| Title: | Thomas Lawrence, Savannah to Hester Sampson, Newtown Limavady |
|---|---|
| ID | 3563 |
| Collection | Irish Emigration Database |
| File | lawrence, thomas/41 |
| Year | 1800 |
| Sender | Lawrence, Thomas |
| Sender Gender | male |
| Sender Occupation | businessman |
| Sender Religion | unknown |
| Origin | Savannah, Georgia, USA |
| Destination | Limavady, Co. Derry, N.Ireland |
| Recipient | Sampson, Hester |
| Recipient Gender | female |
| Relationship | siblings |
| Source | D 955/35: Deposited by Messrs Martin, King, French & Ingram |
| Archive | The Public Record Office, N.Ireland |
| Doc. No. | 9906143 |
| Date | 07/03/1800 |
| Partial Date | |
| Doc. Type | EMG |
| Log | Document added by LT, 30:06:99. |
| Word Count | 795 |
| Genre | |
| Note | |
| Transcript | Savannah 7th March 1800 Dear Hester I had the pleasure when at New York in October last to recieve [receive?] your letter per Mr Simpson bringing me an acct [account?] of the addition you had made to your little ones one of a latter [later?] date from James Lawrence of Dublin brings us the pleasing account of our Friends being well. On my arrival in this city, I was met by my Cousin James T. Lawrence who immediately after accompanied me to my Uncle Wylly's place at a mile distance from Town where he has a handsome House and Gardens. My uncle received me in a friendly manner but cannot say I was much pleased with my Aunt on our first aquaintance [acquaintance?] her manner being very reserved. She never enquired about my friends at Home or when or how I came or any thing of the kind However I have since found that it is not the Custom of this place for the women in particular to ask many questions after receiving an Invitation to spend some time there which I declined accepting I returned to town and the next day went to my Aunt Habershams Plantation about eight miles from town where I was received in the most friendly manner by my Uncle and Aunt from whom I have experienced every attention and civility I knew my Aunt immediately by my mother whome [whom?] she is extremly like but much more delicate She is rather in a bad state of health but seems much better now than when I saw her first You have no doubt long since received an account of the Death of my Uncle Habersham which happened in June last after a few days illness. He was a most friendly man - a Brother of his Major Habersham Collector of this part is since dead. Shortly before my Uncles [Uncle's?] Death there was a judgement against his property, for British Debts contracted before the late war, a part of which has been and the remainder is to be sold. However as the property was large and my Aunt comes in for a third share she will still be enabled to live well Her two Daughters are married to men of respectability and large property one of them your namesake is the finest woman that I have seen in this place None of the Ladies that I have met with are to be compared to the Irish in either looks or manners I did not like their pale or brown faces at all at first but begin now to get a little better reconciled to the colour. My Uncle Wylly s eldest Daughter is well married to a Mr Adams a planter His eldest Son rather an odd character is mate of a Vessel the remainder of the Family two Sons and a Daughter are at school To give you some idea of the situation of our friends my Uncle Wylly lives in much the same [style?] as a man at home would on 400 per annum and [torn] same as one on 350 Last summer was very sickly all over this country. Savannah itself had a good share of it. I was fortunately from this before the sickly scare came on and intend this summer to remove either back into the country or go to the West Indies during the sickly months of Augt. [August?] Sept. [September?] and October My Brother Sams Son Alexr. [Alexander?] and I have some time ago gon [gone?] into partnership, and established ourselves in this placewhere we intend to remain in business We have as yet been fortunate in our Dealings Business has been much duller this season than usual on account of the great fall in the prices of cotton and tobacco by which the people of this state are supported This winter has been the most severe ever remembered the snow was at one time eighteen inches deep the like never remembered here before this is an excellent country for poor tradesmen carpenters and bricklayers wages two Dollars per day others in the same proportion the climate is extremely warm in summer and very variable which makes it so unhealthy James Lawrence and his family are well also my Uncle Wylly and Aunt Habershams family. my Aunt desires to be remembered to you in the warmest manner give my love to my mother and the [children?] and believe me [your?] [torn] Brother T Lawrence I fear Mr. Sampson has been offended at my discouraging acct [account?] of this Country or he would have wrote me before this. present my best respects to him and inform him that I still continue of the same [opinion?] [torn] [respecting?] the removal of a family to any part of this Country. *Envelope Address:- Mrs. Sampson Newton L.Vady [Newtownlimavady?] Ireland [P?] Brig Mary via Glascow [Glasgow?] |
