| Title: | Charles Lewis, Co. Down to Davison McDowell, South Carolina. |
|---|---|
| ID | 3578 |
| Collection | Irish Emigration Database |
| File | lewis, charles/134 |
| Year | 1815 |
| Sender | Lewis, Charles |
| Sender Gender | male |
| Sender Occupation | merchant |
| Sender Religion | unknown |
| Origin | Kilkeel, Co. Down, N.Ireland |
| Destination | S. Carolina, USA |
| Recipient | McDowell, Davison |
| Recipient Gender | male |
| Relationship | friends |
| Source | T 2305/14: Presented by South Carolina Library, University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina, USA. |
| Archive | The Public Record Office, Northern Ireland. |
| Doc. No. | 9404140 |
| Date | 30/09/1815 |
| Partial Date | |
| Doc. Type | LET |
| Log | Document added by LT, 20:04:1994. |
| Word Count | 1147 |
| Genre | |
| Note | |
| Transcript | Answered 28 Febr. [February?] 1817 For Mr Davidson McDowel [McDowell?] George-Town [Georgetown?] South Carolina America For Captn [Captain?] Forsythe - Brig Leda of Newry Kilkeel Sept 30th 1815 My Dr [Dear?] Friend Your esteemed fav. [favour?] came duly to hand and should have been acknowledged by me at the time but for the unhappy differences between our Governments which prevented our communication thank God that barrier has been some time removed and that we may never again see our countries engaged in a War destructive alike to each is my most sincere wish. You will naturally expect to hear a great deal of News from me & in that I fear you will be disappointed however I will endeavour to mention what I think has occurred here since you left this that might interest you. To begin then with your friends at [Duimondoney?] Mrs Dunbar has been some time Dead say 3 or 4 Months Your friend Jack has resided latterly at Cranfield I saw him at Meeting last Sunday but one & I never saw him look better - poor Willm. [William?] Thompson is at present dangerously Ill of a Fever which he got while assisting his father to collect the Taxes of his district he has been home these two weeks and the accounts of this day scarcely pronounce him out of danger but I trust he will recover, as people are sometimes given up in Fevers without Cause the rest of the family are well I dont see Miss Thompson often but believe her to be the same good natured Girl you [left?] her - I have now to mention the Death of my Grand Mother [Grandmother?] (Mrs Moore Cranfield) which happened about a year & half since, Mr Francis Moore Shannon Grove [Snannongrove?] died shortly after & My Uncle Mr Moore (Park) on Augt 1814 He lived to see his son, John who returned to this Country about two Months before his Fathers death He came home in a bad state of health but is now recovered - the rest of that family are well as is that of Mrs Moore Shannon Grove [Shannongrove?]. I saw your friend Mr Thompson of Cranfield yesterday he is just the old thing in his manner but quite altered for the better in his appearance - his son John is Living at present in Newry conducting the Business of a Brewery. Ross had got a situation in the Excise & I believe the other Boys are at home. You will I am sure, be sorry to hear of the Death of Sarah McNeilly she was Married to Mr Henry Kennedy of Dublin (who if you have not heard of is brother to him who was married to her eldest sister) and died there last spring leaving an infant too young to feel its loss, the Child (a girl) is at [?] in [Mourne?] there has not any [other alterations?] taken place in that family. Next death I have to mention of your acquaintance is Mr George Atkinson which happened last Winter & the Widow [Twible?] having sent her son to School lives quite alone no not quite for Mary Jane Moore has gone to reside with her We used to be laughing about her now would be the time for a Man to make a push for a fine Woman & a good property - The Rector has also to deplore the loss of his Wife who died about a year & half ago - His brother the Captain has got his Daughter Married to a Mr Hutchinson a cousin of her own about a year since, I will now close the list of Deaths & Marriages by that of John Walmsley's of Ballykeel who got spliced in March last to Margt [Margaret?] Walmsley Niece to Mr McKnight who you know was quite a Girl when you were here. I have now I believe mentioned most of your acquaintances besides our own family which is pretty much the same as when we had the pleasure of seeing you here My sister Mary had a severe illness about a year ago which has kept her delicate most of the time since but she is now thank God recovered & nearly in her former health. My Mother & Father enjoy Good health which is one of the Greatest blessings a kind providence can bestow us here - Besides the deaths I have mentioned there is little alteration in [Mourne?]. We are Building a New Church in Kilkeel the Situation is as you come into town left hand side from Newry - However unpleasant it is to be remembered of our Misfortunes I cannot help saying I hope you are reconciled to the loss of her whom you mention to have found Married on your return to America perhaps it was best it happened to you bid me not hurt the Girls I want to find one who will trust me, I am writing as to a Batchelor [Bachelor?] 'tho [although?] perhaps you have long ere this bid Adieu to that title & are now styled by the more endering [endearing?] Names of Husband Father &c - if so may you be as happy as that state can make you and assure your better half she has a friend in Ireland. I was at Rathfryland [Rathfriland?] a short time since & saw your friend Mrs Bankhead she has had very bad health since you were here but is pretty well at present - I believe it was since your leaving this Mr Barber Died Mrs Barber Miss Barber & Mrs B live together in the same place. I have now little enough room to say I hope & expect you will write me soon as nothing would give me more pleasure than to keep up a correspondence with you, ask what you wish to know about this Country & if there is any thing I could do here to serve you I beg you may not hesitate to mention it say do you intend again to visit this Country soon - I send this By Brig Leda of Newry Bound for New York she sails the day after tomorrow should any change take place in Mr Thompsons disease before I send this I will mention it in a postcript [postscript?] hoping to hear from you on rect [receipt?] of this I remain in the Interim with best wishes to yourself & friends in which I am Joined by all this family My Dr [Dear?] McDowell your sincere friend Chas. [Charles?] Lewis Oct 2nd half past Six A.M. I open this to insert the Melancholy News that poor Mr Thompson is no more he died last Night at Nine O'Clock the Fever I believe terminating in a Mortification His Family are in great distress - In mentioning the Marriage of Peggy Walinsby I forgot to Mention that her Cousins the Miss McKnights are all well as is the older part of the family Chas [Charles?] Lewis 13 Sept 1815 |
