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Title: Bella M Smyth, Castledamph to J. A. Smyth, Ontario
ID2614
CollectionIrish Emigration Database
FileSmyth, Bella Maggie/114
Year1899
SenderSmyth, Bella Maggie
Sender Genderfemale
Sender Occupationfarming household
Sender ReligionPresbyterian
OriginCo. Tyrone, N.Ireland
DestinationEssex Co., Ontario, Canada
RecipientSmyth, James Alexander
Recipient Gendermale
Relationshipsiblings
SourceCopyright Retained by Mr & Mrs J Smyth, Castledamph, Plumbridge, Co Tyrone, Castledamph@btinternet.com
ArchiveMr & Mrs J Smyth
Doc. No.0604061
Date09/08/1899
Partial Date
Doc. TypeLTE
Log
Word Count714
Genre
Note
Transcript[Front of envelope]
<
Mr. James. A. Smyth
Southwoodslee
Essex. Co
Ontario
Canada

[Stamped]
NEWTOWNSTEWART
PM
10 0
AU 11
99

[Postage Stamp]
Inland Revenue
One Penny

[Back of Envelope

[Stamped]
PLUMBRIDGE
A
AU 11
99

[Stamped]
SOUTH WOODSLEE
[--?]
[--?]

[Large writing written across]
1899
Jasmyth
Sept 5 1901

Castledamph
August 9th 99
Dear Brother
I suppose by
this time you will think that
we have gave up writing all
together & then we have been
expecting a letter from you
this last week: so it appears
we are all a little careless
about writing now
We were a little busy this
last while with hay: but we
have it all up now only the
new meadow and its not cut yet
nor is there much to cut off
it we are putting in the other
hay today W [William?] Ballantine
& W Gilky [William Gilkinson?]
is helpng them.

[Page 2]
We have very warm weather here
this last fortnight and lots of
thunder on Sunday. The hay is all
going up in good style no trouble
with it at all
I suppose you are taking your holidays
now: let you be successful in the
past or not [Im sure you are not sorry
to get off studying for a while:
I believe Willie J [William John?]Duncan
will be home today they went to the station
yesterday to meet him but he was not
there, we have heard that he is comming
[coming?] for the good of his health &
Mary says he will only stop three weeks
& see how the lawyer is getting on
with books & money as they cannot
watch him so what he is comming
[coming?] for

[Page 3]
no one is sure.
Old Dr Conan was buried on Monday last
There was a large funeral: he has been
ailing for a for a long time: almost
since he resigned he has left £5000
behind him the wife to get one & the
daughter four he did not lose much in
shares nor anything else
Dr Campbell is lodged with Mrs Nelson
in the new house & has it all except
the shop which is kept by Miss Louisa
Campbell: Miss & Mrs Nelson stops in
Donemana except on fair days Mary Campbell
was trying for a teacher but failed in
spelling at the exam I dont know whether
she will go back to school or not.
The master says she will never make one

[Page 4]
Alice Duncan was in Glasgow for two weeks,
she came home last night & Beck came up with
her from Newtown [Newtownstewart?] everyone
thought that she would not come back: but
that her & Will [William?] Houston would
be made one but its a failure: There was
a great change in their meadows this year:
no girls to be seen out, the men had to
do it all every other year they had
nothing to do but cut it down & the girls
win it.
Susan McNamee, Glensass started off to
America on Friday week, her own people did
not know where she had gone as she told
them she was going over to Barney's she
caused some talk around here by starting
so sudden & no one behind her

[Page 4]
Alex McKelvey, John James & wife are
going back shortly they have spent more
on sea than would do a careful person for
a good while Sarah “Neil Roc”or McConomy
& William Duffy is going with them: there
should be lots of Irish in America with
what goes from here
The twelfth of August is going to be a big
day in Derry we have some thought of going
the Lodge was invited but they dont care
for going There are others going from here
as well as us
I think W Gilky [William Gilkison?] wrote
to you this week so its likely he gave you
all the news He has bought “Georges Jamie”
[sic] farm at £120 it will help them as
their [there?] own is small:

[Page 5]
Jamie is going up near Omagh to live
We sent you papers last week I will send
ones this week with news about Derry
We are waiting for some news of your
examination and I hope it will be good
James Houston wishes to be excused for
not writing as he was very busy Wm
[William?] Duncan's ones put up a large
barn so he was there for a long time
but he will write a long letter if he [---?]
up the hay.
No more at this time your sister
Bella M Smyth
with Love to all