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Title: J. A. Smyth, Ontario, to J. J. Smyth, Co Tyrone,
ID2789
CollectionIrish Emigration Database
FileSmyth, James Alexander/52(2)
Year1899
SenderSmyth, James Alexander
Sender Gendermale
Sender Occupationsummer job as salesman
Sender ReligionProtestant (Methodist)
OriginEssex Co., Ontario, Canada
DestinationCo. Tyrone, N.Ireland
RecipientSmyth, John J. and wife
Recipient Gendermale-female
Relationshipson-parents
SourceCopyright Retained by Mr & Mrs J Smyth, Castledamph, Plumbridge, Co Tyrone, castledamph@btinternet.com
ArchiveMr & Mrs J Smyth
Doc. No.0506024
Date03/09/1899
Partial Date
Doc. TypeEMG
LogDocument added by LT, 08:06:2005.
Word Count1093
Genre
Note
Transcript[Front of Envelope]
Mr John J. Smyth
Castledamph
Plumbridge
Co Tyrone
Ireland

[Stamped]
[WINDSOR?]

[Back of Envelope]
Handwritten
Arrived Sept 18th 1899
Monday

[Stamped]
HAMILTON
SEP 6
7—0
1899

[Stamped]
[NEWTOWNSTEWART?]
5 AM
SE 18
99






[Page 1]

Essex, Ontario,
Sept, 3rd. 1899.

Dear Father & Mother,
I think you folks
must have some extra urgent business to
attend to during the last two months, as
I only received one letter since I finished
my examination, Surely among you all you
could find time to give me the news of
the community at least every two weeks, if
not weekly. There are so many of you that
I believe you could find the necessary time to
scribble off a few lines. I have been waiting
for a letter for a long time otherwise I might
have written sooner, I have received a letter
from Wm [William] Gilkinson and the papers
from yourselves, I read over the 13th Aug,
proceedings in Derry with much interest
Must say there is a queer class of people
over there. It exhibits in detail the kind
of Government that would result from
Home Rule,
Well, as I mentioned in my former letter I

[Page 2]
I [sic] had an agency during holidays. I have
been delivering the Books the past two weeks
and find it was more trouble to get the money
than it was to canvass. I still have
seven books to deliver and get money for
and that is $15 that is comming [coming?] to me.
It may be a few weeks before I can get it and
it may be longer. I left the books at my
Uncles and told them to call there for
them.
I did not make as much out of it as I
thought I would but it was better than
doing nothing. I made about £8 or a
little over since 18th July and was
at Ceader [Cedar?] Beach nearly two weeks having a
good time. Of course out of that I had to pay
some expenses. I attended two picnic [sic] last
week and one the week before which took
about £1 for the three. These are church
picnic [sic] and you have always to buy
your meals and give something besides
At present I have nearly £2 in my
pocket and £3 to collect so that is what
I have left for my work after paying all
expenses & board included.

[Page 3]
I came to Essex last night on my way now
to Windsor [sic] am going up on morning train
to attend model school, this time. Now as
I have not very much money of my own, I
would like if you could send me some if not
I could perhaps borrow some until Xmas.
It will take in the neighbourhood of $70
for this term at Windsor. There is an
admission fee of $5 and I have been talking
to some of the boys who were up yesterday
trying to get board and they tell me they cannot
get it less than $3 and $3 1/2 or 12s.6 and 14s 6d
in your money, per week so that is pretty high,
I am going up in the morning and as school
does not open until Tuesday I shall have
all day tomorrow to find a suitable boarding
house, There are about nine students
going from Essex High School, Our work
this term will be principally teaching
and such other instruction as fit us for
running a school for ourselves. I understand
we must teach classes before all students and
the teachers and then take all the criticisms
afterwards. I shall give you all the news in
this line when I see for myself.

[Page 4]
I have some new books to buy and that will
take a dollar or two, so that [that's?] the way
the money goes. It is easier to spend money than
to make it. I though [thought?] I would make
enough money in holidays to pay my way at
Modal [Model?] but I fell a long way short of
it. I had almost forgot to tell you that I
ordered a new suit about a week ago I
shall have it in about two weeks, costs $22
I was in need of one particularly
so in [inserted in different handwriting] (no news but
[next?] MS. [Mary Smyth?]?) going to Windsor.
I have had this one now two years
again Xmas and it is pretty well scuffed.
I heard Joe Duncan broke his leg. Let
me know how he is getting along, hope
he don’t [sic] loose his foot even [sic] he
is an enemy.
I have not mentioned anything but business
in this letter. I did not tell you about any
fun I had in holidays. Of course it was
not very much but I combined business and
pleasure I had a good time at every
picnic Took every holiday that came
along and had a full week at Ceader [Cedar?]
Beach doing nothing but playing either on
land or in the water.

[Page 5]
Now I got to get down to business again
until next June but I think it is better
to be busy than idle, I don't think attending
Model school will be as hard as at High School.
I am glad I am having a years rest from going
there and I am also glad that I am not in the
list of those that failed.
I may be able to procure a set of my exam
paper [sic] for you, if so I will send them,
In my next letter I shall give you all
the particulars about Model school and my
new boarding house, and everything else
that is of interest. This time I
shall be in a city (Essex is only a small Town
like Newtownstewart) and the City of Detroit is
directly opposite Windsor only a river between
them, Wm [William?] John Duncan knows both well,
All the Woodslee folks are well, Cassie
had her baby christened the other night
it is called William Howard Benett,
I have been out at Leamington at Annies several
times during holidays. I alway [always?] drive out
about 20 miles and can go it in 2 1/2 and 3 hours.

[Page 6]
I think so Woodslee is about the dullest place
one could be in, no fun at all, work, work,
work, from morning until night and
then go to bed so that you can get up in the
morning. It is a slow place to live in
Now if you have not sent a letter
already, dont make such a difference
between them - send one over in a while
so I can get the news, I think I
have said about all I have to say
at present Hoping you are all
in good health
James A Smyth

James A Smyth
Canada Essex
M C Smyth Essex Co
Castledamph Ontario


Transcribed by Julie Simms