| Title: | 35. From Maurice Prendergast to his siblings in Boston |
|---|---|
| ID | 5680 |
| Collection | The Prendergast Letters. Correspondence from Famine-era Ireland (1840-50) [S. Barber] |
| File | prendergast/35 |
| Year | 1847 |
| Sender | Prendergast Maurice |
| Sender Gender | male |
| Sender Occupation | farmer, livestock farmer |
| Sender Religion | unknown |
| Origin | Dromin, Co. Louth, Ireland |
| Destination | Boston, Mass., USA |
| Recipient | Prendergast children |
| Recipient Gender | male-female |
| Relationship | brothers |
| Source | |
| Archive | |
| Doc. No. | |
| Date | |
| Partial Date | |
| Doc. Type | |
| Log | unknown |
| Word Count | 766 |
| Genre | family, illness, neighbours |
| Note | |
| Transcript | Mr Cornelius Riordan N°16 Pearl Place Boston State of Massachusetts N° America prepaid Dromin December 26th 1847 My Dear brothers an sister I take the opportunity of writing you these few lines hoping to find you all and yours in as good health as this at present leavs me and family Father an Mother an my Brother Michaels family. My Dear brothers I nead not say any more about them as I know he is going to write himself on this Day. My Dear Con I was at no loss in finding it to be my Duty to return you thanks for what you have Done for me that I can never forget but I left it to my father as he told me he would have done so. This is large an great kind and affecti onate moreso than I can mention at present. My Dear Con the last Three pounds was a total means of recovering me an my family. I assure you it gave my poor Father a chearful counten ance when handing it over to me. I might commin^ce^ with year ^year^ joint kindness before an after. My Dear brothers I should have sold my cow on the 26th of April last. Fortunate to me that ye were the purchaser before the sale Day came an tha^t^ left me an my family not want for Drink when the Day came round that Mrs Lynch was kind enough to milk her an send it to the Door to us. I dare say you are aware from the export from that country you are in what Irela^nd^ must be. These times would become a green colour to me were it not for year kindness to me. It have been more like children than brothers or sister. My Dear Thomas I would be curius to let me know how Con and Judy look in personal appearance whether the change of Climate has made any change in them for better or worce also Jeffery and you. Also let me know how Michaels health is. It was not a bit to good before he left. You will not have any objection in leting us know if your son James is a stout fellow as I should hope he is an who he is like. I should hope for Jefferys addition to the family at the answering of this or thereabo^ut^ The reason I ask those silly Favours of you as I suppose you will be set to work when answering this as being the minor as Poor John youst call you. I asure you I dont forget him. The thought of him often givs me a lonely feel. I hope you all pray for him. My Dear brothers ^and sister^ you cannot think how strong my Father an Mother are after the long fight the made an the heavy fit of illness. The may thank god an ye for that recovery. Ye talked of taking James out but it is so hard for me to expected it from all you have done for me up to this Day. I might say that ye have been my chief support for the last nine months. I asure ye their is not a time we bend a knee but [we] pray for ye. I hope the lord will hear us an grant. Should any plan be adopte^d^ it would be a matter of great importance to me to take James out as I see no prospec^t^ of his being able to do any good here. I am not employed mself since the begining of my Illness that comminced with me about the 15th of January last though I am in as perfect health an as active as ever I was than^ks^ be to god. I nead not tell you were the time^s^ better that I would not walk about were the times better though I had spent seven months on the flat of my back. Should James get out it might be means of geting myself out later or earlier. Daniel Riordan is in good health. You cannot think how we^ll^ he looks. I forgot to tell you that Jeffery was the only person that escaped Faver. Every individual in the house were Down together but him. I hope you will write me a long letter. Direct it to my Father. I will say no more at present. My family joins me to send you all our blessings. Remember me to the entire Family. I remain your affectionate Brother Maurice Prendergast |
