| Title: | Martha J. Wilson, Ontario to [Thomas Reid, Co. Armagh?]. |
|---|---|
| ID | 3386 |
| Collection | Irish Emigration Database |
| File | Wilson, Martha J/28 |
| Year | 1862 |
| Sender | Wilson, Martha Jane |
| Sender Gender | female |
| Sender Occupation | farming household |
| Sender Religion | unknown |
| Origin | Hope Township, Canada West (present-day Ontario) |
| Destination | unknown |
| Recipient | Reid, Thomas |
| Recipient Gender | male |
| Relationship | siblings |
| Source | Perry Town, Hope Township, Co Durham, Canada West, (Now Ontario, Canada) |
| Archive | The Public Record Office, Northern Ireland. |
| Doc. No. | 9102018 |
| Date | 15/12/1862 |
| Partial Date | |
| Doc. Type | EMG |
| Log | Document added by JM 09:02:1994 |
| Word Count | 1296 |
| Genre | |
| Note | |
| Transcript | Perry Town Dec 15th 1862 My Dear Brother I received your letter of May 10th and surely I was highly gratified to see even your pictare [picture?] I sat and cried over it like a calf, untill [until?] I half frightened the children, you look nearly as shy in it as you did the night that you sang in T. Johnston's, you are larger than I thought you ever would be on account of your being so delicate when young, I think it was a fine thing that you never went to teaching school, it is the last business, for either health or happiness, it is so hard to please every body [everybody?] and his wife too. I was very much pleased to have a letter from Uncle Carroll I preserve it fearing it will be the last epistle I will ever receive from his hands, poor Aunt Ellen I think her lot is a pretty hard one, how very very lonely she must be, it will take all the fire and [tow?] she had to be brought into exercise now to bring her through her every day [everyday?] trials, I am glad that it pleased God to send her a daughter, she is now able to assist her mother in her heavy duties, fail not to give them my love individually tell Aunt Ellen that I think I can safely say that I sincerely feel for her, in the loss of my cousin Joseph, for we have one gone before us too, but she was only 1 1/2 years old so of course we could not feel her loss so heavily. Uncle Carroll writes that Aunt Hannah died very suddenly as many have done at home lately, many have done so here too, and some of them those whom it would seem as if they could be but ill spared but it pleased God to call them and we know not why such things happen perhaps as warnings to us but Oh how soon the impression leaves us and we go on reckless as before; may God have mercy on us and forgive our carelessness, I am glad that my cousins are steady they are so much more of a comfort to their Mother, give her my sincere love and respect, likewise Uncle John, I wish I could get his likeness, is Henry determined never to write me if so let him say so & then I will stop expecting, give my love to him. We are all pretty well at present since September commenced our 4 oldest children have had the measels [measles?] 3 of them have had or are rather recovering from the whooping cough John has not taken it yet, and on the 27th of Oct another baby boy has entered our midst, I gain my strength very slowly I had a pretty hard fall's work 3 of the children were ill in the measels [measles?] at once I might say that neither Jos [Joseph?] nor I have had one solid night's rest since about the first of Sept, but we ought to be thankful that they are spared to us for many children have died this fall of several diseases, incident to children, our oldest girl is not just so strong as the other two accordingly, whether she will still be so or not I know not, she has not recovered from the measels [measles?] so quick as the rest I assure you your little nephew is a great pet with the #PAGE 2 rest John thinks he is worth 24 girls, Anna Maria is quite jealous of him, fearing her [Dada?] will think too much of him for she considers herself the only person nearly allied to him in the house, I stand but second in her affections. What Freak could possess David Kilpatrick to start for N.Z. [New Zealand?], if he wished to make money faster he might have tried Canada, or some place within bounds of Christendom but to start on a 6 months voyage speculating, what an idea, and only think I don't know yet what Kilpatricks they are, nor did George tell me in his letter what M. A. [Margaret Anne?] Called her baby I used to think when R. J. [Robert John?] would marry I would send for M. A. [Margaret Anne?] but, that break is ended; all hopes of ever seeing her seems now blasted as for the rest of you I hardly ever expect to see any of you R. J. [Robert John?] & Jos [Joseph?] are doing well so of course they wont ramble this length if you keep single I intend you SHALL pay us a visit but else I hardly expect to see you either, let me know who R. J.s [Robert John's?] wife is in your next give my love to Mother and R. J. [Robert John?] and wife and Jos [Joseph?] not forgetting Mr Gilmour and Margaret Waddell alias ___ I forget what, remember me to John Waddell when you see him, I presume Mr A [McCl--?] has not heard from Uncle Reid yet tell him the best way to find Out the Outs and ins of Canada is to come and see us amongst us we will keep him as long as he will stay in the two Provinces Uncle John & Aunt Martha will be glad of his company in the Lower Province & I would be glad of it here. James Wilson is yet in England we hear from him regularly he is having great times amongst his friends and Old associates he has recognised 48 persons which he has not seen for 23 years and he was but 15 when he left I do hope he will enjoy himself in Ould [Old?] Ireland I want you to take him down to Charlemont My Dear Brother to see the guns he has been to exhibition in London, and seen the Elephant. I would like him to see Fathers grave and Belleer [Balleer?] School house where I was born, if Mr Boyd can spare you, spend as much time as possible with him, there would be no thought taken of the time spent with you, were you here, they are a remarkable family, [?] that kind and indeed all kinds of hospitality. I have been telling the children about ladies fancies, we have not and candy of that particular make here, and the only thing the [they?] think of to ask Uncle Ths [Thomas?] to send is some of them, you can can let James have all of them for their gratification Times here are unremarkable hard that is in respect of money it is almost impossible to get a cent, one good thing their [there?] is that all kinds of provision is very cheap although the crops in most places were now poor, wheat in some places did not yield 3 bushels to the acre & in fact oats and peas little better potatoes in some places were quite a failure we never had so good a crop nor of so good a quality but our wheat and oats were light, and lumber is a drug no buisiness [business?] going [on to?] require it and no market in the states nor have we much #PAGE 3 [pine?] here in in this neighbourhood now, but we may be thankful that we are so well off no debts to meet that we are not able pay and enough to eat and enough to wear, I hope there is better times a coming This horrible war in the states in hurting thousands, calico and woolen [woollen?] goods are rising beyond every thing [everything?], and as Uncle Carroll says to contemplate the affusion of human blood that is being spilled is heartrending in the extreme, your sister M. J. [Martha Jane?] Wilson |
