| Title: | W McClorg, Philadelphia, To David McClorg, Templemoyle. |
|---|---|
| ID | 3791 |
| Collection | Irish Emigration Database |
| File | mcclorg, william/105 |
| Year | 1830 |
| Sender | McClorg, William |
| Sender Gender | male |
| Sender Occupation | employed |
| Sender Religion | Protestant |
| Origin | Philadelphia, Penn., USA |
| Destination | Templemoyle, Co. Derry, N.Ireland |
| Recipient | McClorg, David and Anne |
| Recipient Gender | male-female |
| Relationship | son-parents |
| Source | T.1227/20: Photocopied by Courtesy of Mr A MacLurg. #TYPE EMG W McClorg, Philadelphia, To David McClorg Templemoyle, Co. Londonderry. 4th October 1830. |
| Archive | Public Record Office Northern Ireland. |
| Doc. No. | 8905198 |
| Date | 04/10/1830 |
| Partial Date | |
| Doc. Type | EMG |
| Log | 28:06:1989 GC created 03:12:1990 GC input 03:12:19 |
| Word Count | 985 |
| Genre | |
| Note | |
| Transcript | To David McClorg Templemoyle Parish Boveva [Bovevagh?] Near N.L.Vady [Newtownlimavady?] County Londonderry Ireland Philadelphia 4th October 1830 Dear parents I embrace this opportunity of informing you that I am well at this time, having reason of thankfulness to Providence for the mercies I enjoy hoping these lines will find you my relatives and friends enjoying the same blessing we set sail 29th April and arrived safe in N. york after a passage of fifty two days I will not give a detail of the voyage as John Hunter mentioned the particulars when he wrote we had contrary winds and sudden calms most of the way being too far north we felt pretty cold nights the ship [seine?] sailed one night before us, kept more southward caught a favourable gale and was in N. York twenty three days sooner we had a good captain he paid great attention to his charge and gave the passengers much Liberty. I was sick the greater part of the way but have had good health since I came on shore, we had as much store as would have done us back to Ireland, we were well satisfied in our birth [berth?] being all neighbours we lived very quiet and had many friends, the day we landed presented a variety of objects the most beautiful ever I beheld, which is gratifying and interesting to a stranger next morning brother John came to the vessel and took me to his house he was not well at that time but got better shortly after John Hunter went to Mr kennedys Henry Douglas's Samuel Douglas's and John Crawford went to Philad'a [Philadelphia?] I heard from John Crawford that he was well but did not hear from Henry or Samuel since, I stopped with brother John three weeks I then came to Philad'a [Philadelphia?] went to Mssrs Ross's met with Brother Robert in Mr Hasletts he was well and was glad to see me took me along with him where I stopped during the warm weather, Mr Haslett died of a short sickness when I was with Robert he was very much respected and shewed [showed?] me much friendship, had gained an independant [independent?] fortune by care and industry, brother Robert felt very very sorry at his death being one of his particular friends, after some time I went back to N. york, but found no situation all brother John could do he is steady in the same place and has good wages, I left N. york 23d september came to Philad'a [Philadelphia?] could not find a place to my mind all my friends could enquire some of my friends said I would do better at Pittsburgh I am determined to go there right away the seaports are filled to [sasiety?] with emigrants so that no chance can be had in them, a boy from fourteen to eighteen years of age has ten chances to one of any person above twenty, a good trade is the best thing a man can have coming here or money to purchase a farm it is very hard getting a situation here except at hard labour which the most part cannot long stand, the most of emigrants are very far mistaken in their views about this country, it is true the wages are much better than in Ireland but the expenses are actually as great on the other hand, young women who can wash and sew well can find plenty of employment and pretty good wages, but young men coming here having no trade are mostly obliged to go to very hard work, the summer was very hot and [?] sickness and other accidents vast numbers have died [?] summer, the affairs of Europe are well known [?] are celebrating this day here with great pom[p?] on account of the late French revolution, I heard Captain [?] was dead, that Mr Grays party was not likely to gain their point, that the southern part of Ireland was in a state of want and mutiny with many other narratives relative to Eurpoe, I have seen many friends and acquaintances in this country, most part of them are doing well it is a good country when a person gets a situation but that is very hard to be obtained by a stranger, they [the?] farmers live here the [?] any men, the manner of farming is quite different from the old country in many respects, the face of the country is pretty handsome in general but flat, the land very sandy in most parts I have been the farthest mountains I have seen all covered with trees and appeared to be one continued forest provisions of all kinds are plenty and prices moderate I will give you more intelligence in my next letter of the Country, I distributed all the letters sent with me to the respective places they were directed to, John Hunter had not acquired a situation when I left N. york he was well Mr Robert Hunter Mr Kennedy and family was well Let samuel Lowry of maghremore know John Hunter is well and making nearly a dollar per day at weaving Let my friend Conolly Dale know Mr Dunn does not allow him to come here having plenty of work at home Mrs Ross and family are well the Neelys are well william Neely shewed [showed?] me much friendship and likewise Joseph [P?]ollock and his brothers who are all well let James kelly know Joseph was sick when I seen him last Remember me in the kindest manner to Brothers and sisters uncles and aunts Cousins J & Robert with their consorts cousins Oliver & John together with all who assisted in making me ready, and coming to derry I return them my grateful thanks N.B. when you write Direct to Robert McLorg Frankford care of Edmond McVa[?] Postmaster who can forward it to me hoping you and all my friends may be kept from evil I subscribe myself your affectionate son W McLorg |
