| Title: | Moses Staunton, Toronto, Canada, to His Mother and Sister. |
|---|---|
| ID | 3033 |
| Collection | Irish Emigration Database |
| File | Staunton, Moses/36 |
| Year | 1856 |
| Sender | Staunton, Moses |
| Sender Gender | male |
| Sender Occupation | paper shop owner |
| Sender Religion | Protestant |
| Origin | Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
| Destination | Glasgow, Scotland |
| Recipient | Mrs Staunton |
| Recipient Gender | female |
| Relationship | son-mother / siblings |
| Source | T 2345/4B: Copied by Permission of Dr E.R.R. Green, Department of History, Manchester University. #TYPE EMG Moses Staunton, Toronto, [Canada?], to "My Dear Mother and Sister", [Location?], 25 December 1856. |
| Archive | Public Record Office Northern Ireland. |
| Doc. No. | 9006226 |
| Date | 25/12/1856 |
| Partial Date | |
| Doc. Type | EMG |
| Log | 05:07:1990 JM created 18:11:1991 WJC input 19:11:1 |
| Word Count | 1505 |
| Genre | |
| Note | |
| Transcript | To: Mother and Sister From: Toronto Decbr [December?] 25th 1856 My Dear Mother & Sister I cannot do better than write you a long letter this good Christmas Morning and when I am reminded of the Goodness of God by the near approach of Another New Year - I desire to Mingle my gratitude to God with that which I hope ascends from your hearts this day - for be assured that I do not write so often as perhaps I should. I do not forget to bear you on my spirit at A throne of Grace - and I hope you do not forget me & Mine for though we are seperated [separated?] in time we are fast Journeying to the Meeting place - and though [single?] the road and Many the inducements to turn aside Yet he has promised that his Grace will be Sufficien[t?] for all our many wants - our duty is to trust him and him alone - Now with these few general remarks I proceed to give you some little knowledge of my own little temporal affairs and A few of those things about this country that has come under my own notice and I am happy to Say that I am doing now very will [well?] and has As good A prospect of continuing to improve as I could desire in my business - Since I wrote you last I have made A few little purchases in the Country and the last one I made two Hundred pounds was offered for it above what I gave inside of 24 hours although I bought it at publick [public?] auction - but if all goes wrigth [right?] it was worth or rather will make for me 6 or 7 Hundred inside of four years - but I do not want people to think this so splendid A place that money and the comforts of life can be got easily for if I had not laid off my coat and went and done my own paper hanging here I believe I would have been beat with all the means I [b?]rought and all My Children have to work - their [there?] is no getting on without hard work here untill [until?] you get Quite rich [and?] [had?] [I?] bean [been?] A growler you would have had all sorts of complaining letters before now for I do assure you a Man coming here with A little means as A trader and commencing for himself before he Get to know the ways of business here Must Expect to pay for his information- had I come here as A carpenter Such as Neil is and had the tenth of the means I had I could have done better he would get his 7/6 to 9/ currency per day (but I should tell you that 5/ currency is only 4/ British this is A Splendid country for the Carpenter or Blacksmith if the [they?] have 50 or 60 pounds when the [they?] arrive here and if the [they?] only knew A friend to help them to Select A plot of Building Ground and then build themselves A frame house then the [they?] are comfortable at once if health is Spared but the most part have to [live?] A house to live in and Such A house as yours cannot be got under 25 pounds A year and then firing and all Sorts of food is high flour Excepted 7- cy [currency?] for beef 7/6 for A Good turkey Such as is before the fire just now - So that A tradesman that cannot at once begin to save on house rent is four or 5 years strug[g?]ling - but work is good and plenty - we find no inconvenience from the hard frost except A tumble on the ice occassionally [accasionally?] for all the footpath are hard frozen (half Melted with the beautiful cheerful Sun during the day then Glittering frost in the morning - we have had the winter snow on A Month now - and pretty Severe weather) there is A Steamer and two Sailing vessels now A wreck opposite our house (Just now)-- I have Got into the finest paper Shop I Ever had- for I took A small place first - but now I have the very best corner of the City Mary help me in the Shop - Moses James and albert are out on A pond today all with their skates on - No fear of the Ice breaking - we had the Glass at 15 below zero one day last week it Made all button up all has big coates [coats?] on and I dont think my dear Sister Mary ann would know me with my cap on - Even Should she take A gaze such as she did When on the deck of the Steamer from Liverpool - that last look I shall not soon forget it - now I want you [As?] rememember [remember?] me to Sandy I feel the more Matched to him as it has pleased God to deprive him of the use of his hands and limbs - tell him if his Uncle Moses Succe[e?]ds in North America he wont forget him - but Should I forget that God who made him as he is can command the provision for him and I hope he will be be A good boy and learn to trust the bounty of his Maker and look up to his almighty parent for all his wants - I never yet had an opportunity of seeing James Roy - or any of their family _ nor have I heard any more partickulars [particulars?] of John Roy _ you might let me know if it is true he is dead _ the winter season is the only one I would venture to New Orleans and it is not Good to travel so far in this Season now dear Mother and Sister I want you to write me A Long letter _ telling me all the little outs and inns [ins?] of how you are getting on and what kind of health my Mother has had for the last 3 or four Months for Richard does not Lend me enough partickulars [particulars?] about you and I want to know if My Mother is able to go to church and how often and allow me to Say that I hope yet once more to See you for with the desire I have & A little business I have the courage to again visit you but I would like to go in A first class vessel and it would cost a good bit but I could do it and return if all went well in two months but I doubt I cannot manage it next Summer _ and it is almost to[o?] far off to hope for _ but you used to tell me I was always too Sanguinne [Sanguine?] I had almost forgot to tell you of the comfort I have from the works of Mr Cheyne you made me get the [they?] are next the bible my text book Nor Must I forget to tell you the greatest blessing of God to me yet - all the old trouble I had in it certain Quarter has Entirely dissapeared [disappeared?] Ever since I came to this country and that makes me like it better A complete and willing Mastery Seems to have Set in for Ever and all the fretfulness which was the forerunner has gone and we have the happiest house in the Empire all doing the best the [they?] can for the other - I was very Sorry to hear of James Stauntons trouble but he has got out of it - Some of the parties thought I had something to do with him and made demands but as I never put myself in the power of any one house I managed them - I am glad he has got commenced again - I told him the plan he was taking would lead to what it did I hope he wont again put himself in the power of business men again _ I wish I had James Greenlees here I often make A pound A day putting up paper I get 10d per piece for [ydgs?] [yardages?] that is 15d per 12 y[ar?]ds long and it is no trouble to do 15 to 20 of them in the day - but I have determined I wont Ever advise A friend to come out here - lest the [they?] should [?] Clerks & half Gentlemen with kid gloves need not come here Now dear Mother and Sister I must draw this letter to A Close wishing you the enjoyment and protection of him that is able to bless us all - all my family Join in kind love to you all Yours Sincerely Moses Staunton I should Set [Sit?] Down and Copy this once as I doubt you can hardly read it I send you history of Toronto by Frost - |
