| Title: | James A. Reford, New Jersey, USA to Fanny Reford, Co. Antrim |
|---|---|
| ID | 2260 |
| Collection | Irish Emigration Database |
| File | Reford, James A/19 |
| Year | 1853 |
| Sender | Reford, James A. |
| Sender Gender | male |
| Sender Occupation | businessman |
| Sender Religion | unknown |
| Origin | Bloomfield, New Jersey, USA |
| Destination | Co. Antrim, N.Ireland |
| Recipient | Reford, Frances |
| Recipient Gender | female |
| Relationship | siblings |
| Source | T 3028/B: Permission to copy from W. Reford Esq. 81, Islandmagee Rd. Whitehead, Co. Antrim |
| Archive | The Public Record Office, Northern Ireland |
| Doc. No. | 9410315 |
| Date | 07/08/1855 |
| Partial Date | |
| Doc. Type | EMG |
| Log | Document added by LT, 20:10:1994. |
| Word Count | 1016 |
| Genre | |
| Note | |
| Transcript | Bloomfield Aug 7th 1853 Dear Sister Fanny I once more write to you to let you know that I am alive I would have wrote [written?] to you before this but the last year has been a year of [--------?] to me which was the reason that I did not write I have to inform you that George died on the 3 of June on Friday at 6 o'Clock P.M. he was sick for about 3 years but the last year he was not able to do any thing he came home to me on the latter part of May 1852 and he was there all summer and in the fall he went to Mr. Stubs "and supped" with him till 10 where he was taken very sick his mother went to Jersey City and brought him home he stayed so home till the 1 of January 1853 he then went to Mr Stubs again and at [on?] the first of May his mother brought him home in a carriage and that was the last time that he was out of the house Mr Stubs family came to see him every week and always brought him some thing that they thought would relieve him He was conscious of this and he wanted completely away he said that there was nothing the matter with him but the loss of strength he was to be married to Jane Stubs & different times Jane was here and one of her brothers when he died. It was with her brothers that George served his time and they thought him as one of themselves and George used to say that he had 2 homes Jane stayed here since time after his death Grace seems to have got the consumption and Ann is greatly troubled with the palpitation of the heart the doctor says that it is on account of her aunt gnawing her strength Ann is larger than her mother and quite slim Joseph does seem to enjoy good health Elizabeth is well She is at home and has 2 Children, Fanny 3 years old and Georgianna 6 weeks, She was born 2 weeks after Georges death Her Husband failed last February in the book funding and Stationary in Jersey City and the reason was drinking and gambling I lost about £100 with him he is now in the State of Pennsylvania at the American Hotel I had a letter from his brother Wm [William] at Washington who told us where he's now, every one thought that he was doing well till about 8 months ago, and the first that I knew he failed in about £7500 and I could nor would do nothing for him as I said [?] it was all useless And as for Elizabeth she has a home with me all the rest of the family is well with the exception of chills and fever which is quite common in this country this 5 or 6 years back, I hope this letter will reach its destination as I did not record a letter in 2 1/2 years and I hope that you will answer this I was never so long @ [at?] getting @ [a?] letter before I always paid the passage in full, here I often have thought that some thing thing [sic] had occurred that prevented you from writing D [Dear?] Sister I hope that you are all well and enjoying good health it would give me a great deal of pleasure to hear from you all I also have often thought that you were dead that was the reason that I had not heard from home, and if so I thought that one of my Brothers or Sisters would surely let me know, [Lewis?] me are about building @ [a?] railroad from Bloomfield to [enter so?] at the New Ark [Newark?] and New York at the other side of the Pass and never opposite New Ark [Newark?] I have taken 3 shares in it The Bloomfield Depot will be where my House is and I am going to build up on the hill above the barn The roads turn from the big pond through the orchard and do on Further 50 feet of the front of my barn and so through to my lower garden I bought all of the Wards property and I do expect to treble my money All the [Grants?] family is dead but prince Alberts 2 children that was there, Or how you here at Bloomfield, I hope that Mother Mary Ann Sarah Lewis Francis Susanna Matilda and all the rest is well I could sit and write to you all night if I but knew what to write that would give you pleasure I could say a great many things to you but it would be no satisfaction to you as you do not know the people here and not knowing them I do not tell you of any thing that transpires here [leasings?] is very good this season, and I hope that it will continue, I have not seen one from Antrim these 2 years I heard that Dora Bradley's Husband was dead I have not seen any of them in a long time as they all have left New York but John, I had 3 Doctors with George as I wished to gratify him in every thing as I had but 2 [....?] left he was as composed as one going to sleep when he departed he laughed 2 minutes before he expired I must conclude for want of matter that would interest you hoping in the Lord that you are all alive and well Dear Sister Fanny write me this once as I am anxious to hear from you all as I have wrote often and recd [received?] no answer and when you write let me know all the particulars about Antrim No more at present, George's death has almost killed Annie as George and her was [were?] so much attached to each other Your affectionate Brother James A Reford Georges age was 27 years 1 month 27 days |
