| Title: | John Taylor, Pennsylvania to Robert Taylor, Shanrod |
|---|---|
| ID | 3101 |
| Collection | Irish Emigration Database |
| File | Taylor, John/100 |
| Year | 1838 |
| Sender | Taylor, John |
| Sender Gender | male |
| Sender Occupation | unknown |
| Sender Religion | Presbyterian |
| Origin | Pittsburgh, Penn., USA |
| Destination | Shanrod, Co. Down, N.Ireland |
| Recipient | Taylor, Robert |
| Recipient Gender | male |
| Relationship | brothers |
| Source | The Taylors of Shanrod Co Down, Letters from America. Copyright retained by Heather Taylor, 46, Coolshinney Rd., Magherafelt, BT45 5JF, rookvale@hotmail.co.uk |
| Archive | The Centre For Migration Studies |
| Doc. No. | 701099 |
| Date | 03/09/1838 |
| Partial Date | |
| Doc. Type | EMG |
| Log | Document added by JM, 30/01/2007 |
| Word Count | 869 |
| Genre | |
| Note | |
| Transcript | [John has moved to Pittsburgh;] [Stamped] PITTSBURG PA SEP 4 [Stamped] NEW YORK SEP 7 [Stamped] 4M SE29 38 [Stamped] [DROMORE?] SE 29 1838 [Printed] PAID [Page 1] Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania September 3rd 1838 Dear Brother, James Gracy and his brother informed me the other day that they had just recd [received?] a letter from home by the hand of a Miss Stewart of Kernew wherein my mother expressed great anxiety to hear from me and in obedience to her desire as well as to the promptings of filial affection, to sit down to inform you all that myself and family are all well and well pleased with our residence in this place altho [although?] I am not just now in a very good way of making money; but the prospects before me are both encouraging and fair. I wrote you from this place about the 1st April last by a young man named Dalzell going to the vicinity of McBrides in Mollysland, which letter I suppose you have recvd [received?] as we have heard of his arrival at home. In it I gave you a hasty sketch of the causes that brought me to this part of the country. Since then I was offered my old situation at Washington but refused to take it. I greatly prefer living in the west and it will ever be a source of deep regret to me that I did not come here long ago. Had I done so my circumstances would have very different from what they now are. It is bad philosophy, however, to regret that which regretting will not restore. [Page 2] There has been great stagnation to every kind of business in this country for eighteen months past owing to a general suspension of specie payments on the past of our Banks which occasioned innumerable failures with a loss of confidence and credit in the manufacturing and mercantile communities. Within a month past the Banks have generally resumed paying specie and confidence and credit are returning but it will be sometime yet before business of every kind becomes as brisk as before the suspension. Our neighbours the Canadians have been revolting against the mother government which has created much excitement in that quarter. Their plans of revolt were badly concerted and easily as they have been effectually suppressed. A number of those engaged (among whom I have several intimate friends and acquaintances) have been tried for treason, a few have been executed and the others banished from the provinces. There is still much dissatisfaction there but the mild and human policy of Lord Durham the new Governor General is fast allaying it. The day however is not far distant when all European authority on the Continent of America will be totally extinguished. Altho [although?] some of our citizens on the borders have taken an active part in the revolt, yet there is nothing likely to grow out of it that will involve the Government of United States of America in any difficulty with that of Great Britain. You will have heard I presume before this reaches of the death of our old friend and neighbour John Watt. He met with an accident on his way from Philadelphia to this city which resulted in his death last June. I sent [Page 3] you a newspaper or two containing the particulars, which I drew up and had published and which I hope you receive. His wife, her sister and brothers are still here and well. A family named Adams from the neighbourhood of Teagues Fort and a young man named Stevenson from Kates Bridge arrived here a week or two ago from whom I got very satisfactory accounts of the neighbourhood, but neither of them had any personal knowledge of you. Our old neighbours that live here are all well, I see many of them every day, but have room to mention only a few. James and Saml [Samuel?] Gracy, John Cairns of Kernew, James Flanagan, the Ratcliffs, Hugh McPoland Arthur Gallagher, Wm [William?] and James McNett, John Martin my old shipmate, John and Alexander Bell from near Dromore, John Porter &c &c I had a letter from Nathaniels son John a short time ago, they were all well when he wrote and John and Robert are good boys and said to be very good to their mother. When you see James Brown give my respects to him and tell him I would be glad to get a letter from him. Tell him too we are in the midst of a great election campaign for Governor in this state and that our candidate who will certainly be elected is a brother of my old friend Gen [General?] Porter of Lancaster he knew and who is dead [nine?] years ago. In the newspapers I sent, you will see my name connected with some of the meetings held in this city. My good kind and dear mother is getting old and cannot in the course of nature expect to survive long. Remember me most affectionately to her and invoke her last blessings on her absent and unworthy son. Remember me also to Nancy, Susanna and all your children & believe me your affectionate brother Mr Robt [Robert?] Taylor John Taylor [Written on left side of last page] Write to me soon and direct your letter simply to me at this place. Give my respects to such of my old neighbors as still remember and enquire after me. |
