| Title: | Lawless, Callystown, Louth, To John Lawless, Wisconsin |
|---|---|
| ID | 3561 |
| Collection | Irish Emigration Database |
| File | lawless/18 |
| Year | 1846 |
| Sender | Lawless |
| Sender Gender | male |
| Sender Occupation | prob. farmer |
| Sender Religion | unknown |
| Origin | Callystown, Co. Louth, Ireland |
| Destination | Wisconsin, USA |
| Recipient | Lawless, John |
| Recipient Gender | male |
| Relationship | brothers |
| Source | T.2345/2: Copied by Permission of Dr E R R Green, Dept of History, Manchester Univ. Manchester, G.B. #TYPE LET [?] Lawless, Callystown, Co. Louth, To His Brother, John Lawless, Patch Grove Post Office, Wisconsin Territory, Upper Mississippi, America. 30th |
| Archive | Public Record Office Northern Ireland. |
| Doc. No. | 8809134 |
| Date | 30/07/1846 |
| Partial Date | |
| Doc. Type | LET |
| Log | 21:09:1988 GC created 12:12:1988 ET input 24:01:19 |
| Word Count | 803 |
| Genre | |
| Note | |
| Transcript | Callystown 30 July 1846 My dear brother In reply to your letter of 8th March I have to say I was in England on business at the time & came to Drogheda & I did not return to Ireland for four months after. On my return I did not intend answering it but poor father was then very ill. We did not expect he would live anytime & I thought better to defer writing untill [until?] I would be able to give you some account concerning him. I am sorry to say that poor father is no more. He died on the 8th inst. [instant?] after having been confined to bed for eighteen months - he died as he lived like a child - without pain having had every attention in the way of Masses & other religious duties of Clergy. I had Mass for him three times before his desease [decease?]. I let him want for nothing so I hope I have discharged my duty in that respect. I really cannot say how long we will live in this country. The potato crop has failed in this country this years as it did in 1845 with the difference that the distemper or infection set in this year about the end of June before the late crop planted in May had time to form - the early ones are very much infected in places but the disease is progressing & we all consider that there will not be a potato to put in in November. We have also have great rains & secure gales of wind which it is [?] has injured the corn crops so that you see there is a poor look-out for the ensuring [ensuing?] spring & summer should the potato crop fail as is anticipated my business falls to the ground. I have been inclined especially since Father's death to go the America but should I make the least move in that direction Jenny would be after me - she would not stay behind She would bring children and all & follow me so you see I am poorly circumstanced. Your cousins the McDonalds of Post are all well & send you their love. Miss Maskey of Glospistol & family are well & her eldest daughter that had been married to Charles Maskey is dead more than a twelve month. She has another daughter married to W McKeon of Robinson - one side of Dundalk all well. Your brother James & family & four boys all as tall as himself & one daughter are in good health & desire to be remembered to you - sister Jane has one son & daughter. She, her husband & family are all well. John Tanning got married about a month ago. He is well & getting on prosperously Mr & Mrs Caulfield & family are in good health & rejoice to hear of your happiness. Mrs Carolon - Magarets mother desire to say that she is well but feels unhappy that you & Mrs Lawless do not write to her occassionally. I communicated the contents of the last letter to her as I am not to blame for any inattention in that way. She desires to say that Mrs Lawless's brother Patrick died eight years ago last March - her uncle Pat died twelve months last May. Sister Mary got married to Thomas Hoey of Ballynahenny. He is she says a sober civil industrious man. They have a son & daughter named John & Magaret. Sister Bridget & her husband Richard Magratt are well & happy to hear of your prosperity. Magarets sister Jane married to Thomas Reynolds is in good health. They have a large family - three sons & three daughters. Her Aunt Mary gets her health but poorly. Wheat rates from 25 - 24 shillings per barrel of twenty stone. Oatmeal 14 - 15 shillings per cwt. We need not speak of potatoes for it is on Indian corn that the poor Irish live on. What I suppose you feed your pigs on. Beef Mutton & bacon 5 1/2 to 6 1/2 per lb. but the papers that I will send you will give you more detailed account. Mr. Caulfield wishes to know how Patch Grove lies from St. Louis & the distance between the two places. there is a man named Lawless who is married to Brennan's daughter of Lower Mayne near Castlebellingham - he thinks that he lives in your neighbourhood & if so he will feel obliged if you will mention it in your next letter. I may perhaps make up my mind to go to America either this winter coming on or in Spring. I cannot yet speak positively on Jenny's account. I might however surpirse you by calling to see you before you might be aware of it. I remain my dear brother Ever affectionately - Lawless ___________________________________________________________________________t the original letter was dated July 30th 1846 & post marked August 1st 1846 at Drogheda. The original letter is in the possession of Mrs Charles W O'Neill a granddaughter of John Lawless Patch Grove Wisconsin The address reads as follows. Mr John Lawless Patch Grove Post Office Grant Country Winconsin Territory Upper Mississippi America. |
