| Title: | Greeves, Mary to O'Brien (n. Greeves), Anne, 1845 |
|---|---|
| ID | 6159 |
| Collection | The Transatlantic Letters of an Irish Quaker Family_1818-1877 [B. Jackson] |
| File | quaker/163 |
| Year | 1845 |
| Sender | Greeves, Mary |
| Sender Gender | female |
| Sender Occupation | unknown |
| Sender Religion | Quaker |
| Origin | Philadelphia, Penn., USA |
| Destination | Collins, Lake Erie, NY, USA |
| Recipient | O'Brien (n. Greeves), Anne |
| Recipient Gender | female |
| Relationship | cousins |
| Source | |
| Archive | |
| Doc. No. | |
| Date | |
| Partial Date | |
| Doc. Type | |
| Log | unknown |
| Word Count | 682 |
| Genre | news of family and friends |
| Note | |
| Transcript | Philadelphia 3d mo 12th 1845 Dear Cousin Last evening brother James [Richardson Greeves] handed me cousin Williams letter to read, at the same time saying he would answer it at once but for the inflamed state of his eyes, which prevents him from reading and writing any more than necessity obliges him to do. It was with much pleasure we heard of your mill operations answering your expectations, and also the pleasure of having all your sons at home, employed under your own care, instead of being scattered abroad; it must enliven the scene with you to have business brought so near to you. Brother had a letter by the last steamer: it was received on the 22d of 2d mo from cousin Jane. They were all well: Aunt M [Molly] Greeves and cousin Susanna had moved their residence to near Belfast, ten minutes ride from cousin Janes residence, and of course but a pleasant walk for cousin Susanna. I have had several letters from brother Henry last autumn and this winter; notwithstanding the difficulty's and privations which him self and his two eldest boys have laboured under in that new country [Saline Township, MO], he has taken to himself an other wife. They were married on the fifteenth of 12th mo: her name was Elizabeth Phelps8, the daughter of a Connecticut farmer who had been settled in that country some years ago; she is twenty nine years of age and has had the charge of her fathers family for eleven years, since the death of her mother which took place at that time and left a number of children to her care; the father is now infirm and not able to work his farm him self; one son is at school and the other is in Illinois, therefore he has taken Henry and his boys home, to work the farm for him. There is cleared land enough for both family's: it is two miles from Henrys own land. I am very glad he is married. He says she is a pious woman, a member of the baptist church. It is thought to be a very foolish step for him to have taken; but let those place them selves in his situation, with two boys and know person but them selves to do the work in doors and out, and two miles from the nearest neighbour. He had to part with many things to great loss to have their cloaths made and mended; now his wifes sisters take some pains to have them look neat and clean when they go out on Sunday's to church, or any other place. I saw Aunt Greeves [Mary Greeves nee Emlen] a few weeks ago: she was in the city making a visit to her niece. When you write to Maria give my love to her, and her husband; their little Henrietta must be a fine chattering little girl by this time. Their friend Henrietta Suydam has been in the city nearly all winter; most of her time was spent at Mr. Kelly's. Report says John Kelly is going to marry her, and that Mary Kelly is to be married to a gentleman in Newark; these are the reports of Mrs Kelly. I suppose Maria is aware that George and Sally Ann Howel reside in New York. One other piece of news is that Rebecca Bell is engaged to be married to Saunders Coates of Mobile: he is cousin Sally Coates youngest son. The attachment took place when she spent the winter there. It is thought he will try to get business in New York. He is poor, but a very worthy man. My love is to Cousin William and all your children. Tell Margaretta to set her cap for the Doctor who traveld in company with me to Albany, if she be not engaged to some other person. There are many of your neighbours I would like to be remembered too, particularly Mrs Hussey. P.S. James R Greeves now resides at No 510 Chesnut Street, corner of Schuylkill 6 St P(hia) Affectionately cousin M Greeves |
