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Title: Mary Smyth, Castledamph, to J. A. Smyth, Ontario.
ID2994
CollectionIrish Emigration Database
FileSmyth, Mary/74
Year1897
SenderSmyth, Mary and Bella M; Hay, Willie J.
Sender Gendermale-female
Sender Occupationunknown
Sender ReligionProtestant (Presbyterian)
OriginCastledamph, Co. Tyrone, Canada
DestinationEssex Co., Ontario, Canada
RecipientSmyth, James A.
Recipient Gendermale
Relationshipsiblings / cousins
SourceCopyright Retained by Mr & Mrs J Smyth, Castledamph, Plumbridge, Co Tyrone, castledamph@btinternet.com
ArchiveMr & Mrs J Smyth
Doc. No.505567
Date08/02/1897
Partial Date
Doc. TypeLTE
LogDocument added by LT, 07:04:2005.’
Word Count791
Genre
Note
Transcript[Front of Envelope]

Mr. James A Smyth
Essex
Essex County
Ontario
Canada

[Stamped]
[NEWTOWNSTEWART?]
10
FE 11
97


[Back of Envelope]
[Stamped]
[Plumbridge?]
FE 11
97

[ESSEX?]
FE 23
[97?]

[Written]
ANS [Answered?] Feb 25





[Page 1]
Castledamph
February 8th 1897

Dear Brother
I now take the
pleasure of writing to you
when I have got time for
I have not much this weather
as we are preparing very
hard for our examination
which will be on the 18th
February so it will not
be long to it now. They
say that I will not get
going on any further after
the examination

[Page 2]
but I do not know what I will
do yet as I think there is
enough at home without another
There will be about 35 for the
examination and I think Miss Dunbar
will have about 38 her exam- will be
on 17th inst I think I have told
you enough of this news. Margaret
Wilson [x?] was buried on Saturday
Glengaw [Glenga?]. Old Thomas
Campbell’s wife Derbrough
[Dergbrough?] was buried yesterday
Sunday. James McKernan is
lying ill over in Uncle James'
There are a great many people
complaining at present, Feb 10th
I commenced this letter two days
ago but did not get it finished
Sarah Barker


[Page 3]
has died since she died last
night about twelve o’clock she
suffered great pain since Saturday
morning. Thomas and John is at the
wake to night [tonight?]. Father
and Mother was [were?] at it on the
afternoon. William has got the cold
and could not go but he will be
able to attend the funeral tomorrow.
I suppose by this time you have
heard of Joe Gilkison [Gilkinson?]
being in Strabane. Willie was in
yesterday and he told him he was going
to join the Good Templars to night
[tonight?] So that will be a step
for the better I have no more
to say at present & I hope you will
excuse me for this writing as it is
afternight [after night?] and
I dont see to [too?] well
I am Your Loving Sister
Mary Smyth
(written at bottom of Page 2)
I will have to go to Bed as it is past
ten
M S [Mary Smyth?]

[Page 4]


Dear James I am
going to write you
that letter now, the
grey goose has
layed [laid?]: six eggs,
Tommy is clipping the foal
John is cleaning
the harness to go to
the funeral I can write no more
for its school time
Willie John Hay


[Page 5]

Castledamph
Feb 11th 1897

Dear Brother
You will
surly [surely?] get news enough
this time for I am
the third that [sic?] writing
Mary commenced to
write two or three nights
ago and finished last
night and she left a
clean side of notepaper
so Willie John took a
notion this morning
that he would write

[Page 6]
you will get enough to
do to make it out but the
next time he will do it better
Whatever he wanted to
tell you I wrote it down
and then he copied
We have nice weather
here this last few days It
looks like spring and
work is commencing we
have got no ploughing done
this last while there was
hard frost for a week or two
and then William took a
notion to sell the old horse
and now when the weather
is good the young one can do
nothing It was very bad
with lice they had to clip it
all over and wash with sheep dip

[Page 7]
and it is badly failed
John and Uncle is working
on the road today they are
doing their best to keep it in
good order to see if they get
their money. The new surveyor
I think will keep steady
he does not appear to take
anything, he has been away
at an examination since he
came to Gortin so that is not
a bad sign of him, he is but
a young fellow and smart
looking I think Mary told
you of all the deaths There
is a good many this last
while but not half as many
dying here as up at the cross
something like the influenza
Johnnie Campbell Dunamanagh
(Satchell [Satchel?] clerk
as the [they?] call him)

[Page 8]
is not expected to live
long we have heard that
his both lungs is gone --
Father wants to know
if your money is near
[sic]done you should always
tell us in time and not be wanting
[sic] he says that we might venture
to send a soverign [sovereign?]
in a letter now and then, would you
think that it would be safe enough
We have never saw [sic] that
McFarland yet I dont think he
will come up now, Miss
Dunbar will write after the
examination that paper signed
M D was from her it should
have been the one that you
wanted or else she made a mistake
We got Papers from Cassie
yesterday but there is nothing
particular in them only that two
boys shot the Devil in Germany
Good Bye No more
Bella M Smyth





Transcribed by Elizabeth Prentice