| Title: | William Williamson, New York to Mother, Richhill, Co. Armagh. |
|---|---|
| ID | 3362 |
| Collection | Irish Emigration Database |
| File | Williamson, William/15 |
| Year | 1854 |
| Sender | Williamson, William |
| Sender Gender | male |
| Sender Occupation | farmer |
| Sender Religion | unknown |
| Origin | New York, USA |
| Destination | Richhill, Co. Armagh, N.Ireland |
| Recipient | unknown |
| Recipient Gender | female |
| Relationship | son-mother |
| Source | T 2680/2/8: Copied by Permission of W. P. Williamson Esq., Ahorey House, Richhill, County Armagh. |
| Archive | The Public Record Office, Northern Ireland. |
| Doc. No. | 9007147 |
| Date | 18/06/1854 |
| Partial Date | |
| Doc. Type | EMG |
| Log | Document added by JM 06:09:1993. |
| Word Count | 758 |
| Genre | |
| Note | |
| Transcript | New York June 18th 1854 My Dear Mother I have often thought of addressing a few lines to you but now since I have commenced I hardly know what to say, it seems strange very strange that a Family professing such strong Friendship to each other as our Family did to me when I left, should break off writing in the way they have, I assure you that this alone has caused me more unpleasent [unpleasant?] feelings than anything else that ever happened to me, this is rather unpleasent [unpleasant?] for a Preface to a Letter and I will make an end to it by asking you what is the cause of this unatural [unnatural?] and unfriendly silence. I seen Mr. William Ferguson of Markethill a few days ago, and was pleased to hear that you were all well at Ahorey [Aghory?]. I gave him a specimen of California Gold which I send to you together with a Degaratype [Daguerreotype?] of my children and myself, this will give you some Idea of the looks of one who I have reason to believe you once loved, and I trust that that love is unchanged yet. I learnt with sorrow of my Fathers death some 20 months ago, by a letter which I received from John and of other changes which have since taken place in the Family I hope and trust they are all for the best and that you are as happy and comfortable as you deserve to be, I hear through James that Robert Mary & Catharine is married and all of them got little ones, and enjoying life as they pass along through it. I have not heard anything about Ben [Benjamin?] in a long time and dont know whether he is dead or alive. I met to day with my cousin Caroline Peebles, who will hand you this Letter she is about starting for Ireland thinking a sea voyage will improve her health and intends making you a visit, she appears to be a very intelligent nice young Lady and her and her sister deserve the highest praise for the manner in which they have got along in the world, left as they were orphans without any one to guide or assist them, and #PAGE 2 live as they have respectably and decently. I hope you will all do what you can towards making her comfortable and happy while she stops with you and I hope that some of my relations will make her a present of 5 or 600 Pounds. I suppose my uncle William could do it and not feel the want of it. I will now tell you a little about myself I have been in California 4 years and my wife has been there 3 years We have both of us better health there, than we had in Illinois and have made up our minds to settle there for life. So I left San Francisco on the 15th April and come out to Illinois after my children I am on my way back to California now I would like very much if I was able to go over to Ireland and see you all, but my duty to my Family forbids me that pleasure. Artemisia is living with a Friend of hers near Sacramento anxiously awaiting my return she has had a very lonesome time of it in California without her children and I want to get back there as quick as possible the little ones have grown up amazingly in 4 years and I would not have known them I have got 3 letters from John while I was in California which remain unanswered but when I get back I intend to give him a full account of my travels and ups and downs since I started across the Plains in 1850. James was well when I left California and has laid up some money he is very steady sober and Industrious I think he will probably stay in that country. I have not sold my farm in Illinois but expects to sell during the autumn months the farm will bring me about 500 pounds. I intend when I get to California to commence farming again. I have been engaged in mining for the last 4 years and am tired of that business I mean to settle now for Life in some place where I can enjoy the society of my Family. you will please remember me afftionately [affectionately?] to all my Brothers and Sister and hoping that you are comfortable and Happy believe truly the same Bill [William?] Williamson |
