
Transcript8th March
Portadown 24th February 1848

Dear Joseph,
I received yours of the last mail and
am thankful for all the information it contained and
hope you will still continue to instruct me about America
and that I may give you all the information I can about
this place and as William says the "old country"
one would think to read his letters he had been in
america almost half a centuary [century?]
There have been some changes here Sampson
Quinn who I excepted would have been long a faithful
man in this [concern?] has been taken home he was
home for two weeks in the shop and then took fever &
died after a months illness. He died as he lived in peace.
There has been a [deal?] of work about D. Ferguson of
late. He bought a quantity of butter from a person who
is known to be a pickpocket his name is
McLaughlin this butter was stolen from Peter Clarke &
sold to D. F @ 4d [per lb?] it was not he [best?] but worth 3d
[per lb?] more. This circumstances caused much talk in Town
and country and was talked of in the leaders Meeting
and eventually led to his expulsion from the Methodist
Society, not for the butter, but for buying stolen yarn
which he admitted & Said he would continue to do so, so long
as Mr Clarke /Jackson wished him.
On the first of March the railway was opened to
Armagh, there was a good stir on this street
which continues.
Thomas Atkinson that lived opposite you is dead
his widow is leaving our house, and Mrs Little &
Serg [Sergeant?] Graham all leaving our houses
Ser [Sergeant?] for America; I believe Harry Robb
is going in Spring. There was a fire near
David Ewens mill not more than fifty pounds worth
burnt. David Hill is in full work for some time.
[Mr?] Langtry is erecting a large steam mill where
the distillery was. [Mr.?] Shillington has the mason
work of his done but is not in a hurry.
Stewart Munro had fever but is better.
Edwd.[Edward?] Coyle took the "benefit" & paid all that
way Wm. Kershaw is talking of going to America
or Australia. Miss S.A. Jackson as before
sits at the Window but no Joe to talk to, nor any
"Day". There is nothing particular about anyone
else in town. Shillingtons, Pauls, Matthews, Cowans, all
as when you left. Wm. John has wished me to become
secretary to the Sabbath School. J. Carey is
librarian. Ham. [Hamilton?] Robb is superintendant of Miss
Stranly school in Derry-hale [Derryhale?]. The Family here is
the same. F. Jackson has left & we have a son of
Tom Henry's in the Bakehouse. We have much
cause of thankfulness for the business we have
considering the unprecedented want of employment
& means of earning money we have had a fair share
of business. The linen trade has been very dull
almost no weaving, hundreds of looms idle. It is said
things are looking better only provisions are cheap.
[we?] would be worse than last year. J. Capper got the
I.O.U. the other day & I suppose has written you
by this post. The Revolution in Paris has caused a
great excitement among all classes in these kingdoms
we cannot see the end as regards France, & the effect
it may have on other nations around. I will note
your remarks about the paper. I have send one this time
about the Revolution you may know all about it before
this reaches you. In Glasgow there was some disturbance,
perhaps I be in Belfast tomorrow & send
you a paper about it. Repealers expect that
the state of things now will bring about great changes for
them the Revolution has given them such courage.
I did not mention that Rob Levinem has commenced selling whiskey
or in other keeps a "public House" & has no
connection with Methodism. Sad change. D Sinnamon
is going on still here, but will I think not do well. he has
no place among us, but sells drink on Saturday & preaches
on Sunday in the country. Chas. Finney is drinking hard
& if he keeps going at the same rate, will soon loose all he
has.
That was a sad account of Uncle & his wife I may write to
him intemperance is an awful evil, it leads man
quickly to destruction. Since the Special Commission
in Limerick, [--?] there have been [few?] murders. Some twenty
have been executed or will be. Rob Moore and Jane & family
are well We have had much rain here & the floods have
been higher than for twenty or thirty years but not so
bad as on the Ohio, I would like a book giving an account of
America if an opportunity arises send it & charge me & a good
map
I mean one that would inform a person well about it. The cities
rivers, towns, [previous populations the latest out?]
If any vessels for Belfast I would like you to send five or ten
barrls [barrells?] flour. I bot [bought?] [superfin?] Baltimore
[---?] Belfast @28s per bll [barrel?] your letter is dated 28
inst. 1848
I see by this mor [morning?] why riots in London & Glasgow.
We are all well thank mercy. The money affairs next time
a paper came [----?] Yours sincerely yours
mor [morning?] [9?] Mar [March?] 1848 John Montgom