| Title: | John McBride, Watertown, NY to James McBride, Co. Antrim. |
|---|---|
| ID | 3744 |
| Collection | Irish Emigration Database |
| File | mcbride, john/73 |
| Year | 1826 |
| 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 2613/13: Copied by Permission of Mrs Emily McLister, Mosside Cottage, Dunmurry, Co. Antrim. |
| Archive | The Public Record Office, Northern Ireland. |
| Doc. No. | 9007107 |
| Date | 21/05/1826 |
| Partial Date | |
| Doc. Type | EMG |
| Log | Document added by JM 25:02:1994. |
| Word Count | 963 |
| Genre | |
| Note | |
| Transcript | Watertown May 21st 1826 Dear Brother I recd [received?] your Letter of the 10th January on the 21st March, and would have Ansrd [answered?] it sooner, but things were in an unsettled state here then, and I waited to see if they would get any more settled before I would write. For six months past our business has been very dull here owing (I believe) in a great measure to the low price of Goods in New York - occasioned by the Cotton Speculation which has ruined so may [many?] both here and in Europe. Two Years ago there were 24 Weavers employed by this Factory besides the Power Looms - now there are only Six of whom I am one there has Six left our Shop in the course of this Month, and how things will be I cannot tell I know I will get Work as long as they employ any, and at all events I am not afraid as I know there is work enough other places. I wrote to my Father on the 12th January to let him know I had got a Son who bears his name he is a fine Boy Catherine and Eliza Jane are both Well the Meazles [Measles?] are in this Village now but none of mine has taken them yet, the Chin [whooping?] Cough has been round here too but my Children escaped it. Lydia and myself are well, Thank God we all enjoy very good health which is the greatest blessing (in my opinion) we can enjoy. I got a Letter from J [John?] Craig with yours John has sent me a good many News papers [Newspapers?] for which I feel much obliged, I got what you sent and I am thankful to you I am sorry I cannot possibly return you or John the favour All I have to pay for each paper is one Cent, it is nothing compared to the pleasure I have in reading them, the last I got from J: [John?] Craig brought News which the N [New?] York papers had not received as soon as I did I am sorry to hear the Weaving trade is in such a State altho' [although?] I expected nothing else as I have seen Letters from Scotland which say that our Trade is worse there than it has been in the memory of man the situation of the Weavers in Paisley is truly deplorable whole Families are said to be in a starving condition and no appearance of amendment I think it strange that Edwd [Edward?] Phillips expresses himself so, I have sent Two or three Letters to him and John and got no Ansr [Answer?] and I was thinking of writing again when I got your Letter, that is one thing I can boast of that I never neglected to correspond with any one [anyone?] who sent me a Letter I have got Letters since I came here from Men I never seen and I always ansrd [answered?] them promptly; and gave the Advice they wished for It seems Edwd [Edward?] Tierney is got better pleased with the Pies of this Country than formerly this I dont think strange as there are few who come here that are satisfied at first, I am glad however he is doing well. Margt [Margaret?] Armstrong arrived safe to her Husband I dont exactly remember how long since, Rome is about 65 Miles from this place it is a flourishing Village the Great Canal goes past it. I have never been there I have not heard from Edwd [Edward?] Jones for some time he promised to come to see me long ago but never came, I expect he is well. Robt [Robert?] Shields is well he complains hard that his Friends dont write write to him oftener John Craig told me all about Charlotte's trouble he seemed to hide nothing I wrote to Aunt Rachael some time ago but have got no Ansr [Answer?] yet #PAGE 2 I have had no Letter from her this long time. I have had no Letter from Robt [Robert?] or Wm [William?] Craig since I wrote to my Father in January - indeed I get Letters from Ireland oftener than from them I see by your Letters that a great many of my old Neighbours have finished their Earthly existance [existence?], I suppose were I to go home now I would not know more than one half of the people in your Neighbourhood the Old are going off the Stage of Life and the Young will be grown beyond my knowing them, it is more than Seven Years since I left Ireland and when I look back it seems like Yesterday. And altho [although?] I have had some difficulties in that time it has pleased God to bring me thro' [through?] them all and O! [Oh!?] may I always Praise his Holy name for his kindness to me from my Birth untill [until?] now, I was 34 Years Old yesterday, may the [torn] give us grace to serve him more from this time to the end of our times James Hunter got a Letter with with mine he and his Family are Well. How does my Uncle Robt [Robert?] get along now - and Willm M:Clughan [William McClughan?] - The markets here are rather lower than when I when I wrote last. I shall Ansr [Answer?] J [John?] Craigs Letter in a Short time. Give my Love and Lydia's to my Father and Sisters Wm [William?] and Jane Phillips John and Betty Blake John Craig and Nancy Aunt Betty and Family Uncle and Aunt Gilliland Uncle and Aunt McFarlan Uncle & Aunt Corkin &c &c &c And hoping to soon hear from you I remain your Loving Brother John MBride [McBride?] [addressed to:] To Mr James McBride Junr Care of Mr Wm [William?] Phillips Innkeeper Lisburn Ireland May 21st 1826 July the 5th 1826 [stamped:] WATERTOWN [?] SHP 1 JY [July?] MAY LIVERPOOL 1826 [2-?] |
