Home

CORVIZ

Main content

Title: O'Brien (n.Greeves), Anne to O'Brien, Joseph Sinton, 1843
ID6151
CollectionThe Transatlantic Letters of an Irish Quaker Family_1818-1877 [B. Jackson]
Filequaker/155(2)
Year1843
SenderO'Brien (n.Greeves), Anne
Sender Genderfemale
Sender Occupationhousewife
Sender ReligionQuaker
OriginCollins, Lake Erie, NY, USA
DestinationNYC, USA
RecipientO'Brien, Joseph Sinton
Recipient Gendermale
Relationshipmother-son
Source
Archive
Doc. No.
Date
Partial Date
Doc. Type
Logunknown
Word Count654
Genrewould like him to return home and help at the farm, hopes he can keep his job, request for an address, clothes, farming
Note
TranscriptDear Joseph
Having so good an opportunity, I thought I must just write thee to say we wd all be very glad to have thee come
home and see us this summer bur F [Father] says tell him its a pity for him to be spending his time and money,
for if there is any likelihood of thee staying longer than this year for thee to come next summer; and I wish if thee
can, thee wd save some of this year wages so as to help Father get Mill Irons, but there is very little prospect of us
getting any thing done to it. But I wd not let A.B. know that thee is so anxious about us, as he thinks thee ought
to be at home and on the whole we think it better for thee to stay this year if they want thee to. I have written to sister Jane and want thee to get her husband's address, as I dont know it. I wrote her every thing I could think of as regards the state of things here and our trials &c, but such people as J. O. [John Owden], if he did hear such things, wd not think of helping us any unless the thing was suggested to him. Isaac P [Potter] got Thos to bring up a recommende: yesterday for Father to sign which he has to: but wants thee, if asked, to just say when thee was acquainted with [him] lie was a man that bore a good character, but that thee dont know any
thing about his circumstances at present; and for Smith thee dont know any thing about him, We consider its rather
a nice thing to recommend men here to merchants in N.Y. and we want thee to be careful.
We were obliged to lei our Irishman go. We could not find him in provisions and he had nothing to gel any
with; we could not even find any in the place but he told the children he wd come back next year. Best not let A
know he is gone.
I want thee to be saving of thy clothes this year and save all thee can. I sometimes think if we could have thee
at home a year or two to clear up the farm it wd be the best thing we could do, for then we could keep[f] stock
sufficient to keep us comfortable. We shall want to hear from thee soon what A. says about thee staying, and
whether they can allow thee any more this year. Father just said In his letter to James G. that we had done no more
to the Mill since we wrote last year. I dont know what he will say. Father did not say he could not go on with [it].
I wanted him to. If Mary comes, she will see we cant. Thee knows Maria expected her.
We have done very little yet towards spring work, Father and the boys fixing fences; they are going to plough
round the back door a piece for early vegatables &c tomorrow; the little boy[s?] drove five load of manure yesterday
alone: Father was gone on business. I guess if we can we will sell Pompey this summer and keep a grey mare colt
that Father got of Hugh Lung. Pompey is too tender for us to keep and she is a great large ... of her age and handy
run with the cattle all winter and she now looks well. Father is often sorry we did not sell P last summer: he could
have go[t] 70 Dollars for her and it would be coming due by and bye, but we cant help it none. I have written much
more than I thought I should when I began: write us as often as thee can. So, with love to A and girls, I remain
Thy afft
Mother