| Title: | Margaret Stavely, U.S. to "Dear James". |
|---|---|
| ID | 3044 |
| Collection | Irish Emigration Database |
| File | Stavely, Margaret/18 |
| Year | 1855 |
| Sender | Stavely, Margaret |
| Sender Gender | female |
| Sender Occupation | housewife |
| Sender Religion | unknown |
| Origin | Mineral Point, Wisconsin, USA |
| Destination | N.Ireland |
| Recipient | Stavely, James |
| Recipient Gender | male |
| Relationship | siblings |
| Source | D1835/27/5/1: Presented by Greer Hamilton and Gailey, Solicitors, High Street, Ballymoney, County Antrim. |
| Archive | The Public Record Office, Northern Ireland. |
| Doc. No. | 9310595 |
| Date | 23/07/1855 |
| Partial Date | |
| Doc. Type | EMG |
| Log | Action By Date Document added by C McK., 20:10:199 |
| Word Count | 944 |
| Genre | |
| Note | |
| Transcript | Letter from Margaret Stavely, Mineral Point, [U.S.A.], to "Dear James" [perhaps James Stavely] Mineral Point July 23rd 1855 Dear James, Your long and affectionate letter of June 7th I received about two weeks since there were two reasons for not answering it at the time, the first was Joseph was so very sick with the Billious and Worm Fevers, I had no heart for writing, and the second was I was waiting for the arrival of the California Mail which was behind time, and I knew that you were particularly anxious about hearing from William there was no use writing you by return of post as I knew nothing about him last accounts were April the 22nd I have just now received two letters dated June 10th very desponding [?] indeed for want of water [?] if this could be obtained William would be able to make from five to eleven dollars per day, you may judge how slight he has done I have never received a cent from him since Easter last year, I do not know what I should do if it was not for the money which you sent me from my Uncle McConkey, I am just to write one more letter to William unless further advised he is now in Mountain Springs Placei [?] County California. I should have wished you and Annie sooner a great deal of happiness by the addition of a young daughter to your family who I expect by this time is called Mary may she prove a blessing to her parents is my fervent wish, I am very glad as Annie increases the number she is always getting stronger, I do not covet her, her happiness and comfort blessed with a husband beside her, a father, and plenty of friends near to her and poor me in a strange land and amongst strangers who know no more than the cattle in the field, but the Almighty will I hope take care of us as he has done before, little did I think fifteen years ago I had to come through so many troubles and trials, there certainly must have someone wished us ill when we were joined together but the Will of the Lord be done he is still able to raise us up, and if he thinks fit he will do something to enable us to visit our Native Land once more. If I should return here again to please William though I hate the country in my very heart, here we are without a minister that can preach one real good Sermon no good Schools sometimes there is a school for three months in the year and what good will that do children, our children, our children are very backward in education my friends all seem to think I ought to instruct them myself were they in my place they would think they had quite enough to do without that, I have no servant, wash, sew, labour my own garden in which there is nearly an acre of #PAGE 2 ground, and in fact everything that is requisite to do about the house and yet not very strong being a great sufferer Piles and disease of the heart but there is no use in tiring you with this any longer, tomorrow (if I live so long) I will be thirty-nine which is getting to be an old woman. I think it very strange you not having received acknowledging the money you sent me in March it came safe to land for which I am oblidged to my Uncle McConkey and you for your trouble, I am apaid shall never be able to repay either of you. There have been a great many mail robberies lately in this country that might account for my apparent neglect, there was My Sister, Mrs. Hamilton Robert, Alexander, and several others I wrote to and never received an answer, likely they will have been among the robberies, the same mail which brought me your letter brought me also from your father he like yourself is particularly anxious about William and what must be my feelings here am I with three children without a cent and he poor man doing all he can without any sucess I have sent for him to return and sell this place if I had means and friends near me I would not part with it. I would be obliged to you if you would send this letter to your father for a perusal as it would only be a repetition of what is here written were I to write now, but if spared I will write to him himself when I receive the next letter from William which he promised would be shortly. You must excuse my blots and mistakes my hand is gone out of practice and my eyesight is greatly failed. In all the letters I received none of you mentioned the name of Elizabeth's husband. I sent the receipt as you desired. I am very glad Annie is making such rapid progress in her education. Could William not obtain a situation for his family in his native country he never did any thing disgraceful to prevent him, you are so well known now might surely do something for a brother in the way of recommendation that is as I ask. The children send their love to their Aunt and cousins. Remember me affectionately to Anne, the children, Uncle McConkey, Father, Sisters, Brothers and all friends. Be sure and send this to Ballyboyland [Ballybolands?]. Will you be kind enough to keep the postage of this letter out of the interest when you receive it as I am not able to pay it now. Whilst I remain your attached though distant Sister Margaret Stavely |
