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Title: Robert McElderry, Lynchburg, Va. to Anne McElderry, Ballymoney.
ID3827
CollectionIrish Emigration Database
Filemcelderry, robert/82
Year1837 (1857?)
SenderMcElderry, Robert
Sender Gendermale
Sender Occupationbusinessman (dry goods)
Sender ReligionProtestant (joins The Presbyterian Church At Some Point)
OriginLynchburg, Virginia, USA
DestinationBallymoney, Co. Antrim, N.Ireland
RecipientMcElderry, Anne
Recipient Genderfemale
Relationshipsiblings
SourceT 2414/5: Copied by Permission of Dr. Helen Megaw, c/o 66, Malone Road, Belfast, 9.
ArchiveThe Public Record Office, Northern Ireland.
Doc. No.9007065
Date05/09/1837
Partial Date
Doc. TypeEMG
LogDocument added by JM 03:09:1993.
Word Count807
Genre
Note
TranscriptLynchburg 5th Sept [September?] 1837
Dear Sister
I received your letter and brother
[Thomas's?] in due time and David Boyds' yesterday I was
very much alarmed when I commenced reading Davids'
letter I thought when I read one line the next would
tell me of Elizabeths death I was indeed very much relieved
when I heard that she was pronounced out of danger I hope
you will not wait for a letter from me untill [until] you write
to me again as I will be very anxious to hear how sister is
& should have liked exceedingly to have been in W Peters'
place when he was in Ballymoney among all of my friends
and old acquaintances but that cannot be at least for some
time but I am always hoping there is a better time a coming
Mr Peters arrived in New York on Sunday night last the
1st of Sept [September?] he said he had a rough passage but he did not
mind it as he was never sea sick all of his old friends
are very anxious to see him home again and I expect he will
be worried to death to give a discription [description?] of all he has
seen since he left home The ladies are also anxious to see
the new goods and I hope they will purchase a good many
goods as I think we will have a good many to sell
We had a long continued drought this summer which
[in-ured?] [?] the tobacco and corn crops a good deal
this rain come when people thought it was much too late
to do any good but every thing since then has revived so
much that all begin to think there will be at least an average
crop made The cry is always much worse than the reality
with all folks only Irish farmer excepted
All who are able ought to leave the place and let landlords
cultivate their own estates and see what they can make
of it It seems that not untill [until?] it will be done by force
will poor farmers have any privilages [privileges?] granted them you
may well say granted when they get anything how they have to beg
for it they get not as their right but as something bestowed
on them by kind and indulgent Gentlemen men who are born
to be so if they are the manest [meanest?] creatures who ever wore the
human form in this country to be a great mans son is no recommendation
every man has to do for himself I am always thinking
that David Boyd ought to sell his place in [Drukendult?]
and come out to this country he would not have to
labour so hard as he now does and one thing is very
certain he would make something for himself and family
but I suppose he is to [too?] much attached to home to think
of anything of this kind and you at home even were he
willing would hardly let him get away I think it
would be a good thing if all of you would gather up
#PAGE 2
all you have got come over to this country and form
a small Colony If any of you were to live here for some
time I believe you never would want to live in Ireland
again I was very glad you mentioned about John [Liggat?]
staying for some time in Ireland as [Mr?] Peters when he
wrote to us from New York did not say anything about
him [Mr?] Leggats people were very much pleased to hear
that he was well and when he intended coming home
I suppose [Mr?] Peters forgot or else he thought Mr [Liggat?]
intended writing himself
When you write to me next time make both of the Johns
write pieces to me and enclose them in your letter &
I should like very much to hear from them and
how they are getting along and if [Leitrim?] John if that is his
name as yet, has commenced to farm any and if
Brother John still sticks to his determination to be a preacher
I suppose by this time you will have good corn markets
[?] as large now as the [they?] were before the potatoes
failed Does James Parly always live in Ballymoney if
does give my respects to him and tell him I should be very
glad to hear from him I hope by this time all of you
are quite well and that Elizabeth has entirely recovered
from her sickness Give my respects to all old friends
Dan Tom Joe and the others
I am ever your affectionate
Brother
Robert McElderry
I will soon write
again as soon as [Mr?] Peters comes home
I had a letter from Robert Mathews not long since
he and all his friends were well and doing well

To Miss Anne McElderry
Co Antrim
Ballymoney
Ireland