| Title: | Rev. John Orr, Portaferry, to John M. Orr, Chicago, U. States. |
|---|---|
| ID | 2037 |
| Collection | Irish Emigration Database |
| File | Orr, Revd John/91 |
| Year | 1848 |
| Sender | Rev. John Orr |
| Sender Gender | male |
| Sender Occupation | clergyman |
| Sender Religion | Protestant |
| Origin | Portaferry, Co. Down, N.Ireland |
| Destination | Chicago, Illinois, USA |
| Recipient | Orr, John M |
| Recipient Gender | male |
| Relationship | father-son |
| Source | Copyright Retained by John McCleery, 80 Circular Road, Belfast,BT4 2GD. |
| Archive | Ulster American Folk Park. |
| Doc. No. | 9702159 |
| Date | 11/01/1848 |
| Partial Date | |
| Doc. Type | LTE |
| Log | Document added by LT, 10:02:97. |
| Word Count | 493 |
| Genre | |
| Note | |
| Transcript | Portaferry, January 11th 1848. My Dear John, I was no little annoyed when I went to the Post Office on 31st Dec. and found that I was too late to overtake the American Mail as the Packet was to sail from Liverpool on the 1st instead of the 3rd of the month as formerly. The Whig contributed to confirm in me my mistake as the day before I read that the mail was made up on the 3rd of the month. The days of sailing now are every alternate Saturday for the months of Jan & Feb & March and after that every Saturday for Boston & New York alternately and they leave America on the corresponding days I felt cosiderably on your account as you will neither get letter nor newspaper by that Mail and may imagine that something is wrong at home which we are unwilling to communicate. I am happy to say we are all in our usual health. We were all disappointed in not receiving from you by the last Mail either letter or Newspaper - I was expecting an acknowledgement of my letter of the 30th October. Though we are in our usual health here yet influenza has been very prevalent, scarcely a family escaping. There was tremendous coughing in the Meeting House last Sabbath and not more than two thirds of the usual congn [congregation?] Mrs Welch has had it but is recovering Dr. Chermside and Mr & Mrs Bowden etc, etc Mrs Moreland opposite this house, died rather suddenly last week. She was going about as usual on Monday and died on Thursday morning. A sad occurrence took place at the shore on New Year's night - Charles McVea of Dissy who lived for a time in James Moreland's and some others went to Blind Andy's, the Fiddler, to dance. McVea was drunk, or nearly so and quarreled with the fiddler about a tune - a scuffle ensued and the fiddler stabbed him twice with a pen knife in the lower part of the belly. He died in about 30 hours after. The fiddler has been com- mitted to gaol, to be tried at the assizes. I am sorry to say that Mrs Henderson's son John has turned out very badly he is to be tried at the assizes for stealing a horse. It appears that he went to some Scotchman near Castlewellan, acquainted with his Father, to borrow a horse as he said his Mother was just dying; the man had not one himself but borrowed one for him and instead of returning him, he sold horse, saddle and bridle and [-erted?] the cash. So much for teaching boys by example, to drink and gamble. Margaret had a letter from Mary McCleery from Belfast yesterday; they have been all ill of Influenza and Mrs McCleery in bed, and had been so for a week. Hoping that the next mail may bring us a letter from you, containing good news. I am Dear John, Your affectionate Father John Orr. |
