| Title: | Greeves, Jane to O'Brien (n. Greeves), Anne, 1819 |
|---|---|
| ID | 5953 |
| Collection | The Transatlantic Letters of an Irish Quaker Family_1818-1877 [B. Jackson] |
| File | quaker/8(1) |
| Year | 1819 |
| Sender | Greeves, Jane |
| Sender Gender | female |
| Sender Occupation | helps in family business |
| Sender Religion | Quaker |
| Origin | Dungannon, Co. Tyrone, N.Ireland |
| Destination | Philadelphia, Penn., USA |
| Recipient | O'Brien (n. Greeves), Anne |
| Recipient Gender | female |
| Relationship | siblings |
| Source | |
| Archive | |
| Doc. No. | |
| Date | |
| Partial Date | |
| Doc. Type | |
| Log | unknown |
| Word Count | 2888 |
| Genre | family news, weddings, decease, friends |
| Note | |
| Transcript | Bernagh 3 mo 3th 1819 My dear Sister Agreeable to thy request I begin to write thee a long letter, not doubting but it will be very acceptable as thine and Williams was, which we received on fifth day week. We are all rejoiced to hear that thee has added to the name O'Brien and that thee is recovering so finely. William mentions that you intend calling her Maria. I approve of thy choice and so do we all but my Aunt Molly: but I dont much wonder at that as "there are so many of our relations called Mary”, she says. She thinks Mary a much softer name. Perhaps I may have the pleasure of seeing her sometime but I doubt it is not very likely. I often wish I could get a peep at you. I think if you have got into a house of your own that you will live very comfortable; I wish I was with you for a while, I could help thee to nurse Maria but thee is too far away for that now; however it cant be helpt, so must be content. I was glad to hear that our relations in America were so kind and took so much notice to you - however thee is no affront to them. But it is best thee is not depending on them, as they might soon tire of thee. We were very uneasy about you, not having got a letter but the first, but we knew that you arrived safe: that was one comfort. It is time I would begin to tell thee how we are getting on since thee left this. I am not sure whether John had open'd shop or nor before thee went away, but thee wishes to know how he is getting on. I believe he is as well if not better than we expected. I an1for the most part in town: as thee knows, a shop does not do well without a second person in it, if one was doing ever so little. My Mother is very lonely now, as she has none of us with her except William who is not at school now. My Father reaches him himself- the Master could make no hand of him; Mary & Dan wanted us to send him to Carlow to go co school to Michael Clarke, but I believe my Mother wont let him go. She thinks he and Thomas Sinton 54 when they would get together would torment Mary so much that she would be glad to send them home again. My Aunt Debby was married in ninth month last. I was in Moyallon when George came first to see her, and I staid near a month, and it was concluded they would be married before I left it - tho he was only four times to see [her] the whole time I was there. I think that she was very easy persuaded. They had a very merry wedding: Susanna and I were asked bur my Mother would not let us go, and I was not sorry at it; they sent us gloves and part of the brides cake. She went home in a few days afterwards. She came to see my Mother before she was married and George came to see her, but when my mother heard the day he was to come she would not stay in the house, but went to Derry Vale will Thomas, John and Susanna who were invited for dinner; leaving no one at home but my Father, Aunt Molly, Aunt Debby and William, I being in Moyallon. I think that was a cold reception for him after him coming so far. They have not quit selling spirits yet, as they were to have done when my Aunt would go home; but they have made great alterations in the house si nce she went home, but had the most of it alter[ed) back into the old way again as they found it did not answer - it was reported that Georges wife haunted him uncill they had co alter it again, but I blieve there was no truth in it. My Mother has neither written co nor seen her since she was married, bur Mary O'Brien went to sec her when she was here; she thought it was the least she could do after her being so kind the last time she was in the North; my Aunt seems quite content and happy. Some of her relations about there continue to visit with her still. Jane Sinton lives on with my Uncle and they have got Abby Pilkington for a lodger. She is sister to Margaret bur I suppose thee know her -she is a pleasant old body. It is a pity Margaret and she cant agree, as I think she might have room for them both. Hannah Chrisly of Laurence town is married to her full cousin Rhuben Harvey. It vexed her poor father greatly but it seems they have been attached to each other these twelve years, so it is no wonder that she refused so many offers. Sally Greer, Jonny Greers daughter of Grange, lives with James now as house keeper and he had Mary McDonnell there spending the winter. She was part of the way going to the South of France - the Doctors thought it would be of use to her - bur the vessel was drove back by contrary winds; and her friends advised her nor ro go, so she returned and the time she was on the sea was of use to her, so that she has been a great deal better ever since. Was it not a wonderful undertaking for her that was not expected to live a month one would chink that she might recover yet after all her dying. The last letter I had from thee, thee wished to know whether John Corroren and Jane McConnell were married: they were not then but are now. Jane was left us: when she was married she was not the girl we took her to be at all. We found our John was robbing us after she was gone; and we heard it went to her Father's. When we found it out my Father turned John off, and went and spoke co Jane and her Mother about it, but they of course denied it; in about a week afterwards they were married, so if we were inclined to think her innocent before, that convinced us she had a hand in it; her sister Molly never spoke co her since, nor even wenr to her father's: she lives in my uncle Billy's. Still they would not like to part with her now since poor Sarah Rodgers is dead. She died about 12 weeks ago: her sister Mary has been at Grange since a month before Sarah died, but is going home again [via] the Lisbourne meeting which is first day week. My Aunt Betty will be very lonely when she goes, being always accustomed to somebody in the house with her. Thomas has had nor a letter from J.G. Greeves since he sail'd for New Orleans yet, bur is expecting one every day. Doctor Dicksons [Dr John Dickson MD, LMS] son John went with him bur left his wife behind him in Cork at her Father's. I blieve he was very poor when he went away, he was so extravagant. They had bur two letters from Mary [Dickson] since she arrived in the East Indies: she is not married yet. Susanna and I drank tea at the Doctors on seventh day evening was a week, and they were asking for thee and said they were glad to hear that thee liked America so well: and Sally [Dickson) said she wished greatly to have seen thee before thee left Dungannon, but did not hear it untill a few days before thee was married. She desired me give her love to thee the first time I would write. I chink her a very affectionate girl: she seemed to be very fond of thee. The Doctor was attending Mary Garratt who was confined about three weeks ago: she had been very poorly ever since, but is a little better these few days. She has got a young daughter she calls Margaret Amelia. I believe it is thriveing finely. Mary Heazelton has also got a daughter about the same rime [as] thee, she calls Hulda for Hulda Nicholson. It is a fine little thing; her father in law, old Ned, is dead: he died about two months ago. Old Nancy was near dead too but is a good deal better if she had died it would have been no great matter. Saml & Susie live in Cullenegrew still. Susan is home from Newry and is making straw bonnets -she can make them very neatly. They have poor Neddy Heazelton with them these two months: he is wrong in the head again: poor man, it is a great pity of him, and them with him. He has not forgot the guinea he gave thee to keep for him yet, and says he never got the wont of it and is talking of it almost every time he sees any of us. They have to keep him chain'd still as they could not manage him without it. Lucy Locke returned from Dublin the week before last: she says she never was so tired of it before; she was glad to get out of it, she says. She seen the Sintons the day before she left it and they were very well. They opened shop in tenth Month and is getting on very well so far; they had not William64 long: he was married two or three months ago to Anna Jackson, Susie Jackson's daughter. They were married in church. They lives in the house with her Mother within a few doors of where the Sintons live in Corn Market. It is very pleasant for them co have William so near them- as they can have him when ever they want him. I blieve he is growing more seeded now since he has got married; he and Rebecca are as good friends as ever (I suppose thee heard of them not being friends. 434848080010: 00: The Webbs have met with a great loss, in the death of Anne Sparro, if she died of a typhus fever near two months ago. It is a great pity of Francis: he had opened another shop, bur since Anna died he has given them both up & is going to Wexford to live with his Mother. Rebecca has got his house in King Street and has left her own; her sister Mary and her husband from Lisbourne has opened shop in her [Rebecca's] house, so there has been great alterations in a short rime. L wish poor Francis may nor regret haveing left it, and he doing so well; but he never liked Dublin. Lord Northland is dead: he was ill a long time, but was able to be down for breakfast the day he died. They kept him near a week bur buried him very shabbily. They had bur six scarfs and a nasty old hearse. after him leaving a hundred pounds to be laid out at his funeral: but it seems they thought it better to lay it our in clothes for the poor, which they did. But I think they might have done both and I blieve they would, only for his son Charles who made the most of everything he could, as he was ro get whatever would be over after paying the legatees; he even sold the hens and turkeys; was not that a scandalous th ing for a Lord's son, bur I blieve he does nor much care what he does so [long] as he makes money Amelia Blately [Blake ?], widow Blately daughter, is married to a man of the name of Bucannon [Buchanan] from … Very few are sorry she is left Dungannon, for she was not at all liked. Widow Truman Joe Shaw is married also, to a cousin of Billy Cross: it was nor quire a year after her husband died ro she was married. I think she soon forgot him. Berry Grimes is nor married yet: she lives in Edward Shaws of Castle Caufield as cook. She wished very much to have went to America with you, but as thee did nor write for her, she did not say much about it. I am almost sure that she would go now if thee wrote for her, that is if she would get leave. It would be very pleasant for thee if thee had her, if she would not get proud like the other Irish girls when they get to America. The Nicholsons and us are as good friends as ever: Anna, Hulda and Charlotte slept all night in Thomas's on second day night last; it is very pleasant for us to be intimate with them as they are very agreeable. Jane has been in Lisbourne the most of the winter at James N. Richardson's but came home on third day last as James was coming with an American friend who was at meeting on fourth day. I wish Aunt Morton would rake a notion and come over to Ireland to see us, as she be travelling about, but I suppose she will never come now as she did not come before this. It is very pleasant for thee to have Cousin Mary Greeves so near thee: I suppose she goes our to see thee some times. Please give my love to her: I like her from the description thee gives of her being so kind to thee. She could not be more so if she was thy sister, nor James thy Brother. I think thee has come on as well as thee could have expected in a strange country. All thy friends there have been so kind to thee. I think I see thee and thy little daughter and thee nursing her: kiss her for me: dear knows if ever I will have the pleasure of doing it myself. I have some of her hair carefully laid by and I think it something like thy own. I often, very often, think of you. I dont think that thee is an hour out of my thoughts the length of the day and is very often dreaming about thee. It was first day week was twelve months, that Brother William and thee and I staid at Berna, it being the first day before you were married. I little thought it would be the last first day that I would spend with thee as in all likelihood it was; thee does not like to hear of how badly we thought of thee going to America so I will say nothing about it. My father is returned from Moyallon: he went there on sixth day for the first time this year and a half. He seen my Aunt and he says she looks far and well and was never more happy in her life. She is to come to see us when Uncle George gets his ploughing done, so as he can spare her a horse. My Mother desires me tell [thee] nor to say anything to my Uncle Sinton (if thee sees them) about the alterations and what is said about Georges wife, as they might write to Uncle Sam and say something about it, and he would know it came from us an d he would be very angry with us, as he is with other people for talking about it. There are a great many desired me give there love to thee, the first time I would write. I begin with all the Shaws of Dree, Maria and Eliza Shaw, Lucy Locke and Jane Bullache all Uncle Billys family, Thomas Malcomson, Betty Mullen, Jenny McCan, Mary Courtney and Biddy and a great many ochers I cant remember. My Aunt Molly desires me give her dear love to thee and tell thee that she often thinks of The pleasant days thee and she spent together down at the sea and wonders if thee ever thinks about them. I believe I have written every thing that I can think of and I dout thee cant make any sense of it, as I have been many a time to it and from it since I began. Thee must make it our as well as thee can and excuse it, as sometimes I would forget what I was writing about when I was called from it. William and Susanna desires me give their dear dear love to thee. I am not sure whether Susanna will write now or not as I have written all the news, but if she docs not, will the next opportunity.I think thee cant complain of chis not being a long letter, so will conclude with dear dear love to Brother William and Maria and blieve me to be, my dearest Anne, as ever thy truly affectionate sister Jane Greeves P.S. I expect thee will write to me every opportunity as I intend to do: be it ever so little, it will be acceptable to thine &c JG |
