| Title: | William Kerr to James Graham |
|---|---|
| ID | 6236 |
| Collection | Ulster Migration to America. Letters from three Irish Families [R.A. Wells] |
| File | ulsterm/39 |
| Year | 1850 |
| Sender | Kerr, William |
| Sender Gender | male |
| Sender Occupation | ship mechanic |
| Sender Religion | unknown |
| Origin | Louisville, Kentucky, USA |
| Destination | Newpark, Co. Antrim |
| Recipient | Graham, James |
| Recipient Gender | male |
| Relationship | nephew-uncle |
| Source | |
| Archive | |
| Doc. No. | |
| Date | |
| Partial Date | |
| Doc. Type | |
| Log | unknown |
| Word Count | 914 |
| Genre | change of residence, prospects, family, emigration |
| Note | |
| Transcript | From: Louisville Date: 27 October 1850 This is I believe the first letter I have written to you since I came to this country. I considered when either of us wrote it answered the same purpose. We received James Kerr's letter and from it we learned that you were all in good health, which we were glad to hear. We each of us enjoyed good health, John is in New Orleans, David in Cincinatti. [ ] I left Cincinatti a few weeks ago and came here to get work. I am at present at work here but I do not intend to stop longer than two months or so and then I shall go to New Orleans. I am only a little over 100 miles from Cincinatti in the direction of [New] Orleans. [I?] like this country very well. Any persons would like this country after being there a few years. It would require that time to get acquainted with the manners and customs of the people. Few foreigners like it at first but that soon wears away and they begin to look at the right side of affairs, and see that this is the best country in the world for a man who has to depend on his labour for a living. Charles Sterling who lived with you when David and I left there came all the way from the state of Pennsylvania, a distance of some 6 or 700 miles, to see David. He says he felt lonesome. He did not see anyone since he left home that he knew and he thought he would come and see us. I was going to work one morning and someone spoke to me who 1 did not know. 1 told him I did not know him so he began to talk and who was it but Charlie. We had a long talk about Newpark before he went away. He was so much improved that I never thought it was him. He had a letter from his father before he left where he was living and it staled that James Kerr was in Newpark, this was before we got James' letter. James was so long in writing that we thought something [serious?] had happened to him for it was the last words said to him, he was to be sure and write immediately after getting home but once there I suppose he forgot all about it. I can give you very little [ideas?] of this country as John in [his?] letters has said so [much?] about it, and, James was here. He can let you know more than I could by writing. We thought about Samuel Kerr coming here, and thinks it so better for him to come early next spring, say if he was here in the month of March. It won't do for him to be any later for that is [the principle time?] for him to get anything to do. If he could be here the 1st of March so much the better but on no account, let him be later than the middle of March. The spring is the best time for him to get to learn a trade, and if he comes late in spring he would very probably get nothing to do all summer and it would take something to keep him here. So you see how necessary it is for him to start early, say if he left there about the 1st of February that would be time enough. I think New Orleans is the best way for him to come. It is the most direct, and is cheap. I suppose there are vessels leaving Liverpool for Orleans at that time. If not he will have to come by New York, or Philadelphia. There is no use in him bringing a lot of clothing for it is cheap here and the less he has in the line of baggage when travelling so much the better. AH that is necessary for him to bring is 2 pair of shoes, that comes up to the ankle—or half boots. James Kerr knows the kind. Two pair of strong pantaloons, 4 check shirts, 3 or4whiteones, one frock coat, besides a coat on him. Six pair of socks, 2 vests, and 2 black, silk handkerchiefs, that is sufficient. Half the clothes D. and J. brought here were never worn; socks were motheaten, white shirts we don't wear only on Sunday, and they get spoiled laying away without using [them?] You may expect a letter from John with some further information on the subject. I just state this that he may be ready by (hat time. We learn by James' letter the death of Dr. Kendall. You will give each of our best respects to all our acquaintances. We were glad to hear of Mrs. Carson being in good health. I hope A. Black is well and the family—I would like to know if A. Finlay is still on the police. If he is, it is only last time any man who joins the police fools away his time in doing no good for himself—nor anyone else. I believe I have got nothing more to say, but remember us to Uncle David and Samuel and all, and let Sam Kerr know when he comes here he must do away with his mad fits [and go to work?]. I remain dear Uncle yours as ever. William Kerr |
