| Title: | John Spratt, Saintfield, to John Crosby |
|---|---|
| ID | 3027 |
| Collection | Irish Emigration Database |
| File | Spratt, John/18 |
| Year | 1869 |
| Sender | Spratt, John |
| Sender Gender | male |
| Sender Occupation | unknown |
| Sender Religion | unknown |
| Origin | Saintfield, Co. Down, N.Ireland |
| Destination | N.Ireland |
| Recipient | Crosby, John |
| Recipient Gender | male |
| Relationship | nephew-uncle |
| Source | John Spratt, Saintfield, to John Crosby |
| Archive | The Public Record Office, Northern Ireland. |
| Doc. No. | 9309340 |
| Date | 05/12/1869 |
| Partial Date | |
| Doc. Type | EMG |
| Log | Action By Date Document added by C. R., 01:09:1993 |
| Word Count | 679 |
| Genre | |
| Note | |
| Transcript | Letter of December 5, 1869 From John Spratt, Saintfield, N. Ireland to his uncle, John Crosby, then visiting in Ireland from the United States Saintfield December 5, 1869 Dear uncle, We received a letter from you today Sunday and I was really glad to hear that you were arrived in Ireland once more. But your letter seemed to me very hard and threatening. I am sorry you harbour such a bad opinion of us all. I am sure I or any of us never gave you any provocation to do so. Your letter when read to my Father and Mother made them shed tears it will only be the cause of hurrying my Father a little sooner to the grave he is on the verge of it - already he is paralyized [paralysed?] not able to be out of bed one day in seven and any day he does rise he has to be almost carried back to bed again. Now concerning the wall and shead [shed?] you know it is a great improvement to have the old barrick of moss soads [sic] that Watson Carlin piled up at the back door they were proped [propped?] up with a few sticks as a substitute for a shead [shed?]. My Father built a strong wall with lime and if he kept it a few feet back from your back door it was to accommodate the parties in the house both in light and in room for leaving any thing at the door such as tubs and carts passed close that they broke the step of the door but supposing it cost him his life or the loss of an Estate he cannot help it- now he is very sorry for it now that he had anything to do with it. About your money all the strangers we have dealings with never accused our house with losing money like you do it - now you remember coming to Saintfield from Belfast - by the train you told me when I asked the reason you were so dull you told me you had lost a great deal by card sharpers that were in the train that morning next you went to Ballynahinch you stopped two days and a night in Watson Carlins you gave him ten pounds that you showed the receipt of - and whatever drinks he liked to serve and to every one that came in at your expense you also remember going down to Mr. Cosbys at the Carson Dam you asked me if you would give his little boy a sovereign so you gave him one. So after getting through your morning in this way you told me you had made a bad hand so you then counted what you had. I think it was either thirty one or thirty eight sovereigns I put past for you and the same you got with you the day you sailed from Belfast - that I am sure of. My Mother says you gave her 10 shillings the morning you came off the train and a sovereign you gave to Jane to buy something. Now Dear Uncle do not harbour such a bad feeling towards us - come down and call with us as usual if it was in my power I would soon please you if possible. But perhaps the time is coming when we will be better in a short time my Father and Mother will not be with us they are both falling rapidly. My Father I am sure will not put over the spring. If you sell the house I hope you will not put it past #PAGE 2 my Aunt Jemima. I am sure she will be willing to give you as much as a stranger. I was glad to hear you saying you would start business in it yourself I am sure you would do well. Any assistance any of us could render you I am sure we would feel a pleasure in doing so you will either call with us or let us know what day you will be in Ballynahinch and I will go up. As for my father if he got the town of Ballynahinch he could not go up. I remain Dear Uncle Yours Truly Jno. [John?] Spratt |
