Title: | John Anderson, New York, to James Anderson, Donegal. |
---|---|
ID | 59 |
Collection | Irish Emigration Database |
File | Anderson, John/23 |
Year | 1857 |
Sender | Anderson, John |
Sender Gender | male |
Sender Occupation | farmer |
Sender Religion | unknown |
Origin | New York, USA |
Destination | Co. Donegal, Ireland |
Recipient | Anderson, James |
Recipient Gender | male |
Relationship | brothers |
Source | Copyright Reserved by Andrew S Anderson, 9 Ashford Drive, Bangor, Co Down, Ireland. Formerly from The Diamond, Donegal, Co Donegal, Ireland. E-mail andydonegal@aol.com |
Archive | Andrew S Anderson |
Doc. No. | 212203 |
Date | 23/07/1857 |
Partial Date | |
Doc. Type | EMG |
Log | Document added by LT, 17:12:02. |
Word Count | 1191 |
Genre | |
Note | |
Transcript | $$H160 Part of the Andrew S Anderson Catalogue$$H New-York 23rd July 1857 My Dear James I have been here a fortnight today and I may say that I have scarcely looked out for anything yet. It is awfull hot here at present, you can have no conception of the heat since I came. I have slept with my window and door open and only a thin cotton quilt over me without Blanket or sheet and the mattress turned up on top of the feather bed, yet when I awaken in the morning my night-shirt is wet as if I was coming out of a Bath. Wagons go through every street to supply the Houses with Ice when we want a drink of water we put a piece of ice in it which melts in a few minutes and makes it nice and cool, the Butter when left on the table has a lump of Ice placed on top of it else it would run off the plate in oil in a few minutes. Ice is used here with every article of food. I stand the heat first rate and have not been so stout nor in as good health for the past five years as I am at the present time. I am 7lbs heavier than when you last saw me. Since the fourth of July there has been a great deal of Rioting in the City. Mr Knoud told me that he saw twenty dead Bodies at one time taken to the dead House on the evening of the fourth, there were five men shot dead the Evening I landed here and for a week after there were several people killed every day but every thing is quiet as usual now. I came here just in the very worst time to get employment, there will not be much doing here for a month or six weeks but a fellow cannot be beat here as there is plenty of work and good Wages besides it is considered no disgrace it is honourable to make money here by any means that is honest, from all that I see and learn it may be sometimes hard to get into a respectable House, but once get a fair start he is only a blockhead if he cannot raise himself, the Americans although they think themselves the smartest people on the face of the Earth are no match for an educated Irishman in Business matters. Tommy Hughes has attained a position that he could never have done at home. I spent yesterday evening at his House, he lives over in Brooklyn has a beautiful House furnished in Elegant style and with great taste. His wife is the most Lady-like and accomplished woman I have met since I left Ireland very sensible and well informed without any show or nonsense about her. Tommy has been very friendly since I came. He wrote yesterday evening to several ship-brokers of his acquaintance to see if he could find out any vacancy to stick me in. Aunt Sarah is living in Williamsburg she just looks as well as ever I saw her, there is no change in her appearance only her hair is got grey a little. She has a very nice House and lives more comfortably than ever she did in the past. William reports for the Herald Newspaper and has fifteen dollars a week besides as he is not occupied half his time he often makes ten dollars a week in addition by reporting for others. Finlay reports for the Daily News and has ten dollars a week, he expects a rise in his Salary now. Robert has been doing nothing for three months past nor does he expect any thing for a month or two yet. Fanny is at a Boarding-school a couple of hundred miles up the country. Jane and John are at home at school. Aunt was very glad to see me and wanted to have my things brought over at once to stay with her untill I got some Employment, But I am staying in the meantime with Andy McGuigan, he is just the same [as?] [he?] was in Donegal no change whatever, his wife is a very sensible Woman and a first-rate House-Keeper, keeps no servant and does every thing herself. I go over sometimes to Aunts. I spent last Sunday there. I met Potter the Coach Agent that we had in Donegal, he is the most improved man I have seen quite a respectable decent appearance he is Book Keeper in a first-rate Establishment in Beckman [?] Street, he could not think who I was until I told him, nor indeed out of about twenty Donegal People that I met not one knew me only Hughes. Crawford son of [Mo---?], when I went into Aunts she did not know that ever she saw me before, a few days after I landed here I learned that Richard Graham was in New-York before me and that Shop-man Graham was living in Newburgh sixty miles up the River where he has got some situation at the Brick-fields there. Andy McGuigan's Employer had a Brewery up there and Andy was up last week for a few days and he was told when Shop-man heard I was in New-York he thought I came after him, so he has cleared out and has made tracks for some-place else. I intend to cut the grocers if possible, I find it is about the very worst trade here for young men. Andy has a nice situation he goes to the office at 1/2 past Eight and comes home between 4 and 5 o'clock in the Evening, he must have made a good deal of money since he came here, the rest of the family are living out west on a farm of 160 acres that they bought. I believe Andy will very soon be in Business for himself. Good Book-Keepers command good Salarys here and can get employed almost always, one good thing here, no matter how low a man commences if he has the ability with a little perserverance - Mr Munn of Cranny [?] below Inver Bridge, when he came here 8 or so [?] years ago was hard enough up for a while, his first beginning was porter in a store where an old Servantman of his fathers got him in, now he's doing a splendid Business in Broad street, he was over at home and only arrived here shortly before me. James Scott, Kitty O'Donnell's old flame I have seen several times he seems to have a nice situation in a flour-store in Broad street. I wish you would write and let me know how all goes on at home, you can address in care of Andy McGuigan 121 Warren St, or at his Residence No 6 Staple street N-Y [New York?]. I will not be writing for a month if someting [something?] [-------?] up. I wrote to John Galbraith and had an answer from him, he is to be in New-York in four or five days buying goods. Remember me to all [----?] [friends?] and give kindest regards to Mr and Mrs McLoone. Yours affectionate Brother John Anderson Transcribed by Andrew S Anderson |