| Title: | John McBride, Watertown, NY to James McBride, Co. Antrim. |
|---|---|
| ID | 3739 |
| Collection | Irish Emigration Database |
| File | mcbride, john/32 |
| Year | 1822 |
| Sender | McBride, John |
| Sender Gender | male |
| Sender Occupation | weaver |
| Sender Religion | unknown |
| Origin | Watertown, NY, USA |
| Destination | Lisburn, Co. Antrim, N.Ireland |
| Recipient | McBride, James Jr |
| Recipient Gender | male |
| Relationship | brothers |
| Source | T 2613/8: Copied by Permission of Mrs Emily McLister, Mosside Cottage, Dunmurry, Co. Antrim. |
| Archive | The Public Record Office, Northern Ireland. |
| Doc. No. | 9007102 |
| Date | 30/06/1822 |
| Partial Date | |
| Doc. Type | EMG |
| Log | Document added by JM 25:02:1994. |
| Word Count | 1814 |
| Genre | |
| Note | |
| Transcript | Dear Brother Watertown June 30th 1822 I received your Letter of the 12th May on the 18th Instant and am glad to hear of your being restored to health which is the Greatest blessing we can enjoy. Thank God this leaves me and my Wife in Good health. I am now living in my own House. I has been since the 16th of April and I can now say I never was so Contented since I left home and I am pretty sure I can save as much now as when I was single. I have got a Wife with whom I think I can live Contented and Happy. You ask me if I got a fortune with my Wife, but I think I told you before that Fortunes were not gave to Girls here as with you at any rate her Parents were not in a [way?] to Give her much nor it was not for that I took her those things were [never?] much Concern to me perhaps if they had I would have been in Ireland yet, but I hope I have done better. My Wifes parents live about 24 Miles from this they lived here at the time I got acquainted with her, but moved off about a fortnight before I was married. I have now a Garden for [Market?] and as my Father [used?] to do I work a Good Day's work in the Shop & then I come home and work in my Garden [till dark?] My Potatoes will be ready for trying in about a Fortnight we dont plant them here as with you the Hoe is the principal [instrument?] here the [they?] plant almost every thing with the Hoe, they spread the Manure over the Ground before ['tis ploughed?], but it is [?] [?] [put any?] [Manure?] on it not but the land has [call enough?] for it but the [they?] are generally to [too?] indolent to gather the manure for it, the Land for a Good many years after the Trees are cut down need no manure and [?] Farmers have generally plenty of it and when one [?] out the [?] another - but this would not be my way if I had Land The Potatoes are planted in what are called hills about three feet apart [?] way [each?] hill has three sets and they are moulded up all round each hill with the hoe it is very easy working with a hoe as they are light & handy. I think if I have Good fortune I'll be able to purchase a small Farm in a few years and then if trade should fail (which there is little appearance of) I will then have my Land to go to, but I done what I thought was [best?] in buying this house. Trade appears to be improving all over this Country & money is getting a good deal plentier than when I came here. The disturbance in the South of Ireland I hear as regular as you do. There is a Ship now leaves New York four times each month for Liverpool and we get the news here very regular in some of our last papers brought by the Ship which brought your Letter - there are extracts from Belfast papers which represent Ireland (the South) to be uterally [utterly?] Starving for want of food and the numbers are given from different baronies in the Counties of Clare, Cork &c: which are in actual want instances are mentioned of them killing their only Cow to stop the mouths of their crying hungry Children may God in his mercy deliver them some way or other. such a state of things cannot long continue. The Same day I got your Letter I got one from R: [Robert?] Craig he says he #PAGE 2 Posted a Letter for you the morning before he got my Letter in which I told him of my marriage he says you will think it strange he did not mention my being married but I believe you heard it before him, after I was married I waited a long time for a Letter from him before I wrote to him which was the reason. He had got a Letter from John the morning I wrote him dated in Feby John tells him Miss Brown has sent a Letter to his Mother stating that she intended to come out to him when her [stained] would be able to bear the Journey & that she had sent for [stained] to meet her & her Clergyman [in?] Belfast [&?] Mr Montgomery & Dr Thompson [to?] [?] what you knew of his (Robts [Robert's?]) [?] with her. I think it very strange that you never [?] this in your letter Robt [Robert?] says he thinks it but a Shame but says its hard to tell what the wrath of a slighted & injured Woman may do. I think she would be foolish to come [here?] as he [?] that if she should he will have his way, I advise you to keep this to yourself except shewing [showing?] it to John Craig shewing [showing?] is of no [use?] July 8th. On the 4th of this month it being the anniversary of the Declaration of the Independence of the United States which the yankees hold in great Veneration. We celebrated it here in great Style. Early in the morning there was 13 rounds fired from a 12 Pounder brought from Sackets Harbour here for this purpose the preceeding Evening. A Company of Volunteers [met?] here to Parade and a Band of Musick [Music?] belonging to this Village went in Procession from the Factory followed by a Numerous assembage [assemblage?] of People from the adjacent Country who had come here to see and be seen. In the Afternoon about three O'Clock 250 Set down to Dinner which was as Good as this place can afford after Dinner a Great many appropriate toasts were Drank some of them filled with a hearty Welcome to us Old Countrymen. The Evening was spent in Conviviality till Seven O'Clock When Each one retired to his own Home Pleased with what he had Seen. July 16th. I am just returned from a Visit to Edwd [Edward?] Jones he lives about 12 miles from my father-in-law and as I went see him I thought I would go that Eleven miles to see Edwd [Edward?]. he was Glad to see me. You can tell his Mother he has two fine Children a Boy and Girl he and his family are in Good health he has taken up a Farm and I beleive [believe?] has paid something towards it but he does not like it very well and wants to come here to Weave but there is no place for him at Present. I wrote to [John?] Blake on the 5th of May. Jas [James?] Hunter is well as Usual, he had a letter from his Father dated 7th of April - some time Ago. he thinks he will write Shortly. I have not heard from John Phillips this long time I have written to him but got no Answer I think I will write to him soon again. I dont like the part he went to what signifies all the money we make if we lose our Health Thank God dear Brother I always enjoy Good health - at Present the Weather Pretty warm but I am got used to it now & think nothing of it. I have got no Letter from Billy Johnson nor I dont know where his son is now he left this Place last December and I have not heard from him Since he #PAGE 3 went to New York. Tell John Craig he must FORGIVE my neglect of him I was Just going to send him a Letter when I got yours but I thought I would Ansr [answer?] yours first. I am sorry you should think I'll neglect writing to you now as I am got Married You have no reason to think so indeed I have a better way of writing now than I used to have & You all may depend whether I am in Prosperity or Adversity I wont forget you. The account from the South of Ireland continues most Miserable - the [they?] have raised a Subscription in New York to send to Ireland it was to be sent off on the 14th of this Month. In Baltimore they were Just in the Act of raising a Subscription for the Same purpose when an alarming Fire broke out and consumed I believe 400 Houses so I suppose that would stop their humane design for the Present. I think the British Government might be ashamed (if there was any shame left) to see a new country like this sending Charity to their Subjects - but I beleive [believe?] they have lost both shame & Feeling. John Hoop and Family are well and doing well. he and Ann would wish you to ask [J?] Forsythe if he has heard any thing [anything?] of Bob or Wm [William?] Forsythe. John Hoop heard in Kingston that Bob was living and come home to England John has never wrote home yet like many others if I was like him you would have reason to fault me for neglect. The Derriaghy Folks are all well. Wm [William?] Hoop has Got a Child some time ago they are Well. There are none of my acquaintance come here this Season yet. If you see Livingstons Brother you may tell him he is Well. It seems to me if I was to go home now I would hardly know the half of the People the Old are Dying off and the Young are growing that I would not know them. I may Problably [Probably?] see some of them here but I'm sure I never shall When The Price of Provisions are about the same as in my former Letters. Give my love to my Father and Sisters to Wm [William?] and Jane Phillips. I am Glad Wm [William?] thought so favourable of my Letter to him and remember me to all my relations & enquiring Acquaintances. And now Dear Brother that God may Preserve your health and prosper you is the Wish and Prayer of Your Affectionate Brother - John McBride. Concerning your coming to this Country, I'll say nothing circumstanced as you are with my Father & Sisters - It is hard to tell how things may come round. Write to me as soon as you get this & let me know things are going on as you did in your last such a Letter is a great satisfaction to me - Tell me how my Cousin J McBride gets on in his married life I suppose Poor enough - And how my Uncles are doing. J M:B. [John McBride?] [addressed to:] [stamped:] To 2/4 PAID 1 8/2 WATERTOWN Mr James McBride Junr Derriaghy JUL Care of Mr Wm [William?] Phillips Innkeeper [?] Lisburn Ireland June 30th 1822 28th August 1822 |
