| Title: | Wm. Weir, Philadelphia, to Wm. Boyd, Strabane. |
|---|---|
| ID | 3251 |
| Collection | Irish Emigration Database |
| File | Weir, William (2)/148 |
| Year | 1840 |
| Sender | Weir, William |
| Sender Gender | male |
| Sender Occupation | arrived in America with his family recently |
| Sender Religion | unknown |
| Origin | Philadelphia, Penn., USA |
| Destination | Strabane, Co. Tyrone, N.Ireland |
| Recipient | Boyd, William |
| Recipient Gender | male |
| Relationship | writes to his mother and grandfather |
| Source | T 1873/2: Copied by Permission of Miss S. Boyd, Lifford, Co.Donegal. #TYPE EMG Wm. Weir, Philadelphia, U.S.A. to his Grandfather Wm. Boyd, Strabane. 18 Aug. 1840. |
| Archive | Public Record Office N.Ireland. |
| Doc. No. | 8809158 |
| Date | 18/08/1840 |
| Partial Date | |
| Doc. Type | EMG |
| Log | 23:09:1988 LT created 25:01:1989 pg input 31:01:19 |
| Word Count | 994 |
| Genre | |
| Note | |
| Transcript | Mr William Boyd Milltown Strabane Ireland Address Wm Weir care of Jas Weir Morristown Montgomery County State of Pennsylvania Philadelphia 18th Augt 1840 My dear Grandfather & Mother Before this reaches you will no doubt have given us up as lost, but thank God we are still in the land of the living. It was reported here that we were lost, My father was almost in a state of distraction about us. The Provincialist [?] that left Derry long after us was here 3 nights before us. We arrived in this city on the 9th Augt after a 74 day passage, with the loss of our Captain and two of the Crew. The Captain died raving mad the evening that he died he had to be tied, both hands and feet, were bound when he died, the night that he died it blew a perfect hurricane. I hope never to see such a night again, waves rolling over us the size of mountains. Expecting every [minute?] to be buried up in the depths of the Sea, the Captain was [?] [?] next morning E Donnell, and I read the funeral service over him. Provisions were very scarce in Ship before we got in the last two weeks the Passengers were very short of Provisions, the ship mate spotted two vessels and got some Bread from them we had plenty of water which was a great comfort, I had enough of provisions I never know anything about want but all the passen- gers were not so, the Ship had to stop a few days in Quarantine, there was Sickness on board arising from being a long time on Sea, the Doctor called it Ship Fever. The Doctor received 23 persons to the Hospital one person has died there since. Times are very bad in this Country at present and it is expected they will not be better until after the election which takes place in November, there is nothing to be heard in all corners but the election, Harrison seems to be the general favourite amongst the people here but it is not easy to guess who will succeed, be that as it may times cannot be worse than they are at present. I have not got a view of a Situation but expect that I soon will, Mr Taylor has promised to do all in his power for me, he says if I can only get a view of a place he will get if for me, Mr Taylor is a very nice old man, he was enquiring at me all about Strabane. Margaret has not been very well since she came here but she is recovering, If she was well she could get a Situation here in a short time. My Father is doing well at present he has saved a little money, he is quite a changed man from what he used to be. When the Ship was lying in Quarantine he came down to see us, I had got ashore on Bond, the Doctor allowed E Donnell and I to be Bonded out that is by signing a Bond, which allows us free Liberty, but not to go within 5 miles of any populous city (500 dollars penalty.) I met my father on the Shore he did not know me but I knew him James was with him. James is very like Margaret, I dont think I would have known them only that I knew James by Margaret, James is a real Yankee he is dark skinned as any of the Americans are, My Father gave me some money and he then started for Morristown again. James works in a flower garden. My Father is about to put him to a trade. Dear Grandmother I expect to be going home in a few years to see you & My Grandfather, this is a very handsome country I like it very well but I dont like the Climate, it is so very hot it would almost roast a person to stand in the heat of the Sun when walking along the Street your feet is burning in your Shoes, Dear Grandfather & Mother I need not tell you that I send my love to you I think you are aware that these is not lies I love as well as you, you have been more than a father & mother to me, I hope the lord will grant us one request and that is that we shall meet together again in Ireland and if not I hope we shall all meet in heaven when there is no parting any more, Give my love to my Uncle Wm & Aunt Fanny & Little Elizabeth, I hope she is thriving fast, let my Aunt Fanny know that I never shall forget her kindness to me and Margaret, Give my love to Uncle Ben & Aunt Jane & the Children, to Aunt Mary and Charles & the Children not forgetting Uncle Thomas if he was here he would see a handsome Country, when we were sailing up the Delaware I was wishing that he was along with me, I hope he will not forget his promise to write to me, give my Love to my old friends John Porter & Mrs Porter & Family, give my love to Mary Jane & Ann Eliza to the Miss Arnolds & Mrs Gault & Family & Mr Gault, Mrs Johnston & Family. Remember me to all my old Friends & acquaintances give my love to his [Reverence?] Mr Chambers, I hope to hear of his marriage I had only a few minutes to write it as the vessel is about to sail, write soon and give all the news, tell John Porter to do as he promised, send me Irish Newspapers, as they are much prized here. I remain Dear parents Yr[Your?] affectionate Grandson W Weir. Remember me to Mr & Mrs Craig Miss Mary Jane & Rachel & to Wm. I had as many friends that I could remember, but give my love to them all Yrs [Yours?] W W |
