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Title: Edward J. Hanlon to Father and Mother
ID6212
CollectionUlster Migration to America. Letters from three Irish Families [R.A. Wells]
Fileulsterm/15
Year1876
SenderHanlon, Edward J
Sender Gendermale
Sender Occupationstore keeper
Sender Religionunknown
OriginPittsburgh, Penn., USA
DestinationBallymote, Co. Down, Northern Ireland
Recipienthis parents
Recipient Gendermale-female
Relationshipson-parents
Source
Archive
Doc. No.
Date
Partial Date
Doc. Type
Logunknown
Word Count624
Genrefamily, decease, friends
Note
TranscriptFrom: Pittsburgh
Date: 8 April 1876

Dear Father and Mother,

I received your ever kind and loving letter yesterday, which indeed was quite a
blessing in itself. Yet there was something so affecting in it that made us all feel just
as you do at the separation of one more of ourselves. But, dear Father, I hope and
earnestly and sincerely believe that you have not parted with us all forever as indeed
if ever I thought such a thing I would feel like going into some quiet solitude and
there weary out my life alone. I hope, as do we all, that we will all yet see one another
face to face, and many an earnest, humble prayer I offer to that end. But if any of
us should happen to be called home to our eternal home, then it is that we should look
to the future and prepare ourselves for that end we were created. Now dear Father and Mother, let not your sorrow overcome your good and general sense. Let not the
sorrow press you down, and only shorten your days. Sorrow nor sadness is of no
avail. Let us pray to God to grant Johnny a safe passage and bright future, and your
prayers will be heard, will bring the blessings down on us all.
I have not got very much strange news in this letter but that Ollie King died very
suddenly and indeed it has thrown quite a cloud over the King's. They feel very
sorry and indeed they have a good right to do so as he was a very nice young man.
Mary feels as bad almost as any of them. It will take him nine days to come home.
We had a letter from Dan Lavery yesterday, and he says he will show Johnny around
in New York and telegraph to us when the ship arrives in New York. Everything
is going all right. I wrote to Mike a few days ago. Tell him to answer promptly.
Mary doesn't want any dresses of the pattern you sent her as she has one or two now,
and thanks you very much for sending them to her. There is nothing that we want
here at all as we are all well supplied. I hope everything is going all right and that
you are all well. If this letter does not reach you before Johnny leaves, I hope it will
help suppress the feelings of lostness that will, I am sure, have taken effect on you
all. But all is for the better I hope, I think he will get along all right when he gets
here. As for kindness and goodness I have no fear of Johnny and for all the other
virtues, I have great confidence in him. I am very sorry that we sent the ticket (I hope
you received it all right) as the other persons might not want to come on that line,
but I think it is the most reliable. I assume dear Patrick and Barney will feel sorry
for John. Tell Pat to study hard and read plenty, and I will do something for him.
Also Barney, I am sure he is a nice big boy by this time. Ellen I guess is sparking
away. How is Rose? Hoping to hear from you and hoping also that everything will
go all right with you and that Johnny will arrive here soon. Again I ask you not to
sorry yourselves at the separation though it be hard.
Mary and Kate join me in sending our kind love and prayers to all. I am dear
Father and Mother, to death

Your child,

Edward J. Hanlon