| Title: | J. J. Smyth, Castledamph, to J. A. Smyth, Ontario. |
|---|---|
| ID | 2875 |
| Collection | Irish Emigration Database |
| File | Smyth, John James/72 |
| Year | 1897 |
| Sender | Smyth, John James and John C. |
| Sender Gender | male |
| Sender Occupation | farmer |
| Sender Religion | unknown |
| Origin | Castledamph, Co. Tyrone, N.Ireland |
| Destination | Essex Co., Ontario, Canada |
| Recipient | Smyth, James Alexander |
| Recipient Gender | male |
| Relationship | father-son / siblings |
| Source | Copyright Retained by Mr & Mrs J Smyth, Castledamph, Plumbridge, Co Tyrone, castledamph@btinternet.com |
| Archive | Mr & Mrs J Smyth |
| Doc. No. | 505576 |
| Date | 19/01/1897 |
| Partial Date | |
| Doc. Type | LTE |
| Log | Document added by LT, 07:04:2005. |
| Word Count | 879 |
| Genre | |
| Note | |
| Transcript | [Front of Envelope] Mr. James A Smyth Essex Essex County Ontario Canada [Stamped] [NEWTOWNSTEWART?] 10 PM JA 21 97 [Back of Envelope] [Stamped] ESSEX FE 4 97 ONT. [PLUMBRIDGE?] JA 21 97 [Page 1] Castledamph Janry 19th -97 to J.A.S My Dear James- I now take The Plasure [Pleasure?] of writing [writing?] a few lines to let You know that we are all in good health [health?] at present thank God for all his Goodness to us all This last Month has Been very cold and hard first [frost?] with a Sharp wind - and a great many people is compleaning [complaining?] of Different Sorts of Deise [Disease?]- and a great Many Death [sic] som [some?] grave-yards 2 till 6 in a day- But not to [too?] Many around here [Page 2] The Deaths around here whom your Uncle will know is Andrew McKeernon [McKernan?] William McKnickle [McNicholl?] Gortin and last But not least Big Matilde Jane Duncan Eden--- She was only one Day or two But She was Complaining of pains this long time She Died on Monday Night the 18th at 11 oclock P-M The funeral was yestardy [yesterday?] the 20th - the [there?] were [sic] No [wake?] Not [sic] Nor Nothing of No Sort At the funeral- The [There?] were [33?] Carrs- [cars?]at it – You can let Uncle [sic] ones know of it I was going to write to them But Perhaps some of them will write to them about it- [Page 3] We left away our flax on Monday the 18 - we had 8 load [sic]- we have nearly all up the Burn ploughed But the frost has upset us now--- we have not taken any land this year I think we will get the £10 pounds [sic] of the road yet But they are very Sharp The [There?] are [sic] another very young man come now he is a presByterian I think he will not Drink Willie Gilky got your letter James Huston [Houston?] says he must write to you soon Your Uncle Charles was over on Sunday he Says he must write soon The Miss Dunbarrs [Dunbars?] got your letter [Page 4] Sarah Barker is very ill- Dr [Connan?] is a feeding [sic] with a Spoon- Andrew Hartness [Harkness?] and wife is very ill some going to Bed all wright [alright?] and Dead in the Morning we are weating [waiting?] on a letter this week - I hope you are Dowing [doing?] well - take good care of yourself and Dont go to any Dangerous places in frosty weather the [There?] were [sic] a Soiree at Plumbridge last night William Tomy [Tommy?] and Joh [John?] Charles was Down. John is not going to school Now – Mary - and Willie John is [sic] all is [sic?] going now - John is going to write about the Soiree - Give us all the news and how you are Dowing [Doing?] So No more at present J. J [John James?] Smyth [Page 5] [Small Piece of Paper inside Envelope] Dear James how are you Dowing [Doing?] fer [for?] Money. Do [sic] you get the money in full—- Give us all with regard to washing and every other thing Willie Gilky [Gilkison?] Did Not Give us the Money I think you may Send for it yourself if we had the road money and the flax we would be all Wright [alright?] - We are not [sic?] to [too?] Plenty Just now- But send us word in time if you need any -- They will be getting Some Sheep after a while. Good Bye J J [John James?] Smyth [Page 6] December 21st 1897 [Sums and Calculations top of letter] Dear Brother I am going to tell you all I know about this great soiree we had last night. Us three was [sic] down And two of the Gilkisons [Gilkinsons?] The [There?] were [sic] not over fourteen girls at it the [there?] were [sic] not a large crowd of others Either Dancing and Singing was kept up I think to the morning But I think if it had not been for the fellows about here the [they?] might [Page 7] went [sic] home about bedtime, We Left about five and we sang songs to [sic] we came to the wood road I dont think there were many rows at it except after we left If it had not been for two America [American?] men it would [sic] been a good night but when the row got up, Dancing and Singing stopped the two that fought was [sic] Joseph Hays [Hayes?] and Charles McFarland both home from America Dear Brother I am not at school now The reason I am not up my days they kept me digging [Page 8] potatoes I dont know whether to go to school any more [anymore?] or not, I suppose you were surprised when you saw my name in the paper for fiddling. Danil [Daniel?] got ten shillings for playing I Played about three tunes I was down playing in Gilkison [Gilkinsons?] one night there The two Miss Dunbars was up and a lot of others No More at Present. J C [John Charles?] Smyth [Page 9] The [There?] are [sic] going to be a concert in Gortin on the 2nd February, We had Uncle Charles on sunday evening He was over seeing Charles Fullerton And James Houston [Huston?] I think William is going over I dont know whether the [there?] are [sic] any more going or not, Rabbits is as plenty as ever I be out every day of snow but I dont make much of it I got about ten this Winter I think We will have a storm before long John Charles Smyth Transcribed by Elizabeth Prentice |
