| Title: | Liza Smyth, Castledamph to James A Smyth, Ontario |
|---|---|
| ID | 2663 |
| Collection | Irish Emigration Database |
| File | Smyth, Eliza Catherine/55 |
| Year | 1903 |
| 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. | 0604125 |
| Date | 12/10/1903 |
| Partial Date | |
| Doc. Type | LTE |
| Log | |
| Word Count | 906 |
| Genre | |
| Note | |
| Transcript | [Front of envelope] Mr James A. Smyth Essex Essex Co. Ontario Canada [Stamped] [NEWTOWNSTEWART?] PM 10 0 [---?] 03 [Postage Stamp] Postage & Revenue One Penny [Back of Envelope] [Stamped] ESSEX OC23 03 ONT [Stamped] PLUMBRIDGE A OC 13 03 [Page 1] Castledamph October 12th 1903 Dear Brother After some delay I will try & write a few more lines to you today when Mary is so far from you I must do more writing to you in future if possible. We had a letter from Mary Friday so she complains of our notepaper being to [too?] heavy that she has to pay for some letters. I see she is getting along alright & likes the place well. You have forgot [sic] to write this last while I suppose you are to [too?] busy. [Page 2] I suppose you will wonder to hear that Robert McKernan is dead he died last night took bad on Thursday while doing some work its only five weeks since Alexander died & he was alright by appearance but I think his legs were very badly swelled [swollen?] this long time he is 80 years of age so he has the appointed time run up. Death has removed a good many people around this locality this last 12 years that is since you left their [there?] is not a house in this town only Warnock Reids & our own but has lost one or two persons since then I think. Providence has been very kind to us as regards that line [Page 3] all other changes is bad enough but death is worst. Since I wrote last we have got the bad weather back again & we had five acres of corn to cut has [sic] just got it finished on Saturday betwixt showers but how it will be got in I don’t know unless it clears up again. We are receiving the Free Press & Family Herald weekly & I suppose at your expense at first we could not know as the address was done in writing on the Herald but this last one is Just the same as the Essex Free Press. I like the Family Herald as it contains a good [Page 4] deal of information on all kinds of business. Andy Ballantine & Master James read it all over the Master says it is one of the best papers he see [sic] come from there. They have got back from their holidays Sat week; was away about 5 weeks not so long as you give over there he rec. [received?] papers from you they came to Plumbridge but was forwarded to Tanderagee I don’t know if he got a letter I forget just what he said; Joe Glen & he were here yest [yesterday?] evg [evening?] he can take some fun out of Joe. Most of all the visitors are gone that came home from America & some are coming. [Page 5] Mrs Moore & husband that is M. J. Noble are expected every day this last week he is travelling for some company round by England & so gets his way paid also hers. A letter has come from their daughter to Nobles but they have not turned up after all. I suppose you remember the little girl that used to go to the shop when you were working on the road eight years ago. John has gave up though [thought?] of going to Glasgow as Joe Gilkies [Gilkinson’s?] wife & son have scarlet fever but I think they are over they [the?] worst of it any way he [Page 6] has got a ferret from Dublin at 5s 6d & is for having some sport; at present he is roofing a shed for the Houston’s women in Eden & I am sure he is in a bad way to get through quick as he only got it Friday so he not [sic] seen it work yet. Uncle John had the work of the shed but he was tarring the barn & the ladder gave way & he fell some distance & the bucket of tar after him & he can’t lift any weight with one arm so he sent for John, he was there on Sat but I suppose only to see how it could be done, he is for quitting [Page 7] out side work altogether as he is getting quite stiff: Dr Evans has got back to Plumbridge but is going on two crutches I hear he is for London to get an operation on one foot as it is not quite better. There was a circus at Plumbridge last week they were to show of [off?] Tue evg [evening?] but it rained so heavy they had to give up & I suppose spent most of their time in Public Houses as Jas [James?] Houston had a leather bag stolen that he kept decrees & I.O.U. in, they suspected it was money & when they were dissappointed [disappointed?] they hid the bag under stones at the Dr’s old place [Page 8] & was discovered on Friday in safe condition. We have Just rec. [received?] the Free Press & Father is reading that murder case of Richardsons &c here is a little incident [I?] may tell you at that time I was reading your letter about it & when I said colored man Mother asked what kind of man was he so before anyone spoke Willie John said he is just nearly like Andy Ballantine he knew more than Mother did although he was not quite right. I think he should been hung & it would [sic] learned others a lesson it was a sad case done I suppose in a heat of passion. I must close now so good morn [Written along right side of page] Your sister Liza Transcribed by Liam Boyd |
