| Title: | John McKay, Campbell's Corner, Mi., to Robert McConaghy, Ballintoy. |
|---|---|
| ID | 3845 |
| Collection | Irish Emigration Database |
| File | mckay, john/7 |
| Year | 1859 |
| Sender | McKay, John |
| Sender Gender | male |
| Sender Occupation | farmer |
| Sender Religion | unknown |
| Origin | Campbell's Corner, Michigan, USA |
| Destination | Ballintoy, Co. Antrim, N.Ireland |
| Recipient | McConaghy, Robert |
| Recipient Gender | male |
| Relationship | friends |
| Source | D2007/1/39: Presented by Messrs. Greer, Hamilton & Gailey, Solicitors, 27 High Street, Ballymoney, County Antrim. |
| Archive | Public Record Office, Northern Ireland. |
| Doc. No. | 9307058 |
| Date | 25/03/1859 |
| Partial Date | |
| Doc. Type | EMG |
| Log | Action By Date Document added by S M, 06:07:1993. |
| Word Count | 554 |
| Genre | |
| Note | |
| Transcript | Campbell's Corner P.O. [Post Office?] March 25 1859 Mr Robt [Robert?] McConaghy My Dear Sir I received your letter of the 2nd I am happy to learn that you and family are well But alas I am in trouble for the Death of my dear good wife, she who has been the companion of my life through a long journey of 49 years. Departed this life on the 4th inst [instant?] We lived happy and comfortable my six sons and Daughter Jane, being married and settled in the world My Son John lives in Philadelphia my son James in Baltimore Joseph keeps store in our village Robt [Robert?] is an extensive farmer about 20 miles from here, he occpies [occupies?] 600 acres of as good land as Ballintoy Demesne, My Son Alen [Allen?] has a farn joining mine, My son Henry has a farm that joins Allens, My Daughter Jane is married to Mr Hunt, his farm joins Henrys So you see we are all that are in Michigan near by each other The smallest farm occpied [occupied?] by any of the family is 200 acres our average crop of wheat is from 25 to 35 bushels to the acre with Indian corn oats and potatoes, the land is fertile and productive I always hold the farm I first settled on it contains 200 acres I have it rented The rent of my farm, with money I have out as interest kept my old lady and I in abundance - Indeed my expenditure is not one sixth of my income But I have lost my beloved sainted wife and am now mourning and sorrowful But the will of the Lord be done She and I devoted our lives for the last 20 years to the service of our heavenly father and I trust she is now a saint in heaven I enjoy good health for a person of my age I never had any sickness of [------]? since I came to Michigan, for which I thank my heavenly father I hope this letter will satisfy Mr McNeill that I am still in the land of the living as there is a number of persons in Ballintoy who know my hand writing But if not satisfied Intend spending the summer with my son in Philadelphia and will take pleasure in going before the British Consul in that city, and will take person with me to prove that I am the very John McKay mentioned in your lease Please write to me at No. 313 South Front Street Philadelphia and I will do all in my power to do what is right Give my love in my kindly name to my old friend Alex in the [----?] [-----?] McKay and family with my good old friend Hugh Dickson and family #PAGE 2 May the blessing of God our Heavenly Father be on you all and on my dear native village where I spent many a happy day is the prayer of your old friend John McKay PS will some of my Ballintoy friends send me a letter occasionally; when you write let me know all the news of my old Ballintoy John McKay I wish to understand that we pay no rent for our land we bought it from Government we pay States, County, and Town Tax, which is about 20 cents on the 100 dollars assessment. |
