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Title: J. M.[Montgomery?], Warrenpoint to J. [Searight?], Philadelphia.
ID1804
CollectionIrish Emigration Database
FileMontgomery, John/84
Year1847
SenderMontgomery, John
Sender Gendermale
Sender Occupationbaker
Sender ReligionProtestant (prob. Methodist)
OriginPortadown, Co. Armagh, N.Ireland
DestinationPhiladelphia, Penn., USA
RecipientSearight, Joseph
Recipient Gendermale
Relationshipcousins
SourceD 2794/1/2/11: Presented by H.H Montgomery, 4 Kensington Gardens, Belfast 5.
ArchiveThe Public Record Office, Northern Ireland.
Doc. No.9508154
Date30/11/1847
Partial Date
Doc. TypeLET
LogDocument added by LT, 14:08:95.
Word Count1419
Genre
Note
TranscriptWarrenpoint 30 Nov 1847

Dear Joseph.
Many a time you may have thought
it strange and ungrateful of me not to write to you,
but perhaps you know ere [before?] this reaches you, the cause,
if not, I will tell you. after you left Liverpool, I remained
Monday and Tuesday untill [until?] evening when I went to Dr
Bamber's. I felt unwell before you left & it increased while in
Liverpool, but never prevented me there from walking about. when
I came to Barton I felt very poorly, kept my bed next day. the
day after was up: which did me no good. from that for near a
fortnight I was confined to bed of what the Dr called Gast-
[Gastric?] Fever I was up a little every day while the bed
was made & the room aired. it was the little back room I was in.
Dr wished me to take his bed, but I would not. both he & his
sister were as kind to me as they could be, they were afraid if
I grew worse it might be fatal & wished alicia to come over.
which she did, she was a fortnight from home. Blessed be God for
his mercy & goodness to me in sparing my life. I was able to
come this far, (W.Point [Warrenpoint?]) with Alicia. I was able
to go home too, but it was thought better for me to stay some
time here. when I arrived here I was very weak. & would not have
came at that time, but alicia was returning. we left Barton on
Tuesday morning the 20th Octr. [October?] & sailed by the "Sea
Nymph" at five that evening I arrived here next morning I was
sick & could not sleep well, some Gents eight or ten in the
cabin kept such a noise, singing & making speeches.
complimenting one another on their good qualities. to be sure,
they had the grand moving spring for all this & more whiskey,
wine etc. If my power at the time had been equal to my will, I
think I would have gagged some of them, unless they had given
over. on the 21st Octr. [October?] then Alicia & I came to Mrs
Kelly's. Lizzy & she had been here some time before. I was glad
to have my feet again on "Old Ireland". I continued to get
stronger every day for some time, I felt unwell on Thursday the
29th Octr. [October?] this increased untill [until?] Sunday
exactly the same way I felt in Liverpool. I was down strais
[stairs?] on Sunday, but very ill for fiveteen [fifteen?] day
[days?] after that I was not down again. Lizzy wrote home on
Sunday & Mrs Montgomery came on Monday. Dr Ross had been with me
on Saturday but now Dr & all felt alarmed. I was far weaker than
I had been at Barton. now althought [although?] not very strong,
I am able to walk two or three miles. I have abundant cause for
gratitude to God for his continued goodness. so far my
affliction has been beneficial to my soul. "it has been good for
me to be afflicted". God's word has been more read & more
thought on since then, than for I believe many months before. I
also have some delight in prayer & pray to be made like unto
Jesus Christ to have the same mind that was also in him.
I think (I may be wrong) it was taking too much stewed apples
after my dinner that brought on my last sickness. The length of
this personal history if I may call it so, may be tiresome to
you but it will be my excuse for not writing sooner your letter
came to Portadown that was directed to me, dated 14th Octr.
[October?] & those at home would not send as I was lying when
it arrived, it is not long sent us. they did not wish to make us
uneasy about Wm [William?] Lizzy continues here still as you
know from herself. we are expecting the car here this week to go
home. They all continue well as usual at home. & as for home
news. it is impossible for me to tell, neither having nor
knowing myself. one or two things I do know I will mention.
Jas. [James?] Armstrong & Mr Robt [Robert?] Waddell are dead. &
strange to tell D'Arcy Sinnamon has a public house with the sign
above D Sinnamon & Son. from the pulpit to the [dram?] shop. I
rec' [received?] your first short note, also your letter &
[same?] the on to my father. I am glad you are so well satisfied
with your situation. & that you got one so soon. I like your
description of Philadelphia so far as you go, but I hope you
will find time to enlarge considerably. & give a minute
decription [description?] of Uncle Joe, his person, mind &
manners also if he attends public worship & his opinions. tho
of his wife & cousin Massey & her mate. your opinions of the
methodists there & particulars what kind of [class?] meetings
&c. [etc.?] write close on fine paper. & don't let government
wrong you, but make up the half once. also habits of the people,
houses of dining etc. how they fare. & fifty other things, as is
often said "too numerious [numerous?] to mention" now here is
work for you, in unemployed time. I am quite serious. I would
like to know all. If fares fall very much & plenty of money, I
would like in a year or two to spend a week or two with you &
your better half all being well to them. I go on the supposition
that you get a help mate, a wife, & I wish you as good a one as
in all Philadelphia. from some hints in Lizzy's note, it will
not surprise me very much hear some day not far hence, the happy
event is over. & while we be reading of it, you may be enjoying
the honeymoon I am reading a book, I would recommend to you. Mrs
Ellis's "Wives of England". The other parts "Woman" &
"Daughters" are good too - [I?] have heard, but as yet have not
read them. "Poetry of Life" is another [scope?] I may never be
an old bachelor. You may have heard of the dreadful loss of life
& property connected with the shipwreck of the splendid packet
ship "Stephen Whitney". ninety two lives lost. every one
expected soon to see friends & home there was no warning. she
came against the rocks of the West Calf Island, five miles from
Cape Clear near Skibereen. & in ten minutes every one had ceased
to exist save eighteen who got up the rocks, near sixty feet
high. I am very sorry to say Mr Lochart's partner Mr. Roberts
there met a watery grave. political news of this country you
will see after the mail arrives copied into your own papers.
dreadful murders have been committed in some counties very
frequently of late. In those places combination of Ribbonism is
(in my opinion) awfully prevalant. all the powers of present
laws avails nothing to stop them or bring to justice the guilty.
government is determined to use all their power & make such laws
as will be a terror to evil doers such as these. Mr Willis & Mr
Woodhouse have great squabbling public meetings called & great
excitement amoung the people it is about money which Mr Willis
got. & Mr Woodhouse says he ought to account for, (above œ1.000)
it as he got it being chairman of the relief [committee?] ever
since I left home ten weeks. I am sure there are many changes in
Portadown. when there I will, (all well) write you all. I send
you inclosed [enclosed?] pieces of a paper (to add to the
posted) after having read, please send to Brother William. I
wish he had remained with you, but do not know what is best for
him. send me some papers & I will send you when I go home, all
well. don't forget but write long close letters.
Your affect [affectionate?] cousin John Montgomery.

I am not sure, but the pieces cut out of the paper may make it
too weighty in that case, I won't send them if not inside is the
loss of the "Stephen Whitney" & the other "Young Ireland" visit
to Belfast.
Jm [John Montgomery?]