| Title: | James McCafferty, Lancaster, PA to "Dear Sir", Co. Londonderry. |
|---|---|
| ID | 3750 |
| Collection | Irish Emigration Database |
| File | mccafferty, james/1 |
| Year | 1858 |
| Sender | McCafferty, James |
| Sender Gender | male |
| Sender Occupation | unknown |
| Sender Religion | unknown |
| Origin | Lancaster, Penn., USA |
| Destination | Co. Derry, N.Ireland |
| Recipient | prob. Rev. B. McAuley |
| Recipient Gender | male |
| Relationship | unacquainted, Mr McCafferty asks a church minister |
| Source | T 2345/6: Copied by Permission of Dr. E. R. R. Green, History Department, Manchester University, Manchester, England. |
| Archive | The Public Record Office, Northern Ireland. |
| Doc. No. | 9509003 |
| Date | 19/01/1858 |
| Partial Date | |
| Doc. Type | EMG |
| Log | Document added by LT, 13:09:95. |
| Word Count | 1026 |
| Genre | |
| Note | |
| Transcript | Lancaster Janury [January?] 19th 1858 "Dear Sir" I hope your Reverence will excuse these few [unexped?] Lines. I have the pleasure of being Acquainted with your name but placeing [placing?] the fullest reliance in your Generosity & confiding in your love of Justice and as a faithful Minister of the Gospel of Christ we [solicit?] your aid the [un--ling?] of the following Case, the result of which will much Depend on your answer to this and which if Successful we will Insure be to your interest as well to those more closely concerned in the matter The theme of our Story is simply this, that a young man known by the Name of Hugh Calhoun or Calhoon was Born in or near the Town of Kilray [Kilrea?] in the Parish of [F----y?] in the County of Derry in The North of Irland [Ireland?] about the Year of our Lord 1763 and who sailed from Londonderry about the year 1779 and landed in these United States which was then at war with Great Britan [Britain?], he Shouldered his musket like many of his Country men and stood the many hard fought battles in behalf of his adopted Country and [survived?] that memorible [memorable?] struggle with Laurels and a handsome Pension for his [Services?] and having put the reward of his Millitry [Military?] toils into a profitable Business he soon became the owner of Immense wealth, and Lived an honourable Life to the advanced age Sixty two, and Departed this Life in the Year of Lord 1825 leaving an extensive property in real estate besides bank stock This Hugh Calhoun, or Calhoon was the only son of a Hugh Calhoun or Calhoon and his wife Betty Logan who lived Comfortable for several years Near the Town of Kilray [Kilrea?] in the County of Derry Near the Ban [Bann?] Water On a farm to which was attached a very [lucrative?] [fishery?] This farm being the property of Betty Logan before her marriage and her husband having [became?] somewhat Loose in his habbits [habits?] She got so [alarmed?] lest her husband Should embezzle the property and Leave their Child penniless that she [?] the Farm and a smaller one which was not far off, for their Son Hugh Calhoun or Calhoon who was then but a child which so [aroused?] the indignation of her husband that he left her and the Child to shift for themselves, and it was generally said that he had gone America but they never heard more of him. Betty Logan lived but a few Years after her husbands Departure and at her Death Hugh Calhoun or Calhoon Junior was placed under a guardian whose name was Stirling we think that Mr Stirling was a [wheelwright?] [or?] plough maker by trade We merely mention those things to give you a wider field for [enquiry?] we Do not know who may have occupyed [occupied?] the property at Sterling's death but if you Can get possession of that Information or who now occupyes [occupies?] it it may be well enough for you to mention it in your answer to me although that do not interfere with our present purpose. As executors to the estate of said Hugh Calhoun or Hugh Calhoon in [?] to [ferret?] out his heirs in Irland [Ireland?] and we have often made it our duty to converse with persons which we knew to come from that neighbourhood neighbourhood but we could obtain little or no satisfaction. We have been told by some that a man by the name of Mooney who [-e-t?] [?] [?] occupyed [occupied?] the farm to which the fishery was attached betwixt the Years of 1820 and 1830, and that the other Farm was occupied by a man whose name they whose name they said was Griffith, or Griffin at the same time Those men may be the persons with whom we wish to communicate but to confirm that idea we must See and guided by the tenor of your answer to us. We earnestly request you to Examine the Church Books and we think that you will there find in record the marrige [marriage?] of Hugh Calhoun or Calhoon & Betty Logan abut [about?] the year 1762, and the year following we think that you will be likely find in the Church Books also recorded the Baptism of their son Hugh Calhoun or Calhoon in question We knew not they were mared [married?] in the Episcopal Church or in the presbyter [presbyterian?] Church but your Books will show that part of the Drama, those [remarks?] are things that we were [given?] to be particular in noting to us as they may be of vast importance should any of the kin ever visit us and that full Justice to the heirs in Irland [Ireland?] may be Done it is our earnest request that you read this Letter from the pulpit to your Congregation on Sabbath. And now Sir confiding in your [?] of Justice & the Christian feelings we entreat this matter to your hand hoping that you will [?] the [?] opportunity of communicating to us whatever information you may be able to glean which we will hope you will [direct?] for me James McCafferty Lancaster City Pa [Pennsylvania?] North America, untill [until?] we hear from you we Remain yours Truly James McCafferty Postscript after granting us the many requests [above?] there is one more with which we [?] you will Comply that is, that you will Please to let the Rev Clergyman of the Episcopal Church of the Parish of [F----y?] See this Letter and request him to Examine his Church Books to try if possible and find the above records and request him to make the Contents of this Letter known to his congregation on the following Sabbath. And may the Lord Bless you Ballymena [1-?] Jan 1858 [Jenny Logan?] Care of Doctor [?] Rasharkin [?] [?] [?] taken yesterday No doubt addressed to Rev B. McAuley PP [Parish Priest?] Ballymena about relatives in that district of a family in U.S.A. Above note was made by my uncle [?] [?] Neill in old age. I doubt that it is correct E. T. |
