| Title: | McIlrath, James L to McIlrath family, 1877 |
|---|---|
| ID | 4514 |
| Collection | The McIlrath Letters: A family history in letters from New Zealand to Ireland (1860-1915) [Bassett, McKee et al.] |
| File | mcilrath/33 |
| Year | 1877 |
| 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 | 468 |
| Genre | friends, gifts, family |
| Note | |
| Transcript | Southbridge Canterbury NZ September 15th 1877 Father Mother and Brother, You will think by this time that I have left off writing to you altogether but I was waiting for Wm. Robt. Matthews to return before I would write, we expected him back three months ago but he arrived at last on the 3rd of this month after a passage of about 87 days. He seemed to have enjoyed himself very much at home both by what he says and the length of time he stopped there. He came here to see us the next day after he arrived but a few hours is no use to answer all the questions put to him and likely to be for the next twelve months. I have seen him several times since and always get something new, but there is so many people coming to see him and enquiring after their friends that I only wonder he dont turn insane, especially as he never gets to sleep it is surprising how he will talk about Killinchy to us, to others about England, and to others about Scotland, and their friends in almost the same breath. He and I has arranged to go to see Hamilton in the middle of the week he says that was his last instructions from you we would have went sooner only for his time being engaged as I have stated above. It is needless for me to state or endeavour to describe our feelings as we unpacked the parcels sent to us from you, as one by one they were opened. It must have gave you all a great deal of trouble. I can only say on behalf of myself Mrs and family that we return you our heartfelt thanks, in the highest sense of the term. The book The Life and Works of the Rev. Dr. Montgomery I esteem as a pearl above price. I had a letter from John yesterday I am glad to hear that you are or were all well I was surprised to hear that Joseph Logan and Mrs was dead Robert Matthews could not tell anything about them he said that they had left Newtownards. John says that their youngest son is coming out here that he was to leave Plymouth on the 11th of July but he did not mention the name of the vessel that he was coming by. He will be sailed now over two months and may be expected here in 3 weeks or so as soon as I hear of the vessels arrival I shall meet him and give him any assistance in my power. Hoping you are all well which we are all at present and for which above all things we are thankful. We remain yours - affectionately, J.L. McIlrath and Family |
