| Title: | E. Smyth, Co. Tyrone to J. A. Smyth, Canada |
|---|---|
| ID | 2628 |
| Collection | Irish Emigration Database |
| File | Smyth, Eliza Catherine/1 |
| Year | 1904 |
| Sender | Smyth, Eliza Catherine |
| Sender Gender | female |
| Sender Occupation | farmer |
| Sender Religion | Protestant |
| Origin | Castledamph, 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, Castledamph, Plumbridge. |
| Doc. No. | 0502004 |
| Date | 07/01/1904 |
| Partial Date | |
| Doc. Type | LTE |
| Log | Document added by LT, 03:02:2005. |
| Word Count | 1440 |
| Genre | |
| Note | |
| Transcript | [Front of Envelope] < Mr James A Smyth Essex Essex co Ontario Canada [Stamped] LONDONDERRY COLONIAL PKT AM 10 15 JA 3 04 [Stamped] NEWTOWNSTEWART PM 10 0 JA 7 04 [Back of Envelope] [Stamped] MAMILTON CANADA JAN 20 11-AM 1904 [Stamped] ESSEX JA 21 04 ONT [Stamped] PLUMBRIDGE JA 7 04 [Written upside down in pen] 7/1/04 [Page 1] Castledamph January 7th 1904 Dear Brother We have rec [received?] a good many letters from you this last month and have not answered any of them yet we rec [received?] one Christmas morning and one new years morning so they arrived in good time for all to hear them read its so long since I wrote that I forget what all I have to tell you as I intend giving you all kinds of news in future as you made a complaint in one letter that I did not give you enough Well I know I keep a lot [Page 2] from you that I think you would'nt bother reading so I'll change my way of writing. John had a letter from Willie McKelvey at Xmas and he said he was glad to hear from John as he gave him news his own folks would'nt bother about so If you had some stranger writing I am sure they would give you more than we do The day before Xmas Willie Houston arrived home from Glasgow, Liza. Mary and him spent Xmas in Constables as he usually gets [there?] is so many Willie Houston you have to distinguish them as Constable Willie and thos [Thomas?] Willie and Scotch Willie [Page 3] on Sunday Father and Mother went over to see him and on Monday he called in here going to Chas [Charles?] McCullaghs and was back twice he had to get your Photo that you sent mother but he said he would take great care of it he wants to let the wife see some of his friends and he is going to write you as soon as he gets back & be sure and answer as he has a great conceit in you because you write to the girls he said he was'nt very good but that he was sure you would not criticise on bad writing or spelling he stand [sic] the times well, he was wishing you had called to see him when you were over at the Exhibition he would [Page 4] like to see you his wife had three children before he married her the youngest is 13 he said he would bring them all over next year. He was sorry about James he thinks the women are doing very well but he says nobody will ever get his Old Fathers farm as long as he lives. He was down to see Bella last Thursday he said he was proud when he heard who Bella got Just I suppose because he was Houston he was nursing the baby and he was telling Mother it was the nicest and quietest baby ever he saw never said a word while he had her he left Eden on Tuesday and I suppose is back at work again. [Page 5] Now I must tell you how we spent Xmas we were all astir about 6 o'clock everyone had something to get done. Tom he had to march over and feed his stock at Stewarts (it consists of 14 head of cattle mostly young & a bull the young horse 30 hens and about 10 ducks) when he had all fed Bella and Tommy Houston were driving up so he got the ride home. John Chas. [Charles?] was out hunting all day with Bob Dunne and Charlie Watson and a few more about 12 o'clock all the boys started to play a football match in Andy Ballantines holme [home] & was at it until near dark Father went over like a young fellow but did'nt play I think they [Page 6] put him in when he went all the way over. Davie remained at home till [to?] do the feeding of cows but was up for dinner almost night after night they played checkers and some other fun. Bella mother and myself were alone most of the day. all the fun was with the players we had a good view from here and for noise we heard it plain enough the baby would not go near Father all day I think its the beard make [sic] her afraid of him. I suppose you spent your Xmas in Woodslee I am sure it was lonely there this year I notice Miss Arnold has got married although I dont tell you what I read their [there?] [Page 7] is not much in either Free Press or Family Hearld [Herald?] misses me. I usually sit up if I have not time during the day and reads all I see you got beaten in the debate between the churches. Master James was saying that it would go in the other side the night Andy Ballantine and Master James meets everything is talked over Andy thinks you will be in Parliment [Parliament?] yet. Well I hope you did'nt send that letter of condolence to Back [back to?] Eden. as it hardly be read I think Aunt Tilda was in Newtown [Newtownstewart?] since came up [sic] Sunday last and I think Mary and John was running up & down no one in Eden but a boy and girl We [Page 8] heard Lizzie was unwell & thats what kept Aunt down some say she had a young son for certaint [certain?] I can't say only what we hear Willie Elkin was around by James Duncan with the funeral cards and I suppose he got rather much drink leaving Newtown [Newtownstewart?] for after he left James Duncan's he fell in the road side and lay there till Archie got him and carried him back to the house and old Elkin had to go for him with the car was and that nice conduct for a young boy serving cards for his Uncles funeral I heard master James say that he told in some house that he was Joe's uncle he did'nt know [Page 9] what he was doing. I see you have got a raise in Salary we had noticed it in the Free Press I think you are giving Mary enough money it surely does'nt take it all to do her. She should soon make a start for herself as it is near time she was doing something its hard for her to know what to do and we hardly know what to advise her to do. I suppose you can hardly come home this summer if you pay Uncle and gets clear and perhaps it would be better your expences is heavy enough their [there?] is quite a difference in your outlay and Master James unless what he pays to the church and his clothes and keeps [Page 10] his sister and I tell you neither of them wears much but what they do get is always nice and good. And they are not out one penny entertaining folk. No one goes in unless Constable Henery [Henry?] he is engaged to Miss James this long time so that she never goes out unless to a concert or some thing of that sort during their Holidays they buy all their clothing I think in Belfast never deals in any drapery shop here they buy their groceries in Joe Duncan [sic] pays every three months they dont go home for Xmas he was up here the night before had a map to [sic] Father and tea and a tin of apricots to Mother. [Page 11] last year he gave each of them a book. Mother gives him some milk now and again. You are mistaken if you think Marys name and yours are never mentioned because they are always brough [brought?] in no matter who comes in before they go out in some way you are both talked over I think you and Bell should not be always scolding about Mary having this or that you should not mind what she says and then she would stop it I used to think they were well off but now I am commencing to see different. Has uncle got the money yet most likely it is [has] landed before [Page 12] this. I think father gave you an account of our outlay but we do not take everything down at present we have £3 so that is not much but the flax will soon be sold I am afraid our debt is heavier accordingly than yours I have made up our income on eggs and butter for the year the former come to £20 7s 0d and Butter £31.16s 0d as the eggs did not come up till last years. We are all well hoping that you are still in good health that was a very nice bit you cut out of the paper and quite true "Dont forget the Old folks so always keep it in memory and dont forget to write, your sister Eliza |
