| Title: | James Boale, Hickory to David Carse, Co. Down |
|---|---|
| ID | 227 |
| Collection | Irish Emigration Database |
| File | Boale, James/6 |
| Year | 1850 |
| Sender | Boale, James |
| Sender Gender | male |
| Sender Occupation | mentions having worked as a clerk and a teacher |
| Sender Religion | unknown |
| Origin | Hickory, N. Carolina?, USA |
| Destination | Saintfield, Co. Down, N.Ireland |
| Recipient | Carse, David |
| Recipient Gender | male |
| Relationship | friends |
| Source | Donated by Mrs. I.J. Beattie, 120 Carsonstown Rd., Lisowen, Saintfield, Ballynahinch, Co. Down, BT24 7JN |
| Archive | Ulster American Folk Park |
| Doc. No. | 9904035 |
| Date | 08/03/1850 |
| Partial Date | |
| Doc. Type | EMG |
| Log | Document added by LT, 07:04:99. |
| Word Count | 1550 |
| Genre | |
| Note | |
| Transcript | Hickory to Mercer Co. March 8th 1850 March 8th 1850 Dear Friend Although we have delayed so long in wr [torn] [writing?] to you or to any other of our friends in that country yo [torn] [you may?] not deceive yourselves by coming to the decision that we have for [torn] [forgotten?] you, a letter from you or from any of our relations or well wishing acquaintances in Ireland is a rich feast for us here, we well rem [torn] [remember?] the many kindnesses we received from and the many enjoyments we had [torn] our old neighbours there, and so indelibly are those things impressed [on?] our memories that we can never forget them, nor can we ever [disreg---?] [torn] whom when we were there we so highly esteemed and in whose society [torn] ways were so pleasingly gratified, with only one thing can you upbraid us, that is neglect, neglect is not keeping up a correspondence with our friends [torn] [in?] that country, a high crime this is undoubtedly, and but a few wo[torn] [words?] shall we offer in the way of [torn] writing, and you will acknowledge that it requires one to have more th[torn] [than a?] little practice in diction, before he is able to weave out a letter in an[torn] comprehensible style, you perhaps may think that I have not been a diligent scholar, else I would have no room for excuse, whether I have [torn] diligent or not I must be included with the others as above, for in [stained] such is the father and such are the sons, this is all the plea we [stained] offer, and if it is not sufficient excuse, perhaps it may extenuate the [stained] little, if not even this, we must try to sit as easy under the accusation [stained] can; so much for our apology, from this forward I shall speak for myself mostly:- Your brother John visited all his Mercer Co. friends the [torn] I would have been much better pleased if he had made his visit longer you may be sure there were many questions asked him while he did stay [torn] presence brought to my rememberance our boyish days spent at school [torn] sides [besides?] many a winter evening that we spent in [cour -lity?] and [torn] thought of the [future?] in the shape of worldly cares never broke in upon minds to disturb us in our wanton though innocent amusement, joyfulness, [torn] those days was depicted in the countenances of nearly all, both old and young [torn] farmers had all the neccessaries of life they required, they were able to pay rents when due, and meet any little emergency that might happen. [torn] understood a good while ago that the failure of the potatoe [potato?] crops made great change in the times but I had no idea that the affairs of the [torn]tion [nation?] had undergone such a change until told by John, many farmers he [torn] who were flourishing in business or otherwise were in very easy circumstance, [torn]less I left Ireland are more literally in want, whence this change? has [torn] failure of the potatoes brought about all this evil? if it has it ought not to have been, does Ireland not raise grain enough to support its inhabitants? I think it does and have some to spare, the landlords then and the government policy must be the cause of this protracted evil, can the [torn] the government not be brought to a sense of their duty? I [torn] were the Yankees situated as the working millions of Ireland now [torn] are they would soon bring the landlords, the drones, the curse of your country to practice what they must know to be their duty, and as [for?] the government, I do not think that it will remain many years more a monarchy, your government is a limited monarchy, the best kind [torn] all monarchies,but by-the-bye it is too limited when it begins to [torn]mit the years of its citizens. Europe now sees, though dimly, the mights of man, she sees that all men are born with certain inalienable rights and priveleges, and when any man or set of men arises to deprive [torn] of those rights, it is her duty to use all moral and physical means [torn] [in?] her power to suppress the usurper, the ball has commenced rolling I hope that it shall never stop until every man shall enjoy the [torn] and [inherit?] rights which government should secure him, life, [torn] [pursuit?] of happiness John Carse promised to write to me soon after he [torn] to Erie I [have?] not got a letter from him yet but I think that [torn] will, he met [torn] accident while here, brother John and he were riding together on horse[back?] [torn] Clarkesville, a town three miles distant, and on the way he [torn] to alight to fix his bridle rein; on remounting, the horse on which [he] rode kicked him on the thigh, cutting him badly but fortunately [torn] the bone any, it was nearly healed before he returned to Erie [torn] in good spirits and is well pleased with America, he expects [torn] opening of navigation, to recommence the same occupation at which he was [engaged?] last Fall, for the same person John will do well in this [torn] anyone indeed can do well here who is industrious, an industrious man is esteemed by the people, his society is courted, for [torn] American [torn] the estimation due to a man of industrious and honest habits - The [Americans?] are a shrewd discerning people, fond of knowledge and [torn] the Northern, the Middle and [damaged] to find [torn] is not able to read write and keep his own [accounts?] as a people they are far better versed in religious matters than the [torn] and in their knowledge of political affairs no nation excels them; [torn] general spread of political knowledge is to be attributed to the [torn] [reputable?] institutions of the country: here freedom of speech is allowed [torn] press is unfettered, neither dare the civil powers interfere with [torn] [ecclesiastical?] matters, there is no unhallowed connexion between [torn] [church?] and state, for every preacher receives his salary from his congregation [torn] so here, the powers that be, have no sway over Christ's kingdom: Presbyterians (American) and Methodists in this state are more numerous, [torn] [than?] all of the other sects put together, though the Seceders both burghers and [torn] [non- burghers?] make up a goodly number, the Covenanters are most numerous, the church to us is thirteen miles distant, there are two churches of the Reformed Presbyterians within three miles of us, [torn] church [torn] Presbyterians [torn] besides there are others of this denomination not far distant, A talented [torn] in this country seldom has any difficulty in getting placed, [torn] happen to get placed in a city his yearly salary would be probably a thousand dollars [torn] [master?] of a [torn] congregation seldom has more than $500 a year- I understand [torn] you will be prepared for the ministry again Autumn; would it be more agreeable to you [torn] in a land where the rights of men are held sacred, where the poor man if of moral [torn] as highly esteemed as the rich man, where there are no titles of dignity or rank, know [torn] those that are requisite for the keeping up of harmony and order, yet here there is no [torn] no lords to harass the people, and where you could perform the duties of a minister [torn] to please but your congregation and your God; or to live in a land of tyranny and [torn] rule where the aristocracy are the legislators, men who enact laws to make the poor [torn] [subservient?] to the rich, where worth is measured by wealth, and where you not only would [torn] [have?] to please your hearers and Him who gave you being but even that very [stained] of [torn] under which Ireland now groans?- Father Mother and all of us are at [torn] [present?] favoured with good health; last summer I had an attack of intermittent fever, caught [torn] was engaged at clerking in a store and warehouse built on the Erie Extension of [torn] Canal, there is a dam across the Shenango river a little below the warehouse, and [torn] [in?] the summer the waters became very low and stagnant rendering the place very [torn] [unhealthy?] when I thought that I had thoroughly recovered i went back again but soon fell [torn] a relapse, so I then left it altogether:- since I came to America I have been [employed?] [torn] school [--ing?], I taught two years and a half in Washington Co. near where [torn] lives, [torn], one year and a quarter in Grant Co. Wisconsin, besides a few winter sessions near home, I was engaged at clerking one year and a half and the rest of the time I have been employed at home on the farm:- I would be glad to receive a letter from you or some of the family soon, we hope you will not rewards us according to our demerits:- Father Mother and the rest of the family join me in tendering to you, to your father and mother and to your brothers our highest esteem and most affectionate regard, James Boale [ENVELOPE] Mr. David Carse Saintfield P.O. County Down Ireland |
