| Title: | Liza [Smyth?], Castledamph to “Dear Brother” |
|---|---|
| ID | 2633 |
| Collection | Irish Emigration Database |
| File | Smyth, Eliza Catherine/10 |
| 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 |
| Doc. No. | 0410226 |
| Date | 02/07/1904 |
| Partial Date | |
| Doc. Type | LTE |
| Log | |
| Word Count | 1185 |
| Genre | |
| Note | |
| Transcript | NO ENVELOPE [Page 1] Dear Brother John Rec [received?] a letter from you Friday but as he is kept so busy this last while he can’t get time to write so I will give you all the news I can. I think you should have Rec. [received?] a letter from me shortly after you wrote I believe it was in June. I sent it off but I see you dont intend to come to New York this year. I suppose [Page 2] money is the only difficulty with us all we would do great things if we had it but perhaps we might be like some others hard enough if we had plenty and again health is before wealth now we had a visitor here about two weeks ago from England a John McAnuley who sold his land to Moses Ballantine twenty six years ago and he has a daughter about the age of you who has never set foot on green grass nor has not had any clothes on the last seven years his wife is failing in health [Page 3] and he would like to get a house and grass around here that he could keep a couple of cows he is old now and cant get any work but while he was young and strong he left some money past I never heard a man as he done you could listen to him all day he said one Dr [doctor?] asked how they kept her without any bed [sores?] well he said we done our part and god done the rest bad as she is he said they had no trouble with her in that way and can eat anything that comes her way While we have health [Page 3] and strength we dont value it as we should do. Your letter did not reach here in time for the twelfth but we had James Campbell in Sunday before coming from church and you may be sure he asked enough about you and Mary he said they heard you and her had got a [sic] invitation to Tillies wedding but I think not. We rec [received?] a photo from Tillie (Monday) of both they look splendid as Master James said last night its an excellent Photo he looks quite young [Page 4] well now I must give you some news concerning the twelfth the usual preparations were carried out but I think the heaviest part fell on John he had to ride to newtown [Newtownstewart?] on the bike and carry the new [drum?] on his back coming home the bicycle broke down out side the plumbridge [sic] and then he had to walk and drive the bicycle he sent in with Jamey McKnight how ever it was he would’nt get her from the railway officials and least she would be late John started off for her on Friday she is a skeleton Brass very nice [Page 5] The band practised every Friday night but most of the old ones are not to the front, the route was Fintona about 7 miles above Omagh. They assembled here at 6.30 and left at 7.30 we were all up from 4 oclock or shortly after and as Mr [Hun?] says despite the fact that we dind’nt want to waken Madge John could not be kept from the drums. Bella came up the evg [evening] before and had Madge [with?] her I suppose it (sic) twenty years since a little girl was running about on a twelfth morning she seemed to enjoy the drums well. There was 16 fluters 4 small drumers [drummers?] large drumer [drummer?] and a symbols [cymbals?] man 22 in number all the rest were on our car and Jim Orr’s except John Gilkison and George McCullagh [McCullough?] who were carrying the side polesJamey McKnight James McKelvey Davie [Davy?] Houston and William second Ady mccleand A.J. Campbell A Campbell J Ballintine J. Hay Joe Jilkinson and [---]. Orr Big Drum Bob McKernan small drum John McKnight Willie J Campbell and Willie J Hay symbol Bole Campbell, they others were James Campbell, Jomy Jilkison George McCullough Willie Boucher R.J Hay there were a few more but I forget Alex McKelvey (Glasgow) is not able to come and william Smyth had a very sore foot. William Lunneys father died the night and that left John Orr and lisa both absent the morning was glorious and fine they had to be in Newton at 10 oclockthe same tunes are still played Mother Bella baby and I were all alone it was a long day well about 4 oclock it changed to rain and just as band was coming into the [---] the thunder and lighting started the played till came to willie Orrs and got in and continued for almost half an hour and heavy rain [------] it spoiled the ivy lots of them went home before the band got ready it was ten oclock when they reached here. All the sashes were wet also the flag, some girls were here they spent the evening singing and dancing Lizze Mc Cullough and rchie in [-----] on bicycles and as lizzie was in while you may know how she was, but they got all day and had a very good time Old Master Campbell came up he has his passage paid to Canada and he would like to mary if she comes before he leaves he is going out to his brothers place he feels the effects of a mispent time now. has nobody nor I suppose not much money now he was talking to father about the four sons he had and he said he could married just as well only I suppose he was to ill so please he was to ill so please but he runs it badly now we rec your exam paper also master james said he got your letter and papers he thinks you have rather much work to do your holidays are very long if everthing was as we would wish yiu could spend them two months about here. I dont think it was against marys wish going to school as she always said she liked it well. We re the two picture and the map belonging to the family herald the day before the twellh they are very nice This day is raining all through we had another thunder storm yesterday evening the lighting was not so bad as on the twelfth but the thunder was very heavy [---] and father were in clougherney at the turf so he got a wetting coming home John has been working in James Duncans and joes this last fortnight and davy has got a [-----] to put up in railing and he must be there today as he dint come home last night we were expecting mary home about the 3 Aug but according to accounts she may not come as soon. Uncle William inLiverpool has got married lately. Mrs McCullough is very bad again the Dr was with here three times yest. We didnt hear how she is today but I am going over after dinner. Goodbye now Liza Transcribed by Tony Flanagan |
