| Title: | Eliza C. Smyth, Castledamph to J. A. Smyth, Ontario. |
|---|---|
| ID | 2666 |
| Collection | Irish Emigration Database |
| File | Smyth, Eliza Catherine/59 |
| 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. | 0506032 |
| Date | 11/11/1903 |
| Partial Date | |
| Doc. Type | LTE |
| Log | Document added by LT, 09:06:2005. |
| Word Count | 1013 |
| Genre | |
| Note | |
| Transcript | [Front of Envelope] Mr James A. Smyth Essex Essex Co, Ontario Canada [Stamped] [NEWTOWNSTEWART?] PM 10 NO 11 03 [Written above address] W J Hays [Hay?] Ans [Answered?] leaving [Back of Envelope] [Stamped] [Plumbridge?] A NO 11 O3 KINGSTON 3 NO 20 03 CANADA ESSEX NO 21 03 [Page 1] Castledamph Nov 11th 1903 Dear Brother We have been waiting for a letter from you this last month but has [sic] not got one yet I think your pen must surely be lead or something serious is the matter I see by Marys last letter you have been to St Thomas well I suppose it will be a bit of [sic] outings for you going to see her I see an account of the convention in the paper’s & your name. We rec [received?] the Essex Free Press Monday & I see that Aunt is seriously ill [Page 2] I hope she gets over it again. Since I last wrote Willie John has gone home. According to accounts he was telling all passed since we got Stewarts farm. that letter Father wrote [sic] you telling who we got the money from. he told Tilda Gilkison [Matilda Gilkinson?] he read it while Father was at his tea & lots more. but I think his Father was to blame because he thought we had him doing to [too?] much work & told him when he would get clear with us he would go home at least Willie J [John?] told Tilda [Matilda?] they had this agreed to do last Plum [Plumbridge?] fair but it broke out with him a little to [too?] soon & I went over with him [Page 3] the day before the fair & told them what he had done I knew by Uncle James there was some talk but little said is easily mended He told Tilda [Matilda?] his father was angry because we had'nt him at school this last while forgetting that he had not schooled the two he had half so well at [sic] he is He would [sic] been here 12 years by December & I think we surely had as much loss as profit, until the [this?] last few years he was not worth his clothes & meat but its a lesson to us what to do again Uncle James was always a man when he would think he could live would forget all ever was done for him [Page 4] I think its a true saying “where ignorance is bliss its a folly to be wise” if Willie J [John?] had only known what was best for him I think he would [sic?] remained here one thing I know he wont have his meat as good as he had here I had always hopes of Willie J [John?] coming out bright but its scattered now he will just remain as he is I kept his bag & books & told him to come for them when he was for school but he has never come yet before ten years I hope to see him repent of what he has done, he was very useful to Mother & me this last year but I suppose we will do with out [without?] him Wm [William?] bought a turnip cutter yesterday in Strabane that was his work to cut the turnips [Page 5] after he came from school. We have got all the corn saved with hard work so much rain this year it will be a heavy loss to farmers all over the world I suppose & we have most of the potatoes dug finisehed [finished?] at home today this has been a very late year all through. We did'nt get the Family Herald last week & John is wondering why it did'nt come he likes it so well I dont think he would do [sic] wanting it now Master James was asking for it twice since Friday perhaps we will get it yet John likes the ones that have some plans in everyone to their trade I see its a good paper all through so we must all thank you for sending them [Page 6] I see Mary is getting lesson [lessons?] on the violin & likes it well Willie J [John?] had learned eight or nine tunes in the old way he will miss somethings after a while & the voilin most of all last winter he would play most of the night if no one was in I hear Tillie McCullagh is in Philadelphia now I suppose you dont hear from her I dont know what work she is at but she starts at 7.30 & quits at 7. Lizzie is still attending school also Archie I think Archie worked rather much at drawing & reading as his eyes failed & he had to get a pair of glasses George has got a little touch of the Orange Order was over last meeting [Page 7] & got in I think its the first McCullagh ever was in this Lodge. Their [There?] is great Stir [interest?] among the tenents [tenants?] now all thinking of buying out their land this town has done nothing yet but a good deal around is very busy writing etc its the topic all night when Andy Ballantine & Master James & Father meets Andy & Chas [Charles?] McCullagh has their [theirs] nearly complete but I forget the terms John Chas [Charles?] was working in Gordons this last week making a cart etc he is kept busy for so far I dont know if he will stay longer than January he has some talk of going but like all else it will [Page 8] soon wear off again he just had the ferret 2 weeks when it died & he was badly disappointed in his winter sport Father was down yest evg [yesterday evening?] with Alexander Houston [Huston?] [sic] paid £22 10s intrest [interest?]& £50 of the Capital & has all the others paid their intrest [interest?] now we have the rent of both farm [farms?] to get up Stewarts is £22 & our own £9 10s & £8 for the grass of Annies hill we got an assignment on Stewarts farm & the Solicitor charged £11 10s for doing it I think we have went through of enough of money this year if it was all counted up. I must close now hoping you are in good health as this leaves us all enjoying it. Your sister Eliza Catherine Transcribed by Greg Floyd |
