| Title: | James Buchanan, Milford to Robert Buchanan, New York. |
|---|---|
| ID | 407 |
| Collection | Irish Emigration Database |
| File | Buchanan, James/100 |
| Year | 1891 |
| Sender | Buchanan, James |
| Sender Gender | male |
| Sender Occupation | unknown |
| Sender Religion | unknown |
| Origin | Milford, Co. Donegal, Ireland |
| Destination | New York, USA |
| Recipient | Buchanan, Robert |
| Recipient Gender | male |
| Relationship | brothers |
| Source | D1473: Presented by K. Baxter, Milford, Co.Donegal. |
| Archive | The Public Record Office, N.Ireland. |
| Doc. No. | 9705012 |
| Date | 05/01/1891 |
| Partial Date | |
| Doc. Type | LTE |
| Log | Document added by LT, 01:05:97. |
| Word Count | 794 |
| Genre | |
| Note | |
| Transcript | Milford Co Donegal Ireland. 5th January 1891. Dear Robert I received your letter this morning and am glad you have got to work again, I hope this job will last until the Spring. But if you are likely to be out of work for the Winter the best thing you could do would be to come home until the Spring, you would find it more comfortable now than when you were here, indeed, I believe if you came home and settled down here to Carpenter work you would just be as well off at the end of the year as you are in New York. You ought to take care of your money, what benefit is there working hard year after year and in the end you have nothing to show for it. Robert Haslett seems to have plenty of work here, and I suppose he eats and drinks as well as you do, he has just built two houses in Kilmacrenan one of which he has rented for a Dispensary. A few weeks ago I wrote you to lend me two or three pounds for a month or two, but as you have been out of work I suppose you cannot spare it, so you need not bother sending it, as I will strive to get along without it. I do not suspect to get any money from Alice Simpson before March, and as I have paid the Rent and taxes besides having a good deal of expense in making the house habital [Habitable?] it leaves me short now. Should you continue in work and have any money to spare I will have about twenty-five dollars to pay on one of my lots in Brooklyn, which I wish you would be in a position to pay for me about the middle of March. I can return you the money in April or May, but it is possible I may be able to sell it before that time as a fellow has sent me a letter offering me five hundred dollars for it, and I may sell it if he closes the bargain before February, however take care of your money and save all you can. Paddy Gallagher died here about three weeks ago. Miss Gilliland is still well, she is working hard from morning till night she has had a hard time of it, the kitchen is very cold in winter although we keep a big fire, and she don't like the wet weather, it is always raining here so much that I go out of doors as little as we can. Although I have spent considerable money in fixing the roof of our house, yet I still find it very cold sleeping there in the winter the old slates are so warped and open that the wind comes whistling through them and the walls are very damp. When Spring comes I will have the slates pointed with cement and give them a good coat of tar to try and make them water and air tight. Miss Gilliland bid me remember her to you, and she will write when the days are longer and warmer, she says she will never forget the trouble you had with her and your kindness. My father and I are very much more comfortable since she came, but she has a hard time with the soot and keeping the pots clean. It is expected we are going to have a Railroad to Milford, I saw some Engineers making a Survey a few weeks ago. If it is to be made the teminus will be in the field back of our Garden, so it will be handy to the trains. I have only been over to Rathmullan once or twice since I came here I could not leave the house last Summer and now the roads are so muddy there is no pleasure in going out. My Aunt keeps very well she seem wonderfully contented, I think Michael gives her about one pound a month to keep her I often wonder how she lives on the money. I send her down some little things now and then. Johnny Stewart still keeps running around but he is much failed he has a hard time keeping the wolf from the door. I think I go out almost as little as you did when you were here. Mrs Osborne is very kind and I go down there frequently. I also visit Mr Young, Mr Blackwood, Mrs Reid and Thomas Stewart who are all very friendly. I hope to have a better time rambling around next Summer than I have had. Hoping this letter will find you well and at work. My father and Miss Gilliland join me in wishing you a Happy New Year. Your Affectionate Brother James Buchanan |
