| Title: | Rev. John Orr, Portaferry, to E.E. Griggs, California. |
|---|---|
| ID | 2034 |
| Collection | Irish Emigration Database |
| File | Orr, Revd John/48 |
| Year | 1851 |
| Sender | Rev. John Orr |
| Sender Gender | male |
| Sender Occupation | clergyman |
| Sender Religion | Protestant |
| Origin | Portaferry, Co. Down, N.Ireland |
| Destination | California, USA |
| Recipient | Griggs, E.E. |
| Recipient Gender | male |
| Relationship | friends |
| Source | Copyright Retained By John McCleery, 80 Circular Road, Belfast,BT4 2GD. |
| Archive | The Ulster American Folk Park, Omagh. |
| Doc. No. | 9701204 |
| Date | 22/01/1851 |
| Partial Date | |
| Doc. Type | LTE |
| Log | Document added by LT, 15:01:97. |
| Word Count | 919 |
| Genre | |
| Note | |
| Transcript | Portaferry January 22 1851. My Dear Sir, Sad, sad indeed was the intelligence which your letter of the 8th of Nov.r [November?] last brought to our house, the death of our dear beloved, affectionate Son, John M. Orr. It came on us like the bursting of a thunderstorm, on the morning of the 14th Inst. For a time we were all completely prostrated, and it was only on the perusal and re-perusal of your sincere, feeling, affectionate Christian letter, that aided by the Grace of God we were restored to some kind of Christian composure - Often indeed since he left us, but especially since he informed us of his design to proceed on that - to him - ill fated expedition to California, have we pictured to ourselves his hardships and privations, and especially if attacked with sickness there would be no kind hand to attend him, or no kind voice to sooth him - but his letters which except one, reached us regularly were all written in such good spirits, that our hearts were buoyed up with hope - alas! only to be terribly disappointed. For the affection that subsisted between him & you I thank our Heavenly Father, for the kindness and attention you showed him in his illness and at his death, when you had to act the part of relative and Christian friend and for the respect shown to his poor earthly remains - we all thank you from our hearts - The testimony borne by one who knew him so well, to 'his 'sterling integrity and uprightness of purpose' - and the information communicated respecting some evenings spent in your habitation in religious exercises - and the faith we have in Jesus as the only hope and refuge of sinners - are at the present moment to us [peculiarly?] valuable - The first shows that his father's parting admonition to 'act in all your transactions honourably and uprightly' - was not forgotten the others afford true and genuine comfort in the hour of deep distress. Though we cannot now pray for him as we were accustomed regularly to do and though his body rests in a grave in the far far west, yet we believe it to be as safe there as in his native land - for that is the declaration of the Saviour himself - And this is the will [&cc?] and we can and do pray for the man who was to our dear Son a companion in his wanderings - a partner in his toils - and a Christian friend in his last and fatal illness - yes! E.E. Griggs we pray for you that you may be preserved to return in safety to your dear wife and family - that God will repay [unto?] your bosom a thousand fold the kindness shown to John M. Orr - that the [brotherly?] friendship commenced on earth & [that?] not a mere worldly one will be [commenced?] in heaven; and that washed in the fountain of Christ's blood, & clothed in his spotless righteousness, and sanctified by the Holy Spirit, we may all meet around the throne of God and of the Saints. - In the midst of judgement God is [ever loving?] [----g?] With respect to the converting his property into money, I leave that entirely to you. Ill would it be come me not to repose the fullest confidence in the sterling integrity and uprightness of purpose, of one who was my Son's partner and attached friend who has testified to these qualities in him, and to whom his memory is dear. If God in his good Providence spare Thomas [Warnock?], you can advise with him on the best method of transmitting the proceeds to this country - [respenny?] & of sending, his watch, or any letter things that may be mementos of departed affection. [and?] [though?] many parts of your letter [under?] the sad circumstances are gratifying though you have written very fully his poor mother is anxious to know whether he was sensible and aware that he was dying? - also whether in the previous illness of diarrhoea, which he had, and of which he mentioned in his last letter posted only four days before his death, though he said he was then quite well, he was in Sacramento City, or travelling or working - for he mentions having been at [Coloma?] a few days before, and whether he was in lodgings, or sleeping in the waggon and if he had any proper nourishment Let [me?] [hear?] from you as soon as you conveniently can - Believe me dear Sir E.E. Griggs Yours sincerely John Orr. When you see Dr [Warnock?] you can inform that his friends here are all well tho in great anxiety about him, especially as there has only been one letter recieved [received?] from him since he went to California, and the weeks [contained?] in the Newspapers the [evuages?] of [Chalim?] are far from calculated to relieve that anxiety - that a letter was addressed to him to Stockton, to the care of my dear Son the week before your letter arrived - and that they hope if God spare him and his brother that they will write presently and regularly - That the Lord may extend over them and you his protecting shield, and that your family and theirs may not have cause to experience such heart rending feelings as ours has done, is the earnest prayer of John M. Orr's [bereaved?] father, John Orr Copy of letter to E.E. Griggs Esq. [Machaelmore?] River near Sacramento City California Posted Jany 22d, 1851. |
