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Title: Jane White, Goderich to Eleanor McIlwrath, Newtownards.
ID3308
CollectionIrish Emigration Database
FileWhite, Jane/40
Year1860
SenderWhite, Jane
Sender Genderfemale
Sender Occupationunknown
Sender ReligionProtestant (Presbyterian?)
OriginGoderich, Ontario, Canada
DestinationNewtownards, Co. Down, N.Ireland
RecipientMcIlwrath (n. Wallace), Eleanor
Recipient Genderfemale
Relationshipfriends
SourceD 1195/3/22: Presented by J. W. Russell & Co., Solicitors, 4 High Street, Newtownards, Co. Down.
ArchiveThe Public Record Office, Northern Ireland.
Doc. No.9112105
Date28/12/1860
Partial Date
Doc. TypeEMG
LogDocument added by JM 29:11:1993
Word Count915
Genre
Note
TranscriptTo: Eleanor [McIlwrath?], [nee Wallace?]
[Newtownards?]
[County Down?]
[Ireland?]

From: Jane White
Goderich
[Ontario?]
[Canada?]
December 28 1860

Goderich
December 28th
1860

My dear Eleanor
I suppose you will think I am dead by
this time, I often thought of writing, and fully intended it
when I received your kind letter, I could not expect to hear
from you sooner, as you had not time to settle down before
that, I sincerely hope the step you have taken will always be
a happy one, I fully agree with you in saying matrimony is
fate, so is a single life too, everyone has their vocation
marked out, so if we do our duty well, and choose the one
thing needful, it is the all that is required, my friend
Eleanor has done well, and if anyone chooses to do better, why
let them try. Christmas is far away now, we have had some very
severe weather lately, but it seems more like a moderate
winter now, my mother complains of the cold, but she is
amazingly healthy, I often think what a kindness the Almighty
confers on me by sparing my mother to me, particulary in this
strange country, where I do not feel disposed for society as I
would be at home the people are not so good or simple in their
habits as in Ireland, not the same humility. I suppose you
often heard me mention a Miss Parke to you, she has left her
home, and stops a week here or there as she finds convenient,
she complains of ill usage from her father if she means
stinginess [?] of habit, her father is unbearable in that way, my
father confesses he never saw a more queer character, and he
puffs so much about his possessions she is the only child he
has though there may be faults on both sides, still it is a
pity of the poor thing, if she had a mother living, or even a
step mother she would have been better [hearted?] because
females are generally thoughtful whatever their faults may be,
it is strange how [unfortunate?] some are, nothing ever seems
to go as they likesome [like some?] expect too much of course I hear Mr
Parke is going to [pay?] for his daughters [hand?] I am sure
you would enjoy the trip to Edinburgh very much, there is a
neighbour of ours, a Mrs Ferguson from Glasgow, entertained me

#PAGE 2
with a description, she saw all you mentioned, another Lady
Mrs [Sherlock?] too from Dublin described it to me [I'm?]
[in Mary's?] bed will crumble away to nothing I think soon
what melancholy accounts there are from Syria I now think
those who spoke against the English and French for taking the
part of the Turks in the Crimean War were quite right, and the
Czar wasnt far wrong, the Turks have shown themselves perfect
monsters, I do not suppose the Turkish government would take
the part of the Christians if they could decently help it, I
saw the death of a Mr Graham a Presbyterian Missionary killed
in the [streets?] was he the Dundonald minister? if you
recollect would you just mention it to your father.
The town is scarce of news at present. The editor of the
"Signal" has been stirring the people up with an article upon
the soul-sleeping question setting forth that we all sleep
soul and body and soul until the resurrection [--?] after
death sounds queer to think of this after death but he will
not make any converts to his opinion I think
The Prince of Wales had a great time of it in America he did
not come this far you will likely see him in Ireland next
summer The Kingston orangemen acted very foolishly [pushing?]
their company on him in spite of him, he did not land at their
city, nor at Belleville because both places were decorated
with orange, I sometimes think if the Irish Orangemen would
only think how little they were thought of it should make them
abolish the society altogether and let the Government just
manage as they like, and of all things not to affront the
Roman Catholics unless they cannot help it in some awkward
ways.
Now dear allow to (sic) conclude with kindest regards to you
and Mr McIlwrath and sincerely wishing you every happiness in
which my parents join me. I feel much obliged for your great
kindness in writing to me so constantly. Please remember me
affectionately to Mr and Mrs Milliken and family, I hope Mrs M
[Milliken?] is quite well again. Wishing you a happy new year
I remain
Yours very sincerely
Jane White

I cannot close this without mentioning a strange circumstance,
I heard since writing this letter, you will remember I wrote
some years ago about a little girl who ran away and got
married to an Irish boy called Ferguson, she and her husband
are back and stopping with his parents she has laid claim to
the whole property that was in the possession of her mother
[&?] step-father, I hear she will succeed, as it was left by
her own father for when she was of age [Ths?] bought the large
farm from her step-father Mr Montgomery and the house was
burned down shortly after, he then erected a beautiful house

#PAGE 3
and outhouses, thinking the title of the property was secure,
so she can claim house and all according to law. Montgomery
really ought to be punished for swindling.
Is the direction right or is there any other Mrs McIlwrath
lives in your street?