| Title: | Liza C. Smyth, Castledamph to James A Smyth, Ontario |
|---|---|
| ID | 2657 |
| Collection | Irish Emigration Database |
| File | Smyth, Eliza Catherine/51(2) |
| Year | 1902 |
| 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. | 0604173 |
| Date | 06/03/1902 |
| Partial Date | |
| Doc. Type | LTE |
| Log | |
| Word Count | 957 |
| Genre | |
| Note | |
| Transcript | [Front of Envelope] Mr. James A. Smyth Essex Essex County Ontario Canada [Stamped] [NEWTOWNSTEWART?] 10 MR 6 02 [Postage Stamp] Postage & Revenue One Penny [Written on left] Counsel [Back of envelope] [Stamped] ESSEX MR 17 [02?] [Stamped PLUMBRIDGE A MR 6 02 [Page 1] Castledamph March 6th 1902 Dear Brother In answer to your letter which we rec. [received?] a week ago. In the first place I’ll tell you about them [sic] Valentines you left behind I Intented [intended?] to send them to a few about here but somehow I lost courage when post time came. Tom was over in Chas. [Charles?] McCullagh’s one night & Lizzie & George told him to take them over he did so & they sent Mathew, Andy Ballantine, Willie McFarland & Chas. [Charles?] Gordon one each. Mathew’s was (The Pompeous [pompous?] Old Fool) it fitted him about right Archie made hens & sheep on the back. [Page 2] George Posted them in Gortin. We never heard a word about them but someone wrote a letter to Tam Gordie in Strabane workhouse signed our Wm [William?] [sic] name to it telling him we wanted him to herd the sheep as Mathew was very troublesome and what not. Poor Tam travelled all the way from Strabane and landed here on Friday in the best of spirits thought the letter was alright but he was sadly disappointed when he told what brought him out. He had to go back Tuesday whoever done it they might have let it alone as Tam isn’t able to walk so far. [Page 3] As I told you before we’ve took him in twice on the trap so Sarah Elkin say [sic] we are getting low down when the trap turned into a poorhouse van. Alice & Sam are living apart yet. We had Andy here twice since & he says Sam is lift down for more than is true. The day they fell out Alice wanted to the Plum [Plumbridge?] & Andy says Sam would not let her as Knox & Mary was going down Eden Road at the same time. I don’t know if I told you of Willie Knox being in Eden on account of Bad Health also Willie [William?] Houston has got married [Page 4] to a Widow woman in Scotland so you see Will [William?] has got a partner. Castledamph School was Exam on Friday last [sic], I hear that all done well. Willie John has got into the Fifth Book I think he will be a smart boy yet he is good at drawing & music. Many a time I am thinking how will he get along, one thing I want him to do is never go home for if he does his learning is done for ever, he will be a nice boy if he goes on to School. I would like he would do well in after life on account of watching him since he was 2 years old such a little thing [Page 5] as he was the night I carried him here, many a time we have some fun telling him one shoe on & the other a wanting. John sent us a letter Monday telling us he is taking Music Lesson on the Violin 10d per quarter he think he will get through in nine months. Willie J. [Willie John?] will be next as he is trying to learn anyway. John C. [Charles?] had a guinea last week he was working at Port Hall so he got extra pay saved 12s 6d. Master James & all Teachers has to go to Newtown [Newtownstewart?] every evg. [evening?] during March to learn Music. I hear they get 3d per mile, I suppose to pay for the car he hasn’t been here these last two weeks likely he had not time on that [Page 6] account. Miss Dunne does not go I suppose someone will have to come and learn them. Now when you come back we wont be so far behind the times as we were before. Bella got your letter, I was down from Monday to Tuesday night. David was in Strabane & Tommy in Omagh so I stopped untill [until?] they came back. Yesterday was Gortin Fair, all these men were over & four calves sold 2 calves at £6 10s and four wedders [castrated rams?] at 13s each no sale for ewes yet. Tommy left 58 up in Glensass to-day as we have not Mathew’s hill since Saturday, there was to [too?] many for to [Page 7] stay around the fields. Wm [William?] is ploughing today & Father & Mosey Ballatine [Balantine?] is trenching. Tom in cleaning corn & Mother is sitting knitting & sometimes sleeping as there is a quietness. I have to read that letter of yours its so long I can’t remember it all so I shall answer as I read. We will surely be glad to see a piano but I doubt the time is a little far off yet. But you & Mary & John will all be for one, John may thank Mary & you for starting to learn. Mary told him to do so in her letter so then you told him, at last he gave in. He is like your self he would [Page 8] As regards milk & everything else he only takes 3 meals now, everyone told him he was to [too?] fat so he is for getting a bit lean if he can, I think he looks well since he went to Strabane. Old Wm [William?] Duncan is sick this last month, no change for the better yet. Pat Mickey is dead he did nt [did not?] last long, about 2 weeks sickness left him gone. Mrs Campbell [Eden Mill?] is very low she has never recovered since Mary died, she is not expected to live long. Dr Evan is sick himself Dr Thompson came to him Sat last, I think its influenza settled on the lungs, he got two weeks leave anyhow. We are all well hoping you all are enjoying the same Your sister Liza Catherine Transcribed by Liam Boyd |
