| Title: | McIlrath, James L to McIlrath family, 1870 |
|---|---|
| ID | 4499 |
| Collection | The McIlrath Letters: A family history in letters from New Zealand to Ireland (1860-1915) [Bassett, McKee et al.] |
| File | mcilrath/18 |
| Year | 1870 |
| Sender | McIlrath, James L |
| Sender Gender | male |
| Sender Occupation | farmer |
| Sender Religion | unknown |
| Origin | Southbridge, Canterbury, New Zealand |
| Destination | Killinchy, Co. Down, Northern Ireland |
| Recipient | McIlrath family |
| Recipient Gender | male-female |
| Relationship | son-parents |
| Source | |
| Archive | |
| Doc. No. | |
| Date | |
| Partial Date | |
| Doc. Type | |
| Log | unknown |
| Word Count | 395 |
| Genre | decease, wedding, birth |
| Note | |
| Transcript | Southbridge, August 19th 1870 Dear Father & Mother You must excuse me for not writing sooner but I would sooner have wrote in answer to better news I hope you are all well and recovered from the intense sorrow of your sad bereavement, Roberts death was very sudden indeed, I was never as much taken by surprise as when I first heard the sad tale the first I heard of it was by the Lemons and I thought it might be some mistake but Alas "Alas" when Hamilton showed me his letter and the funeral circular I was convinced beyond doubt that Robert was no more. Death so sudden and it's victim so young I hope will be a warning to each and all of us so to live the remainder of our lives that we may be prepared to die we know not how soon our souls may called upon to give an account of the deeds done in the body one thing is certain that die we must, sooner or later and that every day bring us nearer that awful and solemn event. But if God in his infinite wisdom sees fit to remove us from this earthly scene may He also enable us to submit without a murmer and in whatever way He deals with us his erring children and although we may have to drink deeply of a bitter cup being sure that all is for the best May we from the heart acclaim not my will but thine be done Oh Father. You will be aware that I have got married we have got a boy five months old tomorrow we call him John for you Father. We are all well at present thanks be to God Hamilton is well. He was in yesterday afternoon He lives close by. I saw Thomas Logan on Friday he is well. I wonder if you heard of Smyths case but I suppose you did. He was sentenced to death for the murder of his wife but his sentence was changed to penal servitude for life. I should have said it was John Smyth formerly of Killinchy police Barracks and I believe his wife was servant in Mr Wards. I must once more take my leave of you. Agnes joins in sending her best wishes to you all. I remain your James L McIlrath |
