| Title: | Greeves, Thomas to O'Brien (n. Greeves), Anne, 1819 |
|---|---|
| ID | 5960 |
| Collection | The Transatlantic Letters of an Irish Quaker Family_1818-1877 [B. Jackson] |
| File | quaker/11 |
| Year | 1819 |
| Sender | Greeves, Thomas |
| Sender Gender | male |
| Sender Occupation | linen trader |
| 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 | 1174 |
| Genre | visiting relatives, sending oat meal, friends, social commentary |
| Note | |
| Transcript | Dungannon 5th month 19 1819 My dear Sister Thy acceptable letter of the 25th of 2nd Month got to hand the 28th ult. I was in Dublin at the yearly meeting at the time & did not see it untill I got home the 7th inst. After purchasing what goods I wanted I went down to Carlow to see them, but could only spare a day & a half & two nights to stay with them. John Waring & Sally Haughton were then preparing to present their marriage, which they did the day but one after I left them, altho Jno was very poorly indeed, more fit to be in his bed. It took place at Ballitore, and immediately after his return went direct home & took to his bed. Doctors were called in who pronounced it to be a fever, the last acct (4 days ago) he was considered better, but has not got what is called the cool; before that, he was quite delirious & very bad symptoms. If I should get another acct. of him before I close this, will mention it; its a great pity of Sally. As I put two letters in the Dublin Packet for you from Carlow when I was in the metropolis, I suppose they contain all the news of that place & any thing I could write would be only a repetition. Sally Murray & her husband lives in the House next to where you lived. I send you herewith by the Ceres a small cask of oat meal of the Genuine Bernamake which we reckon remarkably nice. I have given directions to Thos Bell90 to have the freight of it paid in Belfast and I expect he will send it as ships store & save the duty. I put some Newry Newspapers a few inches depth in the end marked with two crosses & this is the best end to open it at. I have written to Uncle Tho [Greeves in Philadelphia] to have it landed & forwarded to you - we thought it best not to send you much at once, as it might spoil before it would be used. I sent thy letter to Carlow & therefore hasnt it to refer to, to answer any questions thee might have asked. There is one that I recollect, "to know where Thirza [Heaton] is". She was at Jas Webb's until the time I was in Dublin, when Debby got frightened about her having got a pain in her side & a cough & other bad symptoms, and she is at present at Wm Locke's. But this was not all; for Tommy Jackson, W'" Sinton's brother-in-law, was paying his addresses to Thirza & ultimately has asked for her. Wm is not satisfied that it should be a match: in the first place she is not a member & its said he is a bad disposition. It has gone too far, & she is quite for it, so I heard today Tommy was down in Moyallon asking her Fathers consent, but [I] did not hear the result. She is a nice girl. He & Joseph is in partnership in a shop in Cutpurse Row within a few doors of Jas Webb's & I believe is doing tolerable well. Ellen Allen (Edward's wife) died a few weeks ago. also Edwards brother Wm. The Sintons are getting on as well as could be expected, they get full neighbour share101 for the rime. That's where I lodged & Joshua Lambluz with me; they are getting the House fitted our by degrees. We are all well & getting on as well as the times will afford. I think I may say that I suppose we get neighbour share & when this is the case we need not complain. I have not had any conversation with Anne Green or Betty Grimes since I wrote last, but as I have not heard from thee about them yet, cant say any thing further about either of them going. I write just as if you were still in Carlow: write us oftener - no letter lately from Jn G. Greeves; I think the last one was dated the 25th of 2nd Mo., the ven day thy last letter was written. Mary Garratt has got a daughter some months since which they call Marg Amelia: Mary is not what maybe called quite stout yet. Wm has taken the Green belonging to ... [Geraghty?] at Farlough. 22nd I wrote you about the 20th of last month by the Delaware from Newry to Philadelphia & I have not learned whether she has sailed yet or not, & directed it to care of Uncle Thos. Altho there are many discouragements in America as well as here, there is something pleasing in the idea of being in a land where there is no tyth gatherers & little for taxes but which cant be done without, & which the people pay as just & necessary - while we are burthened to keep up a set of men in luxury & extravagance, who neither care for nor perhaps wish us well. However, be this as it may, I have long been of the mind & particularly so latterly that, whatever situation in life we are placed in, we shd. endeavor to be content, an old adage "contentment is better than riches". I used to think a good deal about going to America & at one time thought I would not be out of it now, but many things thee knows was in the way of my going, which I believe now was for the best. Every one (almost) meets with discouragements in setting out in the world. I doubt not but it's the case in America as well as here, but in such trials & indeed always, we should endeavor to hold our minds rightly engaged to look up to him who should (I fully believe if done in simplicity & truth) direct us what may [be] best to do. I am with dear love to William & my little niece Maria - also Uncles & Aunts Greeves & Morton & Mary, James & Henry Greeves Thy very afrct. brother Thomas We are in expectation of seeing Mary Nicholson over here next Month & there is some talk of Mary C Bell accompanying her to see her father who is not in a very good state of health: however he is now better. Mary McDonnell spent the Winter at Lawrencetown & is still there. Mary Nicholson cant get her money without coming for it herself, but I hear she intends going back again. When I was in Dublin I heard talk of Wm E. Doyle paying his addresses to one of the Clibborns, a daughter of Widow Clibborn of Camden St1U6. She has two daughters, neither of which is handsome but I suppose has large fortunes. Robert Boardman is gone to New Orleans: he was rather unfortunate. c/o Ceres via Philadelphia Thomas Greeves 54 Chestnut St. Philadelphia America For Anne O’Brien |
