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Title: J Smyth, Ontario, to J J Smyth, Castledamph
ID2751
CollectionIrish Emigration Database
FileSmyth, James Alexander/29(2)
Year1897
SenderSmyth, James Alexander
Sender Gendermale
Sender Occupationstudent
Sender ReligionProtestant (Methodist)
OriginEssex Co., Ontario, Canada
DestinationCo. Tyrone, N.Ireland
Recipient
Recipient Gendermale-female
Relationshipwrites to his family
SourceCopyright Retained by Mr & Mrs J Smyth, Castledamph, Plumbridge, Co Tyrone, castledamph@btinternet.com
ArchiveMr & Mrs J Smyth
Doc. No.0505036
Date13/07/1897
Partial Date
Doc. TypeEMG
LogDocument added by LT, 25:05:2005.
Word Count555
Genre
Note
Transcript[Front of Envelope]

Mr John Jas Smyth
Castledamph
Plumbridge
Co Tyrone
Ireland

[Back of Envelope]

(Written on Back)
Arrived July 25th 1897

[Stamped]
[JY 13?]
[97?]
[ONT.?]

[Page 1]

So [South?] Woodslee
July 13th 1897

Dear Father & Mother Bros & Sisters
I suppose the
twelfth of July is all over now
and I hope that it has been
a good day. I spent the day
at Ridgetown and had a very
good time. I got home last night
a little before twelve O’clock.
There was four counties represented
at Ridgetown so if that was in Ireland
it would be a large turnout but here
it was not so large, although there was
a large number of people.
They [The?] celebrations here lack
that fine appearance which they have
over there. They usually walk two
deep and pretty far apart at that,
so that it is a very long procession
but not a large one at all

[Page 2]
As far as no. [numbers?] of flags.
It was the largest number I have
seen before. Then for music there
was only seven bands two fife
& Drum bands and five brass
bands. By each lodge having
a band like you people have
it makes the procession look very
much better and more than that
they are usually hired band for
the day, so that they don’t play
any more than they have to here
and with you they are different in
this respect. We had a little
rain in the afternoon and it
spoiled the day for a while.
One thing noticeable was after
the speakers were through, they
had no more marching and
did not form in line again
However I would rather see
Plumbridge and Newtownstewart
districts together
than all I have seen in this
[County?] yet very few girls
goes with them here

[Page 3]
I think this is enough of twelfth
Of July news. I am writing this
morning for I might not have
time this afternoon if it is dry
as Uncle has a good deal of
hay to put in yet. He has only
[5?] acres in of all the crops so
wheat oats and remainder of hay
is to put in yet and there is a lot
of work in that. I was expecting
all the hay in when I get through
writing but it was not,
I am not much in love with
the job of haying or harvesting
here.
I finished up with the examination
of Saturday 10th and I think
I done fairly well with all, of
course I am not sure, it is hard
to say how the examiners will
mark but I think I should get
through that is my own Judging

[Page 4]
Some of the paper [sic] were very
easy other [sic] were not paper
[sic] on Latin French History
and Lit [Literature?] was
[sic] not so very easy although I
knew most all of it. I was afraid of
history but I think I got through it.
We had very warm weather
writing all through Sunday 11th
was the first day of the change so
we got the very hottest weather
while writing however if I
get through I will be all right
[alright?] no matter how hot it was
[sic]. Willie John Duncan is gone
home I hear, I expect that
he is home by this time. I was
surprised I did not think he
had any notion of going home,
I will send these exam papers
tomorrow. I think this little
note will do to day [today?]
James Smyth


Transcribed by Elizabeth Prentice