| Title: | Alexander Patterson to "Dear John". |
|---|---|
| ID | 2080 |
| Collection | Irish Emigration Database |
| File | Patterson, Alexander/26 |
| Year | 1896 |
| Sender | Patterson, Alexander |
| Sender Gender | male |
| Sender Occupation | farmer |
| Sender Religion | unknown |
| Origin | Farmington, Canada? |
| Destination | Ireland |
| Recipient | Patterson, John |
| Recipient Gender | male |
| Relationship | brothers |
| Source | Donated by Mr & Mrs S. V. Thompson, 4 Grove Park, Lenzie, Glasgow, G66 5AH |
| Archive | The Ulster American Folk Park, Omagh |
| Doc. No. | 9602153 |
| Date | 01/09/1896 |
| Partial Date | |
| Doc. Type | EMG |
| Log | Document added by LT, 29:02:96. |
| Word Count | 706 |
| Genre | |
| Note | |
| Transcript | Tuesday morning Sept. 1st 1896 Dear John Yours of 19th Reached me Sunday 30th your [passed?] came duly. One left Belfast on Saturday was in Farmington P. office [Post office?] the next Saturdays And then came later from Mr. Scott so that I was able to scatter the Report of the 12th & 13th of 1896 with my friends from both Cavan & the more Renowned County Derry where the "Apprenticed boys" left a glorious record long ago - Here let me say I went through all of two weeks previous to the reception of your letter, with keen anxiety - I had written the Death acct. [account?] by the first Mail Steamer after receiving it myself, 22nd of July and counted the days with accurate exactness, taking my four mile journey often with "pain for promised joy" - Your remarks on the tidings of death of old friends as they first reach us are duly appreciated by me. I well remember, While hold a wedding festival, crowded in My father's little room Nov. 25th 1840, a boy sent as the "Cushi" bearing the tidings of Uncle George's death in Newtownards, cast a visible shade over my father's brow, and you & I went next day & had him uncle decently buried in Movilla - That being 56 year's ago next Nov. will fall on same day of month & week as then, as 28 - 56 & 84 years always do except when the century year intrudes which having no leap year makes a day difference - Father's thoughts, no doubt reverted back to the days when younger brother's, all gone, buried, some in the family lot, some in the far off land of America, Father only left & yet the oldest must have felt the admonition that the end was near - I had so far forgotten to say I had written to Mr. Scott a good while before Robt. [Robert?] death, I requested him to show you the letter but neither have [acredited?] or noticed that letter in my favor tho. through him I have had the death report of James Hall, son of Thomas Hall - Magheragal & have had still more particulars respecting him through correspondents Sarah has hunted up in that line - I have often thought of how many anniversary days we have as they occurs in the yearly round, but how little we know of the day or where it stands in the caledar, that is to not only close our account with this world but open to our astonished gaze the realities of the eternal World Robt. [Robert?] death took me back to the 13th July 1829 when, as the present year the 12th fell on Sunday - That was his first time in the rank & file procession but that it should - As you say - give him "An orange funeral" just 67 year later was hid from his eyes - I am scribbling this in a hurry as there is late hay (second crop) here to be got in today and I like to help what little I can - Must however get this down so it may be ready to sail to-morrow Had made up my mind last week to write of you to your son not being [----?] I could write to you any more - As long as you can use the pencil at all send a little & if I should go first you will hear in due time while if I remain & am able you shall hear from me - I may go first though (without presumption) I may say I have no indications of immediate death - I am far less frail than my grandmother was at my present age, the she lived till 92, but there is no security - Hope to stand ready for the word "return" - Have been putting my case more in His hands & less in my own glad you have friends such as Messrs English & Scott and I may hope others Truly I have more friends than I ever thought reasonable to expect when leaving my native land - Now the great hope of all is to find the society & the House |
