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Title: 39. From James Prendergast to his children in Boston
ID5684
CollectionThe Prendergast Letters. Correspondence from Famine-era Ireland (1840-50) [S. Barber]
Fileprendergast/39
Year1848
SenderPrendergast, James
Sender Gendermale
Sender Occupationfarmer
Sender Religionunknown
OriginMilltown, Co. Kerry, Ireland
DestinationBoston, Mass., USA
RecipientPrendergast children
Recipient Gendermale-female
Relationshipfather-children
Source
Archive
Doc. No.
Date
Partial Date
Doc. Type
Logunknown
Word Count547
Genrefamily, economy
Note
TranscriptMr Thomas Prendergast
Foster's Stables
Devonshire street
Boston
State of Massachusetts
N. America

prepaid

Milltown 29th October 1848

My dear Children
Your Letter of the 3rd Instant reached us. We received the
amount of the order ye sent £9. Mr Quill the manager of
the National Bank in Tralee is a great friend of mine
otherwise I could not get as soon as I did. He de
=sired to have any future ^order^ that may be sent us
drawn on the National Bank of Ireland and that It
should be paid without any delay. Your order
was a timely relief as we had the last of our store nearly
exhausted. Yet my dear Children, believe me we
feel greater pleasure on receiving assurance that ye
were in good health. May ^God^ continue that blessing to
ye. We are well thank God. Your Mother is better than
this while past. Maurice and family are well. He returns
ye thanks for the portion ye sent him. He would be glad
to know whether Con received any of the two letters He
sent as he considered it his duty to thank Con more
than either of ye for the favours he received and which
preserving himself and family. Michael's Wife and family are well.
His Children are in good health and always with their Grandmother
and me from time to time as he always saw. I am .returning, thanks
to each of ray children, and tell Julia that I thank
Con and her for £4 of the present order and Michael
for £5. James Maurice returns ye sincere thanks
and says he will be happy when ye call him out.
I believe and hope that his conduct and appearance will
reflect no discredit on ye. He is clever and well be
=haved. Ye desired to let ye know the state of the
country. It is bad in one respect. Distress is very
great. The blight swept off the potatoe crop and
this left provision short here. We have no sort
of employment for the poor, and the workhouses are
scarcely sufft to receive them. Farmers are oppressed
with poor rates and other charges. Many are deserting
their farms and flying to America as fast as they
can. Destitution is seen almost every where.
As for any disturbances, We know nothing of them
here. Our part of the country is as quiet as ever.
They had some meetings and speeches down the
country. Some of the leaders were apprehended
and tried. Some transported, others found guilty
of treason and I suppose must suffer unless
the Crown extends mercy to them but I know
nothing of these affairs and ye may as
well never enquire of me about them.
Her Aunt Norry desired to be remembered to
Julia. She and her and daughter Catherine met us
yesterday in Tralee. They live at Feniat where
Catherine's Husband William Webb is stationed. They
are all well. Let us know if ye met Jude
Mahony in Boston. If ye know her there, tell her
that her Mother and Sisters want relief if she could
send it. I will only say that our blessing
is always for ye, and that I am
affectionately
your Father
James Prendergast