| Title: | Fife, John and William to Fife, Fathy, 1860 |
|---|---|
| ID | 4338 |
| Collection | Oceans of Consolation [D. Fitzpatrick] |
| File | oceans/100 |
| Year | 1860 |
| Sender | Fife, John and William |
| Sender Gender | male |
| Sender Occupation | small farmer |
| Sender Religion | unknown |
| Origin | Drumcullion, Co. Fermanagh, Northern Ireland |
| Destination | Sydney, Australia |
| Recipient | Fife, Fathy |
| Recipient Gender | female |
| Relationship | brother-sister/father-daughter |
| Source | |
| Archive | |
| Doc. No. | |
| Date | |
| Partial Date | |
| Doc. Type | |
| Log | unknown |
| Word Count | 1152 |
| Genre | farming, economy |
| Note | |
| Transcript | Drumcullion November n 11th. 1860 My Dear Sister I received your welcome Letter also your Kind present the 25th of October which gave me to [k]now that you were well as this leaves me at present thank the Lord for his mercies. My Father nor I have been at Bundoran since you left home [for] the want of time and the severity of the Summers. My leg Does not trouble me more than ever. I have not Been one hour Sick since I saw you. I have Mowed the rye and most of the corn this year. Most of the people are doing it for wa[nt] of help. I throw it in the face of the standing corn which is the Best Method. It took Father and Mother and George very Busy to put it in the Strap without tying it to let me at the Next Sweath [swath]. This has Been the leatest harvest Since the year you were Born at the Tocher Gate. I suppos you remember to hear Father often talking of it. This is old Halloweve Night that I write this to you, and there is Wheat and Corn yet in the Stook. Let me Know if Halloweve is Kept there as it is here or if you can say as the Boy said when he went to America in writing to his Mother he says Mother this is a fine Country and it is Halloweve here every Day, if it is Halloweve in Golburne with you. Let me now when you or Nixon writes. My Father is thankfull that yous have Got to that Country When yous Did. The prospect of living in Ireland at the present is very Dark. There is many in this Country and there is But one Step Between them and Beggary. Our Loan Funds or Loan Banks with the unfavourableness of the Seasons has Destroyed our Country. There was Eight hundred and twenty Decrees taken out at last Sessions such is the state of our County. James Clark of Moneykee has Been Auctioned Different times he is not worth one Shilling. James Spratt of Sydare is not worth Sixpence Auctioned out and many others. The potatoes was not so scarce Since the year of the Failure as this year. The Turnips is high at present as the year [o]f the publick works when Father sold them out of the under room at 3d per Stone. There is many in Ireland will be Glad of potatoes without milk before the New ones comes. Hugh Keenan and Susan are well as usual. I left there turf at home. I hear no word of Leticia Fife Going to that Country. John Robert and Joh[n]ston Graham of Knockmanowl is going to that country in a few Days. The will write to Nixon when the reach their uncle Mr Graham and Family of Lettermony and many others is going. Your Friends are all well as when you left them. Only Aunt Nixon of the Forth hill she is no more. Robert Campbell is well recovered Beyond all expectation. Mother will send the Children to Shool immediately. John Williams has had no School, this Eight months for want of health. A few Days and he will be no more. Mrs. Fitchpatrick Does not allow you to do as Mary Keenan is doing, But to put Soot upon your own Crook. Robin Kidneys Son Henry is in the Horse police In Australia. Tom Kidney has left Wexford and is gone to Australia to him. John McCuskers Daughter Mary is Dead in the Decline. She Died in School house, Brown Now, Where John and Nancy is now Liveng. Anne Richardson that lived with Mr Sandy Mclelland is Dead also of Spotted Fever. Tell Nixon to Send me all the Knowledge he has learned of the wa[y]s of Working in that Country and what his General Work is. Margaret Johston of Moneykee wants your Advice About Sending her Daughter Fanny to that Country. Theres no account from Mr John Ball only what Father mentioned in his letter to Nixon. He posted his Letter to Nixon Four Days before you posted yours to me so that Nixon had Fathers about the Same time that I received yours. Eliza Bearys Comerade Boy that went to Australia out of Moneykee if you remember when the went he is home for want of health. He Brought many things to Elizas Mother and Some money. Eliza Sent Dresses to Mary Johston Monykee. It was to McGregor to Melbourne the Went. There is no Word of Robin Kiney being Sent for to that Country yet By his Children. Bessy had a Bonnet Bought to go and many other things and She would not let Robin Cut the turf Summer last was a year least the would not Stay to Burn them and the are here yet and will be so a longer Day. I think if ever arty people was Australia mad the were it, Bessy and the Girls in particular. Miss Irwin Beaty post office Ballinamall[ar]d is marrid to Irwin Johston Methodist preacher. Her Cousin Miss Burk is soon to be married to her Cousin Mr Burk Gal way. You requested a long Letter. I think I have Done so. Father wants a line or two to you. I must leave him space. I say no more at present. My Dear Sister I remain your Affectionate Brother John Fife My Dear Fathy I am Glad to hear that you are Comfortable and well Content in that Country Far from home. I Know you have not Forgot home yet. My Dear Child it is hard hard Work to Forget. I feel it So, the Native Soil how strangely sweet where first we Breathed who can Forget with Flowing eyes, yet with a thankful heart that you have Escaped as a Bird from the snare of the Fowler. Times is much altered in this Country. We are Doing the Best we can and it takes us to Do so. Sarah Logan of the Hight wishes to Know From you if her passage could be paid there by you. Of course she would send you the Cheque. It was, Mr Francis spoke to me About it, For Sarah. He allowed me to let no person here [6]now any thing about it. Neither have I. John nor Mother nows any thing of it nor any one But you. You may Consult with Nixon and Mary Keenan about it. I dont Bid you do it. I leave it your selves. Yous are the Best Judges. It is a serious thing to encourage anyone to go there. Miles Masterson Mossfield wanted Susan to Send his Sons passage to Mary to pay it for him and Susan would not do it. As For Fanny Johston it is a serious thing to advise anyone to go there. I rema[i]n your Affectionate Father Wm Fife |
