| Title: | William Kerr to Uncle, David Graham |
|---|---|
| ID | 6235 |
| Collection | Ulster Migration to America. Letters from three Irish Families [R.A. Wells] |
| File | ulsterm/38 |
| Year | 1848 |
| Sender | Kerr, William |
| Sender Gender | male |
| Sender Occupation | ship mechanic |
| Sender Religion | unknown |
| Origin | Cincinatti, Ohio, USA |
| Destination | Newpark, Co. Antrim |
| Recipient | Graham, David |
| Recipient Gender | male |
| Relationship | nephew-uncle |
| Source | |
| Archive | |
| Doc. No. | |
| Date | |
| Partial Date | |
| Doc. Type | |
| Log | unknown |
| Word Count | 1237 |
| Genre | finding trade, family |
| Note | |
| Transcript | From: Cincinatti, Ohio Date: 5 August 1848 I should commence this letter with apologies for not writing sooner. I ought to have written at least 6 months ago. I feel both angry and ashamed of myself. The only thing that kept me from writing was that I could have it in my power to send you word that we were settled—in some kind of a situation—John wrote to you from New York immediately after David and I landed stating our safe arrival and the kind of passage we had and also that we intended going west. I believe we only stopped about 3 weeks after he wrote. Looking out for something to do. David got into a cabinet maker's to learn the trade. He was to stop 4 years, and to get 25 dollars the first year. 10 dollars advance, for each of the remaining 3, and board. He was not bound—there are few boys bound in this country. Where we got him settled there. John and I started for this place on our way here we visited the Niagara Falls and it was well worth our going to sec. We stopped one night and came off in the morning. A person should stop at least a week, in any less time he could not see all the beautiful scenery mat is there. I saw when I came here that there was very little chance of me getting into any kind of business as clerk so I thought if I could learn a trade it would do. I saw nothing else but that, of work as labourer, one thing certain there are no class of working people so independent as mechanics. John advised me to it when I first told him. I thought a good deal about [it?] on the passage and that lead me to converse with mechanics. There was a good many of them in the vessel also a good many of the sailors were tradesmen, that went to sea when they got tired of shore work, when we came to New York. I saw a good many of my fellow passengers who were clerks when at home and had, they said, 80 and 100 a year. They, not content with that, came here to walk into a store to get rich, but behold you the quarter part of them, if not all, found out that the stores was but built for their reception, consequently there [were?] no books to keep. Some of them were for going home again to superintend the ship kitchens I had come to [ ] the board of public works. Well, I set too to look out for some person who wanted a boy to learn a trade, not very particular what it was. I could find none—in New York—when I came here I got a chance in a machine ship after being here 4 or 5days. I am now at that business 9 months—when I commenced work it went a little hard, for I had some heavy lifts. I found the cast iron shafts a little harder to work with than the [carabine?], but now I am used to it. My agreement is to stop 4 years. I get 2- dollars a week the first year, = a dollar a week advance for the remaining 3. I am not bound—1 pay [2?] dollars a week for board, so I have not much pocket money after paying for washing, but I have enough. 3 or 4 years will not be long running around, and after that if I live, I can call myself as independent as any other man. There is an account of myself up to the present time. In the meantime David was not getting on well in [New] York. It was rather a hard thing to leave him there by himself but necessity has no law. John had an acquaintance in New York who promised to look after David and said he would see him get his rights from the old Cabinet Maker, but it appeared he forgot. At any rate it is not a good trade in this country. David did not get along as well as we wished; together with thinking long and it being [not?] anything of a trade he left after being there 6 months, and came here to try to do something better. A few weeks after he got here he got into a bookbinder's as apprentice, that would do very well. It is a good trade and light work but he is not regularly paid. He is getting 3 dollars a week, but as soon as he can get something better he will quit bookbinding. John stopped about 3 weeks here after I commenced work but got another. He did not care much, for he intends going to [New] Orleans. He started for New Orleans from this about the middle of November. He did not get into any business that was good for some time after he went there, but he is now in an oil store, getting 30 Dollars a month and board, that is worth 15 dollars a month, besides his wages. He will stop there all summer, and thinks he'll do something better in a short time. We all have enjoyed good health since we came here. John has good health since he quit studying [ ]. Cincinatti is a fine growing city with about 100,000 inhabitants. It has its steam boats trading to and from [New] Orleans, Pittsburgh and every other place of any note along the Ohio River and Mississippi. I like this country well and this place. There is very little sickness here, a little fever and ague, but nothing of any account; pretty warm in summer and cold in winter, good wages for every working man but very bad for idlers; tradesmens average was 9-and-18 dollars a week provisions cheap, clothing dear. John heard in [New] Orleans that Uncle Graham of [Liskinie] is dead. He heard it, I believe, from Whiteside Miller's family, him who used to live at Aughaboy. We were very sorry to hear it knowing what a severe blow it would be on his family. The news we see in the public papers from Ireland is anything but peaceable. It is thought here that there will be a revolution there before many months. The people of this country wish it may prove victorious to Ireland, that she may be free. I am very glad I am not there and in the police. If I was, likely I would side with the Government, and that I consider would be a sin, Ireland has a right to be free. England has no right to govern it than it has to govern France or any other countries. I hope if the people do strike a blow that they may prove successful. They have my sympathy and they would have my arm too if I was there. My letter is about full. I can say no more but I hope you are all well. We would like to hear from you as soon as possible. I would like to know if there are any appearances of disturbance of your neighbourhood. Remember us to all enquiring friends. It is useless to mention them all—no more, but remains yours as ever. Wm. Kerr |
