| Title: | Letter from James Cathcart, U.S. to Rev. William Stavely Ballymoney |
|---|---|
| ID | 595 |
| Collection | Irish Emigration Database |
| File | Cathcart, James/44 |
| Year | 1823 |
| Sender | Cathcart, James |
| Sender Gender | male |
| Sender Occupation | businessman |
| Sender Religion | unknown |
| Origin | Winnsborough, South Carolina? |
| Destination | Ballymoney, Co. Antrim, N.Ireland |
| Recipient | Rev William Stavely |
| Recipient Gender | male |
| Relationship | friends |
| Source | D1835/27/2/6: Presented by Greer Hamilton and Gailey, Solicitors, High Street, Ballymoney, County Antrim. |
| Archive | The Public Record Office, Northern Ireland. |
| Doc. No. | 9310591 |
| Date | 24/02/1823 |
| Partial Date | |
| Doc. Type | EMG |
| Log | Action By Date Document added by C McK., 20:10:199 |
| Word Count | 1313 |
| Genre | |
| Note | |
| Transcript | Letter from James Cathcart, Winnsborough, USA, to Reverend William Stavely, Ballyboyland, Ballymoney. February 24, 1823. Winnsborough 24 February 1823 My Dear Sir I am happy in acknowledging the receipt of your very friendly letter by the hand of Mr. John Boreland. I had much pleasure in conversing with him respecting you and family, he indeed gives an account of the Country in general, not as unfavourable as some of my native Country man do he is left this place for agusta [Augusta?] and from there he goes to Jamaca [Jamaica?], in regard to an account of the state of this Country in general. I will not trouble you much there has of late a great change taken place in our State the price of produce has much declined, consequently creditors are urgent and money rather scarce, lands however still are held at high prices but little sold the hire of men servants is much lower than last year say from twenty to thirty dollars.I am not of the oppinion [opinion?] that it would give you much information were I to state our market prices as every article of our produce is very different from what it is with you, and an attempt in me to explain the difference might only serve to bewilder the knowledge you have already of those matters in regard to our family affairs I have still the pleasure of informing you that as far as I know they are all in the land of the living. You will be some little surprised when I state to you that sister Mary ann and husband is moved from this part of the Country and is settled in Illinois State five or six hundred miles distant from this place, we have heard from her lately. Mr. Madden was on last September married to my youngest sister her name is Jane and they live fourteen miles from us and is in good health Mr. Maddens Congregation is to all apearance [appearance?] in a growing state as to numbers and the matters of the Church seem on a much better footing than when I last wrote you, there three ministers belonging to our Church in this State and all in one district. My father had last summer or rather fall a very severe atack [attack?] of the billious [bilious?]fever and as for some time dispared [despaired?] off [of?] Richard and William had the fever also but not so severe as father they did all recover at that time Brother Richard is at this time #PAGE 2 very unwell, Brother John and family are in pretty good health, they are likely to have a large family, they have now five children three sons and two daughters James Robert and one son about one month old yet named Brothers Jno [John?] and Robert tell me his name will be William Jno [John?] Stavely,his oldest daughters name you remember is Nancy his second is Maryanne. I thank you for your kind advice respecting the good old way and I trust while I keep my senses I will not depart from that path which you recomend [recommend?]-- the plan of Occasional Communion is getting out of fashion and the inconsistency is becoming plain to every observing eye the subject of psalmery [?] is still in dispute and some of the hymn singers in making great efforts to put down Davids psalms and new scribbles are keeping ther none [---torn] on the publick [public?] every mounth [month?] or two. I believe all your old acquaintances settled in this place is in good health Hugh Henry and his family are well James Henry had had much trouble lately his wife is dead and two of his children. Samuel Fifes family has acted rather independently most generally he is working very hard I am told but whether he is advancing or not in the world is I think uncertain. Mr. Wallas [Wallace?] delivered the letters and accounts sent by him to brother Robert and he also received his [---?] of [-----?] you sent him. Brother is in good health and would have written at this time had he not been going to Charlestone in a short time where he intends writing to you. There is not any alteration with him and myself in regard to our busness [business?] since you last heard from us he I think is still gaining ground in this world and if he is spared no doubt will in some short time be very rich if no accident happens to him in busness [business?]-- he is still [-------?] and sucessful, and no prospect of a family it seems as brother John is the only one of us that will be able to keep up the name and if the rest of us should become rich in years it seems he alone will be rich in berns [?] (among at least his married brothers). You once I think said to me by letter that you would send your sons as soon as educated to this happy Country do you still continue of that opinion. If so what part will you send them this or more North. Let me know what impression you have designed for each of them or rather what would be their own choice. I hope you will make each of your sons what I your friend need now never make that is an accomplished scholar, and then this is there [their?] Country I hope, you will have perhaps have heard of the death of Thomas Bones of agusta [Augusta?] his death was very sudden, it is said he was not in a way of well doing for some time before his de[---------torn] will be sorry to hear that he dra[--------torn] mu[----torn] that he #PAGE 3 was said to be beside him[------torn] liquor was the caus [cause?] of sickness, this [----------torn] Stavely to hear would give herpain it might [-------torn] should not hear it. I hope as far as I am [------------torn] as my judgement will carry me to [---------------torn] last part of your letter and I do since [---------------torn] for that advice which you have repeatedly [---------------torn] it is congenial with my own disposition [---------------torn] to pursue the plan you prescribe. My own [---------------torn] [some?]what better than when I last wrote you My [------------torn] enjoyed but a poor state of health this year last nor am I able to say she is likely to be healthy. I have to ask the favour of you to attend to a small sum of money I send by the bearer of this letter for my aged Grandmother ten dollars is death was very sudden, it is said he was not in a way of well doing for some time before his de[---------torn] will be sorry to hear that he dra[--------torn] mu[----torn] that he the amount I send [?] fathers where you will get it by applying, and pay it all or in parts to her as you think adviseable to get a little necessary that she may want in her old days. Remember me to her if alive and all enquiring friends, Mrs. J. Cathcart joins me in presenting our best respects to you and your lady, and believe me dear Sir to remain your friend very affectionately James Cathcart Dear sir should it be so ordained by the Supreme disposer of all things that my Grandmother should be no more ere this reaches you. I wish you to distribute the small amount of money I have sent among some of the poor people in your Congregation should any be found that is in need I would not altogether dictate to you in this but if it by you would be thought needful I would preffer [prefer?] helping any that Ever did belong to [-----?] society I leave this altogether at your discretion again farewell JC |
