| Title: | Greeves, Susanna to O'Brien (n. Greeves), Anne, 1829 |
|---|---|
| ID | 6032 |
| Collection | The Transatlantic Letters of an Irish Quaker Family_1818-1877 [B. Jackson] |
| File | quaker/70(2) |
| Year | 1829 |
| Sender | Greeves, Susanna |
| Sender Gender | female |
| Sender Occupation | shop keeper |
| Sender Religion | Quaker |
| Origin | Lisburn, N.Ireland |
| Destination | Lake Erie, NY, 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 | 1927 |
| Genre | news of family and friends, Quaker meeting |
| Note | |
| Transcript | My dear sister As Jane wrote thee last and so lately I tear I will have very little news, as I expect she wrote thee everything that wd interest thee about us. I suppose she told thee that I was then in Dungon while Thos went to England, where he was for nearly three weeks, with the acception of a day or two he spent in Scotland on his return; he bought but few goods in the latter place. I staid several weeks with him after he came home: I need scarsely say that the old neighbours and customers were glad to see me. Some thought I was married, others did not know what had become of me; some of them said they were ashamed to make so free as to ask about me. I could scarsly persuade them that I was still unmarried. I was there during the Q[uarterly] Meeting of Grange but was confined during the time with a sore throat to bed from the effects of cold, from what I suffered several years ago. I was a little frightened and put on a blister at once, which had the desired effect. I forget wheather I ever told thee before that Thos entertains a good many friends during the meeting of Grange. He generally has a cold dinner during the three days: he has all sent out the day before. I must tell thee the kind of a table he has - two deal boards put together supported on a table at each end. He gets potatoes boiled in one of the old tenants houses. It is in the gallery of the new meeting house they dine. He generally has between 20 to 30 for dinner; he asks those who he thinks would not be taken notice of by the higher folks. Sister Jane went and was there first . . . . Dolly Lamb ... had to go to Armagh on second day evening and home next morning in rime for the market; the coaches from that pass here at a little after 10 oclock in the morning. On my return home I came by Armagh to see John & Mary &c my little niece, whom I had not seen untill then. She is a fine thriving little creature and uncommon good but not at all handsome. It is hard to say who she will be like if she lives to grow up, as children often changes, but at present the upper part of her face is like her mothers & the under part like my brother Thomas'; but Thos is so changed since thee saw him that thee cannot guess from him who she is like. He is uncommon lusty to what he used to be. Aunt Molly regrets me being from her: poor old body, she holds out wonderfully. She is still able to stir about through the house and to get out to meeting occationally, but she suffers a good deal from pains in her limbs at times - (to use her own words), she will say she is hardly able to strike a trot. Of a market day when they are hurried, she often gives them a hand, but unless they are very throng Thomas does not call her, as he knows it is fatiguing on an old body like her; indeed she is a willing creature and often stays when he does not wish her. I was wanting her come see us (but how could she leave him she says, now I am gone). Uncle [Samuel] and Aunt Sin ton whom we hear frequently from ate going on in their own quiet way. They have not been to see us since a little before poor brother Wms death. Sister Jane tells me she wrote thee particularly about his long illness which, my dear sister, I may say he bore with uncommon patience & resignation. I trust he has made a happy exchange from this uncertain world, to that of endless bliss. I would like to be able to say with the poet I shall see him again, shall rejoin him once more - My feelings no longer with agony smarting - And look with delight to my gaining [hat shore, Where (he waves shall subside, and the tempests be o'er, And the followers of Christ shall be strangers to parting. On the other side I send thee a copy of a verse on prayer (as my father wished me to do so). It is composed by a man of the name of Duncan who has been convinced of friends principles & received into membership. He lately resides about 8 or 10 miles from this. Aunt Debby continues to live with her stepson, as he is still unmarried. She has a slight attack of paralatic [paralytic stroke] some time ago in the one side of her face, which she is quite recovered from. She came to see us in spring & intended paying us another visit during the summer but never got it accomplished: she is a close house keeper. Hanah Dawson was married about three weeks ago to a son [Joseph] of Reuben Harveys of Cork; they had been attached fur ten years. but he was not very successful in business, which prevented their union ere this. His father took him into partnership seme time ago, which has proved an advantage to him, and it was at his friends wishes that they should not put it off any longer. Her mother called here yesterday (she came to see Elih Rodgers who has been very poorly this long time). Hanah is living in the house with her father & mother in law - I think she will be greatly missed in Moyallon, particularly by her own family: she is a general favourite. When I was in Dung I saw Eliza Shaw who has been living with Arabella [Shaw] ever since they gave up business in Newry, where I think I mentioned in a former letter they three girls had a shop but did not succeed. She was asking particularly for thee & desired to be most affectionately remembered to thee. Maria [Shaw] is married and settled in Newry: she has two children. I saw her at the Moyallon Meeting. Her sister Fanny stays mostly with her. Their youngest brother Robert, who lived with Win Locke, died lately of consumption. He was a nice looking lad. The old couple lives under the roof with Mary Pillar (thee may remember there were two houses together). Eliza told me her mother is so afflicted with rehmitism [rheumatism] that at times she cannot walk across the floor without a staff. Our lodgers are still with us and continue very agreeable: they are very little trouble to us. We keep but one girl, so thee may judge they are easy attended when she is able to do all. She had been with us since we came here and lived with them in Armagh. She is daughter of Dominick Quins that lives at the vitral [vitriol] works in Moyallon. Appro, Thos Wikefields second eldest daughter is married to a son of Christys the Hatters in London: it is reckoned a good match. Charlotte Greet (C Nicholson that was) has a daughter whom she calls Lydia for her mother; Sarah [Pike, nee Nicholson] was with her at her confinement - none of her other sisters are reconciled with her yet. Since Jane wrote, Cousin Margaret has left Cookstown. She did not find it to answer and is settled in Monaghan. She is only there about two weeks so has not had time to judge yet, but so far it offers as well as could be ex peered. Her brother Thomas is with her, at present he is out of a situation. She is twelve miles from meeting (Coorehill). There is one family of friends beside herself with a few others who are convinced of friends principles but not members, who since she went there have concluded to meet in het parlour. They bad been in the habit of meeting in another house but prefers hers as it is most recited. I hope poor thing she may succeed. She is not reconciled with Mary yet. It will I hope be an advantage to her to have Thomas as he will seem a kind of protection to her, but if he gets a situation to answer him it is likely he will leave her. None of the Douglass are with her now - Susan is with the Nicholsons & Elizh is with C. Greer & Anna is gone home to her father & Samuel. Marge has got a young woman on trial, a daughter of Mrs. Maxwells who thee might remember was a dressmaker. Her mother & brother died within this year and left her and another brother behind. Poor thing, she seemed almost destitute of any friends, & she being a stedy young woman, Margt has taken her on trial. I think I have scraped up all the news I can think of. We would wish thee to write oftener to us, and when next thee writes, mention about the children particularly. What would I give to see you: will I ever have that pleasure. While I write it almost seems as if I was talking to thee - how often do I picture to myself your farm, your house and you surrounded by your children. It is wonderful what a few years brings about. Cousin William Greeves was to see us this summer. He says my Uncle gets good health and looks as usual. Thomas hears frequently from Cousin John G. Greeves. In summer he had a letter from him with an account of Robert Boardmans death. He had been married but his wife died some time before him: they had not any family. It is not known how much property he had left. Cousin John says it takes a long time to wind up affairs in that country. It was a great shock to his poor father & mother and his sisters. John Greer that is married to their daughter Mary [Boardman] are living with the family in Armagh. They opened shop some time ago. It is feared they will not succeed: there has been within these two years 13 new shops in our line commenced in it - it is almost overdone like many other towns. Jonathon Greeves is married again to an elderly young woman, beside Loughgaul [Loughgall, County Armagh]. He got some money with her. Betsy was about a year dead - I think thee cannot complain of the shortness of this, I may add, as I suppose thee would like to hear, that there is none of the McDonnells nor Greers of the Bridge nor the Dawsons (James family) has changed their names. John [Robert] Greer of Rhone Hill was married a few [weeks] ago to one of the Strangmans of Waterford. We frequently hear from Carlow: all well there as is also the Killyman [Greer] family. The pain in sister Janes side is troublesome at times, particularly when she gets cold. She looks better than she has done for some time back: she is fat and has a good appetite. I am like one of Pharos lane kine. With dear love to Brother Win & the children, which Jane unites in, I am thy truly affectionate sister Susanna Cousin Wm & M Pike enjoys tolerable good health as does also Jonathon & Sarah; all their children accept Lydia are at school. |
