| Title: | Greeves, Susanna to O'Brien (n. Greeves), Anne, 1836 |
|---|---|
| ID | 6061 |
| Collection | The Transatlantic Letters of an Irish Quaker Family_1818-1877 [B. Jackson] |
| File | quaker/91(2) |
| Year | 1836 |
| 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 | 1530 |
| Genre | news of family, friends and neighbours |
| Note | |
| Transcript | My dear sister We cannot account for you not getting Jane's last letter, unless it was kept at some of the post offices as there was ½ a sovrighn put under the seal: perhaps it may yet reach you. I need scarcely say we were sorry to find the delicate state of thy health still continues: those bilious attacks are enough to weaken thee very much. Thee should be very careful not to cat anything that thee thought would in the least disagree with thee. Brother Thomas has to be very careful in this respect — he is at present in England where he went for the purpose of purchasing goods. We had a letter from him, wherein he informs us that Cousin John G Greeves has arrived in Liverpool, but he had not seen him yet but expected on his return from Manchester to do so. Cousin John's wife and family have been living there for the last 6 or 8 months - they did not go to France as he had once spoke of. We have not heard as yet what his prospects are, but I suppose he will return to New Orleans again after some time and leave his family settled in Liverpool. I believe it is on account of the education of his children he has them there. We heard from Rebecca Bell and her father yesterday eveng, who spent a few hours with us on their way down to Belfast, that our Cousin Morrises [are] expected to visit Ireland next spring; this is all we heard of them since A Bell and his family expect to leave in a few weeks for home; they have been 15 months in Ireland visiting among their relations & believe they seem well pleased at the idea of returning home again. We also see accounts in the newspapers of the prospect there is of a line of steam packets which thee mentions, & if ever put in execution it will be a great undertaking. But we understand they are only intended for passengers, which will make the passage come very high as they are to be made only to carry what fewel [fuel] they will require; the distance will even appear shorter and perhaps the time will come when thee will realy pay us a visit, and now that Maria is growing such a housekeeper, & Magt able to help her. I often think I see you & picture you surrounded by the children. We were astonished at thy weight, my father says he does not remember weighing more at any time. We were concerned to hear of Thomas but hope he continues better and that he will soon gather strength: perhaps with care and when taken in time he will come round. Yet my dear sister if should please providence to take him, you should not repine too much, for altho' it is hard to part with those who are dear to us, yet when we see them going happy it should reconcile us to give them up freely. Thee wishes to know something of brother Danl's- family. The last acct from them, they were then all well and all the children at home accept Mag' who has been with us for the last 6 or 8 months. She assists us in the shop when we require her but I am sorry to say at present business is very dull and has been during the spring and summer; partly owing to the severe weather we have had and partly I suppose to some new shops that have been commenced lately. Brother Dan paid us a visit of a few days about 2 months ago. I thought he looked well and seemed in pretty good spirits, as much so as we could expect. I believe the different branches of the business is doing pretty well. Anna is a good clever steady girl & is a great comfort to her rather, as is also John. George helps his father in the office & attends more to outdoor business than in the shop, such as the boats &c &c. Fanny Wright still lives with [them]. She is now mostly in the shop and does not attend so much as she did to the housekeeping. Ellen Haughton died some time ago and I think Joshua either let or sold his house, which if I mistake not was for a Bank or a branch of the National Bank of Ireland. Mathew Jenk[in]son has a house and lives by himself, only at present I believe he has some young man living with him; he is still in the butter business, trying to make out life which I suppose he can do pretty well when he had no one but himself to keep. John Waring & Family are pretty well: their daughter Mary died some time ago - she was their second eldest. As I dont know much of the Carlow folk I am not able to give you the information about them you would like to hear. I wonder brother Dan never writes to you, but he seldom writes to us either: it is generally Anna or John. Uncle and Aunt Sinton are finely, Aunt came to see us last week: it was nearly two years since she was here. Anne McDonnell is now in the North: she has been with her niece Eliza Joyce for the last two months. She was confined some time ago of a little daughter; it is pleasant for her to see her niece so comfortable settled. There is a sister of Eliza' at present in Armagh with sister Mary who will likely remain with her for some time as an assistant in the shop and to teach Lizzy. She is an agreeable girl and will be a comfort for Mary to have her and she will be more a companion than any other she has had. She keeps up wonderfully after all she has come through, which is a great blessing: her business so far has done well and I trust she will be enabled to get through and make out for herself and her two children if they are spared to her. The young woman we had in the shop has got married some time ago: she was one who answered us in every way (she was not a friend). She is comfortably settled, but I cannot tell thee how much we miss her. We have got another in her place but we dont think she will answer and at present in Jane's delicate state of health it leaves me mote to do. But there are few without their trials in this world and we have had our own latterly and I believe they are often sent for our own good, if we would only profit by them. We have cause to be thankful that our dear father & aunt has been so long spared to us; they both enjoy as good health at their advanced age as we could expect. Father is still able to be in the shop occasionally if we want him, but we like to save him as much in that way as we can. Cousin Mag' Pike is going to live with Betsy Barrington in Balitore. It will be a nice place for her. Anne Pike was married some time ago to Henry Bewly of Dublin. He was a widower without any family; she has been in a delicate state of health and is traveling with him at present on the Continent. He is reckoned very wealthy. Maria Shaw (Ritchey) I have not seen this long time - she is settled in Newry; and Eliza 1 do not know where is at present; Faney is also married & settled in Newry. Eliza is the only one that seems to have stuck to Friends: she dresses plain. I had nearly forgotten to tell thee of Jane Wakefield's death. She had been laid up a long time with sore legs which the Dr thought at one time would have turned to mortification. However she got better & so well as to go over to London and attend part of the time the Yearly Meeting. She went from thence to her sister's where she took suddenly ill and died in a few hours' sickness: it was something of appoplexy which often occurs when sores are heated up. It was pleasant that Thomas & her two daughters were with her. She was buried there. The family ate returned: it was a great shock to them - how uncertain everything here below is. There are many other things I will be thinking of that I had to say which I cannot think of. We could make out all thy letter very well accept something about a plough of some persons we did not understand. It is really provoking to hear that you have lost so many sheep by dogs: such dogs should not be allowed in the country. I must conclude as my paper will not admit of mote news. With dear love to Wm & the children, believe me to be as ever thy affectionate sister Susanna |
