| Title: | Bella M. Smyth, Castledamph to James A. Smyth, Ontario |
|---|---|
| ID | 2615 |
| Collection | Irish Emigration Database |
| File | Smyth, Bella Maggie/115 |
| Year | 1899 |
| Sender | Smyth, Bella Maggie |
| Sender Gender | female |
| Sender Occupation | farming household |
| Sender Religion | Presbyterian |
| Origin | Co. Tyrone, N.Ireland |
| Destination | Essex Co., Ontario, Canada |
| Recipient | Smyth, James Alexander |
| Recipient Gender | male |
| Relationship | siblings |
| Source | Copyright Retained by Mr & Mrs J Smyth, Castledamph, Plumbridge, Co Tyrone, Castledamph@btinternet.com |
| Archive | Mr & Mrs J Smyth |
| Doc. No. | 0604186 |
| Date | 29/08/1899 |
| Partial Date | |
| Doc. Type | LTE |
| Log | |
| Word Count | 871 |
| Genre | |
| Note | |
| Transcript | [Front of Envelope] Mr. James A. Smyth Southwoodslee [Crossed out] Essex Co. Ontario [Stamped] Southwoodslee SP 9 99 ONT. [Stamped] NEWTOWNSTEWART PM AU 30 [--?] Ans [Answered?] Sep 17.1899 [Written on left] Windsor Canada [Back of envelope] [Stamped] WOODSLEE SP 9 99 ONT. [Stamped] WNDSOR PM SP 9 99 ONT. [Stamped] PLUMBRIDGE A AU 30 99 [Stamped?] HAMILTON SEP 8 10--0 1899 [Page 1] Castledamph August 29th 99 Dear Brother We rec" [received?] paper's [papers?] from you today: and see that you have been successful in your exam: which everyone is glad to know: we were waiting for the news this last week so it’s pleasant when it come [sic]. Im [I’m?] sure you will be proud when you have the trouble over and good results for your labour. I suppose you will attend Model School to Xmas. and after that you may get a trial of teaching [Page 2] Father & mother was [sic] at Downhill last week, they had a good time, James Houston, James Campbell and a few others was [sic] down from here: They all went to Portrush on Thursday there was boat-racing & all kinds of amusement there, well worth the cost.. Then saw Rev. Monteith there, he was stopping [sic] at Castlerock I suppose W Gilky [William Gilkinson?] told you that we were all in Derry on the 12th . There was a terrible crowd:: from Belfast Enniskillen & all places we could not get away from Newtown [Newtownstewart?] to half past eleven [Page 3] trains was [sic] all crowded: We were round the walls, & all the principal places of the city There was some disturbance on Sunday but we got away safe, Bogside looked bad before we left; there was a crowd of women and men & hardly a stitch on them shouting and waving green hands [sic] We saw two men chased for their life & John Charlie was hard to keep quiet, We got our photo’s taken they are all pretty well. except my own & it is spoiled It was a very warm day & we had on light clothes they would looked better had they been dark, but they must do now bad or good [Page 4] We will send Aunt a copy this week & not say who they are at the time: But I expect she will guess who they are bad as they look, Did Willie tell you of Joe Duncan breaking his leg in the Plum [Plumbridge?] fair, he went on to the Infirmary & is there yet I believe he was drunk at the time, he helped Tommy to sell sheep early in the day so he had taken some at that time: Matthew is not able to do anything yet except watch the cows, he goes on a crutch & stick & he is tired of that too: he thinks it will never be as strong as it was: he is always lamenting of missing the fun all summer & not able to run yet: he cant get enough of news [Page 5] about the fields, if he had a spy.glass he would do better he likes to know how Eden people gets along Andy Ballantine has nearly gave up [sic] running now too. he has too much work to do. & can get no one to stop with him [sic] he is so cross, he must work hard or else he is behind. Joseph is at home now he was badly wounded in the Belfast riots, so he got home out of the hospital some say he is not going back any more. Andy got some blame at the time Old Robert McFarland [Page 6] till Barness people came for him: you would miss along the road too for you could hardly go down or up without seeing him I wonder how the rabbits will do without him & for the cats they may be glad that he has left Eden He has a terrible spite at John I think because he was going to Dunbar’s & some one told him he would be married on [sic] Lizzie: John says only he had his will made before the outfall that he would gave [sic] the farm to Robert he has no more sense than ever. nor its not likely he will learn much now [Page 7] We had very warm weather here this last while but its raining today The corn is all ripe a good share cut & some in we are about half done cutting but none in yet: it ripened very fast this year & there is a very good crop, we have the flax spread & the hay in but they have a good deal of work at the road yet Old Gilky is in Strabane today drawing the money £16 this time there is new regulations with these Councils & they hardly know how they are doing the money wont be too [Page 8] plenty for a while any way Father wants to know when you will need more, you need not be afraid to ask it now when you have done so well It’s a pity that you are obliged to earn some in your holidays as they would be little enough after so much studying but I hope you will enjoy yourself anyway, even you should send for some to do so, we all know that its not lost. I was speaking to W [William?] J Duncan on Saturday: he is much the same as before, thin enough, he was clipping hedges at the shop & it was hard enough work for him & he said so Good Bye for the present B M [Bella Maggie?] Smyth |
